Comments on: Embarrassed to be frugal?

By: Margaux's Mom

Margaux's Mom — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 02:12:20 +0000

Frugal living is about determining what you want out of your life, and finding a way to make it happen. A couple dollars saved here, and a few dollars invested there doesn’t translate into a life of deprivation; it translates into possibilities.

Decide what you want to get out of life, and then use frugality to make it happen.

By: Tyrone | Millionaire Acts

Tyrone | Millionaire Acts — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:29:51 +0000

There is only one way to financial freedom and that is to “Earn More and Desire Less”. In order to desire less, we must be frugal.

I remember there was this instance before. Because of frugality, I rarely buy clothes. Instead, I usually use the office clothes of my dad. My officemates told me that I dress up “baduy” and old. So they really encouraged me to buy new clothes.

By: Issa@youwanttoberich.com

Issa@youwanttoberich.com — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 11:03:29 +0000

Gosh, this brings back memories of wearing shoes with soles almost detaching itself, or shirt getting too short because the hem has been hemmed a little too much… and that’s not because of me ha… that’s because of the frugality of my mother. I guess, frugality has an offshoot and sometimes, it’s the kids who “suffer”. While I am sure I did not feel good during those times, the memories kind of make me feel good somewhat, o masochist lang ako… pero parang been there been that….

By: Ryan

Ryan — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:45:20 +0000

Hi Salve! Yes, I definitely agree! My own definition of being frugal is being able to get every peso and centavo’s worth of whatever you purchased, expensive or not. After all, you should get what you pay for di ba?

By: salve

salve — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:14:52 +0000

Kendrick, somehow, your comment reminded me of what a source from BPI said about the families of OFWs they work with in their financial literacy campaign. When the remittance comes and its fiesta time, they always want to buy new curtains etc to show off. The BPI official would tell them the curtains don’t matter when the bank account is zero! The technical term yata is “conspicuous spending.” People want to spend on things they can show off! Tsk tsk

By: salve

salve — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 10:56:54 +0000

Ryan, I like that strategy ha. I used to buy so much from those flea markets but realized that after one or two spins in the washing machine, they already looked tattered and used. Isn’t that a waste of money too? Being frugal really is not the same as being cheap! Do you agree?

By: salve

salve — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 10:54:35 +0000

Ate Taya, that’s a puzzle nga to many people. Sometimes (and this may sound like a generalization but i would like to think it is not), the rich go around in slippers and simple clothes. They don’t worry too much about the image?

By: ALVIN T. TABANAG, RFP

ALVIN T. TABANAG, RFP — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 05:53:19 +0000

I’m proud to be frugal and I want frugal to be the next “cool” thing to do.

I have a 12-year old car which I have no plans of replacing yet (not in the next 3 to 5 years). I’m the “drive-your-car-to-death” kinda guy. I have 3 pairs of sunglasses worth P200 each. I have a 3-year old cellphone and the most expensive brand new unit I ever bought cost less than P7,000. I take public transport 80% of the time. I don’t drink P100-a-cup coffee (well, I don’t drink coffee). I wear tattered shirts & shorts at home.

It doesn’t mean though I live a miserable, boring life and eat instant noodles most of the time. My family goes on vacation (local & abroad) once or twice a year. We like to celebrate significant (and sometimes not so significant) events. I occasionally spend time with drinking/singing buddies. I love to host family get- togethers especially in my hometown.

I guess the idea of being frugal is to allow you to engage in the things you really love doing. That’s exactly what I’m doing.

By: Kendrick

Kendrick — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:11:22 +0000

For whatever reason, I have been branded as “kuripot” by my college friends and office mates. I’d like to believe I’m frugal. Heck, I know I have more money than they do. =)

Nice article, Salve. Keep it up!

By: Ryan

Ryan — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 06:49:56 +0000

I hardly buy new clothes and stuff unless necessary as well, and I have a different way of fighting off the embarrassment (and subsequent temptation of spending just to keep up with the others) — I save up to buy classic high-end (and highly durable) clothes (especially pants and shoes) then I use them basically FOREVER (with proper upkeep and care).

That way, kahit luma na but still serviceable, I just say to myself na kahit hindi ako updated like the others, my clothes are still very valuable, and may be even more than their fancy new stuff! Since most of the new stuff they buy are probably for the sake of showing off the brands that they can afford (rather than necessity), kaya mo nang makipagsabayan sa one-upsmanship of owning branded clothes, even though not as new as theirs, di ba?

Did that sound practical or not? haha