For just finding this blog, this line alone makes me like it. Like Reese, I sometimes agonize over how PF bloggers seem to make ALL the right choices and never fall into temptation like “the rest of us” seem to. It’s good to see a writer with an extremely non-preachy tone, kudos, you’re writing and photography are great! (I’d like a nice DSLR someday… Right now, I’m loving my point & shoot Canon that seems to be fantastic for my present skills.)

For me, I avoid temptation by having a set amount of “blow” money. If what I want exceeds my spending limit, I’m stuck waiting… Unless I feel comfortable enough to spend my tiny bit of savings on it. (Savings set aside from spending money not used, for nothing in particular.) I find that I rarely feel like taking from savings, but am happier when I have a bit of a “windfall” (extra money, I get paid on commission so it changes and I won’t know until checks are posted) and can spend the money in one fell swoop without touching savings. This time, I finally have enough of this “extra” to pay for a new piece of ink art, which I’m looking forward to. (Of the tattoo variety, which for some reason I feel weird mentioning on a blog like this!)

Though today’s zooms are much better than they used to be back in the mid 80s when film was king.

I invested in film a while back so it’s what I stick with. Someday, though I wouldn’t mind investing in some really fast and fine glass but I figure if I’m going to do that, I may as well go with the best (Leitz, Zeiss etc.) and get them on a decent body.

You did touch on something that I think is really important. Sometimes you really don’t need to buy the thing to “hold you over.” Had you bought the lesser lens you would’ve bought the better one eventually and that wouldn’t be very frugal.

I tend to prefer prime lenses over Zooms personally as they are usually less expensive and faster but that all depends.

We are sad, sad people.

Reese, you mentioned that you go grocery shopping every day, but on these trips you are tempted by other sales and other items. Maybe if you started to grocery shop less, maybe 2 or 3 times per week that would help? I know that has helped me.

A new washing machine would be an exciting gift for me too. lol

Battra, I didn’t save up money for my lens by doing photography, so don’t feel envious or anything! I played the piano a ton (for choirs, accompanying vocalists and instrumentalists, doing weddings) and I also did some childcare for a few months this spring/summer.

I considered going for a cheaper zoom lens, but I figured I would eventually want the L zoom lens and that I might as well fork over the cash now instead of buying the cheaper one now and the more expensive one later. I hope someday to upgrade my camera body to a full-frame DSLR, so I feel like it’s wise to buy lenses that will work well with that, you know?

I just keep hoping someday my dream will come true and I’ll no longer be a simple IT tech but can actually make a living with my camera.

For clothes, what has helped me was getting a sewing machine and learning how to sew. I look at clothes, see that it wold take an hour or less to sew, figure out the cost of the fabric, and realize that the $20 shirt or $60 dress is really only about $10 and an hour or 2 of time. Knowing that, I won’t buy it. If the item is on sale for a price that would be less than the fabric, then I try it on and see how it fits. If I would have to make alterations, I consider the amount of time and the price. For example, the last pair of pants I found were $12, but needed alterations. It would take 10 minutes to alter, and there was at least $10 worth of fabric in the pants. I bought them because it would take longer to make them and that was worth the $2 to me, even with the alteration.

For food, generally looking at the calorie count will dissuade me. If it doesn’t, I put it in the cart, on the “kid seat” part and then every other item I look at in the store is compared to the temptation item. Generally, by the end of the grocery store trip, the temptation item is out of my cart because I would rather have the food I need than the temptation item.

As for sales:
Paper products are on sale now as the last big grill day (Labor Day) is coming up. I got a huge stack of napkins for 39 cents yesterday! I don’t use them, but my roommate does, so this was a great find. Also, condiments are on sale (mustard for $1 and Mayo for $1.50) so I stocked up.

Canned goods will be going on sale soon, usually the end of September and then again around Thanksgiving and Christmas. This is the time I stock up on olives (generally less than a $1 a can) and broth (generally less than 50 cents a can!).

And no, I don’t consider myself frugal, I consider myself practical! Why spend more for the things you need if you can wait to stock up and have all that you need?