I was just thinking about the gifts I love as a frugal person. People often say that the best thing to get someone is something they won't buy themself, but for me that could really be anything, since I don't like spending money.
But you're right on many counts. The things I love getting are gift cards to discount clothing stores (TJ Maxx and Marshalls, especially -- I also really like Target), and to book stores, since I don't go clothes or book shopping with my own money hardly ever.
My husband laughed at me the other day when I called my dad (who told me he was thinking to get me a very nice showerhead for Christmas) and asked him if he might consider getting me a bike stand instead. My husband thought it was funny that I negotiate Christmas gifts with my dad, but we both appreciate it because I get something I really am looking for, and he gets to give me something practical that I really need.
That's tough! I've received many a thoughtful gift over the years. The ones that stick with me are the ones that time, effort, and planning were required. One that comes to mind in particular is a hand drawn logo of my favorite restaurant. It sounds silly, but my younger brother did it for me, and gifted it to me the same year that the restaurant closed. It is a treasured possession!
After I bought my house, my folks replaced all the ratty cotton rope clothesline in the basement with 4 lovely straight, taut covered-wire clotheslines. And as a bonus, they hung a fluorescent fixture (left over from the previous owners) over the washer. Doing laundry is (almost) a pleasure now!
My favorite gift of all time was from my wife, early in our marriage. We had succumbed to credit card debt over those first few years, and it weighed heavily on me. When I opened my gift from her, which was obviously a book, she told me to look closely. I fanned the pages and fanned a credit card. "Paid off," she said. I looked further and found another. "Paid off," she added. One after another, I pulled credit cards from the book as she announced that each was paid off. It was the best Christmas, from the best wife, ever.
This is no different than Groupon, or LivingSocial, or any of a host of daily deal sites which are so popular now & offer 50% off at local restaurants. And the concept is the same: the restaurant is offering 50% off in the hopes that you'll come back, or tell your friends about them. It's all marketing costs. Yes, if you buy the "$25, $50, $100 off" coupon (it is more of a coupon, not a gift certificate) & you read the fine print, there are restrictions. Then again, for such a great price, I would expect there to be. Groupon & some of those other daily deal sites' offers expire after ~3 mos. If you don't use it before then, tough luck. Restaurant.com certificates never expire. And it says right on the certificate, & prob for most of those daily deal ones too, to tip on the FULL AMOUNT, before discount. Granted, they shouldn't have made a 18% tip a requirement, but the ppl who only tip on the discounted amt are just being stingy. And if you buy one of the smaller certificates, like the $10 one, you don't have all these restrictions. It's just a matter of how much you want to save vs. how many restrictions you want to put up w/.
As a kid, the best gift I ever received was a doll named Mandie. I still have her, and have passed her on to my daughter. That doll and a sewing machine were the best presents I ever received as a child (still have that sewing machine too!).
As an adult, some of the best gifts have been: an overnight stay at a waterpark hotel for my family, the DVD of the 5 hour Pride and Prejudice (favorite movie ever!), and hugs from my kids every single day of the year. Those hugs are the best gifts in the world.
I think my favorite gift was a ring with my birthstone from my grandparents on my 14th birthday. It was tradition for the girls to receive this item, and I thought it was just gorgeous.
I'm both frugal and cheap, but I don't do the mean-spirited examples given in the article. I'm not an extreme version of being cheap; I still spend a lot on Christmas presents for others, for example. But I will stand around and wait for a manager to refund me 10 cents if I'm charged incorrectly.
Good point. Most issues with health and moonshine, was generated by the government to scare people away from making it. Adding antifreeze or embalming fluid and using lead solder are more realistic. If they didn't scare you, everyone would be making it. How many stills were running before the Whiskey Rebellion? Even Washington had one going. If everyone was running one, how did we have enough people alive to populate the world?
People who are so frugal they are taking advantage of others are more than cheap; they are thieves. I like to see how much I can pinch a penny sometimes, but I make a point to never do it at others' expense.
I think it can depend on your situation. Some people need to be frugal out of necessity, while some make it a lifestyle outside of the realm of necessity. I think someone who can not pay rent, but buys Starbucks is NEVER frugal... while someone who can take care of business can buy Starbucks and be considered frugal if it is one small piece of a big picture.
The real reason agents are "crooks" is because they don't do ANYTHING and they collect money. The listing agent posts the house and waits on phone calls, that is ALL. The buying agent puts the buyers criteria into a search engine and it will generate an auto email on a daily basis. Then the people tell the agent which houses they want to look at and the agent turns the key to let them in. "ohhhh, but there is more to it than that!" I am making a general statement and I know it, because it is true. Who else, in America, does less and gets paid more???? Bankers and politicians, who are the biggest crooks of all. Thanks for taking 6 percent of something you didn't build, live in, invest in, work for, or pay for. It's almost like agents are bad version of the IRS.
Not enough methanol in moonshine to kill a hamster....let alone a human. That's urban legend #828,459. Having said that, still toss the heads as it doesn't taste great and serves up a nice hangover.
I was just thinking about the gifts I love as a frugal person. People often say that the best thing to get someone is something they won't buy themself, but for me that could really be anything, since I don't like spending money.
But you're right on many counts. The things I love getting are gift cards to discount clothing stores (TJ Maxx and Marshalls, especially -- I also really like Target), and to book stores, since I don't go clothes or book shopping with my own money hardly ever.
My husband laughed at me the other day when I called my dad (who told me he was thinking to get me a very nice showerhead for Christmas) and asked him if he might consider getting me a bike stand instead. My husband thought it was funny that I negotiate Christmas gifts with my dad, but we both appreciate it because I get something I really am looking for, and he gets to give me something practical that I really need.
I like WiseBread on Facebook!
My best gift is one that's currently on the way: a GIANT stuffed dinosaur! (http://www.topatoco.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TO&Product_C...) I am SO EXCITED for him to arrive!!
My Frye Cowboy boots. They've last for years, are wearable in all seasons, and are worth every penny!
That's tough! I've received many a thoughtful gift over the years. The ones that stick with me are the ones that time, effort, and planning were required. One that comes to mind in particular is a hand drawn logo of my favorite restaurant. It sounds silly, but my younger brother did it for me, and gifted it to me the same year that the restaurant closed. It is a treasured possession!
After I bought my house, my folks replaced all the ratty cotton rope clothesline in the basement with 4 lovely straight, taut covered-wire clotheslines. And as a bonus, they hung a fluorescent fixture (left over from the previous owners) over the washer. Doing laundry is (almost) a pleasure now!
the original nintendo!
My favorite gift of all time was from my wife, early in our marriage. We had succumbed to credit card debt over those first few years, and it weighed heavily on me. When I opened my gift from her, which was obviously a book, she told me to look closely. I fanned the pages and fanned a credit card. "Paid off," she said. I looked further and found another. "Paid off," she added. One after another, I pulled credit cards from the book as she announced that each was paid off. It was the best Christmas, from the best wife, ever.
This is no different than Groupon, or LivingSocial, or any of a host of daily deal sites which are so popular now & offer 50% off at local restaurants. And the concept is the same: the restaurant is offering 50% off in the hopes that you'll come back, or tell your friends about them. It's all marketing costs. Yes, if you buy the "$25, $50, $100 off" coupon (it is more of a coupon, not a gift certificate) & you read the fine print, there are restrictions. Then again, for such a great price, I would expect there to be. Groupon & some of those other daily deal sites' offers expire after ~3 mos. If you don't use it before then, tough luck. Restaurant.com certificates never expire. And it says right on the certificate, & prob for most of those daily deal ones too, to tip on the FULL AMOUNT, before discount. Granted, they shouldn't have made a 18% tip a requirement, but the ppl who only tip on the discounted amt are just being stingy. And if you buy one of the smaller certificates, like the $10 one, you don't have all these restrictions. It's just a matter of how much you want to save vs. how many restrictions you want to put up w/.
As a kid, the best gift I ever received was a doll named Mandie. I still have her, and have passed her on to my daughter. That doll and a sewing machine were the best presents I ever received as a child (still have that sewing machine too!).
As an adult, some of the best gifts have been: an overnight stay at a waterpark hotel for my family, the DVD of the 5 hour Pride and Prejudice (favorite movie ever!), and hugs from my kids every single day of the year. Those hugs are the best gifts in the world.
I was taken to Puerto Rico for one day the week before Christmas of 2007. Best gift ever, as we flew out of the cold and into sunny, warm weather.
My wifes hand in marriage (along with the rest of her!) twenty five years ago....the gift goes on...
I think my favorite gift was a ring with my birthstone from my grandparents on my 14th birthday. It was tradition for the girls to receive this item, and I thought it was just gorgeous.
I liked you on Facebook.
I'm both frugal and cheap, but I don't do the mean-spirited examples given in the article. I'm not an extreme version of being cheap; I still spend a lot on Christmas presents for others, for example. But I will stand around and wait for a manager to refund me 10 cents if I'm charged incorrectly.
A set of classic Tiffany's pearls.
MNTCTY
Good point. Most issues with health and moonshine, was generated by the government to scare people away from making it. Adding antifreeze or embalming fluid and using lead solder are more realistic. If they didn't scare you, everyone would be making it. How many stills were running before the Whiskey Rebellion? Even Washington had one going. If everyone was running one, how did we have enough people alive to populate the world?
I set my alarms to ring every 10 minutes, after 3-4 times, I can leave my bed :-(
People who are so frugal they are taking advantage of others are more than cheap; they are thieves. I like to see how much I can pinch a penny sometimes, but I make a point to never do it at others' expense.
Nope, I just checked.
I think it can depend on your situation. Some people need to be frugal out of necessity, while some make it a lifestyle outside of the realm of necessity. I think someone who can not pay rent, but buys Starbucks is NEVER frugal... while someone who can take care of business can buy Starbucks and be considered frugal if it is one small piece of a big picture.
The real reason agents are "crooks" is because they don't do ANYTHING and they collect money. The listing agent posts the house and waits on phone calls, that is ALL. The buying agent puts the buyers criteria into a search engine and it will generate an auto email on a daily basis. Then the people tell the agent which houses they want to look at and the agent turns the key to let them in. "ohhhh, but there is more to it than that!" I am making a general statement and I know it, because it is true. Who else, in America, does less and gets paid more???? Bankers and politicians, who are the biggest crooks of all. Thanks for taking 6 percent of something you didn't build, live in, invest in, work for, or pay for. It's almost like agents are bad version of the IRS.
Thanks for the info. I have had roseaca on my chin and it has left it rather "tough" with large pores. I'm going to try it.
That sounds like SO much fun. I used to have a Wii, and when I did, I'd do a couple of bouts of Wii Sports boxing to destress when busy. It was great!
Not enough methanol in moonshine to kill a hamster....let alone a human. That's urban legend #828,459. Having said that, still toss the heads as it doesn't taste great and serves up a nice hangover.