Frugal vs. Cheap: Where’s the Line?
I was having a conversation with a colleague the other day, and she said something that stuck with me:
“I’m frugal with my money, but I’m not cheap.”
That got me thinking—what does it really mean to be frugal? And where exactly is the line between frugal and cheap?
What Does It Mean to Be Frugal?
I once read that being frugal means saving where you can so you can spend when you want. And honestly? That kinda stuck with me.
Frugal isn’t about hoarding pennies or depriving yourself—it’s about being intentional with your money. It’s about prioritizing what actually matters to you and cutting back on the things that don’t.
The $20 vs. $100 Jeans Test
A frugal person might splurge on a $100 pair of jeans—not because they want to show off, but because they’ve done the math. They know those jeans will last five years, fit just right, and not fall apart after a few washes. To a frugal mindset, spending $20 on a pair of jeans that look great in the store but fade, rip, and lose shape in a month is a waste—not a savings.
Cheap is buying the $20 jeans, knowing they won’t last, just because they cost less. It’s ignoring quality, value, and sometimes even relationships, just to avoid spending money, even when it might cost more in the long run
Cheap vs. Frugal
This is where we often blur the line. How many times do we automatically grab the name brand at the grocery store, even though the store brand is just as good?
Being frugal means making the smart swap and even stocking up when it’s on sale. Cheap, on the other hand, might mean skipping out on quality or buying something you don’t really want, just because it’s cheaper.
Time Is Money, Too
Here’s where perspective really comes in. My cousin once booked a red-eye flight just to save $50. To me? That’s cheap (time is money). But to her? That was frugal. She valued the $50 savings.
That’s the thing about frugality—it’s personal. What feels frugal to me might feel cheap to you, depending on what you value most.
But Here’s Where It Gets Tricky…
Sometimes what looks cheap to one person is just smart budgeting to someone else.
Is buying off-brand cereal being frugal… or cheap?
Is refusing to go out for drinks because “$14 cocktails are a scam” a red flag… or just financial savvy?
Is wearing $20 jeans that you love and that happen to work for you a frugal win… or a cheap gamble?
It gets even more complicated when you're on a tight budget. Can you be frugal without looking cheap? Can you be cheap and still have your heart in the right place?
The Bottom Line
To me, the difference is simple:
Cheap only considers price.
Frugal considers value—quality, time, energy, and peace of mind.
Being frugal is a strategy. Being cheap is a habit. One is intentional, the other is impulsive
So the real question isn’t just frugal vs. cheap. It’s this:
What do you value most—your time, your comfort, your experiences, or your savings?
Because once you know that, the line between frugal and cheap becomes a lot clearer.
So Let’s Hear It…
I really want to know what you think.
Where do YOU draw the line between frugal and cheap?
Have you ever been called cheap when you thought you were just being smart?
Do you think being frugal is just rebranding cheap behavior to make it more acceptable?
So tell me—are you team $20 jeans or team $100 jeans?
Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear where you draw the line between frugal and cheap.
