Dearest frugalites, I have a deep apology to extend to you.  In the past I've used the terms cheap and frugal interchangeably; yet the longer I think about what those two words mean, the more I realize they are definitely not synonymous.  Both tend to suggest a vague idea about spending less, but they really are polar opposites.  Cheap is the ugly, tawdry stepsister of virtuous Frugal.  Whereas one indicates being economical in the use of money and resources, the other is just plain stingy.

Taking it farther down the semantic path, cheap not only means relatively low in cost but of poor quality, devalued, worthy of no respect, or vulgar.  We need to part ways with Cheap as quickly as possible.  Frugal, on the other hand, is meager, resourceful, avoiding waste, and sparing--all lovely and gracious words.  To be frugal is to be wise with what you have.  

Why go for frugal rather than cheap?  When we evaluate every dollar spent with a bottom line anchored to it, our goal becomes "spend as little as possible, at all costs".  This means you cut the tip short for your waiter.  You mooch off leftovers from a group lunch.  Anything for a dollar is a "good" deal.  Giving gifts and to charity become burdens as they won't (in most tax brackets) save you any money nor benefit you in any way.  This way of life, my friends, is not thrify, it's revolting.

If your desire to be cheap, many areas of life will be shortchanged.  I admit to not visiting the doctor when I should have in the name of saving money.  Very stupid, not frugal.  And I know everyone has regifted an item to someone we know wouldn't appreciate it; some of us even make it a habit.  Although I haven't sunk to stashing away fifty ketchups in my purse for tomorrow night's meatloaf, if I pledge allegiance to cheap I'll succumb to it eventually.  

Living a frugal lifestyle means being considerate to what you use and how you spend your money.  My resources, talents, and time have been given to me for a reason.  To hoard or spend for my exclusive sake is a very sad, Scroogey existence.  When I recycle leftovers or buy in bulk to save money I then open up doors to send money for folks who legitimately can't afford food.  Buying produce in season is not only cheaper but also supports local growers and reduces food mileage.  Living within your means is far more comfortable than the gray, puritanical images frugality seems to invoke.  

Are you Frugal or Cheap Quiz
So we have several choices to make.  Are you frugal or cheap?  Take the following quiz and read your results below.

1. You're going to your friend's birthday party and didn't want to buy wrapping paper at a staggering $3.99 for three yards.  Do you...
    a. ...give the gift to your friend and apologize for not wrapping it?
    b. ...wrap it in old newspaper and reuse ribbon to decorate it?

2. Times are tough and you can't afford to pay for home Internet.
    a.  Use the computer at work.  Everyone else does it, right?
    b.  Head to the library for free access.

3. When visiting a restaurant, you...
    a. ...order take out to avoid impulse buys and tips.
    b. ...eat in and give less (or nothing) to your server.  Your service wasn't that great anyway.

4. When Fido needs his yearly shots I...
    a. ...go to a shelter and stand in the long line for discount vaccinations.
    b. ...wait a few months since he's an inside dog anyway.

5. You need toothpaste, or so your friends keep telling you.
    a. Buy it at a garage sale to save a couple of bucks.
    b. Buy it on sale at the grocery store.  

6.  After 3,000 miles roll around on the car, you...
    a. ...let it ride another few hundred miles.  Those oil change places are just out         for my money.  
    b. ...get it changed immediately to save on future engine repairs.

7. If I have extra money at the end of the month I like to...
    a. ...save every penny.  Make hay while the sun shines.
    b. ...look to giving some of it to people in genuine need before saving the rest.

This is a pass/fail test, no percentage points awarded.  If you answered 1 a., 2 a., 3 b., 4 b., 5 a., 6 a., or 7 a., consider yourself cheap, not frugal--you failed.  Thankfully you have the option to choose between the two, but consider your money as a resource rather than a storehouse to stock at all costs.  Let's focus on smart spending in addition to not spending.  Go Frugal, not Cheap.

I've lived in eight different apartment communities thus far with experiences ranging from pleasant to miserable.  If you have chosen to reside in an apartment (er, togetherment) for financial reasons or just to enjoy maintenance-free living, consider these money saving tips to avoid huge headaches.

1. Higher isn't always cheaper.
Living several flights up has its advantages.  No heavy footsteps to complain about, less road noise than street level, and a great gluteal workout traipsing up three flights each way. Where I live, apartments charge less for units on higher floors.  But the biggest cost eater that you won't find out about until well into your lease is ridiculous heating and (especially) cooling costs.  

Apartments are slapped together with bare bones insulation and cheap A/C units. I have been told in the past in one particular complex that the interior temperature will not be any cooler than 20° below outdoor temperature.  This means suffering through sweltering summers in 83° indoor temps with no recourse. Go for a middle unit for the best insulation and avoid road noise.  

2. Add up the extras.
Does your prospective community charge additional amounts for garbage pickup, water, cable, fitness center, and gas, or are they included in rent?  How much are the initial fees considering the specials offered?  Many of these costs add up over the term of your lease and you'll be looking at hundreds of dollars in price differences.  Several of our apartment communities offered CARES Teams that served free dinners and breakfasts saving the cost of one meal each week, so consider perks as well.

3.  Know your rights and get the number to your local health department.
If the landlord refuses to fix a busted water heater, threaten to call the officials.  When the pool is dangerously disgusting, get on the phone.  The manager can't lease apartments when top amenities are condemned.

4.  When renewing your lease, investigate current specials.
It doesn't matter that you were an ideal tenant paying your rent three weeks early every month and referring all your friends to the neighborhood.  Joe Blow stumbling in off the street will probably get a better deal on an apartment than you will on your renewal.  Despite the costs of tenant turnover, owners are willing to take the chance that you will renew anyway--even with a high rent increase.  Find out what new move-ins are getting and request the same.  Bargaining can't hurt.

Whether your wedding budget is bargain ($), budget ($$) or bling ($$$), flowers can create quite a pinch. Here are some traditional and not-so-traditional ideas for most effectively using your blossoms on a budget.  

BARGAIN ($)
Who says you even have to have flowers? Melania Knauss, who married Donald Trump in January 2005, clutched rosary beads in lieu of a bouquet as she walked down the aisle. Choosing to not carry flowers won’t make you look like you were too poor to afford them if what you’re carrying makes a statement. Many brides choose to carry something sentimental like a Bible (I carried a small Bible my grandmother gave me in addition to my bouquet).

There are other non-floral options for bridal and bridesmaids’ bouquets. Consider the dramatic look of your bridesmaids carrying candles or small lanterns for nighttime weddings. My mother’s wedding featured clusters of green ivy that were spray-painted gold. It created a stunning effect.

Or, have an usher or flower girl pass out stems of flowers to the guests sitting on the ends of the pews. As you walk down the aisle, collect the stems and voila! You’ve got a bouquet of flowers or an arrangement in a basket. Guests will be so impressed by the creativity, they won’t care that the arrangement isn’t perfect.

There’s nothing more rewarding after six to 12 months of meticulously planning wedding details, negotiating with vendors and trying your hardest to appease your family and your in-laws than leaving it all behind to veg out for a few days with the person you just committed to spending the rest of your life with. Don’t think of your honeymoon as a normal vacation — use it to truly unravel all the stress you’ve been feeling and to enjoy your new spouse.

Make your honeymoon last as long as you have the vacation days for, but use them wisely. Time spent recuperating and relaxing at home can be just as much or more memorable than spending the entire time in another city. And if the number one honeymoon destination is Hawaii, why not do something more original? Below are some tips for honeymoons of all shapes and sizes.

The Reason for the Season
There are three seasonal categories in the tourism and hospitality industry that will cause rates to fluctuate — high season, low season, and the shoulder season. Costs are lowest, obviously, during the low season, but there’s a reason. The weather could be horrible. The high season could carry the most favorable weather conditions, but not always. The shoulder season bridges the other two season and often has just as nice weather as the high season. Use Internet travel sites to do research about what you can expect during these time periods.

Do Not Disturb
A stay-at-home honeymoon is the least stressful way to spend your first days together as husband and wife. It can also be just as romantic. Ask your florist for a bag of extra rose petals (they often do this as a service anyway) that you can line your bed or bathtub with. Candles will set the mood, along with music, and the right foods. Often couples who do choose to stay at home get the added benefit of being able to hang out with friends and family who are still in town after the wedding. Now that the wedding day is over, you’re free to relax and be yourself again.

Wedding trends these days lean minimalistic. For an engaged couple on a tight budget, this is good news. Simple and elegant styles are leading the way. From ring designs to cakes and bouquets, less is more, and with the right planning, your bank account can reflect the savings.

It’s best to plan below your means to leave room for last-minute purchases or unforeseen expenses. It’s highly possible to plan a wedding well under $5,000 — and as many unsuspecting brides and their families find out each year, it’s really easy to go far past the budget you have in mind. Preparation is your only protection.

Here are some ways to save on the main elements of wedding planning.

Discount Dressing
The first line of thinking for a bargain bride should be to find a dress you could borrow from a friend who is the same size. Or maybe your mom is hoping you’ll wear her wedding gown — if it’s anywhere near your size, don’t write it off. Take it to a seamstress who can suggest some alterations to make it fit your personality or feel like a more modern dress (with your mother’s permission, of course).

Visit local consignment shops to find used wedding dresses. You can find new and used gowns online at sites like your local craigslist.org and eBay.com.

A bride looking for a little more bling can rent a designer gown for around $100 a night. It’s not a bad way to get the expensive look you want for a fraction of the cost. And if you’re dead set on owning a designer gown, let me introduce you to the “sample sale.” These sales happen in New York City and Los Angeles a few times a year when designers unload the gowns they made to experiment with a new style. You can find these about 80 percent off. Chcck www.nysale.com often for information about upcoming sales.

Timing is everything, it seems. Knowing when is the best time to buy that new car, house or lawn mower could be the difference between saving hundreds if not thousands of dollars every year. That's why we created the Best Time to Buy Guide for over 40 products and services. Before you make another major purchase, check with this guide to know when the best time to buy is.


1. Air Conditioners
The price of air conditioners rise and lower with the temperature. Most old air conditioners expire when the temperature goes up which creates a high demand in the summer months.

If an air conditioner is a must buy right now, then begin looking for discounts today on last years models. If you have a unit that can make it through another season, then the best option is to wait until stores are clearing their inventory at the end of the summer. As temperatures cool the prices will drop and you can find great deals to keep you cool next year.

You can save money on the purchase of a new air conditioner by having your current system serviced. Early in the season is the best time to find deals on service for your air conditioner. In the heating and air conditioning business, the summer months are the most profitable. Many companies will offer discounts on air conditioner service before the heat arrives to stay busy.

Best time to buy an air conditioner: October
Best time to have your air conditioner services: February

2. Airline Tickets
Increase your odds of cheaper airfare by purchasing well in advance of your departure. Viewing ticket prices up to 4 months ahead of departure will give you the best chance of finding a guide deal. Look for tickets early in the week to find deals as prices have a tendency to rise as the week goes on.

Try to fly on a Saturday and avoid flying on Sundays to get a better deal. Holiday travel is always more expensive so determining a travel schedule can be especially valuable when looking for discounts around the holidays.

Flight discounts are unpredictable so the best advice is to check frequently, and once you find a good deal take it. It might not be around very long.

Best time to buy airline tickets: Tuesdays, months in advance of departure

3. Big Appliances
The new models for large appliances roll out in September and October, so stores will be working to make room by discounting previous models. Some stores will keep older inventory in stock through the holiday months and then reduce what ever is left at the beginning of the new year.

During the rest of the year look for holiday sales around Memorial Day and Independence Day.

Best time to buy big appliances: October and January