Comments on: America’s increasingly frugal habits

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:04:45 +0000

@Abigail: Thank you for sharing your opinion. Only time will tell and you make some excellent points. I, too, have noticed how busy the restaurants remain.

@Ang: What you’re talking about is the importance of balance and I whole-heartedly agree. I also think you’re right in that the downturn will cause different reactions based on where you are in life (relative to income, previous wealth, amount lost, home ownership status and age). Would be great to see how these statistics look a couple of decades from now, won’t it?

@threadbndr: I hope it sticks too and I certainly think, at a minimum, it will be a growing trend. I hear you on it being less “weird” now to save – a good thing for we “weirdos!”

By: threadbndr

threadbndr — Wed, 27 May 2009 22:51:34 +0000

I’m hoping it will stick. I’ve been frugal all my life and I haven’t changed my game plan with the recession. I’m still saving, still trying to decrease the outflow and increase the income.

But now I’m not ‘weird’ for doing it LOL – that’s been rather fun.

By: Ang

Ang — Tue, 19 May 2009 14:54:56 +0000

I don’t think that frugality should be about self-deprivation. To me, the best kind of frugal living is when we make decisions that help preserve our long-term financial health without depriving ourselves to the point where we are miserable. I think it’s entirely possible that there are others at the movies who are there on free passes, or for whom this is the splurge of the month. It’s not for me to judge what people splurge on, or to assume that going to a restaurant or a movie means that someone has an un-frugal lifestyle.

I think what this economic downturn has done is help people realize that conspicuous consumption is unrealistic and unhealthy, and I think that will stick, at least for my generation (18-35 year olds).

By: Abigail

Abigail — Sun, 17 May 2009 22:07:26 +0000

I think it’s a short-term trend. I wish it weren’t. But I think we’re already starting to see signs of frugal burnout. Restaurants are certainly not hurting for business. The movies seem plenty full when my husband and I go (with free passes).

I hope I’m wrong, but I just don’t think the American consumer is trained for long bouts of self-deprivation.