Are you a sneaky frugalite?

**mama2James** · 12-28-2009, 01:53 PM

I've mentioned in a couple of frugal challenge posts that I go behind DH's back and turn the heat down when he's not home, and occasionally when he's not looking lol He hates to be even the tiniest bit chilly, but he's also the first one to go around the house and shut lights off if not needed, so I guess he can be forgiven.

Any little things you do to save money that you keep to yourself?

**Luckybustert** · 12-28-2009, 03:06 PM

No, I'm definitely not a sneaky frugalite. If anything, I'm pretty outspoken about it. For example, was telling my friends about my HM laundry detergent at a party recently and one of them asked for the recipe

**2ndGenGranola** · 12-28-2009, 03:32 PM

I'm not sneaky about it (broccoli in foods maybe). We have knighted each kid in frugality for the year 2010. The oldest is Knight of the Kilowatts, the middle is the Knight of the Therms and the little one is Knight of the Gallons. It is their job to monitor usage once a week, record it, announce it and monitor/abolish waste. We did the same thing this year but not so "official" about it. It gets funny around here!! Knight of the Kilowatts does not want it over 15 LOL!

**WV_mom_of2** · 12-28-2009, 03:59 PM

I'm not sneaky. I do what I want/need to and everyone here knows about it. I think that's how others learn.

**frugalfriend** · 12-28-2009, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by 2ndGenGranola

I'm not sneaky about it (broccoli in foods maybe). We have knighted each kid in frugality for the year 2010. The oldest is Knight of the Kilowatts, the middle is the Knight of the Therms and the little one is Knight of the Gallons. It is their job to monitor usage once a week, record it, announce it and monitor/abolish waste. We did the same thing this year but not so "official" about it. It gets funny around here!! Knight of the Kilowatts does not want it over 15 LOL!

Love it! Getting the kids involved in a fun way is a great idea!

**shoiji** · 12-28-2009, 04:12 PM

No can't say that I am. However, I am more able to ask if there are samples or if something is free. Used to be to embarrassed to even ask before.

Do turn the heat up if someone is coming over. Most people are not used to or dressed for 60 degrees in the winter.

**2ndGenGranola** · 12-28-2009, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by shoiji

Do turn the heat up if someone is coming over. Most people are not used to or dressed for 60 degrees in the winter.

So true. Same in the summer too. We are very content in 78-80 house (no humidity here)but those in town with other type are air cooling are not used to it so we turn it to about 75 when we have company.

**NcsstyBrdsIngnty** · 12-28-2009, 04:24 PM

I'm not sneaky about it at home, nor am I sneaky about it with close family, but I am slowly learning not to talk about my frugal ways with coworkers or friends.

**mama2James** · 12-28-2009, 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by NcsstyBrdsIngnty

I'm not sneaky about it at home, nor am I sneaky about it with close family, but I am slowly learning not to talk about my frugal ways with coworkers or friends.

I agree with you on not talking about frugal ways with some people. I am learning who is receptive to it and who just thinks I'm nuts. Some people see it as a criticism of themselves, maybe it's their own guilt for being wasteful, I'm not sure. Thanks goodness I have this village to come to

**pollypurebred39** · 12-28-2009, 04:33 PM

Years ago I had the i will never eat anything off brand family. I used to replace name brand shampoo, ketchup, cereal with off brands and they never knew it. When the economy blew up, I wasn't shy about it anymore.

That said, I did tick down the thermostat without discussion, and just recently I added a scoop of fresh coffee grounds over old, I add lentils to meat to stretch it, like sloppy joes and I've been making chili with just a 1/4 pound of hambuger, and I've kept my lips tightly sealed.

**NcsstyBrdsIngnty** · 12-28-2009, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by mama2James

Some people see it as a criticism of themselves, maybe it's their own guilt for being wasteful, I'm not sure. Thanks goodness I have this village to come to

No kidding!!

**alotofgooddeals** · 12-28-2009, 04:38 PM

when we all use to settle in at night roughly 7-8 oclock at night i use to shut the hot water heater completely off and then would try to remember to get up and turn it back on before anyone needed hot water.. some days I would remember and then other days i forgot.
So I do plan on doing that again starting now..after supper is picked up and the kids are all settled in to what they are doing, playing with their ds's or playing a game or reading a book I will go and shut it off and hopefully will remember tomorrow to turn it back on. I probably should get one of those timer thingies...

**Grainlady** · 12-28-2009, 05:18 PM

I'm an obvious frugalite and even my husband has said there's nothing too good, or too cheap for me.... Being frugal is about economy, not tyranny. I ESPECIALLY don't "hide" things from my husband because of the old "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" business.

I DO take into consideration others, and there is always room for compromise between people - especially married couples. Such as... while our family was visiting this last week, we turned on the whole-house furnace so the entire house was nice and warm (we normally don't heat the 3 bedrooms and only heat the master bath when in use). Otherwise, we don't use the furnace, but use an Infrared Heater in the main area of the house instead; but I wouldn't make guests uncomfortable just to save a few bucks on utilities for a few days. I even purchased their favorite store-bought bread for them, instead of serving homemade 100% whole wheat bread, like we eat everyday (at 50-cents a loaf). Even though it irks me to have store-bought bread in the house (LOL)!

Another example... Hubby had a vote when I started using more "fake meat" (gluten) in the diet. If he wouldn't have liked it, we wouldn't have used it - and he's a picky eater so I was pleased he liked it and told him so with a big smile and a hug. I wouldn't hide it in food just to save money. I can find another place to economize.

I once read the difference between being frugal and being cheap in another message board. It's frugal when you do it to yourself, but it's cheap when it's done to others. I'm frugal when I keep that furnace off and the temperature between 62-64°F, because it doesn't affect me or my husband adversely. We both happen to enjoy the cold. But sleeping in cold bedrooms wasn't what our family was accustomed to, so for that short period of time I could suspend my frugal ways.

**Luckybustert** · 12-28-2009, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by NcsstyBrdsIngnty

I'm not sneaky about it at home, nor am I sneaky about it with close family, but I am slowly learning not to talk about my frugal ways with coworkers or friends.

Originally Posted by mama2James

I agree with you on not talking about frugal ways with some people. I am learning who is receptive to it and who just thinks I'm nuts. Some people see it as a criticism of themselves, maybe it's their own guilt for being wasteful, I'm not sure. Thanks goodness I have this village to come to

To be honest, I really don't care what my coworkers or friends think about my frugal ways. If they choose to live otherwise, that's their choice. They just don't need to whine to me about their finances because they've elected to be free-spending and all about the instant gratification now instead of learning to live on less and/or putting something back for later. That said, I've found most people are receptive to ideas that will save them money, pretty much everyone loves info on where/how to find a good bargain, and I've even found coworkers who are into dehydrating food. How cool is that?!

**NcsstyBrdsIngnty** · 12-28-2009, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by alotofgooddeals

when we all use to settle in at night roughly 7-8 oclock at night i use to shut the hot water heater completely off and then would try to remember to get up and turn it back on before anyone needed hot water.. some days I would remember and then other days i forgot.
So I do plan on doing that again starting now..after supper is picked up and the kids are all settled in to what they are doing, playing with their ds's or playing a game or reading a book I will go and shut it off and hopefully will remember tomorrow to turn it back on. I probably should get one of those timer thingies...

If you have an electric water heater you can buy a timer for it for around $40. Try googling little grey box water heater timer.