What's your definition of frugal?

[Jamauk]

In all of the research (both online and in books) it seems to me that there are two schools of thought when it comes to frugality. I'm curious to see where you all stand.

One school of thoughts seems to be to spend as little money as possible at all times. Kind of hoard your money mentality.

Another school of thought seems to be get the best value, even if it means spending a little more.

Just curious where you guys are. (just for fun - we all have our own opinions!)

[Marie78]

I'm not the hoard the money type of frugal, I'm more the trying to find the best deals for my money. If I use something often and buying in bulk will save me money in the long run I will do that. I like shopping around to find the best price on an item I want to buy.

[Missy]

to me, being frugal means being a good steward of the resources to which my hubby had worked so hard to provide us. (As well as those that God has blessed us with)

It means not wasting what we should use. Whether that be food, utility, money, or skill. It means finding ways to improve upon what we already do to conserve and create as least possible waste. It means not just shopping for the best deal, but the best value too. (I mean, how good is that 5.00 mixer really when it breaks the first time you make cookie dough? Especially if the 8.00 one would have done the job better and held together longer, more reliably.)

thats what it means to us.

[kaykwilts]

I'm somewhere in the middle of the two options you gave. I like to spend as little as possible. I'm a bargain hunter from way back. I hate to pay retail for anything. I try to be thrifty at home. At the same time I am sometimes willing to pay more for quality because you do save more money in the long run if you don't have to pay to keep replacing an item.

[AmyMCGS]

I'm not the hoard the money type of frugal, I'm more the trying to find the best deals for my money. If I use something often and buying in bulk will save me money in the long run I will do that. I like shopping around to find the best price on an item I want to buy.

Me, too. I buy generics, wear thrift shop clothes,etc... but we also like to eat fast food every week. For me, it's being careful on everyday expenses so we can spend more of our money on things we really care about. In our case, that was building our house-- we have to be very conservative with our money in order to afford it, but, that's our choice, and we enjoy it.

[jamie79]

the best value and to save. Dh is a spend type guy so thats more why we have debt.

[toile]

We try not to spend , then "invest" in things that we will use daily.
I invest in a nice home, furnishings, decor, clothing, vehicle.

But I will not pay to see a real movie in a theatre. Only dollar moves etc...
Eating out doesnt seem like a good investment to me either, so I limit it as a treat.

I want to have something nice to show for my $$$.

But thats just me

[missyali]

I'm somewhere in the middle of the two options you gave. I like to spend as little as possible. I'm a bargain hunter from way back. I hate to pay retail for anything. I try to be thrifty at home. At the same time I am sometimes willing to pay more for quality because you do save more money in the long run if you don't have to pay to keep replacing an item.

Here, here!

[forHISglory]

We, too, are in the middle of the question. We definitely save for an uncertain future. But we also spend. Our goal is to spend wisely and to keep our eye on the prize. For example we are saving right now to take a vacation next summer. With that prize in mind, I don't mind giving up this and that. We actively search for bargains and deals, and stock up when warrented.

We've been blessed by God with our resources, and we feel as if we are entrusted to be wise and diligent with what we have.

[Michelle68]

For me being frugal means spending less than I earn. I love finding great bargains and I don't like wasting money. At the same time, there are certain things that I will spend on that are important to us, such as traveling. Even then, I do try to find the best bargains. I enjoy the freedom that living frugally affords us--we can have many of the same comforts others have and do fun things that we enjoy doing, but not worry about how we are going to pay for it tomorrow since we've already paid for it in cash and we've made sure we can afford it. I guess I kind of fall in the middle also. As Missy said, I think being a good steward of our money is the best way to live frugally.


--Michelle

[IntlMom]

Like the others, I land somewhere in the middle. I like to spend as little as I can, and yet get the best value for my dollar. Sometimes I have to spend to do accomplish this.....it's the whole "frugal package" for me.

[acidcookie]

Definitely about getting the best value and not wasting. Only buying the cheapest can sometimes be waste.

[PrairieRose]

With us it's most definitely about being aware at all times where money is concerned, always questioning whether there is a better (not always just cheaper) option, looking for the absolute best value in every purchase, never paying retail (even when considering value...almost everything goes on sale at some point), and always doing our best to take care of what we have.

Our kids on the other hand think we are over the top b/c they would prefer the house be a cozy 80 degrees mid winter instead of 71 (?!?).

[McD]

For my family, frugality means scrimping in some areas so we can splurge in others.

[Squirt]

For me, it means not having a bunch of Stuff, figuring out where to put the money I spend so it is directed towards things I need and/or truly enjoy, and to put the rest where it will benefit me the most in the future.