Frugality And Ethics – Are You Being Cheap, Frugal, or Stealing?

Last month, I published Frugality And Ethics – When Is It Stealing? The post was very popular and everyone had an opinion on what was stealing and what was not. Also, many of you gave me new ideas, and I wanted to hear everyone’s input on the situations below. So, I, of course, wanted to publish…

Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Last Updated: May 25, 2023

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Last month, I published Frugality And Ethics – When Is It Stealing? The post was very popular and everyone had an opinion on what was stealing and what was not. Also, many of you gave me new ideas, and I wanted to hear everyone’s input on the situations below. So, I, of course, wanted to publish a Part 2 to the post!

I don’t think that there is anything wrong with saving money (this is a personal finance blog after all), but I do wonder how far people will go to save money – whether it be $1 or $2 or a few hundred dollars.

No one is perfect, and I definitely am not. However, when does frugality or cheapness cross the line and turn into stealing?

 

Using another person’s wi-fi.

This is something that probably a lot of people are guilty of, or have been guilty of in the past. This is where you use someone else’s wi-fi so that you can get on the internet for free.

Some of you said that if there is no password to the internet account, that it’s free range for anyone to use.

However, I think that you should always pay for your own wi-fi. You might be slowing down the internet for someone else, and they might not even realize that their wi-fi isn’t password protected.

Always protect your wi-fi account! – I also remember discussing a case when I was in college about someone who had unprotected wi-fi and it turned out that their neighbor was searching something illegal. The SWAT team showed up at their door, created a huge scene, took the computers, and destroyed the person’s house all because the neighbor was searching something illegal.

 

Sharing accounts with others.

This is where someone has an account and multiple people/households share that one account so that only one person is actually paying for the service or product. I have heard of many people doing this with Netflix…

Netflix and other companies have specifically stated that it’s stealing, so yes, I believe it is stealing.

 

Drinks at a restaurant.

There are three different situations that I would like to share with this one…

1. Paying for one drink and sharing it between two people. The first person might order a soda and the second person orders a water. However, the second person never actually touches the water and only drinks the soda. – I think this is stealing.

2. Asking for a water cup but filling it up with something besides water (such as a soda). – I think this is stealing.

3. Asking for water, a bowl of lemons (I’m talking 4 or 5 whole lemons), and sugar so that you can make your own lemonade. – I think this is being cheap/frugal. I wouldn’t do this though… I know waiters and waitresses hate it when customers do this.

 

Signing up for something to get something for free.

There are a couple of situations that this applies to. This is when you sign up for something knowing that you won’t buy anything, so that you can get a product or service for free for trying something out. Since Wes used to work in sales, I wouldn’t do either of the situations below just because I don’t like to waste people’s time…

My first example applies to timeshares. Many people listen to timeshare presentations even though they know they will not buy a timeshare, so that they can get whatever it is for free that the timeshare workers are pitching (free movie tickets, free vacation, etc.).

My second example applies to getting professional makeup done. Usually makeup counters/companies at the mall and/or department store will offer free makeup applications as long as you buy something for from them. Some require that you pay upfront, whereas others give you the “option” to pay at the end. I have heard of some people getting a free makeup application knowing full well that they do not plan on buying any makeup afterwards.

Learn more at How To Get Rid Of A Timeshare – Stop Wasting Your Money!

 

Taking condiments.

This is where you go to a restaurant and take a bunch of condiment packs so that you can bring it home and put it in your fridge.

I have received extra packs before (such as from a takeout order), but I have never gone out of my way to take condiments.

 

Disputing items on your credit card.

In many cases, you can dispute a transaction on your credit card bill that is less than $25 and your credit card company will just automatically refund you because it’s not worth their time to investigate the problem.

I have heard of people who dispute many transactions each year and take advantage of this…

I don’t do this. I believe it is stealing. I have only ever disputed one item on my credit card bill before, and that was because a restaurant accidentally charged me twice for the same meal.

 

Have you ever done any of the above? What do you think of these situations?

What other examples can you think of?

 


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Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Author: Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Hey! I’m Michelle Schroeder-Gardner and I am the founder of Making Sense of Cents. I’m passionate about all things personal finance, side hustles, making extra money, and online businesses. I have been featured in major publications such as Forbes, CNBC, Time, and Business Insider. Learn more here.

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  1. @WilliamLipovsky, First Quarter Finance

    Those restaurant hacks are ridiculous! Maybe if you feel the need to shave $1 off your bill, you shouldn’t be eating in a restaurant in the first place.

    I used to work in a restaurant and once a week a table of old ladies would come in. They would order water and split one quesadilla between three of them. They would chat for hours.. Lovely ladies but we were tryin’ to run a business! Haha.

    1. Michelle S.

      I agree! Going through that much just to save $1 is crazy

  2. E.M.

    I’ve never thought about disputing credit card charges like that! How horrible. I’ll sometimes take a few sips of my boyfriend’s drink, but I always drink the water I order. I’ve never used someone else’s Wi-Fi either. I think if people are offering a free incentive for a presentation, they should be aware that it will likely be taken advantage of.

    1. Michelle S.

      I agree about the free incentive thing – timeshare people should be well aware 🙂

  3. Jon @ Money Smart Guides

    My wife and I are going away on a vacation later this year for free. All we have to do is sit in on a timeshare presentation. We have no interest in signing up, so when I read what you wrote, I had to pause for a minute. I guess it’s wrong, but we will still go. They did require your income from the prior year so that college kids/those that couldn’t afford a timeshare wouldn’t be allowed to come. But then again, the girls selling the vacation did tell one person just to check off $60K so he could go. My guess is the girls make commission from signing people up and they don’t care if you can afford a timeshare or not.

    1. Michelle S.

      With timeshares, I think it’s different, and I don’t think it’s really that bad to sign up for one even if you don’t plan on buying. Timeshare people have to know that most people don’t plan on buying. I think they offer free things because they know they CAN convert some people.

  4. Michelle S.

    I agree with you, except for something such as in the makeup situation where you ARE supposed to buy something. I have seen people run away when they were supposed to pay because they think it’s all right.

    And yes, I will include downloading in part 3. Great idea, thanks!

  5. Michelle S.

    Haha that is hilarious Catherine!

    1. Michelle S.

      Haha very true Catherine! On a somewhat related note – the other day I used the bathroom at a place and didn’t buy something. Someone told me I was stealing and I felt bad afterwards. What do you think in this situation?

  6. Holly

    I don’t eat fast food much… well really at all! So I haven’t run into the condiment thing myself but my grandfather would take them every time he went to Wendy’s along with oh…. 200 napkins! He said it was because he grew up in the great depression.

    1. Michelle S.

      We hardly eat fast food anymore either. It’s probably been a few months!

  7. KK @ Student Debt Survivor

    Curious what that neighbor was searching, must have been something really bad for the FBI to show up. If you don’t buy a soft drink you shouldn’t be filling up your cup with soft drink, that’s definitely stealing in my opinion.

    1. Michelle S.

      The neighbor was searching child p#rn. I really don’t even like saying that because it is so disgusting.

  8. Jason B

    Compared to your first post most of these are stealing. The only I have done on this list is take a couple extra pack of condiments home. As for the drink situations that you posted the person should just stay home if they can’t afford a drink.

    1. Michelle S.

      I agree, if you have to steal a drink then you should just stay home.

  9. Laurie @thefrugalfarmer

    I totally agree with you on all of the above, Michelle. It’s hard for me to understand sometimes how people can value money savings over their reputation or integrity.

    1. Michelle S.

      I agree Laurie!

  10. abby

    i pay 12 dollars a month for netflix to be run on up to 4 devices at a time. they don’t care where those 4 devices are. i let my little brother in college use my account. its not stealing. netflix knows this, that’s why they have 2 different streaming memberships. its stealing if someone uses my password without my knowledge.

    i totally do the water and lemon thing, but not to be cheap. because i think it tastes better. the shame lol. i do tip well so i hope that makes up for it. i’m also interested in the cc churning post.

  11. Aileen

    My husband and I totally share a drink everywhere. ESPECIALLY if it’s somewhere where it’s disposable cup because I hate creating more waste. In general I try not to drink much soda so it’s not like we’re getting 3-4 refills on one cup. My sister, mom and I all share a netflix account too.

    But I think making a habit out of taking extra condiments (my dad does this with utensils), getting a water cup and not getting water, disputing credit card charges (WHAT?), etc are all stealing.

  12. Jerri Lyn

    My mother used to drive me NUTS when we’d go to an all you can eat buffet. After we had eaten our fill, she would go back and grab about four rolls to put in her purse and eat later at home. I call that stealing!

    I share a soda with my younger child because I don’t want hum to have a full size one. Stealing? Maybe, but it’s a little more grey area.

  13. Lauren

    I have mixed thoughts on the soda thing. If you’re in a place with free refills, then i agree that sharing one drink knowing it will be b refilled then it definitely is stealing. If however you’re somewhere without refills then i have no problem with it, and would say it’s no different than splitting a meal.

    1. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

      Yes, I agree with you.