Difference Between Frugal and Cheap

**NikoSan999** · 07-04-2011, 06:46 PM

What is your opinion of the difference of being frugal or being cheap?
Would you please give one example of each.

Frugal, going to a thrift store to look for something before going to a department store.

Cheap, walking out of a fast food place after raiding the condiments...( don't mean taking the ones given to you with the order )

Frugal, using coupons to maximize your savings

Cheap, always sharing a ride with someone with them driving and not offering to share gas money when you are able too.

**l8eebugg** · 07-04-2011, 07:05 PM

Frugal-planning ahead, not running out to buy things at last minute and also wasting gas. Realizing how hard I work to earn my dollars and not wanting to waste them.
Cheap-not sharing with someone in need. Stepping over a dollar to keep a dime.

**oheoh's momma** · 07-04-2011, 07:45 PM

frugal is making the most of what u have and stretching it a little farther and cheap is separating the tp from 2 ply to 1 ply. Frugal is picking a penny up to put in the change jar. Cheap is not picking it up because it is a penny.

**nuisance26** · 07-04-2011, 07:52 PM

~See: your idea of frugal vs cheap
I particularly like MonkeyWrangler's reply.~

**Spirit Deer** · 07-04-2011, 08:12 PM

I consider myself a cheapskate, which IMO is the same as being frugal.

Taking things like condiments you're not going to eat with your food order is being a thief, not being cheap.

If you're taking advantage of others to save money, you're a freeloader, not a cheapskate.

IMO there's no shame in being cheap. Being a freeloader and a leech is something else entirely.

**frugalwarrior2** · 07-04-2011, 09:07 PM

Being cheap is when the bottom line decides everything often devoid of common sense=tunnelvision. (short term thinking)
frugal is planning. Maybe you spent a bit more but that item lasts and last=long term thinking.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 07-05-2011, 01:09 PM

Everyone has their own idea of what being frugal is and what being cheap is.

Now, being miserly is a completely different ballgame.

Frugal means that you're exercising common sense. Cheap means that you're bordering on breaking laws and exercising less-than-decent tactics to get the same item.

**mndtrp** · 07-05-2011, 07:15 PM

Frugal would be finding the best deal on something you need. Cheap would be not getting the thing you need at all.

**sahm629** · 07-08-2011, 12:45 AM

I think CHEAP is when someone goes to a garage sale/store/someone providing services (like a painter, etc) and asks them to LOWER the price of something. Like if a washing machine at a garage sale is 100, they try to get them to lower price or whatever.

It's like asking them- a total stranger for money - so that you can afford to buy something. But personally I think if you have 8 kids and are a single mom, its okay to do that.

But if you are in a situation where you can work, you need to be able to pay what they are asking, not ask for welfare.

Just my two cents

**bumplett** · 07-08-2011, 01:08 AM

Originally Posted by sahm629

I think CHEAP is when someone goes to a garage sale/store/someone providing services (like a painter, etc) and asks them to LOWER the price of something. Like if a washing machine at a garage sale is 100, they try to get them to lower price or whatever.

It's like asking them- a total stranger for money - so that you can afford to buy something. But personally I think if you have 8 kids and are a single mom, its okay to do that.

But if you are in a situation where you can work, you need to be able to pay what they are asking, not ask for welfare.

Just my two cents

Interesting - I define that as frugal.

Cheap (to me) would be not going to the doctor when you're sick because you don't want to pay the co-pay.

**Jeanna** · 07-08-2011, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by bumplett

Interesting - I define that as frugal.

Cheap (to me) would be not going to the doctor when you're sick because you don't want to pay the co-pay.

I totally agree.

**sahm629** · 07-08-2011, 02:36 PM

I agree with the doctor part.... esp when parents do that to their kids! I know a frugal mom who didn't take her kids to the dr b/c they had a cough/runny n ose for a WEEK. Well it ended up progressing to bronchitis and got alot worse than if she had taken them in immediately.

**miss_cas** · 07-10-2011, 12:38 AM

Cheap is inconveniencing or impositioning someone else to save yourself a little bit of money. People come before money.

You will hear cheap thrown around frequently as an insult. Frequently, someone has been outspoken about their attempts to save money and someone else is jealous or insensitive. Some really busy people do choose convenience over cost just to stay sane because they never slow down. Everyone has their priorities. Some people are also incredibly judgmental and arrogant.

I find the best way to avoid the 'cheap' label is to not discuss money or your efforts to conserve. It is best to just blend into your surrounding, especially at work. Dress like everyone else in the office. Drive a clean and well maintained car but nothing ugly. You just choose to eat lunch in the breakroom because you have some food allergies that cause problems eating in a restaurant.

Frugal is returning home to spend your time with your luxuries and hobbies with the peace of mind of money in the bank should you have an emergency. You sleep easy because you don't spend everything you earn. Just listen to the worrying aloud at work about money coming from your coworkers. Frugality is a relief.

**angela1435** · 07-21-2011, 12:42 PM

I don't see the point in taking my kid to the doc over a runny nose, even if it was a week. There would have to be other symptoms for me to warrant a trip to the doc. Just me though.