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I was having lunch (using a coupon, of course) with one of my most frugal friends when she laid a bomb on me: there are only two types of frugal people.
I have always believed there are many types of frugal folks because financial situation, upbringing, and goals vary widely. But when she explained herself, I realized she was right.
Type No. 1 – Frugal by Nature
Type 1 folks are frugal by nature. Spending money causes us pain and we often go without spending even if it would make our lives easier. We will go without, postpone, or delay to save. We will spend extra time researching a product irregardless of how much – or how little – we stand to gain, dollarwise. We will drive extra miles to shave a few bucks off a purchase. The bottom line is that we get an emotional hit from snagging a hot deal and are willing to deny ourselves to score.
Type No. 2. – Frugal by Necessity
Type 2 folks are frugal because we have to be. We recently got laid off, have a partner/spouse who lost a job, or left a job or to raise a family. We want to use coupons and look for sales to save. We are savvy enough to recognize we need to budget and alter our spending behavior, but get hung up because spending money brings us joy, even if we later feel stressed out by our cashflow. We do our best to distinguish between needs and wants. Bottom line is we get an emotional hit from having a new thing, regardless of price.
I know I’m type No. 1 because I am such a firm believer in doing things myself to save money that I often get into ridiculous situations, like the time I made my summer intern create thousands of homemade raffle tickets. Or the time I decided to distribute flyers across Los Angeles via bicycle on a 95-degree day to save gas money. Or the time…
Which type are you?
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price. 
After my husband was laid off from his NASA job of 20+ yrs I am learning to be frugal by necessity! I must admit it’s rather addicting!
@Debbie I agree! Once you get a great deal and realize you almost never have to pay full price, it’s hard to go back!
Combo of both types –
I grew up with parents who were children of the depression … don’t throw away because it can be fixed or save it we can use it later – even if it means 10 years later! or, it’s new (what do you mean new, it’s 10 yrs old!).
Irregardless??? really?
I am both, actually. I guess I’m just cheap? lol
I would say I’m frugal by nature in SOME things (HATE not reusing plastic bags, I use washable reusable hard plastic straws b/c buying straws bothers me, it gets my OCD dander up) and by necessity in other things (pay HOW MUCH for a special-event dress? really? that’s not in the budget!)… so I’m a combo too. My mom was a frugal by nature CRAZY person (they knew her by name at the outlet stores, we had her 50th bday with a red carpet at her favorite one where she showed up, walked the carpet, and the manager of the store gave her a plaque for being a “super shopper”)… but sticking to the budget is really what keeps me on track with finding bargains.
I’m both, too, but I’m careful about being penny-wise and pound foolish. If I have a coupon for an item that’s not in my weekly budget, I’ll buy it anyway because I don’t want to spend full price later on something I use on a regular basis.
This is too good a tip not to share re: plastic grocery bags. I saw it in a book I checked out from the library. If you are a knitter or crocheter, cut the handles off the bags. Then cut a long, one inch wide, spiral strip all the way down to the bottom of the bag. Put the leftover handles and bag bottoms in the recycling bin, or save to use as packing material. Tie a bunch of these strips together for plastic yarn. Knit or crochet a shopping bag using any of the great felted bag designs available, using the felted measurements as a guide.
I’m also both, so I guess there are three types of frugal. I’ve been subsisting on old, dry cereal and stale, 1 year old crackers for the past two weeks because I cannot find ANY type of work.
But at the same time, I wouldn’t say i get any kind of emotional hit off buying new stuff, unless it is something I REALLY want and have REALLY wanted it for along time. I still DO NOT believe in spending money on junk you don’t REALLY want, or on paying full price if you can get it cheaper (unless you’re actually wealthy).
Oh, and don’t forget one large category of frugal by necessity people: the working poor. There are millions of working poor, you know.
And also disabled and elderly people who simply cannot work!
I’m definitely a combo frugal person. I reduce/reuse/recycle, and have done since before it became the fashionable green thing to do. I clip coupons regularly, and pass along the unused ones to others. I had to downsize when I retired, as I lost all Social Security (thanks to those windfall and offset provisions that penalize teachers), and had to learn to live on less than half of what I was netting before. We do what we have to do, and learn to be a bit creative with whatever we have.
Note to grammar gramma: Remember Li’l Abner/Al Capp’s use of irregardless? Drove my father nuts!!!
I am frugal by necessity but I must admit, I love finding something brand new at a Thrift store..I am not the type to get excited because I spent more at an expensive store…I get more excited because I bought the expensive thing brand new at a Thrift Store…Other than that, I am definitely frugal for necessity…
half n half. My parents grew up in the Depression era too, so I got a lot of that…I can make things, its called ‘creativity’ by some…I don’t see why someone would pay $795 for a pair of sandals, that the similar could be purchased for $25…somethings can be made, some things researched.
At this point in my life I am frugal by necessity. It’s not what I had planned, but it is what it is. I hope that things get back to normal for me in the next couple of years, because I don’t love this at all. However, I do get a rush when I find exceptional coupons that give me free stuff, like a meal, etc.
I was born type 1 but evolved into type 2. So by the transitive property does that still make me type 1?
I never valued the status of designer or namebrand anything even before becoming type 2.
I also have to hold my tongue when people I dine with order a huge meal and don’t take the leftovers home. I heart leftovers!
Besides a good deal, edible or not, always gets the endorphins flowing.
Re: Plastic bag comments It might be said that being frugal is equivalent to being green.
I would say I’m mostly a Type 2, but type 1 rears it head every once in awhile.
To EllieD: I didn’t understand your comment that you lost your social security upon retirement. I, too, taught but resigned as opposed to retired. Irregardless(!!!),* there is no social security in L.A. Unified; therefore, I earned none in my 20 years of teaching. Where did you teach?
* One of the subjects I taught was English, so I’m with grammar gramma.
To Diane: I was with LAUSD for 32+ years, part of which was in a classified position on a part-time basis when my kids were young. I’d also worked in the private sector on SS, and my late husband worked in TV for almost 40 years. When I first started with LAUSD, we weren’t told we’d lose all accrued SS upon retirement (not the same as resigning), so it came as a bit of a shock.
I, too, taught English, with an emphasis on writing, so incorrect grammar makes me cringe. I also got that from my dad, who was a nut on usage.
To EllieD: I have several friends who are/were career teachers/administrators with the LAUSD. None of the retirees collected SS because all paid into the District’s retirement plan. The District doesn’t contribute to the SS fund.
To BB: Thank you for letting EllieD and me (not I!) have this “private” conversation.
I’m type #1, definitely! Even when I’m extremely excited about buying a special toy or gift or vacation, there is pain in the actual outflow of money.
I’ve found ways to avoid that pain in a couple areas:
1. For my phone, I bought an Ooma which involved a chunk of money up front for the hardware and paying for a set period of service. Ouch. But after that, I now have no regular phone bill, so it’s one less thing that feels like a monthly drain of my budget.
2. A few years back, I paid quite a bit for an all-inclusive vacation. It was painful to pay up front but I realized during the vacation that not having to see money flying out of my wallet everyday was great and helped me enjoy myself more! Before that, I never realized how all the spending that occurs *during* a vacation sucks the joy a bit.
How’s this for evidence of a type #1 frugal?
I’m 63 yrs. old & have been Type 1 since I was 18. Coupons, rebates, UPC symbols, boxtops! I got married at 18; had 3 sweethearts by the time I was 22. A stay at home Mom. I had file folders & marked boxes everywhere! My husband thought I was crazy ’til he saw how much money I was saving. He actually would pitch in & help me organize it. My Dad cut coupons for me & mailed them FROM FLORIDA every 2 weeks! I couldn’t wait for that fat envelope to arrive! My Dad cut those coupons ’til 3 yrs. ago when he moved in with me. That’s 42 yrs that he did that & I didn’t ask him to. He loved hearing me tell him how much I saved every week. I’ve been disabled for several yrs. so coupons is all that I do & every other week, I do my rounds of 3 favorite thrift stores. I donate what I don’t need & buy what I do need. I save a lot of money at CVS with those extra bucks coupons. Other stores are starting to do it now too. Boy! I’m loving this website. My hand is starting to ache from all the writing of info just today! Thanks everybody!