The cheapskate challenge

[Rick Potter]

I admit it, I am a cheapskate. Heck, I am proud of it. All my life I have made my money stretch.

Today, I ate lunch at Wendy's. They have a sale going...any size fries for $1. They do not have senior discounts, but do have free senior drinks. I also buy a $2 keychain tag in January that gives me a free small frosty with any purchase all year.

Today's lunch was a chicken BLT sandwich for $1.69, large fry for $1, free senior Coke, and free small frosty. Sandwich, fries, drink, and dessert. Total with tax was $2.90.

Can you beat that? :p

[Wade Lippman]

Perhaps not for price, but maybe for nutrition. :)

Tonight we had half a $7 BJ's rotisserie chicken and $1.50 worth of broccoli for dinner; and will have the other half tomorrow night. So that is $2.12/meal.

[Jim Koepke]

Why waste time growing vegetables when you could save time by just eating dirt?

jtk

[Matt Day]

You’re opening up a can of socioeconomic worms.

[Perry Hilbert Jr]

Two hotdogs with sauerkraut for $1.00 at Sheetz. Sometimes I even buy the small soda for 69 cents. On Sundays, I drive to Sheetz for the Sunday paper and take the dog. He gets one hot dog minus the sauerkraut. He knows what is at Sheetz and if he is with me other times and we drive past on the way somewhere, he wimpers and carries on.

The true skin flint of all time was a woman I worked with 20 years ago. She would take rolls of TP from public restrooms, wads of napkins from restaurants, ketchup, mustard and salt and pepper packs. Plastic cutlery, etc. At the time she was only 28 yrs old. She would pull into a gas station and use their stuff to clean her windows and then drive out. She shopped at Goodwill outlets for clothes, etc. But she bought her own home and had it paid free and clear by the time she was 27.

[Jim Becker]

$1.50 for a foot long 'dog and a refillable soft drink at Costco... :) :D

[Wayne Lomman]

Built a 6 metre x 5 metre extension to the shed for $24 - logs in the round from the bush and recycled corrugated sheeting. The $24 was for roofing screws, nails and bracing strap. It will last 50 years at least judging by the original shed and I used the same timber species. Food comes from the garden. It costs maybe $300 a year to pump for irrigation and maybe 6 hours a week to maintain it. Cheers

[Wade Lippman]

Two hotdogs with sauerkraut for $1.00 at Sheetz. Sometimes I even buy the small soda for 69 cents. On Sundays, I drive to Sheetz for the Sunday paper and take the dog. He gets one hot dog minus the sauerkraut. He knows what is at Sheetz and if he is with me other times and we drive past on the way somewhere, he wimpers and carries on.


You are a monster! You would feed your dog a $0.50 hotdog?!?! I would call your county humane society, but your location is secret. Typical.

[Malcolm Schweizer]

Yes. I am in the Dominican Republic this week. Exchange rate 50:1. Living like a king in a deluxe suite on the 23rd floor with the most amazing view for $160 a night and breakfast and evening happy hour included. If you want a cheap vacation, this is a good place to start.

[Edwin Santos]

Then there are those that would say cheap junk food is by far the most expensive and overpriced food you could possibly eat:
Over the long run.
Assuming your body is priceless and irreplaceable.
Even if they gave it to you for free.

Sorry but you deserve better, man

[William Adams]

Don't look at me, my breakfast/lunch/brunch is an apple (figure 6 oz. @ $1.69/lb. so 63¢) and a granola bar --- currently working my way through a box of Gatorade brand ones which were on sale, a box of 12 for $4.44, so 37¢ and a I drink green tea at work, having given up coffee save for social occasions or when traveling ($4.99 for a box of 100).

[Jim Koepke]

$1.50 for a foot long 'dog and a refillable soft drink at Costco... :) :D

That's one of my favorites. Sometimes with a slice of Pizza.

jtk

[Bill McNiel]

We do "2 for 1 Tuesdays" at our local movie theatre courtesy of AT&T.

[glenn bradley]

All that money you're saving will be lost in medical expenses. I can't remember the last time I ate fast food. :)

[Pat Barry]

Yes. I am in the Dominican Republic this week. Exchange rate 50:1. Living like a king in a deluxe suite on the 23rd floor with the most amazing view for $160 a night and breakfast and evening happy hour included. If you want a cheap vacation, this is a good place to start.
For me, $160 per night is farrrr from a cheap vacation. For a cheap vacation I pack my tent and sleeping bag. LOL

[Prashun Patel]

Bad food is way too cheap. Good food is way too expensive.

A $2.00 fast food meal makes me cringe because that's about all many can afford. Meh, didn't mean to be a Debbie Downer.

[Peter Kelly]

Check out Supersize Me sometime. The $2.00 fast food meal is far more expensive than most people realise.

[Malcolm Schweizer]

For me, $160 per night is farrrr from a cheap vacation. For a cheap vacation I pack my tent and sleeping bag. LOL

Good point- me as well. I'm on business so I'm on an expense account. I admit to being spoiled in my travels. When I travel on my own, it's usually backpacking and either staying at pensiones, Air B&B, or a tent, or it's sailing and staying aboard.

If you want some real sticker shock, look up the Jade Mountain Resort in St. Lucia. Make sure you're sitting down. http://www.jademountain.com/reserve/rates_and_packages.html

[Rick Potter]

In 2000 or so, we took a trip to China which was advertised in the AAA mag. One week, including air fare, hotels, breakfast each day, and arranged tours, with transportation, to the usual places like the Great Wall, Forbidden City, etc..

A private bus with tour guide (government approved) took us everywhere.

All inclusive price was $899 per person.

[Doug Garson]

There's cheap and then there is getting good value at a reasonable price. Buying junk food cheap is not a bargain, you pay for it in the end when you end up with diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease etc.

[Bert Kemp]

Vegas Vacation is cheap. Cheap rooms in a nice hotel like $24,nice views of the city from your room on the 25th floor. Good food cheap at the casinos and free beer at the slot machines. well a buck for the server lol. I play the nickle slots and have a $20 limit so its a real cheap weekend getaway.