Are you frugal, or just cheap?

Kim · **Are you frugal, or just cheap?**

I just found this article done by an ASU researcher. He found that only 15% of Americans are truly frugal.
http://researchmag.asu.edu/stories/frugal.html

2littleladies · 01-16-2007, 05:08 PM

Unfortunatly I have to say Im cheap not frugal. I truely want to be frugal. I want it to be second nature but the fact remains that deep down I am materialistic. Im cheap becuase I have to be. I wont kid you I was not poor by anymeans until 3 years ago. Infact My dh and I didnt even have to work but over time we waisted so much. And now we are in dept and are forced to be cheap. I will only be cheap until I have become frugal. And I am truely trying my best to change who I am becasue I dont like being materialistic. And when we finaly are out of dept I have no desire to be in dept again.

I do not wish to have a lot but I do wish to have quality things that I can pass down and Id like to have enough money to take better care of myself.

KathrynHannah · 01-16-2007, 05:23 PM

It's a good question to ask ourselves. I am definitely frugal. I try my best not to be cheap but sometimes I fail.

Here are some differences that I can think of ... (most of these I've either read somewhere or found from example).

You may be frugal if you go out for dinner on a kids eat free night.
You may be cheap if you base your tip on the price after the discount.

You may be frugal if you make your own coffee in the morning.
You may be cheap if you go out for coffee but help yourself to handfuls of the sugar & sweetener packets to take home.

You may be frugal if you choose carefully the charity to which you send your money.
You may be cheap if you never give any money away.

You may be frugal if you buy discount groceries.
You may be cheap if you offer your company two unlabeled cans and ask "Which one would you like for lunch?" (This actually happened to me.)

Here is an interesting quote / article that I found about the subject written by Ramit Seth (not sure who he is)

"Cheap people care about the cost of something.
Frugal people care about the value of something.

Cheap people try to get the lowest price on everything.
Frugal people try to get the lowest price on most things, but spend a lot on items they really care about.

Cheap people are inconsiderate. For example, when getting a meal with other people, if their food costs $7.95, they'll put in $8.00, knowing very well that tax and tip mean it's closer to $11.
Frugal people won't order a Coke if they're on a budget, so that when the bill comes, they don't look cheap.
....
Cheap people's cheapness affects those around them.
Frugal people's frugality affects themselves.

Both cheap and frugal people will be more assertive than most people when trying to get a deal. Over the long term, they'll both save more money. But one has a cost, while the other pays dividends.

Cheap people think short term.
Frugal people think long term."

2littleladies · 01-16-2007, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KathrynHannah

It's a good question to ask ourselves. I am definitely frugal. I try my best not to be cheap but sometimes I fail.

Here are some differences that I can think of ... (most of these I've either read somewhere or found from example).

You may be frugal if you go out for dinner on a kids eat free night.
You may be cheap if you base your tip on the price after the discount.
You may be frugal if you make your own coffee in the morning.
You may be cheap if you go out for coffee but help yourself to handfuls of the sugar & sweetener packets to take home.

You may be frugal if you choose carefully the charity to which you send your money.
You may be cheap if you never give any money away.

You may be frugal if you buy discount groceries.
You may be cheap if you offer your company two unlabeled cans and ask "Which one would you like for lunch?" (This actually happened to me.)

Here is an interesting quote / article that I found about the subject written by Ramit Seth (not sure who he is)

Cheap people care about the cost of something.
Frugal people care about the value of something.

Cheap people try to get the lowest price on everything.
Frugal people try to get the lowest price on most things, but spend a lot on items they really care about.

Cheap people are inconsiderate. For example, when getting a meal with other people, if their food costs $7.95, they'll put in $8.00, knowing very well that tax and tip mean it's closer to $11.
Frugal people won't order a Coke if they're on a budget, so that when the bill comes, they don't look cheap.
....
Cheap people's cheapness affects those around them.
Frugal people's frugality affects themselves.

Both cheap and frugal people will be more assertive than most people when trying to get a deal. Over the long term, they'll both save more money. But one has a cost, while the other pays dividends.

Cheap people think short term.
Frugal people think long term.

If you look at it this way I am Frugal!

KathrynHannah · 01-16-2007, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2littleladies

And I am truely trying my best to change who I am becasue I dont like being materialistic. And when we finaly are out of dept I have no desire to be in dept again.
I do not wish to have a lot but I do wish to have quality things that I can pass down and Id like to have enough money to take better care of myself.

It's all in the intent. You really are frugal even if you were initially forced into frugalness. Your heart is clearly in the right place . :love:

Kimberley · 01-16-2007, 05:50 PM

we are cheap becuase we can afford no other way to be. when we are out of debt, we will be frugal. it will take about 4-6 years for us to be debt free.

britx18 · **...**

I am about half and half. I see myself being frugal sometimes and I see myself being cheap sometimes. I have a lot of debt also, so for a while I found myself being extremely cheap and not giving or spending a penny more than I absolutely had to. Now, I do things that will help me in the future; for instance, I try to put some money each week into a savings account so that I'll have more money when I decide to retire. It's the little things that count!

Starlite · 01-17-2007, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KathrynHannah

You may be cheap if you offer your company two unlabeled cans and ask "Which one would you like for lunch?" (This actually happened to me.)

That's not just cheap, that's downright rude and unhealthy!

Adda15 · 01-17-2007, 01:20 PM

I can't say I'm cheap and and new to the frugal scene. I am being frugal to afford our new lifestyle of being a SAHM, without having to sacrifice too much of the standard of living we are accustomed too.
Trust me.....I spend money! But I am frugal enough to pick and choose when the wallet comes out.

brensmom · 01-17-2007, 01:36 PM

by the articles standards i'm frugal now my dh would say i'm cheap...that is just because he always wants stuff and i say we don't need it you just want it and i refuse to buy it...moneys tight i'm not gonna blow it on stupid stuff that does not matter or eventually never gets used.