…How everyone is “frugal” in their own way?
I was talking to a friend who reminded me that I am not frugal. “Not at all” she says… and she’s right!
When I think of frugal I think of buying a used car and driving it till it dies. Isn’t that funny that this is what I think of when I think of being frugal? What do you think of?
Anyways, she pointed out that I always buy a new car. Never used. More examples…
1. I don’t have a set budget (the horror)
2. I buy new clothes
3. I eat out all-the-time
4. My house is too big for my family
5. I don’t do my own nails
Here are my thoughts on this:
1. I don’t have a budget because I think of every purchase and every expense before I spend money. I don’t say to myself, I have $500 budgeted for food so I’ll go spend $500. I think through each food item and think “do we need this” and “is this a good price”. I have found that I spend less this way. This is not to say that I have an open ended amount of money to spend on groceries. I know my bank accounts limitations and I spend accordingly.
2. I totally do buy new clothes. BUT, I always buy them on sale with a coupon. I {heart} Ann Taylor Loft and Nordstrom rack. I can’t help it. I don’t go clothes shopping everyday and when I do I apply the “do I need this and is it a good deal” talk to myself first.
3. True, I eat out all the time, but I use coupons as much as possible. I’m a horrible cook and I have to feed my family. My favorite restaurant coupon right now is the $19.99 for a family of 4 at Souplantation {from their email list}. The baby eats for free too! This is not frugal. It would be cheaper to cook at home, but I’m all about saving where I can.
4. My house is too big for us, I guess? We got a good deal on it and plan on staying for a very long time. So I’m okay with having to work hard to pay for it. It’s in a great school district and I like it {there’s room for my stockpile}. It’s a trade off. Work harder to make money, work harder to save money= nicer house.
5. I can’t even paint stick figures so I think it makes sense that doing my own nails would be a stretch for the non-creative side of me. Sorry.
What I’m trying to say is that I’m not frugal. I know this. I’m okay with this. I love to save money and I love to coupon. My goal is to spend where it matters and save where ever I can.
Are you frugal?
About Heather
I love this post! I think of myself as frugal because I use so many coupons and question everything before I purchase it. But like you, I love Ann Taylor Loft, love shoes and love to spoil my husband and myself sometimes! But, I don't think there's anything wrong with that, especially if it keeps you happy and sane! Happy shopping! (whether that be in rite aid or Ann Taylor! Hehe)
This was a great post!
1) I don't have a set budget either. I've finally got things working for our household, there is no way I'm changing things! Everything goes on credit cards (*gasp*), but they are paid in full every month. There is enough money to pay all the bills and put money into savings, but I don't have to go insane tracking down every receipt to reconcile a bank account. I go over credit card purchase (online) at least once a week and question anything I'm not sure of. Hubby's ADHD plays into this big time. It works, so this method stays.
2) I hardly buy clothes for myself. I desperately NEED a few things right now, but can't bring myself to pay good money for them. I'm a nice mix of thrift stores and clearance racks. Clothes shopping usually nauseates me to no end.
3)We don't eat out often, but when we do – coupons only. Why was it so funny that my birthday dinner was at the restaurant I had the best coupon for?
4) No comments on this one I guess.
5) I don't wear makeup, I don't do my nails, and I don't get my hair cut/styled. NOT the girly-girl type one bit. Hubby cuts my hair and I cut the bangs. I used to keep my nails long and perfectly manicured, but got sick of them. Now they're short, perfectly filed, and unpainted. I always did get a kick out of people being jealous of my perfect nails and I never spent money on them!
Me, frugal? Yes. Maybe a bit too much at times. I don't care – this works for ME! If your lifestyle works for you, go for it!
I am not frugal at all other than finding a sale & using coupons!
I eat out way too much! I work full time & don't have time or energy to cook, plus I eat out while at work.
I buy Starbucks for myself {& sometimes my boyfriend} several times per week; sometimes more than once per day! $1.50 for a Starbucks Salted Caramel Square…Yum!
I have no problem going to the Coach outlet & buying a purse or five!
I LOVE vacations.
Everyone is different. Luckily, I am at a point in life where my kids are older & I am making more money than I ever have, so it works well for me
@Jessica- Glad to know there are like minded saver/spenders out there! I'm getting more comfortable with me and how I am. I day dream about being a super frugalista, but for now I'm happy to be a super saver instead!
@Lianne- I bet the ADHD would be extremely hard if there is a set budget. It's good that your system works so well. We've "talked" before about credit cards. I totally agree about the ease of spending on a credit card and then paying one bill every month for it all. I bet I'd be one of those people mad at you and your perfect nails. I can't grow nice looking nails to save my life. I should have mentioned that I stopped wearing fake nails 2 years ago after having them on for 15 years. It was hard for me to fork over the money every other week and I hated the smell… for now it's mani's and pedi's.
I love how we all can bond over deals but still be okay with our different level's of frugal {or not}!
PS. How are you doing?
@Dana- I love your honesty! I too love all of those things, and coupons too!
Heather,
I think we are related.
Frugal me? NO way unless its coupons for the drugstore deals and some food items. We eat out ALL the time and we have no set budget at all. I have a closet full of LV bags. Plus, our house is just for two and its big, although I am frugal regarding our electric bill. I hate having to pay $500 a month to run it in the summertime so I'd rather run the fans and be semi-hot. I don't do my nails,feet or eyebrows. I "waste" $52 a week on my eyebrows alone. Stick figures? LOL LOL LOL. I HATE paying pictionary, I SUCK at drawing, everything looks the same when I draw it. I buy new clothes, I cant find myself ever buying them used but that is just me, I have tried thrifting before for home decor but I never find anything. I love Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware and Ballards and my home is reflective of that style. On the plus side everything I have bought has been from the outlet of these three stores and I have gotten a killer deal on them. I have no budget, its not unlimited but I do know the within reason limit. We do use coupons for food all the time, I think the people at Del Taco are wondering where I get them from all the time, I buy them off of ebay BTW. Plus, we do the 2 for $20 at Chilis more than I would like to admit.
@Dusti aka "canyon oaks, lol", I forgot to mention Chili's. We've gone a few times on Tuesdays with the kids eat free coupon. For us it works out to close to $20 for 2 adult meals and then we get the 3 kids meals for free. Love it!
PS. I think we might have been seperated at birth!
Lol, I agree. Sorry about the Canyon Oaks, that is our HOA and I am the VP so I'm always logged into that account and I forget to sign out.