Last year I was contacted by a casting person at TLC for a show they were airing on people who exhibited extreme frugality. Turns out I was not “extreme” enough, which I think it is a good thing. Here’s a little mini bio about my life as a cheapster that I sent to them. So I present to you a little bit of information about myself:
Age 0: Born to Cheapsters Parents
Age 8: Exhibited early signs of cheapness. At the age of 8 by an act of faith received four piggy banks. Used each for different coins. One of her favorite hobbies was putting coins into rolls and taking them to the bank to exchange for money.
Age 12: In middle school to save money for a clothing shopping spree, Jackie the cheapster starts peddling pixie stix during breaks at her locker. She makes 400% profit per box of pixie stix ($12 for every $3 spent).
Age 13: When purchasing a slice of pizza for her lunch, she would take off the pepperonis off it and eat it last so it would feel as if she had more food.
Age 14: Perplexed and curious about the idea of money, she did an informal survey on people’s thoughts and feelings on money, and asked friends, parents of friends, teachers, local librarians, crosswalk attendants, etc. She compiled everything into a ‘zine.
Age 18: First year of college. Experimented with different modes of personal budgeting and came to the conclusion that an Excel sheet works best.
Age 19: Met some of her closest friends in college. Ying the cheapster had a gift for finding free magazine subscriptions and had other freebies such as hoisery, underwear, food processors, and George Forman grills sent to their apartments. Denise the cheapster would steal catsup packets from restaurants instead of buying it from the supermarket, ate top ramen straight from the sauce pan.
Age 22: Graduated college, moved back home to focus on writing and to save money.
Age 23: Went without a cell phone for about 6 months in an effort to save money.
Age 24: Got her first full-time job, moves into her first apartment. Fearful that something bad will happen to her job and she will break her one-year lease, tries to save money in every aspect of her life. She doesn’t go on trips, buy clothes, and eats her dinner by candlelight to save money on electricity. Manages to save 25% of her humble take-home income. Creates an alter ego named: WorldsCheap.
Really wants to reach out to others who would rather have less money and more free time, so in..
Launches Cheapsters–ta da! A place to share ideas on how to save money, yet still enjoy life. To not feel confined by not having too much money, to still manage to have savings despite mounting bills.
