Thread: Frugal or Extravagant?

Originally Posted by QuiltnLady1

I go for quality at a good price. I use Olfa blades from Joanne's on sale -- I have several Olfa cutters (all more than 7 years old) and working wonderfully (love the 60mm ergonomic for most jobs and the 18mm for ripping) -- the F&P that I won last year, I use for cutting paper because it does not feel good in my hands. I have a couple pairs of Ginghers, 2 of the microserrated blade scissors and the rest Fiskars because they fit my very sore hands the best.

I try to do quality on a budget -- I find that buying cheap costs too much in the long run because I keep having to replace it.

There are some things that "cheap" just does not work for (incl paper clips and post it notes). I abandoned my Olfa rotary cutter, as I recall, because there wasn't enough protection from slicing myself along with the fabric. The Fiskars gives me a fighting chance to survive my loss of attention moments, tho I have had it close up twice while I was cutting, recently.

Frugal or Extravagant. First of all frugal does not mean cheap. Frugal means getting a good value, or making good use of what you have, and not being wasteful. I am frugal.
I look for things on sale, especially if it is something I know I am going to need but don't have to have it immediately. I can take my time and watch for a sale, or if it isn't going to ever be on sale save up for it,similar to the example of the cashmere coat, but most things retail will eventually be on sale. LQS may not mark down fabrics but may offer a percent off, or a free fq as a special. Fabric if it is too thin, or woven to loose it isn't worth putting into a quilt even at fifty cents a yard, as it won't hold up too long. If I am going to invest time in it, then I would want it to last long enough to be of use to recipient. If I need something I'll only need once the least it costs as long as it lasts the one time the better. And if one buys expensive fabric, and uses the leftovers or passes them on, frugal, vs. one who buys cheap fabric and tosses out the leftover strips, and pieces, they are wasteful. Even if they wouldn't be a good use in a time consuming quilt, someone could use them for something, even a teacher for art projects/classes.
The bells and whistles, whether appliance, vehicle etc. if you would never use them, then to buy it for status is a waste. But if they are things one would use and it makes it a better experience it is not a waste of money.