But as I do most of my own cooking, and don’t use too much of those things at once, it’s not that un-frugal, I guess.

Good rice is cheaper than bad meat!

Rgds,

RB

http://www.richby30retireby40.com/2009/07/value-of-happiness-lessons-from-frugal.html

[...] FrugalTrader from Million Dollar Journey talks about needs and wants in ‘When are you NOT frugal?‘ [...]

I buy Girl Guide cookies, sponsor charity runs etc… Over the years many people have supported me in such endeavors and I really appreciate it.

I am happy to spend money on local produce, and handmade goods. It’s important to support people who realise the importance of craftsmanship. That’s how you promote the existance of good products… the ones that save you money because they last longer and you actually adore them. I definitely shop for clothing that way… everyone has enough clothing, it’s just that they don’t actually want to wear half the stuff they own.

I buy paint from my local hardware store and carry it home. It makes me feel good and strong. The amount I would have saved by buying at Home Depot would probably have been spent on gas.

If you like having the convenience of small neighbourhood stores you need to support them year round. Also it seems that once you become a kind and curtious regular you start to score sweet free stuff anyhow.

Buy less, buy smarter. As the saying goes, “To buy is to vote.”

This is an interesting thread. I have a question though – When can you no longer be considered frugal?

For example, if you buy cars brand new, can you still be considered frugal? Buying new cars is one of the biggest wastes of money. It is easy to save thousands or tens or thousands on cars by buying slightly used.

What do you guys think? When can you no longer be considered frugal?

Ed

I also don’t compromise on price when it comes to home renos. We just redid the kitchen – everything back to the walls. We were able to do most of the labour ourselves, so we put more money into the materials – high end energy efficient window, top of the line Moen faucet, African stone backsplash, etc.

I got a great deal on my car (good price and 0% financing), but I won’t compromise on maintenance. High-end oil, top of the line rubber, and I make sure to do all of the manufacturer’s maintenance on time. However, I’m sure that will help me get a longer life out of the car.

On the flip side, I do frequent yard sales to pick up items where quality isn’t as much of an issue – pegboard pegs, some tools, etc.

In summary, I think my level of frugality matches up to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. I will overspend on the basics – health, safety, food, but I am more frugal on the higher levels.

Holidays too… haven’t gone on one in a while but I like expensive trips!

MG – I agree totally – the easiest way to cut your shopping bill is to eat unhealthy foods all the time.

Mike

We are very frugal with entertainment, eating out, and clothes.

Hey AJ, I’ll take you one step further… you saved $110 bucks plus hours of your time!

Great topic FT!

I refuse to skimp on food quality and health quality, however I have no qualms about preparing meals for myself (or letting the fiancé do that). In fact, I’m a big fan of “from scratch” meals b/c of the quality and quantity control that you get on ingredients. Most pre-made stuff has to contain extra salts and fats as preservatives, so the stuff built to stay on the shelves is not as healthy. For a simple example, those Hickory Farms meat sticks come in two varieties: “must be chilled turkey” and “need not be chilled beef”; the beef contains twice as many calories and sodium.

I tend to value my time pretty highly, so I’m not that frugal when it comes to things I don’t want to buy again. I will spend an hours picking out running shoes and then spend $150+, but I’ll only do this once/year. By the same measure, I’m OK with spending extra money to get my stuff delivered.

I’m also not frugal when it comes to helping sustain a business that I’m supporting. For example, my old swing dance club would get free space at a legion to go dancing on a Saturday night. I would throw $5-15 dollars at drinks/food or the slot machine to help keep things going. I could’ve danced the night away for free, but the legion won’t keep hosting us if we’re not bringing in some income, so I made sure to keep money flowing in support of the hobby.

And hobbies and courses I’m not stingy about either. I have way too many interests, but money on classes that I attend doesn’t ever feel wasted.

When I buy electornics or longer life items, furniture, etc. I tend towards brand name and quality items.

I also spend extra for energy efficiency. I bought the Maytag Neptune set. I use all compact flourescents.

But in many cases, I can make a debate as to how I’m being frugal even in those selections.

For example, for a little while I was buying dress shoes at Wal-Mart. They were only costing me $25 but lasting an average of only 3 months. I finally bought a $90 pair at J.C. Penney’s where I used to buy my shoes. Those typically last me 2 years. So did I spend an extra $65 on shoes or did I save $110 over 2 years?

A.J.
http://www.thenewself.com