Annie Binns | Life in the Fun Lane

I have always thought there is a wide chasm between being cheap and being frugal.  I grew up in a family of four on a teacher's salary.  I was never keenly aware that we were poor.  We lived in rural areas and had no exposure to shopping malls.  Of course this was long before the internet was anything that kids were using.  In those days being frugal and being cheap were nestled together, since life had fewer options.  I'm grateful for being raised that way, and more grateful that I've been able to shed the cheapness and keep the frugality.  I find distinct differences now between the two.  For example:

• Cheap leaves a 10% tip for a great meal.
• Frugal leaves at least 20% and doesn't eat out as often.
• Cheap buys a new $20 shirt on sale for $10.
• Frugal buys a used $50 shirt for $10.
• Cheap cuts corners.
• Frugal rounds them.

There are so many reasons to be frugal and so many not to be cheap that this post has to be Part 1 of 1+x (math reference, see below).  I'll never get to it all in a single post.  Instead, I want to tell you about one of my favorite, repeatable frugal experiences.

I was in a thrift store doing holiday shopping (believe it or not, NEW gifts are frowned upon in my family – they simply do not support the production of new goods, a topic for another post).  Because I regularly shop in thrift stores, I can attest to this happening at least once a month.  I found THE PERFECT ITEM!  It's always unexpected.  You look down and THERE IT IS staring at you from a pile of … well, other people's trash.

This time it was a gift for my sister, the math whiz.  She has a Master's Degree in Mathematics and she edits math textbooks for a living.  Meanwhile, I can barely add and subtract.  She tells me math jokes and I can do nothing but stare blankly at her while she's laughing her ass off.  This is what she's getting for Christmas:

And can you believe this little gem is still in print? It cost me all of $1.99 but when it comes to having fun with my sister, it's priceless!  Merry Christmas, sis!

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