The Ultimate Cheapskate

[Artkansas]

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa179/UltimateCheapskate/100_0004.jpg

http://www.ultimatecheapskate.com/index.cgi

Is he a boon to car-free living or does he give people the wrong impression about car-free living?

[spinninwheels]

Probably both. But I think that people would need to first shut off their TVs and get off their sofas, before they would embrace this type of lifestyle.

Ultimately the reasons that motivate someone to be car-free may be many and varied. I would think that the majority of people who are car-free/utility cyclists, are, because of a combination of reasons, but primarily for the greater good and health of themselves and the environment.

But that is just my experience.

[mattm]

he's probably not going to change anyone's mind, but at least he's doing the right thing... never heard of him til now tho.

[Artkansas]

he's probably not going to change anyone's mind, but at least he's doing the right thing... never heard of him til now tho.

Yeah, but I wondered if just the label "Cheapskate" puts a bad spin on car-free living.

[gerv]

Yeah, but I wondered if just the label "Cheapskate" puts a bad spin on car-free living.
Many carfree types are pretty frugal, but I think it is not necessarily to save money, but rather to avoid waste. This point of view suggests, for example, that an oversized car commuting to work with one passenger is a waste.. Or a one-mile grocery trip in the truck is a waste if you are only picking up a loaf of bread.

For me, a carfree lifestyle is more about finding the right tools for the job. You don't consume any more energy or resources than you need to get a job done. That leads most people to think of a carfree individual as "frugal" when, in fact, they are "rightsizing".

[peace_piper]

I think it has more to do with the cultural bias we see in America and most "First World" countries in the world today. That is, if you're not climbing the corporate ladder and spending as much money as you possibly can on cars, houses, vacations, having the "best of the best" and you're simply breaking even and chosing a life that's right for you, you're a "cheapskate". As I noted, the nickname of "ultimate cheapskate" was given to him by the corporate media, he didn't come up with it himself.

Frugality and simplicity used to be traits that were valued in this culture. But now they're looked upon as "weird" or backward. The fact that people say "it's not for everyone" with their implication that the caged life is for everyone is incredibly biased.

[folder fanatic]

I think it has more to do with the cultural bias we see in America and most "First World" countries in the world today. That is, if you're not climbing the corporate ladder and spending as much money as you possibly can on cars, houses, vacations, having the "best of the best" and you're simply breaking even and chosing a life that's right for you, you're a "cheapskate". As I noted, the nickname of "ultimate cheapskate" was given to him by the corporate media, he didn't come up with it himself.

Frugality and simplicity used to be traits that were valued in this culture. But now they're looked upon as "weird" or backward. The fact that people say "it's not for everyone" with their implication that the caged life is for everyone is incredibly biased.

Perhaps. But another way of looking at being "cheap" in this country and elsewhere in the First World is the vast majority of the population just getting by even with 2 or more paychecks, wearing department store reject clothes, and worrying that they might hit the streets and become homeless next month does that to most people. I have been getting letters from people who visit my web sites barely making ends meet and needing help in channeling their livestyles into something that they can manage and still exist in this madhouse of a money grubbing society.

[ronzorini]

Yeah, but I wondered if just the label "Cheapskate" puts a bad spin on car-free living.

I'm assuming that's just his "shtick" to get people's attention and it seems to be working.

He has a lot of witty, insightful things to say on his site; not just about saving money, but slowing down, enjoying life and helping others and the environment.

He's currently on a bike tour promoting his book, riding from San Diego to Tucson. Too bad he wasn't passing through LA...I would have liked to buy him a beer and put him up for the night! :)