I love the word frugal! To me, it inspires a warm, fuzzy feeling. Alas, everyone I know refers to it as being "cheap"!
Cheap is such a demeaning word. Frugal embraces a lifestyle that I have lived by for as long as I can remember. Perhaps it's my New England upbringing. I have always sorted things into two categories: "I want", and "I need". Obviously, the I need things come first. As the saying goes, "You can't always have what you want!"
Let me assure you that I have never done without, or was I ever in need as in "dirt poor". Life has occasionally placed me in a "tighten the belt" situation, but those were during periods when everyone was having to do the same because the economy was bad, or job layoffs were in effect. But, being frugal does not mean you have to do without or that one is cheap. It means you are a smart shopper!
There is nothing like the feeling of knowing you bought stuff that was a great bargain. That in itself allows for something extra that we had not planned on. But one does not just run out and blow the extra money just because we saved on other purchases. That extra is set aside and added to for the "I want" item we have been patiently waiting to buy.
We all know that usually the buy one/get one free, or the coupons, and the special mark-downs are all excellent ways to save when shopping. And, cooking most of your meals at home is much less expensive than eating out or take-out foods. It is also a much healthier way to eat. There is another plus, too. It teaches your family the value of creating meals around leftovers and not being so wasteful.
When it comes to the high priced clothing, especially for children, one has to draw the line. Kids outgrow most things faster than they wear out. Hand me downs are great for the younger ones as long as the children are all the same sex. Otherwise, it's like throwing money away to buy the high dollar clothes for kids.
For those dressing for a career, nice clothing is important. That does not mean that your entire pay should be spent on Prada and Gucci. Shopping in the discount department stores for top of the line clothing is not only challenging, but very rewarding. A great suit from any of the well known discount department stores can be mixed and matched with other elegant pieces. They also carry wonderful dresses, both casual and cocktail styles at terrific prices.
Buying inexpensively doesn't mean you must shop K-Mart/Wal-Mart. These stores do have some really nice items at reasonable prices. But if you check carefully, you will find much of their top of the line clothing does not have the quality for the money. You will find far better quality for that same dollar amount in the discount department stores. All you need is patience and an eye for quality.
Perhaps owning a brand new car with all the options, bells and whistles is your lifetime dream. Most of us have gone through that stage in our younger years. Then we get to a point where the new car we want actually costs more than the home we bought and paid for and still live in. For the price of the new car, I want to see the bath, the laundry room and a kitchen with all the amenities. I don't care that this new car will do 0-80 mph in a nanosecond. The speed limit is 55 to 65 mps, unless you're driving the Indianapolis Speedway. And, as for all the super-new gadgets on this year's car, next year they will be obsolete. I have a problem with paying for stuff that will either be replaced in a year by something better, or that will not work properly shortly after I buy the car. I only need transportation to get from point A to point B safely. I don't plan to live in my car.
I would have to say it is a wise decision to stand your ground and be frugal. You don't have to deprive yourself or your family. You don't have to take it overboard. But do recognize when something is truly a great buy, and when it is just a cheap item, or worse… an item you don't even need.
