I have been frugal as long as I can remember, but there are times that I catch myself taking it too far. Yesterday as I was standing in the pharmacy aisle of my local Target meticulously comparing generic pain killers and weighing the better cost per unit of the large bottle against the likelihood of wasting part of that same bottle due to expiration, I was struck by the absurdity of the situation. I wasted more time doing estimates and projections against my chances of wasting some medicine rather than it was worth instead of just purchasing it and getting on with my life.
From my earliest memories, I’ve always tried to get the best bang for my buck. I was that kid who stood in the toy aisle feeling the money in his pocket and sizing up the best toy I could get for what I’d saved. I often left the store with nothing but that pocket full of money because I decided to wait and save up for an even better toy. I’ve even been known (even in my adult years) to choose a junk food snack based on cost per ounce. (In case you’re wondering, Snickers is one of the best values and gets bonus points for being chocolate.)
My tendency toward extreme frugality and my desire to utilize each dollar as wisely as possible can lead to struggles I term “pre-buyer’s remorse” where I struggle with the mere idea of making a large purchase but it has also saved us a great deal of money. By taking the time to research every possible factor affecting performance, maintenance, and life span of home appliances, I believe I’ve saved us hundreds of dollars in electricity use, repairs, and replacements. For example, by not simply buying the cheapest blender on the shelf but actually researching which ones last longest, I avoided buying a known “stinker” that probably would have worn out or broken within a year. And by researching and buying one of the better washing machines on the market at the time, we are actively saving money now on water, electricity, and detergent usage.
Regardless of the struggles I occasionally face, I enjoy being frugal. I really don’t care if I look ridiculous standing in the aisle of the store comparing and calculating unit prices, because spending my money wisely is important to me. I’m frugal because I hate wasting money and want whatever I purchase to be the best option I could buy. I’m frugal because I know the value of money and how hard I worked to earn it. I’m frugal because I want to pass the same sensibility to my children.
Why are you frugal? Share with us in the comments!
Photo by: winterofdiscontent
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Now that I know that about Snickers, I can feel less guilty when I eat one!
I too often get “pre-buyers remorse”. Like you said, I think it ends up helping you because you ultimately make the best decision. It took me about 4 months to purchase a used car but I know I made the best decision because I do not regret it.
Well, I think I have always been “thrifty.” I was raised in a household where we never suffered for anything, but my mother always used coupons and always bought things on sale. Now I am super-frugal because I have to be, but at the same time, I enjoy doing it. It is almost like a game – seeing how much I can save. Although, like you, I will spend more for the better, longer lasting option. Occasionally I get teased for being obsessive about it, but hey, every penny counts!
Brings me back to 11 years ago when my Obstetrician looked at my ‘frugal’ blood pressure medication & quizzed me on it………………….
“Is that the cheaper version of ………………….?
I’ve haven’tseen that before!”
I felt a wee bit embarassed but hey a decade later (with the help of an inheritance) & continuing to follow these frugal ways – we are DEBT free and saving for our Retirement.
I guess it was worth that little bit of squirming when so many years ago.