It's Not *Really* Stealing, Or Is It?

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In these tough economic times people are attempting to save money any way they can. At some point, we may find ourselves faced with an ethically questionable opportunity to safe a few bucks. Frugal ideas can often stretch the bounds of ethical behavior, and can even cross the line into breaking the law.

I've actually done some of these things, others I've read about on frugality blogs. Some I think are frugal, some I think are cheap (different than frugal) and some I think are down right theft.

Bringing outside food/drink into the movies: Sure, it’s a way to save money, but the last time I checked it was strictly against the rules in all of our local theaters. Are you stealing from the movie theater? Or are you just making a statement against their outrageous prices and lack of healthy food options?

Ordering hot/cold water at a restaurant then flavoring it with a drink mix or a tea bag you've brought along: If you’re making your own tea or punch type drink at the table, is that stealing from the restaurant? Or is it a frugal way to cut the cost of a meal?

Lying about the age of your kids, or their student status, in order to get free/discounted admissions. If your kid is 12, and there is a reduction in admission for kids under 12, is it wrong to claim your child is 11? Does the cost to the facility really increase just because a kid turns 12? Is this stealing? Or is it just bending the truth a bit to save a little money?

Lying about your anniversary at a restaurant to get preferential treatment and/or free food. Is this wrong? Or, since you have an anniversary every year, does it not really matter when you "celebrate" it or if you "celebrate" it more than once year?

Laying claim to discounts that you’re not entitled to. If you book a hotel room online and select that you are eligible for the AAA discount, or the AARP discount, even thought you're not an AAA member or quite 50, is it stealing? Or is it acceptable to think "Hey, if they can’t be bothered to check, it must not mean that much to them and they don’t care if I get the discount"?

Reusing coupons in the self check line of the grocery store. Apparently people are rescanning coupons in grocery store self check lines, then inserting blank pieces of paper in the slot when requested, saving the coupons for additional purchases at a later date. Is this stealing from the store? Or is it just a way to maximize your dollar?

Reusing the jumbo plastic cup on multiple visits to a fast food restaurant. Sure, we know the intent is unlimited refills within the same visit, but is it really stealing from the restaurant? Or is it nothing more than making the most of the "unlimited refill" offer?

Using Barnes & Noble like a library. All of the chain bookstores now have comfy seating and most of them have coffee bars. Isn't that an invitation to sit down with a book or magazine for a few hours? Or is it stealing profits from the bookstore to read their books and magazines without any intent of ever purchasing them?

Taking home a few supplies, or running your personal bills through the postage machine at work. Would these things qualify as employee theft? Or does the employer just expect a certain amount of this and include it when figuring out your total compensation?

As J.C. Watts said:

"Character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that's right is to get by, and the only thing that's wrong is to get caught."

I think many of us have a two sets of ethics - one for individuals and local companies, and one for faceless, capitalistic corporations. We’ll do things to a big company in a heartbeat that we’d never consider doing to an individual.

In the end, we each have to make peace with our own moral compass, but I think we seldom think about how the short-term, money saving "opportunities" might cost us in the long run. Will restaurants start charging for water? Will self-serve drink machines go the way of the dinosaur? Will manufacturers stop producing coupons due to fraud? Will amusement parks and museums start charging the same (higher) price for everyone to stop people from taking advantage of discounts? What about the hit to our personal integrity and conscience? Is it stealing not only from society, but from our soul?

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