What’s normal, anyway?

photo by LeifheitUSA

DEAR SARA: How often do you vacuum your home? My friends and family think I am insane because I vacuum darn near every day. It just got me wondering, how often is normal? — Lisa, Virginia

DEAR LISA: Although I’m frugal, I want my home to be tidy. I typically vacuum daily. If you don’t have young children or pets, you might not need to vacuum on a daily basis. “Normal” to me is simply keeping the floors clean and free from crumbs, dirt, fur, etc. If you would like to be more frugal in this area, you can purchase a manual carpet sweeper. I like ours a lot, and we paid less than $20 for it.

DEAR SARA: Remember the saying, “When it’s yellow, let it mellow. When it’s brown, flush it down”? Do you practice this water-/money-saving tip? — Debby, Minnesota

DEAR DEBBY: A common misconception about our family is that we are extreme tightwads who practice all aspects of frugality. This is completely false. I don’t practice that particular frugal tip. I prefer to have a low-flow toilet instead and conserve water in other ways, by using faucet aerators, running appliances when full, taking shorter showers and not simply letting water run.

DEAR SARA: Do you boycott any brands or companies? — Sari, Florida

DEAR SARI: Yes, I do. I don’t rally others to share my personal boycotts, and I’m not an extremist for a specific cause, but if I discover a product that is harmful, unethical or unprofessional — or a company that won’t correct an issue or where I’ve simply had a bad experience — I let my feet do the talking, and I take my wallet elsewhere.

DEAR SARA: You often mention thrift-store shopping. Do you go there just to browse, or with particular items in mind? I understand the lower prices, but do you go just to shop or to buy something specific? — Amy, New Jersey

DEAR AMY: I sometimes go simply for “me time.” I have a list of items I am looking for, but I will not pass up a good deal on a useful item that isn’t on my list. As an example, I have a good time browsing the book section. I might not “need” a book, but if I come across a book that I think I or my family would enjoy, I won’t debate whether the purchase is a want or a need. One could argue that this isn’t frugal, but we love to read. When there is a practical item on sale for a dime, I’m not going to play a game of mental ping-pong over it. Sometimes you have to consider your “happy factor.” I shop often to increase my chances of locating items on my list, but I don’t splurge on unnecessary items just for kicks or because they’re cheap. Our thrift stores are less than five minutes from our home, so popping in doesn’t require a special trip. I have great restraint and often do browse and window-shop without purchasing. Most often, it’s the thrill of the hunt and “alone time” that draws me to visit, but it’s enjoyable to discover an unexpected surprise, too.

Posted by Sara Noel on January 24 2010. Filed under Question & Answer.
Sara Noel owns Frugal Village, LLC and is a nationally syndicated columnist with Universal Uclick. Bio, Follow me on Twitter, Join us on Facebook