Frugal vs. Cheap - Which Are You?

Many people confuse the difference between being frugal and being cheap, including people that are in the business of being frugal. What's the difference?

Being frugal means that you are making smart spending choices or getting the most for your dollar. On the other-hand, being cheap or a miser by definition means to be a stingy hoarder of money and possessions. Clearly these reference two very different behaviour types when it comes to spending and saving money!

Let's look at examples of being frugal opposed to being cheap or a cheapskate:

Frugal: Concerned about value
Cheap: Concerned about cost

Frugal: Thinks about the long term
Cheap: Thinks about the short term

Frugal: Saving packets of ketchup left over from takeout to use later rather than dispose
Cheap: Stopping into a restaurant to pickup ketchup packets so they don't have to pay for it

Frugal: Will order according to budget at a restaurant, so they afford a tip
Cheap: Refusing to tip at a restaurant or under-tipping so they can get whatever they want

Frugal: Help family and friends with their knowledge of saving, budgeting, coupons, etc
Cheap: Often keep a running tally with friends, family and co-workers

Frugal: Generally, more generous in nature
Cheap: Generally, more selfish in nature

Living a frugal lifestyle is all about the choices that you make. Making use of low cost and free resources around your city or town will save you a bundle and help you achieve your goals for financial freedom. Visit the FDR Frugal Living Forum for ideas on making subtle lifestyle changes and how to live more frugally.

Reducing your Expenses even Further!! Making your money count!!

We've been offering suggestions for saving money, reducing expenses and making some extra cash to help people fly through the recession with little turbulence. We have more ideas that may help those struggling or juggling!

1. Take advantage of the newly introduced TFSA (tax-free savings account). Keep your interest earnings sheltered from taxes. Even if you only have a little savings account, keep your money by earning interest tax-free. There's a maximum deposit amount of $5000 per year per person.
2. Stop wasting food and get creative with leftovers. Meats can be used in fajitas, burritos, wraps, pitas, quesadillas or as pizza toppings. Vegetables can be used in salads, dips, quiches, omelets, soups, can be barbecued, grilled or used in the slow cooker. Extra breads (unbuttered) can be used for croutons, bread puddings or in French onion soup. Extra pasta can be turned into a pasta salad. Leftover wine can be frozen in cubes and later used in sauces, gravies and marinades or for simmering foods in. Leftover rice can be put into soups or in rice pudding.
3. Plan meals around foods that are currently in season. In-season foods cost less because they don't have to be transported from other locales.
4. Ask stores for a discount. My friend always asks "Is there anything free today?" and surprisingly enough at least 75% of the time my friend gets something thrown into the purchase or is given a discount. For the other 25% that he is turned down, it never hurt him to ask. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
5. Buying store brands can be helpful in reducing costs, but be careful, some prices can be higher than brand names products. Store brands are comparable in quality but easier on the wallet.
6. Car pool to work with co-workers. Ride a bicycle to extra curricular events. Walk to the store instead of driving you car. Look for ways to reduce your car use and save a bundle of cash.
7. Baking soda and white vinegar are great natural cleaners and are less costly than using store purchased cleaning products. Make your cleaning products for pennies at home and reduce your grocery bill each year by hundreds!
8. Use reusable grocery bags to avoid store fees for plastic bags and get a possible discount for using the bag, depending on the store where you shop.
9. Use travel mugs at Starbucks or Tim Hortons and your coffee price is reduced by 10 cents. It doesn't sound like much for 1 coffee but how about 1 coffee every day for a year, and you've saved $36.50, 2 coffees every day is $73.00 savings each year! Plus as an added bonus, you're helping to reduce extra waste in the environment.

There's many ways to help you reduce your cost of living, stretch your dollar and live more frugally; we'll cover more ideas and tips again.