How old were you when you "discovered" frugality? - Page 3

quitejaded · 01-08-2008, 09:01 PM

There wasn't really an AGE that I /learned/ it. Its just that whenever I started spending money, I had a strong desire to have as much money as I can while still having something I wanted.

This is where I learned frugality.

Over the years, i learned that buying the cheapest isn't ALWAYS the best idea. So its a real decision making thing for me that is a huge problem. Its why I spend so much time when I'm just buying "one little thing".

VaranusK · 01-09-2008, 12:21 AM

for me I'm just discovering it... all started last year (I'm 36 right now), with yoga classes and at the same time productivity and LH blogs. It came together and raised my interest so that's why I'm here now!

pinkyga · 01-10-2008, 05:15 AM

I learned it when I got divorced, and had no choice but to be frugal. Now it's a way of life for me.

Gootsy · 01-10-2008, 07:45 AM

I never really thought I was being frugal, but I guess when I was about 13 or 14 when I read, "Millionaire Next Door". Back then I thought I was just saving and being cheap.

Last year though was the first year I really started thinking about 'being frugal 24/7'.

rstlne · 01-14-2008, 02:10 PM

My parents were frugal so I learnt some of their frugal habits. However, I didn't get really frugal until after college when I started earning my own money. When I had to work for it, then I started watching every penny.

gt0163c · 01-15-2008, 07:02 AM

My parents were fairly frugal, dad more so than mom. Mom's more of a bargain shopper, couponer and deal finder. Together, they do pretty well. Both came from poor families with depression era frugal sensibilities. So, I learned at a young age. I became very good at doing multiplication and division in my head by figuring out percentage sale prices in my head (making me a favored shopping partner for my more math challeneged sister).
Now, my frugality is more a way of life rather than a necessity. It does allow me to live debt free (except for the mortgage, which is being paid down at an accelerated rate), support a number of missionaries, give to charitable causes and have some small luxuries and regular vacations along with a good amount of savings.

beansac · 01-15-2008, 04:29 PM

100% German, so probably 7 years old.

boba1212 · 01-15-2008, 07:01 PM

I learned about frugality by going through the "starving student" phase during grad school. Us students perfected the art of finding free food around campus!

72Tiger · 01-15-2008, 07:37 PM

I was relatively late to the frugality thing - not until age 34, and I am 35 now, so I have not been at it long. However, I was never one to spend a lot of money or to try and have the latest, or trendiest things. Because of this, I always halfway thought I was 'frugal', but I was actually never in control of my money.

My banking, bill paying, credit, savings, budgeting, etc were sloppy, out of control, or non-existant. Now, I watch all my expenses, budget for everything, and have finally learned to control my money, and get the most out of it. The realization that there are two ends of money that you can adjust - income and expenses - and that controlling expenses was much more in my hands than controlling income was instrumental.

Just in the short time I have been at it, it has made a huge difference. I now view money in a completely different light than I used to.

frozemud · 01-16-2008, 04:13 PM

I grew up in a frugal household like many others here. Wore hand-me-downs, mom cut my hair, scrounged for food in college.
Later when I had a good income, I went wild with credit cards. I'm not sure what I was thinking, but it was something along the lines of "I've been so frugal all these years--I deserve all this stuff". It didn't make me any happier, plus I was drowning in clothes and makeup and shoes and kitchen gadgets, errgh.

So let's say I've "rediscovered" frugality. About 2 years ago at age 36.
It's much more fun this time around though.

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01-08-2008, 09:01 PM	#21
quitejaded Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 34 Reputation: (15)	There wasn't really an AGE that I /learned/ it. Its just that whenever I started spending money, I had a strong desire to have as much money as I can while still having something I wanted. This is where I learned frugality. Over the years, i learned that buying the cheapest isn't ALWAYS the best idea. So its a real decision making thing for me that is a huge problem. Its why I spend so much time when I'm just buying "one little thing".

01-09-2008, 12:21 AM	#22
VaranusK Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 66 Reputation: (10)	for me I'm just discovering it... all started last year (I'm 36 right now), with yoga classes and at the same time productivity and LH blogs. It came together and raised my interest so that's why I'm here now!

01-10-2008, 05:15 AM	#23
pinkyga Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 5 Reputation: (10)	I learned it when I got divorced, and had no choice but to be frugal. Now it's a way of life for me.

01-10-2008, 07:45 AM	#24
Gootsy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 252 Reputation: (24)	I never really thought I was being frugal, but I guess when I was about 13 or 14 when I read, "Millionaire Next Door". Back then I thought I was just saving and being cheap. Last year though was the first year I really started thinking about 'being frugal 24/7'.

01-14-2008, 02:10 PM	#25
rstlne Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 364 Reputation: (115)	My parents were frugal so I learnt some of their frugal habits. However, I didn't get really frugal until after college when I started earning my own money. When I had to work for it, then I started watching every penny.

01-15-2008, 07:02 AM	#26
gt0163c Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 250 Reputation: (33)	My parents were fairly frugal, dad more so than mom. Mom's more of a bargain shopper, couponer and deal finder. Together, they do pretty well. Both came from poor families with depression era frugal sensibilities. So, I learned at a young age. I became very good at doing multiplication and division in my head by figuring out percentage sale prices in my head (making me a favored shopping partner for my more math challeneged sister). Now, my frugality is more a way of life rather than a necessity. It does allow me to live debt free (except for the mortgage, which is being paid down at an accelerated rate), support a number of missionaries, give to charitable causes and have some small luxuries and regular vacations along with a good amount of savings.

01-15-2008, 04:29 PM	#27
beansac Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 32 Reputation: (13)	100% German, so probably 7 years old.

01-15-2008, 07:01 PM	#28
boba1212 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 75 Reputation: (10)	I learned about frugality by going through the "starving student" phase during grad school. Us students perfected the art of finding free food around campus!

01-15-2008, 07:37 PM	#29
72Tiger Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 297 Reputation: (38)	I was relatively late to the frugality thing - not until age 34, and I am 35 now, so I have not been at it long. However, I was never one to spend a lot of money or to try and have the latest, or trendiest things. Because of this, I always halfway thought I was 'frugal', but I was actually never in control of my money. My banking, bill paying, credit, savings, budgeting, etc were sloppy, out of control, or non-existant. Now, I watch all my expenses, budget for everything, and have finally learned to control my money, and get the most out of it. The realization that there are two ends of money that you can adjust - income and expenses - and that controlling expenses was much more in my hands than controlling income was instrumental. Just in the short time I have been at it, it has made a huge difference. I now view money in a completely different light than I used to.

01-16-2008, 04:13 PM	#30
frozemud Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 50 Reputation: (10)	I grew up in a frugal household like many others here. Wore hand-me-downs, mom cut my hair, scrounged for food in college. Later when I had a good income, I went wild with credit cards. I'm not sure what I was thinking, but it was something along the lines of "I've been so frugal all these years--I deserve all this stuff". It didn't make me any happier, plus I was drowning in clothes and makeup and shoes and kitchen gadgets, errgh. So let's say I've "rediscovered" frugality. About 2 years ago at age 36. It's much more fun this time around though.