Comments on: Showcase: You! week 5

By: Briana

Briana — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:09:45 +0000

I’m frugal on some things but not on other things – just depends on my mood. I wish I could be MORE frugal.

By: katrina

katrina — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:28:21 +0000

frugalness is a way of life; I have always stocked up on toilet paper, etc; when on sale; why pay full price for it? all school supplies etc, get gotten at the cheapest possible prices, as they come out; staples, target, walmart,etc; however: many goes to the school for others to be passed out as need arises; (teachers buy a great deal to be sure their students are stocked folks); I try & get the addl 70% off lowest marked clothes at Fred Meyers; & have gotten similar at JC Penneys; paying $4 or so for grandsons jeans orig $48 & up; always buy out of season; BUT then you always have $ for ribeye steaks when on sale for $4.29;etc; it is wonderful to have steak dinners for $5 with the very best steaks to be found anywhere; so living well on less money out & still having $ to give to others in need; is fantastic; esp when on disability; SMILE! common sense isn’t so common anymore!

By: southern

southern — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:55:53 +0000

Yes, I think it is possible to be too frugal. It comes when you don’t share with others because you are holding what you have too tight. When we first moved to AL and had two house payments, I was trying to feed 7 of us on $300 a month (and that is if I had all other areas in budget) My daughter would bring home friends who wanted food. We were stretched to the max but when I was making spaghetti it would have 1/2 lb of meat and when they came I would add another jar of sauce to stretch it. We added beans and rice to tacos and other dishes. We ate nothing but stirfries or casseroles or meals where I just added a little meat. I see people that don’t enjoy life because they are always punching the numbers. Occasionally splurge when it is something that either makes you feel treated like a specialty coffee or an outing with the family like a movie or bowling or water park. We can’t live with no fun in our lives, but that doesn’t mean we have to live to have materialistic fun! I think it is too frugal to buy things of lesser quality because of price. Sometimes it is worth paying more for things that are going to last longer or have better features. It is all a balance in our lives of watching how we spend our money. How do you want to spend your money? If I can save on groceries, a little on electricity, a little on clothes and in other areas I can then have money to put towards things like supporting a missionary or a special trip or retirement.

By: Frugal Husband

Frugal Husband — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:36:58 +0000

I decided to answer your first question by adding a list of the Top 5 true stories that might seem to be too frugal!

http://www.ourfrugallife.com/

By: Rachael

Rachael — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 02:15:08 +0000

Here are my thoughts on when I was too frugal (and I do think it is possible…but its very individual too!

http://crosbeans.blogspot.com/2008/07/how-frugal-is-too-frugal.html

By: Annette

Annette — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:46:49 +0000

Congratulations on the new babe!

I think it’s absolutely possible. My Grandma used to call it being “penny wise and pound foolish”– cutting corners on something now that will end up costing you in the future.

By: Sharon H. in IL

Sharon H. in IL — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:45:24 +0000

My oldest son was very sensitive to sound as a baby. I considered buying a white-noise machine to help him tune out all the creaks and groans of our 100 year old house, but decided I should be frugal.

Bad mistake. A baby who doesn’t get enough sleep is a very hard-to-parent, cranky, unhappy baby, and thus I was stressed and sleep deprived more than necessary.

And no, a fan wouldn’t work in our situation.

I was too frugal. Sleep is not a luxury!

By: madsow

madsow — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:50:42 +0000

BTW,

Congrats on the little one!

By: madsow

madsow — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:49:52 +0000

I believe it is possible to be too frugal. I have found time and time again that jumping into a purchase by buying the cheapest available item is not always the most frugal investment. While some items appear to be cheaper in the initial purchase, their quality, or lack thereof often will cost you in higher energy costs, upkeep and repairs.

When considering the cost of an item it is important to always consider the cost of the item over it’s intended life cycle.

In being overly frugal at the cash register this has cost me lots of cash in the long run.

In an effort to be frugal we often jump into the the most frugal item at the till instead of doing it right and reasearching.

By: Milehimama

Milehimama — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:43:42 +0000

I have a tendency to be too frugal a LOT. My husband, however, is a spendthrift and I think we balance each other out.

I pinch every penny with the grocery budget, but once in a while, husband dear declares we are eating out or buying a brisket to grill or going to have a beef roast (and he cooks it! LOL!). If it were up to me, we’d have lentils almost every night; up to him, and it’d be beef with a side of butter every night. But we balance.

I pinch the pennies on the clothes, and always shop the thrift stores (and I even think Goodwill is overpriced! LOL!). But once in a while, he will buy me something new and special, or one of the children something or other that he sees at the store. Once he came home from work with three bags of maternity clothes -desperately needed but I wouldn’t spend the money on them – for me. (Maybe he was tired of seeing me in HIS sweats and tee shirts!)

I think “practically” and he thinks “prettily” believe it or not, and together we are a perfect team.

I’m more likely to “make do” and he’s more likely to “do it right”.

And yes, I HAVE used duct tape on shoes! Now that is too frugal!