The cashier was very excited to tell the customer that the gift card was a special promotional item that had a million-dollar prize that had been unused for years.

I stood there stunned as the store manager came over to confirm what I already knew to be true. My grandpa’s “stingy” gift turned into a fortune that changed my whole life and my future in an instant.

What can be learned from the story: Being a cheapskate means you like to make every dollar count.

But sometimes it’s nice to spend your hard-earned money on the people you love. It doesn’t mean you spend a lot of money. You can show them you care by giving them a treat or the nice gift they’ve always wanted.