How Far is Too Far When it Comes to Frugality?

What are some of the tips you've gotten that you wish you could try, but for some reason, can't? What tips are you just plain hesitant about? We want to know the situations where you won't choose the frugal option, and why.

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I won't choose the frugal option when it comes to my health. I think health is worth the investment!

Posted by jill on May 20, 2010 2:19 PM

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Here is one tip I actually did try but it caused me problems. I used salt & baking soda to brush my teeth, but I didn't know that many people are allergic to baking soda (and to whiteners in toothpaste). I found out when the dentist told me the skin on the inside of my mouth was peeling off.

Posted by Kathleen on May 20, 2010 2:42 PM

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I don't buy (or wear) used shoes--not even those of a family member. Other used clothing is fine because it can be washed, but I'm squeamish about getting some kind of foot disease from used shoes.

Posted by anonymous on May 20, 2010 3:12 PM

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Reusing Paper Towels uggggg

Posted by Ryn on May 20, 2010 3:14 PM

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Though I've rummaged through interesting trash piles in my day, I haven't taken up actual dumpster diving. I guess it's the embarrassment factor.

Posted by oddfox1 on May 20, 2010 3:14 PM

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I will not buy used underwear (including bras) socks or swimsuits,and even though I don't wear makeup and never have I won't give up a regular haircut. My hair stylist is reasonably priced enough so I don't need to!

Posted by anonymous on May 20, 2010 5:38 PM

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Being cheap with a gift. It's okay to be frugal if it is something they can really use but I have seen a gift that had already been wore and another gift that was a "second" with a long pulled thread that could not be fixed. Were the two people "that" poor? I doubt it, they were co-workers who gave these gifts at work! The whole office laughed at them. Next year, one of them got the same "gift" back at Christmas!

Posted by Dee on May 20, 2010 6:05 PM

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I won't reuse ziplock bags, I just can't get past the fact that it may have had meat or something in it before I use it for my sons snack. My aunt always washes them and hangs them out to dry and them reuses them. Yukk!!!

Posted by D. Morris on May 20, 2010 6:56 PM

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my friend has a thing about using too much
toilet paper so is it too frugal to go to a public washroom for toilet paper lol

Posted by anonymous on May 20, 2010 9:42 PM

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I don't do things that feel unethical to me... for example I won't do any illegal downloading of music. I don't do things that are unsafe... for example, I will drive my kids to a party and pick them up (using extra gas), rather than let them drive with teenage friends. I also don't don't do frugal activities that take too much time for the amount of money it saves AND if it is an activity I don't enjoy doing. For my life, coupons are tedious and marginally useful, and so I rarely use them.

Mostly, I don't think about frugal tips as "going too far." It really depends on your individual circumstances as to whether a good strategy is a reasonable use of your time and energy.

For example, my husband and I are doing a renovation project. We ripped up old layers of junk plywood and particle board on a floor. Before taking this stuff to the dump, we went through the pile and pulled out what was reasonable to reuse. Okay to save plywood even it had a lot of old sticky adhesive tile glue, as the other side was good. But we got rid of some pieces that had delaminated and/or had a million nails and screws. We also got rid of some small pieces of pine because we have more small pieces that we can use already.

As for being embarrassed to dumpster dive, why? Are you concerned that other people think you are "poor." It really depends on the dumpster. Some are pretty nasty. But I have a friend who lives in the city. Each household has a mini dumpster in the alleys behind the houses in this historic upscale neighborhood. I've gone for a hike with my chic friend, who had a wine glass in one hand, and together we peeked into the dumpsters. She's found some pretty cool stuff in dumpsters in her area.

Posted by anonymous on May 20, 2010 11:11 PM

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I continue to use the services of a travel agent, even for the train. Prices and conditions change often and without warning. My agent is so good at what she does and the trips she plans for me always go so smoothly that I haven't considered larking around on the Internet. Too many people I know who do, have been stranded somewhere, trying to outsmart the airlines.

I buy more-expensive ground beef, to avoid high fat ratios. I wear my clothes sometimes for 12 years because I buy well-made things that keep their color, don't wear out, and I don't get tired of them. The initial investment may be high but I get my money's worth. It is always a balance between saving money by paying less, and wasting money by paying for poor quality.

J. M., Montana

Posted by anonymous on May 20, 2010 11:17 PM

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I will pay more for organic food -- it always tastes better, besides being better for your health, which we all know can be expensive to fix. I will pay the $8 a month it costs me to dry clothes avoiding the because the back-breaking work of hanging them out is well worth $8.

Posted by Vicky on May 21, 2010 9:57 AM

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I read one woman who had her whole family used homemade cloth toilet paper to wipe with. They would put it in a bucket next to the toilet after and she would wash it and then they would re-use it. That is way to far! Toilet paper is not that expensive!

Posted by anonymous on May 21, 2010 9:59 AM

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My mother used to say, You never regret buying quality. I try to apply this when weighing the cheapness of something versus its longer life.
A good example is carpeting and even more so to the carpet pad!

Posted by Rinchen on May 21, 2010 10:08 AM

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I refuse to buy store brand toilet paper because it is rough on my behind. Why not just use newspaper if I want to save money, it is only slightly rougher than cheap T.P. lol. Sometimes comfort comes before cost.

Posted by M. McCaslin on May 21, 2010 11:27 AM

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Shoes. I buy one pair of Wolverines (about $100 on sale) once every 6 or 7 years, continuing to wear the old pair for dirty jobs as long as possible. It's definitely worth the investment--they're much more comfortable than cheap shoes, and I think at least as cost-effective as buying $20 shoes which will wear out in a few months.

Posted by anonymous on May 22, 2010 2:17 AM

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Dial up internet. There is no way that I can go back to that. I use my broadband for too many things now; streaming video, VOIP phone service...

Posted by anonymous on May 23, 2010 3:57 AM

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As for shoes, try this: have a Saved Search on Ebay for the brand and size. My fave is Rieker which are German shoes, I have seven pairs different styles and I am tempted a couple of times a month. I have paid a fraction of the original pair that I bought for $125.

Posted by Rinchen on May 23, 2010 10:37 AM

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Some zipper plastic bags shouldn't get re-used; every one can decide that for themselves. The ones that I decide to re-use do more than just re-carry food. When I travel, I bring snacks on the plane w/me; I seal travel size bottles of stuff in my suitcase; I carry home-made "trail mix" in the car (to help avoid "fast food" stops); & they carry small items that I want to bring to my FL condo from NY (why buy another widget if I know that I already own 6 in NY?); they hold parts for hobby parts/arts/crafts; I carry a small washcloth to freshen up in airports & can put the damp cloth in a "baggie", & the list goes on. Plus, I can see what's inside them w/o having to pull them all out. I would love to see what other people do with them!!

Homepage photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28481088@N00/1213433437/sizes/s/" target="blank">tanakawho</a>

Posted by dumpsterdiver on May 23, 2010 7:15 PM

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Worst tip I ever heard -- one lady reused her toilet paper. She'd hang it up to dry in her bathroom! Can you imagine the stench? Ewwww!!

Posted by anonymous on May 24, 2010 9:52 AM

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I think a lot of these are not really examples of being "too frugal." For example, spending $100 on a high-quality pair of shoes that will last 6 or 7 years, rather than buying a cheap pair for $20 every year, is actually the more frugal choice, because you spend less money in the long run (not to mention less time shopping). Likewise, the person who says "I won't choose the frugal option when it comes to my health" actually is choosing the frugal option, because by spending a little more on health products now, she may spend less on health care down the line, as well as enjoying a higher quality of life. People often make the mistake of assuming that the "frugal" option is the one with the lowest up-front cost, but this isn't always the case. Frugality doesn't mean spending as little money as possible; it means getting the most for the money you spend. And it applies not only to money but to other resources as well, such as time, space, and effort. So if, to take Vicky's example, you think an $8 monthly savings on laundry is not worth the time and effort required to hang it on the line, then using the dryer is the most frugal option for you, because it is the wisest use of your personal resources. If, on the other hand, you actually enjoy hanging laundry, as I do, then hanging it on the line would be a wise use of resources even if the money savings were minimal. As Amy Dacyczyn (all hail the Frugal Zealot!) used to say, there's no wrong way to be a tightwad.

Posted by haverwench on May 24, 2010 10:36 AM

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Thanks haverwrench for putting it so well. I agree that this question makes me a little uncomfortable, in that we are being judgmental about how other people choose to save money.
A cousin that was new to frugality got real excited about saving money and did all sorts of things I would not do... like taking cold showers. When he went walking he collected flattened cans to sell to a metal dealer. He asked me if he was getting weird. I explained that he was exploring the boundaries of frugality. In time he would sort out what made sense for his life. The strategies he would continue to do, might be different than what I would do, and that was fine.
I explained that buying three cases of tuna might not be the best choice for a single guy, because he had a lot of money tied up in tuna that might be better used elsewhere to save money. In general, I didn't want to dampen his enthusiasm. He was in a difficult life-transition year, and to get himself out of his "box" he needed to pay down debt. And he did pay off about $13,000 in credit-card debt that year.

Posted by anonymous on May 25, 2010 7:28 AM

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One way to be frugal is to use clothe napkins. I requested them when I got married 17 years ago. I remembered my grandmother using them when I was a child and I thought what a great way to save money and trees at the same time by not having to buy paper towels or napkins as often.

I do still use paper towels, but I try to buy the ones that let me select the sheet size and I try to use them only when needed. I also, use glass plates instead of paper plates as much as possible.

I'm not perfect, but I recycle everything. When I get plastic bags I reuse them to clean out the cat boxes. That means the ones that come off the news paper gets reused. I use clothe bags to shop.

Posted by anonymous on May 27, 2010 1:16 PM

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I love being frugal, but BE CAREFUL ABOUT USED SHOES. I used to be a great fan of them, and have some really nice ones, BUT I did get a toenail fungus that I believed I could trace back to that. Took me almost a year and a boat load of vinegar to rid myself of it. While I'm fine with clothes that you can wash, I probably won't buy used shoes again. What a year!

Posted by Nan on May 27, 2010 4:36 PM

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To anonymous, you're right.

If we lived in Manhattan, I'd do it. There dumpster diving is considered chic. It depends on the context. Not too cool in a small town. "Where everybody knows your name." Maybe I should wear dark glasses....

Posted by oddfox1 on May 27, 2010 5:10 PM

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Amy Dacyczyn from the Tightwad Gazette fame is probably my hero. The one thing I have seen in this column more than once is the aversion to re-using plastic bags after washing. The one thing she said and repeated in all three books was never to re-use a bag that had meat in it. Most anything else is ok to re-use. What ever happened to her? I vote we bring her out of her self-imposed retirement and help us through this current recession we are in. I read part of her book (all of them in a one-book form) at least 5 times a week. I want her ideas to be as familiar to me as my own thoughts. I have saved so much money I can't even begin to describe it.

Posted by anonymous on May 27, 2010 10:37 PM

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The best place for dumpster diving was right next to the church I attended several years ago. The church secretary would 'scope' out the possibilities sometime during the week and, on Sunday, after everybody left, she'd come get me to 'dive'. We pulled many a great item out of the dumpster. She donated a lot to the local thrift store. You never can tell.

Posted by anonymous on May 28, 2010 3:42 PM

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Sadly, Amy Dacyczyn has made it clear she has no interest in reviving the Tightwad Gazette. But she feels that its torch has been passed on to lots of other great newsletters, including online newsletters like this one.

However, before she retired, she did say a few words on the subject of secondhand shoes. She spoke to a podiatrist who said that the risk of getting a fungus from them is "almost nil," but if you are concerned, you should wash and machine-dry canvas shoes or spray the inside of leather ones with disinfectant and sprinkle them with a drying powder. You can also unlace them, pull back the tongue, and leave them out in the sun until they are thoroughly dry. That should kill the spores.

The main reason I so seldom buy secondhand shoes is that I can't find any in my size. I have a hard enough time with new ones.

Posted by haverwench on May 28, 2010 5:48 PM

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Used toilet paper?? Ok what about all the bacteria on it and the dieases they can cause??The medical bills alone outweigh the benefit.. UTI, ECOLI.News paper for toilet paper??That is black and colored ink going where it shouldn't... This is crazy..

Posted by anonymous on May 30, 2010 3:55 PM

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For the persons who think that Amy Dacyczyn is not around anymore, someone has misinformed you that she has retired, well her Tightwad Gazette is still around and I have seen new input from her, maybe you all should check out the site first before assuming she is no longer with the Tightwad Gazette

Posted by anonymous on August 14, 2010 5:46 AM

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Amy Dacyczyn retired in 1996 when her newsletter ceased publication, though her book is still available through Amazon.com. On rare occasions since then she has given interviews. There is a 2009 youtube with a TV interview she did. She certainly appears very retired.

There is a "tightwad" website that has an ad for her book, but I don't see it has any affiliation to Amy Dacyczyn.

Posted by Bob T. on August 14, 2010 6:07 PM

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