The most stingy woman in history
Saving is good. It ensures security in future life. But if saving becomes an addiction, at some point it crosses the boundaries of thrift and turns into stinginess. Stinginess is also a very bad habit—there is no way to say that. But when stinginess goes beyond limits and turns into extreme stinginess, then there is no way to call it good.
Who is the most stingy person in the world, many names can come to mind. But if you ask who is the most stingy woman? Then only one name comes to mind - Hetty Green.
Her name is Henrietta Howland Green.
But she is known as Hetty Green. She was born on November 21, 1834, to a wealthy family in Massachusetts, USA.
Her family had amassed a huge fortune through whaling, shipping, and real estate businesses. Hetty Green inherited that business.
Hetty was skilled in business and investment from childhood. At the age of just six, she started reading family accounts. At the age of 13, she learned investment strategies. In 1865, she inherited a fortune of about $7.5 million when her father and uncle died. In addition to saving her wealth, Hetty invested in bonds, real estate, and railway shares. Despite the ups and downs of the US economy, she increased her wealth through safe and long-term investments. Hetty Green is still talked about for her stinginess. It is said that she used an old black dress for years to save on the cost of buying warm clothes in the winter. Her son Ned once injured his leg. Hetty tried to get free treatment. But her idea backfired. Ned did not receive good treatment due to his stinginess, so his leg had to be amputated.
Once Hetty herself became seriously ill. Without seeing a doctor, she tried to get free treatment at a local clinic. She only had two cents for her daily meal. She would buy a pie with this money. To reduce the cost of food, she would also buy broken biscuits and leftover cakes from the store. She would argue and even fight with the shopkeeper for a free bone for her dog every day.
Similarly, she would not wash her entire clothes to save on soap costs, but only washed the dirty parts. In winter, she did not use a heater or fireplace to heat her house. She would use only an old blanket to save on costs. To save on the cost of her own separate office, she would work in the public library. Because the light was free there. She also saved on the electricity cost of lighting the lights in this way.
Although she was a wealthy person, she did not use any luxury transportation. She would travel by buying ordinary train tickets.
She died in 1916 at the age of 81. At the time of her death, her wealth was about 100 to 200 million dollars. The value of her wealth in today's market is equal to 4 billion dollars. Her sons and daughters were not as stingy as their mother. They gradually squandered this wealth in luxurious living. However, her daughter founded a hospital with part of her wealth.
Hetty Green's life was a strange mix of stinginess and financial acumen. Although her frugality may seem ridiculous to many, she has made an exceptional example in history due to her financial success.
~ Rafiqul Hasan
(Scipen World Team)
