You Know You're Cheap When ...

It shouldn't come as a surprise that people like to save money. However, it is possible to go too far. These are the top signs a person is too cheap. If you're guilty of too many of these, and you have the means to live larger, well, maybe you need to reevaluate some things. So without further adieu, you know you're cheap when...

...Your thermostat has to reach at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit before you will even consider turning on the air conditioner. In fact, you consider it a thrill to see if you can sweat it out til the mercury rises to 85-90 before caving in. And you never let the air conditioning run for more than a few hours a day. Why spend a few extra bucks when you can sweat out a pound a day?

...You let the thermostat fall to below 50 degrees Fahrenheit before turning the heat on in winter. Why let the furnace gobble up energy at an alarming rate when you could simply add layers of clothing until you resemble an Eskimo?

...You reuse paper towels several times before they become trash. You'll even rinse and ring 'em out if you need to. With the prices of paper towels soaring to about a dollar a roll, frugality is necessary! You can make one roll last at least two months, potentially saving you $6 per year.

...You spend way too much time at the local dollar store. You're there every week, checking for new arrivals. And you actually ask for price checks, in case you've found the elusive sale item. Why pay $1 on something if a similar item is on sale for 75 cents? You could save a whole quarter. That might still buy a stick of gum for cryin' out loud.

...You watch TV in the dark. Heaven forbid that table lamp two feet from you be turned on. You don't need light to see the TV anyway. Isn't the television a light source? That's all you need to light up the living room.

...You keep all appliances unplugged when not absolutely necessary. The digital clocks on your microwave and VCR are draining too much electricity. Even the backlit buttons on your toaster are making your meter spin too fast. And forget about that alarm clock. Saving $3 a month on the electric bill is so worth it to run around your house unplugging things.