What's the Difference Between Being Frugal -- And Being a Cheapskate?

Hey Everyone!

A quick Google search brought up some basic definitions:

1. Frugal -- Sparing or economical with regard to money or food.

2. Cheapskate -- A miserly or stingy person; one who is tight with money.

I was definitely raised to be frugal. But I know there are some times when I dash on over the line of just being careful to being downright... ridiculous -- when it comes to saving money.

For instance, in Lynx's "More Layers or More Heat" thread, I wrote that I tend to put on more layers rather than turn up the heat and, therefore, the electricity bill -- I see that as frugal.

But this morning, as is a regular habit, I was fretting about whether or not I should throw away a ballpoint pen -- that literally costs pennies -- or try to hang on until I'd written out every last drop.

Being someone who loves written words, I stash multiple collections of pens everywhere -- on my desk, on the counter, in my room, in my backpack, in my purse, in the living room -- because I never know when I'll need to write a reminder (such as ideas for new threads!)

If I have an opportunity to write someone a note, I like to have an array of colored inks available because color can lift someone's mood. And although I like the smoothness of gel pens, they tend to smear and disappear if the paper gets wet, so I also carry regular ballpoint pens in black and blue in case I have to sign any official documents.

Because of this, pens have become precious to me and even a "naughty" pen would get moved to the "PEN-itentiary" section -- for throwaway notes -- just because I "didn't want to waste the money" by throwing it away.

Lately, however, I have finally decided that "Life is too short to put up with a leaky pen," and I finally got myself to throw out yet another defective deviant into the trash -- though seeing that the ink cartridge was still half-full still pained me.

How about you?

* What do you see as being frugal vs. being a cheapskate?

* Where is the line (if there is one) between being careful with money -- and just plain stingy?

* What things do you do that would qualify as being frugal, or just plain cheap?

I'm looking forward to meeting some fellow cheap skates -- who are also trying to skate the fine line.

A cheapskate is frugal to a ludicrous degree.

Thus the definition will be different for different people, because different people have different tolerances for frugality. One man's wasteful spending is another man's justified expenditure, and one man's penurious, parsimonious penny pinching is another man's penny saved penny earned.

Some people are probably already rolling their eyes at saving the pen, while others are probably already gearing up to deliver helpful tips for extracting that last bit of ink.

Wow I didn't realize one could become so attached to pens..... I I'll think of something I'm cheap with I promise

Frugal is when you buy lesser value items for yourself. Cheapskate is when you buy lesser value items for others.

Frugal means you are wise with money and give extra thought about buying items for pleasure. They may be on the lookout for discounts and bargains. Frugal people also realize that money and materialism do bring long term happiness. Frugal people can still be generous.

Cheapskate means using a product till the very end even if it is not working properly, and you can afford a new product. I also agree that a cheapskate gives cheap gifts when they can afford more; they do not tend to be generous. Cheapskates want gifts but do not want to give gifts.

Okay now we're getting somewhere. This last sentence here, this is telling.

Cheapskate connotes hoarding, grasping. One who is frugal does not necessarily want more. One who is frugal can be satisfied with little while one who is cheapskate always wants more than what he has.

Agree or disagree?

I've lived below my means all of my life. I guess I consider myself frugal. When you live below your means your means slowly rises until you might not look so frugal anymore. I'm still careful with money as I consider money a representation of my time (it takes time to earn it) and I place a high value on my time.

As an old guy now living below my means has paid big dividends. Now I buy prime steaks, but only when I see especially nicely marbled ones. When I purchase a car or truck I order it with nearly all the bells and whistles.

I taught my children to live below their means. Don't know how successful I was but I believe they're all savers, at least. My lifetime frugality allows me to cut my 4 kids a check each year, an advance on their inheritance.

If you're making payments on a car or truck, if you have credit card debt that you don't/can't pay off every month, then you're a slave to the lender and will likely always struggle in the finances dept. It doesn't really matter how much you make, even people who earn millions waste it away and end up broke at some point.

Frugality is being a good steward of the blessings God gives you. Being a cheapskate is something else entirely. Warren Buffett is a perfect example of an extreme cheapskate.

I don't know much about his lifestyle but I know he is always looking for value in stocks which may explain his purchasing habits.

Buffett has made a fortune by moving petroleum products by rail because his lobbyists have bought off politicians to keep pipelines from being built. He looks for corrupt politicians with much greater fervency than stocks.

I buy "Powertank" pens. I write a lot. They write first time, do not leak and keep going until the last drop. They are expensive. However, I also buy the cheapest milk - milk is milk. I hate paying for a name brand when a store brand is as good but lower cost.

I am sometimes too cheap. It can be false economy as in many things, you get what you pay for.

I was fascinated by the fountain pen community a few years ago (mostly because of the gorgeous shimmering inks only available in bottles,) but after picking up a few inexpensive, disposable versions as a test run, I didn't like the way they wrote and how they scratched the paper. I realize part of it is in the finesse of the user (which I readily admit I don't have,) but having to hold a pen a certain way just to get it to be effective wasn't for me!

I just want to pick up a pen and GO!

Thank you for mentioning the Power Tank pens. They're a lot less expensive than the fountain pens I was eyeing, so I may have to pick a few of these Power Tanks up.

I'm enjoying the conversation about what people see a being frugal vs. a cheapskate.

"Cheapskate" is kind of a joke in my family. "Cheapskate" is the term my frugal family members will use to call out OTHER family members who are being even "more frugal" (cheap) than they are!

So I never saw being a "cheapskate" as being a particularly bad thing, unless it's to the point of cheating other people or endangering someone else's well-being. For instance, if I had a family, I would absolutely pay to turn up the thermometer if it kept my family healthy. I don't mind being a cheapskate on my own behalf, but if others are involved, that's a different matter.

I've also gone out to eat with people who refuse to tip the basic standard, even when the service was fine. I know the tipping culture here in the USA is outrageous, but I always think of the Bible passage, "The worker is worth his wages" (1 Timothy 5:18.)

I can only speak for myself, but this always convicts me to pay at least the current accepted tipping percentage, since I know some workers in that situation need tips just to make minimum wage. Most of my friends worked in restaurants where their base pay was around $2.50 an hour, and everything else had to be made in tips.

I know it's a general thought that bad service doesn't deserve a tip, but unfortunately, it's not applied evenly. The kid at McDonald's who's on her cell phone while taking your order (if there even is a human to take your order anymore, as I know they're pushing those kiosks,) gets the same wage whether she actually pays attention to you or not.

So... I'm always contemplating these kinds of things and wondering how God wants them to be handled.

There have been times when I've gotten bad service but tipped anyway because God said blessing that person would be a chance for Him to confront them about their behavior (or maybe they were just having a bad day in their personal life.)

And I do try to always make an extra effort to pay more or at least write a small "Thank you for a job well done!" when service is good.

You and I are very similar, but, unlike you, I have long had a tendency to stash pencils everywhere, and not pens. I must admit that it has become problematic at times, but I am working on it.



What? I said that I am working on it. Haven't you heard? Old habits die hard.

Btw, there is a reason why I am standing in the photo. If I were to even attempt to sit down, then you would get the point (as would I because of where I stashed another pencil).

Okay. Okay. I will try to be serious.

At times, I am frugal, although I am not sure that frugal is the right word to describe me. Practical or intelligent might be better words to describe me. For example, I am way more likely to buy a generic pair of sweatpants than I am to pay an exorbitant amount of money on a pair of name brand sweatpants; unless I really like their logo.

Anyhow, I am never a cheapskate, and, quite frankly, I am offended that you would even ask me if I am. Now, if you will excuse me, then I need to go buy some candy with these Buffalo Nickels that have been lying on top of my dresser for the last 86 years.

*Lynx leaves a link and quietly exits the room.


https://www.gocomics.com/pickles/2024/12/09

The difference is a ones state of mind.. Not so much about what one is doing but Why they are doing it..