This doesn’t make me proud to admit. In college, I quickly realized one of my roommates rarely finished his food when we went out to dinner and typically didn’t take it to go. Logically, I began ordering less food for myself knowing that I could save money and just finish his plate. Well, it was fun while it lasted, but eventually the jig was up. Out of spite, he started giving his leftovers to the wait staff to throw away before I could eat them. Apparently, I was “cheap.”
Let’s be honest. I’m actually not ashamed of this story at all. I love food, and I love saving money. This was a win-win scenario. Interestingly enough, this was also a major similarity that made me fall in love with Mrs. Common Cents Kyle. She loves the search for a good deal, and there is no leftover food that she’s not willing to take home with her.
Fun with Frugality
So, why do I prefer to be labeled as frugal instead of cheap?
First of all, the connotations of frugal and cheap couldn’t be further apart. Frugal people are economical, prudent, and not wasteful. Cheap people are stingy and only focused on finding ways to pay the least or nothing at all. Frugal people like to optimize and make every effort to balance the aspects of cost and quality to still fit their lifestyle and budget.
I am frugal.
How have I achieved this frugality? I find joy in hustles and hacks of all shapes and sizes. Here’s a quick snapshot.
- Brand Ambassador for multiple brands in college for free food, energy drinks, beer, and other perks
- Mystery Shopping for free food, products, and hotel stays
- Travel Hacking for heavily discounted trips
- eBay Shopping for big savings on electronics and shoes
- Shopping Portals for extra cashback from online purchases
This list goes on and on. For that reason, this category is so fun and ever-changing. There are always new hacks to discover and learn. I hope I can teach you something along the way and vice versa.
