Is The Frugal Game Fun forYou?

[Retired To Win]

(thread reposted due to fat finger error)

A couple of days ago, I was about two thirds through my errands run when I realized I was really enjoying myself. What's this, I said to myself. How can I be having such fun just buying groceries or picking up a ream of copy paper? And then it came to me. I was playing the Frugal Game, I was scoring point after point, and I was really feeling good about it.

Yes. Practicing no-sacrifice frugality puts me more in control. Helps me come out ahead. Gets me in a winning mood. And who isn't going to feel good about all of that?

Too often, when frugality is discussed it is on the assumption that by being frugal one is giving something up. Doing without. Sacrificing one's todays for the sake of one's tomorrows. But that definitely is not how I experience frugality. To me, it is -- literally -- a fun game.

On that errands day earlier this week, I went to the office supply store for some copy paper. Shelf price: $5.79 a ream. But I had gone online for a rebate coupon and I had a credit for bringing in a spent ink cartridge. My price net: $2.00 a ream for 2 reams. Score! And I got even better quality paper than usual, so I definitely gave nothing up.

Next stop, the grocery store. I had room in my refrigerator freezer for more meats and a $5 off coupon in my pocket that I could use if I spent $25. Hey, perfect combination! Ten minutes later, I was walking out with packages of country ribs, steak and chicken -- and a savings of not just $5 but over $15 thanks to my selections. Score! And I certainly won't be giving up good eating either.

(I almost danced a little jig in the parking lot with that one!)

How about you? Is frugality a game you enjoy playing? Or are you experiencing it as sacrifice?

[Retired To Win]

Planning How To Spend is Also Part of the Fun

...On that errands day earlier this week, I went to the office supply store for some copy paper. Shelf price: $5.79 a ream. But I had gone online for a rebate coupon and I had a credit for bringing in a spent ink cartridge. My price net: $2.00 a ream for 2 reams. Score! And I got even better quality paper than usual, so I definitely gave nothing up.

Next stop, the grocery store. I had room in my refrigerator freezer for more meats and a $5 off coupon in my pocket that I could use if I spent $25. Hey, perfect combination!...

To play the Frugal Game successfully, I find that I have to plan my spending ahead of time. Otherwise, I would not have had those coupons, would I have? Hunting for and finding the deal is definitely part of the fun of the Game.

Last year, I went on a little camping road trip. I planned ahead by making sure I had both my National Parks and Virginia Parks lifetime passes in my wallet. In just 2 days I saved $15 on vehicle admission to the Skyline Drive, $8 on camping in the Jefferson National Forest and $4 on admission to 2 Virginia state parks. Score, score, score! And I got all the same benefits I would have had without the savings.

On that trip, my endpoint destination was Natural Bridge (and Caverns), which sports a hefty $29 admission. But I scouted it ahead on the web and saved myself $6 by pre-buying the ticket. Score! And I gave nothing up on that one either.

Even that planning is part of the fun of the Frugal Game. I anticipate the savings (chaching!) bit by bit and get little feel-good jolts each time.

[snafu]

Ah, we've called it 'cost avoidance' all these years lol. I've a list of when items regularly go on sale and do my best to line up needed purchases to capture sale price. For example, the current back-to-school sales are a good time to replenish supplies and equipment for a home office. Even thrift stores have a section devoted to school supplies like file folders, binders, lined paper, rulers, old fashioned labels and more from businesses whose office staff have cleared out storage cabinets.

When I started I tracked saving differentials from regular and sale price. One year I tried to put actual money in a savings jar but sum were just too big to be practical. There is a huge difference in flight + tax by departing on Tuesdays for example or avoiding 'high season' at different destinations. Just now I'm looking at 'repositioning' cruises since many offer significant;y reduced rates.

[Retired To Win]

And the Frugal Game Can be Played at Home Big Time

Ah, we've called it 'cost avoidance' all these years lol. I've a list of when items regularly go on sale and do my best to line up needed purchases to capture sale price...

I like playing the Frugal Game at home just as well. That's where some people are more likely to think that one has to give comfort up to play the game. But... not so much.

Every day, one of the first things I do on getting out of bed is to turn on my classical music internet radio station. Originally, that used to be Sirius, for which I paid a fee every month. But then I switched to Pandora, which is free. And you know what? With Pandora, I was able to customize my listening experience so that "my" classical radio station only played musical compositions I really liked! Score on the savings and I improved my listening experience. And I got to start every day with that little win. How cool is that?

Another thing I do every day at home is to use electricity. But I now play the Frugal Game to win by not misusing and wasting electricity.

What in heaven's name have I given up by playing the electricity Frugal Game? I have lights on whenever and wherever I need them. I don't limit my computer or television time in any way. I don't keep myself from turning on ceiling fans if it gets warm or a heater if it gets chilly. I have NO idea what I have given up -- if anything -- except maybe the wasteful privileges of walking out of rooms (or the house itself) and leaving lights and electronics on willy nilly... or letting a near-empty freezer just keep churning away 24/7... or being so lazy that I would not take the time to switch out my inefficient incandescent light bulbs?

The bottom line is that my whole daily life is like this now. I am playing an ongoing Frugal Game that keeps rewarding me with little "happy jolts" practically every time I open a bill or whip out a credit card. And it is fun.

Maybe it's that it doesn't take much to make me happy. Or that I have a very strong Scrooge gene in my DNA. Or maybe -- just maybe -- it is that playing the Frugal Game puts me in touch with how much I am in financial control of my life. And that, as they say, is priceless.

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