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A question

August 23rd, 2008 at 09:58 am

***DISCLAIMER***
To be up front I am not calling anyone here a cheapskate.
With that said...
My question to you all is---when does one stop being frugal and become cheap, chintzy, stingy, a cheapskate??
Just some mind candySmile

8 Responses to “A question”

  1. fern Says:
    1219492092

    My answer is, what does it matter? If you wish to save money, you'll decide what you need to do and how to do it. Who cares what other people think?

  2. Broken Arrow Says:
    1219498565

    I think it's when money becomes more important than people or values. I also think it's situational. One day, not buying something might be a frugal thing to do, the next day, buying that same thing might all of a sudden be a cheap thing to do, depending on how the situation changes.

  3. Personal Finance Student Says:
    1219505260

    I have pondered this question before and tend to agree with Broken Arrow. I will be interested to see what others think!

  4. Ima saver Says:
    1219506650

    I agree with fern.

  5. toyguy1963 Says:
    1219509007

    Ok you caught me. I'm cheap. :-)

    Actually I don't see any big difference or that it really matters so much. I think the only time that being very cheap matters if you put youyrself or your family in danger. Like for example if you refuse to fix a damaged furnace cause you are cheap but then your family dies from the gases it produces. That sort of thing.

  6. sillyoleme Says:
    1219535645

    I pretty much agree with BA.

  7. Amber Says:
    1219550513

    Good question,In addition to BA I think cheap is when you'd rather some one else spend their money but you won't do the same.

  8. Broken Arrow Says:
    1219634056

    Here's another example:

    I could have stolen my mother's spare mattress for my own use. Very slightly unethical maybe, and it's old and stained, but I could have saved a tidy sum of money that way.

    Instead, I went out shopped for a mattress of my own. Not even settling for the cheapest option available, I picked out one that seemed to be the best quality but still affordable option available.

    Is there an ethical, financial, and a quality of life difference between the two? I think so.

    Cheap people will choose absolutely the lowest-priced option available, even if it means taking advantage of someone else. Frugal people will choose the best bang for the buck-- the best value-- even if it's not always the cheapest option available. And frugal people won't take advantage of others. Frugal living is responsible and healthy living. Cheap living is not, because only money matters. Frugal people will do no harm. Cheap people will.

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