-Mandy

Great question! I guess the one downside to blogging is that people never get to see the full picture, no matter how transparent you try to be. I surely don't blog about every little thing my family spends money on. Yes, there are times when I slip or my hubby slips and we just want to treat ourselves. A dinner out. A new outfit. A new toy for our kiddo just because. We try to budget, but it is easy to fall off the wagon. We are all only human!

I also want to point out that frugal doesn't necessarily equal cheap. Yes, I do love shopping at dollar stores and thrift shops. I love bargains and get a thrill out of feeling like I really saved. But I don't buy everything there. Like when I want to buy clothing for myself, I want it to be something that lasts. Sometimes I luck out and find a good quality brand item at the thrift shop. And when I do I am more than happy to pay a little more for it. If I really need something and cannot find it second-hand I am willing to head to a better store for it.

If I want to buy a stuffed animal I do like to buy them from Build-A-Bear. Yes, they are pricier than other stores. But many of them are allergen/asthma friendly and if they rip or need more stuffing you can take it back to them and they will fix it up good as new. I know this because I have done it. Several times.

Spending a bit more on an item so it doesn't have to be replaced time and time again is frugal.