I think some people are so focused on pinching pennies that it consumes their life to a certain extent.  Instead of just living their lives, they always worry about spending an extra ten cents.

I try to be practical and save money too, but at some point I have to cut myself some slack.  

As a jr.high kid in the 70's my folks didn't have alot of money to "GIVE" my brother and I for allowance...so if we wanted pocket money we scavanged...yep we picked up EVERY penny on the ground, picked up pop bottles for deposit--even had an arrangementment with a couple of the local bars to pick up their aluminum cans for recycling--they were just tossing them. Also bugged neighbors to do chores like walking dogs, washing cars, or bringing in garbage cans or papers. I remember how proud I was when I finally had enough money to buy a BRAND new bicycle and not have my brother's old one.. if nothing else we sure learned the value of a dollar, to be very proactive and how not to let opportunities go by... folks nowadays don't seem to have that mindset. Maybe because we're too soft...

Loved the article and the ladies. I shop 'Sallies' all the time - that's what my church calls the Salvation Army. So many bargains and expensive furniture if you go to the right locations. It's funny, between the SA and EBay I haven't paid full price for anything in well over a year? I don't think I could ever go back to it. Why would I spend $100+ for a suit when I can find one online for $10-15 or in the SA new with tags for $20-30? You have to know where to shop and for what items. For me, there's a SA I go to that has all great furniture, but expensive and you have to have a truck ready when you go. I've bought tv's, stereos, furnished my whole apartment etc. There are other SA's that only have good women's and children's clothing. So I carry a big bag with wheels, and bring a bag lunch because I know I'll be there a few hours. I've even found an SA that sells great handbags and new, in the box gifts. what others thorw away as useless items, I wrap and give as gifts - they ARE still new in the original packaging. Lastly, and I praise God for this part - if there's anything I get home that I can't use, I give it to the church, usually baged with a few extra handbags and shoes for needy families. To me it's recycling and it takes the focus off of money being so important. Thank God for great families who aren't afraid to part with knick-knacks and old items that I can definitely use and pass onto someone else. PS - I saw two construction workers checking out watches in an expensive store window - I told them to try EBAY. I paid $60 for a really fancy watch that's definitely real. That way they have more money to save and spend on their kids. God bless you in your bargain hunting. I know He's blessed me in my own!

Joe SixPack: I agree that obsession is no fun. It's not easy to be around people who constantly carp about how much everything is costing them -- or constantly crow about how little something has cost them.

Moderation in all things. (Including moderation.)

Thanks for your comment, and for reading Smart Spending.

Best regards,

Donna Freedman

Just this morning, I went to Burger King for breakfast. Yeah, it's not thrifty, but I did snag a few extra packets of ketchup for my stash at work. Also, I grabbed some of the jelly/jam packets because I've been eating peanut butter sandwiches at work. So today... I had a peanut butter AND JELLY sandwich!!! And a few extra napkins to wipe my mouth! :)

I just don't have the knack, I guess.   I watch my spending and occasionally get a great bargain.  But I cannot seem to find the daily bargains that others boast about.  I needed a pair of winter gloves, so I went to a local consignment shop to look.  Not one pair of gloves available.  Not one.  I did not want to waste gasoline driving to all available second hand shops.  Found a reasonably priced pair on sale at Sears.  

This kind of thing happens to me all the time.  I don't enjoy shopping, so don't frequent garage sales and flea markets.  If I need it or want it and I have the money I get it.  Once in a while I get it half price.

In our quest to dig ourselves out of debt, my husband & I have become even MORE frugal this year (we didn't think it possible, but it has indeed happened).

However, despite our frugal ways, we are probably happier now than ever before (getting rid of 30k in debt has really helped out there). The one area where we continue to "splurge", is with food. We both love to eat, but even there with careful shopping and an eagle eye for discounts we create the most fabulous "from scratch" meals at home. The other day we had a better-than-restaurant-quality dinner for 7 or 8 dollars. For the whole meal. NOT each. Fresh fish was on the menu at that meal, along with an excellent wine, and a few side dishes.

No, we didn't find the stuff dumpster diving (we're kinda clean freaks) or by shoplifting. Just by keeping an open mind and looking for steep discounts.

I have also recently become a convert to shopping at second-hand stores. I tried this before we moved to the desert and like Melody, could never find anything. Maybe where I live now is just a better market. Anyway, at one store here which seems especially promising I have seen higher-end labels on the racks (Ann Taylor, Kenneth Cole, GAP, Abercrombie and Fitch, Nike, Ralph Lauren, J. Crew)

As for picking up change (we both do it), my husband told me a story he once heard from a guy who picked up change regularly: Apparently, this guy picked up enough change over the course of year to make a charitable donation between 80-100 dollars every year. Might not seem like a lot, but depending on the recipient organization, it could potentially change a person's life.

I don't see what is wrong with any of these frugal habits.My family has learned to appreciate all the additional stuff we can have, like horses, since we are not frivolous with money in other areas.My parents even bring their compostable garbage for my bin, and table scraps to feed our chickens, and appreciate any extra eggs and vegetables  we have to give away.I actually repurposed a diaper-champ baby diaper thing(paid $5 at a thrift store) into the "compost-genie" to collect compost in the kitchen until we take it out to the bin.We use it for coffee grounds, teabags,eggshells,banana peels, anything compostable.At least 75% of our wardrobes are from thrift stores as I don't have time to chase yard sales, and some of our furniture, too.I have become so knowledgable about energy saving and reduce/reuse/recycle that friends and co-workers actually ask me for ideas sometimes.I did laugh this summer when my neighbor's elderly mother saw me hanging laundry outside and asked her "Doesn't she have a dryer?".My neighbor laughed when she told me about it,and told her mom I hang laundry because it is better for the environment and cheaper too.It is funny because so many older people were raised without dryers, but now it is unthinkable to hang laundry if you don't have to.They are both great people, so I didn't take offense.They have been amazed at the number of things I am able to repurpose, like using empty paper feed sacks and newspapers and cardboard under mulch in the garden instead of landscape fabric.We pick up trash around the road that runs by our  property and recycle the cans.It annoys me that we have to do this because  some people are too lazy to dispose of their trash in their own garbage, but at least if we can recycle some of it...heck, it is still irritating how people can be litterbugs under any circumstances.

Anyone wanting to reduce phantom electric use should look into "smart strip" power strips. They were featured on Oprah and shut down automatically when you turn off the "master" item, like the TV or computer tower.The power to "secondary" outlets shuts off phantom power to things like the DVD player or computer monitor and printer.I found a Philips brand for less than $25 at Wal-mart, which is comparable to a good surge protector, and it saves electricity automatically.We have also started using vinegar and baking soda for most household cleaning as they are economical and effective.I am not willing to pay extra just because something has "green" on the label-that's just "green-washing".We have a super efficient agitator -free toploading(my husband doesn't trust frontloaders not to leak) washer that does bigger loads, is easier on clothes, uses less detergent and water, and gets clothes "drier" from the spin cycle so they take less time to dry.It cost more upfront than a standard washer, but it has been well worth it.

Both of my sisters are in shock at the stellar, frugal bargains I bring home. They don't believe my methodology is worth the time or the effort. I explained that I believe in Craigslist Karma: if you give, you shall receive. Recently a woman my size was desperate for clothes to wear to her new job in an office, so I went through my closet and gave her a big bag of well-loved hand-me-downs. She thanked me profusely. The next day, someone responded to my wanted ad for a doggie door--I was willing to pay for it--and said that they didn't want anything, just knowing my dogs would be warm this winter was enough. They still don't believe that the time and energy my frugality takes is worth it, but I don't need their approval. I have a free doggie door ($200 new!) and closet full of cute stuff from my favorite 2nd hand stores.

I do almost all of the things that Donna wrote about. Compost, recycle, thrift stores and garage sales, etc.There are sheets hanging on my line right now, it's snowing and November in Michigan. As for the bar soap, my grandma always stuck the old  soap sliver, to the top of the new bar. I do it too. That way none of it goes to waste.

I don't care who likes my frugality, or doesn't. They aren't paying my bills, I am.

When my kids tease me, I remind them the money I save, makes all our lives better.