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This is a quiz that I came up with for my newspaper column. I think it is the definitive test to determine if you are a certified cheapo.
Simply answer yes or no and then count up your yeses for the assessment at the bottom.
1. Do you shop consignment? Yes: No:
2. Do you shop thrift stores? Yes: No:
3. Do you shop at garage sales? Yes: No:
4. Have you ever had a garage sale? Yes: No:
5. Do you reuse your plastic baggies? Yes: No:
6. Do you water down your liquid soap, hair conditioner and/or shampoo? Yes: No:
7. Do you use your dryer sheets more than once? How many times? Yes: No:
8. Have you gotten something free at Kroger because it rang up at the wrong price? Yes: No:
9. Do you double coupon? Triple coupon? Yes: No:
10. Do you use store brands? Yes: No:
11. Have you ever cut open your toothpaste tube to get that last little bit of paste out? Yes: No:
12. Do you check out all of your reading material from the library instead of buying books? Yes: No:
13. Do you check out videos from the library instead of renting them? Yes: No:
14. Do you drink water when you go out to eat? Yes: No:
15. Do you order from the appetizer menu? Yes: No:
16. Do you take advantage of the free activities like movies and concerts in your community? Yes: No:
17. Do you take your own snack to the movie? Yes: No:
18. Do you cook at home instead of going out? Yes: No:
19. Do you have a network of fellow cheapos who share information on good sales and deals? Yes: No:
20. Do you love potluck dinners? Yes: No:
21. Do you take your own lunch to work or school? Yes: No:
22. Do you pay off your credit card in full each month? Yes: No:
23. Do you have a budget? Yes: No:
24. Do you make your own pizza instead of ordering? Yes: No:
25. Do you wash your own car? Yes: No:
26. Do you stick to your budget? Yes: No:
27. Do you reuse aluminum foil? Yes: No:
28. Do you pick up pennies off the ground (and get excited about it )? Yes: No:
29. Do you google everything in hopes of finding a coupon or coupon code? Yes: No:
30. Do you take home even the smallest amount of leftovers from a restaurant? Yes: No:
31. Have you ever cut a rubber band in half to make two? Yes: No:
32. Do you save money every month no matter what? Yes: No:
33. Do you check pay phones and or newspaper racks for left change? Yes: No:
34. Do you keep all worn out vehicles for spare parts? Yes: No:
35. Do you refuse to throw anything away because you may need it again in seven years? Yes: No:
36. Are you still watching black and white TV? Yes: No:
37. Do you save receipts in hopes that an item will go on sale and you can go back and get the savings? Yes: No:
38. Do you use both sides of your paper in the printer? Yes: No:
39. Do you save your bath water to water your plants? Yes: No:
40. Do you freeze leftover meat and veggies to make soup? Yes: No:
41. Do you cut paper towels or napkins in half? Yes: No:
42. Do you use automatic draft to pay your household bills? Yes: No:
43. Do you buy “forever” stamps? Yes: No:
44. Do you ask sales people to call you when something goes on sale? Yes: No:
45. Do you check three places' prices before you buy a major item? Yes: No:
46. Do you take things back if you find them cheaper somewhere else? Yes: No:
47. Do you inspect every bill to be sure there are no errors? Yes: No:
48. Do you watch for scanner errors when you are checking out? Yes: No:
49. Do you resend greeting cards that you get? Yes: No:
50. Do you get excited when you save money? Yes: No:
YOUR SCORE:
Now for the assessment:
- < 20 of the questions you not anywhere close to being a true cheapo.
- 20-29 questions, you have potential to become a Cheapster but it is going to take some work.
- 30-39 Yes - you are "Certified Cheap"
- 40-49 Yes - You are "Certified Ultra Cheap"
- If you answered yes to all 50 questions, you are so cheap that you should be writing my column and my Savings Zone blog.
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