About the Author
MakintheBacon$ is a personal finance/lifestyle blogger who enjoys writing about her thoughts and experiences in life and finance. When she’s not blogging she can be found at the gym motivating people, in the kitchen baking cupcakes, riding her bike here and there, travelling to an exotic destination or on the couch with a glass of white wine and a good book.
Kids can be cute and say the darnedest cutest things. But they can also be real mean. Two words: Mean Girls. In real life and in the movie. Okay. Okay. It’s not only girls. But for some reason, girls seem to be naturally meaner? What is up with that?
During my grade school days, I got made fun of. It was never to the point of bullying, but I did get teased a fair bit. For many different things. Getting good grades in school. Funny how being a “braniac” in grade school and high school is not considered cool by most, yet in university it is considered very cool and you are well-respected. I actually consider it a turn-on! This explains the fact why most guys I’ve dated were nerdy in one way or another. The love of my life is pretty nerdy. When we both are wearing our glasses and kiss, I say “Nerd love.”
I got teased also for having to wear glasses at an early age. This was at a time when they weren’t considered “trendy”. I got teased for being the one of the first to get braces. But then everyone else started to get them!!! As I mentioned in my post I want to get married, for all the wrong reasons , I got teased for my last name. Although no one makes fun of it now, it still bugs me.
With all those things put behind me, people appreciating my nerdiness, braces off, glasses replaced by contacts, I still get teased for one thing from time to time: BEING FRUGAL
I’d have to say the most common thing I’ve been told is “Stop being so cheap!”
My sister told me I would (emphasis on the would) shop for clothes at the grocery store. And why not? I’m all about multi-functionality, efficiency, and saving money!
“What do you use coupons for? Are you 60 years old?”
I had a flip phone for so long and although I got a blackberry a little over a year ago, I am constantly teased for it.
Aside from the teasing, I have been complimented a few times on how well I am able to find bargains and save so aggressively. (I do not have a six figure income and am currently nowhere near it).
It’s ironic how a lot of the times, the people who tease you about your spending/saving habits are the ones who most likely have worse spending/saving habits. It’s almost as if they want you to be in the same position as they are, so they won’t feel so bad.
NO THANK YOU.
Or maybe they are jealous.
I’ll admit, sometimes I do feel like a complete outsider to some of my friends when it comes to frugality or investing. I get real excited when I find a deal and am able to save more money. I get real emotional watching the prices of my stocks and mutual funds rise and fall. I am obsessive about entering my expenses in my monthly budget spreadsheets and always strive to save more of my income and invest more. I am constantly thinking about what stocks I should buy next.
If you still want to tease me about my frugality, go ahead. I don’t care. All I know is that I’m saving my money, enjoying my money and enjoying watching it grow. So just like the little red-headed kid in the image: nanny-nanny-poo-poo!
Have you ever been teased for being frugal?
Hi, my name is Lauren but I'm known to those nearest and dearest as L. Bee. After twenty-five years on the planet I have worked in a lot of industries, moved to many different cities, and made almost every money mistake you can make.Join me on my journey as I navigate my twenties and try not to pick my "money tree" bare.
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I bet I could beat you on this one. My friend texted me and was VERY hostile about my saving habits. I have recently decided to pay down my $9000 credit card debt (which I racked up being carefree with him, actually). He texted me and told me that I was letting other people control my life, that I need to spend a week and just not care about my finances, and then told me he wouldn’t be my friend because I’m letting my finances block me from having fun in my 20s. Then he said that I should just start paying off my debt when I’m 30. I’m 24. What kind of friend is this?
Sounds like someone you may want to cut off the friendship with. Friends should be supportive of your finances. Awesome for you to decide to pay down your credit card debt. You still have quite some time to save up lots before you’re 30.
I definitely wish I started at your age.
MakintheBacon$ recently posted..Guest Post at Lbee and the Money Tree
I`ve never been teased for being frugal, but I guess being a student makes me fall under the radar. Which is lovely! But I guess it won`t last forever. Just 1 year and 4 months to. Until then I`ll be staying put under the “cheapskate”-radar!
The Blonde recently posted..The Time Thieves
I think you can still be under that radar if you recently graduated too and are looking for a job.
MakintheBacon$ recently posted..Guest Post at Lbee and the Money Tree
I’m a pretty big cheapskate who goes to great lengths to not look like one. Helps with the “not getting teased” part
My sister only teases me because she’s more of a fashionista than I am. I buy the majority of clothes out of season, take advantage of sales and use gift cards when give them. I find using accessories helps spruce up my wardrobe.
The Joe Fresh brand at the grocery stores is pretty stylish. They even have their own store at a big box shopping centre near my parents. I guess the idea of shopping for clothes at a grocery store still seems taboo. Maybe in a few years it will be considered normal and maybe even trendy!
MakintheBacon$ recently posted..Guest Post at Lbee and the Money Tree
Yeah, I haven’t bought anything at a supermarket, haha. My big clothes-shopping “trick” is that I buy clothes that are classic and virtually timeless, I buy them from TJ Maxx, Nordstrom Rack, outlets etc. and I literally wear them FOREVER.
Dark wash jeans? I own just one pair (bought for $99) and they’ve lasted me 6 or 7 years. Standard, great-fitting button downs? 4 colors, the “youngest” is 3 years old. Designer leather purse? Bought for $120, have worn it every day for 4 1/2 years now. I buy nice stuff, but I am ridiculously choosy (I probably own only 40 total clothing items!) and I will wear it every week (or even multiple times per week!) until the seams unravel. And I never, ever, ever buy trendy things because they go out of style and aren’t worth my money.
It’s slightly neurotic, but it works for me! I have quality stuff, I feel proud to wear my outfits, and I save gobs of money by not having to buy clothes but MAYBE once per year.
I have been teased for being frugal but always in a good-natured way. Luckily for me I work in education and educators/education administrators are known for being frugal (The Millionaire Next Door) -they don’t get paid a lot haha! But, no one else is paying my bills so I don’t really care what people think…most of the time.
I work for government and despite what some people think, I don’t get paid a lot either! The majority of my co-workers are quite frugal and it’s fun having conversations with them about winning the lottery one day.
MakintheBacon$ recently posted..Guest Post at Lbee and the Money Tree
Most of my friends make good money and I’ve had quite the opposite happen. I get complimented on my goals and my discipline. In fact I usually get, “I wish I could be more like that.” Interesting to see all the perspectives. BTW I got teased so bad in junior high. I was an overweight kid so I got bullied pretty bad. You know you never forget those experiences…
Budget & the Beach recently posted..Frugal Habits of the Rich
I secretly wish people would compliment me more on my goals and discipline. Haha. My mom and financial advisor seem to be the only two that compliment me on that quite often.
Sorry to hear you got bullied in junior high. Kids can be so cruel and it’s true, you never forget. I still remember the names and faces of the kids who teased me about certain things.
MakintheBacon$ recently posted..Guest Post at Lbee and the Money Tree
I’ve never been teased for being frugal, but I used to know a girl and we were pretty good friends, or so I thought. When I started to get my finances under control and couldn’t go out to happy hour or go shopping anymore, she disappeared. From what I hear, she is still racking up credit card debt. Oh well…
Mackenzie recently posted..5 Things I Wish I Could Tell My 30 Year Old Self
Well you’re better off now.
Looks like she needs to get her finances under control.
MakintheBacon$ recently posted..Guest Post at Lbee and the Money Tree
I have been teased about being cheap. I don’t care.
I actually think I’m less cheap than most people think. I am a thrifty buyer. I shop around and buy high quality items for less.
I’m always trying to figure out how we can save more money.
SavvyFinancialLatina recently posted..Are Baby Boomers Still Retiring?
The people who tease us can really learn a lot from us. I also try and shop around for the best price. It’s really just being smart about your money. We should tease them for spending too much money! lol.
MakintheBacon$ recently posted..Guest Post at Lbee and the Money Tree
While I did make a post recently about how I’m not really considered frugal, a lot of my friends do consider me cheap. oh well I don’t care!
PS, I don’t think one of the first links are working in this post. It is linked to the wrong item.
Michelle recently posted..How To Pay for Graduate School
Haha. They’re still your friends right and that’s what matters the most. Thanks for letting me know about the link. I’ll ask Lauren to fix it.
MakintheBacon$ recently posted..Guest Post at Lbee and the Money Tree
I get teased all the time, but like Kretek on the first comment, have had some people go too far and just ended friendships. Now in my 30s friends prefer to meet at home, or enjoy a couple of drinks instead of getting stupid drunk, and the teasing has been replaced by envy for all the travel I can afford and the fact that I don’t have to work anymore…
Pauline recently posted..Budgeting: the no budget approach
It’s sad to think people would end friendships based on that. My friends are the same way, we prefer coffee dates, potlucks, games and movie nights. Seems like I only go out on special occasions now.
MakintheBacon$ recently posted..Guest Post at Lbee and the Money Tree
No, I have not been teased for being frugal but my wife has by some family members but all in good fun. They would say, “oh where did you get that “insert designer label here” , from Value Village (second-hand shop) and laugh. Although they would say they are kidding they were shocked to hear how much she paid. Most people don’t have the bollocks to be frugal because they think people will look down on them. Who gives a rats really, it’s your money do what you want with it. Thanks for sharing!
Canadian Budget Binder recently posted..Becoming a Single Homeowner – Part 1 “The Plan”
My bf seems to have a knack for finding things at value village. I haven’t had much luck except finding a jean jacket that I still wear from time to time.
MakintheBacon$ recently posted..Guest Post at Lbee and the Money Tree
My family is pretty frugal with the exception of my dad (mom remarried when I was young and stepdad is also frugal). So I’ve never been teased by family, but co-workers sometimes tease me. Things like, “oh did you buy that with a coupon?”(things that you wouldn’t even buy with coupons), but it’s all good spirited, nothing nasty or mean. I’ve actually shown some of my co-workers how to coupon and they appreciate it now that they’re saving money.
KK @ Student Debt Survivor recently posted..Date the Boss to Get Ahead
That’s great that you are passing on your frugality wisdom to others!
MakintheBacon$ recently posted..Guest Post at Lbee and the Money Tree