How to Be a Savvy Cheapskate

[Dakine 26]

I have a 94 Protege that just rolled over 280,000 miles. Last week, we thought the water pump was going out on it, but once we took it apart, it was just the seal that was rotten. The water pump was in great shape. Go figure.

Sounds like it may be time for an update. When seals and rubber parts start going out things can snowball.

[Dr. Obvious 49]

Sounds like it may be time for an update. When seals and rubber parts start going out things can snowball.

Eventually. Right now, it is still kicking. The (manual) transmission was rebuilt and another engine swapped in two or three months before we bought it. The seller's whatever was bitching about him having too many cars, so he sold it to us. Well over a year later, he still asks for it back. Never got to autocross it.

It's needed another alternator, rear strut mounts, speedometer cable (which no one apparently makes anymore), CV axles. My BIL is a mechanic, so we simply pay for parts and in barter. It works well for a car its age. I plan on driving it until the wheels fall off or something. Then I will just shell out another $1500 for the next POS.

[Dakine 26]

Eventually. Right now, it is still kicking. The (manual) transmission was rebuilt and another engine swapped in two or three months before we bought it. The seller's whatever was bitching about him having too many cars, so he sold it to us. Well over a year later, he still asks for it back. Never got to autocross it.

It's needed another alternator, rear strut mounts, speedometer cable (which no one apparently makes anymore), CV axles. My BIL is a mechanic, so we simply pay for parts and in barter. It works well for a car its age. I plan on driving it until the wheels fall off or something. Then I will just shell out another $1500 for the next POS.

Yeah I'm in the process of buying the exact same make and model 2000 VW Jetta as my wifes car. The engine is completely blown as someone ran it without oil.

Looks like I'll pay $350 total. Heck the tires are even decent and the body is cherry.

Hit and runner smashed the left rear door of my wifes car. I imagine a new door would cost more than $350!! Wifes car is white and the one I'm buying is black! I'll make it work.

[Nik+Heather 121]

I like the idea of a fixed standard of living. Every time there is a raise, the amount that goes automatically to the long term savings gets upped the same amount.

[BishopM 114]

Count me in the old car categorie. I've had my 1994 Camaro for 16 years. Yep, my car is 16 years old...it is old enough to drive!

Wife on the other hand drives a 2010...but that is just me... , cuz I am in

I bought my house as a repo...its HUGE, but I got it at 50% the price it sold for just three years earlier...so...shopping for deals can be important...and patience...just like this good article states.

Peace to the Cheapskates!

MK

[TBoneTX 45,288]

it's fun to find the best deal

Absolutely, si man.

Using coupons for things you need to buy anyways is a good feeling.

Absolutely, peace man; it's free money.

We shop resale. There are some major steals to be found. It's also a kick to find a smelly, wrinkled garment, take it home & throw it in the wash (de-smell), then send it to the cleaners (de-wrinkle), and wear it to work or to a fancy gig where no one's the wiser. I just got two new suits -- one for $20 (it began life in the finest men's store in Austin), one for $16 (Bill Blass). Paid $43 total for alterations. Everyone thinks that I paid $400. I have more ties than I'll ever possibly wear -- most of 'em designer -- and I didn't pay more than $2.99 for any of 'em. I'm kicking myself that I didn't discover resale-shopping sooner, si man, & dropped so many long-gone bucks at department stores.

Another idea: Visit the 99-cent or $1 stores first, & buy everything there that you can. For what you didn't find, move to the closeout places or deep discounters, & buy everything there that you can. For whatever you still need, go to regular stores & shop the sales (optimally with coupons).

One caution, oof man: Resale-shopping can become an addiction, & it's easy to overdo.

[DEDixon 39]

i'd like coupons a lot more if they were not geared toward processed frozen food and meal in a box just add water then throw it in the microwave food (poison).