How frugal are you?

[Droopy]

The vehicle that I owned previous to the one I have now I had for 9 years. It was a 1989 Isuzu mini pickup. I bought it for $4400 in 1996 and drove it until it blew a head gasket in 2005. It was going to cost 4 times as much as the truck was worth to fix it so I bought another one that was also used and I will also drive it until it falls apart.

I spend about $40 a year on shoes and I wear them until they get holes in them. Same deal with my clothes. The last time I bought any kind of clothing was in the summer of 2006.

I live in a small condo. My house payment is $287 and the condo association fee is $119.

My computer is 4 years old and I built it myself. I will not get a new one until this one becomes obsolete which will probably be a while since I only use it to surf the internet and for the word processor function.

I'm hoping to be debt free, including having my condo paid off, in five years. I will likely live here until I retire or start a family, if that ever happens.

Yup, I'm cheap, but I'm also comfortable. I see no reason to go after the so-called finer things in life and I have a low stress existence.

[rbnyc]

1. We try.

I don't have a car. I walk and use public transportation.

I spend about $40 a year on shoes and about $400 on clothes. I sew and repair and take in and let out clothes. I am an executive so I need some good suits.

I almost never charge anything.

We cook at home about 90% of the time.

We only go to the movies once or twice a year.

We lived without any kind of TV package for over ten years. But then got FIOS TV, phone and internet when we moved into our house.

Our house payment is $2200, which is LESS than rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn.

It's easier to live without a lot of extras when you have your own home and love your family and can look around and think, what else do I need?

[Droopy]

3. Houisng costs are horrendous in the northeast

But I understand that the wages are higher, too, than in my neck of the woods. I have a friend that moved out to eastern PA. He was psyched about the job that he got because it was a big increase on what he was making here. Then he got hit with the housing costs. He and his wife pay $900 a month for a one bedroom apartment. You can get one of those for $400 month where he used to live.

[rbnyc]

12. Wages aren't that much higher.

There are more job opportunities, however. So you don't make more, but you have a better chance of making something.

Plus, I work for a non-profit. If I had a parellel job at a for=profit company, I'd make 2-4 times as much money.

$900 for a one bedroom sounds like a deal to me. $400 is unheard of. Single rooms with shared bathrooms start at $800. It's just not cool.

[electron_blue]

2. Hm, compared to you, I have had my cars longer than you, and am debt free

but spend more on clothes than you and I do have an iPod. :D My computers typically last 6-8 yrs. Compared to people who really take the frugal lifestyle seriously, though, I'm seriously lacking. I think you're absolutely right about life being less stressful when you own less stuff.

[caty]

4. Well, I drive a

1986 Toyota Camry. I bought it about seven years ago for $1500. It runs great and only has about 75,000 miles on it. I spend about $30 a month on gasoline. I had a small repair done about two years ago and the mechanic said that the engine looked brand new. I decided then that I would drive that car until a mechanic threw up his arms in despair and said, "Sorry, can't fix it". Every two years I get a little body work done on it for about $300.

I go to the "dollar store" before I go to the grocery store for most of my non-food items.

I use energy saver light bulbs.

I quit smoking---big savings there.

I keep the heat turned down and use electric heaters when needed.

I turn the computer off at night before I go to bed and use an energy saver screen saver.

[CreekDog]

19. I used to go to the dollar store, until I bought some ramen

with the brand name, "Smack".

Not only was I buying "Smack", but I was buying low class ramen.

[caty]

21. I never buy

anything edible at the dollar store. Especially if I'm not familiar with the brand. And even if I am, I wonder how old it is.

[CreekDog]

23. And I don't take Smack n/t

[idgiehkt]

5. that is a great post

I love reading stuff like that, it is so inspiring. I consider myself to be very frugal in most ways.

My car is 9 years old. It is running fine, knock on wood, and I have been really blessed so far. I know that some people desire the 'finer' things in life, I want the 'finest' which mostly are free. I think the whole point of 'finer' is it's a comparative, i.e. better than yours, that's why they don't use the superlative form on that I think...the whole point is yours is better than someone else's and some people have to have that competitive edge to feel comfort in material possessions. I think that frugal people lack that 'gene' or whatever. I am grateful I was born without that.

[Droopy]

7. Thank you

I agree. The finest things in life for me are my relationships with people, and that, of course, is free.

[1gobluedem]

6. Well, compared to you I am not

I spend far more on clothes and shoes, partly because I need them for work but also partly because I like clothes and shoes. My car is six years old and I will probably trade it in this year because I like to drive a car that has a warranty; that lowers my stress considerably.

I have the basic cable package for TV but I don't own a computer; I use my PC at work and my work laptop at home (personal stuff permitted). My cellphone is also a freebie from work. I don't go to movies and I mostly cook at home although I am a picky shopper and will pay more for local produce and good meat.

My lightbulbs are energy savers, I turn the computer off at night, and I keep the thermostat at about 68 degrees during the day and 58 degrees at night. I don't leave any lights on at night.

I try not to use credit cards; paid one off this year and am working on another. Sometimes I have to, though.

I rent my house; it's a roomy two bedroom duplex in one of the best neighborhoods in town; under $1000 which is very good for my area. I have a great landlord.

I just bought my first MP3 player; $40 on a 'doorbuster' special Friday.

I guess I'm mid-level frugal.

[Droopy]

9. Credit cards

They can suck the life out of you if you are not careful. Like you, I only use them when I have to. I got into some financial trouble a couple of years back due to cut-backs at work. I stayed there much longer than I should have and used my credit cards to stay afloat hoping that things might turn back up there. Bad move. Fortunately, I have paid off most of that debt and I have only one credit card debt left. That and a school loan is all I have except for my condo. I'm on pace to pay off everything except for my condo by next summer. Then I'll start paying down the condo.

[Deep13]

8. I have the same boots I had in college in the 1980s.

My coat is 12 years old.

I bought a new car in 2002. The previous one was a 1978.

I save bits of soap from the shower to be used as hand soap.

[malta blue]

10. I am 38 y/o and am driving the 3rd car of my life -

the second one I traded in because it had bad vibes. My current car has 179k on it, and I will drive it until it dies.

I do not use my credit card, but I have hefty debt to pay off from my divorce.

I spend a good deal on clothes, etc. but mostly it is for little MB - and I usually try to buy big and let her grow into it.

All of my "non-essential" spending is on Little MB's Tae Kwon Do and piano lessons, or training classes for my dogs.

I do not own an MP3 player.

I just got my first NEW computer last year - a gift. All my previous ones had been hand-me-downs.

I keep the heat at 63 during the day and 55 at night.

I have a fixed mortgage that we are to date on.

We don't go to the movies.

We don't eat out very often - maybe once a month - usually when my dad invites us out to eat. I hate spending money at restaurants because 99% of the time, I can make something better at home.

I make my own chicken stock, pasta sauce, etc. and freeze it in small portions.

I do have the full on cable package though. MR MB loves HBO and Showtime series, can't be without them.

[supernova]

11. Frugal in some ways; spendy in others

I drive a 2002 Honda CRV that I bought used last year for 16K. It only had 21K miles on it. I expect to keep it for ten years. Before that I was driving a 1996 Chevy Conversion Van. for 10 years.

I shop at the dollar store and Costco for nonperishable stuff like TP, cleaning supplies, or little gifts for my niece and nephew.

I own my home. I never use Long distance, keep a prepaid cell phone that I only have to buy time for every 90 days.

I keep the heat down and use space heaters and warming blankets where needed. I've replaced all the bulbs in my house for the florescent compact bulbs.

I shop the outer aisles at the grocery store. I cook for myself most times. That works out to cooking once about every 2-3 days. I always have breakfast; breakfast foods are cheap. I eat meats and low GI veggies and fruits, no expensive packaged items and rarely sodas and chips. If I must have fizz; I drink mineral water laced with juice.

I comb thrift stores for casual every day clothes or messy work (gardening or painting) clothes.

I rarely travel and wish WISH I could do more. :-( This is the only part of my financial life that I sometimes really gets me down.

I have one debit card that I use and that's it. I don't carry debt.

After a while, it becomes a game to see how much you can NOT SPEND every month. :D

Spendy:
I get the medium priced sat tv package. Not necessary but I rarely go out anyway. The only thing I watch on broadcast TV is my local station for local news and weather and the local PBS channel.

I like good skin care so I will splurge on nice creams or makeup.

Good athletic shoes. No point exercising if you don't have enough support and mess up your knees and/or back.

Good lingerie - Good bras cost something. It's worth everything to have proper support for those of us with a full chest.

I shop organic to the extent it's possible. That carries a premium price tag, but I'd rather not worry about added chemicals and antibitx.

Length of time I expect to keep/use a thing is a major consideration. If I expect to keep it a long time, I will invest in the premium model. Take the Ktchenaid mixer. It costs $250 on sale. Now that sounds like a lot, but if I do a lot of cooking, spread over 30 or 40 years, $250 isn't that much.

[stuntcat]

13. Cheap and proud of it

:headbang:
We've saved a lot by never eating out and using less stuff and making things last. Travel's the thing I'd splurge on. And concerts, we've spent a lot on concerts but that's worth it to me. My ipod and camera cost money but they both better last at least a decade.

[Courtesy Flush]

17. My iPod cost me $20

Okay, it's not really an iPod. It's a portable CD player that has two important features: It plays MP3s off a CD, and it can play CD-RWs (okay, three features... it's also dirt cheap). I re-use the same CD-RW over and over to listen to audiobooks, language lessons, and podcasts.

I wanted the portable audio, but just couldn't bring myself to pay the big bucks when I can get what I need for $20.

[triguy46]

14. I am trying to remove 'things' from my life. As well...

I drive a 10 year old truck with 104K; 57 year old tractor. The shoes I wear to my office job are 4 years old, but look ok with an occ. polish.

I think another way of viewing this is to try to identify value. On the one hand, cheap is fine, but will it last as long as something a little more expensive? Sometimes yes, sometimes no, but that is how I'm trying to do things. I'm tired of buying crappy tools that don't last. Should have bought high quality ones that last a lifetime. We live in a 30 year old farmhouse that I've added onto twice, through tons of hours of sweat equity. Its paid off, we are debt free. Then I drive to town and see the brazillion McMansions and have to wonder: Where are these guys getting the money? Wife and I are in the 6 figure income range, but I cannot imagine a $2000/mo house payment. I just wouldn't do it. Nor would I ever buy a $40K pickup. yet these things seem required of townfolk. Just don't get it.

[Courtesy Flush]

15. Frugal by choice

When we got married, we were broke and had to live without a lot (we could pay our bills, but no major luxuries). Over time, our lot in life improved. We spend more now, I guess, but not in proportion to our income. I drive a 1994 Toyota pickup that runs just fine. I could afford something very nice, but I wouldn't be comfortable throwing money away like that. We own a big old Victorian house that has two garage apartments on the lot. The income from them makes our big house the cheapest place we could find!

We know people who make less than we do, but buy new Mercedes or expensive boats. We have a 14-year-old Toyota and a 34-year-old sailboat. My satisfaction level with both of them is very high!

Tips: When you get a raise, continue to live as though you didn't get one. Save the rest. Have it diverted into a 401(k) if you can... all of it!

When you pay off a debt, continue to set those payments aside and build savings (or pay off other debts faster). Don't raise your spending level or buy new junk!

We use credit cards like cash. In other words, we only buy what we can afford, and pay off the full balance every month. We never pay interest.

When you put money in savings, leave it there. We last took money from savings 15 years ago -- to buy a house. But that's what we had been saving for. Since then, we only put money in. Never remove it. Now we're saving for early retirement.

Shopping for clothes? Fine, get good clothes. I do. But I have a limit of $10 for shirts, even designer label shirts. Department stores have clearance sales all the time. The best time to buy new clothes is when you don't need them. If you really need clothes, you have to pay the going rate. If you don't need them, stop by a store and browse. If you get a REAL bargain, buy it. Earlier this year I bought a nice $45 silk shirt for 99 cents in a department store. Don't pass up stuff like that.

To give you an example of my frugalityness philosophy: My sailing buddies buy these self steering mechanisms for their boats. They work great and are very convenient, but cost $400 - $500. Well, I took a different approach. I bought some odds and ends on ebay and Radio Shack, and I'm constructing a remote control unit that will steer the boat using the power window motor off an old Buick. Total cost so far, about $35. I could afford the high tech version, but I'm having a great time problem-solving and tinkering, and I'm spending a fraction of what the other guys did. Plus, I can warranty it for life, because the factory is in my back yard.

The people in my office always call me rich. They build new houses, buy new cars, and basically spend it as fast as it comes in. They always tell me I should let go of some of that money. But I really do live very well despite our spending habits, and I'll retire while they're still struggling to pay off their credit cards.

[NewWaveChick1981]

16. I'm frugal when I need to be.

:) I will NOT skimp on toilet paper, and I will NOT skimp on other staples. I drive a nine-year-old five-speed car that gets 40 MPG, so I'm not trading it in any time soon. I like my little luxuries, but I am wise about how I spend my money on them.

I'd say I'm semi-frugal. :)

[Courtesy Flush]

18. Good TP is worth the money!!! n/t

[DarkTirade]

20. I'd say I'm even cheaper...

only car I've ever owned was a hand-me-down, and I drove it until it went kaput. :P

[femmocrat]

22. My attitude is, "you can't take it with you"!

If I want something, I buy it. I don't live extravagantly, but I don't really want or need anything either. I learned this lesson from my in-laws who lived like paupers and left behind a large amount of money. They never enjoyed it... I don't know what the hell they were saving it for! They had money hidden in their house that some strangers are probably spending now. We never found all of it because they were so suspicious and secretive about their financial affairs. Makes no sense to me.

[pink-o]

24. When I lived in England, it was totally hand to mouth..

...and that was in the mid 70s when I was 18!

But it taught me how to stretch a budget and learn frugality. I too drive an old car--a 93 Tercel with almost 200,000 miles on it, and I don't drive it very much since I love my bicycle and you can ride all year in San Francisco. I live in a studio flat, basically out of two rooms, with minimal furniture, one closet that I can fit all my clothes and shoes in. I just don't see collecting things--like shoes, jewelry or too many clothes--for the sake of having them. You can only wear one pair of shoes at a time, right?

However...

I make a pretty good wage, I have no debt or children to sent to college, so I can't resist my techie toys. I do have a love of expensive consumer goods that are more than decorations--things that further my hobbies. I'll buy high-end running shoes so I don't injure my feet, I have a flatscreen television (I bought it in 4 payments of $400.00--it's already paid for) connected to the PC so I can display my photographes, I have a great printer and the frame shop knows me by name! I also have a killer home theatre and a good sound system in the cheap car. That's the kind of stuff I love.

And I'm a chick! My girlfriends hate me because their husbands take one look at my techie stash and wonder why their wives want diamonds and manolos!

[IDemo]

25. Almost matches your post

Driving a '93 Toyota that was purchased new and has only 45k miles. Ride a bicycle to work when weather permits. Four year old home built PC. House is paid for, no car payments, no credit card debt. Pack my lunch, keep a garden.