Lab2112/flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
While researching a post on saving money at the movies, I asked Bargain Babe’s Facebook friends for tips and some suggested sneaking in! The idea bothered me for days and got me thinking about five scenarios where I have to chose between taking the ethical high road and saving money.
Is it ethical to sneak into movies? What about buying counterfeit DVDs?
I’ve never snuck into a movie and what bothers me about this is the same thing as buying a counterfeit DVD, made when someone records the movie with a hand-held video camera from inside the movie theater. The person burns the recording onto DVDs, slaps on a cover sheet, and sells it on the street for a big profit. The problem is that the little guy gets cheated. Sure, the movie executives and stars make the big bucks, but the no-names are more likely to lose their jobs when movie studios don’t make the expected money. By doing both these things, theaters have to raise their cost and the buyer goes from being frugal to being cheap.
You’re walking down Canal Street in New York City or the Fashion District in downtown Los Angeles and you spot counterfeit brand name items at bargain prices. Ethical to buy?
No. The fake bags, shoes, and shades emblazoned with a designer’s initials or logo may be far less expensive, but you are still paying for the brand name not the item. I have no problem with a bag that looks similar to a brand name bag as long as you don’t try to pass it off as the name brand with fake logos and tags. My reason for not buying knock offs is that I’d be mortified if I got called out by the designer while walking down the street – although not very likely, it could happen. Also, why would I waste money on fake items? I rather work hard and get the real thing.
You’re heading to the movies and sneak in snacks to avoid paying for the expensive theater popcorn and soda. Ethical?
I’ve sneaked in snacks and the only reason I don’t think it’s unethical is because I am not stealing from the theater. If I didn’t bring in snacks, I still wouldn’t buy the expensive popcorn and soda. By snacks, I mean almonds or a protein bar and not a full meal.
You’re in an all-you-can-eat buffet and you wrap a leftover muffin in a napkin and stick it in your purse. Ethical?
I figure the food is headed for the trash so why not pack it up to enjoy later. Technically, I paid for it, but I draw the line at packing an entire meal for later.
You ask for a cup for water at a restaurant with a self-serve drink station and you fill it up with soda. Ethical?
This is one of my pet peeves. I can’t stand it when people do this, especially if they’re eating with me. I feel like any minute we are going to get called out. This is stealing and will force the restaurant to raise their prices so everyone loses.
David Hilowitz/Flickr
I was having lunch (using a coupon, of course) with one of my most frugal friends when she laid a bomb on me: there are only two types of frugal people.
I have always believed there are many types of frugal folks because financial situation, upbringing, and goals vary widely. But when she explained herself, I realized she was right.
Type No. 1 – Frugal by Nature
Type 1 folks are frugal by nature. Spending money causes us pain and we often go without spending even if it would make our lives easier. We will go without, postpone, or delay to save. We will spend extra time researching a product irregardless of how much – or how little – we stand to gain, dollarwise. We will drive extra miles to shave a few bucks off a purchase. The bottom line is that we get an emotional hit from snagging a hot deal and are willing to deny ourselves to score.
Type No. 2. – Frugal by Necessity
Type 2 folks are frugal because we have to be. We recently got laid off, have a partner/spouse who lost a job, or left a job or to raise a family. We want to use coupons and look for sales to save. We are savvy enough to recognize we need to budget and alter our spending behavior, but get hung up because spending money brings us joy, even if we later feel stressed out by our cashflow. We do our best to distinguish between needs and wants. Bottom line is we get an emotional hit from having a new thing, regardless of price.
I know I’m type No. 1 because I am such a firm believer in doing things myself to save money that I often get into ridiculous situations, like the time I made my summer intern create thousands of homemade raffle tickets. Or the time I decided to distribute flyers across Los Angeles via bicycle on a 95-degree day to save gas money. Or the time…
Which type are you?
