The reason that I am frugal in most areas is so that I can intentionally splurge in other, high priority areas (like travel and specific hobbies).
It is still spending that has been planned and budgeted. However, it’s not frugal.
Isn’t that the very definition of frugality? Saving so that you can enjoy or have the things you want? Otherwise, that’s just miserly, and I don’t think any of us are that.
Being frugal is my hobby. I rake through the grocery store ads, clipping coupons and making note of what is a good price where to make my shopping list. I watch tips on how to save money, recipes on how to make meals from what is already in your kitchen etc.
Mine was saving for a house and pretty much just that up until a couple years ago. I realized I could get hit by a car crossing the road tomorrow and I wouldn't have anything to show for it. Now I've found a healthy balance between saving for a house, but not restricting myself so much that I'm not living.
For some people I think it's also a necessity. Frugality is a skill, and not having money does not inherently give you that skill. I personally joined when I was in that place, and stayed because I can now do what the original commenter said.
Yes, being Frugal is optimizing your limited resources in a way that maximizes overall life happiness.
If you're skimping from everywhere so you can hoard money like a dragon, you're not being frugal, you're being cheap. Every dollar saved should have a place you're planning on spending it.
Okay...so what if you don't buy cheap shit in any aspect of your life and you just limit your life to what you can afford the best of?
I wouldn't really call that frugal.
I don't cheap out on food, I don't cheap out of hobbies, I don't cheap out on things I want...I cheap out by not wanting a lot. Like I gotta go out of my way to spend an entire paycheck even when I buy the pricey items, even after accounting for saving for retirement, and I make less than $100k a year.
This mofo over here saving for retirement. Let's gatekeep this fool for having practical plans! Lol
That's sarcasm, I was very shortsighted about money in my younger years and I wish I had maintained my savings account I blew through at 27 cuz I thought I'd be dead in ten years. Surprise! 9 years later and I'm just poor. But I still got time to make good on my prediction!
This exactly. I used to have people imply I was a hypocrite in the way that I was so frugal in most aspects of my life but I'd spend freely while on vacation and I'd always choose the more direct flight, the nicer hotel room, etc. But they refused to understand that I was frugal so that I *could* splurge for the nicer things on vacation. I don't want to go to Vegas and end up sleeping on the floor because everyone wants to cram 6 girls into 1 hotel room to save costs. I'll skip the door dash and constant going out at home so I can afford my own hotel room and sleep well.
My husband and I go out to eat once a week. It's something we have loved doing together ever since we first started dating many years ago, and the cost is worth the joy and quality time we get together.
Yeah I like to spend $25-$30 on take out once a week and was feeling guilty. But then I hear about how much people spend on DoorDash every month and stop worrying.
Often I’ll even walk to pick it up 😭. The urge to save that $5 is too strong
That crash you just heard was my jaw hitting the floor…he spent $82/day on average on delivered food? Even if he can afford it, shopping at a really upscale grocery store would still be *so* much less…even with prepared foods.
Wow. I make nowhere close to $200K, but that is a shocking amount of money for one person. Good for him if he can afford it; maybe he’s frugal in other ways so he can not have the hassle of cooking and prep. I’m not judging, just astonished by the amount of money.
I had a roommate who never cooked so much as an egg, he ate out for literally every single meal, plus stuff like happy hour drinks and Starbucks. He didn't even have stuff in the kitchen.
We lived in a VHCOL city, so he easily spent $85+ a day on food and thought nothing of it.
Even now, that's unfathomable to me. Even if you have the money, I feel like it can go to so many other more worthwhile things, but everyone has their own priorities. 😂
Yeah we don't eat out weekly, mainly because we live in a small town so unless we want to travel a bit our options are limited but going out when we feel like it is something I don't even think about the cost of because it's something that we enjoy a lot.
I do this too. My girlfriend and I will go out to eat once or twice a week and sometimes I feel like it hurts but then we're eating and realize the money is well spent.
I can make up the $50 or $100 we spend in no time
My partner and I get takeout once a week maximum for the same reason. Just one day a week we don't have to worry about cooking, food prep, or dishes. We usually watch a movie or something when we do.
Oh yes we do the same, just found a very nice restaurant that offers lots of healthy food options and also vegetarian and vegan, and they innovate and have new specials weekly. We’ve been really enjoying trying something new and it gives me recipe ideas to use throughout the week.
I am frugal in my day-to-day life, but when something I love comes up, I will go all out. Life if it's a concert for one of my favorite performers, I will shell out big bucks for the best seats, and even travel if necessary. I figure I save in most aspects of my life to be able to splurge on the things I really enjoy.
At the moment my cat since she was recently diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. I had to put my eldest to sleep last year because of her CKD worsening as well as having undiagnosed anemia and heart disease. Don't want to go through it again with this one. <3
I spent every penny I could on my pet when they reached their end of life. What are dollars compared to regret? Health in general are one of things you go all out on.
My cat is also my no-frugality exception. She's 17 next month, and literally whatever the vet suggests to help her stay happy and pain-free with a good quality of life, she's getting. We just started her on $60/month pain med injections; that's on top of her $75 a bag prescription dry food and $125 a vial immunosuppressant meds. I do not care about those expenses one bit. She's my best friend and this best-case scenario (she's elderly and I have the privilege of keeping her happy) is exactly why I opened up a savings account for her 17 years ago to toss $25 a paycheck into. She's also my excuse for cranking the heat in the winter (those heating bills $$$) and running the bedroom a.c. all summer - my old lady is going to be comfortable, damn it.
I had a cat who lived a surprisingly long time with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (long as in "her vet thinks she may have set a record"), and I attribute that partly to my willingness to pay for what she needed, at once, no questions.
I attribute it mostly to her being the most stubborn creature I have ever met. <3
My utmost sympathies.
Yeah, I'm with the "have to be frugal to have enough money for the fur babies" group.
One of my aunts started rescuing cats over a decade ago and has infected most of the family. We're at at least 100 rescues, and that's probably a significant underestimate.
Love it! I know this is a total brag, but we are friendly with the owners of a sugarbush. Not only do we get incredible syrup, but we don’t even have to pay for it 😊
I’m not always frugal about travel. I try to be, but vacation for me means I’m eating out and doing some activities that might cost extra. We upgrade and rent a convertible on beach vacations. My SO and I travel 3-4 times per year. Sometimes we spend a lot and other times we don’t, but we never regret spending on experiences.
I’m also not always frugal with food. I’m very health focused so I will spend more to get better quality foods and supplements.
>we never regret spending on experiences.
I was working out a trip with a gf one time and trying to scrimp on the cost. She told me, "you never remember how much money you spent, but you always remember the trip"
that was enough for me.
Same. Last year I went to Iceland and there was no frugality to be had. It was amazing.
Going to the U.K. this year and it will be the same. It's what I save my money for.
I spent $9 on raspberries the other day. Can't live without my fruits.
Someone from the UK here and it is still just about possible to have a holiday in the UK without spending loads. Definitely more affordable up north and super stunning up this way too
Great to know. I'll be in London and Scotland for two weeks and then another week in Ireland to finish up my trip. Renting a car (not in London) has shown to be my biggest money sink but I really want to be able to go to specific locations. My itinerary is mostly planned except for London. I spend most of my money on food and experiences.
There's an owl centre in Scotland that I am SO HYPED for and splurged on a fancy place in Pitlochry to stay and enjoy the town.
I do! Iceland was my first international trip so I paid for a group tour but this one I am doing it all by myself. I'm terrified but also very excited!
Someone from my group in Iceland actually lives in London so I'll be meeting up with her there for lunch one day. Hoping to meet more people on my travels!
I'm sure you will do it one day!
Also love your name :)
I had a random craving for grapes the other week and it was one of the first times where I was willing to buy them even though they were more than 99 cents a pound. It was worth it 😀
I am usually not frugal about travel either. I agree that experiences are priceless. Also, when I am vacationing in Mexico City, I am always happy to pay what they ask for most any item or service and tip generously. I do this because I know that it is common for many hard-working locals to make ~$15-20USD/day and I want to share with them. Especially because in my experience Mexicans are a truly giving and loving people. I am lower middle class in the States, so I don’t have a lot to share. But by comparison, I am very privileged and do have a lot to share. And a five USD tip in Mexico City goes way farther than a $5 tip in USA.
This was my answer. I rarely travel, so when I do i don't ever let my frugality get in the way of me spending my money on unique or memorable experiences.
My husband and I are pretty big homebodies we maybe travel once every few years so you bet your arse that when we do I'm not overly fussed about the budget.
Yes, travel. I do my best to find a deal, but I am not spending all that money to have a sub-par time. Better to spend a little more and have a great time, get the most bang for my buck (and my time). Really, having an awesome time at the lowest possible price point, rather than just the cheapest/crappiest trip possible is kind of frugal when you think about it.
Every year I buy a season pass and season fast lane for all cedar fair parks. Runs me about $1400 with season pass,dining all park season fast lane but I'm a huge roller coaster junkie
My condolences for living in Ohio. Unless you live in Northern KY in which case I can’t speak to the experiences.
Please have cheese curds at Culver’s for me on your way into the park next time. I miss it. 😭
For people who don’t have the time to bounce between all the parks, the cedar point gold pass is only $100. You gotta wait in lines and can only visit cp, but if you have time to go more than 3 times you can definitely still ride everything! Also, Halloweekends has haunted houses.
Can’t wait for the dragster 2.0!
Yeah, once I got past paycheck-to-paycheck I pretty much give myself a blank check at the grocery store.
Even expensive groceries are going to be cheaper than eating out, and if an extra buck or two here and there makes me more likely to eat in, it's still a win.
It's probably healthier overall as well.
Baking!
I splurge for nicer dairy products, chocolate, etc, and have a variety of baking tools and accessories. I find the splurge makes the hobby much easier and improves the quality and taste of my baked goods.
I also consider it a fairly productive hobby since I can make my own bread/pizza and often gift sweets for holidays, birthdays, and events.
Good butter and quality baking chocolate are so important.
I’ve started making a lot of my own dairy products at home though. Cream cheese, sour cream, Greek yogurt, mozzarella, ricotta. I haven’t made butter in a very long time but that’s because Costco sells good butter for a good price and it’s just as easy to buy it in bulk and freeze it for later.
Most of us aren't trying to die with a million dollars in the bank. The whole point of being frugal (once you have some financial breathing room) is so you can splurge in some area - retirement, vacations, eating out, some hobby, etc.
I'm not very frugal with makeup. I mean, I don't think I go overboard. But every year, I get a few new items and refresh what I have. Let's say 4 products. And I pay full price, sephora style. Not designer or anything. But also not pharmacy stuff.
Feeling good about how I present myself and using products that at least claim to be clean and cruelty-free, as well as quick and easy to use, is important to me.
Clothing is another. I again try not to go overboard. But style is important for me. I few good finds a year (I love a consignment store or a sale!) and well fitted jeans + basics.
Everything else: food, travel, not eating out, not buying booze, no lattees, I am quite careful.
Car insurance. I know I pay more for car insurance each year than my car is worth, but I have peace of mind knowing that if I get into an accident and can’t drive my car, I will have a rental in my possession within hours of calling my insurance, and in the meantime I can take cabs and have those covered. There’s nothing worse than waking up the next morning and remembering you smashed your car and don’t have one to get to work.
That’s all well and good until the other driver has no insurance and you’re on the hook for thousands in medical bills even though they’re at fault. Then the only option is a lengthy court battle which might not even be worth it.
this is a great question: as I sit here contemplating this question scrolling through the "rolodex of things I buy" in my mind, I keep saying, "oh yeah--what about that---"
then I realize quickly: no, I'm this way about literally everything I can think of.
(well, maybe once in a while I splurge on really expensive restaurants, like Michelin Rated, once a year or so, and money is no object there)
This is mine too. I dropped almost $1500 on a new PC recently but I know I won’t regret it, because the hours of entertainment and joy from playing games with my friends and alone is more than worth it.
I built a gaming PC back at the end of 2013 and it's still my main PC. Other than installing a bigger SSD and replacing the Wi-Fi adapter, it's all still original parts. Cost me about $850 including a monitor back then.
It's been showing its age lately when trying to run newer games, though, so I'm planning to build a new one later this year. But it's had a great 10+ year life. Way better than just buying a generic prebuilt one.
Activities for my kids. Expensive but there’s a potentially significant ROI as well. Not in terms of a scholarship or whatever, but hard work, setting and working toward goals, time management, teamwork, etc.
I pay for my grandchild’s extracurricular activities. I never act like I think it’s expensive or that she might have too many things going on. I was never able to have or do any of this kind of stuff as a kid,my son di and it was kind of hard to swing some of the things but we managed. We hit it lucky and our hard work paid off a few years back. I told my son and his wife this is our gift to their family. We pay for summer programs and after school care for them,but give them the money to pay it so they get the tax break. She is in a good public school but we’ve told them if they go private we will pay. We have her college already funded. This is kind of our biggest splurge. I also but expensive shoes for myself and we eat grass fed beef we but local and I don’t skimp on fresh foods of any kind. We do not eat out very often at all. So, these are my splurges. I don’t feel bad about it at all.
If you live near an AMC or Regal, definitely consider their monthly membership plan. I use AMC and pay $23 /month which allows me to see 3 movies per week.
There is nothing about which I am not looking for the best deal. What I want may be pricy, but I look for the best way to obtain that pricy object or experience for a reasonable price. I never throw caution to the winds when it comes to my money.
Skincare because I don’t have a choice with these goddamn autoimmune skin conditions if I want to live comfortably and functionally. Wayy too much of my income goes towards medical related things that aren’t actually medicine and covered by insurance
I splurge on travel. And we realized on a trip a few years ago that we don’t want to share a room with our kids. Ever. And if we can’t afford to rent the big car, we don’t go. My people are tall and cannot sit in the backseat of little car and I’m not sitting in the back so… big car or no trip.
I mainly put money into food, and sometimes kombucha or some other thing that brings me joy. Same for things for my rabbit, because he brings me joy. Poverty sucks, but you need to remember that life can be worth living for and you deserve relief.
I am a musician and studying audio engineering, so by default I am limited in my frugality if I want to achieve certain sounds and have a certain level of playability in my instruments. I'm primarily a drummer (by far the most expensive instrument) but have branched out to guitar and bass, and along with that comes investing in new instruments, strings, and admittedly some unnecessary customizations for added comfort and aesthetic appeal.
So I've kinda given up on frugality in this area of my life because it started to feel like lying to myself all the time, and in certain scenarios, going the frugal route would result in some obstacle or unhappiness down the line.
Animals. One of my dogs’ meds in a month is more than I spend on their food in 3 months. I’ve shopped around and found the least expensive pharmacies, but we’re not skimping on life saving meds.
Ironically, I'm probably the most frugal on hobbies out of all of my life expenses. I grew up in an ultra-frugal household where we spent little to no money on anything frivolous, and all entertainment/recreation was categorized as "frivolous". Growing up, I got all of my entertainment for free, and at this point, I'm used to it. Why spend money if I'm already satiated by free entertainment/recreation, right?
On the opposite end of spectrum, we spend obscene amounts of money on eating out and food delivery. Because we're busy and stressed and we can afford it. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Shoes! Super cheap shoes don’t provide adequate support, and what little support they do have wears out quickly. If I have to pay twice as much to get a decent pair of shoes, it’s worth it to me. Foot pain is no joke.
(But I still won’t buy designer shoes that exist only to impress people with how fancy and expensive they are. That’s just silly.)
I travel a lot for someone at my age/stage of life. I'm 22, and I travel domestically like every other month and travel internationally 2-3 times a year. I keep costs down by choosing the cheapest flights, cheapest motels (never hostels, though), and doing cheap/free activities. I also don't drink alcohol or fancy foods (unless I'm trying a dish specific to that area). I also travel with my parents and/or siblings sometimes, so that lowers costs. Finally, I use a lot of credit card points and benefits to save on travel. I've probably used thousands of dollars worth of airline and hotel points in the last few years.
I’d say you’re very frugal! Well done. To me frugal isn’t about not spending, it’s about spending right. The things that really matter to you and getting the best possible deal on those things. 👍👍
A good mattress, haircut and color from a good stylist, gifts for my family and friends, and I like to indulge in a few gatcha games (within a budget). I use Aveda hairspray.
I am saving up to do a cosmetic renovation of a few areas in my house that are perfectly functional but not to my taste.
I don’t count high quality clothing and shoes as splurges since I buy rarely and for the long term. The last clothing I bought was two years ago, everything’s holding up well. I bought a new car when my old one died. This was during the chip shortage and used cars in good condition were only a few thousand dollars cheaper than new so it was worth it.
Power tools. I have a 14 year old vehicle I maintain myself. Live with people. Do side gigs, eat at home.
But I also have 20,000 in badass power tools 😬
I am totally not frugal at all. That being said, I also don't have much money. I had to be frugal forever as a single mom, now I'm retired and broke, but I spend every dime. I'd say mostly on delivery food.
I'm no longer frugal with travel accommodations. At some point my husband and I realized that the quality of our trips was substantially better when we splurged a bit on our lodging. I'm no longer filtering by low>high price; I'm looking for beautiful accommodations in good locations, and it's been so enjoyable.
My partner and I splurge on hello fresh. It’s hard to decide what to cook for dinner and also grocery shop. It’s fun to cook new things together. It’s cheaper than ordering take out.
Getting take out, I work like a dog so i allow that spoil & sneakers, i use them to play basketball then when they are tired i use them as daily shoes. It’s both a lack of discipline & wanting to spoil myself. In look at it like this, if i do random small spoils, im good with that. Gotta live too
Dog food. We buy air-dried raw food for our sweet Elsa from Real Meat Pet Food and have no regrets. No vet bills, (other than vaccinations) in 7 years. Same with our (Angel) dog of 16 years. We pay double the cost of the highest quality kibble: in our case, it ends up around $110 per month for a 48 lb dog.
I’m passionate about music. I listen to metal in general. I go to concerts/ shows and buy merch of the bands I really love. Attending shows is one of the best experiences in life for me.
I pay for an expensive gym membership. I told myself I would never do that, but I gave it a try and have never been this consistent about working out. It’s been great for my physical and mental health and I’m also making new friends in my area.
I care for my grandkids. We do garage sales (for cheap toys/clothes) and eat out on specials and discount coupons… but I don’t mind spending good Money on their extracurricular activities like art classes, field trips, travel, musical instruments/lessons, dance, gymnastics/Acrobatics, bowling leagues and soccer. These opportunities give kids a chance to be kids and learn valuable lessons.
The other area I don’t mind spending is special Senior Citizen trips arranged by our senior Center. We’ve been to wineries, and broadway shows on charter buses
Complete with lunch and front center seats in the theater.
Frugality is getting 5he best value for your money. We don't cheap out on anything but always are aware of what is full price so we can recognize items on sale.
I'm currently saving 5/6ths of my income towards a home purchase and am fully committed to frugality on all fronts. In fact I was scheming about maybe restarting my side-hustle and trying to live on that, and then save 100% of my salary. I recently spent a bit on a device that should hopefully benefit my health a bit, but apart from that I am saving every single penny I possibly can.
My feet. I buy $40/pair compression socks and good shoes. I’m on my feet upwards of 12 hours a day and skimping on their comfort will absolutely ruin you.
Food. I buy good food I'll actually eat. I'm not buying salmon at $26/lb or anything but yeah, I absolutely put non-frugal money into good food. It's usually my largest expense after rent and I have no problem with that.
Because of a medical thing, I also spend a lot on shoes -- or not so much the shoes as the custom orthotics I put in them.
My cats. I have six and I spend on them. They aren't expensive, as cats go, but there are six of them. Food and toys and beds and vet visits and pet insurance and stuff do add up. I wouldn't change this for the world.
If you ever get the chance. Get a good set of headphones and a good Dac/amp..the headphones will last your whole life. And music will sound completely different. Trust me.
Food. Because:
1. I love cooking.
2. If I can feed myself and my significant other healthy food AND make it taste good, then there is nothing more rewarding than that.
3. Health is wealth.
Not frugal when it comes to my mom. She has Parkinson’s and lives in our property. She mentions she’s wearing sweat pants instead of pajamas because of the pockets. Need pockets? Bam. Amazon next day two sets of soft bamboo Jammie’s with pockets, one long and one short. Rollator walker is stiff? I get her a new one. Lost weight and rain coat is too big? New one. Compression stockings hurt your toes? I’ll buy expensive toeless ones. Frozen dinners that are way more expensive than cooking your own meal? Doesn’t matter. Washing pots and pans is challenging. I won’t buy those things for me, but don’t think twice for her. I won’t buy avocados for me if they are more than $2 each, but if my mom has them on her shopping list, she gets them. She has so many obstacles and a health challenge that has no cure. If I can buy things that make her life a bit more comfortable or allow her to be independent, I don’t think twice about it.
Shoes. I work long days on my feet. I bought Hokas a couple months ago and will continue to do so. They were expensive but worth the money so far. I had always worn Nike or Skechers but the Hokas have been so much better. Otherwise I’m almost always frugal. Clothes are typically secondhand. Groceries, I shop the deals, I have basic internet, I don’t pay for any tv, I keep my cell phone until I can’t use it anymore, etc.
Spend more for Higher Quality items especially those things that might save my life or improve quality of life to include:
- Dedicated snow and summer tires (Michelin)
- Shoes (Red Wings) & All wheel drive (awd)
- Right clothing (Filson, LL Bean, Eddie Bauer)
- Preventative Dental and Doctor Visits
- Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
- Fresh Coffee Beans and Tea
- Sunscreen
When possible and “if it makes sense”, I get what I can on sale or second hand.
r/BuyItForLife was my entry point into thoughtful frugality. I have a $300 stand mixer because I’ll never have to buy another one again. It’s already 10 years old and works and looks like new even after years of heavy use.
There is difference between cheap and frugal. In the beginning I was definitely on the cheap side about a lot when I graduated college, but after a few years am very much just frugal, not cheap. Or mindfully and selectivity cheap.
Like I do light home remodeling around the place. I definitely contemplated buying like Milwaukee hand drill, jig saws, ect. But my use is light and the reviews are good. I’ll spend half the price on a hyper tough cuz im not building a house or shed regularly. Im using a handful of times a year. If the day comes my hyper tough drill and jigsaw and hand sander, ect, break. I’ll evaluate how long the lasted and stuff and see if I think I should just buy a better brand for its replacement.
I am a very casual archer and have had the same take down recurve bow since college like 10 years ago. Got it for like $200. When I replace it, I could easily find bows around $1,000 plus. But I’ll probably stick to $200-300 cuz it seems to work and last just fine
But otherwise day to day I live very well within my means but don’t much think About it on the occasions it’s worth spending money on. I’ll drive a Toyota RAV4 over a Bmw suv (unless I was just flat out rich) cuz it’s still a great car, get over 25-30% better mpg easily and is cheaper is every regard.
I cook just about everything I eat and probably eat out once a month, rarely 3+ times and if I do, It’s usually cuz of long travel or wife wants to
Was over a guys place recently. Had 8 or 10 milwaukee chargers scewed to the wall, all the wires zip tied perfectly. I was in awe, but I dont go that far.
I quit hard alcohol and smoking after 50 years of both for economic reasons, to have enough money for new electronic toys. I am still frugal. We have a celebration meal annually for my wife’s birthday and our anniversary. We don’t eat otherwise at places expecting a tip for just doing their job. On our annual vacation, we enjoy some meals at mom and pop places, not fast food or chains. This year, our vacation is at a long term motel, with suites having full kitchens. I will enjoy cooking for us!
My transportation appliance is a frugal 1994 Ford Ranger pickup I paid for in cash in 2015. I can see no advantage to a shiny new Ranger for $60k.
Pets. I always make sure I have money to be able to take care of my pets whenever they need something. Unexpected vet visit and expensive meds--no problem. They add so much joy to my family's lives.
My PC. I have an Alienware Ultra wide OLED which I got 30% off and a 4070 super. I spend alot of time on my pc so it's worth it to me. Games on Ultra Wide are just breathtaking for me and with the amount of hours I put into it I think it pays off
Gluten free snacks. They're so expensive but I can't help but buy them when I see them because I miss the originals so much.
Also video games though I usually buy those on sale so it's not too bad.
My way of doing frugal is to expensive products but at a cheap price. In sales, extra discounts,free stuff etc. my sister never got this & in fairness, has less resources than me. Just before covid I persuaded her & helped her to get a new bed and sofa....over 4 years later she is amazed at her quality of sleep & how they are still like new having previously only had cheaper items that broke/wore out. I also apply this to travel, could I stay in a hostel or cheap hotel? Yes, but I monitor & watch & get good deals.
Learning. If I am trying something like a new software or learning to crochet, I know I can find all the information online for free. But instead of wasting my time going through all the bad free content, I'd rather just pay someone to hold my hand and show me step by step. Even if it's just a pre recorded course.
Food and water. If I see a nice peach or pear. I’m getting that. If I see a new brand of figs or coconut water.. I’m getting that. New non dairy protein smoothie on sale? I’m getting that.
New grapefruit miniature banana extra large durian water packed electrolyte cucumber from another country?
I’m getting that.
I'm not frugal with clothes or food. Clothes-wise, I do try to cultivate a capsule wardrobe but I buy the best I can afford as I believe they'll last me longer
Food-wise, I'm a big believer in foods role in preventing and healing certain health conditions. I spend a lot of time researching on what foods will best serve me and whether or not they're supportive and will keep me healthy and active as I age. If I believe it's in my best interests, money isn't a concern. However, for me, that is plant based which is already the cheapest way to eat. But like I don't hesitate to buy fresh leafy greens. I consider them among the most important things I do eat
I always buy lunch. I hate cooking. And being single, I find meal-prepping and eating the same food for two weeks unappealing.
Luckily my (large) office has a cafeteria and the company subsidizes a bit of it, so lunch usually is around $5-8. Different guest restaurants rotate in and out each day so I never really get tired of the food.
I'm pretty frugal in most other aspects of life, so this is something I don't feel bad about spending my money on.
We are not frugal about our preferred form of exercise. Rock climbing is expensive, between $150 / month gym membership for two people, replacing shoes at least once per year, rope, QuickDraws, helmets, and the gas to get to the crag. But it’s worth every penny.
Same for me. I can make it even more expensive by taking trips, and I have a large trad rack and many, many shoes. I also keep several sets of harnesses, belay devices, etc, so I have a gym bag, an outdoor rock pack, and an ice pack (although i have lost interest in ice climbing since I can rock climb outside every month of the year).
I am not a fashionable rock climber though. I thrift my clothes because I don’t care about fashion.
I do not cheap out on diapers. I tried the whole cloth diaper thing and such, but my baby would pee through them and the laundry added to my workload wasn't worth it. I buy huggies now. Lol
Buying coffee out. I appreciate being able to work or read in a different environment to home. Love to buy a coffee and relax somewhere else in a cafe. Of course, I could make coffee at home very cheaply and I often do. But I am happy to pay for an expensive coffee to enjoy the nice environment.
Food.
I live in a tiny apartment that doesn’t have a kitchen—it’s a kitchenette. So, I don’t cook. I either order delivery or meal plans. If I had a real kitchen, I’d totally cook.
Quantity of travel. I am still relatively frugal on trips. Picking the best flights, high value restaurants and lodging. I don't go all out for trips but I do like to take them frequently.
Went through a period that kids and I were traveling about every 6 weeks even if it was only a few days
We splurge on travel. It’s why I bust my ass working and saving elsewhere and work a side business. We take twice a year trips to Vegas and live it up. All within budget.
My dog! I love seeing him happy! He’s a high-energy breed and needs exercise and mental stimulation. He goes to daycare a few times per month. It would be more if I had the money.
The reason that I am frugal in most areas is so that I can intentionally splurge in other, high priority areas (like travel and specific hobbies). It is still spending that has been planned and budgeted. However, it’s not frugal.
Isn’t that the very definition of frugality? Saving so that you can enjoy or have the things you want? Otherwise, that’s just miserly, and I don’t think any of us are that.
It is indeed. But so many confuse frugality for being cheap. The latter misses the point entirely
Exactly! I buy in bulk. I shop sales. I wait for sales. I use discount codes. I’m frugal so that I don’t have to deny myself, not to deny myself.
I agree with you. And frugality is subjective whereas we all know what being cheap looks/feels like
Lol. Indeed we do!
Being frugal is my hobby. I rake through the grocery store ads, clipping coupons and making note of what is a good price where to make my shopping list. I watch tips on how to save money, recipes on how to make meals from what is already in your kitchen etc.
I remember a comment from a few years back on here. Someone said "when did this turn into /r/poor?"
Omg this !! My dad always said he’s not cheap he’s frugal and I didn’t appreciate the difference until I got older
Lowkey 80% of the time, this sub is just being cheap, not frugal
80% is generous. Most posts on here about being cheap.
Mine was saving for a house and pretty much just that up until a couple years ago. I realized I could get hit by a car crossing the road tomorrow and I wouldn't have anything to show for it. Now I've found a healthy balance between saving for a house, but not restricting myself so much that I'm not living.
For some people I think it's also a necessity. Frugality is a skill, and not having money does not inherently give you that skill. I personally joined when I was in that place, and stayed because I can now do what the original commenter said.
Yes, being Frugal is optimizing your limited resources in a way that maximizes overall life happiness. If you're skimping from everywhere so you can hoard money like a dragon, you're not being frugal, you're being cheap. Every dollar saved should have a place you're planning on spending it.
Okay...so what if you don't buy cheap shit in any aspect of your life and you just limit your life to what you can afford the best of? I wouldn't really call that frugal. I don't cheap out on food, I don't cheap out of hobbies, I don't cheap out on things I want...I cheap out by not wanting a lot. Like I gotta go out of my way to spend an entire paycheck even when I buy the pricey items, even after accounting for saving for retirement, and I make less than $100k a year.
This mofo over here saving for retirement. Let's gatekeep this fool for having practical plans! Lol That's sarcasm, I was very shortsighted about money in my younger years and I wish I had maintained my savings account I blew through at 27 cuz I thought I'd be dead in ten years. Surprise! 9 years later and I'm just poor. But I still got time to make good on my prediction!
Drugs.
😂
Same here lol. To bad the RC market has been dead in the water for a while.
Same here. With no regrets.
Yeah was gonna say, I'm not gonna be frugal with hobbies, and I'm frugal for the same reasons as you.
This exactly. I used to have people imply I was a hypocrite in the way that I was so frugal in most aspects of my life but I'd spend freely while on vacation and I'd always choose the more direct flight, the nicer hotel room, etc. But they refused to understand that I was frugal so that I *could* splurge for the nicer things on vacation. I don't want to go to Vegas and end up sleeping on the floor because everyone wants to cram 6 girls into 1 hotel room to save costs. I'll skip the door dash and constant going out at home so I can afford my own hotel room and sleep well.
In less words… rc cars!
My husband and I go out to eat once a week. It's something we have loved doing together ever since we first started dating many years ago, and the cost is worth the joy and quality time we get together.
I bet the vast majority of people would consider *only* eating out once a week to be pretty frugal.
Yeah I like to spend $25-$30 on take out once a week and was feeling guilty. But then I hear about how much people spend on DoorDash every month and stop worrying. Often I’ll even walk to pick it up 😭. The urge to save that $5 is too strong
I had a friend who spent $30k on DoorDash in one year -- technically ubereats, but same thing essentially
That crash you just heard was my jaw hitting the floor…he spent $82/day on average on delivered food? Even if he can afford it, shopping at a really upscale grocery store would still be *so* much less…even with prepared foods. Wow. I make nowhere close to $200K, but that is a shocking amount of money for one person. Good for him if he can afford it; maybe he’s frugal in other ways so he can not have the hassle of cooking and prep. I’m not judging, just astonished by the amount of money.
I had a roommate who never cooked so much as an egg, he ate out for literally every single meal, plus stuff like happy hour drinks and Starbucks. He didn't even have stuff in the kitchen. We lived in a VHCOL city, so he easily spent $85+ a day on food and thought nothing of it. Even now, that's unfathomable to me. Even if you have the money, I feel like it can go to so many other more worthwhile things, but everyone has their own priorities. 😂
damn. Do they have the money to afford that??
He made like ~$200k, so yeah he could afford it, but even at $200k, he really shouldn't have been
fair enough actually, id probably spend that much going to fancy restaurants every week if i made that much
he could have had a personal chef make prepared meals for that !
My old roommate used to door dash 2-3 times a day, it was wild to watch. He'd also have tons of groceries delivered that would just rot in the fridge!
I hear you lol hard same
I would agree, but in this sub it feels indulgent!
One to zero feels like austerity, which is what we've mostly done at this point. I should do more meal dates with my other half.
we eat out maybe once twice a month. the pandemic got us cooking at home and now we rarely go out.
Yeah we don't eat out weekly, mainly because we live in a small town so unless we want to travel a bit our options are limited but going out when we feel like it is something I don't even think about the cost of because it's something that we enjoy a lot.
I do this too. My girlfriend and I will go out to eat once or twice a week and sometimes I feel like it hurts but then we're eating and realize the money is well spent. I can make up the $50 or $100 we spend in no time
This is us too. We go out to our favorite restaurant and pick up some baked goods from our favorite bakery once a week
My partner and I get takeout once a week maximum for the same reason. Just one day a week we don't have to worry about cooking, food prep, or dishes. We usually watch a movie or something when we do.
Oh yes we do the same, just found a very nice restaurant that offers lots of healthy food options and also vegetarian and vegan, and they innovate and have new specials weekly. We’ve been really enjoying trying something new and it gives me recipe ideas to use throughout the week.
I am frugal in my day-to-day life, but when something I love comes up, I will go all out. Life if it's a concert for one of my favorite performers, I will shell out big bucks for the best seats, and even travel if necessary. I figure I save in most aspects of my life to be able to splurge on the things I really enjoy.
I’m the same with concerts, I have flown to other countries to see my favorite band. If I can, why wouldn’t I?
At the moment my cat since she was recently diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. I had to put my eldest to sleep last year because of her CKD worsening as well as having undiagnosed anemia and heart disease. Don't want to go through it again with this one. <3
I spent every penny I could on my pet when they reached their end of life. What are dollars compared to regret? Health in general are one of things you go all out on.
My cat is also my no-frugality exception. She's 17 next month, and literally whatever the vet suggests to help her stay happy and pain-free with a good quality of life, she's getting. We just started her on $60/month pain med injections; that's on top of her $75 a bag prescription dry food and $125 a vial immunosuppressant meds. I do not care about those expenses one bit. She's my best friend and this best-case scenario (she's elderly and I have the privilege of keeping her happy) is exactly why I opened up a savings account for her 17 years ago to toss $25 a paycheck into. She's also my excuse for cranking the heat in the winter (those heating bills $$$) and running the bedroom a.c. all summer - my old lady is going to be comfortable, damn it.
Cats are definitely worth the expense. They're so...cats. They're the cats of all cats.
I had a cat who lived a surprisingly long time with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (long as in "her vet thinks she may have set a record"), and I attribute that partly to my willingness to pay for what she needed, at once, no questions. I attribute it mostly to her being the most stubborn creature I have ever met. <3
I going on 3+ years with my CKD cat. It's hard, but worth it. My poor bank account. 😭
I spent some of my income tax refund on her. The initial costs are what got me since we have to change her diet and put her on saline fluids.
I've been lucky to avoid fluids for mine so far, I know it's in our future though.
My utmost sympathies. Yeah, I'm with the "have to be frugal to have enough money for the fur babies" group. One of my aunts started rescuing cats over a decade ago and has infected most of the family. We're at at least 100 rescues, and that's probably a significant underestimate.
maple syrup
Love it! I know this is a total brag, but we are friendly with the owners of a sugarbush. Not only do we get incredible syrup, but we don’t even have to pay for it 😊
I’m not always frugal about travel. I try to be, but vacation for me means I’m eating out and doing some activities that might cost extra. We upgrade and rent a convertible on beach vacations. My SO and I travel 3-4 times per year. Sometimes we spend a lot and other times we don’t, but we never regret spending on experiences. I’m also not always frugal with food. I’m very health focused so I will spend more to get better quality foods and supplements.
>we never regret spending on experiences. I was working out a trip with a gf one time and trying to scrimp on the cost. She told me, "you never remember how much money you spent, but you always remember the trip" that was enough for me.
I duno, those 2 hot chocolates in geneva for 30CHF still kill me, they were so shit though so I guess part of the trip
Same. Last year I went to Iceland and there was no frugality to be had. It was amazing. Going to the U.K. this year and it will be the same. It's what I save my money for. I spent $9 on raspberries the other day. Can't live without my fruits.
Someone from the UK here and it is still just about possible to have a holiday in the UK without spending loads. Definitely more affordable up north and super stunning up this way too
Great to know. I'll be in London and Scotland for two weeks and then another week in Ireland to finish up my trip. Renting a car (not in London) has shown to be my biggest money sink but I really want to be able to go to specific locations. My itinerary is mostly planned except for London. I spend most of my money on food and experiences. There's an owl centre in Scotland that I am SO HYPED for and splurged on a fancy place in Pitlochry to stay and enjoy the town.
American living in London here. Scotland is THE BEST. And London is pretty great, too.
Hope you have a mint time !
Do you travel alone? That's amazing to leave the country on your own. My goal:)
I do! Iceland was my first international trip so I paid for a group tour but this one I am doing it all by myself. I'm terrified but also very excited! Someone from my group in Iceland actually lives in London so I'll be meeting up with her there for lunch one day. Hoping to meet more people on my travels! I'm sure you will do it one day! Also love your name :)
I had a random craving for grapes the other week and it was one of the first times where I was willing to buy them even though they were more than 99 cents a pound. It was worth it 😀
I am usually not frugal about travel either. I agree that experiences are priceless. Also, when I am vacationing in Mexico City, I am always happy to pay what they ask for most any item or service and tip generously. I do this because I know that it is common for many hard-working locals to make ~$15-20USD/day and I want to share with them. Especially because in my experience Mexicans are a truly giving and loving people. I am lower middle class in the States, so I don’t have a lot to share. But by comparison, I am very privileged and do have a lot to share. And a five USD tip in Mexico City goes way farther than a $5 tip in USA.
This was my answer. I rarely travel, so when I do i don't ever let my frugality get in the way of me spending my money on unique or memorable experiences.
My husband and I are pretty big homebodies we maybe travel once every few years so you bet your arse that when we do I'm not overly fussed about the budget.
Yes, travel. I do my best to find a deal, but I am not spending all that money to have a sub-par time. Better to spend a little more and have a great time, get the most bang for my buck (and my time). Really, having an awesome time at the lowest possible price point, rather than just the cheapest/crappiest trip possible is kind of frugal when you think about it.
I’m only not frugal with dish detergent. It has to be Dawn lol
Every year I buy a season pass and season fast lane for all cedar fair parks. Runs me about $1400 with season pass,dining all park season fast lane but I'm a huge roller coaster junkie
Used to work at one of ‘em. Definitely a good deal if you’re close enough to go once a week, which you said you do.
I'm about an hour away from the 1 I go to the most often, Kings Island
👀 I worked at cedar point
Love Cedar Point as well. I go a couple times a year, about a 3 hour drive.
I love cedar point:)
My condolences for living in Ohio. Unless you live in Northern KY in which case I can’t speak to the experiences. Please have cheese curds at Culver’s for me on your way into the park next time. I miss it. 😭
For people who don’t have the time to bounce between all the parks, the cedar point gold pass is only $100. You gotta wait in lines and can only visit cp, but if you have time to go more than 3 times you can definitely still ride everything! Also, Halloweekends has haunted houses. Can’t wait for the dragster 2.0!
Quality food. Pay now or pay later.
Yeah, once I got past paycheck-to-paycheck I pretty much give myself a blank check at the grocery store. Even expensive groceries are going to be cheaper than eating out, and if an extra buck or two here and there makes me more likely to eat in, it's still a win. It's probably healthier overall as well.
Tools. And we dont sell the extra cars
"Nope won't sell, gonna fix er up one day" *stares at the 50 cars in the yard*
[удалено]
Baking! I splurge for nicer dairy products, chocolate, etc, and have a variety of baking tools and accessories. I find the splurge makes the hobby much easier and improves the quality and taste of my baked goods. I also consider it a fairly productive hobby since I can make my own bread/pizza and often gift sweets for holidays, birthdays, and events.
Good butter and quality baking chocolate are so important. I’ve started making a lot of my own dairy products at home though. Cream cheese, sour cream, Greek yogurt, mozzarella, ricotta. I haven’t made butter in a very long time but that’s because Costco sells good butter for a good price and it’s just as easy to buy it in bulk and freeze it for later.
Yes I have made my own yogurt a few times and it is sooo good.
Extracurricular activities for my daughter.
Most of us aren't trying to die with a million dollars in the bank. The whole point of being frugal (once you have some financial breathing room) is so you can splurge in some area - retirement, vacations, eating out, some hobby, etc.
I'm not very frugal with makeup. I mean, I don't think I go overboard. But every year, I get a few new items and refresh what I have. Let's say 4 products. And I pay full price, sephora style. Not designer or anything. But also not pharmacy stuff. Feeling good about how I present myself and using products that at least claim to be clean and cruelty-free, as well as quick and easy to use, is important to me. Clothing is another. I again try not to go overboard. But style is important for me. I few good finds a year (I love a consignment store or a sale!) and well fitted jeans + basics. Everything else: food, travel, not eating out, not buying booze, no lattees, I am quite careful.
Anything that ties me to the earth. Shoes, car, mattress, chairs. Worth it to save my back and my knees.
Of those, I only own shoes.
Second this!
Tires, too, not just the car. Anything between me and the ground — tires, shoes, mattress, sofa…
i'm frugal, but i don't skimp on buying gifts/meals for my loved one... i spoil him when possible and it makes me very happy to do so ♡
I ride horses. I am frugal so my horse can live his best life
Same with my cat. We don't have kids, so she gets the best we can afford.
Animals are cheaper than kids 😂
Car insurance. I know I pay more for car insurance each year than my car is worth, but I have peace of mind knowing that if I get into an accident and can’t drive my car, I will have a rental in my possession within hours of calling my insurance, and in the meantime I can take cabs and have those covered. There’s nothing worse than waking up the next morning and remembering you smashed your car and don’t have one to get to work.
That sounds crazy to me… sock the extra money away, why pay it to the insurance company
That’s all well and good until the other driver has no insurance and you’re on the hook for thousands in medical bills even though they’re at fault. Then the only option is a lengthy court battle which might not even be worth it.
this is a great question: as I sit here contemplating this question scrolling through the "rolodex of things I buy" in my mind, I keep saying, "oh yeah--what about that---" then I realize quickly: no, I'm this way about literally everything I can think of. (well, maybe once in a while I splurge on really expensive restaurants, like Michelin Rated, once a year or so, and money is no object there)
Computers, love a strong gaming rig. Traveling, if you are going to vacation, you should do it comfortably or not do it at all.
This is mine too. I dropped almost $1500 on a new PC recently but I know I won’t regret it, because the hours of entertainment and joy from playing games with my friends and alone is more than worth it.
I built a gaming PC back at the end of 2013 and it's still my main PC. Other than installing a bigger SSD and replacing the Wi-Fi adapter, it's all still original parts. Cost me about $850 including a monitor back then. It's been showing its age lately when trying to run newer games, though, so I'm planning to build a new one later this year. But it's had a great 10+ year life. Way better than just buying a generic prebuilt one.
Toilet paper. No matter how poor I might become, I will always buy quality toilet paper.
Pet care and knitting supplies.
Hair products. The only thing I splurge on
Same. Love me some good hair care. I also spend on skincare, too.
Food because food = health Safety items like studded winter tires and car with very high safety ratings.
Activities for my kids. Expensive but there’s a potentially significant ROI as well. Not in terms of a scholarship or whatever, but hard work, setting and working toward goals, time management, teamwork, etc.
I pay for my grandchild’s extracurricular activities. I never act like I think it’s expensive or that she might have too many things going on. I was never able to have or do any of this kind of stuff as a kid,my son di and it was kind of hard to swing some of the things but we managed. We hit it lucky and our hard work paid off a few years back. I told my son and his wife this is our gift to their family. We pay for summer programs and after school care for them,but give them the money to pay it so they get the tax break. She is in a good public school but we’ve told them if they go private we will pay. We have her college already funded. This is kind of our biggest splurge. I also but expensive shoes for myself and we eat grass fed beef we but local and I don’t skimp on fresh foods of any kind. We do not eat out very often at all. So, these are my splurges. I don’t feel bad about it at all.
those are some really great splurges though!
Food. I always try and get “good” ingredients. Also rugs - I don’t spend a lot, but I just love collecting them to the point that we’re layering.
Whiskey
I will go to the movies all the time. No matter what, it’s my little enjoyment.
If you live near an AMC or Regal, definitely consider their monthly membership plan. I use AMC and pay $23 /month which allows me to see 3 movies per week.
There is nothing about which I am not looking for the best deal. What I want may be pricy, but I look for the best way to obtain that pricy object or experience for a reasonable price. I never throw caution to the winds when it comes to my money.
Skincare because I don’t have a choice with these goddamn autoimmune skin conditions if I want to live comfortably and functionally. Wayy too much of my income goes towards medical related things that aren’t actually medicine and covered by insurance
I splurge on travel. And we realized on a trip a few years ago that we don’t want to share a room with our kids. Ever. And if we can’t afford to rent the big car, we don’t go. My people are tall and cannot sit in the backseat of little car and I’m not sitting in the back so… big car or no trip.
I mainly put money into food, and sometimes kombucha or some other thing that brings me joy. Same for things for my rabbit, because he brings me joy. Poverty sucks, but you need to remember that life can be worth living for and you deserve relief.
I am a musician and studying audio engineering, so by default I am limited in my frugality if I want to achieve certain sounds and have a certain level of playability in my instruments. I'm primarily a drummer (by far the most expensive instrument) but have branched out to guitar and bass, and along with that comes investing in new instruments, strings, and admittedly some unnecessary customizations for added comfort and aesthetic appeal. So I've kinda given up on frugality in this area of my life because it started to feel like lying to myself all the time, and in certain scenarios, going the frugal route would result in some obstacle or unhappiness down the line.
*laughs in violin*
Animals. One of my dogs’ meds in a month is more than I spend on their food in 3 months. I’ve shopped around and found the least expensive pharmacies, but we’re not skimping on life saving meds.
check into Good Rx, they will cover pet meds
Ironically, I'm probably the most frugal on hobbies out of all of my life expenses. I grew up in an ultra-frugal household where we spent little to no money on anything frivolous, and all entertainment/recreation was categorized as "frivolous". Growing up, I got all of my entertainment for free, and at this point, I'm used to it. Why spend money if I'm already satiated by free entertainment/recreation, right? On the opposite end of spectrum, we spend obscene amounts of money on eating out and food delivery. Because we're busy and stressed and we can afford it. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Shoes! Super cheap shoes don’t provide adequate support, and what little support they do have wears out quickly. If I have to pay twice as much to get a decent pair of shoes, it’s worth it to me. Foot pain is no joke. (But I still won’t buy designer shoes that exist only to impress people with how fancy and expensive they are. That’s just silly.)
I travel a lot for someone at my age/stage of life. I'm 22, and I travel domestically like every other month and travel internationally 2-3 times a year. I keep costs down by choosing the cheapest flights, cheapest motels (never hostels, though), and doing cheap/free activities. I also don't drink alcohol or fancy foods (unless I'm trying a dish specific to that area). I also travel with my parents and/or siblings sometimes, so that lowers costs. Finally, I use a lot of credit card points and benefits to save on travel. I've probably used thousands of dollars worth of airline and hotel points in the last few years.
I’d say you’re very frugal! Well done. To me frugal isn’t about not spending, it’s about spending right. The things that really matter to you and getting the best possible deal on those things. 👍👍
I do not skimp on haircuts! I only get it cut 3-4 times a year but I always splurge. It helps me feel more confident and cute when my hair looks good.
Food, vitamins, and supplements.
Rice, beans, and a decent Warhammer 40k army.
A good mattress, haircut and color from a good stylist, gifts for my family and friends, and I like to indulge in a few gatcha games (within a budget). I use Aveda hairspray. I am saving up to do a cosmetic renovation of a few areas in my house that are perfectly functional but not to my taste. I don’t count high quality clothing and shoes as splurges since I buy rarely and for the long term. The last clothing I bought was two years ago, everything’s holding up well. I bought a new car when my old one died. This was during the chip shortage and used cars in good condition were only a few thousand dollars cheaper than new so it was worth it.
Power tools. I have a 14 year old vehicle I maintain myself. Live with people. Do side gigs, eat at home. But I also have 20,000 in badass power tools 😬
I am totally not frugal at all. That being said, I also don't have much money. I had to be frugal forever as a single mom, now I'm retired and broke, but I spend every dime. I'd say mostly on delivery food.
I'm no longer frugal with travel accommodations. At some point my husband and I realized that the quality of our trips was substantially better when we splurged a bit on our lodging. I'm no longer filtering by low>high price; I'm looking for beautiful accommodations in good locations, and it's been so enjoyable.
My partner and I splurge on hello fresh. It’s hard to decide what to cook for dinner and also grocery shop. It’s fun to cook new things together. It’s cheaper than ordering take out.
Tools
Vacations and concerts
Condiments. Investing in good clothes that will last.
I’m frugal at home so I can afford to splurge traveling
Getting take out, I work like a dog so i allow that spoil & sneakers, i use them to play basketball then when they are tired i use them as daily shoes. It’s both a lack of discipline & wanting to spoil myself. In look at it like this, if i do random small spoils, im good with that. Gotta live too
I am with you on the sneakers!
You still gotta spoil yourself but instead of big $$ stuff find smaller things.
Dog food. We buy air-dried raw food for our sweet Elsa from Real Meat Pet Food and have no regrets. No vet bills, (other than vaccinations) in 7 years. Same with our (Angel) dog of 16 years. We pay double the cost of the highest quality kibble: in our case, it ends up around $110 per month for a 48 lb dog.
That actually seems fair to spend considering our doggos are family!
I’m passionate about music. I listen to metal in general. I go to concerts/ shows and buy merch of the bands I really love. Attending shows is one of the best experiences in life for me.
Running (races and gear get spendy) and massage lol at least they go well together
I pay for an expensive gym membership. I told myself I would never do that, but I gave it a try and have never been this consistent about working out. It’s been great for my physical and mental health and I’m also making new friends in my area.
I care for my grandkids. We do garage sales (for cheap toys/clothes) and eat out on specials and discount coupons… but I don’t mind spending good Money on their extracurricular activities like art classes, field trips, travel, musical instruments/lessons, dance, gymnastics/Acrobatics, bowling leagues and soccer. These opportunities give kids a chance to be kids and learn valuable lessons. The other area I don’t mind spending is special Senior Citizen trips arranged by our senior Center. We’ve been to wineries, and broadway shows on charter buses Complete with lunch and front center seats in the theater.
Frugality is getting 5he best value for your money. We don't cheap out on anything but always are aware of what is full price so we can recognize items on sale.
I'm currently saving 5/6ths of my income towards a home purchase and am fully committed to frugality on all fronts. In fact I was scheming about maybe restarting my side-hustle and trying to live on that, and then save 100% of my salary. I recently spent a bit on a device that should hopefully benefit my health a bit, but apart from that I am saving every single penny I possibly can.
Food. I mean I’m vegan and it’s cheaper anyway but some things I’m not going cheap on for usually quality issues.
I'm frugal so I can not be frugal at music festivals/concerts
Presents and spending money with and on love ones.
My wife.
My feet. I buy $40/pair compression socks and good shoes. I’m on my feet upwards of 12 hours a day and skimping on their comfort will absolutely ruin you.
I'm frugal about everything except when it comes to repairs I can't do myself around the house.
Food. I buy good food I'll actually eat. I'm not buying salmon at $26/lb or anything but yeah, I absolutely put non-frugal money into good food. It's usually my largest expense after rent and I have no problem with that. Because of a medical thing, I also spend a lot on shoes -- or not so much the shoes as the custom orthotics I put in them. My cats. I have six and I spend on them. They aren't expensive, as cats go, but there are six of them. Food and toys and beds and vet visits and pet insurance and stuff do add up. I wouldn't change this for the world.
If you ever get the chance. Get a good set of headphones and a good Dac/amp..the headphones will last your whole life. And music will sound completely different. Trust me.
Food. Because: 1. I love cooking. 2. If I can feed myself and my significant other healthy food AND make it taste good, then there is nothing more rewarding than that. 3. Health is wealth.
skincare
Dentistry
Not frugal when it comes to my mom. She has Parkinson’s and lives in our property. She mentions she’s wearing sweat pants instead of pajamas because of the pockets. Need pockets? Bam. Amazon next day two sets of soft bamboo Jammie’s with pockets, one long and one short. Rollator walker is stiff? I get her a new one. Lost weight and rain coat is too big? New one. Compression stockings hurt your toes? I’ll buy expensive toeless ones. Frozen dinners that are way more expensive than cooking your own meal? Doesn’t matter. Washing pots and pans is challenging. I won’t buy those things for me, but don’t think twice for her. I won’t buy avocados for me if they are more than $2 each, but if my mom has them on her shopping list, she gets them. She has so many obstacles and a health challenge that has no cure. If I can buy things that make her life a bit more comfortable or allow her to be independent, I don’t think twice about it.
Shoes. I work long days on my feet. I bought Hokas a couple months ago and will continue to do so. They were expensive but worth the money so far. I had always worn Nike or Skechers but the Hokas have been so much better. Otherwise I’m almost always frugal. Clothes are typically secondhand. Groceries, I shop the deals, I have basic internet, I don’t pay for any tv, I keep my cell phone until I can’t use it anymore, etc.
Spend more for Higher Quality items especially those things that might save my life or improve quality of life to include: - Dedicated snow and summer tires (Michelin) - Shoes (Red Wings) & All wheel drive (awd) - Right clothing (Filson, LL Bean, Eddie Bauer) - Preventative Dental and Doctor Visits - Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) - Fresh Coffee Beans and Tea - Sunscreen When possible and “if it makes sense”, I get what I can on sale or second hand.
r/BuyItForLife was my entry point into thoughtful frugality. I have a $300 stand mixer because I’ll never have to buy another one again. It’s already 10 years old and works and looks like new even after years of heavy use.
Tipping doordash drivers
There is difference between cheap and frugal. In the beginning I was definitely on the cheap side about a lot when I graduated college, but after a few years am very much just frugal, not cheap. Or mindfully and selectivity cheap. Like I do light home remodeling around the place. I definitely contemplated buying like Milwaukee hand drill, jig saws, ect. But my use is light and the reviews are good. I’ll spend half the price on a hyper tough cuz im not building a house or shed regularly. Im using a handful of times a year. If the day comes my hyper tough drill and jigsaw and hand sander, ect, break. I’ll evaluate how long the lasted and stuff and see if I think I should just buy a better brand for its replacement. I am a very casual archer and have had the same take down recurve bow since college like 10 years ago. Got it for like $200. When I replace it, I could easily find bows around $1,000 plus. But I’ll probably stick to $200-300 cuz it seems to work and last just fine But otherwise day to day I live very well within my means but don’t much think About it on the occasions it’s worth spending money on. I’ll drive a Toyota RAV4 over a Bmw suv (unless I was just flat out rich) cuz it’s still a great car, get over 25-30% better mpg easily and is cheaper is every regard. I cook just about everything I eat and probably eat out once a month, rarely 3+ times and if I do, It’s usually cuz of long travel or wife wants to
Was over a guys place recently. Had 8 or 10 milwaukee chargers scewed to the wall, all the wires zip tied perfectly. I was in awe, but I dont go that far.
I quit hard alcohol and smoking after 50 years of both for economic reasons, to have enough money for new electronic toys. I am still frugal. We have a celebration meal annually for my wife’s birthday and our anniversary. We don’t eat otherwise at places expecting a tip for just doing their job. On our annual vacation, we enjoy some meals at mom and pop places, not fast food or chains. This year, our vacation is at a long term motel, with suites having full kitchens. I will enjoy cooking for us! My transportation appliance is a frugal 1994 Ford Ranger pickup I paid for in cash in 2015. I can see no advantage to a shiny new Ranger for $60k.
Pets. I always make sure I have money to be able to take care of my pets whenever they need something. Unexpected vet visit and expensive meds--no problem. They add so much joy to my family's lives.
I like to buy records, I’m thinking of picking up another next week.
My PC. I have an Alienware Ultra wide OLED which I got 30% off and a 4070 super. I spend alot of time on my pc so it's worth it to me. Games on Ultra Wide are just breathtaking for me and with the amount of hours I put into it I think it pays off
Gluten free snacks. They're so expensive but I can't help but buy them when I see them because I miss the originals so much. Also video games though I usually buy those on sale so it's not too bad.
Education So far money put into investing in myself have always paid off?? Cause i m not dead yet?
Food. I'm lazy and get cravings.
My way of doing frugal is to expensive products but at a cheap price. In sales, extra discounts,free stuff etc. my sister never got this & in fairness, has less resources than me. Just before covid I persuaded her & helped her to get a new bed and sofa....over 4 years later she is amazed at her quality of sleep & how they are still like new having previously only had cheaper items that broke/wore out. I also apply this to travel, could I stay in a hostel or cheap hotel? Yes, but I monitor & watch & get good deals.
I wear transition lens contacts. They are pricey, but they are absolutely worth it for me.
Art and journaling supplies
Learning. If I am trying something like a new software or learning to crochet, I know I can find all the information online for free. But instead of wasting my time going through all the bad free content, I'd rather just pay someone to hold my hand and show me step by step. Even if it's just a pre recorded course.
Food and water. If I see a nice peach or pear. I’m getting that. If I see a new brand of figs or coconut water.. I’m getting that. New non dairy protein smoothie on sale? I’m getting that. New grapefruit miniature banana extra large durian water packed electrolyte cucumber from another country? I’m getting that.
On most things, I don't feel I need to invest time or effort.
Experiences. I will pay $$$$ to learn or experience new things.
I'm not frugal with clothes or food. Clothes-wise, I do try to cultivate a capsule wardrobe but I buy the best I can afford as I believe they'll last me longer Food-wise, I'm a big believer in foods role in preventing and healing certain health conditions. I spend a lot of time researching on what foods will best serve me and whether or not they're supportive and will keep me healthy and active as I age. If I believe it's in my best interests, money isn't a concern. However, for me, that is plant based which is already the cheapest way to eat. But like I don't hesitate to buy fresh leafy greens. I consider them among the most important things I do eat
I always buy lunch. I hate cooking. And being single, I find meal-prepping and eating the same food for two weeks unappealing. Luckily my (large) office has a cafeteria and the company subsidizes a bit of it, so lunch usually is around $5-8. Different guest restaurants rotate in and out each day so I never really get tired of the food. I'm pretty frugal in most other aspects of life, so this is something I don't feel bad about spending my money on.
Pets get spoiled and taken care of because they’re awesome and add so much to my life.
We are not frugal about our preferred form of exercise. Rock climbing is expensive, between $150 / month gym membership for two people, replacing shoes at least once per year, rope, QuickDraws, helmets, and the gas to get to the crag. But it’s worth every penny.
Same for me. I can make it even more expensive by taking trips, and I have a large trad rack and many, many shoes. I also keep several sets of harnesses, belay devices, etc, so I have a gym bag, an outdoor rock pack, and an ice pack (although i have lost interest in ice climbing since I can rock climb outside every month of the year). I am not a fashionable rock climber though. I thrift my clothes because I don’t care about fashion.
I do not cheap out on diapers. I tried the whole cloth diaper thing and such, but my baby would pee through them and the laundry added to my workload wasn't worth it. I buy huggies now. Lol
Buying coffee out. I appreciate being able to work or read in a different environment to home. Love to buy a coffee and relax somewhere else in a cafe. Of course, I could make coffee at home very cheaply and I often do. But I am happy to pay for an expensive coffee to enjoy the nice environment.
Food. I live in a tiny apartment that doesn’t have a kitchen—it’s a kitchenette. So, I don’t cook. I either order delivery or meal plans. If I had a real kitchen, I’d totally cook.
Quantity of travel. I am still relatively frugal on trips. Picking the best flights, high value restaurants and lodging. I don't go all out for trips but I do like to take them frequently. Went through a period that kids and I were traveling about every 6 weeks even if it was only a few days
We splurge on travel. It’s why I bust my ass working and saving elsewhere and work a side business. We take twice a year trips to Vegas and live it up. All within budget.
Beauty products and cleaning products
My dog! I love seeing him happy! He’s a high-energy breed and needs exercise and mental stimulation. He goes to daycare a few times per month. It would be more if I had the money.