We’re all trying to make our money stretch further these days, but some people take frugality to an extreme. What starts as being smart with expenses can turn into behavior that’s downright cheap—and their kids often end up dealing with the consequences.

One dad repeatedly scheduled free in-home water filter demonstrations, not because he wanted a filter, but because each company offered a free bar of soap. After the first visit, he called four more companies just to collect more soap, never intending to buy anything.

Another father guarded paper towels like luxury goods. Even at 21, his child had to ask permission to use one. Years of cheap purchases that constantly broke only made things worse. The situation reached peak tension when an entire roll was used to clean up spilled milk—his silent heartbreak said everything.

And then there are the dads who take penny-pinching to survivalist levels. One refused to use a dryer even in freezing weather, dug through his kids’ trash for anything “valuable,” and would drive around for half an hour comparing gas prices just to save a few cents.