Word: frugal (adjective)

Associations

"Frugal" means being careful with money or resources, not wasteful. It often has a positive meaning, showing smart and simple use of what you have.

• "She is frugal and saves money by cooking at home." Here, it shows someone who does not spend too much.
• "A frugal lifestyle can help you avoid debt." This means living simply and not buying unnecessary things.
• "He is frugal with his time, only doing important tasks." It can also mean careful use of time or effort. A similar word is "cheap," but "cheap" can be negative, meaning low quality or stingy. "Frugal" is more about wise and careful choices.

Substitution

You can use words like:

• economical (focuses on saving money or resources)
• thrifty (similar, but sometimes more old-fashioned)
• sparing (used for careful use, often of resources) Each word changes the tone slightly. "Thrifty" is very close in meaning, but "economical" is often used for things like cars or appliances.

Deconstruction

"Frugal" comes from Latin "frugalis," from "frux" meaning "fruit" or "value." It suggests getting good value or benefit, like fruit from a tree. No prefix or suffix here, just the root word meaning careful use or saving.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you were frugal? What did you do?
• How is being frugal different from being cheap?
• Can frugal habits help in areas other than money? How?