Are you frugal, cheap or ?
By shirgie
@shirgie (230)
United States
December 1, 2006 8:07pm CST
I like to consider myself frugal but in all honesty, I probably am not really. I use coupons, rebates, special deals I hear about on a website I subscribe to and more to get lots of free stuff. Sometimes stuff that I don't even need. I do donate, give for gift and sometimes sell for some extra cash if I happen to be having a yard sale. This of course isn't true frugality. When I think of being really frugal, I think of reusing ziplock bags, never using paper towels, watering down products and more. In my case, I get many things so cheap I use them more not less. It seems easiest to get free hba products than other categories. We have enough shampoo, conditioner, feminine supplies and etc. to last for years. So are any of you frugal or cheap? What measures do you take to save money? I am not reusing baggies but I am hoping to learn a few cost cutting tricks from some of you.
2 people like this
7 responses
@frugalmoneymanager (113)
• United States
10 Dec 06
I think of being frugal as being wise about money matters, and not spending more than is necessary to fill a need.
One of the ways people keep from spending more than is necessary is to use coupons. These people are considered frugal (wise users of money) because they got the needed item for less money.
If you are not spending any money on shampoo, paper towels, or feminine supplies, then I would say you are being extremely wise with your money, because you aren't spending ANY money to get your needs met in these areas.
Being frugal isn't about squeezing pennies in all areas of your life, it's about making decisions about what is important to you, then finding ways to send more money to those areas and less money to areas of least importance.
You have to decide which areas are important to YOU.
1 person likes this
@yarntales (639)
• United States
5 Dec 06
I want to be frugal too. I waste a lot of money. Especially on eating out. My daughter has activities and that is when the temptation usually comes. It's a bad habit and I need to break it.
Anyhow, in some ways I am frugal. Like all the $$ I will save by not having to buy shampoo, or toothpaste for the next year. All thanks to my wonderful sister, rmc, and CVS' extra care program.
I do the riteaid rebates sometimes too.
@tentwo67 (3382)
• United States
26 Dec 06
I definitely don't fit your definition of true frugality (!), but I try to save money wherever I can. I get a rush when I find a truly great deal on something I needed and would have had to buy regardless. It feels like a great triumph for me. So I guess instead of describing myself as frugal I will say that I am a savvy shopper??
@pebbles724 (642)
• United States
26 Jan 07
I use coupons when I shop and also buy things when they are on sale. I like to get free samples. I do not go to the extreme of reusing ziplock bags, etc. I like to get free stuff by taking surveys and I belong to several websites where I earn points so I can get things like cash or gift certificates.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
16 Mar 09
I am slowly trying to learn how to be frugal. Luckily I am not having to do this very much as my fiance and I live with his parents. However, I am trying to get into the habit so as to have an easier transition when it is our responsibility to make the money and pay the bills. I hope that we will be ready for it, but if were not I hope that the tips I learn here and on other sites will prepare me for the economic troubles that we are already facing here.
@puccagirl (7294)
• Israel
17 Oct 10
I am someone who is trying to be more frugal, but I still have tons to learn, so I don't think i am quite there yet. But I am definitely not cheap! I do splurge sometimes and I love to give presents!
