Very strange feelings. [View all]

[Curmudgeoness]

I can't explain this quite yet, since I have always been frugal and never was embarrassed by my frugality. But I just lost my job, and when I went to the produce stand to ask if they had any "seconds" of the green peppers, I was embarrassed. Now I have done this every year, since a peck of seconds sells for $3 and I chop them up and freeze them for use through the whole year. It doesn't matter if they are in perfect condition, since they will be mushy from the freezing process anyways, and even if some of the pepper needs thrown out, it is still a great deal.

So now that I am forced to worry about money, it feels different. And that just makes no sense to me. Frugality is a lifestyle for me and always has been, and I never had a qualm about it. Has anyone else ever had this happen, when suddenly they are in a position to NEED to watch every penny more than in the past? I suppose that I should just be thankful that I know so many money-saving tricks, and I should be proud of that. What the hell!