Don’t tell my husband but I think I have crossed the line. What line you wonder? The line between being frugal and a tightwad.
This morning I went to visit my friend so that our kids could play together. I complimented some very nice baskets she had in the living room for quick toy pick up. As she is telling me that she bought them 50% off at a big discount store, all I could think about was “That’s too much money, I can’t spend that much money on something like that.” But in perspective it wasn’t that much money and what is most important is that the baskets provide an excellent purpose: keep the living room looking tidy.
The rest of my visit I couldn’t help but think of what I have become: A tightwad, I DO NOT like spending money . The difference between this and being a frugal person, according to Wikipedia, is that a frugal person acquires goods on a restrained manner.
But lately, just the thought of spending money makes me cringe. This is why when I go grocery shopping if my bill is more than $25 I wonder what went wrong. This is why I dislike sharing a deal where you actually have to spend any money out of pocket because I don’t want to help you spend money. I want to help you keep more of it. This is why Deputy Headmistress’ post “Keep What’s in Your Hand” resonated with me.
Further thinking about it I am not surprised I have gotten here. I have always been extremely competitive with myself. Over the past eight months I have enjoyed seeing my spending go down. I have also been pushing our budget down by sending more and more to savings via automatic savings. But what will the lower limit be?
Being a tightwad is not always good. There are many times when you just have to spend money in order to keep what you have. This is why I am glad I have my husband as a sounding board because there have been many times where I have wanted to buy the cheapest of something but he has pushed for the better value. The term tightwad is synonym of miser and the last thing I want is for my family or me to feel miserable or deprived.
Hi! I am Mercedes and this is my blog Common Sense with Money! Helping other people live better, spend less, and save more is something I am very passionate about. I combine simple frugal living tips and smart shopping techniques to help moms across the U.S. become better home economists. Thank you for visiting my blog.
I had someone say that I was tight with money. He said “She hates to spend money.” Funny thing is that I didn’t realize that this friend noticed my spending habits.
Stay true to your goals but let go once in a while. Baskets for toys isn’t going to veer you off the course too much!
Peace!
I’ve found I get a little thrill inside when I find a great deal on something for the house, baby, etc. and I KNOW because I’ve stuck to my budget that I can afford it without throwing my family into financial chaos. It’s such a satisfied, calm, peaceful freedom.
fantastic post!
The line is tough- that’s for sure. I think it boils down to two competing mindsets.
1. Plan for tomorrow. By delaying gratification, the reward will be many times more satisfying later on.
2. Live in the moment. Who wants to deprive ourselves for a large portion of our lives? We could be taken from this world tomorrow, so it’s important to live a fulfilling life NOW.
It’s tough to balance for sure- but it’s so worth it.
Hey at least you’re on the right side of the fence! I’d rather be dealing with that internal issue than the spend-a-holic one. Good post!