is frugal living/saving money a matter of luck?

Sometimes it probably is, but I do think for the most part it is a matter of looking out for bargains and thinking before spending. You have to notice the bargains and the for sales signs. I know many that never do. having to save as much as possible for a while taught me always to notice these things. We have lots more spending-money now

Eevry pennny couns and saving cash is work and not luck.
Keep a jar for your spare change. It adds up quick. also, clip coupons for the store..people can do real well wiht them.
Every spare dollar you find, put it away and don't touch it. Every time you get $5 put it into a bank account and have one account you refuse to touch, no matter what!
The economy right now makes it hard? But if you work at it, it can still be done!
If you have not done it yet..CUT UP all credit cards! EVERY LAST ONE you have. Why pay back and extra 20 cents or so on/for every dollar you spend? Only use cash and stay in budget. It is not easy, but it has to be learned. You may have to cut a few things, but in the long run it does also save!

Sure it is. You can be frugal and watch for sales, shop the thrift stores, don't buy unnecessarily, but there is always the chance that you'll just happen on a wonderful bargain without even trying.

In my case this happened just yesterday. I just started a discussion in this area about my new toy. That was definitely luck!

Yes, I think so sometimes. I think my biggest problem is that I see something on sale and I dont pick it up because I am trying to save to much money, but I end up buying it later when I have more money at the full price. I should have just bought it on sale even when I may have not had the extra money because it would have saved me in the long run.

I am a clearance freak! During the winter months I spend a lot of time at the mall as there is nothing else to do and we are lucky enough to have a great play area in our mall for my daughter. I have found that clearance is a hit or miss. Because I shop so often I happen to find some thing very often. JcPenny has really good clearance. I seem to find every thing for dollars, same with Sears. I have found that going to deparment stores isn't so bad if you are disiplined enough to only look at clearance racks. I have found stuff there cheaper then at a thrift store. In fact I recently found curtains originally 45 bucks for 2.99. They are heavy and more for winter then spring summer but what they hey for that price I'll save them for winter time. I was at JCpenny's last week and found 6 shirts for 15 bucks! Plus I had a 5 dollars off 10 or more coupon so I spent like 11 dollars on 6 shirts for me - the mom who never gets stuff! (as I'm sure you understand) Anyway yeah I think finding that bargain is a luck thing. I know a few people that can never find clearance as good as me and they try.

On our honeymoon which was a place we would have never picked because it was so expensive but it was bought for us. We were looking through the shops and I came across a hutch with all kinds of different things the sales lady came over and said every thing on there is 50% off! My husband looked at me and said only you could find clearance on Captiva!

Hi. This is another one of my weird comments. Last week I was in a department store and ventured into the kitchen section. I'm building up kitchen necessities because I move around so much, I have to start from scratch every time.(if i could take these items with me, I would).

I had already purchased most of my baking supplies, but hadn't found baking cooling rack at an affordable pride. You guessed it, right? The store was having a sale they didn't advertise and I bought my racks for only $4.99. Incredible.

My weird thinking brings me to this: If we need something (cooling racks) does it show up in our lives without a conscious effort on our part? I call this cosmic,(a simplified summary of my thoughts) and have numerous examples of this phenomenon.

In my life experiences, I don't consider these moments luck at all.

If you read my comment, has this happened in your life?

Sure, it's a matter of luck, sometimes. You can increase your odds by knowing when to shop for clearance sales. You can buy some things for summer now because everything is on clearance, then wait until the beginning of fall to stock up on fall items. You can also search online and look in the paper for sales. But often, such as in the thrift store, it is a matter of luck. Not only finding extra discounts, but finding nice things that fit. I love to shop a couple of local consignment shops for clothes for my son. Sometimes I find great things, other times nothing. It's the luck of the draw in those cases.

Yes it is as you can always come across a bargain or a cheap/free supple of an essential item, such as toiletries!

Hi cher913, I think so! I can look for sales in the paper and never find what I am looking for and then I can go out on a whim and go shopping and find an awesome sale. The stores just do not advertise everything on sale so some times it is a matter of being in the right place at the right time!

At times it can be a matter of luck but mostly it's a matter of research. I ask around at my favorite shops (thrift or regular) to see if they have any unadvertised sales coming up or if they have any loyalty discounts. A lot of stores do but never advertise them. Bells has some pretty cool ones.