Frugality:

Frugality is the practice of

1. acquiring goods and services in a restrained manner, and
2. resourcefully using already owned economic goods and services, to
3. achieve a longer term goal.

I wanted to make sure frugality was an actual word before using it and found an entire wikipedia entry about it! WOW!

More from wiki:
Common strategies of frugality include the reduction of waste, curbing costly habits, suppressing instant gratification by means of fiscal self-restraint, seeking efficiency, avoiding traps, defying expensive social norms, embracing cost-free options, using barter, and staying well-informed about local circumstances and both market and product/service realities.

My favorite part is the "defying expensive social norms" part, which I do well! haha. I think being frugal is a blessing and slightly a curse! The curse part comes when I think everything is too expensive even if it really isn't.

I hate paying full price for clothing and other accessories in stores . I love sales!! Bargains!! Blow out clearances!! I will pay full price if the price is originally low, or if it is a real necessity, or a special occasion/gift.

Sometimes I get kind of bummed out by things I see in the Etsy finds emails. I'm not trying to be a downer about it because I completely love Etsy. And I'm not saying it's every time, but so many times the items in the finds are priced way above what I would spend. Expensive items! I realize handmade is special and I support it. But I will still have to weigh if something is important enough to spend a lot on or if I can live with a cheaper version or just without it at all.

I am not judging those who want to spend big bucks if they have the money to. But most of us don't! I am willing to pay more for handmade vs. commercial because I know the work that goes into it. However we all still have a spending limit and a reality to deal with. I love finding shops on Etsy that fit into my price range. We all have our own.

Here are some unbelievable deals I have found on Etsy!!

Visit shop lechic. Everything is $3.50! Shop announcement says "everything must go!" and I am not sure why, but $3.50?!! Hard to resist.

Visit considerthelillies, my mother's shop I recently talked about. Headbands at low prices!! It takes her no time to whip them up, and is a great opportunity for someone who doesn't have lots of extra cash. Especially young people!

Visit Lovenit to see this adorable bobby pin trio on sale for $5.50!

I really want to buy a purse on Etsy in the future. I have found so many shops where the prices are not drastically different than Target's but they are much cuter!! AND they are handmade. You can't beat that.

Visit ohhlalabebeboutique to see some cute bags! I love this one.

Visit grannypurse, I love this clutch!

Visit bayanhippo, pretty pretty bags!! Lookie at this one!

If you know of a shop having amazing sales or prices you can comment too! I'd love to hear more.

Now if you happen to visit my shops today, you can forget being frugal for a few minutes. I won't mind if you want to spend a little money!! ;) Honestly!