Embarassing Things You Do To Save Money

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Things we do to save $:
rinse out and reuse ziploc freezer bags (its all raw and going to be cooked anyway)
rinse out and reuse plastic water bottles (until they start to get funky smelling)
drink office coffee or bring my own home brewed. never starbucks
save the twist ties from grocery store produce bags and reuse them
use grocery store plastic bags to line my trash cans
save any extra condiment packets and napkins from fast food runs to use later for brown bag lunches
bring lunch from home (leftovers) 90% of the time, hubby gets free lunches provided at work
tie at least one yearly family vacation to a business trip which is partially reimbursed by work
no outsourcing of household chores (we both WOHM full time)
drive a fully paid off 10 year old car. works fine, no plans to replace any time soon. if its still running in 10 years when our oldest can get his learner's permit--it'll go to him!
borrow books and dvds from library, unless its a "keeper" that will be used/read/referenced over and over again
kids clothing comes from consignment shops and garage sales, as much as I am able to find. Supplement with finds from Ross/TJ Maxx/Marshall's type stores.
hubby cuts his own hair. I get a haircut maybe twice a year, and grandma does the kids haircuts

Things we "splurge" on:
private schools for two kids, even though we live in a high scoring public school district. mainly for better student teacher ratio (which can go over 30:1 where I live)
monthly activities for kids over $1000 a month (sports, music lessons, weekend language schools)
two yearly "flying" type vacations

HHI: 700K

This is almost pathological at that HHI. Enjoy your life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow - there are some seriously cheap people out there.

Frugal isn't the same as cheap.

I used to buy all my kids clothes from the thrift store. I would look up on craigslist for clothing, furniture, everything
Price compared every item on the shelf in the grocery store
On Halloween, I would always cook the pumpkin that was used for decoration
Take my own food to work, but occationally spend
I used to knit my kids their sweaters, even learned to sow once

Sometimes I would buy discount coupons to stores from e-bay, bought some used brand name items from there as well. Always cooked meals, never did take out or restaurants. Movies was a rare occation.

Then I got sick of it and started spending. Now I am thinking of going back to my old ways. The over consumption of our society is out of hand.

And yes, I think being cheap is the same as being frugal.

No. Frugality and cheapness both save you money, but the intent and philosophy behind them are different. Frugality involves a conscious and prudent use of funds in an attempt to get the most out of your money while still living a full life. Being cheap focuses on spending the least amount of money possible and often going without, even when doing so negatively affects your quality of life.

A cheap person will buy the least expensive pair of shoes that he or she can find, regardless of quality, and wear them even if they are uncomfortable or develop holes. A frugal person will research the best pair of shoes for their need and their budget, invest in the highest quality they feel they can afford, and take care of them properly so they last a long time.

Great definition, but sadly it made me realize I am cheap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow - there are some seriously cheap people out there.

Frugal isn't the same as cheap.

I used to buy all my kids clothes from the thrift store. I would look up on craigslist for clothing, furniture, everything
Price compared every item on the shelf in the grocery store
On Halloween, I would always cook the pumpkin that was used for decoration
Take my own food to work, but occationally spend
I used to knit my kids their sweaters, even learned to sow once

Sometimes I would buy discount coupons to stores from e-bay, bought some used brand name items from there as well. Always cooked meals, never did take out or restaurants. Movies was a rare occation.

Then I got sick of it and started spending. Now I am thinking of going back to my old ways. The over consumption of our society is out of hand.

And yes, I think being cheap is the same as being frugal.

No. Frugality and cheapness both save you money, but the intent and philosophy behind them are different. Frugality involves a conscious and prudent use of funds in an attempt to get the most out of your money while still living a full life. Being cheap focuses on spending the least amount of money possible and often going without, even when doing so negatively affects your quality of life.

A cheap person will buy the least expensive pair of shoes that he or she can find, regardless of quality, and wear them even if they are uncomfortable or develop holes. A frugal person will research the best pair of shoes for their need and their budget, invest in the highest quality they feel they can afford, and take care of them properly so they last a long time.

+1

From moneycrashers.com:

Frugal
•Looking for deals and taking advantage of sales and promotions when you were already planning on purchasing something
•Delaying pleasure and instant gratification to make a big purchase
•Not making a point to tell friends and family every time you saved money
•Not obsessed with brands
•Does not sacrifice quality to buy something only because it is cheaper

Cheap
•Your cheapness affects the quality of life of others such as spouse or family
•Your basic needs are of lesser quality
•You never splurge a little when you have the money to spend
•You will sacrifice quality to buy what is the cheapest

Budgetsimple.com:

https://www.budgetsimple.com/blog/the-difference-between-being-frugal-and-being-cheap/

See also:

http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/cheap-versus-frugal/

PP here. OK, with this next definition, I feel frugal rather than cheap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Things we do to save $:
rinse out and reuse ziploc freezer bags (its all raw and going to be cooked anyway)
rinse out and reuse plastic water bottles (until they start to get funky smelling)
drink office coffee or bring my own home brewed. never starbucks
save the twist ties from grocery store produce bags and reuse them
use grocery store plastic bags to line my trash cans
save any extra condiment packets and napkins from fast food runs to use later for brown bag lunches
bring lunch from home (leftovers) 90% of the time, hubby gets free lunches provided at work
tie at least one yearly family vacation to a business trip which is partially reimbursed by work
no outsourcing of household chores (we both WOHM full time)
drive a fully paid off 10 year old car. works fine, no plans to replace any time soon. if its still running in 10 years when our oldest can get his learner's permit--it'll go to him!
borrow books and dvds from library, unless its a "keeper" that will be used/read/referenced over and over again
kids clothing comes from consignment shops and garage sales, as much as I am able to find. Supplement with finds from Ross/TJ Maxx/Marshall's type stores.
hubby cuts his own hair. I get a haircut maybe twice a year, and grandma does the kids haircuts

Things we "splurge" on:
private schools for two kids, even though we live in a high scoring public school district. mainly for better student teacher ratio (which can go over 30:1 where I live)
monthly activities for kids over $1000 a month (sports, music lessons, weekend language schools)
two yearly "flying" type vacations

HHI: 700K

You should be ashamed. I hope you give a LOT of money to charity.

I am the PP. Not really sure why I should be ashamed. I'm not doing anything like borderline stealing, or taking things that aren't mine. We just try to consciously use without waste what we have available. For example, I'm not stealing extra napkins, or ketchup packets, just using the extra ones that were packed into the fast food bags by the workers and that would otherwise get thrown away. We read books so fast that it is silly to actually buy and keep cluttering up the house if I'm only going to read it once--much rather borrow and return. Similarly, the stuff I buy from consignment shops for the kids is in great condition and good brands (since it seems like a lot of families buy more clothes than their fast growing children are able to use before they are too small). The kids are young, they grow so fast and go through stuff so fast that it just doesn't seem worth it to spend a lot on new stuff. The lunch I bring from home is way healthier and more delicious than the stuff you could get at the cafeteria or take out places near work.

We won't skimp on quality where it matters, but I hate spending money mindlessly, or just because people expect me to spend a lot of money just because I can/earn a lot. Also, I don't particularly enjoy shopping, and am too busy between working and spending time with family to waste it at the mall looking for ways to blow my money on things I didn't even know I needed/wanted.

[Anonymous]

I have shoes that have developed holes. I know one old man who found a way to repair old flip flops and his were a piece of art.
Old shoes are not uncomfortable.
It is weird how many people want to criticize others over their spending habits.Just do what you like with your own money and learn to look the other way

[Anonymous]

Haven't read all comments yet, but my mom used to connect our hose to the neighbors' house to fill our above ground pool, go around the cemetery during the say to look for nice flowers on graves and go back at night to take them. She's a real winner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Haven't read all comments yet, but my mom used to connect our hose to the neighbors' house to fill our above ground pool, go around the cemetery during the say to look for nice flowers on graves and go back at night to take them. She's a real winner.

OMG. I just placed roses at my mom's grave site. If she took them, I would kill her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When our 40-gallon water heater died, I replaced it with a 30-gallon one for our family of four to save water and gas. Shower time is less because because it runs out of hot water sooner, making everyone more conscious of shower time.

Doesn't seem embarrassing just practical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haven't read all comments yet, but my mom used to connect our hose to the neighbors' house to fill our above ground pool, go around the cemetery during the say to look for nice flowers on graves and go back at night to take them. She's a real winner.

OMG. I just placed roses at my mom's grave site. If she took them, I would kill her.

Your moms already dead though, unlikely she'll take them.

[Anonymous]

Bump

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haven't read all comments yet, but my mom used to connect our hose to the neighbors' house to fill our above ground pool, go around the cemetery during the say to look for nice flowers on graves and go back at night to take them. She's a real winner.

OMG. I just placed roses at my mom's grave site. If she took them, I would kill her.

Your moms already dead though, unlikely she'll take them.

I think she meant she would kill the other lady's mom for taking her mom's grave flowers.