Mocked for being frugal?

[wildgift]

Have you been mocked or criticized for being frugal?

What were you mocked for, and what was your reaction?

I got bugged about not buying new sneakers. My reaction was to get upset, because thi shas been an issue for a few months.

[Philip Brewer]

I came to frugality gradually, so I can remember thinking that my frugal friends were odd for the efforts they went through to save a few dollars. It was only years later that I looked back and noticed that the "odd" things they did now seem normal to me.

Really, though, my own frugality isn't particularly obvious--it's more a matter of not buying stuff I don't need than it is a matter of buying cheap stuff. (That is, I'm really interested in living simply; the fact that it's also frugal is more a bonus than my main goal.)

I did recently have a relative say I was "tighter than a new boot." But he meant it in a good way.

As for shoes... I try to buy new ones before they start to hurt my feet, because it takes too long for my feet to get better if I let my shoes get really worn out. But I can't imagine buying new shoes because the old ones weren't the latest style.

[Ms. Ferret]

In general my close friends are about as thrifty as I am. I do get the occasional comment from people who want to know why I brown-bag my lunch, ride the bus, take tupperware to restaurants, don't have the latest thneed, etc.. I just laugh and explain that I save my money for the stuff I really need: swords and ammunition. That usually does the trick.

[SouthShoreGirl]

I wouldn't say I've ever been mocked for being frugal. However, I have noticed that people we know who live beyond their means will make comments here and there about when we go out and splurge on something that we didn't just add onto our charge card to purchase.

[Designgal34]

I have a girlfriend who snipes at me occasionally. While the things she says are hurtful sometimes (yes, one time it was about the quality of my tennis shoes!) I've come to understand she's actually jealous that I can stick within my budget and don't need expensive new things just to be in fashion. It's kinda like the boy in highschool who hits the girl he likes: it's a way of showing their admiration.

[lucille]

Yes.
The people who do the mocking or snarky comments are generally not close friends. People like coworkers or people who know you through other people.

People I don't know well or coworkers I don't tell where I bought something at. Most of the coworker thing has to do with working in marketing. There is a mindset that not spending a ton of money on everything is a sign of professional failure or something.

Generally my comeback is something along the lines of why my way was beneficial vs. their assumed "proper way". IE: my boring car I owned for years was paid for and got good gas mileage. People who would make fun of my less than sexy car dropped the issue quickly when I pointed out that it was paid for because they were carrying huge car payments on their status car. Someone tried to publicly embarrass me for not wearing diamonds at work. So I pointed out that they were not a personal preference, too unoriginal and I had issues with the ethics of their production and the artificial inflation of the price through marketing. I wouldn't have shared that opinion had they not tried to publicly "shame" me like I was Cinderella.

I generally don't share my frugalness with people unless I have some inclination that they would appreciate it.

The idea that things only have value based on how much you spent for it is what caused so many people to run up debt they can't pay back.

[rabidpotatochip]

I was mocked for being frugal, possibly because my whole venture into frugality was a means to find money for a vacation (), but now I find people are coming to me for advice on saving money. A lot of people I know have been hit by the whole financial crisis thing, some of them are just scared of it, so they're looking for ways to save money. I've taught my immediate family how to use a budget and how to lower spending without drastic lifestyle changes and while the mocking still happens, it's all in good fun now.

I think with the way things are going right now, there will be a lot less mocking of frugal people. The cheap shall inherit the earth, or something like that.

[lucille]

Originally Posted by rabidpotatochip

The cheap shall inherit the earth, or something like that.

I want that on a tshirt!

Most of the hassles I have gotten for being frugal were back during the boom a few years ago. I think people are starting to rethink their spending and consumption now.

[purplefdu]

I've gotten snarky comments, including my mother-in-law who says I am "lazy" because I work from home and don't feel an incredible need to get an outside job until we moved to the new apartment. It hurts from people you thought you knew well, others not at all. I've always been an oddball and outcast so I'm pretty used to it by now.

Until out last two cars we actually owned two cars paid for in cash (at 2k a piece from dealerships) which for someone between 20 and 30 is quite an accomplishment. I just laugh.

[lucille]

Originally Posted by purplefdu

I've gotten snarky comments, including my mother-in-law who says I am "lazy" because I work from home and don't feel an incredible need to get an outside job until we moved to the new apartment. It hurts from people you thought you knew well, others not at all. I've always been an oddball and outcast so I'm pretty used to it by now.

Until out last two cars we actually owned two cars paid for in cash (at 2k a piece from dealerships) which for someone between 20 and 30 is quite an accomplishment. I just laugh.

Some people can not comprehend a job that doesn't involve going to an office, store or factory. Along with that must come some level of misery for it to be considered a job.

When I freelanced and worked out of my office at home I got it all the time. People thought I didn't have a job, even after I told them what I did they thought I didn't have a job.