What's the worst experience you've had while being frugal?

I was a TA in college and was responsible for proctoring an exam. I found out that our school had free pens to give out to students (leftover from some event). So I grabbed a pack of pens and pencils, and distributed them to all the students (100 or so) and was left with about 2 pens and 10-15 pencils. I kept them in my pocket and put the rest of the box away. This was the last exam of the semester and I was moving to a different city (for an internship) for the summer (so didn't have to deal with any professors or students or anyone else for a while).<br><br>So I distribute the pens and pencils, and another professor (from the same department) walks in and asks me what I'm doing with the pens and pencils. I told her she could have them back, but she said they aren't hers. I told her I got them from the box, but she said those pens and pencils were for a different event, and she was going to use them. I said she could have them back, and she asked me how many I had given out and if I had kept any for myself. I said I gave out a whole bunch and only kept two pens and about 10-15 pencils (something you would find in a normal pencil case). She got mad at me for "stealing" the pens and pencils, and accused me of being dishonest. She filed a complaint, and I had to go talk to the head of the department who scolded me, took away my TAship for the fall, and told me I would not be recommended for any other TAships in her department.<br><br>(Disclaimer: I was going to quit anyways because I had lined up a research job in a different department, and I loved my advisor, and I actually ended up enjoying the research much much more than my TAship. I also got to work with my advisor for 3 more semesters, and she wrote my LoRs for grad school)<br><br>TL;DR: Got in trouble (and almost kicked out) for pocketing 2 pens and 10-15 pencils from an exam proctoring event I was responsible for.<br><br>Edit: I changed the flair to E (for educational) because I think that would be more fitting than S (for sad).<br><br>Edit 2: I am going to stop replying to comments. Please assume the following:<br>- I *DO NOT* care if some people keep pens/pencils/tissues from their office. I never said anything about that, and I'm not the pen/pencil police.<br>- I am NOT the guy from the story. I'm just an undergrad who posted the story. I was NOT a TA, I am NOT a professor, I am NOT a lawyer, and I am currently NOT in school.<br>- I am well aware that this is not the correct sub (it should be r/roosterteeth).<br>- I did not expect anyone to care about my story.<br>- I am NOT an asshole (at least, not to humans). If I was an asshole, I would not have posted a story that I thought nobody would care about<br>- I am not the guy who wrote the story. I just posted it here. Remember, I'm just a poor college student.<br><br>Edit 3: I don't know how many people have to tell me that office supplies are for personal use. I never said they weren't. This story has nothing to do with office supplies, and I think you should stop projecting your narrative onto the story.