Comments on: Being Frugal is Being Different

By: Sunday Money Roundup - The Snow Is Back Edition. | Velt

Sunday Money Roundup - The Snow Is Back Edition. | Velt — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 20:41:33 +0000

[...] Almost Frugal has a great post up titled “Being Frugal is Being Different“. [...]

By: Kristy @ Master Your Card

Kristy @ Master Your Card — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 07:04:45 +0000

I usually tell people that I can't afford to buy this or that, or go out here or there. With a couple of close friends, I may going into more detail - I had this or that come up, etc. - but I don't go and spend the money if I don't want to. It's funny, you'd think my spendthrift friends would be the ones to influence me the most, but strangely enough, my biggest challenge with spending is myself. I don't stop myself from the impulsive spending. Kristy @ Master Your Card´s last blog post..Weekly Round Up

By: Weekly Round Up | Master Your Card

Weekly Round Up | Master Your Card — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 06:12:37 +0000

[...] Kelly @ Almost Frugal has a wonderful guest post on how being frugal is being different. We’ve all felt a little different from the rest of society when we’ve had to say no [...]

By: Kate@LivingTheFrugalLife

Kate@LivingTheFrugalLife — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 13:52:53 +0000

I think your response is SO much better than saying “I don’t have the money.” And for many reasons. Saying, “I don’t have the money” – especially if you’re saying it to your child – implies that you WOULD spend the money if you had it, and/or that you’re “poor.” While I agree that it’s really no one’s business how we spend our own money, with kids I think it’s important that parents use occasions where this might come up as opportunities to communicate important values and the decisions the parents are making because of those values.

It’s often not a case of not having money. Rather, frugal people make conscious decisions about how that money will be spent. Usually, it’s the case that we’re prioritizing some greater good, whether it’s getting out of debt, saving for retirement, practicing ethical consumption, whatever. It may be a distinction lost for many years on kids. But ultimately, I think kids do come to understand and appreciate the deeply held values that their parents live by.

Kate@LivingTheFrugalLife´s last blog post..Your Turn, Dear Reader

By: Holly

Holly — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 09:44:00 +0000

I usually say ‘It’s really not my cup of tea.’ ; ‘I don’t have time to…’ or ‘I’m not that keen on …’ And in truth, I’m NOT a person to get my nails done, go to the sunbed, package holidays, hair appointments, coffee and lunch out, take-away dinners frequently, the latest techno-gadget and almost daily shopping. I find them not only a waste on money, but a waste of time and energy!
My 10 year old son is very happy with what he does have (we count our blessings together regularly), even though he does get a bit wistful when classmates or teammates expound on their newest expensive item. I would rather spend the money on enriching activities than on electrical goods that are thrown on the wayside after a few days or weeks.
As an American in England for the past 11 years, I too get the same questions and comments to the point where I can anticipate them. A common misconception is that all Americans are rich with swimming pools! Well, not how I was raised… frugality was an important part of my whole life. Re-use, Recycle and Re-purpose were an understood necessity, not a global warming incantation.

By: Liz

Liz — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 06:28:23 +0000

Kelly, yours is a wonderful site which I am really appreciating from Australia. I agree that a short non-confrontational response is the answer – you can quickly tell those friends who are keen to engage in a discussion about a frugal approach, and those who aren’t. A simple line to remind yourself of your longer-term goals is also a helpful tool!

By: Carol

Carol — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 23:11:34 +0000

I think a lot of people might want to present themselves as free spenders, but if you look more closely, you’ll find a lot of ways in which they are in fact quite frugal. They just don’t broadcast it because they want to LOOK successful. I’m not sure that being frugal is being as different as you think..

Though I have friends who have great houses full of matching furniture and uniformly nice things, I have more who do not.