I TOTALLY agree with all of you Sisterfriends when it comes to being FRUGAL.
I was never one who stressed name-brand items. I just didn't grow up that way. I was thankful for ANYTHING that I got that wasn't second-hand (if you know what I'm talking about).
So given this fact, it has actually proved to be quite helpful now that I'm grown and married with TWO children.
I am an ADVID PAYLESS/PIC-N-PAY shoe shopper(@ 5'2" my feet are rather small, but oh so WIDE).
and my husband and I absolutely LOVE FAMILY DOLLAR and THE DOLLAR STORE (for household/personal necessities like detergent, dishwashing liquid, soap, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.). We also LOVE WAL-MART. We do our grocery shopping there so we're there atleast once every two weeks (I've got stock in this company so yall continue to shop there).
I don't see ANYTHING wrong with being frugal. Nowadays it's crucial that people know how to handle their money. I've got TWO children (and a step-daughter) to put through college in the future and I'm going to need all of the money that I can get. Besides as stated before by another Sisterfried, no one knows if items are name-brand unless you show or tell them. The majority of the time, no one EVER knows the difference.
As for personal care and hygiene, my "do" is short (I went natural almost a year ago). My husband maintains my cut and I apply the texturizer and coloring every other month. My husband also maintains his and my son's haircuts (that's $20 saved). I apply my daughter's perm every 6 to 8 week and I clip her ends just like they do in the salon. As far as clothing goes, I see it like this: My kids are very young. They're growing like little weeds. There's no need in putting all this money into clothes that are going to quickly grow out of in a few months anyway. As long as they are CLEAN and presentable. Besides at ages 7 and 2 years, they don't give a hoot as to whether these clothes are name-brand or not. As for myself, I don't mind buying little shirts, skirts, or shorts for places like WAL-MART or something like that. As a matter of fact (and I don't mean to "toot my own horn") I receive MANY compliments on my clothing and I KNOW where I got them from and how much I paid for it.
Now don't get me wrong. There are certain things that I don't compromise like certain Winter clothing and underwear.
Hey, FRUGALITY is good, in my opinion. And if there are people who can afford to splurge----GREAT!!! But until my mortgage is paid, both of our vehicles are paid, and my children are comfortable in college, I'm going to be a "PPP"---- PROUD PENNY-PINCHER