I Love getting a deal and telling people about it, I am so not embarrassed to use coupons, generic, or off brands...and I wouldn't care if people saw what "brand" (Or lack there-of) I use.

My favorite thing to do, every other Thursday when I go food shopping, I call my mom when I leave the store and tell her what I bought and make her guess how much my total was I'm always proud of a deal!

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The only time I get a little embarrassed is if someone finds out how much--umm...how little--I spent on a gift for them.

I usually have a set amount of money that I want to spend in mind, but then I might find something that was originally the correct amount but now is way on sale. Sometimes, I still spend the original amount of money and buy something more, but other times I just go w/ it. But then if they try to return it, they'll find out that I only spent $8 or whatever. Hopefully they take into consideration that it was a nice item and I got a good deal.

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Blessed beyond measure

I know LOTS of people who are frugal snobs. I am starting to convert some though. I am not embarassed but I have a friend who is. SHe hates it when I mention garage sales and such in front of people if we don't know if they will get that "look" on their face. I am always sharing my tips with people. I even have a friend who tells me what she is looking for and where should she get it.
I had one mom just about gag when I mentioned a garage sale. she would NEVER buy anyone's used items.
allgirls

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allgirls, mom to 3 girls

LOVE IT!!!!!

allgirls

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allgirls, mom to 3 girls

I think there's a difference between being frugal and being cheap. I'm not embarassed to say I used my money wisely. In fact, one frugal snob I know recently asked where I got a cute outfit ds was wearing. Yard sale, I said. Fifty cents. Just yesterday she asked if she could go to a yard sale with me.

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~Jeweled

My DS is convinced that Frosted Flakes- the "real" ones with Tony the Tiger are the only ones he will ever eat. I really hope he never realizes that we never seem to have a new box of cereal, because when we are running low I change out the bag in his Frosted flake box with--- Millville frosted flakes courtesy of Aldi.
He is 10 and this has been working for about 2 years.

I don't want to ever look cheap, but I'll admit, I do feel embaressed sometimes about using coupons, like at restraunts, or today, when I went to Kroger and got 10 tubes of toothpaste to make sure of my BOGO coupons before they expired, lol. I'm not sure why, maybe it's because people usually sigh and complain about how much longer it takes for my stuff to be rung up. That $35 less for the groceries after coupons though makes up for any discomfort I might ever have. I also don't ever, ever want to look cheap when giving a gift. I remember one Christmas we had just married, and had zero extra money, I mean, grocery budget was $20 a week for two of us, for 21 meals! And I managed to scrape together a little something for coworkers at my new job, an upscale gift shop, and they all looked at me like I was an insect, with my little gift. I was so humiliated, but I tried not to act like it. Ever since though, I get a little paranoid over gift giving.

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Alice came to a fork in the road. "Which road do I take?" she asked.
"Where do you want to go?" responded the Cheshire cat.
"I don't know," Alice answered.
"Then," said the cat, "it doesn't matter."
~Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

I'm starting a stockpile... nothing crazy like I've seen pictures of but when I can get items for free or almost free, I'm going to take advantage. What embrasses me already I've gotten a couple of comments from people like 'pass some this way' or 'you should send some to me'.

What? Stop being lazy and do the research I do, and you can have the deals I have also, don't expect me to do it for you! (Both these people are unemployed like I am, I know darn well they have the time.)

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:love:

Personally I don't have a problem with it. I never had a problem with using tons of coupons- if anything people asked how much did I save and how I am able to come up with all these good deals- I give them my usual answer (get extra coupons from people who don't use them- take your time and look through all the ads and etc.). I never had a problem with switching stuff into the name brand (remember the Roseanne when she took Darlene and her home ec class to the grocery store and she bought the generic cereal and said that she puts the generic cereal in the name brand box? So funny!)- I just don't do it (although- I do only use Tide and Downy softner). People on my inlaw side of the family think that I am cheap for the most part (a few think that I am thrifty). Sometimes I feel bad for how little I pay for gifts- but then I come back to reality and realize I can't afford to buy everyone and expensive present!

My grandma did this to my pap with his coffee! For a few years she bought the generic Walmart coffee and put it in the Foldgers can. My pap saw her opening a new can and putting it in an old can and asked her why she did it and was upset that she switched his brand. She had to buy another can of Foldgers coffee for pap and he was happy again (BTW- she is back to putting the generic coffee into the Foldgers can!).

I was going to post the same thing! That scene was hysterical!

I used to be embarrassed when I would price match at Walmart (bring in other store's ads) - I felt like I was being nerdy or something. I also hated going back to the store to return something that cost like $2. But now, I realize that no one cares (or should care) how frugal I am! And I actually blabber all the time about the great deals I've found or the fun toy I bought at a yard sale. One flight attendant on a trip we were taking saw my son's outfit and said "Oh, that's gymboree! How cute! Do you shop there often?" I was like "Thanks...umm...I bought this for $1 at a thrift store. I've never been to gymboree actually" (I avoid it b/c I'm afraid of what I'd come out with! I only mention these great deals to people so they can realize that it's ok to buy generic or used stuff and that it's all just the same.