What do you consider frugal?

Um, I guess my view of frugal's a bit tougher than most people's. Looking for free stuff everywhere (freecycle's a good example!), only buying cheap things if they have to be bought used. Reusing old things for different purposes after they're no longer good for their original ones, growing your own food, washing dishes in the sink while conserving water, using candles and flashlights to save on electricity, turning the thermostat way down to conserve energy, use everything you have or else give it away... Etc, etc. My family fits most of these, and it's to the point where I'm not very happy living any other way. Only I'm taking it a step farther and trying to become more self-reliant...instead of reliant on energy companies, grocery stores, or even as much at the pump. I like simple living. I like the roughness.

i reuse plastic bags when i get them. here where i live, they are trying to disuade the use of plastic bags (so they charge for them) so we bring our own. we use towels for a couple of days then they get washed. we make a lot of soups and stews for meal time. i pack lunches for my kids for school. there are a ton of ideas out there and some good sites on the net that you may want to check out.

I reuse most things, and am careful to use the backs of pieces of paper for scrap paper. I use things people have given me, and things like this. It's good because I do need to save the money, and I feel that it is better for the environment. I don't go to food banks because at this point in my life I don't need to - If I were short on food, I could eat at my parents' house or my inlaws'. Fortunately, I am not, although we try to use coupons and shop on discount days.

I think everything you listed is being frugal. I do reuse a towel several times before washing it (as long as I don't use it to clean up a food mess or something gross like that) and I reuse plastic bags, as well as boxes, scrap peices of paper, and envelopes that come in the mail (I use them to store my coupons). I don't use the food bank though. I can afford to buy groceries each week (actually I only do one big shopping trip a month), so I don't the use the food banks and other similar programs. I do shop at the store with the best sales, as well as one that offers gas rewards, and I use coupons (from both the newspaper and online) so I am a little bit frugal in that aspect.

I think that each person might have a different meaning. To me it is making the best use out of your money, time, and resources.

We do most of those, except go the food bank, as we are not qualified for that, and there are many families that need that more than we do. We do shop at Aldi's a lot which is a discount food store. We also have a garden, and we shop for meat on Wednesday mornings when it is marked down. My wife also only drives when necessary and does all of her errands on one day. We also try to avoid running our air conditioning, and our heat. Of course they eventually have to come on but we wait till the last possible moment.

Hi Kylanie... yup. I'd consider that being frugal. Basically not spending on things that are not needed and looking for ways to save as well. I reuse the containers from ice cream and stuff so I don't have to buy any containers especially when the family goes out on a picnic or we have food to give to a relative or friend. I also reuse plastic and paper bags (they're very handy.) If the clothes I wear are used for sleeping only, I reuse it a couple of times before I throw it in the hamper. Turn off appliances when not in use. Plus if we're ironing and the clothing can go without being ironed, then we just fold it up nicely. Looks great even if it hasn't been ironed. Those are just some of the things that we do at home to save.