Broke is a condition, cheapness is a mindset

You ever seen that show Extreme Cheapskates?

It’s where folks go to these weird and unusual (usually irrational) lengths to save money.

For example, they go “dumpster diving” for food, medicines, baby cribs, and clothes.

I’m sorry, what?

You say you don’t know what dumpster diving is?

It’s where you open up a dumpster behind a business or maybe just some rando dumpster on the street and starting picking stuff out to take home.

One person’s garbage is another person’s… lunch?

More:

Some of the most extreme stuff I’ve seen on the show includes:

  • Reusing toilet paper
  • Washing clothes while taking a shower
  • Fishing food out of a garbage bin
  • Fishing medicine out of a garbage bin

In one episode, there was this woman who wanted to paint a nursery room for her yet-to-be-born baby. But, she didn’t want to pay for paint, so… she lied to a local paint store owner about buying paint in a couple days to get “free” paint samples to paint her newborn’s room.

What’s a little deceit when you’re pinching pennies?

I guess these folks somehow think they’re getting ahead by doing all this.

It’s really easy, if you think about it.

If you want to be a cheapskate, just lower your standards.

And, for heaven’s sake, do not, under any circumstances, even think about creating more value you can sell to someone else so you can make more money.

Problem solved.

For everyone else, creating value is a more rational and sustainable method of saving money and getting ahead.

It doesn’t require you to be a mooch, a liar, or be socially inept, or a hustler.

If that sounds like your brand of vodka, then join my email list for more tips and advice and get some valuable free (and paid) stuff I never share publicly on the blog.

David Lewis, AKA The Rogue Agent, has been a life insurance agent since 2004, and has worked with some of the oldest and most respected mutual life insurance companies in the U.S. during that time. To learn more about him and his business, go here.