Most of my life, I’ve been called a tight-wad, –and I just couldn’t see it.
People use labels all the time, to understand each other, as well as, to work on negative characteristics in ourselves. However, I believe there are two problems with labeling. One; often we simplify to the ridiculous. And two; most of us can’t see our own quirks anyway. Especially if those traits have negative undertones.
Take me for instance: I’m thrifty, maybe. Prudent, often. Economical, Heck ya. Careful, most of the time. Frugal, possibly. –A tight-wad, I can’t see it. And so, to figure out if this were true or not, I started listing things that might be considered traits in someone who is a tight-wad.
You know you’re a tight-wad if you…
- Spend twice as long in the grocery store, checking every item to be sure the larger size is really the best bargain, before you put it in your cart.
- Wear your old jacket to go to the store, when you’ve got a new coat in the closet.
- Cut the lotion bottle open and use a rubber spatula to scrape every –last drop.
- Wrap up and take home the used bar of soap from your hotel room.
- Write as few words as possible, to get your point across. Like this list, instead of a paragraph.
- Make silly, cheap Christmas cards, instead of buying those big beautiful Hallmark cards.
- Take your kids with you EVERYWHERE you go, so you don’t have to pay for a sitter.
- Don’t buy something until the money is there. Yes, that’s a tight-wad, dodging those extra interest fees that most don’t mind paying.
- Tear a paper napkin in two, give one half to your husband and take the other half for yourself.
- Bend down and pick-up those pennies, most people walk over. (Even if it’s heads down!
- Find your husband making jokes; copper wire comes from you, stretching pennies.
Oh, my goodness, –I guess, I am a tight-wad! Yup! I’ve done everything on this list more than once. And my husband has said that…. After much deliberation, I’ve decided, –I like being a tight-wad! However, I am going to work on spending more time thinking of others, spend more on charities, and spend more time on me.
The trinket I took from this experience and may use when writing children’s stories: Learn to laugh at ourselves. And don’t put too much faith in, or weight on, one person’s perspective. A child isn’t going to become a tight-wad because of this blog. Nor is a child going to be confident because they read The Lion of Tupungato, about an animal that helped a young girl find her strength. Children are secure, because of many, many wonderful people, and situations throughout their lives. –Nonetheless, I’ll keep writing stories of self-esteem for grandparents and parents to read with their loved ones.
