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I’m seventh generation Mormon pioneer stock and as such, a thriftiness gene has been breed into me and most other Utahns. Fighting the urge to be chintzy is a daily struggle, but I often find myself refilling water bottles (also good for environment), refusing to buy any article of clothing that costs over twenty dollars, and only eating out if I have a coupon when we can afford to not scrimp. However, like most people there are items that my wallet seems to fly open for (travel), but that’s not what this entry is about- it’s about the cheapness that abounds in the mountain state and what it says about our values.
For instance, when I got married I received a gift set of mixing bowls and since they were a duplicate, I returned them to “Wally World” only to find they cost $10, and there were five families on the card! My in-laws, the most devout LDS people you’ll ever meet, love bragging to friends about how they only spent $600 bucks on one of their daughter’s weddings, not to mention that I wouldn’t have to strain myself to count the number of times they’ve bought us dinner as opposed to us buying. And don’t even get me started on the small tips they leave and they're both well-paid professionals. Another sign Utahns are penny-pinchers, my friends often pay the babysitter five dollars an hour, one of them for four kids under age eight.
I didn’t realize until I moved out-of-state how bad the culture of cheap was and when we do things like that, it says how little we value other people and their time. Why is type of thoughtless frugality often seen as a virtue in the LDS society? I know that when my in-laws die they plan to donate everything to the church; I guess they’re saving up so what they give is enough to buy them the best place in heaven.
What outrageous acts of cheapness have your seen? Do you think there’s a connection between Utah Mormonism and stinginess?
Like a waterfall in slow motion, Part One
2 years ago
3 comments:
I have to laugh at this because I know what you're talking about, though I don't believe it is inherently "Mormon." Mostly because I've lived all over this country and others and it just isn't true everywhere. For instance, in California, Young Women are getting paid anywhere from $8-$15 an hour to babysit, which I think is positively ridiculous, even though I'm not a cheapskate. The Midwest and Southern states, and certainly Utah and Idaho are quite full of some very "thrifty" folks. Not as true in Europe or Asia, but definitely true again in Russia and parts of the South Pacific.
I was taught early in life, despite not being from a well-to-do family at all, that sometimes you save more money by spending a little more in the first place!
We pay our sitter $10 an hour for 2 kids and they are ver often in bed before she walks through the door. A friend pays 50cents per awake child and 25 if they're asleep, she has 5 kids.
I've lived in multiple regions throughout the us and canada.... one common ground? CHEAP Mormons. I think it has more to do with sibling rivalry (keeping up with Brother and Sister Jones) then it has to do with finding a good deal. Think about it, if Mary Mormon just bought that great Living Scriptures Set for her kids, your own little Petey Priesthood needs one too... and that doesn't leave a lot of room for babysitters. It means being 'cheap' where people can't see... tipping, babysitters, late credit card payments. :)
(JMHO!)
We have to battle being cheap and neither of us has ever set foot in Utah, except the airport. I'm with you on the clothing, I can't bring myself to pay more than $10 for a plain tee shirt. And I don't think it's a sale unless it's 50% off!
We scrimp in as many areas as we can, but we are generous in others. We try to take people out to dinners, and we tip well.
I guess we are odd in that we don't keep up with the Joneses, we just don't care what they have, they have too much junk anyway.
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