chintzy

adj

Etymology: From earlier chinchy, from Middle English chynchy (“miserly, stingy”), from Middle English chinche (“stingy, miserly; miser”) + -y.

1. Excessively reluctant to spend; miserly, stingy.

   “Is there a place for being prudent, frugal, and thrifty with the one we love in marriage? Sure. But only when careful ways are outweighed by generosity to overflowing. […] Think of a time when you were being a bit more chintzy with your partner than you needed to be. What was the result and was it worth it?”

   “They were sitting at the kitchen table. There was a fizzy pop as her father opened a can of ginger ale for Mr. Cooper. Store brand, of course. Lately everything was generic. Not that it mattered to any of them, only Ruth, who said it was just the chintziest way to live.”