Is being frugal a bad thing?

One of the girls I know says I’m a “cheapass” jokingly because I don’t spend money a lot and it’s okay to let go and spend money on myself sometimes and treat myself. She told me to live a little. I know she didn’t mean that, but it bothered me. One time at the 99 cents store, my purchase total was $1.78 and my other girl pal said, “Wow you’re cheap (my name) lol. So frugal.”
She said I need to live and have fun. You can also have fun without spending money. I’ll try to only spend like $100 a month or $200 and that’s it. I’ve been saving my money for summer since I took summer off.
I don’t wanna end up homeless or in debt. I’m not telling you my amount in my bank account but I have over $3000. That’s my estimate and my friends think I’m frugal and it needs to stop.

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Casheyane · F

Maybe your friend didn't really mean bad. Just that your experiences and priorities and responsibilities are different. It's a challenge to find a compromise sometimes when you're part of a circle with different priorities. But if love is there between friends, I think you can make it work. Maybe if you open up, tell her comments like that make you feel misunderstood, she'll stop. Some of us are financially more privileged than others. I used to spend a lot on myself. I didn't understand before why some friends would rather eat somewhere cheap.

But then I grew up and got responsibilities. Then, I understand. A friend I had used to say 'Just bec we couldn't give you the love you want doesn't mean we don't love you'. I appreciated her then. Sometimes we care, but our experience are limited so we couldn't relate with a person.

If you are content and happy with how you spend now, that's okay. I think she may be just worried you're limiting yourself so she kept telling you to invest more on you. You know her more than I do so you have a better idea on her motivations and story background.

She can be herself and you can be you. if friendship is genuine, then I think you could still enjoy each other's company while respecting each other's priorities and choice for how you live your life.

But as for your heart, be you :) You're unique. You have your own dreams. I commend you for knowing what you want and working to get there. But also, don't be too set on it and then get scared when things don't go the way you want. Sometimes it could feel like we're being led on spirals. But trust God. Ask for directions. He'd be the one to show you how to live. So that even through the ups and downs and in between, you'd know you're gonna be okay in the end because you're on His hands.