The truth is, being frugal may be the new black, but being cheap is never in style.  It doesn’t matter how much money you make or don’t make, at the end of the day, the mindset of the penny-wise dollar foolish is never Fab & Fru.  Frugality is about being prudent with your finances and mindful of your spending, while still enjoying having nice and well maintained things, fun times, and living your life as a generous and giving person. After all, living WELL for less is the Fabulous & Frugal way of life!

Cheapness has a connotation of being stingy, miserly, and not valuing quality over price no matter what the consequences. The result: cheap people often feel deprived and unsatisfied because they refuse to spend money even when they need something.  Cheap people are typically unaware of their priorities.  They often lose sight of their goals and dreams and allow themselves to get lost in the fear of losing their money rather than learning how to spend it wisely.  They often martyr themselves by not joining in on the fun because they don’t want to spend the money (not necessarily because they don’t have it).  It may not seem it at first glance, but the cheap person actually lacks control over their finances. Not only does getting stuck in a cheap mindset promote deprivation and unhappiness, it can often offend others and make people feel badly.  –Did I mention my date with Don??

On the filp side, the actions of a frugal person are more self-aware and mindful. Frugal people are not wasteful, and feel satisfied by simple pleasures.  As a result, the frugal person feels less like they are losing out when they make a decision based on money, because they are making a conscious choice that is helping them work towards achieving their ultimate goal.   Frugality is not about never spending, but rather consciously choosing how to spend your money.  It is about valuing quality, prioritizing your goals, and setting the right intentions to support a happy and fruitful lifestyle.

**Remember, with awareness comes confidence and a sense of feeling in control of your finances.  With a little practice, you too will not only become consciously frugal, you can also continue to hone your skills at being absolutely fabulous!

Next time you’re trying to figure if you’re being frugal or just cheap, ask yourself a few questions:

• Do You NEED to make this purchase ?
• What Are Your Priorities?
• What Are You Gaining or What Are You Giving Up?
• Are Your Actions Affecting Other People?
• Is the Purchase a Good Value?
• Have You Planned for the Purchase?
• Do You Feel Satisfied or Deprived?

Your answers may not only surprise you, they may just bring you the awareness that you’ve been looking for!

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