Here’s a great article from Canada’s Yahoo Finance page, called “Call Me Frugal, Not Cheap” that I found via Twitter. It’s about the difference between being frugal and cheap. People who are frugal get a bad rap because we are viewed as cheap! But here’s my motto–I believe I picked it up from “The Frugal Millionaires”:
Frugal is smart. Cheap is dumb.
Here’s an excerpt of the article, written by Gail Johnson, but click on the link here or above to read the whole piece:
“Frugals focus on finding the best value for their money,” she (Natalie P. McNeal) says. “We love good-quality goods that make sense for our lifestyle. We take the long-term view of money. We don’t spend; we invest. Cheapies are concerned with the lowest price, which is often a short-term philosophy.”
Take that used Honda Accord she bought in 2005. She had a history report done on it and carefully checked for internal damage. It was just two years old when she bought it, and she’s since paid it off.
“If I were cheap, I could have bought a lower-cost or quality car that may have had a spotty maintenance record or shorter-life span,” she explains.
However, many frugal people tend to be cheap at times…myself included ;–)
~Marilyn, TFF
Two Frugal Fairfielders 
Me? Frugal and cheap.
I love your kitten image!!!! (I’m a serious cat person ;–)
~Marilyn, TFF
I absolutely LOVE this post
Most every time I have gone the cheap route instead of frugal I have regretted it, as in the no name potato chips that were only a $1.00 Yuk yuk, yuk (even the birds wouldn’t eat them )
We won’t even go into the cheap and I mean really cheap toilet paper, The less said about this purchase the better
Yes, true. Plus, it seems like too many times cheap = made in China! So it doesn’t pay to be cheap ;–) ~Marilyn, TFF
To me, being cheap is being ungenerous. No, you don’t have to give everyone every last dime or even money. But I guess. . .frugal is suggesting a potluck instead of going out to eat. Cheap is either only bringing enough for yourself to the potluck. Frugal is suggesting that you don’t exchange gifts during a holiday like Christmas, or giving/regifting something that has never been used and is anonymous/in good condition (a nice picture frame with a pretty picture in it, something homemade, etc.). Cheap is going along with it but obviously reusing something kind of crappy thing you got as a promotion, like a coffee mug with a logo on it you got as a “gift” from a sales rep.
Pamela, you are elegantly frugal :–)
Your take on things is very highly respected by this frugal fairfielder !
~Marilyn, TFF