Cheap

Defining a "cheap" person can be a hard thing to do. I think just like a lot of words, cheap is all relative. I am of course using "cheap" in terms of money and people for the sake of this argument. What makes one person cheap and the next, not cheap? It can not be simply how much money one makes, but that number has to be put in a formula to get a "cheapness" value. For instance, If Bill Gates gives his nephew $20 for a birthday gift, and another uncle (avg. joe income) gives the same nephew $20, does that make Bill Gates "cheap" or "cheap compared to the other uncle." I don't think this is enough to make a decision tho. Cheap must relate to how much money one has, the degree to which they want an item, and the final decision to purchase (or not purchase) the item.

Example, a millionaire has to purchase bottled water on a vacation or he/she will die. The bottle of water costs $5. Everyone would agree that if the millionaire did not purchase the water they are being "cheap." However, the same millionaire, same bottle of water, life and death not involved, but extreme thirst. I think everyone would agree the person is again being "cheap" in not purchasing the water, but maybe there is a hint of un-necessity here that would claim some to say "wise-spender" instead of cheap. OK, low income guy, life or death bottle of water, this guy has the money, but it would cost him 80% of what he owns. (He buys it, he is not "cheap.") Low income guy, exteme thirst...same bottle of water, same 20% left in his pocket....I don't think people would consider this guy cheap in this instance if he didn't buy the water. If he did, he would have spent 80% of his total worth on a bottle of water he didn't need. Do you see where I'm going here....it is all comparative, it has multiple factors (amt. of that persons $ worth, necessity level of item, and whether or not the item is bought)

So on this basis, everyone (even Bill Gates or the poorest guy in the world) has the potential to be cheap. But the more $ you have, the more opportunity you will also have to be called "cheap".