Being frugal in one area to be able to be not so frugal in another? (sale, value) - Frugal Living - City-Data Forum

John8818 · 03-20-2013, 03:02 PM

Are any of you frugal in one area so that you would be able to spend more in another? For instance do any of you drive a paid off car for years (8+) so that you would be able to buy a better house in a good neighborhood, or do any of you not have cable or an expensive cell phone plan so that you can buy more groceries? Also do are any of you frugal so that you can travel or enjoy hobbies that bring you pleasure.

Pitt Chick · 03-20-2013, 03:07 PM

Sure!

Sonnenwende · 03-20-2013, 03:48 PM

I thought this was the whole point.

Tallysmom · 03-20-2013, 05:24 PM

Yup! Funny story -- just took my car in for servicing and told the guy I was bringing in the new car. He looked at me, looked at the records ( we've always taken the car there) looked at me again and said -- you know that car is 10 years old....

No -- I didn't -- to me it's still the new car.....

NJBest · 03-20-2013, 06:39 PM

Yes. As Sonnenwende said, it's basically the point. For example, you save money on cars so you can fly first class.

calnbs · 03-20-2013, 07:55 PM

Yeah, it's a pick and chose thing with my wife and I. We spend a lot in one area and a little in another. For example, we spent thousands on a bed, we felt since 8 hours are spent on our backs sleeping, it was worth the money. We spent close to $10K on our home theater system because we enjoy watching movies. But we own one car, a 1998 Camry...the paint has peeled off. The A/C no longer works well. We buy our veggies cheap at flea market vendors, farmer's market, etc. We bought a used sofa and a used dining table. I haven't bought clothes in over a decade but I spend thousands of dollars a year maintaining our swimming pool that we barely use. My wife and I prefer to own things over spending on it on vacation so we never travel any where. Pick and chose...that's part of our daily life.

poodlecamper · 03-20-2013, 08:03 PM

We scrimp and religiously comparison shop on the things we HAVE to buy, so we can spend on the things we DON'T have to buy (traveling!!) as well as saving for retirement

malamute · 03-20-2013, 10:42 PM

Yes, I think that's a lot the point in being frugal, after all you wouldn't want to never enjoy any of your hard-earned money. Frugal means "waste not want not" but it doesn't mean you have to live like a bum.

hensleya1 · 03-21-2013, 11:38 AM

Hi all--

I'm going to drive my car until the wheels fall off. I don't waste water or electricity. I'm pretty good about eating food before it goes bad.

But I spent far more than I care to admit on my bed and on my computer chair because I spend many, many hours in them.

Frugal living isn't about being cheap or saving money just because it feels good. That's hoarding. And being greedy.

Frugal living is about getting the maximum amount of value for your dollar.

And for me, I place a very high value on getting a good night's sleep, but a very low one on having a brand-new car (especially when my current car runs good, saves gas, and is paid for).

eofelis · 03-21-2013, 12:22 PM

I drive a 12 yo Subaru Outback and shop yard sales and loss leader sales at the grocery stores and cook at home. I also have a very nice stable of high quality bicycles, including a $2k+ titanium frame touring bike.

Bikes are recreation, transportation and exercise. Most of the year I only drive my car once a week or so, riding bike most places (to work and for errands around town).

My bf has a 17yo Toyota truck. He recently got a $2,000 custom steel road bike (that he loves). He rides one of his bike most days. He has his own personal bike shop in our basement and has bought all the tools he needs to fix any of our 14 bikes.