Extreme Cheapskates — Yup, That’s Me

by Katy on December 17, 2011 · 27 comments

"Sweep spending under the carpet: Katy spots a tempting rug in a dumpster and makes a grab for the freebie."

Remember when I was teasing out tiny details about  filming a national reality TV show? Well apparently I no longer need to keep it a secret, as England’s The Daily Mail has published an article about the show, which is titled . . .

TLC’s Extreme Cheapskates!

I have not seen how they edited down two 14-hour days of filming into the apparent seven minutes that I was told my segment would be. And I doubt I’ll see the episode any sooner than you will.

Click HERE to read the article, which is light on any details about my particular segment, but does show a photo of me dumpter diving an oriental rug. The special will air December 28th at 9 P.M./8 P.M. Central. I have no idea whether TLC will make the full episode available to view online. I’ll continue to post any new information that comes to light.

Wish me luck, as I am sick with nerves about it all.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”

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{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }

Shelley December 18, 2011 at 12:07 am

Congratulations on making national TV! I was a bit confused, thinking you were American but then you’ll be on British TV – but Brits do that, look for everything weird they can find in the US. Your rug out of the dumpster looks positively main-stream next to some of the other nutters! I cannot believe someone would save up $20K to blow it on a wedding. Then again, I’m a cheapskate, too!

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Laura's Last Ditch--Adventures in Thrift Land December 18, 2011 at 10:57 am

I really don’t think some of the people they profiled in the article sound like very good tightwads. Why would you go to a fast food restaurant (and waste your money), just to get ketchup packets? I think Katy will be the model of sanity on the program.

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Kristia {Family Balance Sheet} December 18, 2011 at 4:47 am

How fun! Congratulations! I hope they show it online…although I think I’ll skip the guy cooking the goat’s head. I love cheapskate’s tips, but I think I’ll bypass that one.

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Diane C December 18, 2011 at 5:19 am

I’m so excited! I don’t have cable (or any other reception) at home, but it happens that I’ll be staying someplace with cable on that date. I’ll be glued to the tube.

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Sarah December 18, 2011 at 7:11 am

Congrats! I can’t wait to see you in action!!!

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Susan December 20, 2011 at 8:04 am

Ditto!

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Laure December 18, 2011 at 8:01 am

Good luck! I’m sure you’ll be great. I really appreciate your blog and find it quite inspirational (while still keeping things real!)

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Jenny December 18, 2011 at 10:45 am

No cable here, but do let us know if it is on the internet. I’m sure it will be fine!

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Jordan Mederich December 18, 2011 at 12:49 pm

Hello there!

I’m Jordan, I’m also on the cheapskate show. I was amazed that they said each segment would be 7 minutes, even though they had 2 DAYS of footage. Funny how they haven’t released any other info, or promo commercials. I heard they have some ads on TLC, but haven’t seen those yet. It’ll be fun to watch!

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Katy December 18, 2011 at 6:40 pm

It’ll certainly be interesting!

Katy

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hydra December 18, 2011 at 12:50 pm

So is it on American TLC or just British? Congrats!

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Maniacal Mommy December 18, 2011 at 1:50 pm

Judging from your competitors, you are going to sound very normal and do wonderful thing for the cause!

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Katy December 19, 2011 at 10:30 pm

Not competitors, comrades!

Katy

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anna December 18, 2011 at 2:03 pm

I am really looking forward to it.. have my pen and paper ready to take notes!!

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Jo@simplybeingmum December 18, 2011 at 3:16 pm

Good Luck Katy! We don’t have Sky (or any other pay to view) so need to get someone to Sky+ it… It’s in the diary!

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Shannon December 18, 2011 at 3:17 pm

Hahahaha! I thought you were joking, lol. Congrats! I can’t wait to watch!

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Leigh December 18, 2011 at 3:24 pm

Thanks for the heads up on the show. I put it in the dvr to be recorded. It shows at 6pm then repeats at 8 pm here in Portland. Love your blog.

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Amanda December 18, 2011 at 4:36 pm

Love that you’re going to be on it, but I have to argue with the article in that being frugal is far different than being cheap or a Scrooge. How can a person be stingy if they are running a shelter????

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Molly December 19, 2011 at 5:45 am

Congratulations!

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Barb @ 1 Sentence Diary December 19, 2011 at 10:49 am

Woot! How exciting! Can’t wait to see it!

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Teresa December 20, 2011 at 8:57 am

Congratulations Katy! I will be watching. IMHO I think this show will go the way of Extreme Couponing. I was quite the heavy coupon user before the show, but only bought the things I needed with coupons and was able to save a substantial amount of money. A month or two after the show there was a sharp increase in people walking around our grocer with huge binders filled with coupons. Shortly after that the grocer discontinued their double coupon policy. I think that the underlying concept will be lost on most people (I hope I am wrong). What these people (on Extreme Cheapskates) are doing is not necessarily novel or unusual, it is just novel or unusual for our current consumer culture. Using up old food – that is what my grandma always did (depression era). It is a relatively new phenomenon to not produce and to only consume, but I get the feeling TLC is going to try turn the subjects on the show into some freak aberrations that live a ridiculous life trying to save a few pennies instead of being “normal” like everyone else. *Sigh* If only we could all see how ridiculous “normal” has become.

Best of Luck Katy from a avid and loyal reader of your blog.

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jeff yeager December 20, 2011 at 3:10 pm

Hey –

Looks like I’m one of the cheapskates on the show. I had – and still have – a lot of apprehension about doing it.

Like you all, I view thrift and frugality as a real virtue, not a vice. When they approached me about doing the show, I made it clear that I was all in favor of “quirky as hell” (afterall, I am, as are the people I write about), but I really want/hope the bigger message of environmentalism, anti-consumerism, and chatitablity comes through.

Hope it does — if nothing else, I got a couple of goat heads out of the deal (which are, truly, a favorite of mine, as they are in many other parts of the world.)

Guess we’ll all be watching.

Stay Cheap!
-Jeff Yeager, AKA The Ultimate Cheapskate

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Katy December 20, 2011 at 5:17 pm

I do not consider myself “Extreme” in any sense of the word. I am just clever and deliberate with my money. Let’s hope this comes through in the show.

Katy

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Miss Roman Apartment December 20, 2011 at 5:18 pm

I’m hoping you trash picked some winning items during your shoot! Someone needs to represent the Frugal & Fabulous contingent out there.

Also, you need your own show.

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Katy December 20, 2011 at 6:06 pm

I did actually do some genuine spur-of-the-moment trash picking while the cameras were on me. A pile of free stuff that I immediately took over to the consignment shop.

Katy

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Diedra B December 22, 2011 at 8:20 am

Oh neat! I can’t get enough frugal/PF stuff. I’ll definitely check it out. . . your episode and all the rest.
Congrats.

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