It’s been over a year since I published Frugality And Ethics – Are You Being Cheap, Frugal, or Stealing?
I enjoyed writing that post and since then I’ve thought of more situations that divide opinion: some people call them smart frugality, others say they cross a moral line and become theft. That’s why I’m sharing a third installment of this series — to examine scenarios where saving money borders on questionable behavior.
I believe saving money is valuable — this is, after all, a personal finance topic — but it’s worth asking how far people should go to cut costs, whether the savings are small or substantial. None of us are perfect, myself included. So when does frugality or stinginess turn into stealing? I’d like your thoughts on each example below.
Dumpster diving for usable goods
I’ve never personally dumpster dived, though I know people who have. Some consider dumpster diving theft because the discarded items originally belonged to someone and were placed in a trash bin. Others see it as resourceful: rescuing usable goods from landfills and extending the items’ life.
Personally, I lean toward the latter view: if an item is truly abandoned and someone can make good use of it, that’s a better outcome than sending it to a landfill. But context matters — if the container is on private property and retrieval violates local ordinances or trespasses, that changes the ethics and legality. Where bins are public and goods are clearly thrown away, salvaging is arguably responsible reuse rather than theft.
Related article: How To Live On One Income
Removing coupons from someone else’s newspaper
When I briefly tried couponing I bought a single paper to get inserts, but noticed coupons were often missing. It turns out people sometimes go through doorsteps and tear coupons out of newspapers left at homes.
This feels like plain theft to me. You can’t assume another household won’t use those coupons; taking them without permission deprives someone of their property and potential savings. If you want coupons, ask for extras or look for legitimate online or store-provided alternatives rather than taking them from someone else’s paper.
Not telling vendors you’re having a wedding
Many wedding budget guides suggest not telling vendors that your event is a wedding because some vendors charge more for weddings than for other parties. The idea is that calling it a “party” can reduce quoted prices.
This is a gray area. Saying “party” instead of “wedding” may not be a direct lie, but it does withhold relevant information. Vendors often charge more for weddings because they require additional services, insurance, or staffing. Misrepresenting the event could lead to unmet expectations, inadequate coverage, or extra fees later. Ethically, it’s questionable — and practically, it can backfire. If you do choose not to disclose it’s a wedding, be aware you might be shortchanging yourself on services designed specifically for weddings.
Related article: DIY Wedding Ideas – Worth It Or A Waste Of Money?
Reading books or magazines in-store without buying them
I once saw a book in a store that looked heavily worn and stained from previous readers. It’s fine to flip through a book or magazine briefly to decide if you want it, but sitting and reading most of a book without purchasing it seems inappropriate.
If you find a book compelling enough to read cover-to-cover, support the author and retailer by buying it, or borrow it from a library. Using a store like a free library undermines businesses and creators. Quick previews are acceptable; extensive in-store reading crosses a line into taking value without paying for it.
Credit card churning for signup bonuses
Some readers asked me to discuss credit card churning — repeatedly opening cards to collect signup bonuses. Opinions vary: some call it gaming the system, others call it unethical or tantamount to stealing.
I don’t consider churning to be theft. Card issuers offer sign-up bonuses expecting that many applicants are primarily motivated by incentives; that cost is built into their marketing model. Responsible churning — where you meet minimum spending without carrying costly balances and follow issuer rules — can be a legitimate way to get value. That said, it requires discipline, organization, and awareness of potential credit score impacts and issuer restrictions.
Which of these have you done? Which cross the line for you, and which fall into smart frugality? Can you think of other examples where saving money becomes ethically questionable?