Home » Home & Style » Thrifty Living » You Might NOT Be Thrifty

You Might NOT Be Thrifty

© Donna Dunn

Even thrifty people can have moments of extravagance. It's no crime, and it can even be good for you (in moderation, of course!) But if those moments of extravagance become too frequent, you may actually be at risk of losing your thrifty status.

You might not be thrifty if:

1. You have never recycled anything. (Unless you're a granola bar, you probably don't always recycle everything you could, at least not all the time. But in this day and age, if you're not even making an attempt at recycling, shame on you!)

2. If you see a quarter lying on the ground, you just walk by. (Once upon a time, I would have used a penny for this one, but I've seen many otherwise well-adjusted people glance at a penny on the ground and move on. Pennies just aren't what they used to be.)

3. You have never owned a hand-me-down. (When I was growing up some of my favourite clothes were the hand-me-downs I inherited from my sister. And the reason they were my favourites, I think, is because they had been owned and worn by my sister. Hand-me-downs are a wonderful thing, whether they come from a sibling, a cousin or a family friend.)

4. You've never taken a bus. (To be honest, I think lots of people would prefer not to use public transportation if they had a choice. But for most of us, public transit is the best option, financially and environmentally.)

5. Your cupboards are stocked with name-brands only. (Expensive packaging and advertising campaigns add to the shelf price of these items. Yes, some of these products are truly unique or superior, but sometimes you find the generic version is just as good, and costs considerably less.)

6. You've never had a yard sale, and you wouldn't be caught dead shopping at one, either. (Some people are born salers, but others can acquire a taste for it over time, and actually grow to enjoy it. My husband, for example. So if you've never even been to a yard sale, give it a try. Wear a disguise, if you must.)

7. You regularly use a personal shopper. (More and more stores are starting to offer the services of a personal shopper. And if you can afford it, personal shoppers can save you a lot of time - you tell them what you want, and they go out and find it for you. Still, doesn't it seem a little extravagant?)

8. Your credit cards (and you have several) always wear out before their expiration date. (Credit cards can be a great thing, especially in an emergency, but in my whole life I've never met anyone who hasn't been caught in a credit card squeeze at some point. The thrifty rule for credit cards is this: use it, but make sure you can pay off all charges every month.)

The copyright of the article You Might NOT Be Thrifty in Thrifty Living is owned by . Permission to republish You Might NOT Be Thrifty in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.