LOS ANGELES, June 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Slickdeals, the leading crowdsourced shopping platform, commissioned a survey of 2,000 Americans on the differences between being cheap or frugal, in which nine out of ten respondents found frugality to be an attractive quality in a romantic partner.
Being cheap is about spending as little money as possible, while frugality encompasses several factors like money, convenience and time, coupled with overall value, being of importance. In the survey, 72 percent of respondents believe that seeking out deals or coupons for all purchases is frugal, whereas 44 percent think it is cheap to re-gift items. Additionally, not leaving a tip at all (regardless of service) and always tipping 15 percent (even if service is outstanding) is perceived as cheap.
"The increased propensity toward frugality brings to light the importance of value for today's shoppers," Slickdeals CEO Josh Meyers said. "Making smart purchase decisions and looking for deals or coupons is becoming mainstream – it's what savvy consumers do because they are financially wise."
As people mature and age, they become more frugal. The survey shows that 27 is the age people felt the most financially reckless, 30 is when people start taking their finances seriously, and 38 is when people become the most frugal.
Money plays a big role in relationships. 53 percent of Americans are hesitant to enter a relationship with someone carrying large sums of debt. The survey found that six in ten Americans have had a previous partner who was reckless with money, prompting them to look for a more financially responsible partner.
A whopping 79 percent of Americans find using coupons on a first date to be acceptable.
"When it comes to consumer attitudes, there is a fine line between frugal and cheap, and we wanted to test those boundaries through this survey," Meyers added. "At Slickdeals, the leading crowdsourced shopping platform, we empower consumers to discover hidden opportunities to save on everything from flat screen TVs to laundry detergent. As for relationships and dating, it's great to see that expressing smart consumerism is no longer considered taboo."
Additional survey data showed:
| IS IT CHEAP OR FRUGAL? HOW THE RESPONDENTS VOTED: |
|
| Not leaving a tip at all (regardless of service) |
CHEAP (75%) |
| Reusing tea bags or coffee filters |
CHEAP (60%) |
| Calculating your part of a group bill to the cent |
CHEAP (52%) |
| Lengthening longevity of soap by diluting soap bottles with water |
CHEAP (49%) |
| Re-gifting |
CHEAP (44%) |
| Always tipping 15%, even if the service is outstanding |
CHEAP (41%) |
| Eating food a few days past its expiry date |
CHEAP (35%) |
| Declining to be a part of rounds at the bar |
CHEAP (35%) |
| Keeping outdated or worn out electronics that barely work |
FRUGAL (39%) |
| Buying no-name electronics |
FRUGAL (51%) |
| Only having alcohol at home |
FRUGAL (51%) |
| Watching movies at home instead of in the theatre |
FRUGAL (61%) |
| Regularly tracking the home thermostat |
FRUGAL (62%) |
| Shopping at second-hand clothing stores |
FRUGAL (63%) |
| Buying off-brand food products |
FRUGAL (65%) |
| Buy clothes at department stores like Kmart, Walmart etc |
FRUGAL (67%) |
| Regularly tracking electricity use |
FRUGAL (70%) |
| Seeking out deals or coupons for all purchases |
FRUGAL (72%) |
| TOP 20 FIRST DATE TURN-OFFS |
|
| Poor hygiene |
77% |
| Bad manners |
73% |
| Being on their phone |
57% |
| Getting drunk |
54% |
| Bragging |
49% |
| Being controlling |
44% |
| Checking out other people |
41% |
| Talking poorly about an ex |
39% |
| Complaining |
38% |
| Treating server poorly |
37% |
| Lying about their appearance |
32% |
| Being late |
27% |
| Bragging about money |
27% |
| Not talking |
26% |
| Swearing |
26% |
| Talking too much |
24% |
| Boring |
23% |
| Moving too fast |
23% |
| Not offering to pay/split the check |
17% |
| Under-tipping a server |
13% |
About Slickdeals:
Slickdeals is the leading crowdsourced shopping platform, where 10 million users interact to share the most up-to-date information on online shopping deals and coupons. Through the power of crowdsourcing, Slickdeals has saved members over $5.5 billion by providing a forum for communication, as well as shopping tools such as its free Android or iOS apps. Slickdeals consistently ranks in the Top 100 most visited sites in the U.S. per Alexa.
To read more money-savings tips and news-worthy coverage on Slickdeals, visit the company blog at: https://slickdeals.net/news/.
