Thrifty vs. mean
Being half-Yorkshire, half-Scots, I've heard all the jokes about being mean, tightarsed, short arms long pockets etc. And it's true that lots of things my parents did would be described as 'mean' by Southerners - rinsing out the shampoo bottle to get the final dregs; not putting the kitchen light on; recycling old clothes as wash clouts & dusters etc.

But these are all thrift - not a familiar word to other English, and not the same thing as mean. Thrift is making the most of what you've already bought; mean is deliberately holding back something you can afford.

So the meanest person I know owns two £500,000+ houses outright; yet gives Christmas presents that were clearly bought for her last year and re-wrapped.

Like a box of ladies lace hankies, offered as a present to a 17 year old lad. Lovely.
(simon shitting mason, Tue 28 Oct 2008, 15:58, 2 replies)

Cringe ...
I'm half Jewish, half Scottish. Result? Wouldne shout if ma arse were on fire. Yeah yeah, I know, ha ha.

Sadly I regularly do all those things mentioned in the first para.

Yup, thrifty is nifty.
(Que?, Wed 29 Oct 2008, 4:31, closed)

It may seem incongruous that someone with two expensive homes
is so cheap with presents, but when you think about it, it makes sense. The fact that they own two expensive homes means that they probably haven't any money left to buy presents with.

A lot of rich people live frugally - you don't get to be rich by throwing money away, you know.
(Seance Trumpet has got no beef with a man enjoying a croissant, Wed 29 Oct 2008, 12:34, closed)