Comments on: The Mormon Cheap Mentality

By: ROSS

ROSS — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 01:27:03 +0000

So true!!! mormons are so cheap and frugal… All the wedding receptions are just about the same, I’m tired of the same stuff at wedding receptions, I will have a wedding reception that will make their jaws drop, just to prove a point.

By: Bret

Bret — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 10:43:26 +0000

tom,

I’m glad I clicked on your comment because that is a fascinating point of view:) I like it a lot. It goes along with our goal (and many other societies, of course) of reaching a Zionistic society. (i.e.–Of one heart and one mind. See Moses 7:18)

By: tom ferraro phd

tom ferraro phd — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 23:05:20 +0000

I think the Mormons are like the Chinese who save 50% of their incomes. This is becasue they are in fact more wise and less narcissitic. No need to show off since they define themselves as part of a family rather then as an individual. I am doing an aritcle on this so i am looking for feedback on this point. Thank you

By: Bradley Ross

Bradley Ross — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 04:42:50 +0000

Interesting discussion, but no one has answered the real question: Are you supposed to tip at Sonic?

By: Doc

Doc — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 18:28:04 +0000

I agree, that is an excellent definition.

By: Don Clifton

Don Clifton — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 17:10:24 +0000

Jay, I like your definitions of cheap and frugal, it fits for me.

By: jay s

jay s — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 16:52:03 +0000

Meems, I wasn’t trying to beat you over the head. The point of tipping is not to get someone to do their job properly, It is to get someone to do their job exceptionally well, for you! For a waiter, we tip 10% because they brought your food, which maybe should be built in. The rest you tip because you got, or would like to get next time, extra service (the quick drink refills, the kind suggestions away from an entree, the side of lemons etc)

For schools, teachers routinely do go the extra mile. But our base expectation is that each child will get an education It would be inseemly for one parent to bribe a teacher for differential treatment. Not only is there the meritocracy referred to earlier, but teachers have enormous sway over the future our children have. The kids get all A’s, Harvard here we come, B’s and C’s, not so much. This starts early on. In my school, you were either in track one, (the smart kids), track two (average) or track 3 (remedial). This started in first grade, and not many kids changed out of it. While no one is arguing that money can’t buy a better education, it is uncouth to be so obvious about it.

I am sorry that you don’t get better “tips” at your school. Though i think some of what i experienced has gone by the wayside, as it is considered a bribe to give such lavish gifts.

But getting back on track. one approach is that Our attitude towards others differentiates between cheap and frugal. Cheap towards others is cheap, cheap to ourselves is frugal. Another approach is that it comes down to values. If you approve of the category being scrimped on it is frugal, if not, it is cheap.

By: Kim Siever

Kim Siever — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 16:49:58 +0000

I used to run an LDS e-commerce site with a friend. We used to receive regular emails from people complaining our prices were too high and how can we live with ourselves knowing we were changing for than the Distribution Center. It didn’t make a difference when we explained that the Distribution Center is a wholesaler and we were a retailer.

By: Mark B.

Mark B. — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 16:45:53 +0000

“Valet” isn’t a verb, and you can’t pay me a big enough tip to change my mind.

By: meems

meems — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 16:07:00 +0000

Hey, Jay! I’ve already conceded. You are all right, and I am wrong. I am wrong wrong wrong.

However, you missed my point about tipping teachers. You’ve made a faulty assumption when you said “If we allow parents to tip, then aren’t we saying that the parents who tip will get a superior education for their kids?” The way things are now, in case you haven’t noticed, tipping is not optional. Why would it be optional for parents to tip teachers? It’s not optional for me to tip the hairdresser; it’s expected. (And why should we have to bribe anyone to do their job properly? Shouldn’t a valet or maitre d’ treat everyone with courtesy?)
(And no, teachers don’t get tipped anyway! I don’t know anyone who pulls in that kind of booty. Maybe a plant or some bubble bath….)

Yeah, mandatory tipping for each lesson I provide. That’s the ticket! :-)