Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X & Boomers Have Completely Different Ideas Of What Being Frugal Looks Like
Olena Chukhil / Shutterstock The concept of being frugal sounds pretty straightforward. Frugal people typically spend less in order to save more, thinking twice before shelling out their hard-earned cash.
That said, what you personally think of when someone mentions being frugal could vary depending on when you were born. Each generation grew up with different economic landscapes and their own ideas about what makes something worth buying.
Gen Z, millennials, Gen X, and baby boomers all have their own ideas of what it means to be frugal.
To boomers, being frugal usually means getting every last ounce of value out of something.
It doesn't really matter if an item is outdated or worn out. If something still technically works, then what's the point of paying to replace it?
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Their version of frugality involves repairing and reusing things if possible. You never know when you'll need something down the road, so they'll keep it just in case.
Boomers also appreciate the usual money-saving moves. They shop sales, clip coupons, buy in bulk, and compare prices before making purchases. They don't necessarily understand why someone would pay full price for something when there's a perfectly good discount available. In their minds, frugality is all about being resourceful and practical with their money.
Gen X sees frugality as knowing when something isn't worth the money.
This generation grew up watching their parents follow a strict budget, but they also came of age with credit cards in hand, and now have the most credit card debt of any generation. The result is that they have learned the hard way it's best to give careful thought to whether they can afford something, or if holding off would be the smarter financial move.
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Strangely, they'll happily spend more on something they genuinely want while being hilariously cheap about everything else. They're willing to splurge on a vacation, but bring their own snacks and a reusable water bottle to the airport just to save money. While they're capable of treating themselves, they don't always see a point.
Being frugal is stretching your money as much as possible, according to millennials.
Things started to become wildly expensive for millennials recently, with prices on everything from housing to groceries increasing. They've had to figure out how to make their money go further, especially those who live paycheck to paycheck. They'll spend money, but only if they think they're getting the biggest bang for their buck.
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This generation is also big on finding creative ways to save money. They're big on secondhand shopping and signing up for loyalty programs. Their idea of being frugal often involves doing a little research and just enough bargain hunting to feel like they came out on top.
To Gen Z, frugality is about looking for cheaper alternatives.
Gen Z rarely pays full price for things, and why would they? Social media is constantly pointing them towards dupes and similar products. Like millennials, they're willing to put in the work to compare prices and find discount codes to save, and they consider themselves frugal because of it.
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They're also pretty comfortable buying things used that others might choose to buy new. Thrift stores, vintage finds, marketplace deals, and refurbished electronics feel like smart choices to them rather than like compromises. And they give themselves bonus points if something is sustainable and unique.
Kayla Asbach is a writer with a bachelor's degree from the University of Central Florida. She covers relationships, psychology, self-help, pop culture, and human interest topics.
