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

[Thrifty Ray]

I am a convert...although I never bought designer clothes...well, ok, I did buy a pair of Chamin de' fer (spelling?) jeans back in the 70s for $40...

My conversion started many years ago, when I bought my first Tighwad Gazette book....However, I was a walking contradiction for a long time...mentally wanting the frugal life, but living the spendthrift life...

I studied frugal lifestyles for years....and have been living one for just the past 16 months...

How about you?

[Broken Arrow]

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

I'm going to have to go with convert.

I've always had a minimalist attitude towards everything, but there was a time when I would spend money on toys without giving a second thought on saving for the future. Now, after experiencing what crushing debt feels like, I am the opposite and couldn't be happier.

[Ima saver]

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

Well, I was raised pretty poor and never had much when I first married, so i guess I have been frugal all my life. But I can see in some ways, like going out to eat, that I am not frugal. We have always used that as our form of entertainment. That and cars (my husband's love and hobby) are our two big expenses. I have learned a lot on this site about being frugal. I also have learned that it is ok to spend some money on things you really enjoy. (like eating out and cars!)

[Lori63]

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

As a kid I remember seeing my mom cry when the utilities were going to be shut off and trying to help her learn about coupons, etc. (didn't work). Then when I went to college my dad took my money (his name was on my acct.), so I had to work two jobs, go to school fulltime-pinched every penny. I guess I've always been frugal-must have been hard-wired that way from birth because I didn't learn it from my parents.

[Ima saver]

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

I think I did learn it from my mother. My father died when I was nine and I watched my mother struggle. She had never worked in her life (born in 1907) and made only about $25 a week. That is what we lived on. She never paid a bill late, we would go without food, but the bills would get paid. I have never paid a bill late either. One time the elec. bill came back because the stamp fell off. I drove all the way to the electric company cause I was so embarrassed to be late. (I even took the envelope to prove I was not a dead beat!!)

[cschin4]

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

I am a convert. I grew up in a small middle class type town. Our family had enough to pay the bills and make ends meet. And, we did take some occasional vacations, etc. My mom is the spender in the family and dad was the saver. When I first got out of college, I really didn't know how to handle or money and really didn't pay that much attention to it. Fortunately, I never got myself in debt and was always employed. As I got older and had kids, I realized that financial planning was important since it was no longer just me. Over time, I have adapted many of the suggestions on frugal message boards. And, I am to the point where I just can't stand alot of junk around me and don't even enjoy shopping anymore. And, I really enjoy conversing with all you folks.

[Roupey03]

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

I am still in the process of converting and this board is defintely a big help.

[Ima saver]

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

cschin, we really enjoy you too.

[shengmei]

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

I loved shopping. I still do. Nowadays it is a game of "me aginst the retailers"

[PrincessPerky]

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

I would say on a scale of 1-10 (10 being spendthrif) I never hit more than 7 (DINK days) but now I am creeping down to that 1 of super frugal.

Couldn't do it without this board!

[lillyb]

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

I was raised in a spendthrift family, didn't know any different. Even so, I've never really been one for keeping up with the Joneses. Guess you could say I've always been frugal at heart and just didn't know how to get there.

[kealina]

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

i've always been frugal, not because my parents are especially frugal (only sometimes) but because we didn't have a lot of money growing up and i knew that i wanted to have more security than i was raised with...
luckily we had some richer relatives so i could kind of see the goal... my aunt and uncle started with nothing when they came here as refugees (after the Vietnam war) and although i don't know how they started i do know they worked really hard to get where they are now which is very, very comfortable although i wouldn't classify them as uberRich i do know they've got quite a bit over a Million in assets to leave their two kids.... over the past 20 years in CA, they worked in real estate, had a pawn shop, and finally are now in the jewelry business....
also my grandma (tech my step-grandma but never called her that) has always been a good role model because even tho she inherited some money she's always been a believer in being frugal and working hard so you appreciate what you get. She's very smart and, to my eyes anyways, she's always had a good balance of being frugal and enjoying the money they worked for.... i could probably write a super long post about her...
let's just say i had several money role models and took a little something from each of them to mix with my own natural temperment....
lol... i was a smart little kid... i realized early in life that saving money gave me an advantage that my brother (big spendthrift) didn't have... if we both got $5 for the candy store he'd spend all $5 and i'd spent $2 and pocket the other $3...

[Thrifty Ray]

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

if we both got $5 for the candy store he'd spend all $5 and i'd spent $2 and pocket the other $3...

lol- this brought back memories of my younger years with my brother....I would do the same, and then the next time he would borrow money from me and have to pay me back with interest!!!

chuckle...Id forgotten about that...I lost my brother 18 years ago---but I am sure he is still smiling at the memory as well!

[tgavin71]

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

Always been frugal. As a kid I loved watching the coins in my money jar get higher and higher. I hated spending money and still do. My sister and I are both better off now than our parents would ever hope to be. They are still assuming that the government is going to pay them the pension. Have told them time and time again, directly and indirectly, that they should be saving money instead of drinking, smoking and taking trips away but it falls on deaf ears. Luckily they own a house that they will be able to sell to pay for life's necessities as they get older.

[Ima saver]

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

Yes,I enjoyed putting money in my piggy bank and I had a savings acct. ever since I was a child. I use to be embarassed about depositing small sums in my savings, but now I know that tellers don't mind at all, they think is great if you are a kid!