Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
Do you find frugal men attractive? If only they stood out among the rest, like in a crop ready to be harvested.
However, it is easy to spot a frugal man without even having to talk to him.
In some cases, they do, and I want to discuss some of the ways you can spot one and how to dig deeper once you chat him up.
How To Spot A Frugal Man
Are more and more men leaving the budgeting up to the women?
When I say frugal, I don’t mean cheap skates getting flowers from the dumpster; I mean men who are mindful of their money and understand how to save.
Frugal men understand that delayed gratification can take them to higher levels on their path in life.
Learning to do things for themselves and not hiring someone gives men a sense of pride that no one can ever take away.
Men who aren’t in debt and understand that emotionally spending their money won’t get them ahead are the ones who sleep better at night.
Even saving small amounts of money over time will grow excellent emergency savings to help pay for the unexpected.
There Are Men Out There That Do Care About Money
I’m noticing more men roaming deals and coupon sites nowadays to see if they can get more bang for their buck.
Stockpiling on deodorant and shampoo doesn’t sound like a bad idea when you can get it almost free with a coupon on the shelf.
Yes, most men indeed miss a coupon right in front of their faces only because shopping isn’t their number one choice activity.
Here at Canadian Budget Binder, I have seen an increase in the men who LIKE our page or subscribe to the blog.
They are also coming out and conversing, which the women think is macho.
No, I’m not talking about muscle or good looks but budgeting and saving money.
Most women on my Facebook page say they are in charge of the finances and complete the family budget.
Why are more men not involved in understanding how money keeps food on the table and a roof over their heads?
Realistically, men like to go out and make money; they don’t want to sort it out.
I hope to change that and have more men jump aboard with me and lay it all out on the table.
Believe it or not, there are loads of us men out there who enjoy seeing our savings grow.
Would the women who do all the budgeting gladly trade rolls with their significant other or be ready to work as a team?
No one wants to be responsible in the end “if” the finances take a terrible turn.
Working as a team makes for a better understanding, and the women dig it.
The funny thing is it goes both ways.
There are men out there who are in charge of the money and budget and want their wives to jump aboard with them.
There’s no picking on, just the men here.
Saving money and using coupons is a perceived pastime of little old grannies, but now decades of savings have continued into today’s generation.
Who knew you could save money with a product price adjustment?
Would you return to a store if I told you they would hand you $50 back for that tool you bought just two days earlier?
I bet you would (that would buy you a case of beer), but the problem is not so much the men.
It’s the message isn’t received.
I know men who have tunnel vision when they shop. They get in and out.
There is no time to peruse up and down the aisles looking for deals and reduced items.
They have “other things” to get done…remember that ” DIY project” or the “Honey Do List”~
I’ve been a saver not because I have a Debt Management Degree but simply because I didn’t want the stress of owing people money with nothing to pay them.
When I moved halfway across the world from the UK to marry my wife, I sure as heck would not have done it if she was not a financially independent woman.
She will tell you the same thing about me.
It is what it is, and I love women who take charge of situations and are go-getters.
I wanted a woman who has goals and is motivated by the success of achieving them, whether small or large, short or long-term.
That is just me, but many women out there love a man with a career, goals, and money in his wallet because he knows how to keep it there.
So yes, my wife is not only sexy but also budget-sexy.
She loves to save, has goals, and sets out to achieve them; that’s HOT!
No, not all her goals are money-related, but perseverance pays off.
With more and more Canadians sinking further into consumer debt, many couples are thinking twice before saying “I Do” rather than saying “Not Yet.”
I’m rather impressed when I hear about couples that take the time to get their financial house in order before jumping in and making mistakes that can haunt them for years.
Understanding what a budget is and why it’s critical to the success of any marriage should be a priority.
For some, hearing the word budget means “I can’t do anything,” “We are poor,” etc.. this is not true.
Purchasing your “needs“ and “wants“ while working together on the budget creates a balanced relationship.
Dating, Relationships, and Frugality
Gone are the days when “Looking Hot To Me” is one of the main criteria for “Will you be my girl” or “They are the one for me” unless you have money in the bank or you are on Millionaire Matchmaker.
It’s more like …
- “They may be the one for me, but what do they do for a living?”
- “How much money do they have in the bank or investments?”
- “Do you think they have a lot of consumer or school debt?”
I acknowledge that not everyone thinks this way or acts this way, but I’m betting the thought may pass through their mind at some point.
I see more young people thinking twice before jumping into a relationship with someone with no money, no job, and in debt up to their eyeballs.
The media splashes the debt problems of Canadians all over the internet, reality television shows, and the newspaper; for good reason, we need to wake up to this problem.
We can’t make taxes disappear, but we can control how we spend our money.
Am I being optimistic this will get better?
I am, but I believe more Canadians will take a stance on debt, even if that means learning the hard way.
Some say money isn’t everything, and I agree, but it’s 2012; money does make the world go round; there’s no doubting that.
Most divorces happen because of money, so, I ask again, is a frugal man attractive to women?
- What do you look for?
- What are the signs?
You don’t just ask someone straight up, so knowing what to look for might help you, or it could simply be a load of dung!
Signs You’ve Found Your Frugal Men
Some signs a man may potentially be the frugal man for you!
- He walks around the store with a flyer or grocery list.
- He has coupons, even better, a coupon binder, or uses coupon apps.
- He has a grocery list.
- He has an item in a cart that’s on sale and multiples of it.
- He thinks vinegar and water work just as well or, if not better, than other cleaning products.
- He brings shopping bags so as not to get charged $0.05 a bag (although he could be more into saving the environment but none, potentially a tip-off)
- He uses cash, so he doesn’t potentially overspend using credit cards.
- He’s using a rain check or asking for a rain check.
- You see him washing his car at home.
- He washes his windows around the house.
- He’s using a payphone.
- He uses a Reel mower instead of a gas-powered mower.
- He’s asking for a price adjustment at customer service.
- You see him reading labels and comparing products while imputing data using a calculator.
- He brings lunch to work.
- He brews his coffee and tea at work and brings it from home.
- He thinks real estate is a significant investment.
- He has more than one home (he’s in it for the long haul)
- Finance is the topic of many conversations.
- He has copies of money magazines or books on his desk.
- He has no cable or cell phone.
- He wants to replace all his appliances with Energy Star Rated.
- He always asks for receipts; better yet, he files them when he gets home.
- He grows his vegetables and herbs.
- He thinks a rain barrel is a great idea and has one or more to save on the water bill.
- He’s out at garage sales on the weekends.
- He shops at the cheaper grocery shops.
- He’s hanging out at the reduced rack.
- He has a lot of no-name products in his cart instead of brand-name.
- His cart is full of pink stickers 50% off, or reduced items.
- His hobbies don’t need much cash or are free to do.
- He has friends with benefits where they trade or borrow services.
- He buys second-hand clothes from Value Village or The Thrift Shop and enjoys shopping there.
- His idea of exercise is running, or he makes his home gym from items he picked up from Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace, dumpster-diving, friends, or the side of the road.
- He prefers to make a gift than buy one (everyone loves something homemade.
- He asks others about products they’ve tried and what they thought about them.
- You run into him at Dollarama.
- He has a side business to complement his full-time job.
- You see him at the INKJET refill depot instead of buying a new one.
- He’s at the Library rather than Chapters.
- He changes his oil instead of paying someone else to do it.
- He participates or starts a carpool at work to save on gas.
- He would rather cook at home than eat convenience foods or go to a restaurant.
- He menu plans each week.
- He washes and presses his clothes rather than bringing them to get done.
- He uses a handkerchief instead of a tissue.
- He returns the beer bottles or, better yet, collects them from the neighbours.
- He doesn’t turn the A/C in his vehicle on hot, humid days; he rolls down the windows. The same goes for a house or apartment.
- Water is his beverage, and he always refills from the tap.
- He’s a Do it Yourself (DIY) type of guy.
- He hangs his clothes to dry outside.
- He borrows DVDs from the library rather than going to the movies.
- He collects rewards points to redeem later for merchandise (you see him handing his points card at the cashier, better yet, his optimum card)
- He’s excellent at negotiating and haggling a good deal.
- He rarely gives up working overtime or holidays.
- He drives a second-hand car.
- He walks to work, rides a bike, motorcycle, or Emmo Bike (thinks cars are not a need but a want)
What other frugal men’s ways can you think of?
I’m sure there are many other ways to try and get a tip-off.
A man is frugal, but you must decide what gets your engine running.
Frugal doesn’t have to mean stingy; it simply means money-wise to me.
I like to balance my frugal lifestyle with dollops of splurges simply by having a budget.
You might disagree with my potential frugal man signs but may not mind men high on the fluff factor.
So, if you think frugal men are sexy and potentially spot one, get him!
If you think women are the only ones looking for frugal men, think again because lots of men think frugal women are just as sexy.
Discussion: Do you find frugal men sexy?
Share your comments below.
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lol love this post!!
Come on I was expecting something cheeky from you lol.. Cheers Mate.. always appreciate your comments! Mr.CBB
~He has a personal finance blog and writes about budgets and stuff.
Thanks for sharing. Frugal men are definitely attractive. 🙂
Thanks, frugal men might not be for everyone but my idea is that a frugal man is simply smart with his money! Thanks for your comment. Mr.CBB
I like to consider myself a smart shopper and consumer. There is real satisfaction in getting a great deal. I am frustrated by people who ,to me,waste their money,have no financial goals and do not plan ahead. My sweetie is a spender and has no problem carrying around $500.00 cash,just in case he sees something he wants. Would i find it sexy if he were to take better care of his finances?…you bet!!! We plan for a life together but until his debts and spending habits change we will remain in our own homes. I am debt free and he has a substancial amount in debt. I will not share the same home with him and take on his debt and the frustrations! He makes 1 1/2 times MORE than me each month and cannot manage his day to day living. I must admit he has made some progress in paying down his debt but in the mean time has spent about $15.000.00 on items he has wanted over the last year for his pleasure. So to me he is no farther ahead,even though he paid cash for the items he wanted for his own pleasure. I do find him sexy,frugal or not. But I am thinking I may just find him more sexy if he were to take better charge of his finances. i wouldn’t love him more I think I would just be super proud and more at ease with him.
Thanks for your comment Susan,
You are not alone, more and more people are taking a step back especially one’s that are debt free like yourself. Sounds to me like your sexy man simply needs to get a grip on his finances and he will score points on the HOTNESS meter in your books….Have you every suggested a budget or said anything to him or do you even talk money?
lol…My hubby started doing some of this stuff AFTER we met! lol He was $50,000 in debt and I still married him! I find a man that can fix stuff and do stuff around the house sexy lol. If I’m ever looking for another husband I’ll walk around the grocery store looking for all the signs you pointed out! lol
Ha Jen, you must be a comic in real life.. you always make me smile….not everyone thinks about money before they marry.. it’s not until they get married, get a house.. or simply get a house.. that the money is potentially the issue… I think that’s why we see more and more people especially younger ones wanting to learn about finances…. I’m happy about that. Mr.CBB
I see you started out distinguishing the difference between being frugal and being cheap. Someone who is cheap is not sexy, quite the opposite, but a man that can be frugal is. Finding someone who is debt free and works hard at saving and investing is quite attractive! Now if only I could find me one LOL!
Hey Joanne,
There are plenty out there… just have to find what get’s your engine cranked.. and if it’s tops on your list, don’t settle… Glad you liked it Joanna! Mr.CBB
🙂 a pic!!!!!!! ok now that I’m breathing again, here is what I think! Although my husband does not to a lot of what’s on that list, he does do a few things! I love it when he finds a good deal, uses coupons, finds coupons but most of all…..saves us money and never carries a balance! A man who can cook, clean, work out, has some muscles, budgets, cares about where he spends, coupons etc. is a very SEXY man!!!!! Oh yeah….and uses power tools! Gee……Does that man really exist?!?!?!
Oh Zayba you are so funny!!! Glad you liked the post. Yes a frugal man that is smart with his money is what it is all about. I’m happy to hear your husband is on board with you and helps you with coupons and uses them himself. Of course that man exists..where he’s at… well that’s up to the ladies…. Cheers Mr.CBB
loved the post!! since ive started couponing the hubby has been getting better. he even came home with a receipt telling me to look how much he saved, i wanted to laugh so hard cause it seemed so odd for him (he was the big spender in our marriage and it drives me nuts) but he was just so proud!! hes really starting to make such a huge improvement! 🙂 defintely find guys that want to save and spend wisely sexy 🙂
Hi Carla,
That’s great news. So many Canadians are falling prey to spending more than they earn and not saving enough money for emergencies and retirement. Frugal means money savvy to me and I think watching where you money is being spent is important. It doesn’t matter how much money one has, this is not the point, the point is are people being frugal with their money or running out and impulse spending on whatever they want or need. Sometimes it’s ok to wash a car at home instead of paying near $10 at the petrol station, or not have a cell phone….etc… Cheers Carla, thanks for sharing! Mr.CBB
I would be lying if I didn’t think frugal men were hot! I love men that know what their goals are and go for it…but are also financially savvy about it. There are a ton of guys that have personal finance blogs and I think it’s the hottest thing ever because it shows they are intelligent enough to pay attention to their finances… so wouldn’t this mean they’d show that same attention to their woman?
Great post CBB!
I’d have to add… he calculates just how much is needed in the future, and tries to achieve that goal for the both of you… he does different scenarios on mortgage calculators with you, he lets you have financial meetings with him.. yup I am talking about my BF lol.
Hey…
Thanks I’m glad you liked the post… so far only 1 person has come forward to say no on my Facebook page…. Interesting because sometimes people see the word FRUGAL as CHEAP but it’s not at all it’s being smart with your money so you can live a comfortable life. I think what you added is appropriate and I agree. Thanks for your comment! Mr.CBB
I love this and would love to be able to find a man who could fit this description or similar!
Hi Noel, I’m glad you liked the post… and you never know .. there’s someone for everyone out there as long as you know what you are looking for. Would you say that you are this type of women though? Mr.CBB
Well as someone returning to the dating scene after discovering the value and worth in being frugal, I don’t think I could be in a relationship long term with someone who doesn’t share my new found frugalness LOL As it is, I dated one guy who appreciated my couponing, but his attitude was “I like how you get it for free, but I don’t need to be there while you are getting it.” Well my feeling was if you can’t support the work, then why should you reap from the rewards. So yes, frugal men are sexy! and with your tips, I hope to find myself a good one 😉
I’m amazed at the amount of people that have come forward to say YES a Frugal man is sexy. So far only 1 person has said no..so I’m thrilled to hear people are thinking about their finances and understand saving money is not “cheap” it’s smart as long as you balance it with savings and fun! Do you think this time around you will look for signs or simply come straight out and say, this is what I like to do, what do you think?
Yes it’s sexy for a man to be Frugal 🙂 I also love that my husband, who works so hard for our family is very supportive of me being frugal in our lives!
Hi Denise! How would you define FRUGAL? That’s great that you look at money that way. Sometimes when you think about how long it will take you at work to make the money to pay for something you may delay that gratification until a sale comes around or better yet, save the money until you have the cash. Cheers Mr.CBB
Frugal Men are definetly sexy. My husband used to be a huge spender but is slowly but surely getting the hang of saving! And now whenever he comes home from groceries and tells me how much he saved I want to take him right there in the kitchen! lol 😛
Hi Jessica,
I’m hearing most wives say their men have changed or are changing now understanding how to save money. Do you think its a process where the wife is teaching the man or encouraging him or simply the man saying, “show me”. Mr.CBB
I don’t believe you cannot use a credit card. Credit cards are a good way to earn savings also. I have most of my bills paid directly by my Can Tire CC thus saving money on my husbands gas prices to drive to his job every day. As long as you pay it off in full every month, no foul….all gain.
We use credit cards for almost anything.. but we pay it in full. IF one is in debt, then they should refrain from using credit cards. This is the point where I would say, put them away now… time to fix the damage. So yes we have choices and decisions when it comes to using credit. We use our points for groceries, gas and products at Canadian Tire… and rather enjoy these perks. Cheers Shelley.
Frugality is always hot! I think women take the lead on finances nowadays because in general we’re always worrying about the future and security. Vast generalization, but I think we’re wired that way biologically. And in today’s society security equates to money.
You are right more women head the family finances but I think if more couples worked together it would make a world of difference. Lots of my fans tell me their spouse uses coupons now and always looking for a deal. I think women appreciate it when a man picks up on the worry about the future. It takes a weight off the woman’s shoulder and she finds that HOT! My wife loves it when she knows I’m always on the hunt for the best deal for our budget. I’m not complaining ;-). Thanks for your comment darlin! Mr.CBB
Ah, so that’s what makes men more attractive to women? I must become more frugal.
Hi Geoff!
I think it goes both ways. I prefer a woman who is smart with her money and not out racking up credit cards and lines of credit buying “stuff”. That’s more the message of the post. Being smart with your money and how it’s attractive to the opposite sex. Life isn’t getting any easier so the faster we get rid of our debt the better. Cheers Geoff for dropping in!!! Mr.CBB
I love this post. Yes, frugal men are sexy!!! My man is as cheap as they come and I love it. If more men helped lead their family in the path of frugalness (is that a word?) I think there would be much less arguing over money.
Haha frugalness….nice one! Glad you like it.. I hope your fans love it as I think more men should get involved with family finances and saving for the household etc. That’s great your man is frugal, did you teach him or did he come that way lol..
No, he came that we. I know people say opposites attract but it has been a real blessing in our marriage that we are completely on the same page when it concern finances and money. We have tried to instill those same traits in our girls.
Mrs. CBB and I were the same as well which has had a huge benefit for us and our finances. I couldn’t imagine being with someone who is opposite from my desire to be debt free and have enough for retirement whilst enjoying the present.
Actually, my wife does most the budget/finance stuff for us. She’s SO GOOD at it! For me, I just do what she says. “Dont spend this week” or “Only shop at this store” or whatever. Can’t decide if that’s a woman’s dream or nightmare to have a husband like me, lol
Ha mate you sound just like us. What’s important here is that you are both working together. As long as you agree and are not resentful of the fact you are being told what you can spend then it’s not a bad thing. I also recommend knowing what she is doing when it comes to budgeting,paying the bills etc. If anything were ever to happen someone has to be able to jump in. It also helps if you participate or offer a helping hand so she doesn’t feel overwhelmed. Mrs.CBB and I both take turns with the budget and sit down once a week together to go over it. Cheers mate.. you got yourself a good woman! Mr.CBB
Great post. A man who is frugal and careful with his money is such a turn on. I told my bf that is one of the reasons I am attracted to him. He is a do it yourselfer. He often shops at Value Village. He bought his car off of Craigslist. He is all about cheap n cheerful! 🙂
I don’t think I could ever be with someone who wasn’t good with money. It would drive me nuts trying to control his spending.
Well that was a lovely comment to read, thank you. It’s nice to hear when women find frugal men sexy. I know many women who want men to shower them with expensive gifts but that’s not me.. and Mrs.CBB is happy with that. We both have the same goals in life when it comes to our finances and keeping up with the latest and greatest isn’t one of them. Thanks for dropping in and please share my page with your mates and join me on Facebook and Twitter! Cheers Mr.CBB
Sounds just like my guy! When we started dating we were both learning about investments and life insurance while trying to get a life insurance license. I passed my test but he didn’t. He’s still huge on investments though. Wants us to grow our portfolios and have a nice nest egg so we can retire early. We don’t have tv, Internet, ( just what’s included with our cellphones) or waste out money on frivolous things. We both coupon, however he is more into finding tearpads where as I will be online ordering coupons and entering draws / contests. We both agree real estate is a great investment and are saving to get a property and rent it. I know men mature a bit later than women but for 21 years old I’d say he’s quite mature. I’ll be 23 soon and we are both on the same page with all our financial goals. We don’t have credit cards and make all our purchases in cash. We also do the jar system for our budget. There are some great ideas in this post! It definitely is sexy when a man is frugal and his life /goals/ finances in order. I hope more men will veer down this path, and start being more involved in their finances & future. There is so much that can be done 🙂