I’m really enjoying all the comments on yesterday’s post about being frugal versus being cheap. Sarah made an excellent point.
“To me, frugal is getting the most for your money. Cheap is being frugal at the expense of others.”
I think she hit it right on. Frugal is being smart about money, and has a fairly positive connotation. Cheap is a bit of a dirty word, with a definite negative vibe, and maybe that is because someone who is cheap is someone who hurts others by their spending ways. If I bring sandwich supplies to work to save money, I’m being frugal. If I steal my co-worker’s mustard every single day because I don’t want to buy my own jar, I’m being cheap. (And a lunch thief – the worst of the worst.)
So in case you missed the discussion, chime in! What’s your definition of frugal? Of cheap? Got any good stories about cheap friends or family members?
