I take a lot of ribbing about my thriftiness, but I sense that some others on share my feeling.

While I'm out west for the next 12 days (and won't be online very much), I thought that I'd leave y'all something to fuss about....

Soooo.....vote and let us know why.... (if you wish)

 

100% have voted for "Frugal" so far......

Lainey- Was that YOU on the #2 vote ????

 

I'm like you, Jerry. Well, maybe not that, ahem, frugal. I am pretty cheap when it comes to eating out at restaurants. I can get by on Del Taco, Subway, and the like. But then, I'll spend more money if it involves a great margarita. I will never go to the cheapest hotels, but I will try hard to get one under $100 on road trips. I do spend on quality stuff though. I just sprung for a Valentine1 radar detector last week, finally. I waited until both my old Whistlers broke, though, before spending the bucks.

 

No. It was me.

 

No, I just voted...Average, but in many things I do fall into the Frugal Category. Except for renting convertibles on vacation, of course. I don't travel as much as some people around here, so we are willing to part with a few extra bucks for some things when we do. Food is not that important to us, so fancy restaurants are not on our "to do" list, even when we travel, but we willingly "plunked"down the $ for the one hour helicopter tour over the Grand Canyon.

My kitchen remodel was what I would call modest, I don't think I ever shop with "top of the line" in mind. I also shop in outlets quite often and have a self imposed "limits" that I will spend on some things. I don't even go into high end places, but stay out of Wal-Mart.

So, I'm a cross between frugal and average.

 

You tell me Jerry, I tend not to buy fads or trends. I keep electronics well beyond thier average life span and I don't care a bit about the "current" trends. My Laptop was a black friday special at Walmart that I woke up early and waited in line to buy. My big screen TV came no charge courtesy of Marriott rewards points. My wife and I clothes shop at Marshalls most of the time and I only buy suits on sale. We go out to eat twice a week.

Barb keeps cars for 5 to 10 years. I keep them for 4 to 6 years. I look for quality and value, but place BALANCED performance above all else (see S2000).

On appliances, I try to have them repaired before I replace, and when I replace I look for the above average-priced units with a good reputation for longevity. I spend pretty big on real estate, but so far that has worked out quite well for me. I go boat shoping every year, but I am still using my 17 year old Wellcraft that cost about $14K nine years ago.

 

If I were in the cheapskate category then I don't think I'd ever have spent the money on the S. So "frugal" it is.

I'm still using audio components I bought in high school. I bought my second TV ever last fall. I've never owned a computer -- I just use the ones my employers have provided. I buy generic cereal.

There are a few things I'm willing to spend money on. When it comes to beer, wine and toilet paper I'm willing to spend extra to get good stuff.

 

you didn't include a category for value shopper.
legal bill hit it on the head.
there are exceptionally well made products that return a tremendous satisfaction to the owner for a very long time. at first glance these are substantially more money than products that could sort of do the same thing.
after looking at these products over the lifetime of enjoyment the cost isn't that bad.

Example.
I bought callaway golf clubs when I started golfing 10 years ago.
the irons were $575. my friends were stunned that I spent that much.
I have easily played 575 rounds of golf since then. so were talking a dollar a round for exceptional equipment. of course I hate to think what I've spent on greens fees since then...

 

Sprung +/- $400.00 U.S. on an Escort radar detector,lasts summer,(wich was supposed to be VG2...),go caught by the Cops,$600.00 CDN.Fine,and they seized the detector...

 

Emil,
didn't anyone tell you they have radar detector detectors up thar?

even good radar detectors transmit a radio signature caused by the local oscillator.
since most of teh manufacturers use the same LO frequency,
they just tune a very directional receiver to that frequency and bang they gotcha.