What motivates you to be frugal?

[Anonymous]

Or to watch your spending?

The other "cheap" thread got me thinking.

Is it for security or is it just how you are?
Or do you find expensive things frivolous ( like a $120 clothes hamper)?
I guess my question is: what motivates you to watch you money?

Sorry if this seems like a really basic question, I would love to be more of a saver.

[Anonymous]

I don't know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know.

So, I guess it's a natural thing for you. Which is what I was wondering.

[Anonymous]

My husband's spending freely all the time.

[Anonymous]

I grew up with depression era parents.

[Anonymous]

It is just who I am with influences from my early depression baby parents and my pre throw away society grandparents.

[Anonymous]

I don't want to be poor.

You just never know.....

[Anonymous]

Same as a PP. Once you've been poor, you get it. I'm not talking about "grad student on a tight stipend" poor. I'm talking about walk around with painful cavities in your teeth poor. It leaves a searing imprint.

[Anonymous]

My parents were frugal. I've been on the verge of homelessness, food stamps, etcetera. I have zero retirement, own nothing of value and have $20k to my bane. It's scary watching that go down. Being frugal is necessary.

[Anonymous]

Lack funds

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up with depression era parents.

My parents were very frugal. It made me the opposite. I didn't want to have to worry about every dollar.
My parents were not poor but they never used money for anything fun. We had one family vacation in our entire lives, when I was 4.
I never wanted money to rule me like that. So, I went opposite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Same as a PP. Once you've been poor, you get it. I'm not talking about "grad student on a tight stipend" poor. I'm talking about walk around with painful cavities in your teeth poor. It leaves a searing imprint.

Sorry to hear that. I have never had that, so I guess that's why I have trouble being as frugal as I should be. I worry about the future generation blowing all their money too, because most have never been poor.

[Anonymous]

It's almost a game for me. I love getting something for less, or figuring out how to fix something that's broken rather than paying to repair or replace it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know.

So, I guess it's a natural thing for you. Which is what I was wondering.

Yes. For me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up with depression era parents.

My parents were very frugal. It made me the opposite. I didn't want to have to worry about every dollar.
My parents were not poor but they never used money for anything fun. We had one family vacation in our entire lives, when I was 4.
I never wanted money to rule me like that. So, I went opposite.

That was my childhood, too. I'm frugal; my brother is not. It just comes naturally to me.