May 02, 2007 - 8:04Confessions of a former Cheapskate.
Hello, my name is Lewis (pseudonym), and I am a recovering cheapskate. I don’t know how it started; it was small things I suppose – saving money here, cutting corners there. In America quality and standards are such that you can still get away with it. The cheapest version of any item in America is probably a better quality than can be found around the world. Not so here. The other day a faucet on one of our sinks broke. Like the house, it was probably 50 years old. We will be moving in three months so investing in a nice faucet didn’t seem appealing. Keep in mind that nice faucets run about $4 US, but I knew I could find one cheaper. I found one. I looked like someone made it in his garage. The storeowner said it cost $3 US and I got him down to $2.50. I know, how cheap can you get? Well, while I was holding the faucet the piece of junk broke in my hand – the lever fell off and landed on the floor. We both laughed and then after some awkward silence the owner said, “It has to be bought.” I knew that was coming. I offered him $2 and I took the broken faucet home and installed it. It leaks. What's the moral of the story? Something most of you know – just buy good stuff or you’ll end up paying more in the long run. I know this. My dad has said it for years. It just won’t sink in. Until now. The problem of the sink has made it sink in. You all are my witnesses. I’m turning over a new leaf, or dollar, or rupiah – whatever the case may be. From now on cost is not an issue. After all as my dad says, “Pish-posh, what’s money?” Now I need to get off the internet, it’s going to be a big bill this month…
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Comment (1):
I’m still not convinced that Lewis Has Learned His Lesson (which, by the way, would make a great title for a children’s book). But, I will remain positive and hope that Lewis will remember these incidents — and the toil that his family must endure in the name of a dollar saved.
(I think that the phrase you quoted actually came from Grandma.) 
timsamoff () (URL) - 02 05 07 - 20:18