The Top 5 Things That Thrill a Frugal

Yesterday a surgeon removed my appendix.

I wonder if the surgeon likes his work. Did he spring out of bed in response to the Saturday 12:00am appendectomy call? As he put poured his wake-up coffee and put on his string-tied scrubs and foam-covered crocs, was there a sense of satisfaction? So much depends on his steady hands—a nervous family in the waiting room, the reputation of his hospital, the patient’s organs. Is there a thrill left for him somewhere in the sterile white light of the operating room?

We all love a thrill, don’t we?

Frugals are no different. If you’ve known a Frugal, you’ve known someone with an addiction. Frugals are addicted to the thrill of the deal.

Here’s a list of the top 5 things that thrill my Frugal:

1. The Checkout “Rush”

On triple coupon days, Harris Teeter is like a temple. With pulse racing, face flushed, and hands shaky with excitement, my wife presents her coupon box to the checkout altar. The priestess scans the offerings one-by-one to ensure there are no flaws. A high priest is called upon to validate the questionable. My Frugal leaves the aisle with eyes sparkling in ecstasy.

Ask any honest Frugal, what’s it like going through the checkout line with a stack of deal stealing coupons? Do you feel guilty about the saving? Not at all. Embarrassed? Only the first few times. Do you get excited? Oh yeah. It’s a rush!

A rush? Like an adrenaline rush? Exactly.

We all know what adrenaline is. It’s the chemical courage released by our bodies to help in difficult situations—like fleeing a crime scene or charging into battle. Today people manufacture the adrenaline rush in controlled environments: bungee jumpers, lion tamers, escape artists, and deal shoppers.

2. The Frugal High

As the adrenaline rush fades another chemical takes its place. Endorphins are the pleasure chemical. Laughter, joy, excitement—endorphins.

After a grueling jog, a runner is rewarded by a sense of elation as endorphins are released into the body. The effect is called the runner’s high. After the checkout run, a Frugal strides toward her vehicle with a feeling of intense accomplishment. I call it the frugal high.

The frugal high is the reward of purchase. It’s looking at the receipt and realizing, I beat the system. I saved 83% of this purchase. With a good deal, a frugal high can last an entire day, perhaps prompting a frugal to stack, order, and take pictures of her loot. More often it results in a spontaneous conversation starting with the words, Guess what I just got…If you listen closely, you’ll heard the sound of endorphins in her voice.

3. The Newspaper Inserts

The Washington Post is a Pulitzer Prize winning newspaper. But we don’t get it for the articles. We get it for the coupon inserts.

On Sundays our paper is dropped off at the door. Unless I can stop her, my Frugal leafs through the inserts on the way to church. Some inserts result in more thrills than others. Last week, a coupon insert caused her to dance around our kitchen. Naturally, Sadie and I joined in. Frugal thrills are wonderful when they can be shared.

4. The Frugal Community

Part of the Frugal appeal is the thrill of the interacting in the Frugal community.

Most Frugals are digitally connected. They follow each other’s blogs, stay updated on Twitter, comment, and email. Through the community they find support, instruction, solidarity, and incredible deals.

My Frugal knows people she’s never met in “real life”. She’ll refer to these Frugal mini-celebs by their first name and tell me about their bargain finds. At first I found this alarming. I mistakenly associated internet friend with imaginary friend. Now I find myself inquiring about their lives right along with her. It’s actually fun.

The Frugal community is already powerful. If they were to formally organize, one thing is clear: they’d bring national chain supermarkets to their knees. Power to the Frugals!

5. Adding to the Hoard

Every Frugal has a stockpile. Adding to this hoard of prepackaged, canned, and tubed non-perishables is a subtle thrill for the Frugal. Our diaper hoard is particularly impressive. Judging by the diaper packages, we’re on track to have another 3 kids.

It’s good to be prepared.

Some people collect antiques, the wise Frugal collects toothpaste. In the event of widespread economic depression, which thrill grants cleaner teeth?

Yes, we all live for the thrill. Frugals are luckier than most; their thrills benefit far more than they cost—if they even cost at all.

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Author of this Guest Post
Ryan Adams is the husband of frugal-mom, Dana Adams, the author of this blog, Frugal In Virginia. Ryan has his own blog which he uses as a podium for his ideas about business, technology, jobs, and entrepreneurship. He finds his wife’s blog much more interesting.