Are You Too Frugal?

Is it possible to be too frugal? If you recognize any of these traits in yourself, you just may need to rethink your frugal ways.

by Gary Foreman

Dear Dollar Stretcher,
I am a long time reader and I really appreciate what you have to say. I just wanted to get something off my chest. Sometimes in the quest to be frugal, one can lose sight of other important qualities. It is also important to be generous, kind and unselfish. It seems like in the rush to save a few bucks or get something for free, people can take advantage of others and cause hurt feelings.

An example from my own family – one holiday we all got together for a potluck style dinner. My sister-in-law, who is very proud of her “tightwad” lifestyle, insisted that we order a ham even though no one else wanted it. When it came time to order it, she put no money towards it and the rest of us did. At the meal, most of it did not get eaten, and then without asking anyone else, she wrapped it up and took it home! She was so excited about saving a few cents and feeding her family for cheap that she forgot her manners.

I see examples of this all the time, and I am not talking about poor people. It is usually people that have a very comfortable lifestyle. What do you say about people who seem to let their frugality come at a cost to others?
Amy

What is Frugality?

Amy makes a valid point. It’s fine to be frugal. But, like most good things, thriftiness can be taken too far and become a fault. The trick is in determining what is ‘going too far’.

Where is that point? One way to answer is by deciding what really is frugal living? The American Heritage Dictionary defines frugal as “avoiding unnecessary expenditure or money; thrifty; costing little; inexpensive”.

I’d add to that definition. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but frugality should help us lead a balanced, fulfilled life without harming others.

Some examples of a prudent lifestyle:

• Finding a second use for an item
• Making something to last longer
• Using less with the same results
• Finding a less costly alternative

True frugality has a way of creating wealth that wasn’t there before. Most frugal living ideas fall under one of two categories. Either they’re a way of needing less of something. Or they’re a way of providing more of a resource at a reduced cost. Either way you’ve provided more value for the money or resource that you consume.

Related: Frugal? Or Just Plain Cheap?

Is Your Frugality Hurting Others?

Frugality should never be used as an excuse for theft or a lack of honesty. I think that most of us would agree with Amy that agreeing to help pay for something and then not doing so isn’t right. And probably not even really thrifty. Isn’t the relationship with your relatives worth more than the leftover ham?

Some thrifty tactics aren’t so black or white. For instance, suppose you walk into an antique shop and realize that they have seriously underpriced an item. Are you taking advantage of the shop owner if you buy the item at that price without telling them of their mistake?

Whatever your answer was, would you apply the same rules if you found the same item underpriced at a church thrift store? Or at a garage sale? At a garage sale in a poor part of town? Yes, we all like to find a ‘bargain’. But for most people, there is a point where we feel we’re taking advantage of the other person.

Related: When Friends Say You’re Cheap

Do You Need To Reevaluate Your Frugality?

Amy is also right about getting too wrapped up in what we’re doing and losing sight of the world around us. One summer I was so successful in reducing our electric bill that it became an obsession. A hot Florida summer and a nut controlling the thermostat isn’t a comfortable combination! The original goal was fine. But common sense got lost along the way.

Once you’ve been living more frugally for awhile, it’s probably a good idea to step back and analyze what you’re doing. Maybe you’ve gone overboard. Or, maybe it’s time to give yourself and your family a small reward for what you’ve already achieved.

Related: Reevaluating Personal Finance Habits

What can Amy do? If their relationship is good, she might gently remind her sister-in-law that frugal living is a balance. Or, if that’s not possible, she can remember that we’re all subject to making mistakes. Hopefully the ones we make aren’t too public and don’t do too much damage!

• Too Frugal? 6 Principles for Keeping Frugality In Check
• The Art of Thriftiness: Mastering Frugality Without Being Stingy
• 6 Times Frugality Can Cost You Money
• 7 Habits of Highly Frugal People
• 5 Basic Rules of Frugality for the Newly Frugal

Reviewed June 2024

About the Author

Gary Foreman is the former owner and editor of The Dollar Stretcher. He's the author of How to Conquer Debt No Matter How Much You Have and has been featured in MSN Money, Yahoo Finance, Fox Business, The Nightly Business Report, US News Money, Credit.com and CreditCards.com.