Devin Jacobs
We all love saving a few bucks here and there, but some people take frugality to an entirely new level. Ever wonder just how far some folks will go to pinch pennies? Well, you’re in for a treat because we’ll get into the fascinating and sometimes downright weird world of extreme penny-pinching in this article. We’ve gathered 50 stories from real people on Reddit that might make you think, “Why didn’t I think of that?” or leave you scratching your head.
The “Generous” Gift That Gave It All Away
One Redditor shared that their brother gave them a $50 gift card to Lonestar, his favorite restaurant, for their birthday. He then joined them for dinner and ordered more than $50 worth of food and drinks for himself. Makes us wonder if the gift card was supposed to be a present or just a cover for a solo splurge.
Lottery Winner’s Selective Amnesia
A user stated that after a friend won $250,000 in the lottery, she invited them out for dinner and to show off her new car. Conveniently, she “forgot” her credit card, leaving the user—who was barely scraping by—to pay for the meal. The friend never reimbursed them. Dinner celebration or cunning test of friendship?
The Entrée Encore Maneuver
After claiming she wasn’t done with her meal, one commenter described how a friend managed to get a fresh entrée to take home after the waitress cleared her plate at Summerlicious. Who knew leftovers could come with a sequel?
The Tip Hijacker’s True Colors
A Redditor recalled a night out where everyone pitched in their share plus a tip, only to discover that the guy collecting the money used the tip to cover part of his own bill, leaving little to nothing for the server. Is this cheapness or just a masterclass in selfishness?
The “Borrowed” Bathrobe Gesture
A user recounted how their ex stole a bathrobe from the downtown hotel where he worked and then gifted it to them. Well, we must say, when a gift comes with a side of grand larceny, you’ve hit a new low!
The Hidden Cost of Friendship
One Redditor shared that a friend offered to drive for a trip, but later, when everyone pitched in for gas, he added an extra charge for the “depreciation of his car.” When every mile you drive with a friend turns into a financial audit, what even is left to say?
The Divide and Conquer Fry Strategy
A commenter mentioned a friend who ordered $3 fries, then claimed she didn’t want them and asked others at the table to share. When the bill arrived, she asked to split the fries four ways. And that is how sharing fries becomes a lesson in advanced economics.
The Penny Pincher’s Payment Hack
This Redditor shared that they know someone who pays in cash if it will be rounded down but taps to avoid rounding up, saving a few cents daily. But hey, saving seven cents a day might just fund that coffee…in 10 years.
The Cherry Stem Shakedown
One user revealed that their brother pulls the stems off cherries before weighing them at the grocery store, shaving off those extra grams. Not everyone is willing to go the extra stem to save a buck.
The Retail Return Racket
A handler shared how they’ve seen some of the cheapest people at retail returns, especially those who return Christmas decorations after the holidays. The worst? A guy who returned flooring to Costco after it had been installed in his basement for five years. Now we have to ask, Is there an expiration date on ethics, or just on floorboards?
The One-Potato Wonder
One Redditor shared a story about a friend who attended a picnic with only a single potato in hand. He enjoyed the steaks, salads, and drinks everyone else contributed, all while proudly munching on his lone spud. This one has us speechless!
Toilet Paper Rationing: A New Low?
A user recounted how their friend strictly allocates a specific number of toilet paper sheets to guests using his bathroom. If this sort of TP allowance doesn’t scream hospitality, we don’t know what will.
The Fork Fixer
Another Redditor mentioned their dad, who took a broken, cheap dinner fork to his aerospace company to have a professional welder repair it. Who knows, maybe forks are the new frontier of space-age technology!
Costco’s All-You-Can-Eat Buffet
Someone admitted to going to Costco just to fill up on free samples from every table until they were full. To be fair, who needs a meal plan when they’ve got aisle after aisle of bite-sized savings?
Shawarma Resale: The Ultimate Upsell
A user shared an experience where they treated a friend to a shawarma, only for the friend to try selling the uneaten half back to them. Why share a meal when you can resell it?
Trunk Tales: The Drive-In Drama
One person recalled how a couple they knew would hide someone in the trunk to avoid paying for an extra ticket at the drive-in. We guess true love translates to never having to pay for two tickets!
Flush Conservation: A Grandmother’s Legacy
A Redditor remembered how their grandmother only flushed for number 2, making visits to her house quite an experience. Let’s term this one when water conservation goes down the drain… or maybe not.
Birthday Drinks: The DIY Edition
A user recalled their first legal drink at 18, when their friend showed up without any money, leaving them to foot the bill. Is it really a treat if you have to pay for it yourself? Guess the concept of a birthday party flew over their head.
BYO… Coffee?
Someone shared how a guy invited them for coffee but brought his own cup from home. Is this some high-level coffee snobbery or just sneakily saving a buck? You decide!
The Couple’s Discount
This user shared how a couple would always count themselves as one person when dividing group expenses: two hearts, one wallet. It sounds romantic… until the bill arrives!
Power Down to Save Pennies
One Redditor said they only use their phone twice a day to save battery and power, claiming it’s a strategy to squirrel away a few extra cents for retirement. Apparently, every cent counts when you’re planning for a future of endless frugality. Does anyone else smell a solar-powered retirement plan in the making?
Finders Keepers, Even for a Dime
A user stated that if they see a dime or a nickel on the ground, they absolutely pick it up. After all, ten cents is practically a down payment on that dream coffee from 1985. Is anyone else tempted to start a ‘penny saved’ challenge?
Mother’s Day, Dutch Treat Edition
This handler recounted a story about a guy so cheap that he made his mother pay for her half of dinner on Mother’s Day. Because nothing says “I love you, Mom”, like splitting the bill, or is this what people mean by “shared family values”?
The Case of the Vanishing Crackers
A user shared a story about someone who brought crackers to a dinner party, then packed them up and took them back home at the end of the night. Well, they do say it’s better to give and take, right?
Every Last Drop of Egg-y Goodness
This person mentioned seeing a friend crack an egg and then “rinse” out the remaining yolk from the shell pieces, making sure not a drop goes to waste. Talk about egg-cellent thriftiness! But honestly, are we cracking up over this or just cracking under pressure?
Condiment Connoisseur or Klepto?
Someone shared a tale of a person swiping small ketchup packets from work and food courts because they didn’t want to buy a bottle for the family. Napkins, plastic utensils, and free samples weren’t safe either. We get it: condiment costs add up, but how much ketchup does one person need?
Grounds for Reuse…Or Refuse?”
Another hander recounted how their sister-in-law tried to reuse coffee grounds as if they were tea leaves. Coffee aficionados might need a moment to process this. Is this brewing a new trend, or is it just an emergency caffeine fix gone wrong?
Fake It ‘Til You Break It (and Get a Replacement)
This user mentioned someone who bought a fake Otterbox case, destroyed it, and then went to the Otterbox store to get a replacement. The boldness here is off the charts. Or is this just extreme couponing in disguise?
Bargain Hunting in the Name of Charity
One handler saw someone ask for a discount at a charity shop. Apparently, charity begins at home—and is best served with a side of haggling. Can we get a discount on that moral compass, too?
Removing the Seats for a Mileage Feat
Another user shared that their uncle removed the back seats from his 1990s minivan to increase mileage. The lengths some will go to for fuel efficiency! Is this the future of carpooling or just a one-man mission to win the frugality Olympics?
When Free Just Isn’t Free Enough
A Redditor revealed that a colleague would unscrew the jar from the office coffee dispenser, pour it into a plastic bag, and take it home. The same thing happened with the sugar. The office coffee wasn’t just cheap; it was apparently free! Extreme hack or just plain desperation?
Walmart’s Worst Nightmare
Someone shared that their friend’s dad took full advantage of Walmart’s return policy. He once drank most of a gallon of milk, filled it back up with water, and returned it for an exchange. This person clearly took milking the system seriously.
The Parking Lot Party
One Redditor recounted how their friend spent three hours sitting in his car on a Saturday night just to avoid paying a $5 cover charge. But really, who needs a night out when you’ve got a free seat in the parking lot?
Making the Most of Every Sip
A user mentioned that their friend’s mom would mix Coca-Cola with sparkling water to stretch it further. Apparently, sparkling water is much cheaper where they live. When life gives you Coke, add sparkling water!
DIY Gone Wrong
Another handler shared that their mother-in-law made her own laundry detergent, which ended up costing more, took longer to make, and didn’t work well at all. Maybe some things are better left on the shelf.
Thermos Tea Anyone?
This person recounted how their uncle would ask for as much free hot tea as possible at Chinese restaurants, then pour it into Thermos flasks to take home. Tea-riffic savings or just a steep price to pay for free tea?
A Cheap Fix with Moldy Consequences
One user shared how someone they knew used duct tape to cover a hole in their car window. Months later, when they wanted to buy the same car, it was full of mold due to moisture seeping in. Duct tape is quite the fix-all, except when it’s not.
Avoiding Slicing Fees, One Block at a Time
A Redditor revealed that their mom refused to pay the extra two-cent fee for slicing cheese at the deli and started buying whole blocks instead. If life gives you cheese, just roll with the blocks!
When One Use Isn’t Enough
A user recounted seeing a coworker wash and hang dry paper towels for reuse. The coworker even set up a drying line in the kitchen. Paper towels: the new laundry load?
Ice Recycling: Redefining Chill on a Budget
This handler knew a guy who would take ice from his freezer for a drink and then put the remaining ice cubes back in the freezer when he was done. We are sure that you never knew that recycling could be this cold.
The Week-Long Glove Marathon
One Redditor shared a story about someone who worked for an oil company and managed to stretch out the life of their provided nitrile gloves by reusing the same pair for an entire week. Talk about getting every last drop of value—wonder if those gloves get weekends off?
Shampoo Suds for Supper
Another user recounted an ingenious, albeit odd, use of cheap shampoo for washing dishes. To make it even more budget-friendly, the dog got first dibs on licking the plates clean. Who knew dish soap could have such competition?
Shower Time Shuffle
A Redditor reminisced about their childhood, where they and their siblings had to shower in pairs to save money well into their teenage years. Family bonding time in the bathroom—because nothing says “we’re in this together,” like synchronized showering.
Age-Defying Discounts
One user shared the embarrassment of pretending to be 10 years old during a family vacation, even though they were 13, just to avoid paying higher rates. Puberty is awkward enough without being forced to play make-believe.
Gourmet Garbage Gastronomy
A former friend of another Redditor took frugality to a new level by retrieving and eating donuts straight from the dumpster, even though they lived comfortably. Nothing says gourmet like dumpster-fresh pastries!
Slicing Up the Savings
In a college story, a classmate who couldn’t finish her pizza offered slices to others but then surprised everyone by asking for 50 cents per slice. Apparently, generosity comes with a price tag—literally.
The $50 Thank You That Wasn’t
One Redditor’s dad and uncle teamed up to give a family friend a $50 gift card. Later, the dad found out the friend only received $15 instead of $50. Some gifts just keep on taking.
Calculating Car Karma
A user lets a friend borrow their car for a week. After using the gas already in the tank, the friend added $20 of gas and then asked for $11 back because she “only used $9 worth.” Charging for gas—and a math lesson!
Foodless Friendships
Another Redditor’s parents were so frugal that they wouldn’t let their child share food with visiting friends despite not being in financial trouble. Nothing says “welcome,” like keeping all the snacks to yourself.
The BYO Water Garden
Finally, a Redditor remembered their uncle, who asked his sister-in-law to water his flowers while he was on vacation. He shut off his water and told her to bring her own from home. Why stop there? Maybe she should have brought sunshine, too!