My granddad was the most frugal person I’ve ever known. After he passed away, he gave me a $30 gift card. For reasons I can’t fully explain, I chose to use it rather than give it away. That moment marked a distinct before and after in my life. When I handed the card to the cashier, her face turned pale.
Cashier: “Where did you get this? This isn’t possible.”
Me: “Well, it belonged to my grandfather.”
“STOP EVERYTHING!” the cashier suddenly shouted. She explained that the store had been running a secret contest for ten years, and the winner was standing right in front of her! Apparently, the gift card was a rare promotional item that came with a million-dollar prize, which had been left unused for years.
The cashier was overjoyed, and the store manager came over to confirm what I could hardly believe. My granddad’s “stingy” gift turned into a fortune, instantly changing my life and future prospects.
The lesson here is that being frugal doesn’t necessarily mean you’re cheap—it means you know how to stretch your dollar. But there are times when spending money on the people you care about can bring even greater joy, especially if it’s on a thoughtful treat or something meaningful to them. It’s not about how much you spend, but the thoughtfulness behind it.