I get what you're saying here and have said it myself plenty of times... but, when you think about it ,look awful to who? Are the parents of the child really saying to themselves "Oh, so and so is just so mean" or is it the child who is saying "so and so is a right tightwad!" And if they are saying this then that is a poor reflection on them.
I was talking to a colleague and she was saying she would never give less than €50 for a communion because she doesn't want to look mean. But none of us are too worried about looking mean when the charity boxes do the rounds and they are ofter a far more worthy cause than a spending spree in Smiths Toys for an 8 year old.