Frugality - Other Topics Forum - Discuss Pop Culture, Arts and Entertainment

I saw a thread from 2013 on the subject but I got in trouble for bouncing an old thread once so I decided to create a new one.

What are some things you guys like doing to be frugal?

Lately for me it was switching car insurance. Using Geico I was paying $68 a month for liability and after switching to State Farm I'll be spending only $48 with even further discounts after the next 6 month cycle due to using their mileage monitoring system since I drive so little.

Also, I shop at ALDI all the time and take advantage of fast food specials on smart phone apps.

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10-05-2018 , 11:52 AM

Alobar

Born Ready

Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 42,368

haha, i kinda want to give you an infraction for restarting an old thread

I don't think of swtiching insurances to a cheaper one as frugal. Every 6 months I call the cable company and tell them I'm canceling and switching to the competitor unless they can offer me a special. I don't feel thats frugal.

Frugal is my GF who saves takeout containers to use as tupperware

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10-05-2018 , 12:06 PM

anonla

Cause and effect

Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 5,487

One of the biggest money savers in my life is my apartment.

It is one room student apartment. I pay 500 Euro a month with heating. An average professional of my age has 2~3 rooms apartment with at least double rent.

I think that every recurrent cost saved means a lot more than one time saving.

Another big saving point is transportation. I don't have a car and use basically for everything that is in 20 km reach my bicycle. So I spend on average 100 Euro a month for public transportation. I am pretty sure that it is a lot cheaper than a car.

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10-05-2018 , 12:23 PM

27offsuit

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I wash my Q-tips and reuse them.

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10-05-2018 , 12:27 PM

anonla

Cause and effect

Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 5,487

ts ......

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10-05-2018 , 12:32 PM

cs3

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Read the thread title and immediately thought that Lapka would dominate this thread

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10-05-2018 , 12:35 PM

anonla

Cause and effect

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Reputation is everything

edit: It is not so that I suffer or sit and think: " how could I save some more money". Most of the things just happen on autopilot. And there are also things for which I spend more than average person: utilities.

Last edited by anonla; 10-05-2018 at 12:41 PM.

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10-05-2018 , 12:38 PM

VincentVega

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Alobar

haha, i kinda want to give you an infraction for restarting an old thread

The Tupperware thing is just flat out cheap and weird. Frugal to me is not spending money on things that aren't necessary. Like, for instance I don't buy clothes or shoes but once, maybe twice a year because I just don't feel I really need them. I get by on what I have, but I also don't have a professional job.

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10-05-2018 , 12:38 PM

Alobar

Born Ready

Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 42,368

Quote:

Originally Posted by 27offsuit

I wash my Q-tips and reuse them.

qtips? What a luxury item. I use my finger

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10-05-2018 , 12:41 PM

#10

patron

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Those are some thin fingers, Alobar.

A bobby pin is good for unlimited re-uses.

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10-05-2018 , 12:44 PM

#11

madlex

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Quote:

Originally Posted by preki

Also, I shop at ALDI all the time

I wouldn’t call that frugal, Aldi is just a grocery store that’s both quality and low price. They just got awarded “retailer of the year 2018”.

I recently bought 6 containers of Gatorade powder for $2 each on clearance and immediately made the effort to calculate how much that’s going to save me compared to buying 50 32oz bottles at Walmart for $0.88 each.

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10-05-2018 , 12:45 PM

#12

preki

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Also, if you use straight talk wireless they have a ton of bogo offers for local restaurants. They cap it at $100 a month though.

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10-05-2018 , 12:46 PM

#13

anonla

Cause and effect

Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 5,487

Quote:

Originally Posted by VincentVega

The Tupperware thing is just flat out cheap and weird. Frugal to me is not spending money on things that aren't necessary. Like, for instance I don't buy clothes or shoes but once, maybe twice a year because I just don't feel I really need them. I get by on what I have, but I also don't have a professional job.

Disagree. It is frugal, sensible and environmental friendly.

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10-05-2018 , 12:56 PM

#14

offTopic

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Quote:

Originally Posted by VincentVega

Quote:

Originally Posted by lapka

Disagree. It is frugal, sensible and environmental friendly.

Heavily dependent on one's definition of "takeout containers"

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10-05-2018 , 01:01 PM

#15

Alobar

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Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 42,368

Quote:

Originally Posted by offTopic

Heavily dependent on one's definition of "takeout containers"

Its the nicer plastic ones, not like the cardboard boxes or fastfood plastic

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10-05-2018 , 01:18 PM

#16

27offsuit

actions have consequences!

Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 38,526

The black ones with the clear top. Microwavable too!

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10-05-2018 , 01:27 PM

#17

anonla

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women normally do sensible stuff. :P

It was obvious that Alobar's GF would only save takeaway containers which can actually substitute tupperware to substitute tupperware.

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10-05-2018 , 01:30 PM

#18

pokerjo21

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Join Date: Apr 2018 Posts: 455

Quote:

Originally Posted by VincentVega

The Tupperware thing is just flat out cheap and weird.

I do this.

I also wash out the gallon size freezer bags and re-use them.

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10-05-2018 , 01:35 PM

#19

Didace

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Quote:

Originally Posted by lapka

women normally do sensible stuff.

If would say living in a cramped apartment and having to ride your bike to get anywhere local is the opposite of sensible.

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10-05-2018 , 01:51 PM

#20

anonla

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I wouldn't call it cramped. It is small and leads to me having less stuff to keep it not cramped. And riding a bike is environmental friendly, costs no money and provides exercise integrated in life without me even noticing that I exercise. All things pretty sensible.

I generally would define frugal not as necessary "not spending money", but more as "spending money according to each others value system".

As a rule of thumb I am willing to spend a lot of money on things that save me time and energy or give me freedom or peace of mind. Bigger apartment and a car do not fall in that category.

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10-05-2018 , 01:54 PM

#21

Tom Ames

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Read the "stingiest thing you've ever seen" thread.

You'll likely never achieve that level, but it could put you on the right track.

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10-05-2018 , 02:03 PM

#22

anonla

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Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 5,487

I did read a bunch of stuff from that thread.

I think "stingy" is when you are willing to sacrifice a good experience for money. Something I am not willing to do. Like I said.... I don't sit and think:" Naaa... I don't want to have a car because it will cost XYZ". It is rather : " OMG. Driving every morning my commute. That is another hour less of sleep. And I will have to take care of the car. I am already overwhelmed with my bicycles."

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10-05-2018 , 02:48 PM

#23

VincentVega

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"Overwhelmed with my bicycles" hahaha. Stingy is being a ****ty tipper for example. Or being the one guy at the bar who has never bought a round even though friends do all the time. I know English isn't your first language though.

I do understand in Europe a car isn't near as valuable as it is here in relation to time management. It's almost always the opposite accept in a few major cities.

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10-05-2018 , 02:50 PM

#24

Sir Huntington

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Quote:

Originally Posted by VincentVega

LOL this post is funny to me. My grandparents went thru the depression so goofy stuff like that was standard for the olds. The people from that time would keep anything and everything that could be reused cuz you never know if you can get a replacement. It's nice to live in a world of abundance.

I grew up hearing stories about how they would go bake whatever food and trade it for other things like more flour, milk, whatever else they needed. Bartering was part of how they got by.