Do You Have Fun Playing the Frugal Game?

[Retired To Win]

A couple of days ago, I was about two thirds through my errands run when I realized I was really enjoying myself. What's this, I said to myself. How can I be having such fun just buying groceries or picking up a ream of copy paper? And then it came to me. I was playing the Frugal Game, I was scoring point after point, and I was really feeling good about it.

Yes. Practicing no-sacrifice frugality puts me more in control. Helps me come out ahead. Gets me in a winning mood. And who isn't going to feel good about all of that?

Too often, when frugality is discussed it is on the assumption that by being frugal one is giving something up. Doing without. Sacrificing one's todays for the sake of one's tomorrows. But that definitely is not how I experience frugality. To me, it is -- literally -- a fun game.

On that errands day earlier this week, I went to the office supply store for some copy paper. Shelf price: $5.79 a ream. But I had gone online for a rebate coupon and I had a credit for bringing in a spent ink cartridge. My price net: $2.00 a ream for 2 reams. Score! And I got even better quality paper than usual, so I definitely gave nothing up.

Next stop, the grocery store. I had room in my refrigerator freezer for more meats and a $5 off coupon in my pocket that I could use if I spent $25. Hey, perfect combination! Ten minutes later, I was walking out with packages of country ribs, steak and chicken -- and a savings of not just $5 but over $15 thanks to my selections. Score! And I certainly won't be giving up good eating either.

(I almost danced a little jig in the parking lot with that one!)

How about you? Is frugality a game you enjoy playing? Or are you experiencing it as sacrifice?

[marvholly]

In my case HE$$ NO!! It is a necessity considering my income & where I live (medium HCOL area). AND, the only reason I stopped was a GREAT parking space - very UNUSUAL.

Although I did get a thrill Sat when I hit Salvation Army and found a sundress on their $0.69 color code deal. I will probably wear it to a party next weekend.

[Retired To Win]

Planning the Frugal Moves Is Fun Too!

... On that errands day earlier this week, I went to the office supply store for some copy paper. Shelf price: $5.79 a ream. But I had gone online for a rebate coupon and I had a credit for bringing in a spent ink cartridge. My price net: $2.00 a ream for 2 reams. Score!... Next stop, the grocery store. I had room in my refrigerator freezer for more meats and a $5 off coupon in my pocket that I could use if I spent $25. Hey, perfect combination!...

To play the Frugal Game successfully, I find that I have to plan my spending ahead of time. Otherwise, I would not have had those coupons, would I have? Hunting for and finding the deal is definitely part of the fun of the Game.

Last year, I went on a little camping road trip. I planned ahead by making sure I had both my National Parks and Virginia Parks lifetime passes in my wallet. In just 2 days I saved $15 on vehicle admission to the Skyline Drive, $8 on camping in the Jefferson National Forest and $4 on admission to 2 Virginia state parks. Score, score, score! And I got all the same benefits I would have had without the savings.

On that trip, my endpoint destination was Natural Bridge (and Caverns), which sports a hefty $29 admission. But I scouted it ahead on the web and saved myself $6 by pre-buying the ticket. Score! And I gave nothing up on that one either.

Even that planning is part of the fun of the Frugal Game. I anticipate the savings (chaching!) bit by bit and get little feel-good jolts each time.

Even Marvholly in her comment above, in spite of her situation, felt that little thrill when she scored that sundress for less than a buck. How about you? Have you gotten any "chaching" jolts lately?

[Retired To Win]

I Am Reposting This Thread...

My apologies, but I see that I "fat fingered" the title to this thread so that it makes no sense when it is seen on the forums front page. So... I am reposting under the thread title Is The Frugal Game Fun forYou?

(If I could figure out how to delete this thread, I would, but I can't.)

[Stephen51]

A couple of days ago, I was about two thirds through my errands run when I realized I was really enjoying myself. What's this, I said to myself. How can I be having such fun just buying groceries or picking up a ream of copy paper? And then it came to me. I was playing the Frugal Game, I was scoring point after point, and I was really feeling good about it.

Yes. Practicing no-sacrifice frugality puts me more in control. Helps me come out ahead. Gets me in a winning mood. And who isn't going to feel good about all of that?

Too often, when frugality is discussed it is on the assumption that by being frugal one is giving something up. Doing without. Sacrificing one's todays for the sake of one's tomorrows. But that definitely is not how I experience frugality. To me, it is -- literally -- a fun game.

On that errands day earlier this week, I went to the office supply store for some copy paper. Shelf price: $5.79 a ream. But I had gone online for a rebate coupon and I had a credit for bringing in a spent ink cartridge. My price net: $2.00 a ream for 2 reams. Score! And I got even better quality paper than usual, so I definitely gave nothing up.

Next stop, the grocery store. I had room in my refrigerator freezer for more meats and a $5 off coupon in my pocket that I could use if I spent $25. Hey, perfect combination! Ten minutes later, I was walking out with packages of country ribs, steak and chicken -- and a savings of not just $5 but over $15 thanks to my selections. Score! And I certainly won't be giving up good eating either.

(I almost danced a little jig in the parking lot with that one!)

How about you? Is frugality a game you enjoy playing? Or are you experiencing it as sacrifice?

Nice savings you got there, someone needs to make an app for saving money.

[jbax]

I have always like the frugal game, although I was not playing it for a while. Now, thanks to new circumstances, I am back!

I have to say that one of my favorite places to do this is at CVS. You can get stuff like shampoo and toothpaste for free! Now if that isn't being frugal, I don't know what is!

Also, if you happen to find a good deal and have a coupon, Walmart is perfect. Love it or hate it, the thing I like about Walmart is that if you have overage on your coupons, they will give it back to you!

I was in there the other day and found some items on sale. They also had coupons attached to them. The sale price was less than the coupon so they paid me to take the items out of the store. Literally. They gave me cash back. Can't beat that!

[Savingonitall]

Always LOVE overage!

I love reading how much fun others are having saving money! I've been making a game out of saving money and helping others to do it for a few years. The best part is planning my shopping trips, printing my coupons and matching them too sales. It's a rush just to figure it out and them help others do it too.

[lightguy]

For me being frugal is a sacrifice...but it's a sacrifice worth making. Besides the reward for being frugal is much more than saving money. It is more about learning to better manage your resources, make better financial decisions and learning to delay gratification. All of which are personal attributes that are essential in achieving financial freedom.

For me it's like a pill. I don't have to like swallowing it but I know that it does me a lot of good.

[TheKayla]

I think I'm very lucky in that yes, I feel like I gamify it a lot. I wasn't always that way. Frugality grew on me once as a necessity, but now that I can afford more things, I'm less stressed but still an avid saver. Perhaps this is what helped me enjoy it eventually...treating it less as a necessity and more of a challenging and rewarding way of life.

[Bal.Leona]

I enjoy seeing if I think I can up my 401k contributions by JUST another percent from time to time, or save a LITTLE more in one of my savings accounts. Or finding I've got some money in my budget I didn't spend at the end of the month.

As for clipping coupons or reading weekly deals in ads or comparing prices in various stores or doing the CVS thing, no. I've tried it and it just feels like a chore.