Frugal people get a bad rap. They’re called cheap, boring, or overly cautious.
But true frugality is about being intentional with money, not about cutting every corner.
George Kamel, personal finance expert and Ramsey Personality, recently asked his YouTube community where frugal folks refuse to spend.
If you want to find out whether your spending habits line up with the real frugal crowd, here are 11 places they actively avoid, and why.
1. Amazon
Yes, Amazon is convenient. But that convenience comes at a cost.
One person put it simply: “Amazon Prime… gets people to buy junk they don’t need.” And there’s data to back it up.
According to Kamel, “The average Prime member spent $1,170 in 2024 compared to $570 for non-Prime customers.”
2. Temu
Temu’s ultra-low prices are tempting, but frugal shoppers steer clear.
“Teemu freaking Temu,” one user wrote, adding that it only sells “single-use garbage.”
Kamel jokes about the bizarre t-shirt designs and long shipping times, calling the site “low-priced garbage that takes 17 weeks to get there.”
3. Starbucks
An occasional coffee? Fine. Daily Starbucks runs? Not so much.
“Spending $7 a day, five days a week… comes out to nearly two grand a year,” Kamel said.
Frugal people usually make coffee at home or get it for free at work.
4. Lululemon
“Lulu. Not paying $100 for leggings,” wrote one user.
Kamel acknowledged the quality but pointed out, “What you’re really paying for… is brand association.” There are solid alternatives without the markup.
5. Bougie Grocery Stores
Frugal folks avoid high-end grocers like Publix. As one person put it: “Aldi is just fine.”
Kamel agrees, noting, “Personally, I am a big Aldi fan. Shopping at Aldi can save you 36%… nearly $4,000 a year for a family of four.”
6. Sit-Down Restaurants
Dining out is entertainment, not a necessity.
“Restaurants typically mark up their prices as much as 300% to cover overhead and make a profit,” Kamel said.
Many frugal people reserve eating out for special occasions and prefer takeout or cooking at home.
7. Gambling and Sports Betting
“Anything to do with gambling, lottery, casinos, online betting, I lump all that together because they all have one thing in common, it’s for schmucks,” one person said.
Kamel pointed out that in states where sports betting is legal, “Net investments decreased by 14%.”
8. High-End Department Stores
Brands like Nordstrom and Crate & Barrel came under fire.
“Paying for a designer label,” one person wrote.
Kamel showed Nordstrom jeans priced at over $200 and advised using price comparison tools or shopping secondhand instead.
9. Target
Frugal people aren’t necessarily anti-Target, but they approach it with caution.
“Overpriced on a lot of stuff you don’t need,” said one viewer.
Kamel noted, “You’re not going to Target to buy the highest quality item… you’re going for convenience and to have a good shopping experience.”
10. Airports and Stadiums
“Not paying $45 for a dry sandwich and a bottle of water,” one viewer said.
Kamel agrees: “I try to eat before I go” to avoid stadium markups like $8 hot dogs or $7 bottled water.
11. Food Delivery Apps
A lot of people really agreed with this one. “DoorDash or Uber Eats, absolutely a waste of money,” said one user.
Between delivery, service, and small order fees, costs add up quickly.
Kamel’s solution: “I’ve become my own Uber driver. I got legs, I got a vehicle. I’m going to go to the place and get the takeout myself, which means no delivery fees, less tip, and I’m paying the actual menu price at that restaurant, not getting upcharged.”
What It Really Means To Be Frugal
Frugal people aren’t afraid to spend; they just spend with purpose.
As Kamel explained, “Frugal people are not cheap. They’re just intentional.”
It’s not about denying yourself everything. It’s about building the future you want, instead of spending to maintain a lifestyle you can’t actually afford.