{"id":252479,"date":"2025-06-20T15:45:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-20T13:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/herway.net\/?p=252479"},"modified":"2025-06-20T15:14:10","modified_gmt":"2025-06-20T13:14:10","slug":"things-frugal-people-do-that-make-everyone-else-feel-slightly-uncomfortable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/herway.net\/pt\/things-frugal-people-do-that-make-everyone-else-feel-slightly-uncomfortable\/","title":{"rendered":"17 Things Frugal People Do That Make Everyone Else Feel Slightly Uncomfortable"},"content":{"rendered":"

Let\u2019s be honest: you probably know at least one person who counts every penny and finds bargains like it\u2019s a competitive sport.<\/strong> Maybe it\u2019s your aunt who scrapes every last bit of peanut butter from the jar, or your old roommate who turned couponing into an Olympic event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frugal people, in all their glory, tend to make the rest of us squirm just a little\u2014maybe because their habits quietly ask, \u201cCould you be doing this, too?\u201d <\/em>But behind every awkward moment\u2014every reused container, every awkward negotiation at the register\u2014there\u2019s a story, a reason, maybe a little defiance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This isn\u2019t about mocking, or glorifying, or even about money. It\u2019s about the way these choices make the rest of us pause, look in the mirror, and wonder why we do what we do.<\/strong> So, here\u2019s the real list. No judgement, just honesty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Negotiating Every Price, Even at Major Retailers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Negotiating
\n \u00a9 Reader’s Digest<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s always that moment at the checkout\u2014when someone in your group looks the cashier dead in the eyes and asks, \u201cIs there any way I could get a better price?\u201d

You feel the flush rise in your cheeks. It\u2019s not a flea market, but here she is, negotiating at Target like it\u2019s Istanbul\u2019s Grand Bazaar. She\u2019s not embarrassed. She sees prices as negotiable, always.

Sometimes you want to sink into the floor, especially when she pulls out her phone to show a price from somewhere else. Yet, half of you admires her guts. She saves a few bucks, walks away with a smile, and leaves you wondering if you\u2019re the foolish one for never asking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Bringing Their Own Food to Restaurants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Bringing
\n \u00a9 PR Week<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re out for dinner. She\u2019s there with Tupperware in her purse, sliding out her own dressing or gluten-free bread with practiced ease.

The waiter stares, your friends look away, and you feel like you\u2019re in a sitcom. But to her, dietary restrictions and budget both matter, so she never orders what she can make at home for pennies.

It\u2019s not about disrespecting the restaurant\u2014it\u2019s about refusing to pay $12 for a side salad. There\u2019s a quiet satisfaction when she tells you she hasn\u2019t paid a markup for a meal in years. You wish you had her nerve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Reusing and Washing Disposable Items<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Reusing
\n \u00a9 Bored Panda<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You thought single-use meant, well, single-use. Not for her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\u2019s the queen of rinsing Ziploc bags, drying them on a special rack, and keeping every takeout container, lid matched to bottom. At picnics, she goes around collecting everyone\u2019s \u201ctrash\u201d to take home for a second life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At times you catch yourself feeling squirmy, picturing germs or just worrying what others might think. But she\u2019s right\u2014less waste, less money spent. And one day you realize half your own fridge is now organized with old soup containers. You\u2019ve been converted, maybe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Turning Down the Thermostat (or Never Turning on the AC)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Turning
\n \u00a9 Reddit<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You visit her in January and wonder why you can see your breath. It\u2019s her house, her rules, and the thermostat barely cracks 60.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She hands you a sweater and a cup of tea with a smile. \u201cBundle up,\u201d she laughs. \u201cHeat is expensive.\u201d It\u2019s kind of cozy, kind of uncomfortable, and you debate wearing gloves inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t help admiring her resolve.<\/a> She\u2019s not wasting energy, she\u2019s not wasting money, and she\u2019s never apologetic. But on occasion, you dream about her inviting you to a tropical resort\u2014that is, if she\u2019d ever splurge like that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Cutting Their Own Hair (and Maybe Yours)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Cutting
\n \u00a9 Kate Davies Designs<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The kitchen becomes a salon, but not everyone\u2019s at ease. She sharpens her scissors, pulls up a YouTube tutorial, and goes for it\u2014no hesitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You worry about uneven bangs, but she\u2019s fearless. Perhaps she even offers to trim your ends, and you have to find a polite way to say, \u201cMaybe next time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She saves hundreds a year and talks about how empowering it feels. You admire her confidence, but part of you misses the soft towels and gentle chatter of a real salon. Somehow, you keep thinking about the cost of your last haircut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Splitting Hairs (and Bills) Down to the Penny<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Splitting
\n \u00a9 Global English Editing<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Forget rounding up \u201cjust to keep it simple.\u201d She calculates her omelet, her half of the coffee, and the exact tip. Every penny has a place.

It\u2019s not stingy, it\u2019s her principle\u2014she pays her share, not a cent more or less. Sometimes you feel awkward, watching her count change while others just toss in twenties and call it even.

But here\u2019s the truth: you never worry about her short-changing you. If anything, she\u2019s the fairest one at the table. Still, you wish the server didn\u2019t always have to bring so many receipts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Repairing Instead of Replacing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Repairing
\n \u00a9 Waterlution<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You see her patching socks, sewing buttons, and fixing zippers before ever considering new clothes. Her toolbox is as well-used as her wardrobe.<\/a>

There\u2019s an art to her repairs, but sometimes the fixes are visible\u2014bright thread, mismatched patches. It\u2019s thrift, not style, that drives her decisions.

You feel a mix of admiration and secondhand embarrassment, especially when she wears her mended jeans proudly. She sees stories in every stitch. You see persistence, maybe a little rebellion against throwaway culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Avoiding Brand Names Like the Plague<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Avoiding
\n \u00a9 Taste of Home<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When you shop with her, there\u2019s no time wasted looking at fancy brands. Store-label everything: cereal, detergent, even chocolate.

She insists there\u2019s no real difference, except in price. You want to believe her, but you quietly stare at your old favorite on the shelf.

Sometimes she does taste tests at home, just to prove her point. You watch her stack her savings receipts and wonder if she\u2019s onto something. Maybe brand loyalty is just expensive nostalgia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Taking Leftovers Home from Parties (Even Others\u2019 Parties)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Taking
\n \u00a9 BuzzFeed<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

She\u2019s the guest who never lets good food go to waste. Before the cake is even cut, she\u2019s eyeing the buffet, asking if anyone wants the last of the pasta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the party winds down, out come her containers. She packs up the extras with a smile, unfazed by surprised glances from hosts or guests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At first, it\u2019s a little shocking. But she hates waste and loves free meals. Eventually, you realize she\u2019s just practical, not rude. Nevertheless, you wonder if you\u2019ll ever feel comfortable doing the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Making Their Own Gifts (and Maybe Regifting)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Making
\n \u00a9 Apartment Therapy<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Some people spend hours on Amazon for birthday gifts. She spends hours in the kitchen or craft drawer, baking cookies or knitting scarves.

You get a handmade candle, maybe a soap bar\u2014sometimes it\u2019s beautiful, sometimes it\u2019s a little odd. There\u2019s always a personal note, though, and you can\u2019t deny the effort.

Every now and then, you spot a familiar gift in her pile and wonder if it\u2019s a regift. She\u2019s unapologetic\u2014nothing goes to waste. You wish you could be so resourceful, and maybe a little less sentimental about stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11. Using Public Transportation\u2014No Matter What<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Using
\n \u00a9 Bored Panda<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When everyone else is calling rideshares, she\u2019s checking bus schedules. Even if it\u2019s pouring\u2014or if it means waiting in the cold\u2014she\u2019s there with her monthly pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not about lack of options, it\u2019s about priorities. She\u2019d rather save on gas, insurance, parking, and stress, even if it means extra time and a little discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At times you admire her patience. Other times you wish she\u2019d take a ride with you, just once. But her commitment is real, and she always arrives with a good story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12. Batch Cooking and Freezing Meals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Batch
\n \u00a9 The Healthy Mummy<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Her Sunday isn\u2019t for brunch\u2014it\u2019s for batch cooking. Giant pots on the stove, the smell of soup filling the air, and plastic tubs lined up like soldiers.

She freezes everything: chili, pasta, breakfast burritos. It looks a bit extreme until you realize she never spends on takeout and always has dinners ready.

You feel like you\u2019re living in a future episode of a prepping show. But when you taste her reheated lasagna, you get it. She\u2019s not just frugal\u2014she\u2019s prepared, organized, and always one step ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

13. Extreme Couponing\u2014Clipping, Organizing, and Bragging<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Extreme
\n \u00a9 The Penny Hoarder<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Her purse is a filing cabinet. She knows every coupon policy in town and can spot a BOGO deal from a mile away.

Some call it obsessive, but when she walks out with a cart of groceries for half what you paid, you squirm and then feel a little envious.

She logs every win in a notebook, sometimes sharing her \u201chaul\u201d on social media. You thought coupons were just for grandmas\u2014but she makes saving money look like sport.<\/a> Still, you\u2019re not quite ready to join her couponing cult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

14. DIY Cleaning Products (and Maybe Toothpaste)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"DIY
\n \u00a9 Wellness Mama<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Her cleaning supplies smell like lemon and vinegar, not chemicals. She\u2019s got recipes for everything\u2014window spray, laundry soap, even toothpaste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At times the scents are unexpected; sometimes the results are, too. She\u2019s proud of her non-toxic lifestyle, and you get a science lesson every time you visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You catch yourself missing the blue bottle sometimes, but her floors are spotless and her conscience is clear. You wonder if it\u2019s time to ditch the big brands yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

15. Stockpiling Essentials When They\u2019re on Sale<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Stockpiling
\n \u00a9 Homestead How-To<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

She\u2019s the reason the store ran out of paper towels last week. Her closet looks like Costco exploded\u2014rows of toothpaste, soap, rice, all bought on sale.

You tease her about preparing for the apocalypse, but she never pays full price for anything. There\u2019s something reassuring about her stash, even if it feels excessive.

When shortages hit, she\u2019s calm while everyone else scrambles. You realize she\u2019s not just frugal\u2014she\u2019s prepared, savvy, and somehow always one step ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

16. Refusing to Pay for Bottled Water<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Refusing
\n \u00a9 FloWater<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Her water bottle is an extension of her arm. She never buys bottled water, no matter how thirsty\u2014or how much peer pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\u2019ll cross a park to find a water fountain and fill up, even if it means waiting in line or getting a few odd looks. She recycles every bottle she finds, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her logic is clear: why pay for something that\u2019s nearly free and less wasteful? In certain moments, you feel sheepish holding your own expensive bottle. One day, you leave it at home on purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

17. Using Every Last Drop (of Everything)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Using
\n \u00a9 YouTube<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve never seen anyone work so hard for a drop of shampoo. She cuts open tubes, stands bottles upside down, and scrapes jars clean with a spatula.

You laugh, but then you realize how much waste you create. She finds satisfaction in using up every bit\u2014nothing wasted, nothing overlooked.

There\u2019s a certain stubborn pride in her method. You start trying it yourself, quietly at first. Suddenly, your products last longer, and your garbage can doesn\u2019t fill as fast.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Let\u2019s be honest: you probably know at least one person who counts every penny and finds bargains like it\u2019s a competitive sport. Maybe it\u2019s your aunt who scrapes every last bit of peanut butter from the jar, or your old roommate who turned couponing into an Olympic event. Frugal people, in all their glory, tend…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":252478,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[29677],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-252479","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-personality-types"],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":29677,"label":"personality types"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/herway.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/17-Things-Frugal-People-Do-That-Make-Everyone-Else-Feel-Slightly-Uncomfortable-1024x532.jpg",1024,532,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Martha Sullivan","author_link":"https:\/\/herway.net\/pt\/author\/martha-sullivan\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":29677,"name":"personality types","slug":"personality-types","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":29677,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Hippies, alphas, betas, sapiophiles...Every personality type is unique and contains a particular set of skills. Find out which one describes you best.","parent":22911,"count":336,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":29677,"category_count":336,"category_description":"Hippies, alphas, betas, sapiophiles...Every personality type is unique and contains a particular set of skills. Find out which one describes you best.","cat_name":"personality types","category_nicename":"personality-types","category_parent":22911}],"tag_info":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/herway.net\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/252479","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/herway.net\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/herway.net\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/herway.net\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/herway.net\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=252479"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/herway.net\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/252479\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":252506,"href":"https:\/\/herway.net\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/252479\/revisions\/252506"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/herway.net\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/252478"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/herway.net\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=252479"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/herway.net\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=252479"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/herway.net\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=252479"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}