Friday OT #1 - Rubbing Pennies

[BCClone]

My grandparents on my Dad's side were very cheap/frugal and gave Christmas & birthday gifts that were sometimes both cheap and/or "unfitting" the occasion (Well into the 90's). For example:

- giving a 3-pack of brand new underware as a Christmas gift to their adult children in their 40's.
- a box of crackers
- a small pack of gum (the 5 sticks) -- not as a stocking stuffer, as a whole wrapped gift
- Oranges
- I once got a coloring book as a Christmas gift when I was like 12 (the target audience was like ages 5 and under)

(Could probably do a whole topic on "cheapest Christmas/Birthday gift!")

I got a pair of dress socks from my mean grandma. A few grandkids later I saw her give new bikes to other grandkids. My dad never had us go back after that.

 

[dafarmer]

Taco Time used to have a Thursday special, 4 tacos for $1. Then they went to only 3 for $1 and Dodge house quit going. I guess we showed them.

 

[oldman]

Have you guys not heard the phrase "I didn't have two pennies to rub together"? Am I using an esoteric phrase?

I've heard the phrase, but with nickels.

 

[oldman]

My dad will run the gas tank down to the last drop if it means he can make it to the exit with the cheaper gas. For the extra dollar or 2 he might save on a tank of gas to me seems silly for the inconvenience it would be to run out of gas and have to walk to go get some. Although I swear he also will drive somewhere to buy something for less and have it wind up costing him the same anyways because of gas and time it spent to drive further to get it.

My buddy's FIL is so cheap -- they were at a couple hardware stores, and my buddy was going to buy some phillips screw tips. His FIL says, we need to get these at the other store. They were a dime cheaper.

 

[oldman]

also 100% this

View attachment 87642

And they always have fake butter, never the real thing.

 

[4cy16]

A friends mom passed away and his dad wanted him to take him to the different funeral homes to compare prices before making his decision. My buddy, said no dad pick one and be done.

 

[4cy16]

My late father-in-law would leave a dollar tip for the supper we just ate, when we left either me or the wife would drop a few more dollars on the table when he had his back turned.

 

[BCClone]

A friends mom passed away and his dad wanted him to take him to the different funeral homes to compare prices before making his decision. My buddy, said no dad pick one and be done.

That does seem rather tacky. I will say there is a huge difference though . My mom and a friends mom passed about a year apart. My mom was a basic type person so we went with more modest (not cheap) casket and such. My friends mom had nicer stuff since she was younger and they felt it was her. My moms was 50% more.

I do agree that once you call one, it’s not something you shop around on.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Taco Time used to have a Thursday special, 4 tacos for $1. Then they went to only 3 for $1 and Dodge house quit going. I guess we showed them.

I'm old enough to remember the $.29 hamburger specials at McDonalds. Back when I could eat 4 hamburgers, a large fry and a shake for supper without feeling like I was going to die.

 

[RealisticCy]

If you grew up on a farm, seeing a 5 gallon bucket or intact tarp strap on a road or in the ditch was justification for nearly causing an accident in an attempt to retrieve.

 

[CascadeClone]

The current generations do not understand, we are ungrateful, we are soft, we think we are owed something. We don't know what true need, want, and struggle is. My grandparents and frankly my parents too are some of the strongest people I have ever met, they could work circles around anyone today. The generations that came before us are by far the best, we don't even come close to them. Then we turn around and call them "cheap ass tight-wads" because we are disrespectful jack-wads.

Imagine if us younger folks (I'm genX my kids are millenials I guess) had the same level of will and work effort, combined with all the material and technological advantages we have.

Tough times make tough people. Easy times make for... well, our current society.