We've been cutting down on outgoings in the rookie household recently and I have been musing on this one.
My thoughts are that anything that creates savings but doesn't impact negatively on anyone else is definitely frugal, so things such as doing the family shopping in a cheaper supermarket, buying DS's clothes from E-bay, not going out as much, would all be under that heading.
So I guess being tight would be making people chip in for dinner if they come round, not buying a round when you are out, stuff like that.
It's just that my definition of being frugal is changing. I used to think that people that brought in their own lunch or coffee were stingy, now I'm kicking myself that I wasted so much money over the years. I've also noticed that more people in our office are brown bagging - and one of the contractors didn't go out for a team lunch the other day as he said he had no money - which I can't imagine someone admitting to a few years ago ( btw I thought it was v mature of him to state this) .
I should add that this is meant to be fairly light hearted, we have overspent, but it's a question of raiding savings and cutting down on expenses rather than being on the breadline - so if you are in the position where every penny counts, then you absolutely should do what's right for you.
Has your definition of frugal and tight altered over the years - what crosses the line between the two?
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Difference between being frugal and just plain tight?
rookiemater · 14/02/2014 11:51
Frugal as compared to the £30k original price!
I'm a bloke, some things are essential 
DH and I are frugal with work lunches, meal planning etc but generous to friends and family... we regularly have 12 for Sunday lunch etc.
However we had friends come to visit us for a week a few years ago. They stayed in the travel lodge on the other side of town as it was the cheapest option (we don't have room for another family for a week). They then decided it was cheaper to come by train than drive so they got us to pick them up/drop them off every day. We cooked all evening meals at ours except for one night we ate out (split the bill) and made packed lunches for days at the beach, daytrips etc.
When we went out on the first day I offered to get the coffee/cake. They ordered what they wanted as did their children and we paid. A few days later we went for coffee and cake again and they said it was their turn to pay (all very good, first thing they had paid for in four days!) We were in Costa and they suggested they go up and get it. Asked what drinks we would like and said they would get a selection of cakes. They returned with 3 teas and a coffee and 2 cakes which they then cut into pieces and ate themselves! They handed the DC's a carton of Tesco value diluting apple juice each and a pk of 10p haribo. Considering they happily assisted their kids in choosing milkshakes and choc fudge cake when we paid I was seething.
The following day we were going to a museum so DH announced we could just eat there or grab a take away sandwich, fruit, drink etc from the M&S food nearby and eat in the park next to it if the weather held up. They suggested we stop in the café (we were amazed) and then announced 'seen as it is your turn to get the coffee we will sort lunch in the park'. DH and I said if they were sure or we could just pay our own now and at lunch, but they insisted. So we paid for everyone to have coffee, juice, scones etc then a few hours later they suggested we take the kids to the park and they would nip for lunch. They came back with 8 greggs sausage rolls, a bag of mini donughts and 4 bottles of water! Firstly there were 9 of us altogether... so after we fed our children (3) DH had half a sausage roll and I had sod all. They both had the cheek to announce on the train home that they were starving and what was for dinner?!?! 
.
THey often boast about how good they are doing, weekends here there and everywhere but it seems to be at the expense of everyone else. NEVER AGAIN. Some people are just rude and tight!
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