Being frugal ALL the time

**forestdale** · 04-25-2005, 06:10 PM

I think being frugal can be something you're born to or it can be a learned skill.  I'm learning it now - at age 57 - and it's taking a while to take hold.  I've never HAD to be frugal before.  DH and I always had good, well paid jobs and although we've never been wealthy, we were comfortable.

Now, through our decision to live a more simple life and our ages (DH is 64), we need to be frugal.  It's difficult at times.  Sometimes I just forget.

I've actually been in the middle of buying something and have had to tell the shop assistant I've changed my mind.  I work in our retail store and if someone did that to me I'd feel like kicking them out the door.

Is it difficult for everyone, or am I alone in this?  I read the posts here and I wonder sometimes why some people seem to have the frugal thing happening and working well for them and yet I can't.  Don't get me wrong - I'm not running out and buying things I don't need, but I do have my weaknesses - like plants or anything connected to the garden.  There are several things I'm excellent with, like cooking from scratch and grocery shopping, but with plants I "forget".

I'm beginning to think it's something you have to practise before you get it entirely right. We've been living simply for 18 months now but only being consciously frugal for about six months.  I'm happy and content with what I have, I just wish I could remember that all the time.

Does anyone else have a problem being frugal all the time?

**ScrapMama** · 04-25-2005, 06:43 PM

My dh and I have decided to start living simply this last year and it has been a bit of a hard transition in some areas. We are expecting our 4th child and I've been using my "cravings" as an excuse to eat out, so we decided to switch to a menu plan. We are actually doing much better. I like having nice clothes and designer purses, but I buy them as treats twice a year or dh gets it for me for Christmas or a Birthday present. I've learned to spend more time at home with my kids doing crafts and enjoying what we have. I still have a long way to go, but the little steps are starting to happen. You hang in there!

**fearoflight** · 04-25-2005, 06:49 PM

Don't worry; you're not the only one! I think most people have weaknesses. Mine are kitchen things and my yarn and fabric stashes. It is quite easy to forget all the good you've done when you see something really appealing, even if it's not a great deal. I do think there's something to that frugal gene because I always say I was born in the wrong decade. I should have been born during the Great Depression! I sure act like it most of the time, except when I see some beautiful yarn

Anyway, I don't think we can be frugal every minute of every day unless we absolutely have to. Congratulations on how far you've come, though!

**AmyBoz** · 04-25-2005, 06:52 PM

I definitely have a difficult time being frugal "all the time" although I'm hoping that I get better at it, due to the fact that we've had a change this week that requires a tightening of the purse-strings, I'm hoping that I get better at it.

**TwirlingRainbowSky** · 04-25-2005, 07:11 PM

I want to pat myself on the back thinking how frugal I am being. Only washing clothes in cold water, etc. And then when I look at the bills that have to be paid and the checkbook I think it's not helping!

**Jerrie K** · 04-25-2005, 07:16 PM

Dh and I are certainly not frugal by nature, however I like to tell myself that I am. I love to buy things for the house. In fact just last week after being soooo good since joining the FV I blew it by going out to look at new globes for the kitchen light. I broke one while doing my spring cleaning. The globes were older and could not be matched. Instead of just buying 4 new globes we not only walked away with new lighting for over the table but matching lights for the kitchen area

I felt so guilty when we came home. 235.00 on something that we did not have to have! So I now have beautiful kitchen lights but I will have to be extra frugal to make up for it. All this to say that I do have to be conscious of my spending all the time. I return to my reckless ways in an instant. I do love it here and before FV I would not have even felt guilty about the extravagence.

**daddys3chicks** · 04-25-2005, 08:59 PM

Oh boy, I struggle horribly with this. I don't mind cooking versus eating out, and I buy clothes on sale or at consignment. But I go on craft supply buying binges - currently on a yarn acquisition binge. I have a horrible mentality of 'we are so in debt what's $10 more dollars?". But we know that all adds up.

I will always want craft supplies, I just need to work on planning and budgeting better - to save money and not end up with so much stuff I never use.
HUGS to you!

**pip** · 04-25-2005, 09:32 PM

I can't be frugal in all areas of my life. I'm more frugal than many people I know, and I think it comes sort of naturally for me, but I do have weaknesses. For instance, not eating out is a challange I can't seem to beat. Or, buying cookbooks.

**Mom23boys** · 04-25-2005, 09:48 PM

I have to say we are not frugal all the time either, but I try to be. It is hard sometimes when you "just have to have an item". Those impulse buys kill you.

**Shell** · 04-25-2005, 11:11 PM

Oh I have to work at it ALL the time! I'm certainly not frugal all the time but I have really improved and now have a decent savings account and credit cards paid off. But I have to work at it. It doesn't come easy. I struggle & fall but I pick myself up and get back working at frugality.

**homesteadmamma** · 04-25-2005, 11:39 PM

You know what Rhonda, I'm at a point in my life where I don't want to be frugal ALL the time. I use to be radical but now I want a more simple life and sometimes being frugal doesn't bring simplicity.

Example: paper napkins compared to cloth. Cloth you have to wash, hang up to dry, iron, fold and put away. Paper you can pick up reasonalby priced and onced used throw away.

There are also some things I won't be frugal about. When it comes to quilting and when it comes to flower gardens.

Great topic!!

**thrifty gal** · 04-25-2005, 11:46 PM

I really needed this thread. I feel like this a lot. I am not frugal ALL the time, and lately I've not been frugal half the time. I'm trying to get my butt into gear, and kick frugality into high gear.

**rebecca** · 04-26-2005, 05:28 AM

I am frugal all the time. I only make so much a year, but I consider being frugal a hobby. I hate buying anything I don't have to, can get it at a cheaper price, or use what I have. I love to dumpster dive. Only pick up things that I know I will use. The money I save by being frugal I put in my EF, savings, in my Pepsi stock, or my vacation fund. If I wasn't frugal I wouldn't have the house or car I have. When someone calls me cheap I don't say anything to them except thank you, but at the same time they are always complaining to me how they don't have any money. Hello!? I'm not cheap to the point where I don't help others or don't enjoy myself, but like I said before I consider being frugal a hobby.

**Mommy2five** · 04-26-2005, 07:26 AM

I am not frugal ALL of the time. You aren't alone

**britbunny** · 04-26-2005, 07:49 AM

I have not been frugal for very long, but at the moment it's not too bad. It's not hard to do the frugal things that we do as there's a reason for them. As Rebecca said, we wouldn't be able to live like we do if it wasn't for the frugal stuff we do everyday, it's second nature to us now. If there's something that i don't want to do, I won't do it just to save money.

I am not frugal by nature, neither is Scott but we both like to get value for money so will spend more to get more out of something (just wait for the endless threads about my new tv unit). In a sense it's the fact that we weren't frugal in the past that is helping us now. we have so much stuff that can be used up, watched, read or listened to that we don't need to spend on a lot of things.

Other things I am frugal with are things such as cleaning products and disposable items, this is easy for me too as I think about the ecological aspect of reducing, reusing and recycling things. I think it's the fact that I dislike waste that helps to keep me frugal.

Plus frugality is the keystone to the success of our financial goals so it's always in the back of my mind whenever we are consuming things, or thinking of consuming. I'm turning into a bit of a list maker- so I always have a written record of needs and wants. as the old saying goes "if your name's not down you ain't coming in". Everything is interwoven with everything else, so to change one things changes everything else, it helps to keep us focused.