"Since when did you become so cheapskate"
I was telling him I don't spend money on food and I wasn't going to spend money to buy something.
(I forgot what the something was.)
And then he called me a cheapskate... I was a bit annoyed.
But I also took it as a chance to reflect so I went back to think about it.
My first question to myself was... Am I cheapskate?
So let's work backwards.
This comment came about when I said I was getting something for free and that I'm not willing to pay for it. And thus, he thought I was being cheap.
Then I thought... ok fine. What if I waited for a deal to BUY the same item at $1...
Would he have thought of it as me being cheapskate?
The $1 deal would probably not be available all the time so I probably needed to wait for it.
Also similar to me waiting for the free item to appear and for me to get it for free.
It's like... people waiting for a sale and getting a 90% discount...
Whereas I wait for a "sale" and get a 100% discount...
So is waiting for a sale for a 90% discount considered cheap?
Or must we pay MORE to be considered NOT cheapskate?
Which is kinda stupid don't you think?
Some items can't be easily obtained for free, like cotton buds or toilet paper.
So maybe I wait for some discount, if I get a 10% discount, people may call me frugal.
If I can get a 50% discount, it's a great deal.
If I can get 90% off, it's an insane deal.
But yet when I get a 100% discount, I'm called cheapskate... HUH? Doesn't make sense leh.
You see, it's hard to get around the idea of NOT paying money for stuff.
So when people hear of getting something for free the mental framework doesn't really work and it's hard to classify.
IF I managed to get a $1 deal, I think it would be likely that my dad would think that it's such a great deal.
Cos the mental framework is still intact. He pays for something, and he gets the item in return.
And since he got a $1 deal, he did well, and he thinks he "won", cos he got a great deal.
But when I talk about getting free stuff, for example, I might feel like having mangoes, I'll just say, "OK, I'll go down and collect some."
The framework breaks and it suddenly it's not about getting a good DEAL anymore. It's become UNREASONABLE. Cos it's not even a deal.
So since he can't classify it as a deal. It has become the action of a cheapskate.
And I find different reactions by different people when I mention that I get free stuff.
Cos when the idea of NOT paying money for things breaks the mental system, all kinds of different responses come out.
I've been called a scavenger, a cheapskate, karang guni.
Considering I've already been referred to as unemployed loser, it doesn't really matter.
What I find most amusing is people's responses when their mental structure breaks.
Cos they can't make sense of it anymore. And their response is usually pretty harsh. Cos many people just aren't able to quickly adapt to the new environment and new knowledge.
And to "justify" why they continue to be paying consumers, they label someone like me, who gets stuff for free.
Cos, they DON'T want to be considered a cheapskate, scavenger, karang guni, so they label this action of getting stuff for free and make it an UNDESIRABLE action.
Cos in their minds, sub-consciously, they are thinking, "This action is what a cheapskate would do, that's the reason why I'm not doing it. It doesn't matter if I get stuff for free. It's what a cheapskate would do and I don't want to be considered a cheapskate. And THAT'S the reason why I'm not doing it even though I know can get free stuff."
Cos when my mum tells me of her great deal of buying 3 mangoes for $10. I stare at her incredulously cos I don't find it a great deal, and she can't really justify why she would spend $10 when she can get them for free. BUT, it's reasonable cos to get getting free stuff is the actions of scavengers and she doesn't want to be called a scavenger, so paying $10 NOT to be called a scavenger is a good deal as well...
Anyway, it's been an interesting journey getting free stuff, cos some people are interested, amazed, some want to learn more and try it out, most don't try it out in the end but they still find it interesting.
Then there's even more people who react adversely towards it. I can understand why. Cos it's easier to reject something that breaks the mental picture which they've been living their whole lives, than to learn and quickly adapt to the new environment which has been revealed to them.
But it's their own personal choice so... they are free to do whatever they want to.
For me, no regrets at all. Free food and drink, some more expensive than what I'm willing to buy for myself. I get some stuff which I'd also never buy for myself. It also complements my frugal retired lifestyle so this freegan mentality and activities has done more good for me than anything else.
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