being frugal helped me pay my house off by the age of 40. i could have bought the fancy car and the nice clothes, but i put the money into extra payments to my house. i paid it off in 15 years. now i have extra money to invest & save for my daughters college & retirement. im gladd i didn't by that fancy car or huge house.

Frugality for me is a plea. (I also write bad poetry)  The Earth is suffocating under the dense blanket of throw away crap we create and believe we need.  I'm an offender too but  try to adhere to my own creed.  I sold my house and some of my belongings.  Now I'm living in a 150 square foot cabin.  There is a minimum of household items.  I don't need them.  It's not just about money as many people have said.  It's freedom, courtesy to the environment and other species, help to third world laborers who work for little money and perhaps equality for us all.  (Will you not be noticed and therefore lovable if you're not wearing Prada?)

God bless all you frugal people! Whatever your reasons, you've demonstrated that in an age of excessive consumerism, you can control wasteful compulsive behavior. You are also healthier, happier, and less stressed. We're the normal ones...you know, the kind that use common sense and actually THINK about how we spend our money, and more importantly how we save our money. Frugality is a way of life! Don't forget to spread the word to the next generation before they're saddled with lifelong debt for buying stuff they don't need. Share your wisdom!

en.wikipedia.org/.../Frugality

As a young Air Force trainee in 1971 I had the fortunate chance to meet two master sergeants who, it turned out, had both become millionaires.  Both had achieved their wealth through frugality, careful and consistent investing and always keeping an eye out for the best deal.  Both knew how to make the best use of military benefits and to ignore the scams and ripoffs often pitched to troops.  Example:  Ignore the whole-life insurance salesmen who will gather around you with each promotion.  Buy term life insurance from the least-cost source and invest the difference.

I truly learned money management at the feet of the masters and it has served me well.  Although I did not make the Air Force a career, I heeded their lessons to make the best use of assets and opportunities throughout my corporate career, retiring at 54.  Although my wife and I live well by most standards, I still have the heart of that young airman when it comes to money.

A cheap person leaves no tip at a restaurant.  A frugal person only eats at a restaurant if he can afford to leave an appropriate tip.  Nothing wrong with being frugal.  

Once i reach a certain level, i will feel safer. If i can hit my million target in the next 4 years, i will feel much better about spending my paychecks. In fact, for the first time ever, when i hit that number, i will spend my next paycheck on capricious frivolity and wallow in it.

Its nice to see that I'm not the only one who cares more about saving money than spending it.  My parents required my sisters and I to start working as soon as the fields would take us (age 9).  We had to pick berries, zucchini, and work at the local canery.  In addition, we would take a second job, when we were older and saved our own money for college.  We also had to buy our own clothes for school, and anything else we wanted.  It made use become good workers and appreciate that our money was hard earned, and not to be squandered away, but saved on something important (investing in our future).  My husband likes to buy things and have things because he works hard and "deserves" it.  But he also wants me to work hard so "we" can buy more things.  I'd rather save the money I do earn, because there is nothing I like more than not worrying about paying the next bill, and having alot of time in between to not have to think about it.  That's what makes me enjoy life.  Then I can take a day off and enjoy it, instead of saying I should have worked it becasue I might need it.

I learned being frugal from a tough year at work. I worked for a micro-manager who rode me everyday. I had built up a good 401K but not enough to retire. I quit anyway. The next day after quitting the big boss asked me to stay. He told the micro-manager to lay off. I returned. 6 months later the micro-manager left. But since that day I agreed to come back, I boosted my 401K to 25% of my pay. I had been at 12%. I now know I can live on half my pay. Taxes take 25%. I watch my spending, I do all that the longtime frugals have said above. But the freedom to know you can live fine on far less is the biggest gift.

Sometimes I stop to ponder a question that nags me: How can I spend more money ? My investments are doing well, and all of my money needs have been met. I am retired after a lifetime of frugality that began in poverty, and was solidified by an engineering education, and a career of wisely managing money for manufacturers. The answer is that I CAN"T spend more money. My ingrained frugal nature will not allow it. I pity people who use credit cards, who borrow money to buy cars or vacations, and I nod in agreement as I read the savings suggestions in articles like yours. If kids do not have the advantage of poverty at birth, the schools could at least spend more time in training them to manage life's expenses.

I grew up with a father that was very poor when he was young.  He was very frugal with his money.  He would take me as a little girl to his barber shop to get my hair cuts for free.  He worked at a surplus store and I would have to wear boys clothes from that store.  Needless to say I was made fun of ALOT!!  I am 36 years old now and a mother of 3 little girls.  I make sure they are always dressed nice and we are always looking for the sales.  My father retired at the age of 55 and is very wealthy.  He gives each of us $25.00 for Christmas and expects us to give him fancy gifts.  

My father and mother travel alot now and are enjoying their retirement to the fullest. On the other hand my father in-law who has a college degree always bought my husband and his brother the most fancy gifts.  My father In-Law is now 55 broke and disabled.  He often asks us on a monthly basis for money.  I guess you can learn a little from both families.