Frugal Friday: Cheap Vs Frugal

Each Friday I am going to start posting Frugal tips. Frugal Fridays here at Thrifty Tiff. I did this a few years ago, and somehow slowly stopped…. but now we are back!

This first week back in the swing, I just wanted to chat with Cheap vs. Frugal. What is the difference? Is there a difference? Do you refer to yourself as cheap? Frugal? Both?

The other day I had a friend make the remark to me that since she has started couponing, she has opened a whole new look at living a thrifty lifestyle. I think this is true for many of us. I know it is true for me…or at least it lets you see in a different light the ways you were already living frugal and thrifty.

You all know that I am a stickler for a price book. I promise, if you never clip a coupon, a price book is a great way to save. And, avoiding impulse shopping purchases is a key to saving. But what about going beyond grocery shopping? There are creative ways to clean your house that save rather than buying expensive cleaners.

When you start to live a more frugal lifestyle, you will notice it is hard to throw anything out. Not in a hoarding way, but in a what can I do with this NOW that will save me money. You will see things have more potential than just what they were made for. Re-purposing old items is another way to save!

So, what is the line between Cheap and Frugal? To me, Cheap means I am willing to do without because it costs too much. Cheap means little thought about a wise way to save other than do without. Cheap means being stingy at times. Cheap is like those on the TLC show Extreme Cheapskates.

Frugal means I can think of ways to have what I want and save money while obtaining it. Prudently saving. Frugal is not being wasteful with taste.

Here is an example: If there is a certain product that I LOVE and can not do without. Lets say, the type of bread I feed my family. Many of you have heard me express how there is a certain type of bread I feed my family. This bread is far more expensive than others. I teach you all to save, and use coupons, and stack coupons with a sale, and to not be brand loyal. But there are items I am not willing to budge on. If I was cheap, I would forget about the product that I love, and value for my family. I would do without and use cheaper bread. But because I am frugal, I can find ways to save to afford the bread. How about not wasting the end pieces? How about storing the bread so it lasts longer. Freezing it when I get a discount?

So here is my tip for today:

Did you know the bags that cereal comes in inside the boxes are Wax Paper? You could avoid ever needing to buy wax paper again (or less often) by rinsing out these cereal bags.

-Use them as wax paper
- Use them to wrap a sandwich
-Use them to scrush up graham crackers inside for a pie
-Use them to wrap a dirty diaper in
-Lay on the counter as a liner for meat
-Broken glass? Place inside the cereal bag before tossing into trash

So… its up to you. Reusing Cereal Bags, Cheap or Frugal?

*Got an interesting Cheap vs Frugal idea? Leave it in the comments!
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