The TLC network loves to take things to extremes, from couponing to addictions. So no surprise, they found people who take financial savings to the hilt for their show Extreme Cheapskates.
In the clip above, we meet Stephanie, who’s so concerned about her water bill that she forces her boyfriend to take two-minute showers (with help from a baby monitor) and reuses the water she boils spaghetti in. And it’s not just the water bill. Uneaten salad dressing is pushed from her children’s plates back into the bottle. Uneaten spaghetti sauce is spooned back into the jar.
Not only is this extreme, it’s kind of vomitous. Food is just one of those things that’s one-time-use only and then we have to move on to the next, fresh meal. But the show brings up issues of money management and just how far we should go to save a few precious coins.
We spend a lot of time on the business page offering tips for budgeting and saving money: brown bag your lunch, hit up thrift stores and consignment shops, and make sure you’re a member of the loyalty programs at your favorite shops and restaurants. The tips we offer are meant to be suggestions that help you maintain your lifestyle, but at a lower price point. If there are opportunities to save while doing something you enjoy, you should grab those chances. Then you’ll have more money to do more of the things you really like.
In this case, Stephanie is so consumed with every which way she can hang on to her money that it’s making the people around her unhappy. No one should be denied the pleasure of a long relaxing shower every once in a while. If you’re saving money to the point that it interferes with the normal conduct of your life, you might want to take another look at your savings plan. For instance, it looks like those meals Stephanie (re)made were served on disposable plates. Does that cost more than just using water to wash real dishes? There have to be other ways that we can save money without making life uncomfortable for ourselves and everyone around us.
A good way to approach your money-saving techniques is to think in terms of the ideal and then consider the ways you can get close to that ideal without disrupting your life. For instance, if you have a water bill that’s gone through the roof, start by looking at your water habits. Do you leave the water on while brushing your teeth? Do you keep the tap running while cooking when you don’t need to? Also, take a look around the house to see if there are any leaks. A running toilet or dripping faucet will send that cost sky high.
If you’re just looking to save money in general, take a look at your day and see where you can make cuts. When you’re standing in front of your closet fretting that you’ve got nothing wear, take a deep breath and then look at your wardrobe with fresh eyes. Is there a blouse you haven’t worn in a while? An outfit combination that you haven’t put together before? An accessory that you can throw on to give an old sweater a new look?
So before you start pouring the Diet Coke your husband didn’t drink from his cup back into the bottle, think about the other ways you can save on your grocery bill. Maybe you should just make soda a special occasion drink.
