Quote Originally Posted by ChattanCat View Post
Hi folks,
Just got off of the "bay", looking for some great deals. Now I spent 1 - 2 hours looking for good deals. Found little that I wanted to afford.

Why do scots spend so much time looking for a great deal on everything and then go buy a tank? If scotsmen are so frugal, why spend hundreds of dollars on clothing? Frugal YES, but why develop a garment that requires 8 yards of material? And all the accessories, sporrans arrn't cheap, sgian dubhs, dirks, balmorals, fly's, argylls, PC's...

Help me understand!
Wally – speaking in generalities and knowing that there are always exceptions -

I think you are looking for an answer to your question of Why, not a definition of frugal, cheap miserly, thrifty, and the many other definitions of knowing value for dollar/pound/rubal/peso.

To me, and in my understanding, folks from our background take their heritage from people who lived in a harsh land. They had little, and had to make the most of what they had. These lessons were passed on to us.

High quality always means high value. High quality for a lower price equates to higher value. Bargaining for a still cheaper price elevates the value still higher. Making the same valued item yourself, or trading an un-wanted item for it is probably the highest of achievements! We really appreciate a good deal!

This same type of frugal-ness can be found in children of the great depression. They (and we, by condition and training) are reluctant to spend money on perceived frivolities, but are not reluctant to spend on requirements.

We (Scottish [kilt wearers]) have determined that we NEED to be kilted. So we have less of a problem spending money on that expense.

What ever label you put on this quality is immaterial. Frugal, cheap, miserly, thrifty, what-ever! What is a fact is that we (as a group) can recognize value when we see it, and are angry and dissatisfied when we are led on or do not receive value for our money.