Frugal by choice or necessity?

**Hucky** · 05-04-2008, 05:47 AM

My point I guess is people think I am nuts when they see my baggies drying on a special line in my kitchen window, and my big backstocks of things like toilet paper and laundry powder that I only buy when extra cheap and then stock up. They think since I am earning similar incomes to them I should be able to spend a lot more. I am sort of frugal by necessity, as if I do not save then I will get no where, but I do save a lot of my earnings as I want to be able to buy a house one day (goal for end of next year at the moment).

So I wanted to know how many people are frugal to get ahead or frugal just to get by? TIA

**Its_Donna** · 05-04-2008, 05:52 AM

My answer is both.

Right now by necessity as DH is once again layed off - Trucking Industry is slowly getting hit. I am also frugal by choice because I want to always be debt free and have a little stuck back for retirement.

**qtkitty** · 05-04-2008, 06:13 AM

UHM i was brought up that way .. so what does that make me?

**seadream** · 05-04-2008, 06:39 AM

By choice for me

**TheRootedNomad** · 05-04-2008, 07:35 AM

Currently by choice but frequently in the past by necessity.

**Buc-O-Mama** · 05-04-2008, 07:46 AM

I am the oldest of 8 children and my dad was/is a teacher. Got married young and DH was enlisted in the USMC, and was for 10 yrs. I have very frugal roots but lost my way after he joined the civilian world and started making more money. I got lazy over the last 9 years and went from being extremely frugal to not caring because we had the money. It's only been since the first of the year that I've been returning to my frugal ways. While frugality isn't a necessity, it has made us feel more at peace.

**AmyBoz** · 05-04-2008, 08:04 AM

It's been back and forth between the two over the years, but right now, it is by necessity. It's not extremem necessity, but it could easily be and that's why I'm frugal today...to stop that from happening. Lots of changes going on in dh's work and in the world in general. Need to stay frugal to stay on top of it and not let it take us over.

**smk0817** · 05-04-2008, 08:16 AM

By choice. My DH sometimes thinks I'm nuts for being so frugal but he appreciates it when he sees how much further our money goes.

Stephanie

**crunchycon** · 05-04-2008, 08:23 AM

By choice - like AmyBoz, I'm trying to be proactive should hard financial times ever hit our household. Also, we have a very aggressive savings goal related to wanting to leave corporate life and do other things at a relatively early age. Since neither DH nor I is going to inherit vast sums of money, frugality is my tool of choice to reach this goal.

**favesis37** · 05-04-2008, 08:40 AM

Both, hard times in the past have made me more frugal today

**Daisygirl** · 05-04-2008, 09:02 AM

The amswer os "both" for me as well.

My income has increased dramatically over the past five years. Frugality has allowed me to pay off all of my debts except the house. Things are easier than they were before, so once in a while I go a little crazy with the spending.

But overall, I remain frugal because I am a single mother and I never want to be as poor as I used to be. I have had my utilities cut off for lack of payment and I have had to eat Kraft dinner for a month straight.

"Poor" is doing without because there is no other option.

"Frugal" is going without because that is the option you pick.

**Lambie** · 05-04-2008, 09:24 AM

We are frugal by choice...by making good sound choices, we have been fortunate to have it be a choice rather than a necessity. Ever since we married 23 years ago, we lived on only one salary. Whatever the business profited we banked, and my title officer pay was used for bills. We continued this our entire married life...saving has always been a hugh priority as well as debt free type living. Take care, Katy

**frugalfoster** · 05-04-2008, 09:55 AM

Being frugal on the things that aren't as important to me, has enabled me to have two houses. We don't eat out, I watch the grocery bill and I walk to work. Some would say that it is too much of a sacrifice. But then those are typically the ones who wonder how we afford it. I think it is all about choices, but then our jobs have never been in jeopardy....

**mhope** · 05-04-2008, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by favesis37

Both, hard times in the past have made me more frugal today

This me . Being single I really have no choice other than bring frugal. I only have me depend on.

**Commune Tested** · 05-04-2008, 10:50 AM

I'm sort of an obsessive saver. So I'm sure I could blow through a lot more cash if I wanted, but the idea of buying stuff just for the sake of having the latest and greatest kind of makes me ill. In my life, I've found that the people who have all the latest toys, designer this and that, flashy cars and McMansions tend to be in debt up to their eyeballs. While, some of the wealthiest people I know look like average joes.