Despite earning well into six figures, Marcus was so penurious that he'd reuse paper towels and refuse to tip more than a dollar.

Growing up in a penurious household taught Maria how to stretch every resource, though it wasn’t always due to necessity. Her parents, though not truly poor, maintained a penurious mindset, saving every coin and avoiding even small comforts. Over time, Maria realized that their penurious habits were less about survival and more about a deep-seated fear of spending, which shaped her own complicated relationship with money.