OzBargainers - Are You Stingy, Cheap, Frugal or Thrifty?

scotty on 05/07/2024 - 14:11

Came across this post on r/ausfinance where someone asked about the difference between stingy, cheap, frugal and thrifty. And one of the top voted answer defined them as:

A stingy person is mean with money.
A cheap person is tight with money.
A frugal person is sensible with money.
A thrifty person is resourceful with money.

I know these aren't really 4 different mutually exclusive categories but have lots of overlaps instead. However I am wondering which trait best defines you as an OzBargainer? I don't think I am stingy/mean (or at least I hope I'm not). Unfortunately I'm no longer that resourceful, having time to hunt down all the bargains other than keeping up with OzBargain. However when a good deal turns up here I might lose my sensibility (buy first, ask later). By elimination I somehow ended up being "cheap".

If voted "Other" — what adjective would define you as an OzBargain?

Poll Options

  • 8
    Stingy
  • 30
    Cheap
  • 249
    Frugal
  • 127
    Thrifty
  • 20
    Other (please explain)
  • 32
    I have no money
General Discussion

Comments

  • cnrmlj on 06/07/2024 - 09:44

    Happy to spend money on what i see value in. Don't want to overpay. Love a good deal.

  • wfh on 06/07/2024 - 09:45
    • Will hop onto an Ozbargain if is a pricing error or an absurdly cheap price (if there is a slight chance I will need it)
    • Will check for coupon codes / promo codes on every online purchase
    • Will buy an expensive higher quality product if there is a rare sale / i.e. stuff that never goes on sale often, but this would be after a lot of research / observing the market.

    Although then I sometimes use my ozbargaining to justify splurge purchases or dinners…

    I also tend to avoid lower tier brands for consumables, electronics, clothes.

  • TightLikeThisx on 06/07/2024 - 09:48
    +2

    I think you missed a group of people that this site caters to..

    bargain hunter: a person who is not concerned with how much they spend or what they spend it on. What matters most to them is how little they are paying relative to market price of an item or service.

    • cnrmlj on 06/07/2024 - 09:53
      +1

      This is me. We have plenty of free cash flow but i'm not going to waste it or spend more than i have to.

  • LFO on 06/07/2024 - 10:27

    Other (please explain)

    Smart !

  • CheapskateNotFrugal on 06/07/2024 - 10:27

    Username says it all

  • 2esc on 06/07/2024 - 11:31

    Im a combination of all.

  • Reveen on 06/07/2024 - 12:28
    -1

    None of the above - I'm a hacker.

    A hacker finds ways around systems so applying this to shopping is how to pay the lowest price possible.

  • Speckled Jim on 06/07/2024 - 12:45

    Frugal 80% of the time. If non-urgent, I wait for a good deal. Here's a rare exception:

    Few weeks ago, our crappy Anko microwave gave up and I wanted an immediate replacement to warm leftovers for dinner. It was a pasta dish that you can't really do stovetop. We also rely on microwave for re-warming our coffees and cereal in winter too. Couldn't wait!

    Within an hour, settled on an LG 23L model from TGG locally. Their website had an automatic $5 off feature on a timer (and it turns out, a hyperlink to offer it). It went from being same price as HN and Retra to $5 under, so was an insta-buy with click&collect. Now at $172, I didn't really research it. A good warranty so decided to risk it. Had annoying chip tunes at end of heating, lucked upon the button combo (Stop+Inv Cook) to mute it. Now it's perfect.

    The other 20% of the time, I'm penny wise, pound foolish. A recent example, this bullhead watch was $179 — pretty good deal. However, get the look for under $25. It went up a few bucks, on Thursday it was $23.xx delivered inc GST.

    Now, it's a Mini Focus, not Citizen. Buuuuut, the latter is just a quartz anyway, and not even Eco-drive. Both also glass crystals, and I'm betting a Miyota (Citizen) movement in the cheapie. I know the quality can't be as good, but herein lies the folly that consumes 20% of my discretionary spending.

    It's cheap fun, so I don't stress about it, but I will acknowledge it here.

  • Uchuujin on 06/07/2024 - 14:18

    Cheap most of the time, happy to suffer some discomfort or inconvenience to save some bucks. But somewhat thrifty as i'm happy to spend big on my hobbies (and essentials), but only as long as i'm getting the best bang for buck i can. Can't take the money with us when we die, but not going to spend more than i have to!

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