What makes "frugal" hard for you?

[tigger_mommy]

I've always been frugal, cheap, miserly, a penny pincher, whatever you want to call it. I did find one problem in my frugal web, Wal-Mart. Not only did I not like the place, how they treat women infuriated me, and just something about the place made made me . It seemed no matter how small of a purchase I needed I couldn't get out of the store for under $50. This amount was $100 for my now husband. A little over two years ago I made a month long vow, NO Wal-Mart! After that month, my wallet thanked me, as well as my soul. I decided that if I can get rid of it for one month, I can get rid of it forever. Haven't stepped foot into a Wal-Mart for over two years now. I get asked all the time "where do you shop if you don't go to the mart?". Simple, anywhere that isn't Wal-mart. "What if only Wal-mart has it?". Simple, I don't need it if I can only get it there. I shop at Aldi, Dollar General, Kroger (only for certain produce and a few name brand things), Walgreens, CVS, K-mart, the other dollar type stores, Michaels, Hobby Lobby.....the list goes on. I can get everything that is a necessity from another retailer OR get this consignment shops and thrift stores. It has become a lot easier to be as frugal as I need to with Wal-mart out of my life.

What is your place, weakness, or other wise demise that makes it hard for you to be frugal?

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

I've always been frugal, cheap, miserly, a penny pincher, whatever you want to call it. I did find one problem in my frugal web, Wal-Mart. Not only did I not like the place, how they treat women infuriated me, and just something about the place made made me . It seemed no matter how small of a purchase I needed I couldn't get out of the store for under $50. This amount was $100 for my now husband. A little over two years ago I made a month long vow, NO Wal-Mart! After that month, my wallet thanked me, as well as my soul. I decided that if I can get rid of it for one month, I can get rid of it forever. Haven't stepped foot into a Wal-Mart for over two years now. I get asked all the time "where do you shop if you don't go to the mart?". Simple, anywhere that isn't Wal-mart. "What if only Wal-mart has it?". Simple, I don't need it if I can only get it there. I shop at Aldi, Dollar General, Kroger (only for certain produce and a few name brand things), Walgreens, CVS, K-mart, the other dollar type stores, Michaels, Hobby Lobby.....the list goes on. I can get everything that is a necessity from another retailer OR get this consignment shops and thrift stores. It has become a lot easier to be as frugal as I need to with Wal-mart out of my life.

What is your place, weakness, or other wise demise that makes it hard for you to be frugal?

The Walmart near me is so unpleasant to go to, I just don't. It is worth it to me to spend more somewhere else (I have found it's not that much more) just to not have to go there.

I can't think of anything that I buy that is only available at Walmart.

 

[wishesuponastar]

I thought Walmart is very good for hiring seniors. Never heard about the way they treat women.

I like Walmart very much but I try to stay out of there to save money.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

I have a hard time being too frugal with our grocery budget. We generally try to keep it to a certain amount, but usually go over. Sometimes it's a great sale on chicken breasts, quesadilla cheese, fresh fruit, etc. and sometimes its buying treats that the kids want that we weren't planning on buying. I don't have a hard time saying "No" to them when it comes to other stuff, but I feel guilty when it comes to food. I mean, how can I argue when they want grapes (or apples, pears, bananas, etc.) and they're not on sale. We try to stock up on whatever fruit is on sale that week, and we're lucky that we have 4-5 stores within close proximity, but we usually end up blowing the budget most months.

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

I'm with you on Walmart. They are all just icky--no matter where you go to them. And honestly, I don't find them to be the lowest prices around. I can't tell you the last time I stepped foot in one. I love Target!! It's my weakness. I can never make it out of the door without spending lots of money most of the time.

 

[JennyWren]

Shoes, my weakness is shoes. Red shoes, blue shoes, flat shoes, high shoes....

 

[wishesuponastar]

I have a hard time being too frugal with our grocery budget. We generally try to keep it to a certain amount, but usually go over. Sometimes it's a great sale on chicken breasts, quesadilla cheese, fresh fruit, etc. and sometimes its buying treats that the kids want that we weren't planning on buying. I don't have a hard time saying "No" to them when it comes to other stuff, but I feel guilty when it comes to food. I mean, how can I argue when they want grapes (or apples, pears, bananas, etc.) and they're not on sale. We try to stock up on whatever fruit is on sale that week, and we're lucky that we have 4-5 stores within close proximity, but we usually end up blowing the budget most months.

I am having a hard time with the grocery budget too. Especially since I want to add more fish like Salmon to our diet and the wild caught is better for you. Best price I've found is the Alaskan at Costco frozen for $8 pound.

Also, we recently found that we love pomegranites but they were $1 each.

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

Shoes, my weakness is shoes. Red shoes, blue shoes, flat shoes, high shoes....

Oh gosh...me too!!!!!! LOL I have WAYYYYYY too many!

 

[olecow]

I love Wal-Mart because I get what I want and at a good to excellent price. The Wal-Marts in my area are pleasant to shop at. If the treatment of women you refer to is the class action lawsuit that was filed against them accusing them of discrimination, I think 99% of all class action suits are absolute garbage. The women I see working in Wal-Mart seem to be doing just fine.

 

[Pembo]

Super K - the one in my town is gross and even though they sometimes have great prices, in general I've found them to be higher priced on groceries.

 

[Darcy03231]

Count me in on shoes. Handbags are another weakness (and don't even get me started on the Dooney disney bags).

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

Count me in on shoes. Handbags are another weakness (and don't even get me started on the Dooney disney bags).

 

[shortbun]

Watching Mom having a very hard time spending money for comfort care while she was dying made me aware of what being very frugal all my life might mean. No joke, she had millions and asked permission from her children to spend money for end of life comfort. She was serious. Let go of a little once in a while. You may need the skill later in life. Just sayin'. Maybe a pedicure or better quality ice cream...get your hair colored instead of doing it yourself...something, anything.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

The fact that I hate to cook!

 

[Fly4free]

I'm with you on Walmart. They are all just icky--no matter where you go to them. And honestly, I don't find them to be the lowest prices around. I can't tell you the last time I stepped foot in one. I love Target!! It's my weakness. I can never make it out of the door without spending lots of money most of the time.

I love Target too. Walmart not so much, especially after hearing how they treat their employees.

 

[JennyWren]

Count me in on shoes. Handbags are another weakness (and don't even get me started on the Dooney disney bags).

YES, these too...

 

[irishsharon]

I had my purse stolen out of my cart as I was reaching into the fridge at Walmart.while that can happen anywhere, as I was waiting for the police to file a report no manager or anyone came to speak to me.I left the store my address and number and I never heard from anyone......Anyway my weakness is costco I go there to get milk and a chicken and the next thing you know I have a crockpot,jeans and new sheets!!!!!!

 

[gator75]

I love target i hate walmart. If you gave me the chance i could blow a years pay in target i love that store. I also love macys. Luckily for me the nearest one is 4 hours from me.

 

[eliza61]

Count me in on shoes. Handbags are another weakness (and don't even get me started on the Dooney disney bags).

Add me to the list. My frugalness is weird too. I'll gladly clunk down 500 bucks for a pair of Louboutin shoes but don't ask me to pay more than 20 bucks for a pair of jeans. Just can't do it.

I'll buy generic every thing EXCEPT for some reason I won't go frugal with laundry detergant. gotta have tide. I do wait until it's on sale and I've got coupons but no matter how much more it is than generic, gotta have tide.

 

[richmond282]

This is going to sound dumb, but my downfall is a really good bargain (whether I NEED it or not). I am learning to walk away, but some times it is soooo hard.