The word “cheap” has a negative connotation. It is often used to describe a stingy person. You might call a rogue dump truck “cheap,” or use the word to disparage a wealthy family member or friend who always gets away with the check at the end of a restaurant gathering. But when you translate “cheap” into “thrifty,” it can actually be great quality. It means spending your money wisely, saving money, and not splurging just because you can technically afford it.
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Many rich and famous people with huge net worths are frugal or, to be exact, “thrifty.” Despite the wealth dripping in, we might regularly skimp on eating out at fancy places or forego standard luxury services like paying someone else to do our laundry. yeah. Let's take a look at nine rich and famous people who are clearly living below their means and why they do so.
sarah michelle gellar
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Sarah Michelle Gellar, best known for her role as the star of the hit 90's TV series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” is worth $30 million. While she certainly has the luxury of racking up bills here and there, the actor has been open about her frugal lifestyle.
“I cut coupons to this day,” Geller told CNBC Make It. “I'll never forget. One time I went to Bloomingdale's and they had coupons. Bloomingdale's had really good coupons. And I took them all out and I was doing my holiday shopping. Then someone behind me turned around and said, “I can't believe how long this is taking.'' Why use coupons? ”
“I remember looking at her and wondering why I had to pay more,” Geller said. “If you have a coupon, use it. Just because you're successful doesn't mean you should spend poorly. I've never believed that.”
Check it out: Who is the most successful 'American Idol' contestant?
mila kunis
With a net worth of $75 million, actor Mila Kunis can certainly afford a lavish lifestyle, but the “Black Swan” and “Family Guy” star is a frugal person. Kunis hinted that part of her frugality stems from her immigrant status (she was born in Ukraine).
“If you're an immigrant, you have a completely different mindset,” Kunis said on the podcast “Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend.” “I think being an immigrant gives me a different perspective on the value of a dollar and what hard work is.
Tyra Banks
Supermodel, producer, author, television personality, and actor Tyra Banks is not short on money. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the media mogul is worth $90 million. But just because she has deep pockets doesn't mean a lifestyle of frivolous extravagance. Ms. Banks is exceptionally frugal, and she describes herself as having little interest in material possessions.
“I've always been more interested in experiences than objects,” Banks told Money magazine. “Things didn't make me happy. Saved, saved, saved. But I avoided failure. About 15 years ago, my accountant pulled me aside, and they He had a “Tyra” attitude. You're not spending money. there is nothing. We're just handing it over to the government. You need to spend a lot of money! ”
carrier underwood
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Carrie Underwood's net worth is $140 million, and her frugal approach combined with her continued success will soon make her worth even more. The country singer and fashion designer prefers to live within her lavish income. In 2012, she admitted that she used quarters to do her own laundry at a laundromat, for example.
“The touring life is a little difficult because you don't really have time for that,” Starr said on Oprah's Next Chapter. It was so long ago that Underwood may have started living a bit of luxury by doing laundry at home.
jennifer lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence has long captivated viewers with her eccentric relatability, including falling down the stairs at an awards show. Fans will be happy to know that she's even more relatable than we previously thought. The “Hunger Games” star incorporates a variety of budget-efficient practices, including clipping coupons.
“I still look for bargains when I go to the market,” said Lawrence, who is estimated to be worth $160 million.
dave grohl
According to various sites, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl's net worth is over $300 million, but he is not a flashy man and appears to be living on less than a lavish income. When asked in an interview with the Red Bulletin what he does with his money, Grohl said: “It goes straight into my bank account, and everything gets moldy and smelly.'' “Yes,” he replied. Grohl is also someone on the go, preferring family SUVs to sleek sports cars. That said, he owns a $140,000 Tesla, which he derides as “impractical.”
Grohl's frugality is more than just a quirk. It has to do with family economic trauma.
“I remember going home that night with my sister and looking at a piece of paper.” [my mother] “When I started having the stroke, I was writing a letter to the IRS,” Grohl told the Guardian in 2014. ”
Jay Leno
Former talk show host Jay Leno is best known for his vast collection of rare and vintage cars, and this may be one of the few areas where the NBC alum is putting his money where his mouth is. It's especially cheap when it comes to eating out.
“I still get food from guys wearing paper hats,” Leno told CNBC Make It. “I don't like fine dining. Steaks at my favorite steakhouse went up to $70. I don't go there anymore. That's ridiculous. There's no reason a steak should be $70. .”
The former “Tonight Show” host has a net worth of $450 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
zooey deschanel
When Deschanel divorced rocker Ben Gibbard in 2012, court documents filed were made public and revealed her personal financial information. The “New Girl” star had an average monthly salary of $95,000, and she had $1.57 million in the bank and $1.6 million in her stocks and bonds. Considering this, her economic output appeared to be on the low side. She spent her $22,550 a month with the following allocations: $1,000 on groceries, $500 on eating out, $2,000 on clothing, $600 on laundry and cleaning, and $1,500 on charitable donations. For most Americans, this would be a luxury, but for rich and famous actors, it's practically peanuts. Deschanel also listed her three credit cards with $0 balances on them.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, the actor is currently worth $25 million.
warren buffett
He may not be on the cover of a celebrity magazine, but Warren Buffett is rich, famous, and frugal. The financial mogul, who is worth $118.9 billion, according to Forbes, is known for living a fairly frugal lifestyle. Perhaps the most impressive example of Mr. Buffett's money-minimalist lifestyle is the fact that he lives in the same quaint Omaha mansion he purchased in 1958 for $31,500. The Oracle of Omaha also spends less than $4 on a simple breakfast of egg and cheese biscuits and only buys a new car if he really needs to.
All in all, while it can be hard not to envy the rich and famous who don't have to live with, say, student loan debt or medical debt, we also have the benefit of We should applaud those who are taking active steps to gain. Their wealth lasts. It's no secret that there are no shortage of stories of celebrities who lost their entire fortunes due to heatwave windfalls.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 9 Rich and Famous People Who Are Totally Cheapskates and Why They're Cheap
