Frugal by nature?

[TinyFish]

Hi all,

I was looking today at a post about saving money by curtailing your lifestyle and the 'suffering' this may or may not be causing you. I was reading down a list of suggested ways to save (you all know the kinds of things I mean) and thinking how, in many case, my inclinations are naturally in line with being frugal. Wonder if anyone else has similar feelings? What things do you find it easy to not spend money on? What things are a big challenge? I'm talking about the more discretionary types of spending here.

For example:

Coffee- We all know the Starbucks example. Well, I don't even like coffee! So no temptation to blow money at Starbucks or similar establishments. Oh, and I can buy a lot of fancy tea to make at home for the price of a few Starbucks runs. Hubby likes coffee but rarely wants anything fancy and usually drinks it at home.

Eat a Vegetarian meal once a week - I eat vegetarian meals every day of every week. Another easy score for me!

Don't spend money spoiling your kids - Don't have any. Again, inclination, reality, and frugality happily coincide.

Don't keep trading up on your car- Not much of a car person. Feel only the slightest of temptation when looking at those Mini Coopers. Hubby is happily the same.

Alcohol - Don't care for most kinds of alcohol, and half the time I can't mix it with my medication. Never enjoyed feeling tipsy, so one drink once in a long while is more than enough. Went out for our 7 year anniversary last night, we both had Root Beers at the fancy restraunt lol!

Conversely, what are your weaknesses? Where do you find you need to reign yourself in carefully? For me that would be:

Housing - OK, not really a discretionary spending thing here, but housing is mucho expensive in my area, as is home improvment. I love making our home nicer and if I had a million dollars would probably blow much of it on housing. I like having really nice things for my home. Luckily, so far I'm willing to save to get them, but man do I love spending on it when I get the money.

Pets - I really enjoy spending in this category. Especially on my fish. Always tempted to get another tank, more fish, more plants, more equipment! Have to keep to the spending budget!

How about you? What is hard and what comes naturally?


-TinyFish

[amberfocus]

I'm similar to you--I find a lot of the habits that folks take for granted, I don't have.

- Coffee: don't drink it, or any other caffeinated, sugary, or alcoholic drinks, for that matter.

- Meat: I am a complete vegetarian.

- Cars and kids: I have neither, and I like it that way.

- Pets: I also don't have any, although I'd like to have them someday.

- Cable TV: I don't even *own* a television, much less need a cable TV subscription.

I'm addicted to computers and the internet, though, so I'm not saving on broadband or electricity for the computers when they're on (which is almost always). I also like to buy books, and I like high-end kitchen products. I may also blow more money on the gas stove because I like to cook, and do it every day, but cooking saves a ton on food, so it may balance out. And I get cold easily, so I like the thermostat up higher.

~mimi

[PrincessPerky]

Dh is addicted to computers, while he is frugal in his spending there, it is a category, that non gamers/non netters could avoid completely.

We also have a problemn in the 'education' department, i put that in quotes because there is really nothing intrinsically more educational about going to the discovery place than heading to the back yard..but...well I like things bigger than my backyard! so we often splurge there.

I also hate to cook, so while we are often successful at low budget feeding, it is a forced thing, not easy.

on the other hand, I don't tend to wear makeup ( I saw an add for some girls face, 20 bucks for liner, blush and shadow..what about the rest of her 'stuff' I do know something about makeup and that face cost 100$ minimum! no way I could afford that! even if I wanted to be painted every day..err no offense to those who do paint)

I also find spoiling my kids with stuff to be no big deal to pass on....I fon't want the stuff in my house!

[disneysteve]

I'm the same way as well.

I don't drink coffee. Rarely drink alcohol. Drive a 1998 Camry with almost 94,000 miles and plan to keep it another 2-3 years. Just got limited basic cable ($10/month) earlier this year. Before that it was just a roof antenna and rabbit ears all these years. Don't believe in buying books - if I want something, I borrow it from the library. We eat very little meat, though aren't totally vegetarian. Our only pets are fish which cost very little to maintain. Child - we have one daughter but we are raising her to be mindful of her spending, like us. We shop at yard sales, flea markets and thrift shops. She borrows books from the library. She sells her old toys at our yard sales.

Indulgences: Vacations would be on top of my list. I love to travel. Though even when I do, we keep costs foremost in our mind and scour the web to find great deals. We also have a Marriott Rewards Visa and earn points toward free stays. DW and I have already discussed that next year's summer vacation will be determined by where we can use our points for a free week. We also spend a week each year in Disney World, but we spend far less than most people do for that trip. We drive down, stay offsite, eat some meals offsite, prepare some of our own meals, etc.

Another splurge area is cookware. DW and I both love to cook and can't stand cheap kitchen stuff. But those are usually one time purchases. For example, we bought a set of Calphalon cookware last year. It was $400, but we will probably have it forever. I don't think we've spent a penny on kitchenware since then.

[Ima saver]

I don't drink coffee, never have. I know nothing about computers or any high tech stuff, so i don't spend money there. Makeup? I maybe spend $10 a year.
I do buy liquor every week and we love to go out and eat. Not so much for the food, but for a date out every night. I makes us both happy, so we just do it!
My house, I love having it look good. I bought all new furniture when we moved in 10 years ago and everything still looks pretty good. Could use two new chairs for the sitting area in our bedroom, but that is about it!

[pearlieq]

I have some of the same inclinations--no coffee, no alcohol, not a car or gadget person. I don't buy makeup or fuss with my hair. I don't care too much about decorating the house. Unsure on kids, but wouldn't want more than 2 and I don't see why they couldn't be raised frugally.

I do, however, have some unfrugal bents that I have had to learn to live with. I love eating out and would do so for almost every meal if there were no consequences to my health or pocketbook!

Also we love to travel, and I prefer a luxury travel experience. I would rather not go than to scrimp. I will use the tips & tricks available to me, but I also have no qualms about dropping $400/night on a hotel (As long as there's a good reason, of course. I don't overspend simply for the sake of doing so, but I have found certain experiences to be worth a premuim price.)

[markio26]

maybe i am frugal a lil... we love staying home and entertaining lately... so, to curtail the fast food runs, i have learned to make copy milkshakes, pancakes, etc..... we just love making our own junk foods...
we really adhere to a strick healthy food menu all week long.. but, for those days when we want something different, i will be prepared... lol.

[kealina]

i am rather ambivalant when it comes to this, which i'll try my best to explain.
first of all, I do enjoy luxuries but am not a sucker for them and only indulge when it's affordable... i would never pay retail or even certain sale prices but if i see something i like cheap at a yard sale then i may buy it and enjoy it...

these are a few of the things i enjoy that would be wants/indulgences...
I like having a large wardrobe and being able to choose how i want to look. sometimes it's scruffy and sometimes i want to look a little nicer but i enjoy having the choice. i like all kinds of clothes, comfortable yet pretty shoes, and make-up yet except for a few instances everything i get is all from garage sales or hand me downs from others...i also have a slight weakness for classic COACH purses *ducks and covers*

I could care less about cars and gadgets and guns but DH loves them... still we drive a decent but very used car that only cost us 1,000 + 100 to fix up, have few gadgets and no guns...

we drink coffee but all the coffee we have was given to us as a gift, our coffee maker is from a yard sale, etc....
we love decorating but have consigned that to the future when we have a little more income and for now only look at the magazines at the library...
we both love to travel but in 5 years have only been on one trip and mostly because the airfare was paid...

i guess we aren't really frugal by nature the way you mentioned although i really wish we were...

there are lots of things we would love to do and to have but we although the desire to have the stuff is there DH and I restrain ourselves because we have goals and dreams... one of those dreams is owning a home and being able to provide for our future family... that is our priority and motivation and what keeps us frugal rather than any lack of desire...

[kealina]

there are a few areas where we are naturally frugal...

we are both homebodies who enjoy staying home together instead of going out...

we cook a lot instead of eating out....we are also not addicted to any type of food so we basically plan our eating from the loss leaders including whatever type of produce is on sale...

don't smoke and rarely drink... (cocktail every couple weeks)

i love to read and always borrow books from the library instead of buying....

always buy dvd's for $3 or less at yard sales, enjoy them, share them with others, etc. instead of going to movies because we don't care if we see the new releases or not... if we must go to the movies we go to the $1 theater and take our own food/drinks...

instead of buying stuff, even at yard sales, we try to make do with what we have at home... for example, we both still use furniture that we got (mine from yard sales) more than 10 years ago as teenagers instead of spending even $40 on new stuff at yard sales... we mostly only buy to replace things that are breaking...

so i guess there are a few areas where we are frugal... yay...

[kealina]

p.s. does cross stitching count as an indulgence? i have cross stitched for about 10 years now... normally it's not an expensive habit but we splurged and had my best two pieces (a matched pair that took me 5 years) professionally framed for about $160 dollars (after discount) earlier this year... ouch but they look great... plus we are planning on keeping them for a very long time...

pps. sorry so many posts...

[Kris10Leigh]

Huh! After reading this, I guess I AM frugal by nature! So how did I accrue a debt of $23,000? LOL!

We don't buy coffee, alcohol, make-up, fancy cars, clothes, books, dvd's, or CD's. Those are just interests we do not share.

Our indulgences are eating out, though we are pulling that in. I'm starving right now and sitting here at work. I would love to go get a bag of chips from the vending machine, but I'll wait another hour and a half for lunch. *sigh* That's a long wait!
We also indulge in random things that we want. We are not always very patient. These things might be cross-stitching supplies (I'm with you on that one Kealina ), a dog leash, a sink faucet....just really random things. Last year I indulged in a new fridge. That was a pretty expensive indulgence! Our old one was starting to leak, but we didn't even try to repair it.

[Bookie]

By nature, no, I'm not frugal in the least .

Lots of things don't attract me, but I can hardly claim much virture when I resist temptations I don't feel. That's like bragging about my weight when food isn't my vice. It's easy for me to walk away from all manner of acquisitions and indulgences, to glory in my ostentatious simplicity, and to gloat righteously over the excesses of others. But it's all a crock, and I know it.

What I've learned about thrift and frugality I learned the hard way -- by making my mistakes and digging myself out. The present-day benefit of past experience is that I'm not so eager to opt for immediate gratification at the pain of future debt. I'm less convinced that happiness can come from stuff, however glitzy, or that a credit card can serve as a get-out-of-me-free pass. I've learned that wanting is transitory, that having is often burdensome, and that discardiing can be the path to freedom.

None of that makes me an ascetic. I still buy classical CDs I certainly don't need, books I think I may want to read, and computer hardware to feed the inner geek. I lunch with friends, not because I'm hungry, but because I value the companionship. I lend money I know I'll never see again to salve the pride and meet the need of those I care about.

Frugal? Probably not, but today I try to ensure that my spending serves my needs, embodies my values, and provides a lasting sense of satisfaction.

[jodi]

Luckily my weaknesses can be indulged in frugally - clothes, some for me, but mostly for my boys. Nearly all are bought at garage sales or thrift stores. The only time I buy new is when I need a specific item that I might not be able to find used in my time frame. I definitely splurge on books for my kids too - they have hundreds, but nearly all have been bought secondhand. Ditto on toys.
Another weakness - travel. But that has been curtailed greatly with the arrival of two boys within 1.5 years. After we were married, DH and I took one big vacation per year and maybe one or two smaller ones. Since the kids, we took one small one (Vegas for four days) and just got back from a week camping (a far cry from our cruises of the past!) - fun nevertheless, and immensely cheaper. Travel with the kids will be a priority when they are older.

As far as the others go, I'm fairly low maintenance. The only time I get coffee out is when I do a secret shop and get reimbursed for it. Or when I'm being treated I try to avoid sugar, and since I can't have coffee without sugar, it's an easy treat for me to avoid.
I don't smoke and drink alcohol seldom - but we have so much alcohol in our cupboards (door prizes, gifts, etc.) that it would take us years to run out.
I enjoy eating out as the exception rather than the rule. I limit myself to one meal out, whether it's a fast food burrito or a steak dinner, per week (usually fast food).
I could care less about my car, so long as it runs. I agreed to buying a new car for DH when his died and have regretted it since. It will only be used cars from here on out.
I seldom, if ever, feel like I am missing out on something because I don't want to spend the money on it. And that's a good way to lead life

[LuxLiving]

Originally Posted by Kris10Leigh

Our indulgences are eating out, though we are pulling that in. I'm starving right now and sitting here at work. I would love to go get a bag of chips from the vending machine, but I'll wait another hour and a half for lunch. *sigh* That's a long wait!

Kris10Leigh - Have you tried taking a spoon and a jar of peanut butter to work and putting it in your drawer? A big spoonful of that generally cuts the hunger urge fairly quickly. Of course this only works if you aren't allergic to peanuts. Hope this helps.

[BCHGRL]

It is more of an acquired skill for me.

I don't drink coffee, I don't have kids or pets (unless you count my husband), I don't have expensive hobbies. Cars really don't affect me now but I can't say that that has always been true. I might have a drink once a month so alcohol really doesn't cost much. I've never been a smoker so that is not an issue. DvD rentals are not an issue because I find that most movies are just a waste of 2 good hours. I buy just enough make-up so that I don't scare anyone, and I certainly don't spend any money on my hair. I've found that staying fit gives me confidence about my appearance, so I worry less about my hair, make-up and clothes than I did when I was 20lbs heavier.

Indulgences would be house, family, and food. My car can look like a dump but my house better be fully furnished and nice looking. I love giving to family. There is nothing like a mother, who has invested years of love and sacrifice, receiving a thoughtful gift from her child showing how much he/she appreciates their love. Lastly, I don't cook and don't have time so lean cuisines are a pretty regular menu item at my house unless hubby cooks. I guess it is less expensive than eating out.

[Broken Arrow]

Hmm. I think I am an exact replica of Bookie sometimes, only a bit younger. Bookie Lite, or Diet Bookie.

I am not frugal by nature either. Kind of "learned" it through necessity. Otherwise, I'd love to spend with reckless abandon.

Still, in practice, I don't have many indulgences. Internet is the the only one really. That and I will still eat out on occasion. I'm doing my best to cut both to a minimum though.

Besides that, I don't drink, smoke, party, or do anything else that the "cool kids" do. Not even coffee, tea, or energy drinks. Just don't care to really to.

Of course, I also don't feel superior in any way. If I have money, I know I'd find some way to spend it. My latest acquisition was a rather expensive mattress, so... in the end, I'm no better off really. Just a fairly boring guy living out his life I guess.

(If this post seems a bit melodramatic, it could be because I'm also listening to soft jazz. Bought online. Ascetic I am not. )

[kealina]

Originally Posted by Kris10Leigh

We also indulge in random things that we want. We are not always very patient. These things might be cross-stitching supplies (I'm with you on that one Kealina )

i guess i was lucky with my cross stitch supplies... after buying some stuff new i started finding stuff at yard sales and stockpiled...what's why i love yard sales as it lets me be slightly more frugal while having lots more fun...
i haven't had to buy anything new except needles for almost 5 years... once i bought a whole box full of supplies, maybe $200 retail worth (specialty threads, blending filaments and all) for $20 and another time for $3 i got a large bag (almost two gallon ziplops worth of threads)... then other people started buying me stuff as gifts.... after that i had too much and actually sold some supplies i didn't need for $10 earlier this year... a ziploc full of thread and 6 of those small towels and some other stuff...

i also got pcstitch6 as a gift several years ago and this allows me to download free patterns online as well as make my own... i have a fair amount of free patterns that i'd be glad to share with you if you want... i think all you need is the viewer which is downloadable online for free and then you can open them... =)

[Kris10Leigh]

Kealina, I don't really spend much on cross-stitching. I just threw that in there for your benefit. From one stitcher to another! LOL! My biggest expense is framing, so I just don't do it. In fact, that reminds me...I was supposed to frame one for DH for Father's day in June and forgot! I forgot FOR Father's day and here I am still forgetting. I could spend a bunch on books...but I don't. I could spend a bunch on material...but I don't. Overall, cross-stitching is pretty cheap to do once you have basic starting supplies.

[Ima saver]

I wish I had been more frugal when I was younger. I collected so much stuff. I have over 100 hummels. I wish I had that money in the bank collecting interest instead.

[LuxLiving]

Sell 'em on ebay!!