This is a guest post from Mercedes of Common Sense with Money. If you enjoy her article, consider subscribing to her RSS feed!
A couple of weeks ago I was explaining to a friend our frugal lifestyle. She concluded the conversation making note that she wished she could be cheap like I am. At the time I didn’t make much of the comment but further thinking about it I realized there is a difference between being frugal and being cheap.
I don’t like when people use the terms cheap and frugal interchangeably. There’s actually a big difference between the two of them.
For example:
- I am frugal when I research baby car seats and get the highest rated and best value based on this research. But I am cheap when I buy a popular model at a garage sale.
- I am frugal when I buy a quality used car. I am cheap when I decide to buy the cheapest new car my money can buy.
- I am frugal when I find an unopened bottle of my sister’s favorite perfume at a garage sale for $2. But I am cheap when I get her whatever I can find as long as I don’t spend more than $10.
Don’t confuse frugal with cheap. Frugality is about living large for less. It is about making the most of what you have. Frugality is about making smart spending decisions. It is about realizing that safety and quality are above price. Frugality is about making sure your decision to live with less doesn’t impact other people.
While I may love a great bargain, I don’t like to be cheap. I always keep safety, quality and other people’s feelings in mind when I spend my money wisely.
sarahcook11
You are so right! Anyone can be cheap and have a house full of cheap, useless things. But it takes patience, wisdom, and skills to frugal!
sarahcook11´s last blog post..Never Say Never
sarahcook11
You are so right! Anyone can be cheap and have a house full of cheap, useless things. But it takes patience, wisdom, and skills to frugal!
sarahcook11´s last blog post..Never Say Never
sarahcook11
You are so right! Anyone can be cheap and have a house full of cheap, useless things. But it takes patience, wisdom, and skills to frugal!
sarahcook11´s last blog post..Never Say Never
Frank Costello
Being cheap is always letting somebody else pay for things. Being frugal is examining ways of making intelligent purchasing decisions.
We have reached a point in our being that only a lucky few can throw money away without thinking. It’s not being cheap, it’s about being smart!
I enjoyed your post
F
Frank Costello
Being cheap is always letting somebody else pay for things. Being frugal is examining ways of making intelligent purchasing decisions.
We have reached a point in our being that only a lucky few can throw money away without thinking. It’s not being cheap, it’s about being smart!
I enjoyed your post
F
Frank Costello
Being cheap is always letting somebody else pay for things. Being frugal is examining ways of making intelligent purchasing decisions.
We have reached a point in our being that only a lucky few can throw money away without thinking. It’s not being cheap, it’s about being smart!
I enjoyed your post
F
Sarah
You know, you’re absolutely right! This morning when I met the group of you ladies for breakfast, I called myself “cheap” and was corrected by all of you. :) I always have said it as a joke (about myself, never about others), because it does earn a laugh, but you’re absolutely right. I’ll choose my words more carefully in the future.
Sarah
You know, you’re absolutely right! This morning when I met the group of you ladies for breakfast, I called myself “cheap” and was corrected by all of you. :) I always have said it as a joke (about myself, never about others), because it does earn a laugh, but you’re absolutely right. I’ll choose my words more carefully in the future.
Sarah
You know, you’re absolutely right! This morning when I met the group of you ladies for breakfast, I called myself “cheap” and was corrected by all of you. :) I always have said it as a joke (about myself, never about others), because it does earn a laugh, but you’re absolutely right. I’ll choose my words more carefully in the future.
Erica
I have no problem with the term cheap, but I can see what you mean. Still, you shouldn’t over think what your friend said. She obviously didn’t mean to offend you. Instead, she was complimenting you, saying she wishes she could be like you. I love telling people about my cheap, frugal or savings-savvy ways — whatever you wanna call it! We should all be proud that we’re smarter than the next person when it comes to money!
Erica
I have no problem with the term cheap, but I can see what you mean. Still, you shouldn’t over think what your friend said. She obviously didn’t mean to offend you. Instead, she was complimenting you, saying she wishes she could be like you. I love telling people about my cheap, frugal or savings-savvy ways — whatever you wanna call it! We should all be proud that we’re smarter than the next person when it comes to money!
Erica
I have no problem with the term cheap, but I can see what you mean. Still, you shouldn’t over think what your friend said. She obviously didn’t mean to offend you. Instead, she was complimenting you, saying she wishes she could be like you. I love telling people about my cheap, frugal or savings-savvy ways — whatever you wanna call it! We should all be proud that we’re smarter than the next person when it comes to money!