How to Be Frugal Without Being Accused of Being Cheap

Perception is everything. How we perceive ourselves often times determines how others perceive us. And in the grand scheme of things, unless you're very wealthy, we all need to scale spending back at times and save more. Human evolution has taught us that hoarding for shortages will pay off. Therefore we hoard the most precious commodity, cash. In tough times, cash is king. In ridiculously challenging times, cash is emperor. But the prospect of holding onto cash for emergencies leaves us open to criticism as cheap.

Here are some rules to live by so you won't be accused of being cheap.

First rule: don't sell yourself off as cheap, not even while joking with friends. It will stick like snow on a snowman. And that's the last thing you want. For every good willed attempt at righteous frugality will mark you forever. Instead proclaim your sensitivity to price increases due to rise in inventories caused by overall decrease in consumer spending brought about by an increase in prices of commodities. Ok, don't say that, you'll sound like a geek. Try telling people that recent events have caused you to re-evaluate your financial situation and have caused a strain on spending.

Tell friends you've recently opened an education fund for your children and you're concerned over the rising cost of tuition and the need for a quality education. Don't be cheap for the sake of being cheap. If you have a family you'll obviously want to spend most of resources on their future. Saving for the future is never a bad thing as long as you really stick to it and give progress updates on your efforts.

Treat your family and deserving friends with little tokens of appreciation. When you present a gift, let them know they are much appreciated. Never mention how tough things are as you don't want to put a damper on a high note. A little speech goes a long way and helps the recipient remember their token of appreciation. And that should be your overall goal which is to create exciting memories. Whether your gift was a night out at your favorite restaurant or tickets to a sought after concert or event, the memory of receiving the gift can be just as rewarding as the actual gift itself. Also, don't forget to take pictures. It's the easiest way to validate a great memory and make it last.

With these tips you'll be able to maintain frugality with dignity through lean financial times.