How frugal are you?

[Charlotte ~08]

I like to save whenever possible, who doesn't like a good bargain. I don't waste too many hours searching for them though.

My votes were a mix of:
I try to purchase items on sale, but I’m not too concerned overall.
I buy what I need, when I need it.

 

[momto2girls]

I used to be a lot more frugal than I am now. I used to clip coupons and wait for sales, etc. Now I can't be bothered. I just don't have the time for all of that and it is more trouble than it is worth.

I do look for the best deals on big ticket items and I do a quick online search for coupon codes when I'm buying something. It doesn't stop me from buying it if I can't find a coupon code, but I figure that the two minutes it takes me to look for one is worth my time.

 

[mickeyboat]

I am not frugal at all. I determined some time ago, and it took a while to convince DH, that my time is worth something, too. If I factor that cost into my purchases, I am often spending a lot more. If we need something and we can afford it, we buy it.

Now I am drawn to sales like a moth, it has been inbred, but I won't buy something I don't need because it is on sale.

Denae

 

[happygirl]

I try to save money,every chance I get

 

[PatsMom]

I shop the sales, clip my coupons and generally try to save a buck where I can. DD and I buy almost all of our clothes off the clearance racks. I just replaced my 8 year old car that had 210,000 miles so that DD could have it. So I think I am pretty frugal. I have to be, to support our Disney habit!

 

[Todd&Copper]

Since my husband has been unemployed for about 8 months now, I am quite frugal.

Frugal in the "I will use coupons and follow sales and not buy things I really don't need" sort of way, not in the "I home-make my tampons from old worn out socks and my sandals out of old tires" kind of way.

 

[diznygirl]

I am frugal in that I will take advantage of discounts and shop the sales and wait for clearance time.

However, I am not frugal enough to buy cheap TP just cuz it's less expensive. I have my limits.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

I buy alot of the family's clothes at consignment shops. I find we get much better deals there and are also able to buy alot of more high end brands that we wouldn't be able to afford otherwise.

I also buy alot of generics at the grocery store which drives my DH mad. He hates generics.

I also try to fill up my van closer to home than work because it seems the gas prices are less expensive on the other side of town away from the touristy areas.

We like to eat out alot, but try to go around 3 or 4 in the afternoon when you can still get the lunch menu.

I leave the windows open as much as possible and the blinds open to take advantage of the natural light.

I bundled my cable, internet and home phone and saved about 50.00 a month!

That's about all I can think of right now!

 

[HelenePA]

I hate paying full price for anything, I got this from my dad, we LOOOOVEEE good sales! We call each other when we find something for an awesome price!

 

[DLBDS]

I voted other.

Other than groceries, I only buy what's on sale or use a coupon (Bed Bath & Beyond, Michaels etc). I only buy what I NEED and even then I'm too cheap and won't buy it (for example bath towels...mine are looking pretty stringy if ya know what I mean ).

As for groceries....I always use coupons but usually buy what I need when I need it...with or without a coupon. I try to stick with the store's brand too.

I'm NOT Suzy Homemaker. I don't design and make/create things just to save a buck. Don't know how and wouldn't even if I could.

I also prepay for our WDW trips when I can.

 

[crzyred]

Clothing items or non-necessities I don't buy unless they are on sale. And even then they have to be basically giving them away before I even consider it.

Food, I buy generic.

But I still usually don't buy things unless I absolutely need them. I am cheap. I know I am, I don't care.

 

[Passions71203]

I wouldn't call myself "Frugal", I am sure my DH would
I have been doing the grocery game for about 2 yrs now
And I am a big plan ahead person (When it comes to next Xmas gifts, etc)

 

[Cantw8]

I am the exact opposite of frugal I buy what I need when I need and want it

 

[lillielil]

We always shop the sales, and often go to more than one grocery store (they're very close to each other, so no worries about spending extra $ on gas) to get a good bargain.

We make a lot of our clothes; we both sew, I knit, she crochets. I also shop at Goodwill - I got my prom dress there in high school.

There are a few things that just aren't worth it, though. We do spend money on going out every now and then, to movies, dinner, or bars. That plus WDW are probably our only real "extras".

 

[Robinrs]

My nickname used to be FRU-GAL... that's how frugal I am!!

I go to two specific thrift shops, one on Monday and the other on Tuesday, that sells upscale clothing for very little. I've dressed my son and myself that way since he was 5. Everytime he outgrows something he goes up on eBay. BTW, I've been getting compliments on his clothing from his teachers since kindergarten, why not, Ralph Lauren Izod and Bill Blass for $3.50 apiece???

I own Coach and Kate Spade bags that I spent no more than $15 on... I'M CHEAP but I like quality!

I clip coupons and buy items ONLY on sale and taught my son to do the same. I go to flea markets on the weekends and what I don't keep I sell on eBay.

I go to restaurants that I secret shop at least twice a week. The other restaurants I go to are via the certificates on restaurant.com.

I found my house and everything in it on Craigslist and freecycle. When I want something badly I buy it, and most of the time I return it or resell it. I bought a beautiful dinette set, kept it for 3 months and sold it for twice the price I bought it for. I also bought a front loading washer and dryer from Craigslist only to sell it when I got a house with one already in it for the same price I bought it for two years earlier!

Every weekend I check "moving sales" in Atlanta on Craigslist and find the people who are moving OUT OF STATE or the COUNTRY and get lots of furniture and appliances for FREE because they cannot move them~! I keep some and sell the rest.

I'm a moderator on Freecycle, so I get lots of items quickly there. I also give away lots of stuff because I do believe you get more when you give.

Sure, I'm cheap... but my kid and I live very well and go to Orlando 6 times a year for less than $300 a pop. I make deals with owners, hotels and use Priceline, Hotwire and every discount you can imagine. My last trip in January included free airfare thanks to a very generous DISer, an extremely low rental of a 3 bedroom condo near Universal and a $36 rental car!!


And Michael...the poor kid thinks we're doing well! Little does he know he has a destitute single Mom who knows how to pinch a penny till it screams.

 

[PghLybrt]

I am no where near frugal. We buy what we need when we need it. I am not into buying in bulk "just becasue its a good deal". (Besides brands i buy don't normally come in bulk)
I am more concerned that I buy local , buy for quality and for need.

My mom on the other hand.........

 

[minnieandme]

I clip coupons every week and use them when I buy groceries. I only clip the ones that I normaly use. I also shop the clearance rack for certain clothing items and if we need any clothes for the current season, I'll wait for the sales. But there are some things I don't buy like generic brand stuff.

 

[Charlotte ~08]

Perish the thought, especially the tampons!!!

"I home-make my tampons from old worn out socks and my sandals out of old tires" kind of way.

 

[Handbag Lady]

My car is 13 years old.

My current handbag is four weeks old.

I scrimp in some places to splurge on others. But my car only has 114,000 miles on it and it still runs.

But, I shop the Coach bag sales at Macy's and hit the Coach Outlets (So, instead of paying $400, I spend $175 when I can buy the same-sized bag at Target, but I'd never want to carry it, so why spend $28 at Target for something that will never get used?).

I used to cut coupons but I found I was buying things because I had a coupon and not because we needed it, so that stopped.

 

[kydisneyfans]

If it isn't on sale, does not have a coupon, or isn't reduced in price, then it does not come in my front door. Even the 9 year old kid knows that he can only look at toys that have clearance tags. Gas is only bought at places that offer an additional discount with some type of card, and everything is charged on rewards cards and paid off at the end of the month. I could go on but you would get bored.