17 Things

So, I need to procrastinate hence...blogging.

I saw an article on "17 Things Frugal People Usually Don't Do"
https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/17-things-frugal-people-usually-dont-do

Let's see  if I'm "usual"

1)  Finance cars         
Nope.  I pay cash for used.  No interest and certainly not putting it on a HELOC

2) Overdraft bank accounts     
Nope.  Don't do that.  That just costs fees and nonsense.

3) Compromise dietary health to save money
Nope.  I DO compromise dietary health, but I know it is a treat and a splurge and not frugal.  It's not frugal to eat cheap crap and get sick.  I mostly eat organic or local or no-spray stuff, but today there was a Nutty Buddy by Li'l Debbie because I wanted a sugary treat which is not healthy anyway.

4) Carry credit card balances
Nope.  Don't do that.  I did in the past and it sucked.  Part of that was getting enough income and a few windfalls to pay it off and then not starting again.  I log on and pay it every couple of weeks and all the "rewards points" are just cash back applied to the card.

5)  Keep up with the Joneses
Nope.  The Joneses next door bought NEW toilet buckets but I'm still using last years' buckets which I probably found at the recycling center.

6) Hang out with losers
It seems the author means spendthrifts when she uses the term "loser."  Not all my friends are thrifty or frugal so I don't know about this one.  I'm sure at least one of my siblings will need to point out that I am the loser hence don't need to hang out with them.

7) Take fancy vacations
Nope.  I take vacations but not fancy in the sense of cruises and concierged hotels and all are prebudgeted carefully.  My recent trip was on a 66$ plane ticket for the round trip.  I bunked with a friend, and had 75$ per day set for spending and meals for the 3 days.  Not fancy but super fun. 

8)  Forget to price compare
Oh hell no!  You always have to price compare.  I stop at 3 grocery stores on my weekend food run to hit the best consistent deals on my staples.  2 stores are walking distance from each other so no extra gas expense and the other is buy a thrift store where I check my hardware, clothing and office supply needs list before hitting retail outlets (or just waiting to see if the stuff shows up at thrift later) hence no extra gas there either.

9) Automatically opt for employer-offered health insurance.
I do carry that because there aren't really other options where I am so I guess I did do this one.  Maybe it wasn't automatic since I checked for other options.

10) Fail to contribute to 401k or other retirement options.
Nope.  I don't fail to contribute. I put in the amount the employer matches and put the rest toward a debt free retirement situation.

11) Stop learning
Nope, I don't stop learning.  I try to pick up new practical skills when I can.  If you need heat tubes run on rebar for a concrete slab pour you call me!   I got that one down this fall.

12) Skip life insurance.
Nope.  I carry enough to get me in the ground.

13) Waste food.
This one I am weak on.  I do my best but it's damn hard not to waste food.  I compost or feed scraps to critters but without a kitchen it's tough to control things like left overs.  Sometimes I do well, and other times the compost is a bit salad-rich.

14) Fail to keep a stockpile
Well, I don't know.  I stock some things like office supplies and I can now keep 4 rolls of TP dry and clean in the wee shed, but space is at a premium.  I guess having a couple pounds of dry beans and grains and 12 tins of canned fish probably does count as stockpiling given my space.  I also try to keep lunch food at work.  And I keep a gift bin going for unexpected gift obligations.  OK, apparently I stockpile. 

15) Pay full price.
RARELY RARELY RARELY do I pay full price.  I keep a running list of general things I could use and get them when I find them.  Until then I try to get by. First option is find something else to use (need a hammer..use a rock).  Second option is to borrow, especially single use or rarely used items.  Third is yardsale, 2nd hand or thrift (jeans, shirts, many tools).  Fourth option is on sale at a retail store. Like if I haven't found a tool in a year it's good to hit father's day sales at hardware stores.  LAST option is full price.  This did happen once this year.  I really needed a reciprocating saw and the beg, borrow, 2nd hand options were exhausted or crap. A job had to be done THAT DAY. So I bought a good one that uses the same batteries that go on my other tools from last year's fathers day sale purchase.  It's a really good saw and should last me forever.  I used a free-credit reward dealy from the hardware store to stock up on blades and have used the saw frequently so it seem.

16) Forget to shop car and homeowner's insurance annually.
I do generally remember to review those each year and drop unneeded coverage on the vehicles and ask about more discounts on things.

17) Spend emotionally.
What are these "emotions" of which you speak?