When being frugal goes overboard

Frugal living requires a lifestyle change; however being frugal does not mean that you need to compromise the things that you need and the things that you love to do. Some people take frugality to the extreme which explains why some people who do not understand the true meaning of frugality laugh at those people who practice it. To make sure that you exercise the true meaning of frugality, listed below are some of the unnecessary frugal living tips that you should avoid doing.

1. You spend more time on frugality- Frugality takes time. If you find yourself searching and cutting discount coupons and reworking every budget, you might be overspending your time on your goal to be frugal. Remember, being frugal should not compromise anything. If you are spending more time on frugality, you might be losing your chance to spend valuable time with your family. Aside from that, healthy frugality should allow you to spend more time on the things you love; not on frugality itself.

2. You sacrifice the things that you need- Being frugal means being able to live comfortably without the unnecessary costs. Therefore, if you are living uncomfortably because you are scrimping on the things you need, you might need to reassess your concept of frugality.

3. You have no social life- When you prevent yourself from going out just to save money, it is not healthy. Especially if you are starting to lose your social and active life.

4. You have become a hoarder- Many people get tempted to buy items because they are on sale or have a very good deal. You can actually get the most out of your money if you only buy the items on sale which you actually use.

However, most people tend to buy even the things they do not need just because they are being sold at promotional prices. When you see these things piling up in your house, you might need to reassess yourself so you can determine how you can break the habit of hoarding.

5. You can’t let go- This is one effect of hoarding. When you have too much stuff, you tend to hold on to them because of the reason that you might need them someday. You might think that you are saving money by saving future items that you might need, but in reality, you are only adding to the clutter around your house.

6. You hate being frugal but you still stick to it- If you are engaging yourself in activities which you do not like just for the sake of being frugal, you are compromising your own life. Being frugal should not make you uncomfortable. It should allow you to enjoy what you do at lower costs.

7. You never treat yourself- When you hold back in treating yourself out to dinner or going to the spa every once in a while so you can save money, you are not living healthily.

8. People tell you that you’re stingy- Other people especially those close to us can tell if we have gone overboard with certain habits. If they say something negative about your frugal practices, listen to them.

9. You ask for more- It is never a good idea to go to a potluck party without bringing a dish of your own and it is never nice to go out on dates and expect your dates to pay. Being frugal does not mean taking advantage.

10. You get stressed out when you need to spend money- When you bought something expensive and you get stressed out because you spent huge amounts of money, that’s normal. But when you start getting stressed out about paying the bills and groceries, you might have a problem.

11. You are more focused on saving instead of earning- Being frugal does not mean that you need to spend more time saving. What is there to save when you finally run out of money? Therefore, adjust your time and make sure that you are spending more time earning rather than saving.

Frugality does not mean you have to be cheap. It simply means knowing the right resources and learning how to get a good value out of your money. Being frugal allows you to continue your lifestyle with minimal alterations and definitely at lower costs. If you are guilty of the signs mentioned above, you might need to reevaluate your frugal choices, because if not, you might be sacrificing your family and your own interests unknowingly. Check your credit reports from time to time so that you can set aside a budget to be spent on the things you love to do accordingly. Remember, being frugal is being smart but you should never sacrifice what you have and love to do for the sake of it.

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