Are we cheap or frugal?
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- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2023
- Mean or Careful? Cheap or Frugal? There is a subtle but significant difference to be cheap and being frugal. Being mean or being careful. I give you some examples of the difference.
Frugal Queen in France
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We are a British couple living in Brittany on a budget.
Frugal recipes, days out, home renovations and day to day making do in France.
We’ll give you hints, tips, advice and an insight into our life in France.
Website www.frugalqueeninfrance.com/
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The phrase that I use to help me be more mindful in my spending is, "I have enough.". It stops me from impulse buying often.
Thank you, Jane and Mike for all the wonderful videos you create!
Love that!
"I have enough is so true!" A lack of contentment definitely causes overbuying!
@@luba-healthywithluba6866
Exactly! I use the same words when I'm tempted to overeat! It helps immensely.
@@pammentzer3584 ❣️🌹
Our 2nd hand woodburners were €100 each, we used them each for two years. At the end of the two years we passed them on for free to people who needed them.
My previous hoarding? I definitely used to have good anxiety and worried that I wouldn't have enough for the family. I remember when Aldi first came to our town and it was massively cheaper than other stores. I used to buy way too much good. I'm definitely over that now.
Jane, this is so beautiful to read. ❤
Becoming frugal is a journey of getting aware of the value of money, your time , buy what you need without overspending and sometimes give yourself a nice treat. Beeing thoughtfull with spending your hard earned cash opens doors for nice simply experiences.
Well said
I like to feel I am a good steward of our resources, and really despise the term cheap! Always taught to buy the best I could afford and be willing to wait if necessary. Susan
I am frugal. Instead of going to Taco Bell for lunch today, I looked in the fridge and found the ingredients to make a batch of beans. I had left over sausage, onion, and bell pepper and dried beans that needed to be used up. Put everything into the Instapot and 30 minutes later, lunch was ready. For about $4 worth of ingredients, I have enough left overs for the next several days.
Quality is important, I had my nans old living room furniture that was bought before my mum passed (1988 she passed) right up until 2020 when the sofa was no longer comfortable and nothing could be done to repair it. I saved for a new but smaller sofa, the old cupboards and drawers she gave me were also replaced when the backs fell off and the doors started to peel and I saved up and replaced with solid Oak which again I saved for and bought when on sale. These will all last for a lifetime (the Oak furniture) so I won't need to replace them ever.
Agreed, quality lasts
We all have a different journey. Making a budget and staying with it.
Hello from NC in the USA. 🎉🎉🎉
I love your explaination for frugal and for cheap. They are not the same for sure. Frugal people want value for their money and use resources wisely. Cheap people are too concerned with lowest price items that may not last.
It’s all about priorities I guess. My husband and I are opposites when it comes to what’s worth a little splurge which can cause conflicts but also exposes us to things we wouldn’t otherwise try. I splurge on experiences like a once a week breakfast at a local diner. He cares more about things like the car. So my car is a little nicer than I would have bought and he gets to enjoy some restaurant meals 😂
It's great that you make it work.
Like you, I've done it all. It's taken me some time to learn to be frugal, not cheap. It's a process.
So true!
The best example of 'cheap' people that comes to my mind right away is when I used to sew for people years ago (women mostly) and it never failed - the majority of customers that were 'well-off' and were being cheap would always expect something for nothing. No matter how many hours I worked on a garment for them, they always wanted me to charge them next to nothing. The frugal customers never complained about my prices, they knew they were getting excellent quality and appreciated the time & workmanship that went into it. Boggles my mind when I think back to the grief the 'cheap' people tried to cause me!
Sorry to hear that happened to you. I never question anyone’s fee for their work or what they’re selling something for. That’s their price.
I have a tendency to be an impulse buyer - so online shopping has been a challenge - I have to ask myself is this a need at this time? Or are you impulse buying out of stress, fear, boredom, etc. It's not easy, but I am trying super hard to be more mindful of my shopping - everything from clothes, to food, to over the counter medicines, to having that extra package of toilet paper (yes, 2020 has scarred me for life about running out of toilet paper as I was down to facial tissues before I found it online - hence the beginning of my online impulse buying). It's not easy, but everyday I feel I am improving. Here in the US - there seems to be more of a panic aura around having enough or running out and it never being there again - the impending doom.
I wish I had this available several years ago when I was trying to explain the difference between frugal and cheap to my brother-in-law.
I think if was Warren Buffet that said, "Price is what you pay, value is what you get." I like that quote. I do try to be frugal and mindful, and especially not wasteful.
Hi Jane and Mike. The phrases - "couldn't leave it on the shelf at that price" and "I'll buy it, as I may use it at some point" spring to mind. I've said it myself at times. As you say, if it isn't needed, it's unnecessary spend and in most cases, results in build-up of clutter. I've often taken stuff to the charity shop, unused. I've learnt my lesson in that regard. Now I always think twice, as all those bits of unnecessary purchases mount up and it becomes wasteful spending. Not a good feeling. I think about it whenever I'm tempted. On the other hand, I'm all for finding bargains, but of what I actually need. A great explanation Jane on the difference between cheap and frugal which is often mistaken as the same. Thank you. 🤗
Thanks so much for watching
I think cheap is also people that avoid paying their fair share. If you can't afford to dine out don't go but you can't go and then not contribute enough to cover what you ordered hoping others contribution to food and tip will somehow mean you being a cheapskate will go unnoticed.
My husband admits he finds it difficult to spend money, so he gives me a generous budget for travel , he does not want details of how I spend it , but he does enjoy where we go.
I had a friend for many years who was cheap. She wasn't hurting for money by any means, she had a six figure income, but she was cheap. We would go to dinner with our church friends once a month. She would go over the bill and make sure that she did not pay a penny over what she owed. During the Christmas season she would drive around our community looking for old toys that people put to the curb to gift her grandchildren. She gave me her old T-shirts for Christmas gifts. The last Christmas that we exchanged gifts, she gave me two of her old T-shirts and a tin of cookies for my family. She told us that the cookies were good because she had opened the tin and had eaten some. She threw herself a 60th birthday party and asked the guest to provide the food and drinks.
I’m guessing that was the last birthday party that some never attended again. It seems a little off to me! 💙
Thank you Jane and Michael for your videos. I am working on becoming more frugal but I like the phrase "mindful spending" more.
I appreciate your time and effort in putting these videos together, you are an inspiration. Madelyn from Athens, Greece.
Thanks so much
Yes, I love this video. My husband used to quote whoever said that we need not be penneywise and pound foolish. I still think of that when I am shopping and evaluating the quality of the new purchase. But, I have a tendancy to horde just a little on knitting yarn----though improving and I do knit a lot. Thanks. I loved your video.
Love that!
I agree about buying the best you can afford, and taking the time to get that value. When we moved in to this house, the kitchen was not great but functional - we had to change windows more urgently. So we lived with the kitchen for 3 years until we could afford to do the work. And we timed that so we bought the appliances we wanted in annual sales, to be able to afford the specific ones we wanted rather than the cheaper but less energy efficient and not so functional ones. Although I also have large stocks of craft materials from not getting time to use existing ones and then seeing so,etching lovely that I have a plan for…forgetting the other plans I need to act on first. I am working on using up the stash first for the past year and making some progress.
Thanks very much
The Swedes have a great word: "lagom," which I would translate as "enough-ness." Finding the proper balance in your life, determining what is best for you and not trying to undercut or overstretch, but to find the place where you're healthy, happy, cozy and comfortable -- that's lagom living. And I think most people who are truly frugal would find that style of living very familiar.
It’s a good word
We live in the United States. When we got married, two months later, my husband’s pay was cut drastically. We had just had a baby. From that point on, it was an uphill battle. We were extremely frugal because we didn’t have a choice and family members and friends did not understand just how poor we really were. we have been married for 34 years and are doing really well now. But I still have trouble passing up a bargain. We had gone to my husbands picnic for work and we stopped at this very expensive fruit and vegetable store. They grow everything themselves but everything is overpriced. They had a massive box filled with fruits and vegetables that were about to expire. They were in rough shape but salvageable. We bought it because it was six dollars and I spent hours and hours processing it. No regrets but what a lot of work. Our daughter thought I was being ridiculous. But I have jam and vegetables in the freezer.
It all depends on what part of my frugal journey i'm on. i've become cheap when debts had to be paid off, but now that that's done and i have savings instead of debt i have become more frugal because i'm determined to buy good quality stuff instead of thinking well it will do for a year until i've paid off my debts
I so loved your last video. Cannot say the same for this one. Mean is not the opposite of careful. Buying bargain items you need and searching for BOGO items (buy one get one free) does not make a person mean or even cheap. As you said yourself, anxiousness about how to manage on a meager income is at the root of many people's buying habits. We are living in anxious times, prices have been steadily rising while incomes have not; there is a fear that even harder times are coming. I felt that you leaned very heavily on stereotypes to make a distinction between cheap and frugal when it really doesn't matter, as long as people do the best they can to make the choices that allow them to keep their heads above water.
I Hope you didn't think I was being unkind. I fully understand food anxiety. I did stress that there's a difference between frugal and cheap and doing what you have to do to get by is never stingy/cheap.
I think it's more the BOGOGF like if apples are on BOGOF and you buy them even though you don't actually like those apples or you can't possibly use that quantity before they go off, not the person that loves the apples and plans to preserve them all.
thanks for the distinctions between these words. A useful discussion!
I think of frugal people as planners they plan and save for what they can afford
Love your videos. I see things with a different perspective after watching them. I do need to be more frugal👍🏻Every small change will make a difference😇
Excellent Jane
Wonderful video, made me have a good think about my spending habits ❤
Thank you for another thoughtful video. It is a good reminder for me, and also inspires me to do better! Have a nice week 😊
Thank you! You too!
Such good reminders especially as we go in to the holidays. Thanks Jane!
You are so welcome!
Jane, love your blouse ! Very pretty ❤
I just try to stockpile the groceries i regularly when they are on sale.
That thumbnail is genius!!!
always watching for my wishlist paper craft items to go on super specials, waiting for a couple of years sometimes so I definitely put aside my discretionary money ready to jump, lol! Definitely get joy when the package arrives!
That's a great idea!
My saying to my husband is 'its only a bargain if you need it!'
If I look at myself honestly, I'm a bit of a frugal cheap hoarder. I dislike shopping. When it comes to groceries, I compare for the cheapest best value for the money. If it's free, then I take what I feel I can take and still leave some for others. Of course I've taken all that was on the shelf before.
I hold on sturdy boxes of any size. Even if I don't need them. I never know when I will, so I have them just in case. And they're free, so why not. I have empty cabinet anxiety, so I hoard non-perishable foods
I try not to throw away food, and I do reuse everything I can. I rotate my cabinets and freezer food. Reuse clothes and fabric for other uses once I can't repair them.
I don't spend unless absolutely necessary because I'm on a small budget
The only time I will clear a shelf on a great deal is when it's a vegan item that I'll use/eat. That way, it's showing a demand to the store for that item or others like it. As a Scot, I've been called cheap before (long standing joke lol) but it was used instead of frugal...a cheap person will do anything to get out of paying their fair share, or will make a big fuss about having to do so. I am frugal but enjoy splurging and will always share with others. Great video! x
I studied foods and nutrition in college. One class required us to price out the entire cost of a meal. I bought pork tenderloins for like $14. The first one I made into barbecued pulled pork- got 6 meals out of that one. Next I grilled - will get at least 3 portions from that. I still have 2 more frozen tenderloins. If I get as many portions from that it gets the meat cost per meal to less than a dollar. I was out and thought to pick up a lunch take away but it was $15 and I had leftovers to heat up. Skipped buying an expensive lunch. I alone can’t afford to keep the restaurants going. The hotel we have our yearly quilt retreat increased the cost from last year $430 shared by 2 to $611! Not sure how long I will continue going. I have the money but I feel ripped off.
Go, they're not ripping you off. All their costs from energy, laundry costs, Labour costs have all increased. If you enjoy it, it's worth
Yes, I'm frugal not cheap. Eat the quality food at home, rarely go out to lunch or dinner. I don't waste food...
Thanks Gladys
Well said, Jane! I was expecting you to use “Mean.” Do you Brits still describe cheap this way? I recall the very first time I heard it - I was doing a floral course in Gloucestershire, and the instructor cautioned us not to be “mean” with our ribbon! My ears really pricked up and I never forgot it! 😆🙋♀️🇺🇸💕‼️
Stingy or mean.
Hi Jane! What a pretty top you have on today! We are in the process of selling our condo and moving to a single family home. Very exciting! An older home and not more than we need or can afford. We will not be “house poor”. So we are frugal. Not cheap! Always enjoy your videos! Hello from USA/SC💕😊🏖️
Thanks, my 2€ charity shop t shirt
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Thank you for sharing your wisdom, Jane. Being frugal does take discernment to avoid falling into the trap of being cheap.
There is a Russian saying that translates roughly "I am not so rich that I can afford to buy the cheapest always. " Quality does matter!
So true!
If I find a special at the grocery store and there aren't many of the item left, I never take them all. I
think somebody else may need the offer more than I do. So I only take one or two and leave the rest. I think greed is equally as bad as cheap! 😊
I aim for the middle road. I don't usually buy the cheapest, unless it's really as good as higher priced items (like spices). I don't usually buy the most expensive, except, when I had a good income and needed some new windows in my house, the only ones I found that suited and fit the windows in one room were the most expensive. None of the others would have been suitable for the room and size of the windows. So, I got the most expensive. Usually, I find myself starting at the bottom of prices and sorting out what doesn't suit till I find what is good. The price is usually in the middle range. It's been extraordinarily rare in my life for me to get to the top tier prices before I find what I need. When I'm shopping, I usually have a basic price in mind that I know I won't go over. I needed new windows in the basement when I first bought my house. I kept getting quotes for what I knew I wouldn't pay. So, I waited. When I was young and looking for a university to go to, I picked a private, expensive college. My dad's response was that he could get me the same education for a fifth of the cost... and he did. So, when I was looking for the ways to get all the big repairs and updates the 100 year old house needed, and started getting quotes, I thought... I can get the same repair for a fifth of the cost. I never got anything for a true fifth of the cost, but I got everything for about a fourth of the quoted costs. I can be patient and wait... but I also LOVE to haggle.. I mean negotiate prices!!! I love it! I waited on the basement windows and finally found the only guy in the area who didn't use locally made windows, so his prices were much lower than all the other businesses.' I got those windows for about a fourth of the cost without even having to negotiate. I can wait, as a rule, until I get what I need for the best price for me to pay, with God's help.😊
Oh my goodness Jane thank you for this. You have open my eyes. I too have bought things at the thrift store but now is collecting dust. 🤦♀️
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I was definitely in the hoarding mode at the beginning of the pandemic, we were getting good deals online, and we weren't exposing ourselves to the risk out there. It did take me a bit to get out of that. I have not had anything that went to waste, I did rotate through my stores. But I bought some vegan bean noodles, 10 big packages without trying them, because they were so cheap, ugh. They are not our favorite, or even close. But we are struggling through them. Being cheap minded, is causing a bit of less than enjoyable meals. The texture is slimy. But I use it as a reminder, not to do that again.
OMG...made same mistake......never again,lol
Me and some of my friends too! I’m getting over it now but it’s been hard.
Just today I decided that I'm not going to buy some more face cream even though it's on a very good sale. I will use some of the extras that I bought but wasn't crazy about. It all works and will reduce the amount of things I do have. I'm kind of amazed at myself! Lol
I am frugal but not cheap. Sometimes, i will buy something that is not the cheapest in order to save me time. I value my time. 😊
You can earn more money but you can never get time back.
❤️🙂Thanks
I think you all are wise with your money.
Thanks Dawn
Being frugal is smart being cheap is something else it means expecting the world for next to nothing and leeching off others hard work.
Hello from Romania❤
Hi Laura
@@FrugalQueeninFranceHi Jane and Mike
Frugal.