Miser

A miser is a person who is reluctant to spend, sometimes to the point of forgoing even basic comforts and some necessities, in order to hoard money or other possessions. Although the word is sometimes used loosely to characterise anyone who is mean with their money, if such behaviour is not accompanied by taking delight in what is saved, it is not properly miserly.

Misers as a type have been a perennial object of popular fascination and a fruitful source for writers and artists in many cultures.

Accounting for misers

One attempt to account for miserly behaviour was Sigmund Freud's theory of anal retentiveness, attributing the development of miserly behaviour to toilet training in childhood, although that has since been challenged.

In the Christian West the attitude to those whose interest centred on gathering money has been coloured by the teachings of the Church. From its point of view, both the miser and the usurer were guilty of the cardinal sin of avarice and the two were often confounded. According to the parable of the Elm and the Vine in the quasi-Biblical Shepherd of Hermas, the rich and the poor should be in a relationship of mutual support. Those with wealth are in need of the prayers of the poor for their salvation and can only earn them by acts of charity. A typical late example of Christian doctrine on the subject is the Reverend Erskine Neale's The Riches that Bring No Sorrow (1852), a moralising work based on a succession of biographies contrasting philanthropists and misers.

Cheapskate (song)

Cheapskate is a US-only single from Britpop band Supergrass' second album In It For The Money that rose to #35 for four weeks on the US Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart. While being only a 7" promotional single, it has an accompanying music video, that was, for an unknown reason, left off the Supergrass Is 10 DVD.

The song is said by the band themselves to have drawn influences from Kool & The Gang.

Track listing

7"

References

External links

Cheapskate (You Ain't Gettin' Nada)

"Cheapskate (You Ain't Gettin' Nada)" is the first single released from the Sporty Thievz debut album, Street Cinema. Produced by Ski, the songs lyrics are similar to that of their follow-up smash hit, "No Pigeons", with the song making reference to the fact that the members are not willing to buy expensive materials for any women. The original made it to both the R&B and rap charts.

A remix entitled "Even Cheaper" was also released as a single. It was also produced by Ski and featured verses from female rappers, Liz Leite and Mocha Latte. It also made it to the Billboard charts, peaking at 27 on the Hot Rap Singles.

Single track listing

A-Side

B-Side

Charts

Cheapskate (You Ain't Gettin' Nada)

Even Cheaper