gmastasquirrel
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12:56:22 pm on July 30, 2008 | # |
Frugal vs Cheap
Living in Hawaii (The most beautiful place on earth!Yeah, I said it!), is very expensive. Under normal circumstances, things will cost more here than in the continental United States. You pay a price to live in paradise. I go through this everyday. My spending would pretty much go to the limits of my bank account and sometimes go into my credit card. I finally decided to put an end to the shenanigans.
I FINALLY started to budget money, making home lunch, and all the other things to save money. I was trying to be FRUGAL. I recently started to buy all things that are cheap. And then one by one, it all went sour. All my cheap products started breaking, cheap food tasted awful, and I was not a happy camper. I came to realize that in trying to save money, I became CHEAP not FRUGAL. I didn’t help my situation at all, I made it worse. I now had to go buy all new products. The buzzer I bought for 8 bucks broke after it’s first use. The FM transmitter I bought for 10 bucks fell apart. The bread I bought went stale on me after a couple days. Cheap is cost effective. Frugal is cost effective with value. I was being cheap. Epic fail.Once you realize your failed ways, one needs to find a way to make those ways better. Here are a few things I plan to do to get better.
Buzzer. I am currently looking for an industrial hair clipper (buzzer). I do know someone who is a hair stylist who does own a pair of good buzzers. It may cost a pretty penny, but at least I don’t have to keep buying a new pair every time I want to shave my head.
FM Transmitter. I bought this so I could listen to my Zune (shut up ipod fan boys!) in the car. This was a total impulse buy. I saw it very cheap online and couldn’t help but buy it. Little did I know that when reading the reviews on the product, everyone hated it! So not only was I being cheap, I was also not doing my due diligence to ensure the product I purchased was even good. My bad. I have found that FM Transmitters are not very good in general and that it would be better, price wise and quality wise, to hook up my zune to my AUX in my car stereo. Take it from me. Reading is fundamental. I’m just mental. But I digress.
Bad Bread. Yeah I think I am just going to buy the good bread and leave it at that. Wonder bread totally rules. Sorry Safeway, your bread makes me want to not eat bread anymore. I’m not trying to pimp out Wonder bread, but seriously, it’s awesome. What I am trying to say is, be frugal, check for value, and make sure you like it before you buy it.
Here are a few links on frugality that I liked. You might like it too. Just read it! Please. =)
The Cheapskate Guide: 50 Tips for Frugal LivingAll Things Frugal: Being Frugal Without Being Cheap
Home School Oasis: Frugal Vs Cheap
As always, questions and comments are welcome.
P.S. Remember folks cheap and frugal are kind of the same, but adding one little thing called “value” will make all the difference. Or as my friend put it:
It’s a difference between, I had to help my uncle Jack off a horse and I had to help my uncle jack off a horse.
