Money Saving Hacks from an Extreme Cheapskate – What makes someone an extreme cheapskate? Learn the best tips to take your finances to the next level!
Ever wonder what makes an Extreme Cheapskate the way that they are?
An “Extreme Cheapskate” is somebody who will do almost anything to save money. They are the kinds of people who would rather talk about finances then talk about sports, gossip, TV or anything else.
Extreme Cheapskates are slightly-fanatical people when it comes to saving money. They will come up with ways that you have never thought of in your wildest dreams to save money. They are the kinds of people who are just always thinking about number no matter what situation they are in.. In every conversation, everything winds up coming back to money in their minds.
Now, admittedly, some people might find that completely off-putting. Sometimes, talking to an Extreme Cheapskate can be almost as intolerable as being around somebody who talks baseball all the time… it gets really old if you’re not into it.
But unlike with sports, Extreme Cheapskates can teach something new to everybody.
We’re not all going to be involved in playing baseball at some point in our lives. But we are all going to be involved with money.
And, more likely than not, you’re going to be struggling with money at some point your life. That’s why we all need an Extreme Cheapskate to help show us weird and different ways that they use to save money.
No, this is not going to be a post about how you need to stop using toilet paper. (I draw the line there. I need toilet paper my house!) This is about a mindset change.
There’s only so much that you can do to save money in your life. There are only so many things that you can cut out for the sake of saving a few bucks.
What you really need isn’t another list… it’s a different way of seeing your money in the first place.
With that in mind here are the best money saving hacks from an Extreme Cheapskate.
Extreme Cheapskates are budgeting control freaks.
They know exactly how much money they have in their checking account, their savings account and any other place that they keep their money at any given time. Extreme cheapskates live by a very strict budget and they enjoy that. No really… they actually like it that way!
They are not comparing themselves to everyone around them.
So many people are always trying to keep up with the Joneses. Not Extreme Cheapskates! They are just as happy with everything they have as they possibly could be. They aren’t trying to keep up with anybody. This lets them be content, happy, and cash flush.
They’re always thinking about money… and not in a bad way!
Not in a creepy way or anything, I swear! They understand that every facet of their lives involves money and so they know that they had better be making good, solid financial decisions.
They are aware that the world revolves around the use of money. And instead of fixating on getting more stuff, they are thinking about how to be financially sound and an unsound world.
They are always planning ahead.
They know that the money decisions they make today will have an impact on tomorrow and on down the line. If they need money tomorrow then they can’t spend today.
They know that if they want to afford a vacation this year, they can’t go out to Starbucks twice a day, but they CAN make their own Starbucks recipes at home. They know that if they want to have a baby, they need to learn how to have have a baby on a budget so they don’t go broke. You can count on them to have a plan for how to live on one income, even if it’s a low income.
These plans are things that anyone can do, but you need to start planning for them right away!
Related post: How to Talk With Your Husband About Money
They’re always thinking of the big picture.
Extreme Cheapskates are much more likely to be thinking long-term about their finances than somebody who isn’t an Extreme Cheapskate. They are using their money now to make sure that they have a secure future as they get older.
Even thinking much more short-term than planning for retirement, Extreme Cheapskates will not buy something if it doesn’t fit into their long-term plan. Thinking about the big picture helps curb the desire for impulse purchases.
It really helps to keep everything in perspective when you start asking yourself the questions like “will I like this decision tomorrow?” or “do I really need this?” or “will I be glad that I bought this next week?”
Extreme Cheapskates buy everything that they possibly can “used.”
I have never met an extreme Cheapskate who hasn’t bought a vast majority of their wardrobe or home furnishings at a thrift store or at Goodwill. That’s because they understand the value that comes along with buying used.
Remember, they’re not trying to keep up with the Joneses here. They’re making these decisions based on what is best for them and for their budgets. If you have to make a large purchase buying used is the best possible option.
They know to buy their cars used. And, more importantly, they know that there are still plenty of things NOT to buy used!
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Extreme Cheapskates are always looking for coupons and deals!
This goes along with the concept of not pay full retail price for something. They know that there are discounts available out there. You might have to wait a few days or weeks or months, but the deals are out there.
They will never go to a restaurant without a coupon. Extreme Cheapskates are the most likely people to say “I have a coupon for that!” at the checkout counter.
They’re also the most likely person to tell you about how they use Ebates to get cashback when they shop online. Or how they use Ibotta at the grocery store instead of clipping coupons.
(This isn’t their way of being a jerk. Some people for whatever reason feel like using coupons at restaurants especially is rude. But that’s what they’re there for!)
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They know the value of time and presence instead of gifts and presents.
Extreme Cheapskates are the kinds of people who will be infinitely more excited to spend time with somebody or to have a special day together than they would be excited to spend a fortune on a birthday.
Extreme Cheapskates put a much higher value on spending time with people than they do on simply buying something. They know that if money weren’t an object, the thing that is the most important is still being around people who matter.
If you remember nothing else from this post, remember that people won’t remember what you got them, they will remember how it made them feel. They will remember the experiences and the fun that was had.
Extreme Cheapskates know that the best gifts can’t be bought. They have to be experienced. (And that isn’t a cop-out for just being too cheap to spend money on a gift!)
If you’re ever struggling with your finances, these money saving hacks from an extreme cheapskate will help to kick you into gear.
You don’t need to live under a rock in order to live frugally. It’s all about changing your mindset when it comes to money. With a little bit of tweaking to your mindset, you can absolutely get in control of your money!
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Charlene says
July 16 at 9:42 AMAs an experienced cheapskate — and one who is always learning! — this is a great post! Being a cheapskate is determining the priorities for your life and situation and you explain that mindset so well. Thanks for sharing at Busy Monday — featured this week.
Nicole says
July 17 at 11:00 PMThese are definitely great things to think about when it comes to saving money. Great read! Thank you for sharing it with us at the #HomeMattersParty this week.
Ms. Frugal Asian Finance says
September 15 at 1:29 PMI found your post through your Pinterst pin. The title is just captivating. These are such great tips. Thanks for sharing!
Corinna says
October 8 at 9:44 PMThank you for all the helpful information!
The Beard + The Bohemian says
November 10 at 10:44 PMWe love this article! Everything does revolve around money and the hardest thing to do is entertain friends who don’t see money the way you do.
Malea says
January 1 at 4:09 PMGreat article!
Another tip: Buying used tires is a GREAT money saving tip. It saves my family around $500 every year. I just bought 4 like new tires for $180 total! They are in excellent condition! Sometimes people who buy brand new cars take them to the tire shop for nicer tires and the tires they replace are often for sale.
You might need to call around to find shops that sell used tires. Tire Trax is a great shop in Northwest Arkansas.
Sabra Casey says
October 28 at 10:50 PMGreat tips, thank you for the article!