Least frugal thing you do?

[Praetorian]

Probably eating out. I am a student, and I have a perfectly good meal plan, but there are just times where we feel like eating IHOP or chinese food. Sometimes we pay for each other pretty equally, but I am the only one with a job, plus parents who are pretty generous, so I end up paying for friends more times than I should. Other than that, my money goes to gas and the occasional water from the vending machines before class.
Then again, I only work on Saturdays because I go home on weekends and my job is at home and not in my college's town. So I don't really have that much money to go around. But my parents pay for my car and phone, which are the only two bills I have. Oh, and tuition, housing, and meal plan that isn't covered by student loans. And I only get about 1700$ in loans so they pay a good deal out of pocket. I help with any money I made over the summer, but it is usually only 800$ or so dollars.

The point? I am poor.

[Ima saver]

I also am a very good tipper. I worked as a waitress once and I know that the girls only make $2.07 an hour. So for my $15 meal, I tip 5 or 6 dollars. The girls really give us good service.

[lrjohnson]

Ima, I agree that tipping is worth it. I would rather drink water and no appetizer and get a lower price meal and tip 20 to 25% for good/great service than really treat myself and ding the server. A great waiter can make a good dining experience great. And if you go back to that place, often you will get even more exceptional service. Now I know some believe in 15% for good service, and no percent for bad service, and are pretty strict on this. I don't mind that, as long as they don't mind me. That said, I really don't like that a lot of servers don't claim it all on taxes. Friends of mine in the business and I argue a lot. I am a civil servant, I attempt to give the client and taxpayer great value, and I pay taxes on everything I earn. Why is the tip system set up the way it is, so that others who serve have the "option" to cheat? Of course come Social Security time all the earnings won't be reflected, but still. I'd rather someone find loophole deductions than understate income. Hmmmm. guess I have a pet peeve. Sorry.

[Optsol]

Let it rip LR!!!!

[Ima saver]

Well I have been on here 2 weeks and still eat out every night. I am trying to save but I hate sitting home at night.
I was a waitress and the IRS audited my tip book every year. We had to keep a book and we did not get tipped near as well as people thought. A good night was $40 on a Friday and Sat. nights.(this was in the late 80's)

[chrysnblue]

Definitely my DSL $35/month, but it's so much quicker and I am always online working, trying to finish school. Another bad thing my phone bill, local & long distance with fees $100. I just got the new bill, and now I am looking for a new company. I have to have long distance!

[acezz4e_tish]

cable, digital and internet is 110 a month here, no movie channels.
smoking, 35 a week. i had quit for four months. we had an ice storm that took out power here for ten days. i was trapped in dads bedroom for all that time for propane heat with four kids, one less then a year old, always crying! i was shaking and grabbed a pack of his and said just for today, just til we get power back, omg i cant quit! lol. i will try again soon. whew i hate smoking but i cant let it go right now, the stress here is unbelievable. now if i were to show daves unfrugal, then you would all understand the stress. lol.

[Ima saver]

Chrys, try the company I use. It is called Lightyear. My highest long distance bill for 11 calls and 84 minutes, was for $7.
I use dsl too and I hate to waste that $35 a month since I don't really know how to use a computer and neither does my husband.

[contrary1]

I save in so many areas..............but I've decided this year to have someone clean my house. I have earned it after decades of doing it myself. I feel so great having the whole place cleaned at once, it is worth it.
With all the time it is saving me, I'm able to do things to cut costs in other areas.......ie; getting my sewing room set up and funtional...........making things for the house that others have to purchase, making gifts for little or nothing.........
Probably don't save the same amount as my cleaning bill...........but I decided to spend my money on something that was important to me.

[Lori63]

Originally Posted by contrary1

I save in so many areas..............but I've decided this year to have someone clean my house. I have earned it after decades of doing it myself. I feel so great having the whole place cleaned at once, it is worth it.
With all the time it is saving me, I'm able to do things to cut costs in other areas.......ie; getting my sewing room set up and funtional...........making things for the house that others have to purchase, making gifts for little or nothing.........
Probably don't save the same amount as my cleaning bill...........but I decided to spend my money on something that was important to me.

I also have someone clean for me-just once a month during the school year and it makes such a difference in my mental health. I despise cleaning, but knowing that things are 'clean' when she does it makes it easier to keep up with everything.

[Ima saver]

My husband has always cleaned house, I hate housework! If I could find someone good, I would pay to have it done. I have had 5 0r 6 cleaners, and they were terrible! Plus they charged like $20 an hour. My husband makes $25 an hour building a whole house!

[acezz4e_tish]

its very difficult to find someone to trust. my mom was in a bad wreck and wont ever work again, or her hubby either. they have 2 home aids, one for indoors and one that cooks on her days off and does outdoor work when she works. it took them 5 years of constant changing of people to find these 2. i suggested the second one cause she had harveys family staying all the time and doug was paid to take care of them, not all thier grandkids who treat the place like aluxery hotel. doug was tense, i could tell, so i told her, u gonna have peeps here all the time, hire another person, cause u dont ever want to lose doug! i never left doug messes for us. i put my laundry in thier laundry room waiting for thiers to be done so i could do my own, he bagged it all and threw it on the back porch and i never asked him to do anything for us, so i knew it was coming to an end if mom didnt do something. she does all she can to make thier work better too, she had laminate floors laid throught and bought a microfiber scrub mop.they only have to go over it with water and throw the mop part in the wash. she really appreciates all doug and elizabeth do for them. and im so happy when i see them there. mom and harvey would be lost w/o them. they found them in the beggining thru a home health service, when moms insurance ran out, they stayed on and my mom pays them each week. i know one cleaning lady here who does housework for individuals and works regularly in housekeeping at the super 8. you could call home health services for good people and hotels. or you could post exactly what you expect in an ad in the paper. like wanted housekeeping services. will need to do...... salary negotiable, call today for appt for interview. or instead of a list something like deep housecleaning required, not just cosmetic. most know what that means.lol. it means move the fridge and clean back there.lol that is what i would do. i havent saved enough to consider this yet, but when i do, ill go for the ad in the paper and express myself upfront. i would love to have more help around here.lol. my dads gf has a daughter, back when i had better money, i used to pay her 25 dollars to come help with the deep down stuff. each week. something different on the list, so that all got done once a month. just took 2 hrs and she made cash. u may find friends who will do that too, never know unless u ask. huggellzz to all tish.

[ChillPhatCat]

My car is my most wasteful expense, I get about 12-14 MPG and have to fill it up about twice a month if I don't go on any extended trips, 22 Gallons (one tank) of 93 octane runs about $60. I have a honda sitting in the driveway, but it needs about $500 of work, now tell me how stupid that is.

[Ima saver]

I have over $100,000 worth of cars sitting in my garages!! 4 cars for 2 people!

[acezz4e_tish]

i have a 98 windstar, i fill it every week plus a 5 dollar stop. id get better mileage on the freeway. but i have to drive kids to school here, so thats four times a day im out the door picking up or dropping off. plus i drop off my daughters best friend. i love my van tho. i have room for everyone. while our rv has been down, we used my van for the whole family to go to mich and back. plus a cat and yellow lab, lets just say it was crowded.lol i think that if i get rid of the windstar it will be for another mini van. too hard with kids and their law required seats to have less. dave has a cavalier 2000. his gets better mileage then mine. he gets gas once a week. he works in caurthersville tho, 20 mins away. each way.

[shelbylovesmelby]

Originally Posted by Ima saver

My husband has always cleaned house, I hate housework! If I could find someone good, I would pay to have it done. I have had 5 0r 6 cleaners, and they were terrible! Plus they charged like $20 an hour. My husband makes $25 an hour building a whole house!

I hate housework! Dh ONLY cleans when somone is coming over & he does a great job in no time flat.

The least frugal things I do.....
!. stay married! My dh loves his gadgets & gizmos + he's a smoker so u can imagine how much $ we'd save!?!?
2. We have one new van for family use & dh drives a beater 2 work in winter & he bought a New moped last summer to save on the cost of gas. Since a tank costs him less than $5 & lasts him a week or so.

[Ima saver]

My husband is great with money cause I don't give him any!!

[acezz4e_tish]

lol ima, u go gf! lol

[ChillPhatCat]

You girls act like all us guys want to do is play with our toys


If I could I'd spend all my money on radio controlled toys and upgrades on my car.

[acezz4e_tish]

see, point made.lol )