Real savings?
By arkaf61
@arkaf61 (10881)
Canada
March 13, 2008 9:19pm CST
Hubby's aunt and uncle are experts in frugal living.
THey tend to be really smart when shopping and will never spend one cent more if they don't have to.
I love them to pieces and really admire them, but sometimes I wonder if some of the things they do are really saving.
HUbby's uncle takes the car each day and goes around all the supermarkets in the area checking and comparing all prices. Then he buys whatever is cheaper on each one of them. Now, it is true that he might save a few cents, or even dollars, but what about the gas he spends going around each supermarket?
ANother thing they do is that they save all coupons and use them all, but.. many of the coupons are for things that they don't usually buy or use, and often end up not using after buying.
That doesn't sound like saving to me.
Hubby's aunt called me today because she wanted me to check out the prices of radios with cassete player because her old one broke down. Her old one is less than 5 months old.
WHen she bought it, I told her that maybe that one was not a good idea because it seemed to fragile and the brand was not very good. There was a better one for only $8 more, but she felt that it was too much and bought the cheaper one. Well, it's broken in less than 5 months. Maybe those extra $8 were the savings. Instead of having to buy a new one now, if she had spent just a bit more she would have a radio that would last longer.
Do you know people that are so frugal that sometimes confuse saving money with buying poor quality items over and over again, or spending $5 in gas to save $2 in shopping? Or even use coupons for items they don't normally use, just because it's 50 cents off the regular price?
6 people like this
9 responses
@CherylsPearls (1269)
• United States
14 Mar 08
I've seen so many people do what your husband's aunt and uncle do. I don't know how they figure they are saving money! I think I do pretty good...I use coupons when I have them for things I want. Out of a whole book of coupons that come with the Sunday paper, I may have one or two I will use. We used to trade coupons at work. I think I gave more away than I ever got, though.
People think they are saving a lot by buying bulk, like at Sam's or Aldi's, when they are probably wasting more than they are saving. If it's not something I really want (not the brand I prefer), I don't want it in bulk, either. I have a family of 3. I don't see the need to buy in bulk for 3 people. It would take us forever to use some things!
The driving around to different stores...yes, I recognize that! That's what my Dad used to do. I think you would be using more gas than saving money at the stores!
I use my store cards and usually save some with them. I save the most by not buying items I don't really need or want.
I don't think the kind of savings you were talking about is working! lol
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
14 Mar 08
Not, it doesn't sound like it's really saving LOL What amazes me is that in general they are very good at it. It's just a few things don't make so much sense, but it's complicated to tell them because they come with the attitude that they know better than us and even if we're explaining how they might not be saving it doesn't really register on them.
WEll, I guess that the fact that they are really good at it in other things probably compensates for those small things :)
2 people like this
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
14 Mar 08
nope im not like that..and i guess they forgot to add or jot down their expenses first if they go hopping for one store to another one..and buying cheaper and using coupons to purchase are not good..since it tends you to buy what you think you need but actually its not since your after only of the discounts given does sacrificing the quality or durability of it..its good to save but one must do some calculating before anything else...its good to save for the rainy days but its not just the way as what you had describe it here..
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
14 Mar 08
They already saved for a rainy day. Many rainy days in fact :)
But they like to live frugal just the same since it's the way the always lived.
I sometimes talk to them about the gas going around from supermarket to supermarket and alway they keep stressing that it is to save money I am thinking that there is more to it. Uncle is retired and I wonder if this excuse to save is just a way for him to distract himself. Going out, walking around. They are simple people that don't really enjoy a book or something more than watching tv. THey're limited on going out because they're taking care of aunt's mom with Alzheimer's . So maybe those trips to the supermarkets are a distraction to my uncle more than the savings thing.
@chertsy (3798)
• United States
14 Mar 08
I like to think of myself frugal as well. I shop smart and not dumb. Driving around town to get prices at each store is a waste of gas. Wait until the sales flyers come out and compare, and then make a list. One good thing about the internet, I can see these flyers before they go out to everyone's mail boxes.
Coupons is not even worth it if your using them to buy stuff you don't need, because your still spending on the item that the coupon doesn't cover. With the radio, with your help, maybe you can find her a good one at a really good price.
Frugal or not, there are things I like to pay extra to get the better product. It's not a good deal like you said, when you have to keep shelling out money when something breaks. My last shopping trip, I saved 25 dollars. I love watching my total get smaller, I just need more coupons on stuff that I use.
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
14 Mar 08
Yes, something buying the cheapest thing ends up not being savings at all.
Also when it comes to food I don't go for the cheapest prices right away, I check it, sometimes the savings are not worth because the quality is poor.
I honestly don't use coupons. It's rare that I get one on something that I actually use, so I prefer not to waste my time - on the other hand I like the coupons you get in the store. THe ones that are often right beside the products. Because sometimes those are about things that I use and was going to buy any ways. But I still check first, because if the coupon is for something that I use but in a different size or some sort of variation it might still not work for me.
1 person likes this
@chertsy (3798)
• United States
14 Mar 08
Most foods, I buy store brand, like canned goods, noodles, milk, etc. I like Kroger, because they send me coupons, which I go through to see which ones I need or use a lot. Also I like when I spend 100 or more in a month, I can use it to get 10 cents off at there pumps. So I'm also saving on gas as well. I like Aldi, because many times, they have veggies cheaper than other stores. I love there canned black olives, it's cheaper and taste better. They also have meats and other things at cheaper prices. I haven't been there in awhile, so I don't know if there milk prices went down or not. Next week I have to get a dozen plastic eggs, and candy to fill them. I can get the eggs at the dollar store, might get the candy there as well if it's cheaper there even with the coupon I have.
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
14 Mar 08
Usually canned goods are basically the same. I buy store brand often as long as the quality is the same - which is most times.
For things like fruits, vegetables or meat I tend to check it a bit more, because sometimes the quality is a bit different. But if it's all the same then I will buy the least expensive.
1 person likes this
@wisedragon (2325)
• Philippines
14 Mar 08
I'm a frugal person myself but I wouldn't do those things. You're right that going to all the supermarkets would be a waste of gas, unless if they are all within walking distance of each other then that would be a good exercise.
As far as discount coupons, I've always believed that you can save 100% if you don't buy something that you don't need.
As for quality, there are good quality items at fair prices. You just have to find them. I think products made in China are generally poor quality. My sister gave me a mini-digital camera as a gift. I was able to shoot about 3 pictures. After that it didn't work anymore. It was made in China.
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
14 Mar 08
I know too many people like you describe. I find it hard to believe that they are actually saving. I think the key is to simply NOT buy things you don't need. I am very frugal ...well usually. I am very careful about my spending. I try to set prioritys and not spend on silly things or things we can live without. In doing so, I am occassionally able to splurge a bit on my daughter or provide for her things like her sports ...things i'd otherwise not be able to as a single parent. I plan my shopping trips and errands so as to save on gas. If I use a coupon ...it is on an item that I'd be buying anyway. Actually...even the cassette player is something I could live without. I would wait until did not have to worry about 8.00 even tho, I love my music. If 8.00 were that important to me at the time...I can live without the cassette player.
2 people like this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
14 Mar 08
They make wise decisions in most things, those are the only 3 aspects where I feel they're confused.
AS for the cassette player it is needed. Aunt's mom has Alzheimer's and doesn't leave the bed. She hardly talks or responds to anything but listening to her music.
In any case, the $8 are not exactly the problem, They live frugally because it's how they always lived, but they have plenty of money, both in the bank here and in Portugal. SO that money for the radio was not a problem. It's just that they thought they were saving in buying that one, but in fact they were just buying something that needed to be replaced earlier.
@djmarion (4898)
• Philippines
14 Mar 08
my mother is a very frugal person also, whenever we shop for grocery items she always pick the cheapest brands in the aisle, more often those goods she bought in her cart are not the brand we usually use, she often change the brand because she go for the items on sale.
the problem is that she tend to buy stuff which we don't really like. i remember she once bought this bath soap in a pack of 6. she was very exited telling us that she got the item at 50% of so its almost like buy one take one scheme. to my dismay the soap she bought was not the brand we use and it cause us skin rashes. sometimes she buy canned goods in its cheapest also not noticing that those items are near exipry period that's why they are on sale.
my point is sometimes people tend to buy things which are not wise just because of too much frugality and end up loosing more money instead.
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
14 Mar 08
Yes, I know what you mean.
When we were all still living at hubby's uncle house one day he came up with this boxes of donuts. Don't even know what brand they were but they were on sale LOL
For a week he kept offering us donuts. First none of us is too keen on donuts. Then those ones were not good at all. But we all ended up eating a lot of not so tasty donuts just so he wouldn't feel bad LOL
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
14 Mar 08
I'm a very frugal person too, but it sounds like they're not seeing the forest for the trees.
Saving a few cents is good, but you have to factor in what the savings is costing you, as you've given several examples of.
I would love to use coupons, but rarely do they have them on items I would even buy. I might use one if there was something I was really curious about, but other than that, I don't bother with them.
I don't get excited about new products that come out, I get along just fine with the old tried and true.
1 person likes this
@rcaira7 (145)
• United States
14 Mar 08
Well, they seem to be just the perfect example of how marketing and cunsumerism really does work. You got it, they are spending all kinds of money on things they don't need but there is this high you get from thinking you are saving? A friend of mine was over yesterday bragging about how she bought a 160.00 pair of jeans for 40, but really if you need jeans go to target and get them for 18.99 ... so a bargain really means something different for everybody and that is why Marketing works!
