Another bit of TV I watched while I was ill last month dealt with people who were extremely frugal. We're not talking your average everyday frugalites. These people took frugal to an "Ewwww...." level and were proud of it! I thought I'd share a few of the things I recall seeing in this particular show.
Number 1: It's your twentieth wedding anniversary...How would you feel if you received: a teapot, a card, roses, dinner out, and a funny little toy? Total spent for this very special day? Under $15 and that included dinner. This guy dumpster dived for the tea pot (which truly did look new, I'll give him that) and the roses ( he didn't even try to revive them!), recycled a get well card that was sent to his wife by a co-worker earlier in the year (stapling a business card blank side up over the former giver's name and then signed his own) and bought the toy for $.59...His wife was cool with all this. She's some woman, if you ask me. The only request she made was that he not follow a habit of his when he was out at the restaurant: asking other patrons for the foods they had leftover, packing them into take out containers and carrying them home for his own meals. Collectively: Ewwwww! And no he didn't follow her request, yes he did ask other patrons for their leftovers. His wife left the restaurant in tears, embarrassed beyond words. Her husband said they seldom go out to eat, but I have a feeling that's more because of her horror of this habit of his rather than their extreme frugality. For the record that gal is a keeper. She told the camera that she deeply loved this man, odd habits and all, save that one habit when they were eating out.