We live in a time when stretching every dollar matters. Many of us work hard just to cover basic expenses, so finding small ways to save can genuinely make a difference. But then there are people who push frugality far past the reasonable limit—those who drift from “careful with money” to outright “cheap.” And sometimes, it’s their kids who end up stuck dealing with the fallout.
Story 1
When my dad first moved into his place, he scheduled a free demonstration for an under-sink water filtration system. The salesman used a bar of soap during the pitch and left it behind afterward. My dad then called four more companies just to get additional free demos—only so he could collect the free soap bars.
He never had the slightest intention of actually buying a filter. He pulls stunts like this all the time, and it’s only gotten worse as he’s gotten older. At this point, I’ve just accepted that this is who he is.
Story 2
My dad guards paper towels like they’re made of gold. Even now, at 21, he still expects me to ask permission before using one because he can’t stand the idea of “waste.” When I was younger, I honestly thought a single roll cost a hundred dollars based on how he acted. He’s so cheap that he ends up spending more in the long run—constantly buying the lowest-quality items that break or malfunction.
And whenever we drove downhill, he’d shift into neutral, open the car door, and push the car along with his foot to “conserve fuel.”
One time at Burger King, he refused to let me order a burger because it was “too pricey,” so I was only allowed to get chicken fries. Story 4
My father absolutely abused Costco’s return policy. He once returned an outdoor furniture set that we’d been using for nearly eight years.
