10 Shows Like Extreme Cheapskates (2012)

Description: The show highlights entrepreneurial pitches where contestants often present frugal or innovative solutions to problems, reflecting the resourcefulness and financial savvy seen in extreme budgeting.

Fact: Shark Tank has led to the success of many now-famous products, such as the Scrub Daddy and Squatty Potty.

Description: It features negotiations over the value of items, often highlighting the art of getting the best deal, which aligns with the themes of frugality and smart spending.

Fact: The show is filmed at the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas, which has become a tourist attraction due to the show's popularity.

Description: It explores extreme behaviors related to saving and collecting, often highlighting individuals who struggle with letting go of possessions, which parallels the obsessive tendencies seen in extreme frugality.

Fact: The show has been credited with raising awareness about hoarding disorder, leading to increased public and professional interest in the condition.

Description: The show revolves around bidding on abandoned storage units, often highlighting the thrill of finding hidden value in discarded items, similar to the excitement of uncovering bargains and savings.

Fact: Storage Wars has been credited with popularizing the storage auction industry, leading to increased interest and participation nationwide.

Description: The show highlights unconventional and often low-paying jobs, showcasing the hard work and ingenuity required to make a living, which resonates with the themes of resourcefulness and frugality.

Fact: Host Mike Rowe performed over 300 different dirty jobs throughout the show's run, from cleaning sewers to working in slaughterhouses.

Description: This show focuses on financial struggles and extreme budgeting, often showcasing individuals who go to great lengths to save money, similar to the themes of frugality and unconventional money-saving tactics.

Fact: The show was originally a Canadian production but gained popularity in the U.S. due to its relatable financial advice and dramatic family dynamics.

Description: This series revolves around transforming discarded items into valuable products, emphasizing resourcefulness and the potential in overlooked objects, much like the creative reuse seen in extreme cost-cutting measures.

Fact: The show features a team of skilled craftsmen who upcycle trash into treasure, often surprising the original owners with the results.

Description: This series follows experts who hunt for valuable antiques and collectibles in unlikely places, emphasizing the thrill of the hunt and the value of second-hand items, much like the pursuit of extreme savings.

Fact: The hosts often travel across the U.S. in their van, uncovering hidden treasures in barns, garages, and basements.

Description: This series focuses on buying low-cost items and flipping them for profit, showcasing the value of thrift and creativity, much like the extreme measures taken to save money.

Fact: Contestants are given a budget to purchase items at flea markets, then compete to see who can make the most profit after refurbishing them.

Description: It delves into the financial struggles of small businesses and the creative, sometimes drastic, measures taken to turn them around, mirroring the ingenuity and extreme tactics used to save money.

Fact: Marcus Lemonis, the host, often invests his own money into the businesses he helps, making the stakes personal and high.