Can someone be both frugal and wasteful?

[disneysteve]

One of my coworkers is always looking for bargains, shopping sales, buying and selling on craigslist (and has gotten some great deals), has an annual yard sale, clips coupons and does a lot of the other things we all talk about. At the same time, though, she is very wasteful. I am frequently rescuing things from the trash that she has tossed out. She may toss out a tissue box that still has several tissues in it, for example, or change the roll of toilet paper in the bathroom before it is empty, throwing out the one that still has paper remaining (no, I don't rescue that from the trash).

I'm a recycling nut but we don't recycle at work so I gather a lot of stuff and take it home to recycle. This morning, I saw that she had tossed a bunch of boxes from drink mix that they use here. I was taking the boxes to fold up and recycle when I found that 2 of the boxes weren't empty. Each still had one packet of mix in it that she had apparently missed. Last week, I saw that she had thrown out a couple of telephone cords. I pulled them out and one was all twisted and out of shape (though still works) and the other was in perfect condition. She'll throw things away just because she doesn't need them. That happens a lot. When she's done with it, to the trash it goes regardless of condition or value of the item.

It just seems like such a clash for someone who is very price conscious and good at finding deals to also be so wasteful. What good is finding tissues on sale, for example, if you are going to throw away 5% of each box?

[bjl584]

Interesting. I know people that are "penny wise, dollar foolish." It sounds like this is sort of like your coworker. Very frugal and thrifty when it comes to the little things like shopping for food, but very wasteful when it comes to the bigger picture like buying new cars every few years. Sounds like she is a bit more random with her patterns, but that's the closest correlation that I can draw.

[ActYourWage]

Interesting. I know people that are "penny wise, dollar foolish." It sounds like this is sort of like your coworker. Very frugal and thrifty when it comes to the little things like shopping for food, but very wasteful when it comes to the bigger picture like buying new cars every few years. Sounds like she is a bit more random with her patterns, but that's the closest correlation that I can draw.

That's interesting. I once worked somewhere it seemed the owner would spend big money on things such as software, equipment, etc. but would try to save a few bucks a month on smaller things.

[Slug]

To me it seems the distinction is work vs home. At work, she's not throwing away her own things. Rather she's throwing away work-provided items.

[riverwed070707]

To me it seems the distinction is work vs home. At work, she's not throwing away her own things. Rather she's throwing away work-provided items.

I was going to say the same thing -- her money vs someone elses. I think a lot of people do this.

[BuckyBadger]

Yeah, I wonder what you would find if you rooted through the trash at her house!

Also, there is a fine line between "frugal" and hording. I'll throw something out if it's cheap and easy to replace should I ever need it again. I'd rather waste a few bucks than have boxes and boxes of junk that I may or may not ever use someday...

[YLTL_Dan]

Different

One of my coworkers is always looking for bargains, shopping sales, buying and selling on craigslist (and has gotten some great deals), has an annual yard sale, clips coupons and does a lot of the other things we all talk about. At the same time, though, she is very wasteful.

There's a big difference between people who are truly frugal and people who play the coupon game. Some people are able to successfully mix the two, but many people get so caught up in 'saving' money using coupons they overspend on a bunch of crap they don't need.

It's like a game to them, and they use a false statistic to keep score - mainly the amount they 'saved'. It always cracks me up when people say they saved $18,000 in a year on groceries for a family four.... in reality their total spend shouldn't be more than $8,000.

[selina_z]

I think some can be both frugal and wasteful. One of my friend is very frugal to herself, but on her children, she pretends very gentle and rich.

[Frugal]

I know a lot of people like that. It seems to be a common problem. I agree that people in this case are being "penny-wise and pound-foolish (or make that dollar-foolish, in today's lingo!). There's honestly not a whole lot you can do to change someone's lifelong habit of throwing out a little bit of toilet paper, kleenex, paper towels, or the like.

[moneybags]

I think some can be both frugal and wasteful. One of my friend is very frugal to herself, but on her children, she pretends very gentle and rich.

This is me. Also, while I am mostly frugal, I have my areas where I am wasteful. For example, I throw out too much food.

[kv968]

There's a big difference between people who are truly frugal and people who play the coupon game. Some people are able to successfully mix the two, but many people get so caught up in 'saving' money using coupons they overspend on a bunch of crap they don't need.

It's like a game to them, and they use a false statistic to keep score - mainly the amount they 'saved'. It always cracks me up when people say they saved $18,000 in a year on groceries for a family four.... in reality their total spend shouldn't be more than $8,000.

Totally agree. I have people at work that "can't believe" the 40% they just saved on a pair of shoes. Whereas I tell them I could have saved them 100% had they not bought that 57th pair that they "really needed" to begin with

[LookBeforeSpending]

Some people are just geared to look for the lowest prices and get the bargains but don't have the frugal follow through once they begin using that product. If I get 3 bottles of shampoo for free after coupons in one week, that doesn't mean I am using 1/2 a bottle per use, but some people will. Maybe the mindset is that they did such a good job finding the deal, they don't have to be careful or frugal with the use of that product.
I don't know though, because I am not made that way...

[cypher1]

This is me. Also, while I am mostly frugal, I have my areas where I am wasteful. For example, I throw out too much food.

I'm definitely guilty of that one for food. The same goes for water/electricity. But I'm getting better. :0

[Gary Barzel]

This seems like it could be an emotional issue, like she has some sort of blockage regarding being able to finish things all the way to the end. Do you notice if this carries on to work and other areas as well?

[mom-from-missouri]

maybe she is only frugal with her own money??
if she didn't pay for the tp, drink mix, phone cords, she may not care.