Once you start living this way....frugal that is....

im not in debt. but i am very very frugal. when i shop at a thrift store, some things i think 1.99 is too much to pay. yeah. i always double and triple rethink everything at the store. if i don't absolutely need it, i question if i should buy that item, even if it is on sale. i'll give you a good for instance.. with circuit city going out of business everything was atleast 50% -80% off. my husband saw a nice , big, flat screen hd tv that was clearanced down to 1250. now, granted, we've always wanted a bigger, nicer tv, and we do have the money to get it right now. (did i mention it was the last one?? lol) as we walked around, we really really thought about it. i did want to get it, and i know that it would make him really happy if we'd get it. but i put my foot down. i would really love to have that tv, BUT i can't see dropping that much money on something that we really really do not need right now. what if in 2 weeks down the road, the car breaks down? or we need the money for something serious, and we don't have it, then what?? so, in the end, we didn't buy it, but i told him when we get a house (right now we own a trailor in a court), we can get a nice big tv, and maybe by then they will be clearenced down lol. it's all about getting deals, and saving money. if it's not a nessecity, save the money for down the road, because you never know what is gonna happen.

I think it does. I have always been quite poor and so have had to be frugal. I really can't imagine being any other way at this point in my life. Even if I suddenly came into money, I don't think I'd carelessly spend it on "things" that I don't really need. I would love the chance to put all those good thoughts to the test tho! Since I don't play the lottery, I don't foresee that happening.

It's so much more than just being frugal, and I know that I will always choose to live simply no matter what my income is. It's about enjoying the things you do have, not wishing for things you don't. It's living gently on the planet. It's not being wasteful or greedy. I think those are qualities one should try to always practice, not just when their income takes a cut.

i think once u get in the habit of living frugally it will stay with you. once u see how much u have been wasting & how much u are now saving why would u want to go babk to blowing your money on things u cab do better with. wish everyone would learn to live like that especially folks like the members of congress , & a whole lot other. wouldn't hurt them at all to find out how us poor people live.in fact it would probably do them good.

I do think it gets into your blood! I was raised pretty much with a silver spoon in my mouth. As I got older, I would spend friviously (spelling?). Once I had kids and had to be on a much tighter budget, I learned very quickly to be frugal. I buy only what I need, and cut costs on everything. I enjoy saving a dime or too and actually me and kids make a game of it. We try to see who can save the most at the grocery store, clothing store, etc. Between the 4 of us, we do quite well (I can't really say the same for my husband....he is not so thrifty, but he is trying).

I hope that I will never go back to wasteful spending. I am new to being frugal after A LOT of wasteful spending and am enjoying it immensely, so is my husband. We have been in a really tight financial situation and something has to give. I have found a way to knock almost $200 off of our television, internet and cell phones. I am also switching to more energy efficient light bulbs and am on the road to learning how to make my own cleaning products. I think it is more fun than trying the latest product out there! Hopefully it will always stay this way and always be this fun for me. Oh! I used my first coupons yesterday at age 26! I'm learning! Long story short, it has definitely gotten into my blood! I'm determined to make this work.

Being frugal or thrifty is a virtue. Especially, nowadays where we are having financial difficulties almost everywhere. I think if you got used to being frugal you'll live that way fr the rest of your life unless influenced strongly to go the other way. But it's good practice to spend wisely.

I believe that everyone should be a little frugal in the way that they look at their spending. I know we are but we also have to allow ourselves some of the nicer things in life when we can. My daughter had a friend stay last night and I decided that even though I had hamburger out to grill out that we should get pizza. It was a fun evening out and a little more expensive than I had hoped,but it was nice. I enjoyed seeing the kids laugh and play and I spent some time with my husband. I think that it was a good evening and we will just have to cut back on something else this week.

I think that once you get used to a certain way of spending, it's hard to get out of it. Even if you have the extra money your so used to the taste of the food that's cheaper (which is usually not all that different from the more expensive), your used to the clothes, to the cleaning supplies, that you just don't think there's any use in getting more expensive. Just because you have more money doesn't mean you've got to spend it, some people do and that's there perogative, your not spend thrifty and that's a good quality. Everyone has different spending habits, and no one is wrong in their habits unless it hurts them financially! Have a wonderful and lovely day!

Sure, its a good habit. Most people don't have bad spending habits they have bad savings habits. Good for you on getting out of debt, that light at the end of the tunnel is not an oncoming train.

Actually, taface, once you start watching every penny it becomes more than a habit. I used to be in a not so pleasant relationship where I was a stay at home mom and I had to account for the money I spent because, after all, I didn't earn it. That was a loooong time and two careers ago. I still to this day think twice or three times before buying something and I still put things back on the shelf that I can well afford to buy.

I think that once we learn to live more simply, we do tend to stick with it. Even when i do have the extra, I rarely splurge because, as you said, I may need it for gas or something more important.

I hope experiencing frugal living will stay something positive for the younger generation, even if we get recovery one day. For people at my age, who were brought up in poverty could never easily spend beyong limit, without thought. The past has left deep impression on us, which influences our thinking and behaving. The same will impact people gettting adapted to frugality. That is not achievable by mere prapaganda of energy saving and environment friendliness.

I am slowly getting out of debt myself, and I have a long ways to go. I think it is fun trying to "save" money, and trying to get a good bargain. I definitely think frugal living has gotten into my blood, and that is a very good thing. I will definitely appreciate it when I am older and ready to retire.

I have always been frugal...I was the third child in the family and everyone older..my brother and sister got everything first..so after always wearing hand me downs I got sick and tired of it so I had my own checking account in seventh grade..I worked the summers babysitting alot and bought my own things....it taught me sooooo much! I am older now...but not that old and have a house that is paid for....a camper that is paid for....I drive a new car....and pretty much can afford to spend if I want....but I still am very careful...the one thing I do splurge on is my vacations...which in most cases I am visiting a daughter (one of two)...

Tightening the belt has definitely made me think about what I purchase. I am right now trying to pay two credit cards off that I used in the past for big purchases like a new laptop and other emergencies that had happen. I also work a temp job that helps bring some sort of income since my husband has been cut back to four days a week at work. I am also like you when it comes to buying things. I think to myself: Do I need this buy this now or can I wait until it comes on sale? I think even if I get back to the point where I won't have to worry about income flow, I still will just watch what I am doing financially.

I think if you want to stay out of debt you have to continue being thrifty with your money. I can't wait to be out of debt. I know I will still watch my pennies because I don't ever want o be in debt again.!

it depends on.as a student,i have always been frugal.when i go shopping,i'll con pare tihs with that,but usually buy something i don't need .i just can't help buying if they're appealing.i think it's right for you to think twice whether they're worth that money.by the way,we chinese view frualness as a virtue.