by ☆ ƒåitĥ ☆
Member since:
August 8, 2006

You might be frugal if...

October 20, 2009 03:47 PM EDT (Updated: October 20, 2009 05:42 PM EDT)
views: 150 | comments: 76

 

Hey guys -- now I KNOW a lot of you will read this and nod your head in total agreement because you'll see yourself in every single sentence!

To make this even better, I've nodded to many fellow frugal Gather members so please take the time to click on the links.

You might just see YOURSELF in this post!

 

You might be frugal if...

you have more coupons in your wallet than cash.

you can't remember the last time you paid for toothpaste, toothbrushes and shampoo.

you consider a car with 100,000 miles on it to be new.

you leave the price tag on something you've bought for the bragging rights.

you stocked up on Forever Stamps when they first came out, so you'd never have to pay another postal increase.

you know the Walmart clearance schedule better than the employees do.

you prefer curb shopping to window shopping.

you buy vinegar by the gallon, and wish it came in a bigger bottle.

repairing your dryer means stringing new clothesline in the backyard.

a 25% off sale doesn't even get you out of bed.

you do all of your Christmas shopping with rewards points.

soup is code for "whatever was left in the fridge."

your heart races every time you hear the word "free."

your stockpile resembles a small grocery store.

you know how to combine BOGOs, FAR offers, coupons and ECBs to get a good percentage of your food and toiletries for free. (And perhaps more telling ... the previous sentence made perfect sense to you)

your family knows not to throw out an empty cereal box without first checking to see if you're saving UPCs for an offer.

your family and friends walk away when you start talking because they know it will be about the money you saved or the deal you received (thanks Jenna!)

Your search engine is permanently set to 'free samples' (thanks Renee!)

you wish your siblings would give you some nieces & nephews so you can start stocking up on all the free baby stuff you've been passing up (thanks Sophie!)

 

Hope you enjoyed this fun frugal post!

~ Faith

 

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Comments: 76

Dana E. Oct 20, 2009, 3:51pm EDT
I am not frugal at all, in fact I am far too careless with my money. It is one of my bigger faults for sure.
But, I always thought Legend was very frugal and since he only rang the bell with four of these, I guess he's not as bad (or good) as I thought.
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Oct 20, 2009, 4:08pm EDT
Being frugal is pretty tough stuff when you're first starting out but if you really want to save some money it gets easier with time, I promise!
It is hard to get into the habit of spending less, and saving more. It takes effort, so start small. Each week, cut back on something you normally do- if you stop at the Starbucks every day, stop every other day instead. Cut back or cut out things you don't need- but not all at once. Just work it in slowly, and watch as the money saved starts to add up!
Dusty Hubbard Oct 20, 2009, 3:53pm EDT
That is great!! You really pegged me on this one too!! Now I'm off to stockpile another tube of toothpaste!!!!!
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Oct 20, 2009, 4:08pm EDT
Hee hee -- I figured you'd like this.
Qpon Lady Oct 21, 2009, 9:59am EDT
This has given me a blog post idea. I must have 20 or more tubes of toothpaste. LOL
Bridget ♥ Oct 20, 2009, 3:54pm EDT
LOL! This is great!
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Oct 20, 2009, 4:09pm EDT
Thanks Bridget -- I had fun finding people to add to this post. Some of you were easy to peg, right on my mind when thinking of this post but I found some new people to become friends with in the process!
Ginger R. Oct 20, 2009, 3:55pm EDT
I have more coupons than cash but I'm still waiting to hit one of those days where my grocery bill is like $5 and I have $200 worth of groceries. LOL! How to people do it?
Pam H. Oct 20, 2009, 4:03pm EDT
lol, never works for me either Ginger.
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Oct 20, 2009, 4:09pm EDT
I don't know either but I sure would like to figure it out! It definitely takes lots of planning, that's for sure.
It takes a lot of work, and some kick butt sales to do that. I've noticed some people will count the coupons they receive at the register as money saved on that trip, but then they'll also count it as money saved when they use it- which totally flaws the numbers!

Stock pile coupons, and wait for a great sale, then shop for ONLY the items on the list that come out to as close to free as possible. Don't include normal groceries in that shopping trip. It's even better if you get money off your next purchase coupons, because then you split the transactions up, and use those coupons for the next transaction.

The best I've gotten is $45 worth of groceries for $.19 (without counting the coupons I received at the register ;p). That week, the store had deals where if you bought 5 of a certain set of products, you got a $5 coupon. If you bought 10 of a different set of products, you got a $10 coupon. I ordered coupons for those items, so I was only spending $2-3, and getting $5 & $10 coupons back. Then, that last trip, I stacked coupons like mad, and dug out every "FREE" product coupon I had.
April H. Oct 20, 2009, 4:00pm EDT
How cute! My husband thinks it's hilarious when I complain about paying for toothpaste!
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Oct 20, 2009, 4:10pm EDT
Haha, I know -- hilarious! My husband doesn't quite 'get it' either but if I weren't frugal we wouldn't make it at all.
Dusty Hubbard Oct 20, 2009, 9:58pm EDT
It's so funny, when my husband sees me putting together my CVS or RiteAid shopping trip, he says Oh, you're doing your scams!!! While he knows that they are completely legit, he thinks since I get so much for free that it must be a scam!! He loves it though.
crystal patterson Oct 21, 2009, 10:06am EDT
He better be glad you have got the know how to do those sooo called scams. Very funny though it cracked me up! He calls it scams. hehee I used to say well let me go to walgreens and rob them blind. It's coupon fun!
Pam H. Oct 20, 2009, 4:02pm EDT
Well we just bought a mini van and it has 100,000 miles on it but it is so new to me and I love it. So I must be somewhat frugal.
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Oct 20, 2009, 4:10pm EDT
That's exactly how I am!
I bought a "new" cavelier a few weeks ago- with only 91,000 miles on it! My FIL thinks New means "Fresh off the lot", and didn't think it was a wise investment. I'd rather spend $1800 right now on a car that will last me 2-3 years, than $18,000 over the course of 4-5 years on a car that will last me maybe 5 years before big repairs are needed anyway. It's more cost effective for us- no interest!
Jenna S. Oct 20, 2009, 4:03pm EDT
I love the one about your heart racing everytime you hear the word free.LOL. They need a listing about family and friends are tired of hearing about the money you saved and deal you recieved.haha.
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Oct 20, 2009, 4:10pm EDT
Oh yeah, that would be a perfect one to add to it!

We should have everyone submit their own ideas of frugal and I'll edit the list to make it longer when we get good ones.
Jenna S. Oct 20, 2009, 4:15pm EDT
That's an awesome idea.It's similiar to what I did on the freebie site I use.I'll have to find my old post and post it on gather.
Michelle S. Oct 20, 2009, 4:04pm EDT
i'm working on seeing myself in each one of those. i'm half way there!! cute share. :)
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Oct 20, 2009, 4:11pm EDT
It's tough when you're first starting out and I am still paying full price for certain items -- I mean, at least they're on sale but some items just don't have coupons and it drives me nuts!
Holly K. Oct 20, 2009, 4:05pm EDT
I am officially frugal!
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Oct 20, 2009, 4:11pm EDT
me too, me too!
Renee (Pres of Baby James Foundation) ~. Oct 20, 2009, 4:16pm EDT
I am pretty close to there. How about your search is "free samples"
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Oct 20, 2009, 4:21pm EDT
Ooh good one! I added it to the list...
Marsha S. Oct 20, 2009, 4:29pm EDT
I believe that every one of those is me! LOL
thanks for linking me into your cool poem....now I will go off and check out the others as I might just learn a thing or two.
Thanks Faith!
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Oct 20, 2009, 5:45pm EDT
I believe every one of them is me too -- glad you enjoyed being highlighted here and I hope you meet some new people in the process.
Pam H. Oct 20, 2009, 4:30pm EDT
I needed a lampshade for my reading lamp, so off I went to the local Goodwill.................... I found a lampshade for $2 wow what a great deal and it is so pretty. But while I was there I found another table lamp with the lampshade for $5. I just came from the local Wal Mart and priced a lamp shade and they want like $14 for the lampshade that came with my lamp and shade that I paid only $5. Now call me frugal or what. lol
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Oct 20, 2009, 5:45pm EDT
Good for you for getting such a good deal! I love Goodwill.
Pam H. Oct 20, 2009, 4:31pm EDT
while I was at the Goodwill another lady stopped me and told me you cannot buy a lamp with a shade anymore. I thought she was making fun of me, much to my surprise she was not making fun of me she was telling me the truth...............................Wal Mart wants you to buy the lamp for $20 and the shade for $14.00. What a big price...........
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Oct 20, 2009, 5:44pm EDT
That is HUGE for Walmart -- maybe they do that because people are there saving money on other things so they have to hike up the prices on others? This way if the customer looking for a lamp happens to be one of those 'one-stop-shoppers' then they know they've got 'em!
Pam H. Oct 20, 2009, 4:32pm EDT
God help my husband when he won't stop at the yard sales............
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Oct 20, 2009, 5:40pm EDT
I know, huh? I wanted to yard sale all summer long but my husband always had 'better' ideas.
Thanks so much for adding a link to me! What a great post!
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Oct 20, 2009, 5:40pm EDT
Not a problem at all -- you post great freebies and frugal ideas so thanks.
Renita P. Oct 20, 2009, 4:43pm EDT
ROFL!! those are AWESOME! And yes, I see myself in most of those!
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Oct 20, 2009, 5:40pm EDT
I figured you would, hahaaaa.
Sophie S. Oct 20, 2009, 4:44pm EDT
lol, there are a couple there that are totally me.

How about, you wish your brothers and sisters would hurry up and give you some nieces so you could start stocking up on all the free baby stuff you have to pass up on.
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Oct 20, 2009, 5:39pm EDT
Hey now - that is a GREAT one! I'm going to add it to the list, thanks.
Theresa W. Oct 20, 2009, 4:46pm EDT
Have you been spying on me???LOL. Great post, I gave you a 10
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Oct 20, 2009, 5:39pm EDT
I have! How did you know?
Theresa W. Oct 20, 2009, 6:59pm EDT
LOL
Catherine W. Oct 20, 2009, 5:35pm EDT
Loved it ! Thanks for including me!
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Oct 20, 2009, 5:39pm EDT
No problem at all -- I had fun looking for people to include in this post.
Marilyn M. Oct 20, 2009, 5:48pm EDT
These are great! Yes, I see myself there.
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Oct 20, 2009, 6:22pm EDT
But of course!
How fun, thanks for putting me in there!
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Oct 20, 2009, 6:23pm EDT
No problem at all, I've learned a lot from you over the years so I wanted to make sure you were included. :o)
This came just as I finished writing up a sample meal plan for some online communities, showing 5 different meals they could by for under $20 total (with extra items left!) using the sales this week!
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Oct 20, 2009, 6:44pm EDT
That rocks! I need to try harder planning meals according to sales... that is the next thing on my list.
Over the summer, we got into such bad habits, and our food bill just kept going up and up. A few weeks ago, I finally sat down, looked at what was on sale, and what we had on hand (which wasn't much), and forced myself to plan out enough meals to last 2 weeks.

It was a relief, though, when we went 2 full weeks without eating out a single time, or running to the store for forgotten items.
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Oct 20, 2009, 7:18pm EDT
That is SO cool, I'm proud of you! My husband was laid off a few weeks ago so again we're stressing big time about money. I had to break down and apply for food stamps (humbling, for sure) and hope we get them soon so I can make a shopping trip. I will most definitely be making a meal plan to stretch those dollars even further.
Bebe S. Oct 20, 2009, 7:34pm EDT

I don't get the one about vinegar..
Vinegar is a fantastic deodorizer, natural cleanser, and fabric softener. Mix it with equal parts water, put it in a spray bottle, and spray fabric, carpets, and more to deodorize. Put some in a Downy Ball instead of fabric softener. Pour it down drains & disposals to get rid of smells.
Bebe S. Oct 20, 2009, 7:42pm EDT
Thanks Heather. I had no idea.
Victoria H. Oct 20, 2009, 8:34pm EDT
Ba ha ha ha!! I totally "got" all of this, Faith! Man, I am frugal and proud of it. Where many people talk about how expensive their stuff is, I talk about how cheap I managed to get something. LOL This was great!
Victoria H. Oct 20, 2009, 8:34pm EDT
Oh, and thanks for including me, too! ; )
Kathy D. Oct 20, 2009, 8:36pm EDT
Oh my goodness - this is me!
This is so me! I don't have any money in my wallet & so many coupons that they fill two check file portable things.
I love saving money!
Ms. Meacham: Money Maven Oct 20, 2009, 11:46pm EDT
There I am under "free." Really couldn't be more perfect. And I'm enjoying the nod to Stephanie with so you'd never have to pay. Good stuff here Faith. Now it's time to send it out by email so it can go viral... Oh and be sure to throw a "send this to seven other people or else you'll never get free toothpaste again" warning at the bottom. ; )
Qpon Lady Oct 21, 2009, 10:00am EDT
hahaha
Connie C. Oct 20, 2009, 11:59pm EDT
This was great. I think I do everyone of them. Thanks for including me. I truely enjoyed reading this and it is nice to know that I am in such good company. :)
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Oct 21, 2009, 4:55pm EDT
You're welcome & thanks for being you and sharing your great frugal ways with us.
Tomi S Oct 21, 2009, 1:29am EDT
i agree some of this stuff relates to me, but not all. When your a college student you have to be frugal.
Stefanie Plum, Gather Partner Team Oct 21, 2009, 9:50am EDT
Cool idea. Thanks for calling me out!

There are lots of smart savers on Gather.
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Oct 21, 2009, 4:55pm EDT
There are, huh? It's really cool.
Qpon Lady Oct 21, 2009, 10:00am EDT
Thank you for spotlighting me! This is cool!
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Oct 21, 2009, 4:56pm EDT
You're very welcome!
Jill~Sexy Back~ V. Oct 21, 2009, 5:21pm EDT
So true! Thanks for the laughs
Dagmara H. Oct 23, 2009, 10:21am EDT
LOL,, that is awesome
Donald M. Nov 18, 2009, 5:18pm EST
Have you ever went to Payless for their BOGO sales? One time when I did with my daughter, my honey was still in the store looking. So I was reading the bottom of the regisxter slip. It says if I call and get a code # I can get $2 off my next purchase. So I went back inside and gave him the slip with the code. May want to check and see if that still exist.
DJ B. Dec 14, 2009, 1:20pm EST
I resemble most of those remarks. ;o)
Jessica B. Dec 16, 2009, 5:55pm EST
Love this post and you're right...nodding my head in agreement.

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