Why Are Some People So Tight With Their Money All Their Life?

[dave50]

I have come across quite a few people who hate spending their money unless it's absolutely necessary. They go through life working hard, don't spend much on clothes, cars, holidays or anything that might be considered frivolous or enjoying oneself, then they die with thousands in the bank. My wife works with the elderly and she comes across this situation very often. Even some younger people I know of have this attitude so it's not just the elderly. Surely it makes your life pretty pointless to end up in that situation, I mean what is the point in working hard all your life if not to enjoy the fruits of your labour? My ambition is to die penniless, knowing I have enjoyed every penny I have earned.

[keyplus90]

Love of money and fear of poverty, in short these are the reasons. People die of hunger or due to cold because they do not turn heating on but they do have huge amounts in the bank where they try to earn highest rate of interest possible.

When I was a little boy my father used to say that earning money is hard work. You don't feel like, but you have to go to work, you would love to stay in the bed in a cold morning but you have to leave the comfort of the home, you will have to take instructions from your boss or senior even if you do not like their attitude and so on. But the pleasure comes when you spend that money for things you would like to buy or do for yourself and for the people you love. But if you stop doing that then that means you are doing the first half which is hard but you are not doing the second half which is the pleasure and enjoyment.

Personally I would like to stay in the middle. Do not go crazy spending and do not be so mean too.

I personally believe that the best way is somewhere in the middle.

[andy-hughes]

My parents were the wartime generation, and the emphasis weas always on getting a 'good job' and getting a house.

This is a particularly 'British' outlook - the majority of Europeans rent their homes.

I understand the balancing act regarding some financial security for old age, but i am certainly not saving with a view to leaving my children a load of money - i will enjoy what i want when I want, and they get what ever is left.

[Bazile]

//...They go through life working hard, don't spend much on clothes, cars, holidays or anything that might be considered frivolous or enjoying oneself,..//

That is the point dave50 is making isn't it ?
By all means save for old age , but why deprive yourself of any ' luxuries ' whils't you are young and heading towards old age ?

[dave50]

As an example, I know someone who is in his early fifties and lives on his own in his own house. He is a decent bloke and has a good job but is not interested in clothes, holidays, cars, women, doesn't go out much and has no hobbies. He has friends who he does socialise with occasionally and who take the micky out of him for being tight, he's not offended but he just will not spend his money. I find it rather sad that he can't bring himself to go out and enjoy life and see the world. He seems to be just existing until he dies with nobody to leave his money to. It just seems so pointless.

[Ric.ror]

My stepfather was like that
He would walk through town for 10p off a packet of bacon even in his eighties and when he died he had thousands in the bank which I have gone through like a dose of salts ;-))

[andy-hughes]

There are a lot of people like that dave.

This man probably lived with his parents until they died, and inherited the 'wartime' ethic my parents had, but which I didn't and don't subscribe to.

I have lost two good friends to cancer, and two to suicide - life is for living now, while you can.

[tamborine]

They have probably forgotten what they're worth.

[ummmm]

I'm tight. I hate spending money.....unless it's my round....

I'm happy when my fridge is full and the bills are paid. Having money in the bank to know I can do that if something went wrong makes me feel content and secure.

[jno]

is not interested in clothes, holidays, cars, women, doesn't go out much and has no hobbies

well there you go then... he's not interested in them. So why spend money on them just to impress friends?

If I was interested in cars I'd go out and buy a nice Bentley. But I'm not so I don't.

I do spend money on holidays because I enjoy them - but if he doesn't, why would he do the same as me?

It doesn't actually sound as if he's tight, he just doesn't have expensive tastes.