The point at which being frugal interferes with personal hobbies, cultural activities, or just being able to do what makes you happy, is when it has gone too far.
Yes, I think a person can become too frugal. I admire people that can live on a shoestring, but most of the people that live on a shoestring do so because their income dictates that. Now, the other side to the coin is when you live so frugal that you deprive yourself the enjoyment of living. My father passed away with money in the bank and never meet my grandchildren, his great grandchildren. Thechilden all live in CA and while he was living he lived in Ohio, not a long hard journey. He lived so frugal he was cut off from his family and ate cheap unhealthy food, which contributed to his poor health. So, yes I think you can live to frugal. If you have the means enjoy your life--it is really short.
Victorian Age Wall Street investor Hetty Green, who became the world's richest woman, was so frugal throughout her life that she pinched pennies in every aspect of her life, even to the point of wearing the same clothing for months at a time. I think she went overboard with frugality. So, yes, it's possible to be too frugal, particularly when it cuts into all enjoyment of life.
In this economy, I don't think it's possible to be too frugal. Things are now in such a state we need to move back to the automatic frugality, as in the time of the Depression and World War II- when conservation and frugality was a way of life. Today, it's not a choice for our family and many others. We are frugal to survive, and live beneath our means so we can squirrel away some savings for emergencies, medical expenses and a weekend away now and then. Since none of us is exempt from a financial crisis, we must all be diligent in appropriating the money we earn!
My father-in-law had the opportunity to buy a nice new condo in Florida at a great price but decided on a used mobile home because of the reduced investment. After around 20 years, the trailer park was ultimately sold and all the trailers had to be moved. My father-in-law went to sell the trailer but it was barely worth anything. Matter of fact, If he had bought the condo, it would have been free and clear at that point and the taxes and fees would have been a small percentage of the lot rent cost. Matter of fact, they spent their winters in Florida without many amenities such as central air and a washer and dryer in that little trailer. Yes, you can be too frugal.. becoming penny wise and pound foolish as some people say..
Yes, it's entirely possible to overdo frugality. If you are washing and reusing paper towels or swiping condiments from fast-food places you, my friend, are too frugal.
Yes, it is possible to be too frugal. The point at which being frugal imposes upon your ability to maintain basic relationships, your health, or the health of others, you are too frugal. Dumpster diving, a diet of only Top Ramen noodles, taking only cold showers may be examples of being too frugal.
Yes--it is possible to be "too" frugal when you do things that are unsafe (reuse those styrofoam meat trays) or silly (wash and reuse plastic wrap) or just 'ick' (bathing every third Wednesday and doing laundry only in February and July).
People who are uninsured and need to see a doctor can also visit www.freeclinics.us - the website of the National Association of Free Clinics, where you can search for a local clinic in your area.
"Sounds like one of those nonsensical things my grandma used to say like, "a penny saved is a penny earned." "
Maybe you're just too young to have come to respect and appreciate people with greater life experience than you. The problem with your brother's iPads is with your brother, not the product. And yes, you do get what you pay for. Mercedes please.
I think a lot of the answer depends on the situation of the person being frugal. A man with a million dollars who reuses paper towels is being cheap. A man with no money and debt up to his eyeballs reusing paper towels is frugal.
It's all a matter of perspective.
When you've used a coupon in conjunction with a store-wide sale, get a large percentage off on a typical item and you're excited, you're just being frugal. If you're NOT excited and you're still not satisfied with your large savings, you're being cheap.
There is a place where frugal becomes cheap. Going out with friends and constantly "forgetting" your wallet and never paying anyone back because you want to have fun without the expense, that's cheap. Frugal is going out with your friends, ordering something within your own spending limit, having a great time, and not making every friend hate to go out with you! Be frugal, but don't forget to have fun once in a while, your goals will still be there and if you are wise, you can live well along the journey!
Yes, I think that it is possible to be too frugal, but I think the threshold is different for everyone. My husband and I are quite frugal, but we do not allow that to affect our values. Having built in "splurges" allows us to enjoy the efforts of our frugality without breaking the budget.
Yes, I think you can be too frugal. If a person's desire to save money interferes with their health and general well-being, then I think that crosses a line. Things like avoiding doctor's appointments or neglecting household cleaning/maintenance to save money could be potentially life-threatening.
What a funny question! If you're looking in the mirror and asking yourself if you're "too frugal", then IMO you don't have a frugal soul and should be instead supporting the economy with your new car payment and fancy dinners out.
The point at which being frugal interferes with personal hobbies, cultural activities, or just being able to do what makes you happy, is when it has gone too far.
Yes, I think a person can become too frugal. I admire people that can live on a shoestring, but most of the people that live on a shoestring do so because their income dictates that. Now, the other side to the coin is when you live so frugal that you deprive yourself the enjoyment of living. My father passed away with money in the bank and never meet my grandchildren, his great grandchildren. Thechilden all live in CA and while he was living he lived in Ohio, not a long hard journey. He lived so frugal he was cut off from his family and ate cheap unhealthy food, which contributed to his poor health. So, yes I think you can live to frugal. If you have the means enjoy your life--it is really short.
Victorian Age Wall Street investor Hetty Green, who became the world's richest woman, was so frugal throughout her life that she pinched pennies in every aspect of her life, even to the point of wearing the same clothing for months at a time. I think she went overboard with frugality. So, yes, it's possible to be too frugal, particularly when it cuts into all enjoyment of life.
In this economy, I don't think it's possible to be too frugal. Things are now in such a state we need to move back to the automatic frugality, as in the time of the Depression and World War II- when conservation and frugality was a way of life. Today, it's not a choice for our family and many others. We are frugal to survive, and live beneath our means so we can squirrel away some savings for emergencies, medical expenses and a weekend away now and then. Since none of us is exempt from a financial crisis, we must all be diligent in appropriating the money we earn!
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My father-in-law had the opportunity to buy a nice new condo in Florida at a great price but decided on a used mobile home because of the reduced investment. After around 20 years, the trailer park was ultimately sold and all the trailers had to be moved. My father-in-law went to sell the trailer but it was barely worth anything. Matter of fact, If he had bought the condo, it would have been free and clear at that point and the taxes and fees would have been a small percentage of the lot rent cost. Matter of fact, they spent their winters in Florida without many amenities such as central air and a washer and dryer in that little trailer. Yes, you can be too frugal.. becoming penny wise and pound foolish as some people say..
Yes, it's entirely possible to overdo frugality. If you are washing and reusing paper towels or swiping condiments from fast-food places you, my friend, are too frugal.
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If your frugality interferes with your long-term happiness, then you're being too frugal!
Yes, it is possible to be too frugal. The point at which being frugal imposes upon your ability to maintain basic relationships, your health, or the health of others, you are too frugal. Dumpster diving, a diet of only Top Ramen noodles, taking only cold showers may be examples of being too frugal.
Yes--it is possible to be "too" frugal when you do things that are unsafe (reuse those styrofoam meat trays) or silly (wash and reuse plastic wrap) or just 'ick' (bathing every third Wednesday and doing laundry only in February and July).
People who are uninsured and need to see a doctor can also visit www.freeclinics.us - the website of the National Association of Free Clinics, where you can search for a local clinic in your area.
I think you are being too frugal when your actions adversely affect another person.
"Sounds like one of those nonsensical things my grandma used to say like, "a penny saved is a penny earned." "
Maybe you're just too young to have come to respect and appreciate people with greater life experience than you. The problem with your brother's iPads is with your brother, not the product. And yes, you do get what you pay for. Mercedes please.
I think a lot of the answer depends on the situation of the person being frugal. A man with a million dollars who reuses paper towels is being cheap. A man with no money and debt up to his eyeballs reusing paper towels is frugal.
It's all a matter of perspective.
I know someone who was so frugal it ruined his marriage. There is a fine line between being frugal and cheap.
I think it goes from being frugal to cheap when it starts impacting your life (or your family's) in a negative way.
When you've used a coupon in conjunction with a store-wide sale, get a large percentage off on a typical item and you're excited, you're just being frugal. If you're NOT excited and you're still not satisfied with your large savings, you're being cheap.
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There is a place where frugal becomes cheap. Going out with friends and constantly "forgetting" your wallet and never paying anyone back because you want to have fun without the expense, that's cheap. Frugal is going out with your friends, ordering something within your own spending limit, having a great time, and not making every friend hate to go out with you! Be frugal, but don't forget to have fun once in a while, your goals will still be there and if you are wise, you can live well along the journey!
Yes, I think that it is possible to be too frugal, but I think the threshold is different for everyone. My husband and I are quite frugal, but we do not allow that to affect our values. Having built in "splurges" allows us to enjoy the efforts of our frugality without breaking the budget.
Yes, I think you can be too frugal. If a person's desire to save money interferes with their health and general well-being, then I think that crosses a line. Things like avoiding doctor's appointments or neglecting household cleaning/maintenance to save money could be potentially life-threatening.
What a funny question! If you're looking in the mirror and asking yourself if you're "too frugal", then IMO you don't have a frugal soul and should be instead supporting the economy with your new car payment and fancy dinners out.
Is there such a thing as "too frugal"? Heck no.