Do they think you are odd?

[Buc-O-Mama]

Since the first of the year when I've made a hearty effort to return to frugally living I've noticed a few things. I don't have one friend that knows how much their electric bill is. They don't read grocery sale ads or clip coupons. They think I have good ideas, but when I hung a clothesline in the backyard of my deed restricted, gated community it is as if I'm flying my frugal freak flag. It doesn't concern me and when prices keep going up on everything, they'll call me for my laundry soap recipe. They love me but think I've lost it.

I'm telling you all this to ask you, where do you stand in your circle of friends or family? Are you the most frugal or do you have friends that you learn tips from? Was there ever a time that you lived in financial oblivion and had no idea what your household was spending on the basics?

[The Muse]

People have only begun to notice it recently as DH and I both have high paying jobs and haven't adjusted our lifestyle to match. If anything, we've adjusted down in terms of clothes,cars, and toys. People definitely think we're odd, but they attribute it to our treehugging ways, not a desire to simplify and be frugal. We're practically trendy

I've always known exactly where our money was going, that's why we are where we are. We still live like we earn 1/4 of what we do. We invest the rest.

[IntlMom]

They definitely think I'm "out there" in my frugal ways. There is not one person I know IRL that is a frugal as me....however, they have begun to ask me questions. I get emails from my friends asking me the best price on a can of veggies, or a freind stops me in church to tell me she did the walgreens rebate deal, so they are getting it, but I don;t think anyone realizes the extent that it is lived out in our home!

[quiltingmommy]

Well, my side of the family is pretty frugal. Large family = frugality. we are all pretty frugal and have been for years, we've been considered 'tree huggers' for about 20 years now. DH comes from a small family and his family thinks its gross to shower, dry off and use that same towel the next day. (thankfully, dh doesn't share that!after all, you're just wiping clean water off of you!) SIL goes through a roll of paper towels a day, they run the dw half full, etc. They think I'm a little 'earthy-crunchy' because I read labels, don't buy soda or hfcs products and use coupons constantly. If I wasn't as frugal as I am, we would not have survived 2 years on my measly income paying the mortgage, prop taxes, car payments, food, bills, etc. I shudder to think what dsil would do if she lost her hubby's income! They would have an extremely difficult time.

[Ceashels]

My friends have always considered me a little odd and a treehugger. I don't think they are too concerned with me just yet. LOL

[imforpeace]

I've forever been the butt of the fugal jokes! Mu husband was taking me to dinner, for our anniversary last month, and I grabbed my coupons. He replied no we are going somewhere that you don't have a coupon for. ha ha~

My grown kids call me to see if I have coupons for this or that, but when they were kids, they always mocked me. Who's laughing now? {I even had a coupon for one of kids to get a tattoo!}

When my friend and I were younger and poorer, we always went to thrift stores. Now that we have a bit of money, I still shop there and she doesn't understand. She says you have the money now, you can afford it. She just doesn't get it. She likes her car payments and cc bills...I don't!

[Wendy Mack]

I tell yah i had been on a break (from sanity) for about 6 years no couponing just didn't think I had time. Well this last few months i have really started watching what I buy and looking for things that after coupons is at least half the normal price. I love when i can get things for almost nothing. And my co workers have noticed and ask me if i have coupons for such and such that they could have ughh ... anymore you have to use coupons just to afford food. And I do stock pile what i can that won't expire before i use it that i can get cheap or near free. That is what makes my husband crazy..why do we have 14 razors.. or 12 packages of soap .. ummm free.. can you say next to nothing or free! And they won't expire.. and its stuff we use so i went for it. I know some in my family think i am weird.. but I do what I have to do to make ends meet.

[Momto2Boyz]

DH and I have always been extremely frugal, and I think our friends always thought it was odd or funny or both (they would never have said it, just thought it), but now we are in high fashion. One of my neighbors actually asked to go grocery shopping with me and see how I do it.

I now find them all asking me for advice on how to lower their bills which DH and I think is hilarious!

[nodmicks]

I don't get called odd reactions but I don't talk about. However dh does get crap from his coworkers because he always brings lunch etc. Funny how now they are asking me to teach their wives to budget. Dh told them unless they quit spending $10 a day on lunch it won't really matter.

[stinkbug]

I'm pretty sure no one I know would understand why I was excited to get a Lucky brand shirt and a Ralph Lauren shirt yesterday at Goodwill for 3.00 each. I'm also pretty sure they would not understand why I shop there considering our income.

[COUNTRYBUMPKIN]

Most of the people that I associate with are very frugal and we often share our knowledge with one another. These people come from all walk's of life. There have been a few who think I am "odd", but that is ok because they own their thoughts!

[annymoll]

I always find it odd that folks who can ill afford it always have the central air cranked to the max.I think THEY are oddballs.When I tell them I do not find it frugal, they look at me like I am a freak.But I don't harp about getting my electric shut off either.Such is life.

[ShawnaRae]

I think a lot of people find me odd, but I don't know if it's the frugality or not ! Actually, many of my friends do think it's odd that I spend so much time making homemade food and items, when I could just go out and buy it, save myself a whole lot of time. They don't quite get how much I enjoy it. And how much I enjoy watching my debt shrink! A friend of mine just had her washing machine break down. She got out her cc and ordered a brand new one. She could have found a very good used one for very little money. Those are the kind of things I find odd! But we still love each other!

[tbs727]

I am odd. I like it that way. I can't blame people for thinking the truth. I certainly don't feel the need to defend it. I said "I' a lot.

[nandmsmom]

I'm odd, but I've been fortunate enough to find many like minded friends. In my neighborhood, there are lots of SAHMs and we are all frugal to a certain degree, some more than others. I homeschool my kids as well and just about all the other HS moms are very frugal. It is the way I grew up. DH comes from a very unfrugal family, although they are trying a little now.