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Cheerios And Water

bowl of cheerios[Blind Gossip] This famous film actor was having lunch with a friend recently.

He was leaving a tip for a meal and he was calculating it to the last penny. His friend jokingly asked him why he was being so cheap and [Actor] told him that for a long time, he didn’t know if he was going to make it as an actor. He was working odd jobs, but money was so tight that he couldn’t afford even basic groceries. Milk was one of the expensive things that he could not afford, so he would buy a box of Cheerios for $1 and eat a bowl of it with cold water poured over it every morning. Apparently, he’s been cheap ever since.

Sounds like he has good reason for being tight with a dollar!

Similar: Sad Money

Actor:

[Optional] Do you have any habits that were born out of frugality?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. SpeakEasy says

    I’d guess John Goodman.

    I can’t say if I think he’s smart or cheap, since I have no idea what kind of service he received. Great server with wonderful demeanor, or a crap service with a ‘tude? Since I don’t know, I can’t judge the tip!

  3. CaptainVor says

    Well the first two who came to mind were Chris Pratt and Jim Carrey, but it specifies “film” actor and they got their breaks in tv, so… maybe Tom Cruise? I know he grew up poor.

  4. eryncuz88 says

    I am going to guess Jim Carrey. He struggled to begin a career in show business, and even though his family supported him, they couldn’t help much financially either. I remember reading a story about him writing himself a million dollar check to cash when he made it big (and actually had a million dollars) but he ended up slipping it into his father’s casket.

  5. prinny says

    Wow – pure guess Steve Martin

    I have alot of weird frugality habits, but I am good tipper. The one that comes to mind first is that I have to squeeze every last drop of toothpaste, shampoo, makeup, face cream, etc out of every bottle before I throw it away and start a new one!

    Why would anyone eat Cheerios with water, I would just eat them dry. In fact my son will only eat dry cereal, and he got that from my sister! Weird, cause he does like milk to drink!

  6. felicia says

    Dustin Hoffman
    Unrelated though: ill be ecstatic the day the US gets rid of this restaurant wage system. its not cheap to calculate a 15-20% tip. You pretty much get the same service at Denny’s that you do at Olive Garden that you do at Eddie V’s – so if it were me I would just rather leave $10 every time instead of 20% of a $20 meal or $200 meal. No other established countries have this dumb system of $2 per hour plus tips

  7. mamacita3 says

    Is this really being cheap? Or just conscientious about their money? We’ve seen plenty of formerly rich people who end up bankrupt.

  8. Katmandu says

    Milk is less than $2 for a quart, it’s cereal that’s expensive (unless you buy it at the Dollar Tree or a damaged freight place) – $4 a box, at least. But ‘back in the day’ it could have been cheaper…..I remember when the price of cereal got SO high some years ago there was a quiet revolt by the public who turned to other foods for breakfast – muffins, oatmeal, toast.

  9. jasper says

    Goodman? His father died when he was 2, before his sister was born. His mother and teenaged brother had to work whatever jobs they could to keep the family afloat. When he moved to NYC, he locked himself out of his apartment, burning his dinner beyond eating, and was broke. only a well timed care package from home with macaroni kept him going a few days until he got paid again. I heard when he had his own StL diner, he would hit local strip clubs and give girls coupons, which they hated?

  10. lilmama says

    I’m not sure of the actor, but I can relate.

    In college my friends thought I was cheap bc I would only pay for my exact meal/drinks. BUT, always a 20% tip. I waited tables off and on, so I know tips are important.

    Now that I am comfortably employed I split checks down the middle.

  11. bostonbratt says

    Cheerio makes me think this has,also to do with an actor from the UK. Cumberbatch? Hiidleston? Farrell?

  13. ocius1 says

    Dustin Hoffman because his story fits and the blind says: ‘ever since’ indicating a long time.

  16. celebiddy says

    Idk who this is but i think it’s awesome! I’m definitely the type that always tries to live below my means. I only spend 20-30% of my weekly income by cutting costs where i can and searching for the best deals. I’ve been a saver not a spender since i knew what money was. Hopefully it’ll allow for an early retirement!

    • greeneyessw says

      I guess it is good practice to not waste money, but I don’t think it is awesome to keep the tips low. If you made it big, why not give a little more? Maybe even round up.

  17. Jester says

    Don’t know who the actor is, but being cheap and being frugal are 2 different things. If actor is doing so well now, he should stop being cheap. The waiters/waitresses depend on tips because they don’t make crap per hour. Sounds like an excuse! As far as putting water on cereal, gross! He could have purchased powdered milk. I would have eaten the cereal dry and BTW, cereal is what is expensive!

    • Jester says

      I am frugal by making sure I turn off electricity (lights, TV, etc…) when not needed. I also save extra condiments from ordering at a drive-thrus and use them on meals I bring to the office for my lunch.

  18. jonty30 says

    An actor is only as valuable as his last project. He’s smart to watch his money, but a little overboard if he’s counting tips to the penny,

  19. Shadow_Queen152 says

    I’m thinking maybe this is Sebastian Stan (I hope not) I think he said in a past interview ( I’m not 100% sure) something like he wasn’t sure if he would make it as an actor when he first started. I really hope it’s not him

    • AnguaDelphine says

      @mamacita3 “Who is Sebastian Stan??”
      Bite your tongue, child!
      (He’s the Winter Soldier in Captain America and the Winter Soldier / Civil War)

      He’s also recently enough made it big, it could be him. However, I’m not sure if the clues fit.

  20. bhakti says

    Bradley Cooper?
    No idea why I’m guessing him. Just a wild guess

    No, but I dated a guy who used to drink free coffee creamers from diners because he couldn’t afford milk. He went on to make it big time in “the biz.” He’s a very respected special effects guy and he was very generous with his money but still mindful, if that makes sense. He remembered the struggle it took to get there.

  22. deelee says

    There have been many stories about Leo diCaprio being a cheapskate, although he’s a child actor so I don’t know if this is him, though.

    I get it though, at one point I only had enough to buy dinner with my last $5 at Jack in the box. A kids meal. That was tough times for sure.

  24. scumby says

    Harrison Ford?

    No, it is a bad reason. He has no compassion for others in the same situation. I’m sure he would of appreciated a nice tip back then.

    • eleanorh1995 says

      I have friends who live in Jackson Hole, where Harrison, Calista,& their son live. They have “regular” tables in many of the restaurants, and judging by the service & attention they receive from the staff, they tip well! They seem to be truly nice people, especially Harrison

    • Amityvillain says

      If Harrison is cheap now, he hasn’t always been. He renews his pilot’s license in the DFW area and is notorious for eating at one particular restaurant each time he is in town (though I think it’s been a few years since the last time he was here). He’s always been polite and the people there adore him. I’d say not him.

    • chicagogirl says

      I thought this too, but he’s been a star since the 60’s. I don’t think Cheerios were popular yet, and if they were, would have been far less than a dollar a box.

  26. chicagogirl says

    I’m tempted to say Bill Murray because of the related blind. He made it big by the 80s, but I can’t figure out what a box of cereal cost 40 years ago.

    • chicagogirl says

      I’m going with this guess. $1 in 1975 is around $4.50 now, which is around what if have to pay for Cheerios now I suppose.

    • StellaK says

      Idk I can’t see it being Bill. He went to Loyola Academy. Anything is possible.

    • jonty30 says

      Bill Murray is also not known as a cheap tipper. He’s been known to pay people’s restaurant bills that in the hundreds of dollars, just because he can.

      It can’t be him.