We filmed a segment of the reality TV show Extreme Cheapskates….two years ago.  We were sworn to secrecy about the filming because it was the pilot episode and hadn’t been approved to air.  We thought the producer would let us know when it was going to air, if ever, so we could send out a publicity note on our blog.  They didn’t.

We found out about the airing the day after, when a friend called to let us know they’d seen it.  Some of our friends said we looked ridiculous and they were sorry we had been portrayed like that.  I was scared to watch it and without cable, there really wasn’t an opportunity.

Until now.  Extreme Cheapskates hit Netflix last week and I finally worked up the nerve to watch our segment last night.  It wasn’t as bad as I was prepared for.  We are in the pilot episode, family #2.  We start around 16 minutes into the show.

Fun Facts:

1.  Amount of money we earned doing the show:  $0

2.  Amount of money we spent while doing the show:  $20

The show was filmed over Dub’s birthday and they asked me to plan a frugal birthday party.  We invited guests, made a homemade piñata, and had a bunch of games planned.  They film crew showed up and let us know the producer canceled the party.  What?  They decided to film a babysitting night with a couple we had met a few times.   I called all the guests and uninvited them–Awkward….and Dub had the worst birthday of his life.  I have been forever trying to make it up to him.  The camera crew all pitched in a bought him a cake at the end of the filming. Which was super nice of them.

Also, they asked me to buy a flannel shirt to cut up for wipes.  They wanted plaid, but the thrift stores were proud of them that time of year (October) and I couldn’t stomach the price.  I usually use knit anyway, from holey t-shirts at home and wouldn’t buy fabric to use as wipes.  I ended up with $1 red flannel pajama pants with reindeer on them.  The producer was disappointed but dealt with it.

3.  Amount of publicity for our frugal living business and books from doing the show: 0

4.  Number of extra media interviews we have done as a result of the show:  2

One included a radio interview done live over the phone to Sydney Australia!  I about died laughing when they introduced me as a reality TV star.  What?

5.  Amount of hours we filmed for the 8 minute segment:  24.  The camera crew followed us everywhere for 12+ hours a day–even to the bathroom…..I made them wait outside the door.

6.  The first thing we noticed when we saw ourselves:  How young we looked! It’s only been two years, but the stress of remodeling this home plus other normal stresses of life have taken their toll, adding gray hair and fine lines.  Makes me want to be more careful about my skin care routine, food choices, and using my faith to handle stress so I can get back to that place.  I had been a Fit Yummy Mummy for only 5 months at that time and was in the best health of my life.

7.  Some things that weren’t quite what they seemed:  We don’t refuse to buy toilet paper, we just buy less than the average family.  I keep it on hand for when we are behind on laundry or have guests over.

The wash cloth Brandon was folding that they pictured over and over, that looked dirty, was actually scorched.   I give makeup lessons and facials in my home with my Mary Kay business and warm the wet washcloths in the microwave.  I asked Heidi to give me a hand (when she was 9) and she put a stack of dry cloths in there for 3 minutes.  They were smoking and had brown marks on them and she cried.  I hugged her and told her they weren’t completely ruined, just not useful for facials any more.  And next time, try wetting them down first :).

Do we forage for wild edibles?  Yes, sometimes.  But not in the city and not in October.  The vegetation is bitter by that time.  Our favorite wild edibles are lamb’s quarter–tastes like spinach (best found in large quantities on Darren’s parents farm) and dandelion blossoms (Fried into fritters).  Though we have eaten violets; clover blossoms; Jerusalem artichokes; wild raspberries; gooseberries; elderberries; and wild asparagus. The best time to forage is in April around Easter time.

Do I buy out of date food at Dirty Don’s?  Not really.  The cheese was not out of date.  It had a packaged on date 3 months ahead of when I purchased it and had been frozen the whole time. The sauce….not sure what happened there.  The film crew was pushing me to buy all the ingredients for the dinner at that store.  Which was not easy to do and not in character for me.  I rarely buy anything to prepare the same day, but look for low cost foods to fill my pantry with and then cook based on what I have on hand. I already had everything I needed to make the pizza etc at home….but Nooooo. 😉

8.  Frugal activities that were filmed but didn’t make the final cut:  Homemade play dough; homemade finger paints; family hair cuts at home; cloth paper towels; cloth diapers; cash envelope system; our home pantry; sewing clothing from refashioned items; homemade bread; online shopping for deals; wood heat supplement; brown paper floors; canvas drop cloth floors; homemade knock-off lamp; homemade Roman shades from mini-blinds; furniture found by the side of the road and made over; cheap curtain rods extended to huge rods with a dowel rod painted to match….I’m sure there were others.

9.  My favorite moment of the show:  When Dub stepped in dog poop.  We all had a good laugh about that one.

10.  What I thought of the other families in my episode:  The first man made me step back and wonder how people viewed me.  I found his dumpster diving (illegal in my city) and taking food off other people’s plates to be distasteful.  (Oh you’re laughing, because I think cloth toilet paper is in good taste?)  And would I peel toilet paper into 2 rolls, or wash paper towels?  No way, why do that when I can wash cloth stuff, which washes up so much easier (by machine) and lasts relatively forever. The man after me had a great idea: A week long spending fast every month.  But would I spend $7 on goat heads?  Why, when $7 would have bought a nice pair of t-bones or a beef roast?  And would I ride my bike 40 miles to collect $7 in pocket change from all over the city?  Looks like fun, but I’d need a bike that seats 7 :).  And if it’s a spending fast, why spend anything at all? With a proper pantry a family can go moths without spending anything if necessary. And then the final family–the bartering family.  They are adorable.  What a nice looking couple–and their friend.  Wow!  What a voice!  I barter sometimes, but only when the trade is mutually beneficial.  For example right now I teach voice lessons to a girl while her mother tutors my daughter in reading and math.  We trade time for time and both save money.  But would I ask for a doughnut in exchange for a poetry recitation?  Not sure how that’s different from being a bum on a street corner playing a song for change in a cup. Except for maybe a bit more bold.

Anyhoo, I’m sure all those families are super nice.  And to be sure the producer was doing his best to find the grotesque and strange and play it up.  And also to find just the right mix of opportunities in a 2 day window. Sounds like the one man didn’t buy goat heads often and it did make good TV…sort of, lol.