Overheard a guy bragging about his 'zero cost' meal plan and it made me cringe

Last Tuesday at the gym locker room, this dude was telling his buddy how he only spends $40 a month on food because he just eats free samples at Costco and dumps the leftovers from work. Sounds like a budget win, right? But he also admitted he skipped his own birthday dinner because he wouldn't eat anything that wasn't free, and he looked kinda rough, pale and tired. Savings that wreck your health aren't savings, they're just deferred costs. Anyone else seen a 'genius' budget trick that actually ended up costing way more down the line?

2 comments

2 Comments

maxl9319d agoMost Upvoted

That last part about hair falling out is exactly what I keep thinking about. I knew a guy in my twenties who bragged about eating nothing but rice and beans for six months so he could save for a used motorcycle. By month four his nails were splitting and he had these dark circles that made him look like he hadn't slept in a week. He finally caved on a $9 burrito and said it was the best money he ever spent. The weird part is that guy still talks about those six months like they were some kind of hero story. I get wanting to game the system, but when your body starts sending bills, that's when the "free" plan stops being free.

adam_baker19d ago

Man, people love to turn anything into a weird flex. I get being frugal, but skipping your own birthday dinner because a slice of cake isn't free? That's not a life hack, that's just a bummer. Yeah, the guy probably looked pale because he's not eating real meals, but honestly, some folks get a kick out of the game itself. He'll figure it out when his hair starts falling out or he gets winded walking up stairs. Or maybe he won't, and that's his call, not really my problem to fix.