Comments on: The Ultimate Cheapskate’s Contest Winners http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/06/the-ultimate-cheapskates-contest-winners/ personal finance that makes cents Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:32:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: arebelspy http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/06/the-ultimate-cheapskates-contest-winners/#comment-111352 arebelspy Wed, 09 Jan 2008 14:21:04 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/06/the-ultimate-cheapskates-contest-winners/#comment-111352 Makes sense, and it's a good attitude to have about it, J.D. Thanks. Makes sense, and it’s a good attitude to have about it, J.D. Thanks.

]]> By: J.D. http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/06/the-ultimate-cheapskates-contest-winners/#comment-111309 J.D. Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:14:49 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/06/the-ultimate-cheapskates-contest-winners/#comment-111309 Alas, Jeff and I were unaware that The Frugal Aunt was an old joke when we selected it. What's done is done. That people game the system speaks more of the people than it does of the system, I think. When first alerted that this might be a joke, I did try to google for it, but came up empty. When I asked the commenter, he assured me it was a family story he'd heard when he was young. Anyhow -- it's a small thing in the grand scheme of life, and I'm not going to fret about it too much. Alas, Jeff and I were unaware that The Frugal Aunt was an old joke when we selected it. What’s done is done. That people game the system speaks more of the people than it does of the system, I think.

When first alerted that this might be a joke, I did try to google for it, but came up empty. When I asked the commenter, he assured me it was a family story he’d heard when he was young.

Anyhow — it’s a small thing in the grand scheme of life, and I’m not going to fret about it too much.

]]> By: arebelspy http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/06/the-ultimate-cheapskates-contest-winners/#comment-111303 arebelspy Wed, 09 Jan 2008 02:54:39 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/06/the-ultimate-cheapskates-contest-winners/#comment-111303 I'm disappointed "Frugal Aunt" won. It's an old joke told over and over. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071231102319AADsvTf http://www.e-cookbooks.net/humor.htm#preacher http://www.my-pastor.com/pastor-jokes.html http://www.ozms.org/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=2026&forum=3&post_id=14147 http://wald.heim.at/sherwood/531040/jokes.htm Google will find you hundreds more instances of it. That a person ripped it off and claimed it was their aunt and them that this happened to, and then in fact wins, is, frankly, disappointing. I don't care who won (I didn't have an entry in), but I spent well over an hour reading tons of great comments. That the stolen story won is sad. :( I’m disappointed “Frugal Aunt” won.

It’s an old joke told over and over.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071231102319AADsvTf
http://www.e-cookbooks.net/humor.htm#preacher
http://www.my-pastor.com/pastor-jokes.html
http://www.ozms.org/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=2026&forum=3&post_id=14147
http://wald.heim.at/sherwood/531040/jokes.htm

Google will find you hundreds more instances of it.

That a person ripped it off and claimed it was their aunt and them that this happened to, and then in fact wins, is, frankly, disappointing.

I don’t care who won (I didn’t have an entry in), but I spent well over an hour reading tons of great comments. That the stolen story won is sad. :(

]]> By: honeybee http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/06/the-ultimate-cheapskates-contest-winners/#comment-111138 honeybee Mon, 07 Jan 2008 22:17:56 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/06/the-ultimate-cheapskates-contest-winners/#comment-111138 I had no clue what a "Cub Scout Slide" was. So I googled it. Posted need not have worried: look at all the crafty stuff there is! http://members.tripod.com/~cubclub/ These are some fantastic life lessons! I had no clue what a “Cub Scout Slide” was. So I googled it. Posted need not have worried: look at all the crafty stuff there is!

http://members.tripod.com/~cubclub/

These are some fantastic life lessons!

]]> By: Amy http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/06/the-ultimate-cheapskates-contest-winners/#comment-111124 Amy Mon, 07 Jan 2008 20:20:51 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/06/the-ultimate-cheapskates-contest-winners/#comment-111124 Oh, I just loved these entries! I am sure that was a tough decision. I am going to be reading these to my husband tonight. It proves that I could be quite a bit more frugal :) Oh, I just loved these entries! I am sure that was a tough decision. I am going to be reading these to my husband tonight. It proves that I could be quite a bit more frugal :)

]]> By: Michelle http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/06/the-ultimate-cheapskates-contest-winners/#comment-111098 Michelle Mon, 07 Jan 2008 18:01:56 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/06/the-ultimate-cheapskates-contest-winners/#comment-111098 Aw, shucks. Guess I'll be putting the book on my PaperBackSwap wish list. (Well, you didn't think I was going to buy it retail, did you?) Aw, shucks. Guess I’ll be putting the book on my PaperBackSwap wish list. (Well, you didn’t think I was going to buy it retail, did you?)

]]> By: Ben http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/06/the-ultimate-cheapskates-contest-winners/#comment-111092 Ben Mon, 07 Jan 2008 17:02:35 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/06/the-ultimate-cheapskates-contest-winners/#comment-111092 Here's my easy way of differentiating between being frugal and being cheap. Being frugal only impacts you or causes you to sacrifice something and can be a virtue Being cheap impacts or affects others and is selfish. So, going out to dinner and leaving a 50 cent tip on a $9.50 meal is cheap. Limiting yourself to an $8.50 entree with a $1.50 tip is frugal. You've spent $10 both ways. Here’s my easy way of differentiating between being frugal and being cheap.

Being frugal only impacts you or causes you to sacrifice something and can be a virtue

Being cheap impacts or affects others and is selfish.

So, going out to dinner and leaving a 50 cent tip on a $9.50 meal is cheap. Limiting yourself to an $8.50 entree with a $1.50 tip is frugal. You’ve spent $10 both ways.

]]> By: The Financial Philosopher http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/06/the-ultimate-cheapskates-contest-winners/#comment-111078 The Financial Philosopher Mon, 07 Jan 2008 15:14:52 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/06/the-ultimate-cheapskates-contest-winners/#comment-111078 Yes, it is certainly true that there is a difference between frugal and "cheap;" however, there is also the "cost" of a foregone opportunity to make money work harder. In economics, it is called the "opportunity cost." Staying debt-free is admirable and even virtuous but not always wise. Money is best spent where money is most productive. To keep my comment brief, everything boils down to knowing yourself... Thanks for the heart-warming and entertaining anecdotes of frugality... Yes, it is certainly true that there is a difference between frugal and “cheap;” however, there is also the “cost” of a foregone opportunity to make money work harder. In economics, it is called the “opportunity cost.”

Staying debt-free is admirable and even virtuous but not always wise. Money is best spent where money is most productive. To keep my comment brief, everything boils down to knowing yourself…

Thanks for the heart-warming and entertaining anecdotes of frugality…

]]> By: Rob Madrid http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/06/the-ultimate-cheapskates-contest-winners/#comment-111044 Rob Madrid Mon, 07 Jan 2008 12:41:06 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/06/the-ultimate-cheapskates-contest-winners/#comment-111044 I didn't win (and didn't expect to) but I loved the stories. Well done!!! I didn’t win (and didn’t expect to) but I loved the stories. Well done!!!

]]> By: RacerX http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/06/the-ultimate-cheapskates-contest-winners/#comment-111034 RacerX Mon, 07 Jan 2008 06:46:30 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/06/the-ultimate-cheapskates-contest-winners/#comment-111034 They are all very good. But I like the bottle story the best. To pull in nearly $1000 and get the whole family and work involved is pretty impressive. They are all very good. But I like the bottle story the best. To pull in nearly $1000 and get the whole family and work involved is pretty impressive.

]]> By: Tasha Gets Money Smart http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/06/the-ultimate-cheapskates-contest-winners/#comment-111027 Tasha Gets Money Smart Mon, 07 Jan 2008 05:08:32 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/06/the-ultimate-cheapskates-contest-winners/#comment-111027 When I read The Frugal Aunt, I knew I read it years ago as one of those joke emails that circulate the web over and over again. Did you require that they be true? When I read The Frugal Aunt, I knew I read it years ago as one of those joke emails that circulate the web over and over again. Did you require that they be true?

]]> By: Stace Johnson http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/06/the-ultimate-cheapskates-contest-winners/#comment-111017 Stace Johnson Mon, 07 Jan 2008 04:14:52 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/01/06/the-ultimate-cheapskates-contest-winners/#comment-111017 Thanks for picking my entry, JD and Jeff! I look forward to receiving my copy of the book. Interestingly enough, I wrote an article for <a href="http://www.computoredge.com" rel="nofollow">ComputorEdge</a> magazine a couple of weeks ago about debt management, and I mentioned this blog (as well as Leo's <a href="www.zenhabits.net" rel="nofollow">Zen Habits</a> blog) in that article. It hits the Web next Friday at the ComputorEdge site (linked above.) That might look a bit fishy to some people, but I would like to assure everyone that JD knew nothing about that article or me when I submitted the contest entry. Thanks for picking my entry, JD and Jeff! I look forward to receiving my copy of the book.

Interestingly enough, I wrote an article for ComputorEdge magazine a couple of weeks ago about debt management, and I mentioned this blog (as well as Leo’s Zen Habits blog) in that article. It hits the Web next Friday at the ComputorEdge site (linked above.)

That might look a bit fishy to some people, but I would like to assure everyone that JD knew nothing about that article or me when I submitted the contest entry.

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