what would Cheapskate do?

Since August 5th, Circus Ninja has been to eleven countries. She has searched far and wide for her fabulously wealthy benefactor, to no avail. No rich relatives have died, despite repeated poisoning attempts. Aware that her spending habits will only accelerate the dreaded day when Circus Ninja has to sit still and get a job, Circus Ninja has created an alter ego: Cheapskate.

(What happens when your alter ego creates an alter ego? If you met in a dark alley, would you recognize each other?)

Many a frivolous purchase has been avoided by simple repetition of the mantra, "What would Cheapskate do?"

Cheapskate would never take the bus in nice weather!

Cheapskate would buy a bag of pita bread and a few containers of yogurt and feed herself for the day!

Cheapskate would make herself a cup of coffee at HOME rather than buying that latte! (This one is a significant sacrifice, as Latte Maker Man is absolutely dreamy. He's interested, too - he really swept me off my feet with that now-familiar pickup line, "Are you Jewish?")

Cheapskate would totally lug that roadside box of free books up to the secondhand bookstore to trade them for cash!

Cheapskate will cover her grey hairs with mascara until dyeing them is absolutely necessary! (Wait. I mean, she would do that, if she had any grey hairs at all, which she most certainly does not.)

Cheapskate will sweet-talk the YMCA into giving her a student discount!

Don't worry, Mom, it's just a game. I'm not depriving myself of fun experiences just to save a few shekels. Bear in mind, Cheapskate was not above dropping a hundred bucks for a hotel in Akko when the only other housing option was a youth hostel that smelled like feet.