On a scale from 1 to 10 how frugal are you?

**Ebbie** · 05-04-2008, 10:13 PM

When I read the posts here I often think I'm not as frugal as I could be. I don't grow my own food, I don't make my own laundry detergent etc. I'm more of a 'lazy' frugalite...I'd rather NOT do things than do things, kwim? So it got me thinking that I'd rate myself about 6 on the frugal scale. There's more I could do but I'm too lazy to. And I do have a few luxuries that I could get rid of to save more (satellite, internet etc.). It's funny because I'm sure my family thinks I'm hardcore frugal but when I read the posts here and compare myself I don't think I am.

So, where are you on the frugal scale?

**FrugalMomof3** · 05-04-2008, 10:36 PM

I would say I am about a 7, I too dont make food from scratch or grow veggies (my dogs would eat them) or make my own laundry detergent but I do alot of other things to make up for it, I guess.

**bumplett** · 05-04-2008, 10:39 PM

hmmm..... I'd go with a seven.

I'll try anything once - and if it's a winner, I'll continue.

But there are some things I won't compromise on -

I buy organic milk - but I reuse ziploc baggies.

I make my own cleaners, but I use the dryer for my laundry more times than not (I'm not "allowed" to have a clothes line in my neighborhood)

I know there are areas that I could improve on, so I'll just call those a work in progress.

but yeah, I'll stick with seven.

**Missy** · 05-04-2008, 10:46 PM

5

I cook from scratch 90% of the time
Stickler for lights getting turned off, thermostat being turned down. etc etc etc
Mend my own clothes, make my own cheese, bread, etc
Make gifts whenever i can
and more.

**New-mom-to-be** · 05-04-2008, 10:57 PM

2 or so. I paid someone 1600 to paint every bedroom and all the crown molding and trim in the new house because my doctor won't let me paint and my husband doesn't have time

**Hucky** · 05-04-2008, 11:10 PM

I knew I had a problem the other day when I was looking at an article about how to save toilet paper hahahaha.

I guess about a 7 or 8. I cook from scratch almost everything, unless cheaper not to, line dry all washing (even in winter), wash baggies, stock pile, walk to save gas when I can, cut stuff up for rags, buy almost all our clothes etc second hand when possible, am starting to sew to be able to reconstruct clothing so I can adapt my cheap finds to be more stylish, use much less than recommended or water down everything I can, am doing more canning and preserving these days, growing own veges that I can in limited space I have (my dream is a farm sigh, hehe), I turn all lights off etc when not in room, and sometimes when I am and just watching tv etc, I limit heater use and don’t have air cond, if it is cold wear more layers, I turn off hot water at certain times during the day so I always have enough but can save more money on power bill, I read my papers online, don’t buy magazines, send off for all free stuff I can get, have started using hankies instead of toilet paper to blow my nose, hehe, I could probably go on for ages…

And then I am wondering, is there frugals anonymous?? Haha.

**Frugal Cook** · 05-04-2008, 11:37 PM

I'm about a 3 but that is being frugal about the number.

**hippytreehugger4ever** · 05-04-2008, 11:42 PM

I would guess I'm around a 9. I'm only 22, but I can alot of my own food, coupon shop like crazy, cook every meal we eat, mend my dh's underwear (they seem to always rip around the elastic first), garden, quilt, knit my own sweaters. My only downfall is that I like to stockpile shop a little too much. We bought a 24 cubic foot freezer 6 weeks ago and it's already 3/4 full-FOR 2 PEOPLE! And I bought 24 MORE cans of grillin beans today, but they are so yummy that I couldn't pass up 25 cent beans :-)

**IntlMom** · 05-04-2008, 11:51 PM

7 or 8
I am incredibly frugal.....but then every once in a while that shoots it all and I spend a bunch of money on something I don't need. then it's back on the wagon.

**mom2matty** · 05-04-2008, 11:58 PM

I can be a 7 or 8 when I need to but then there are times I'm not frugal at all.........so I will average and say I'm a 5

**freyadog** · 05-05-2008, 12:16 AM

Just not sure of my number. 9 maybe...
cook from scratch everything that we eat
can all that we grow
make jellies and jams off of berries on our property
all lights have those funny looking light bulbs including outside lights
now make all of our clothes
save all small plastic and glass jars -use to store and sprout seeds
save large jars and plastic for storing dehydrated foods
do not turn on tv during day unless weather is looking funky until 5
have hotwater heater on timer for 2 hrs, twice a day
have detergent for years so I dont buy that
use cloth instead of paper everywhere
paper towels cut in half for when I do use them
pour second scoups of coffee over 1st pot of grounds for second pot
heat hot water for dishes and clothes either on woodstove or outside in jugs
get 3 bottles of shampoo and conditioner out of 1
use half the toothpaste recommended
no makeup unless I am going out-just moisturizer
make doggie and kitty treats
use baking soda and vinegar where I can to clean
save all junk mail for woodstove
make my own bread products/pastas etc
make homemade mixes
repair anything and everything
scrounge for wood at dumpsters for chicken coop, rabbit hutches
take old clothes apart and make something new out of them
make my own quilts
make homemade christmas and birthday presents
get the last drop out of a bottle by turning it upside down.
throw no leftovers out-use em' up or freeze it
save plastic milk and bleach bottles-lower half cut into strips for the inside
of the brims of my bonnets and the tops for funnels
salvage rope hay is bundled with
keep soap scraps to make more bars
make swiffer dusting clothes out of old stained washclothes
shower 3-4 minutes unless washing hair
line hang all clothes
make all snacks usually pn butter cookies and granola bars
make granola cereal
make gatorade
save all aluminum foil
save meat trays to sit potting sprouts in
make potholders and mitts
use everything down to its last breath

**If it is still screaming it ain't dead yet.**

**peanut** · 05-05-2008, 12:41 AM

Give me an '8'.

I cook from scratch,
make meals for the freezer,
try to can/make my own jams/jellies,
turn out lights (CFLs of course),
walking instead of driving,
used to make my own laundry detergent (But too lazy now),
hang dry clothes,
arrange errands in loop runs to save gas,
coast more to stops,
accelerate slowly,
find cheap ways to amuse and entertain myself,
carpool whenever possible,
use hm sanitary napkins when possible (more a comfort thing),
shop around for cheaper groceries (but won't compromise health),
try cheap or free alternative medicine before breaking down for expensive prescription meds or treatments.
etc.

I'd say the hindrances to going higher would be laziness and the 'ick' factor.

Jean

**TheRootedNomad** · 05-05-2008, 07:17 AM

Originally Posted by Ebbie

When I read the posts here I often think I'm not as frugal as I could be. I don't grow my own food, I don't make my own laundry detergent etc. I'm more of a 'lazy' frugalite...I'd rather NOT do things than do things, kwim? So it got me thinking that I'd rate myself about 6 on the frugal scale. There's more I could do but I'm too lazy to. And I do have a few luxuries that I could get rid of to save more (satellite, internet etc.). It's funny because I'm sure my family thinks I'm hardcore frugal but when I read the posts here and compare myself I don't think I am.

So, where are you on the frugal scale?

I would have to put myself at a 7. There are points when I've fallen off the wagon and slacked to a 5ish and points when desperation pulled me to and 8 close to a nine but mostly I stay about a 7. I guess I fall in the "lazy" category with a lot of things too. The savings has got to be more valuable than my time. Cooking at home saves a lot as opposed to eating out so it is worth the time, as was building the extension ourselves. Making my own soap means- first I'd have to spend the time learning how, and then finding the ingrediants, and then doing it. I might try it when I'm not working full time but for now I'll coupon my soap and try to stay under .15c a bar.

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

I was continueing to think about this. I would say if it came to a big # it always gets my attention and the frugal attitude kicks into high gear but for a small number or routine thing if I'm tired or run down I don't necessisaraly worry about the money too much. Like driving through Burger King and grabbing 4 whopper jrs for the family instead of cooking because I'm beat and late getting off work. On the other hand the meal deals are a rip off if I'm going home where I can grab an orange and a glass of ice tea with the burger. The burgers themselves seem like a small number but 4 meal deals is a much bigger number.

**PrairieRose** · 05-05-2008, 08:35 AM

I think I'm usually in the 6-7 category. I use my dryer most of the time, but a lot of my clothes come from thrift stores, I use a lot of homemade cleaners and sometimes make my own laundry detergent, I wash out baggies, try to watch our water consumption closely, I am the 'light' police, etc. and so on. I'm not as hardcore as I have been in the past out of necessity.....I find I'm getting lazier as I get older