More Extreme Frugality

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

10 Jan 2009 03:51 PM

When does frugal get too extreme or cross over to being cheap? My definition is that if a frugal practice actually creates real hardship for a family or unfairly takes advantage of someone else, then it isn't frugal in the true sense of the word.

The following are some recent stories about frugal practices that I have heard about. Read them through and make a decision about them. Would you do (or have you done) any of these? Are they smartly frugal or just plain cheap? Leave me a comment with your thoughts.

Writing on post it notes in pencil, so you can reuse them.

Rinsing and reusing paper towels.

Fighting over the pinata candy at a child's birthday party so you can save it and give it out for Halloween treats.

Giving up your home to live in an RV, truck or car full time.

Cut up cereal boxes and use them for post cards.

Pouring pasta water down the toilet or in the toilet tank to reduce the amount of water used in a flush.

Bring your own cheese when eating hamburgers out so you won't be charged for a cheeseburger.

Go out to eat with friends and ask for their leftovers instead of ordering a meal for yourself. Using an old bra to grow tomatoes in the cups.

Spending hours to separate your two-ply toilet paper into two separate rolls when people will probably just grab more paper to start with.

Shutting off the water when people visit do they will be forced to use the bathroom multiple times and not waste a flush (Yes, I know of someone who did this).

Set up a cot in your office to save on housing.

Empty saved ketchup packets from fast food joints into a ketchup bottle.

Going through random garbage bags for the soda caps to collect for their rewards programs.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here or subscribe to the blog using the subscription box on the right.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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DivasMomma (20907) 10 Jan 2009 03:58 PM

that was so funny :) the ketchup one reminds me of my dad...he brings home the sweet and low packets from wawa instead of buying a box of them haha

Memartha (306) 10 Jan 2009 04:17 PM

There's frugal and then there's frugal. I work with the homeless or nearly homeless or working poor, and some of these aren't so outrageous. It all depends on how poor you are. Congressmen are using cots in their offices. People ARE living in their cars, but not voluntarily. And remember, according to Ronald Reagan, ketchup is a vegetable. However, the pinata fight seems a little, well, dumb.

Mary Ann Romans (26886) 11 Jan 2009 12:01 PM

I agree that there is a difference between doing things for survival and just going overboard. Some people do choose to quit their jobs and live in their cars because they feel that there is more enjoyment in life that way. There is one famous guy in California (we he doesn't have to worry about cold weather) who has been doing it for several years.

magicmummy (12) 28 Aug 2009 05:57 AM

Some of these idea's are ridiculous aren't they?

My idea of frugal is to cut back where I can so that I can free up extra money to spend on doing things with the kids.