How to be frugal
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'Frugal' sounds so much more affirming than 'cheap', which is apparently what I am.
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Half that list is common sense (e.g., cut your own grass, take advantage of employer retirement benefits) and half the list is focused on real frugality.
New purchases for the new house aside, my wife and I live pretty modestly. Shop at Aldi for most grocery items, take advantage of deals (my wife loves to go to Target the day after Christmas for decor deals), etc. Number 5 on that list is buy quality for stuff you use often, which I definitely agree with. Whether its a vacuum, fridge, TV, computer, piano (one day), spend a little more to get the quality is something I have certainly learned.
All of that being said, since we normally live pretty modestly and certainly within our means, the benefit is we don't really focus too much energy on being frugal. I would much rather spend energy and time doing things with the kids, whether that's going to a nature park or to a baseball game, and if we waste some money or don't get the best deal... it's all good. For example, at a Twins game my daughter saw one of those giant foam fingers. It was $10 (which we know cost 1 cent to make), but for me it was about her joy, not the economics.
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Half that list is common sense (e.g., cut your own grass, take advantage of employer retirement benefits) and half the list is focused on real frugality.
New purchases for the new house aside, my wife and I live pretty modestly. Shop at Aldi for most grocery items, take advantage of deals (my wife loves to go to Target the day after Christmas for decor deals), etc. Number 5 on that list is buy quality for stuff you use often, which I definitely agree with. Whether its a vacuum, fridge, TV, computer, piano (one day), spend a little more to get the quality is something I have certainly learned.
All of that being said, since we normally live pretty modestly and certainly within our means, the benefit is we don't really focus too much energy on being frugal. I would much rather spend energy and time doing things with the kids, whether that's going to a nature park or to a baseball game, and if we waste some money or don't get the best deal... it's all good. For example, at a Twins game my daughter saw one of those giant foam fingers. It was $10 (which we know cost 1 cent to make), but for me it was about her joy, not the economics.
@89th said in How to be frugal:
buy quality for stuff you use often
"You'll only buy a good tool once.
You'll buy an inferior tool many times."
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@89th said in How to be frugal:
buy quality for stuff you use often
"You'll only buy a good tool once.
You'll buy an inferior tool many times."
@George-K said in How to be frugal:
@89th said in How to be frugal:
buy quality for stuff you use often
"You'll only buy a good tool once.
You'll buy an inferior tool many times."
There's generally a sweet spot for any product - you don't want to buy too cheap, but also you don't want to go crazy top-of-the line. Well, you might want to, but you probably shouldn't.
I was only joking
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@George-K said in How to be frugal:
@89th said in How to be frugal:
buy quality for stuff you use often
"You'll only buy a good tool once.
You'll buy an inferior tool many times."
There's generally a sweet spot for any product - you don't want to buy too cheap, but also you don't want to go crazy top-of-the line. Well, you might want to, but you probably shouldn't.
@Doctor-Phibes said in How to be frugal:
There's generally a sweet spot for any product
Of course. My experience with cheap tools comes from several Crapsman routers I've owned.
Your comment applies, especially, in audio equipment.
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@George-K said in How to be frugal:
@89th said in How to be frugal:
buy quality for stuff you use often
"You'll only buy a good tool once.
You'll buy an inferior tool many times."
There's generally a sweet spot for any product - you don't want to buy too cheap, but also you don't want to go crazy top-of-the line. Well, you might want to, but you probably shouldn't.
@Doctor-Phibes said in How to be frugal:
@George-K said in How to be frugal:
@89th said in How to be frugal:
buy quality for stuff you use often
"You'll only buy a good tool once.
You'll buy an inferior tool many times."
There's generally a sweet spot for any product - you don't want to buy too cheap, but also you don't want to go crazy top-of-the line. Well, you might want to, but you probably shouldn't.
Yes that makes sense.
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One of the great things about the internet is it's a big help in figuring out where that sweet spot lies.
Cost of a reasonable Japanese made pro-sax: $4100 - $5200
Cost of a French made pro-sax: $7500 - $10,000
Difference in quality: Not that much, to be honest.
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@George-K said in How to be frugal:
@89th said in How to be frugal:
buy quality for stuff you use often
"You'll only buy a good tool once.
You'll buy an inferior tool many times."
There's generally a sweet spot for any product - you don't want to buy too cheap, but also you don't want to go crazy top-of-the line. Well, you might want to, but you probably shouldn't.
@Doctor-Phibes said in How to be frugal:
@George-K said in How to be frugal:
@89th said in How to be frugal:
buy quality for stuff you use often
"You'll only buy a good tool once.
You'll buy an inferior tool many times."
There's generally a sweet spot for any product - you don't want to buy too cheap, but also you don't want to go crazy top-of-the line. Well, you might want to, but you probably shouldn't.
My general rule of thumb on this matter is that I am not so wealthy that I can afford to buy the cheapest.
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- Live by the rule, “A penny saved is a penny earned.”
I agree with the above, but that made me think of two things that is unrelated to this forum thread.
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Why does the US still have the penny? I think we should get rid of it.
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Prices at stores should include tax. Should be easy to do in todays world.
