GTFan
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Not doable. Frugality means spending less money, which means not getting what that money can buy.
No, it doesn't. Your definition doesn't jive with almost every post in this thread.
Not doable. Frugality means spending less money, which means not getting what that money can buy.
Not doable. Frugality means spending less money, which means not getting what that money can buy. You may not care what some others spend money on (BMW, for example), but I'm sure that money can buy something you like too. Not getting something you like is a sacrifice. Therefore by definition frugality means sacrifice, not that sacrifice is a bad thing to be avoided.
Not doable. Frugality means spending less money, which means not getting what that money can buy. You may not care what some others spend money on (BMW, for example), but I'm sure that money can buy something you like too. Not getting something you like is a sacrifice. Therefore by definition frugality means sacrifice, not that sacrifice is a bad thing to be avoided.
You can be frugal while living above or below your means.It does not follow that frugality means sacrifice. Frugality is a quantifiable concept. Either one lives below one's means, or one does not.
No. You can "sacrifice" one fun activity for another. "I sacrificed going to the ballgame on Saturday to avoid a conflict with attending the play." Both activities were desirable. You had to sacrifice one in order to do the other.Sacrifice is a subjective feeling of deprivation.
Yes for sure. Particularly on this board, the joy of not spending is so great for many that it is hard to imagine how they could ever do anything in life without feelings of remorse from having let go of a nickle........A purchase forgone may feel like a sacrifice to one individual but may be no sacrifice at all to another.
For the right sort of person, there is no such thing as sacrifice. We actually enjoy sacrifice. After all, our great leader got nailed to a cross though he was all powerful.No, it doesn't. Your definition doesn't jive with almost every post in this thread.
As with most things, the answer for me is 'balance' and 'flexibility.' We spend a lot on travel because we enjoy it immensely. If necessary, we could reduce it to zero. We [-]spend a lot on our house[/-] {change to: have a cabin in the mountains} because we enjoy [-]living[/-] going there. If necessary, we could [-]downsize and cut that in half or more[/-] sell it. We spend a lot eating out at nice restaurants with good friends because life is too short to eat beans by yourself at home. If necessary, we could go to zero on that as well.
So again, we spend freely on discretionary items that bring us enjoyment and enrich our lives, knowing that we can cut them out when and if needed. But the basic day-to-day, fixed living expenses, and other items (like cars) that we don't place as much value on, are carefully managed to optimize cost/benefit without sacrificing anything.
Of course some people can be frugal without sacrifice, like some people can run without hating every minute of it.
Not doable. Frugality means spending less money, which means not getting what that money can buy.
If he's banking the savings from groceries, he's not spending the money on things or experiences he likes, say a vacation to a more expensive destination (Antarctica, anyone?). He's sacrificing those things or experiences in order to save money.I would disagree. I have a friend who is as frugal as they come. He knows the cost of just about everything a grocery store sell. When a store puts something on sale he stocks up. His very large pantry looks like a grocery store. He gets what he wants, maybe must more or not when he wants it. I guess to make your definition work you could say he is sacrificing shopping for whatever he wants when ever he wants to. Personally that is getting to the point 'that it depends on what the definition of is is'
If he's banking the savings from groceries, he's not spending the money on things or experiences he likes, say a vacation to a more expensive destination (Antarctica, anyone?). He's sacrificing those things or experiences in order to save money.
$350 to see a football game is off the charts and you have not added in gas, parking, food.Being frugal does require some sacrifice. I do believe in your key question "is it worth it to me?" For example, I really want to go to a 49er game in their new stadium, but I'm not going to pay $350+ per ticket to go. Thus, being frugal requires some sacrifice.
If he's banking the savings from groceries, he's not spending the money on things or experiences he likes, say a vacation to a more expensive destination (Antarctica, anyone?). He's sacrificing those things or experiences in order to save money.
Regardless of your income I believe everyone should attempt to be frugal, not cheap. Frugal means using coupons, price checking on your smart phone, making sure you feel value in every dollar you spend. Cheap, on the other hand, means going to the rest room just before the dinner check arrives at the table, or forgetting to chip in with your siblings for your parents birthday/Christmas presents. DW and I are frugal, not cheap......we both have a sibling who is cheap and.......proud of it!
DW still loves the 2002 Toyota Camry with heated seats. I think back then Camry's and Lexus's were pretty similar designs. It really seems to have withstood the tests of time and with our low driving mileage and mild weather it will not die.As many posters before me have pointed out, if you do not miss what you do not have, it's not a sacrifice. We have always had good cars, and would get rid of them if they become unreliable, else that would be a sacrifice. But I do not have a luxury German car, do not care to have one even though I can afford it, and do not consider it a sacrifice....
Nice way to distinguish frugal from cheap. I'm trying to be more generous nowadays but don't want to force others into feeling a need to reciprocate if they have different economic standards....snip...
Years ago, I read the same from Andrew Tobias. He pointed out that frugal is how you treat yourself, and cheap applies only to how you treat others.
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Nice way to distinguish frugal from cheap. I'm trying to be more generous nowadays but don't want to force others into feeling a need to reciprocate if they have different economic standards...
In my view, practicing frugality without sacrifice is based on one key concept and one key question. The key concept is: to do instead, not do without. And the key question is: is it worth it to me... not can I afford it.