Frugal...have you always been? or are you a convert?

[Snoopy2645]

I have been frugal my whole life my dad used to call me his little tightwad!!!


Funny about the Social security or maybe not I got my yearly letter of what I have made every year since working since I worked ft for I dont know how many years then quit to be a sahm then back to pt recently after 5yrs of staying home I now qualify for social security but they said in the same letter in the year 2045 or something social security may not be around so guess that means I better start saving for retirement cause in 2045 I will be in my 60's.

My plan right now is to pay of the mortgage then put that same amount of money into savings each month for the next 35 years to retirement

[rob62521]

I grew up with parents who scrimped because they had to. They lived through the depression and ingrained the saving and making do attitude. Once I started making money, I would kind of spend more than I should, but never getting huge loans or having large credit card bills. I have sort of changed course and I'm frugal to a certain extent, except I do spend money on certain things such as decent clothing so it lasts, a decent vehicle for my own safety (I work in a bad neighborhood), and I have been buying lots of fresh fruit and vegetables for our health. I use coupons, watch the sales, and I use leftovers.

I enjoy this forum because it has such a friendly atmosphere. If someone asks something, there is never a put down, but an honest meeting of the minds. No one tries to "one up" anyone else. How refreshing!

[sakigt]

I was always frugal, in a sense. Groceries and clothes should never cost more than a certain amount without reason. Cars, on the other hand, I always seem to "overspend" on. I am frugal in the sense that I NEVER paid full price for anything. I always wait to buy used or until something goes on sale.

Im a bit of a convert as of late. I used to think: Sweet! an extra $100! Now I can get that _______ Ive been wanting. Now I think...sweet! An extra $100 to pay down debt or save

[ChimbleySweep]

I'm a brand-new convert.

I learned a lot of bad habits from my mother, who was an emotional shopper. Now that I'm an adult, married, and living in my own house, I don't want to fall into the same traps that my parents have gotten stuck in. I want to be financially independent and ready for whatever the future may throw at me.

[Ima saver]

I think I have always been frugal with most things, but I do like big houses and nice cars. However I am learning to save up cash to pay for the next new car!

[Dido]

I'm more of a convert. I grew up being pretty thrifty--my dad was the money manager and he came to adulthood in the depression. I remember him taking me to the impressive Bank of America building in Beverly Hills to open my first passbook savings account when I was six years old. But I guess I fell away from those teachings once I was out on my own. I got into trouble the first year after finishing my degree. I was earning a mere pittance, but I'd moved across the country from my boyfriend and figured that I was going to get a pretty good job, so in that one year I managed to spend *twice* as much as I earned, paying for several air trips across the country (both to visit my boyfriend and for job interviews), a new job interview wardrobe, plus I was living in one of the most expensive areas of the country at the time (Palo Alto). II *did* get a decent job, but it took me a few years to realize that the balance didn't go down at all when I only paid the minimum due and added a few purchases each month--duh! But I was busy focused on my career and on some significant issues in my personal life. After about 3 years at my job, I read "Your Money or Your Life" and a big lightbulb went on. I got a consolidation loan from my credit union, paid off the accumulated debt, and started saving for retirement. Now I tend to be one of those conversts who proselytizes--I teach young adults, so I spread the word whenever I have the chance to relate it to my curriculum.

[Ima saver]

Good for you dido, I try and talk to young people all the time about starting to save early.

[simpleselu]

Convert! I grew up poor, but we never talked about money and when I got some it slipped through my fingers like water. After living on student loans for 7 years and wracking up 73K in student loan debt, I am a frugalista with a get out of debt, savings and investing plan.