Are you Frugal or Cheap?

When you think of “cheap,” you might picture a person who is an extreme tightwad, someone who won’t let go of a dollar even if his life depended on it. So, what’s the difference between a “cheap” person and a “frugal” one? Webster’s defines “frugal” as “sparing; thrifty; economical;” “Cheap” is defined as “low in price; of low cost, as compared with the value, or the usual cost.” Most people are bargain shoppers. If an item you’ve been looking for is on sale, you are more likely to purchase it. This is being frugal.

The website, http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/cheap-versus-frugal, defines the two words a little better: “Cheap people care about the cost of something. Frugal people care about the value of something. Cheap people try to get the lowest price on everything. Frugal people try to get the lowest price on most things, but spend a lot on items they really care about.” With these differences in mind, it should be easier to define your own shopping personality.

Another website (http://www.moolanomy.com/558/frugal-or-cheap-heres-a-test/) allows you to take a short quiz to find out, “Are You Frugal Or Cheap?” Some of the questions are interesting. For instance, it asks what car you drive, how often you eat out and if you still wear your old clothes. Here are a few more questions (from a different site) for you: Do you ever go dumpster-diving to find someone else’s old junk to take home and fix up for yourself? Do you re-use plastic tubs from grocery items (potato salad, margarine, etc.) in which to store your leftovers? Have you ever re-gifted a present someone else gave you? If we’re truthful with ourselves, we’ve all done some of these things.