Frugal Versus Cheap
 

I am frugal. I admit it. I will buy a broken cheap car and fix it ten out of ten times. I enjoy saving money, I enjoy the work, and I enjoy the end result.

But I'm not cheap. Here is an example of 'cheap' to me.

My daughter and son-in-law live with us. He works from home in IT, she goes to college (round #2). They are both over 30. He makes good money, they have significant savings, and they only pay for groceries. Nothing else, ever.

Last week he got a voucher from his employer for $100 at a local grocery store, and he makes a big announcement 'I'm paying for all the food at the barbecue this weekend with my voucher'. Good, only fair, he eats twice what everyone else eats, never helps around the house ('sore back'), so we are all happy.

Yesterday he paid his 'rent' to my wife, and deducted the amount of the grocery voucher. {Edit: it's not rent, they make a small contribution to the monthly grocery bill...$150 per month each.}

What an ignorant a whole. /End of pandemic room-mate rant.

Be frugal. Don't be cheap.

He'd be looking for a new place to live if he lived with me.

That's not being cheap, that's being a total dickhead.

But wait "they only pay for groceries. Nothing else" and then "Yesterday he paid his rent to my wife." The first statement made it sound like they were living with you rent-free. I guess what you really meant was that they aren't paying utilities? Power, water, cable, internet, etc..., but they are paying rent and food.

Still, "I'm paying for the cookout (but deducting it from my rent)." Well then he didn't pay for crap, you did by proxy.

Cheap to me is buying junk that doesn't last to save a buck now, but because you bought junk, you probably end up spending more in the long run (or dealing with a bunch of BS because most of your stuff doesn't work as it should).

That ain't cheap. That is chicken chit.

Why are they living with you in the first place? Now THAT's being cheap.

rjp

Just to clarify: they contribute to groceries only (but not their fair share), no utilities, no rent.

COVID. Which rolled into her going back to school.

Not my decision either...

Wait a minute.... you say, "...and they only pay for groceries. Nothing else, ever."

Then you bring up rent.

I have to agree that if the SIL says he's buying, he doesn't deduct. Being the kind of person I am, I'd hold onto that bit until the right time comes along.

The 'rent' they pay (that's what they call it) is just a contribution to the monthly grocery bill.

I have made that correction above.

A raid on the fridge is in order.

I think a vending machine in the kitchen is in order.

Sounds like a deadbeat to me.

LOL! I agree with you Steve. Complete and total dickhead.

Have these two ever lived by themselves and maintained a household?

Time to goooooooo.

I think the old 1960's lady with the thick glasses could run em' off! Hire her as a live in maid and have her follow the kids around 24-7. :D

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1624980778.jpg

Yes, they moved back after COVID. But they were never very 'independent', home every weekend...taking leftovers, doing laundry etc.

Vending machine, I like it. And a coin operated pool heater!

Wow, that's a pretty farked up situation.

There are so many issues with the whole thing. But I understand trying to help the kids. And then being taken advantage of is, sadly, not a huge surprised. It's far too common.

Yea, 30+ years old and living at home it is time to grow up and go be adults. Covid is not a valid excuse.

I am frugal, but not cheap. I drive a 35 year old car with 373,000 miles on it as a daily driver. I have owned it for over 30 years. I keep it in top condition, and constantly get offers to sell it. I certainly have had to spend money on it to get that many miles. I recently had the drive shaft balanced, and had new U-joints installed to eliminate a weird vibration. The place that did it noticed the transmission seal was leaking, because the yoke had a notch worn in it from all the miles. It cost me about 40 bucks for a new yoke. That original part only lasted 373,00 miles and I can't even calculate the cost per mile as it is too many zeros.

I had to have front A-arm bushings replaced and a new alignment recently and that cost me $420 bucks or 0.0011260053619303 per mile.

He might be exactly that, but I'd guess he's more likely a pampered, tone-deaf Millennial (which to some might fairly equate to total dickhead).

They are not kids. They are 30+ years old. Time to go.