After reading When does frugal become plain old cheap I decided to take a look at my life to see where I fit in. I too grew up with not much money and always had to ‘make things stretch’. I have come to the conclusion that I am just plain old cheap. Ha ha.
I am the one who eats before I go out with friends so that I can order the cheapest thing on the menu. The exception to that is when I bust a move to go to Red Lobster for my birthday. Then it’s on!
I don’t go to clubs around here because they are mostly too expensive. If there is a special for ladies to get in free before a certain time then you KNOW I will be there but that is about it. When I get inside the club I order a soda and sip on that all night. I also ask for a separate glass of ice and let that melt and hey I have water to drink too!
I don’t like clothes so I do not have to worry about spending money. Now this does not mean that I run about the place naked….it just means that I do not follow what is in style at the time. I just feel very comfortable in jeans and a tee shirt and flip flops or sneakers……so that is what I basically wear all year round. I do have some dresses and cutesey tops and other stuff like that but I reserve it for ‘occasions’ and live in my jeans and tees. That is another reason why I love being in school because you can get away with dressing like that all the time.
Yeah I am frugal because I do the fluorescent light thing but then I got cheap when I did the solar light thing and the candle thing here. I was being frugal when I came up with the 25 ways I save money but then some of those things could be taken to the extreme and look like I was just being cheap.
It is a very thin line that is easy to cross and I keep skipping back and forth over it….but hey I am a broke student struggling under a mountain of debt so bah!
Well, you saw my tips for saving money. Remember the postage stamps? Yep, I’m cheap.
Like you, I grew up without a lot of money. My family was borderline lower-class. I lived in trailer parks for most of my life.
But, I never really realized it until I got older. I can remember begging my parents to buy me a computer for Christmas, but year after year, it never happened.
Anyway, once I got out on my own I told myself I would never put myself in a position to have to settle for something that wasn’t desirable. I treat myself when going out to restaurants, etc. but I don’t overly spend on things like some people do (180k for a coat hah).
BTW, Red Lobster is the Business!!! Love that place!
Yeah you are in some areas….but I think you spend where you feel necessary (like on the computer!!!!)
You’re right, it is a fine line… But when you’re in debt it’s best to save any way you can so you can get back in control of your finances.
For people who used to spend frivolously, jumping over the fence from frugal to cheap might be a good way to re-train spending habits too.
I think as long as you allow for a treat here and there or sacrifice spending on something so you can afford something you really love, only good can come of it.
Iva…while it is easy to say that people just need to change we need to sometimes remember that depending on the circumstance they may not be able to change.
Here is a way to make a little money online:
“Inbox Dollars Review – Great way to make money online”
It works! I make about $40/month!
We all have to do what we can to save money. What is cheap to one person is frugal to another.