Do you know the difference between being frugal and being cheap? They are not the same thing. Here are some ways to tell, or at least explain, the difference.
In the past, many people used the words cheap and frugal interchangeably. Someone who saved money was automatically cheap, a tightwad, a skinflint. Today, frugal is actually coming into style. As the economy and the environment changes, people are embracing the idea of saving money. But sometimes people are motivated to save money at the expense of the good of others. This in my opinion is being cheap.
There is a danger of crossing over from frugal to cheap. I am sure that I have done it on occasion. It is easy to get so caught up in saving money that you miss the bigger picture.
When you go out to dinner and order an appetizer or ask a friend to split an entree, you may be considered frugal. If you go out to the local warehouse club once a week and have lunch with all of the free samples, then you may be cheap.
If you take advantage of free product samples, you may be considered frugal. If you return those samples to the store for money, then you may be cheap (and possibly a criminal).
If you buy your family second hand clothes or toys to save money, you may be considered frugal. If you pull a pair of pants out of your own drawer and try to pass them off as a new gift, then you may be cheap.
If you ask nicely for a deal on a new purchase rather than taking the retail price, you may be considered frugal. If you rudely demand a deal on a new purchase because the world owes you one, then you may be cheap.
If you stockpile on good deals and then turn around and donate extra ones, you may be considered frugal. If you grab more than you can use leaving none for the next shoppers to find, then you may be cheap.
If you make your own laundry detergent, wash your clothes in cold water and hang them to dry, you may be considered frugal. If you only visit a friend or relative so you can do laundry at their home, then you may be cheap.
If you are concerned about the value of something, you may be considered frugal. If you are concerned about the cost of something, then you may be cheap.
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