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<p>I think most of the 99% are somewhat frugal. What have been talked about here - drive old cars, pay off CCs, etc are very common practices. In order not to embarrass our kids, I am not going to list the things we do daily to save even a fraction of a penny. </p>
<p>T1, my point is that different people have different priorities. You can’t say a person is not frugal if he buys a $10K Nikkor 640.</p>
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<p>oldfort, do explain the difference please.</p>
<p>romanigypsyeyes - it is different for each person when it comes to allergic reaction. Next time you are in a drug store, just give some products a try while you are there. You could also go to some costmetic counters and ask them for samples.</p>
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<p>Well, the “investments” have been flat for these last 13 years, or a least it was up, then down, then way up, and then way down. About what it was 13 years ago, cept we added money when it was going way up, only to see that additional money go way way down. Therefore base on historical performance, and we in retirement mode, we would just ass,ume to use it on washlet bidgets :)</p>
<p>“Yes, there is a difference between frugal and cheap.”</p>
<p>Cheap-- not paying ones fair share of something. Going to a restaurant with someone who “forgot” their credit card and/or had no cash.—Bringing out a calculator and figuring out exactly what each person spent. Going for something clearly inferior and saying it’s really good enough.</p>
<p>Frugal–only buying on sale. Turning the thermostat down and wearing layers of clothes. Buying non-brand name. Looking for good deals at various locations like T J Max, Gilt, etc.</p>
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Oh for the love of god. Double negative aside, there is a different word that comes to mind…</p>
<p>^^^just about to post that (morrismm), but lost it when I did a refresh.</p>
<p>My parents are very frugal. They turn the thermostat down in the winter when they are home. But when they have friends over, they turn it up to make sure people are comfortable. They also cook enough food to feed an army for their friends, and then eat left overs themselves.</p>
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<p>So funny as that is the exact example that comes to mind when I think of ‘cheap’. Or another example: our wealthy relatives to gave their uncle (our kids’ grandfather) a re-gifted item for his 80th birthday. How did we know? They apparently overlooked the personalized engraving (made out to one of them) that appeared on the clock they presented as a ‘special gift’ to him!</p>
<p>I love your example Oldfort!</p>
<p>This is cheap…when you buy an expensive face cream, and give your MIL the free gift set for Christmas.</p>
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<p>Hahaha. You made me spit my wine out when I read this.</p>
<p>Actually, frugal is very popular and a matter of pride in many circles. Many in the country club set we know like to brag about how much less than retail or manufacturer’s suggested price they were able to get whatever they purchased. CHEAP, on the other hand, is generally frowned upon and implies being a “mooch” or otherwise not carrying one’s load.</p>
<p>I know many folks who are very comfortable financially but really prefer to eat most of their meals at home rather than dining out, so they do and save a LOT of money that way. Sometimes, they buy inexpensive takeout of go to inexpensive restaurants for a change of pace but rarely go to pricier places that they can easily afford.</p>
<p>We eat in most of the time because food is generally better, when we go out we like to go to nicer restaurants. I do not see any point of wasting money on average food.</p>
<p>It’s funny, but a lot of the things CC’rs listed as frugal, I would do even if I was wealthy. It just seems like common sense. Cooking from scratch, freezing meals, buying used cars and putting plenty of miles on them, shopping sales, doing my own manicures…I would probably still do these things if I made twice as much.I did buy D an Oscar de La Renta couture gown for her graduate recital. BUT, it was from a consignment shop. Maybe THAT is the definition of cheap? I have always saved at least 20% of my income and even when I have exceeded that I still can’t get myself to pay full retail. Yah…that’s CHEAP.</p>
<p>Frugal has a generally positive connotation, IMO. Connotes a person who is careful with their money, thinks through purchases and doesn’t squander it. They may be very generous in many areas with their money. Cheap has a negative connotation, as in the examples above (love the overlooked engraving, LOL).</p>
<p>Thanks to those who pointed out one might think differently about flushing when on a well and septic. Doesn’t bother me in the least. I think it’s a waste to be putting that much water in the septic. I remember my grandma’s outhouse (this was in 1971); I’m thankful for the bathroom.</p>
<p>We don’t live in an area that’s known for gung-ho recycling. We have to sort and haul everything ourselves. Some posters mentioned the very thing I always question: I have to use propane (expensive) to heat the water to wash the cans and plastic, then I have to store it, requiring multiple times opening garage door (temp = 0/more propane for heat), then I have to use gas and truck wear/tear to haul it. Is the small amount of savings > than the cost of the fossil fuels I’m using? Would love to see research on that.</p>
<p>My biggest frugality is never shopping for entertainment. H’s sisters constantly exclaim their great “deals”. It’s no deal if you don’t need it or won’t wear it. We don’t replace any appliance or auto until it breaks/is dead. </p>
<p>Having done all that, I would like to eat out more often (H will go to better than fast food 2-3 times/year). He has passed from frugal land into cheapville…:(</p>
<p>Another reason for frugality (besides simply changing where one spends their money–which is not a bad thing)–freedom! The main aim of frugality for my H and me is to have more control of our time, and more choices in our future. For instance, he changed jobs to one paying a third of what he was making several years ago–it’s still a lot of work, but he has more time off and less stress. I recently quit my full-time job to work full-time during part of the year but have four months free to work on things more important to me. Without our severe frugality, we couldn’t have made those choices.</p>
<p>Frugality buys time and freedom.</p>
<p>Saying you cannot pay for something when you really CAN is cheap. Finding a less expensive alternative is frugal.</p>
<p>I never mind it when someone really can’t pay for something and figures out a way to economize. It drives me nuts when someone just cheaps out and figures out a way NOT to pay when they really can. That’s cheap.</p>
<p>Exactly. If you are frugal you are careful not to waste money. If you are cheap you are prbably good at getting others to waste their money.</p>
<p>I really hate fretting over saving money on food. Don’t know why. It just bugs me. I rarely use coupons and will generally buy what looks really fresh and good – not what is a good buy or cheap.</p>
<p>On other stuff I’m better. No house cleaner. Very few vacations. Rarely eat out. I do splurge on clothes but not high fashion level clothes. I splurge on my kids’ educations, too. We are very frugal with cars and have always bought homes somewhat below our income level would warrant. I think doing this has given us the latitude to enjoy life a little more.</p>
<p>But I’m not that frugal. My parents are frugal and in all honesty that frugality has come to seem somewhat joyless to me. I don’t know why they saved so long. They are old now and can’t really enjoy the money that much.</p>
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<p>I kind of know what you mean because one can ‘over do it’. I know some folks like that. On the other hand, it just seems sad that we get ‘joy’ from consumption rather than from things that don’t cost much at all, such as our relationships. I think frugal people obviously like their choices. </p>
<p>And maybe your folks over-saved but it is extremely hard for us to know what is enough so far down the road. Far more don’t save enough for the future, or for old age. Too many who did not predict the housing crises, the lost job, the relocation, the disability, the divorce, and other tragedies…and way too many stories about those unable to afford the care they need in their golden years. It is great that your folks (and you) have that peace of mind.</p>