https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 15:08:31 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-family-frugal#post-2670036 Sat, 24 Dec 2016 10:49:20 +0000 lamariniere 2670036@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not necessarily frugal, but I hate waste. I hate wasting resources, money, time, food, etc. I try to be aware of the things we buy so that they are the best use of our money. I look for deals when possible, but I'm willing to pay for quality too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-family-frugal#post-2670033 Sat, 24 Dec 2016 10:26:49 +0000 gingerbebe 2670033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: I did that for my first but started using wet bags for my second and it's been life changing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-family-frugal#post-2670025 Sat, 24 Dec 2016 09:36:27 +0000 ShootingStar 2670025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am not frugal. As another poster put it, I have more money than time. The only frugal thing I do is re-wash the ziplocks I use for my pump parts. I go through a lot of them and the bags can get reused for dirty parts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-family-frugal#post-2670017 Sat, 24 Dec 2016 08:34:01 +0000 looch 2670017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both my parents were born and raised in post WWII Europe, so when it comes to knowing what to do with every last bit of something, they're the experts. My parents could be survivalists, meaning they could raise/grow all their own food, and they wouldn't be vegetarians. Me, on the other hand, would be lost without the grocery store.</p> <p>I will never forget the time I came home to find my dad dismantling the back deck. He was flipping the floor boards because he felt they had another 10 years before being replaced. It's still going strong, that deck, with the original boards.</p> <p>What's contradictory is that my dad will go shopping and will buy all the fruit that there is and will stock the fridge so that it's bursting. I think it has to do with growing up on the opposite end of that spectrum and not wanting his children to experience that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-family-frugal#post-2670005 Sat, 24 Dec 2016 07:36:36 +0000 Ms. RV 2670005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am frugal to the point it annoys OH. Which is weird, because he comes from a frugal family and I don't. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-family-frugal#post-2670001 Sat, 24 Dec 2016 07:30:24 +0000 Trailmix 2670001@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents are THE most frugal people I know when it comes to goods- they wash and reuse plastic ziploc bags, will save like, 3 bites of food for later, buy used clothing, fix things instead of replacing, etc. They have always been this way! It has definitely rubbed off on me bc I do many of the same things, although I'm not quite as obsessive as them! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-family-frugal#post-2669989 Sat, 24 Dec 2016 02:51:35 +0000 sunny 2669989@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I try to be frugal, as that is how I was raised. I try to reuse when appropriate and save money by using coupons, going without or using less. Waste really bothers me and I really try hard not to waste things. I will say that I'm not nearly as frugal as I used to be. At this point in my life convenience tends to win out over almost everything. </p> <p>@Anagram: my 4 yo still takes baths in the baby tub!! We have a really giant baby tub and a smallish 4 year old. I like that we are saving water, both for the monetary and environmental aspects. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-family-frugal#post-2669982 Sat, 24 Dec 2016 00:38:23 +0000 808love 2669982@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: That's great your mom is trying to pass on the value of conserving water and stretching it. When we first moved in, DH made a catchment system from our laundry water to water plants. We were very 'green' and used special soap. Now we have replaced it with watering the good old fashioned way to save time. LO is being taught all these pro-environment things so she is helping us stay on track with electricity and keeping our showers short to save water, which I am happy about because our tendency is take nature for granted.<br /> Anyway, I'm frugal to the point that I see that every dollar spent is a dollar that could have been spent elsewhere and I want to prioritize my $$$. So I'm not willing to spend $20 more on a water/cable/restaurant bill if I can allot that for a budget for something else....more fun than that. So yes, I'm frugal...but I'm frugal with basics so I can spend on luxuries! If that makes sense....I realize that is contradictory but that's how I stretch my dollars. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-family-frugal#post-2669970 Fri, 23 Dec 2016 23:17:36 +0000 Corduroy 2669970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My grandparents were typical depression era folks (+ half were raised by 1906 earthquake refugees). My grandma saved meat trays and kwik lok tags from bread "in case". My parents are frugal. They save ziplocs, everything comes from the thrift store, everything poorly DIYed or more likely left undone.</p> <p>DH and I were frugal in college and as young adults. These days we have more money than time so we're not living frugally at the moment. This week my parents were here at the same time as my gardener and housekeeper - while DS was at daycare. I thought they would have a heart attack. I plan to go back to living more frugally when the kids are more independent. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-family-frugal#post-2669965 Fri, 23 Dec 2016 22:10:23 +0000 Anagram 2669965@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband is more frugal than average, but not to an extreme. He's definitely more frugal than me. My dad was also frugal, but my mom is kind of average (like me). Like he gets really angry if I wash a mini load, even though our washer has a setting for mini loads. He thinks it's a waste of water and electricity. He had our oldest bathe in a baby tub till she was almost 2 to save water. He's always finding ways to save money and he hates to spend on anything. The guy will buy a pair of pants marked down on clearance and then find out there is a coupon, so will go back to the store and wait in line to return them, then rebuy them with the coupon. His is more monetary frugality, not environmental. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-family-frugal#post-2669959 Fri, 23 Dec 2016 21:43:44 +0000 hummusgirl 2669959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are not frugal, as much as I aspire to be. I am a master justifier, though... we're keeping our local economy going by paying housekeepers, handymen, yard guys, etc. :-) </p> <p>I try to be somewhat environmentally conscious - use mostly rags vs paper towels, stainless lunchboxes instead of ziplocs or paper bags. This year for Hanukah, we're buying some used things and doing "experience" gifts. Most of my "frugality" comes from the fact that I'd rather pay down my mortgage than have a bunch of stuff. I rarely go clothes shopping or get a haircut. Somehow we still spend a ton, unfortunately! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-family-frugal#post-2669949 Fri, 23 Dec 2016 21:15:41 +0000 Greentea 2669949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think it is just about money, btw, also about values (less waste in landfills, less wasted water etc.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-family-frugal#post-2669944 Fri, 23 Dec 2016 20:51:51 +0000 Iced Tea 2669944@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am pretty frugal; I was influenced by growing up in poverty. My husband is definitely not frugal. He would rather throw money at problems to make them go away whereas I would rather get creative or get my hands dirty to avoid spending money. </p> <p>Today I bought our Christmas tree. I waited to save money and also avoid weeks of protecting it from my toddler. It is a nice big tree that was marked down to 10 dollars! I also hoped that waiting on the last round of trees would allow it to last til our family party on January 11 at our house. </p> <p>I draw the line at preserving my mental health and keeping sanitary conditions though. No reusing ziplocks (for sanitary reasons) and certain things you spend money on can really save you some sanity (like therapy or take out when you are super busy). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-family-frugal#post-2669940 Fri, 23 Dec 2016 20:36:40 +0000 JennyD 2669940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My dad used to burn construction debris and then pull the nails out of the fireplace and straighten them. </p> <p>We reuse ziplocs. We don't use paper towels. Or paper plates or napkins. But it's more from a place of environmental consciousness, not frugality. I've sewn gift bags for our Christmas presents, so we're wrapping paper free this year!<br /> We have several metal waterbottles that we leave in the car ( not in the winter...) full of water, rather than buying bottled water. We use travel mugs and generally try to avoid disposable things. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-family-frugal#post-2669926 Fri, 23 Dec 2016 19:23:47 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2669926@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I turn frugal into hoarding and it's not good. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-family-frugal#post-2669922 Fri, 23 Dec 2016 19:12:23 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2669922@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: lol partners in crime </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-family-frugal#post-2669921 Fri, 23 Dec 2016 19:11:25 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2669921@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With some things my husband and I are. My parents were frugal growing up. It's funny to see how they both react to our non-frugal ways. Growing up my parents re-used zip loc bags. My dad will start to wash and turn the bags inside out to dry at my house and I have to remind him we throw them away. Growing up my parents used dish towels a lot and paper towels sparingly. Paper towels were often left to dry out and reuse. Without fail my mom always asks for a new paper towel roll to take home because she knows I stock up since we use them all the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-family-frugal#post-2669918 Fri, 23 Dec 2016 19:01:35 +0000 farawayyama 2669918@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I try to be and enjoy it, but eating out is a weakness. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-family-frugal#post-2669914 Fri, 23 Dec 2016 18:45:45 +0000 Greentea 2669914@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am so so so frugal. (In some ways.) I actually see it as a good challenge. It makes me patient, thoughtful, extremely creative. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-family-frugal#post-2669903 Fri, 23 Dec 2016 17:48:35 +0000 erinbaderin 2669903@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not in the slightest. My dad once went shopping for a new grill for the barbeque and came home with a new barbecue instead. Once we went to buy a new string of lights for the Christmas tree and instead bought a pre-lit tree. My dad and I aren't allowed to go shopping together anymore. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-your-family-frugal#post-2669898 Fri, 23 Dec 2016 17:36:17 +0000 mrbee 2669898@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom is super frugal! She got mad me at the other day that I was washing something off with a hose, and I wasn't saving the water to re-use for later. At first I resisted her logic but now I totally see her point, and I save the water in a basin so we can wash off other things without a hose.</p> <p>The thing is that we actually pump our own water out of a deep well. So it's not like we're saving money this way, unless you count the cost of running our water pump for an extra 30 seconds a day. But it's the principle of things, and I can respect that. Frugality is one of those things best learned by example (when possible)... I had forgotten a lot of these things when I lived in the city.</p> <p>Is your family frugal? I'd love to hear frugal stories, as I'm trying to be more frugal myself! </p>