My New Year's pledge? To be a cheapskate
Three bills that just didn't add up forced me to change the habits of a lifetime, says John Masterson
I HAVE never thought of myself as a cheapskate but after some recent shopping experiences I am thinking of turning over a new leaf. It began with a conversation with my co-shopper after we had left the shop and paid the bill.
"That seemed like a lot," we were both saying and, the more we thought about it, the more it seems like an error had been made. We trudged back to the shop and the same woman was at the till. Sure enough, an additional €40 had been added on accidentally. The woman explained that she had thought it was a lot too. We both thought that it would have been nice of her to mention it but we kept our thoughts to ourselves.
In the following shop, there was a bargain jacket bearing the magical sign "half price". Again, we marched to the cash register and handed over the plastic. I was just about to put in my Pin when I noticed I was being charged full price. I mentioned this and again the assistant apologised for the error and charged the correct amount. At this stage, I was beginning to get paranoid.
A few shops later, my fellow shopper picked up loads of bargain Christmas decorations and left me holding them. At the till there was one item that I handed over and was sure I heard two beeps on the register. I said nothing. The bill came to over a hundred when, in my mind, it should have been less than a hundred. Not liking to appear cheap, it took me all my courage to ask to see the receipt before my friend paid. Sure enough the item had been charged twice and that was responsible for the extra €30.
Now I know retailers have been having it hard, but by this stage I was beginning to feel there was a conspiracy afoot. We went for an enjoyable lunch. I picked up the bill and my friend was about to leave a tip when I stopped her. We examined the bill to discover that a "discretionary" tip had already been added on. "At whose discretion?" we both wondered aloud. As it happened, the service was excellent.
I was once robbed blind in a good restaurant and never set foot in it again. I must have been feeling flush because I paid the bill without looking and then left a generous cash tip. It was only in the sobriety of the morning when I emptied my pockets that I discovered that there was already a service charge. I had added about 35 per cent on to an already large bill. More fool me, but I never darkened their door again, as I did think it might have been pointed out.
I do not know many mean people because I make a point of not mixing with them. But as we headed off in the car we calculated that the combined total of three overcharges was in the region of €100 and that is a lot to drop by being casual with money. I do not think there was any malice in the behaviour of the three till operators, though it is odd that I have to think hard to find the last time I was undercharged.
I never have much idea how many miles per gallon I get. Or how much I spend on central heating oil. I am not inclined to give the electricity bill a second glance. I never check my change in a pub. And my phone bill just goes out by direct debit.
I have no intention of changing into that sort of person who counts every penny. But maybe it is about time I paid a little more attention. A few weekends like last one and I would have wiped out a summer holiday.
- John Masterson
