[Augustine23532]

Is it my imagination, or are Catholics more frugal than their non-Catholic counterparts, in the negative sense? I have noticed things like ‘letting the other guy treat’ in restaurants, cheap Christmas presents and trying to finagle staying at someone’s home while traveling instead of staying at a motel. I can’t imagine that this is solely because of Catholics historically having large families, therefore ‘making every dollar count.’ It also shows up in the collection basket at Mass. Could it have something to do with ‘everything ultimately belongs to God, therefore get what you can’ instead of the Protestant notion of ‘work for what you get’? I have been a Catholic for 25 years and have never found justification for stinginess in any catechism; quite the opposite. Yet I find this trait among my co-religionists very bewildering.

User Detail :  

Name : Augustine23532, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 40, City : Columbia, State : SC, Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Nancy]

I’ve never observed Catholics as being tight with their money. In fact, my family and many of my Catholic friends are very generous. Since I’ve moved South, I’ve encountered tons of cheapskates in all religions! Many friends who are my age (30s) are very cheap, but make good money. It’s embarrassing to go out with them when they don’t want to tip at restaurants and prefer shopping at cheap places like Goody’s. Many people I’ve met here do not want to spend money on important events such as weddings and showers. I enjoy living for the moment and spending moderately because I may not be around tomorrow.

User Detail :  

Name : Nancy, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 35, City : Atlanta, State : GA, Country : United States, Occupation : professional, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[BB]

I have a Catholic partner, and we both do the things you mention. We sleep on friends’ floors and heartily accept gifts from them. I don’t think this is frugal, I think it is because we are sociable people and are used to sharing our living spaces with friends and family. I think people who have to go 50-50 on everything and never stay over with friends are much more uptight about money and relationships than we are. Similarly, when we are doing well, we treat our friends to beer, food and floor space. Of course, the world is full of chancers who take you for what they can get, but I don’t think they are confined to certain religions.

User Detail :  

Name : BB, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Atheist, Age : 26, City : Edinburgh, State : NA, Country : United Kingdom, Occupation : PhD Student, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Jiggile-wiggle]

You have got it all wrong it is not the Catholics. It is the Jews, I am Jewish and beleive me I know. Thats why the Nazis hated us.

User Detail :  

Name : Jiggile-wiggle, City : Daspardo, State : AR, Country : United States, 

[Author]

Posts