Are you too frugal?Sometimes you need to buy things you enjoy.  Frugality is aboutbeing smart with your money – using it wisely.  However, you can makeyourself miserable if you are too frugal.
The key is to wisely choose what to buy and what not to buy.  Whatpurchase might add to your enjoyment of life?  Can you afford it? These are important questions to ask when deciding if you you are beingtoo frugal when considering a purchase for pure enjoyment.
Make Your Enjoyment Count When Buying Things

Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted. ~ Albert Einstein

I am a big fan of being frugal.  I think it is very wise to weighevery purchase carefully.  After all, we work hard for our money and itis foolish to throw it away on worthless crap that winds up beingclutter.
However, I also think Albert Einstein was a pretty smart guy and hiswords above are very insightful.  Money is a tool.  We manage itclosely so we can use it to make our lives more enjoyable.  Noteverything that counts can be counted.
If your frugality is making you miserable, then you might need torethink your stance.  You might need to start factoring your enjoymentinto your buying equation.
When to Sacrifice and Be Really Frugal
There are times when you need to be very tight with yourmoney.  Here are some examples of when it is smart to sacrifice now soyou can enjoy life later:

• When you are in debt – I believe strongly in beingdebt-free.  If you owe on credit cards, student loans, automobiles oranything else besides your mortgage, then you need to be really frugaluntil you pay off what you’ve already bought.
• When you lack an emergency fund – Things break. Cars need maintenance.  Homes require upkeep.  People get sick.  Jobsend unexpectedly.  You need 3 to 6 months living expenses in a savingsaccount so you can pay cash for emergencies.  Don’t buy anything forpure enjoyment until you have this done.
• When things are uncertain – If the future seemsespecially uncertain for you right now, then you probably want totighten in the reins until things clear up.  A little extra money inthe bank can make you feel more secure and help you to deal with anuncertain future.
• When your spouse thinks you should – Marriedcouples need to be on the same page financially.  If your spouse thinksnow is a time to be especially frugal, then listen to them.  They mightjust save your bacon.  It is always better to err on the side of beingextra cautious for a period to preserve marital bliss than to find outlater you should have listened.

I’m sure the list above is not all-inclusive of every circumstancewhere you need to be really frugal, but I think it gives you a prettygood picture of situations where you should avoid buying for pleasure. Now let’s look at when it is okay to loosen the purse strings a little.
When to Buy Something for Your Enjoyment
Again, your enjoyment needs to count when you are making buyingdecisions.  Here are some times when it is okay to spend a little justto make yourself happy:

• When you have the cash – This is the biggie.  Youhave to pay cash for all pleasure purchases.  If you don’t have themoney, then you don’t buy it.  “90 days same-as-cash” or any othersimilar financing schemes is not the same as paying cash.  If you don’thave the cold, hard cash in your hot little hands, then you can’tafford it.
• When you have thought about it overnight – I’d suggest not being too impulsive.  If you sleep on it and still want it in the morning, then it is probably okay to buy.
• When it won’t break the bank – You need to havethe money set aside to make this purchase above and beyond youremergency fund.  A new boat or a really good deal on a pair of shoes isnot an emergency.  Don’t leave yourself vulnerable to financial mishapswhen making a purchase for pure enjoyment.  On the flip side, when youhave a real emergency, then it is okay to spend your emergency fund. That’s what it is for.
• When you have the time to enjoy it – Timing iseverything.  Be sure that you are going to have the time to appreciateyour purchase when you make it.  There is no need to buy it nowregardless of the sales price if you are too busy for it.  You need towait until the time is right.
• When your spouse agrees – Again, I’ll bring up thespouse thing.  Your spouse doesn’t have to agree with what you arepurchasing.  I believe each partner needs their own slush fund, butthey need to agree that you have the discretionary money to make thepurchase now.  You’ll never enjoy it if you spouse strongly disagreeswith your timing.

If you can afford it and it is something you’ve thought about, thenbuy the thing that will make you happy.  It is okay.  You’ve been smartwith your money.  You deserve to splurge a little.
It Is Not a Sin to Buy Things You Enjoy

By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest.   
~ Agesilaus

Frugality is good, but anything overdone can suck freedom right outof life.  Your money should serve you not the other way around.  Aslong as you are being smart with your money, then it is perfectly fineto spend some once in awhile on something that is for pure pleasurewithout beating yourself up over it or feeling guilty about it.  Yourfrugality should give you more liberty and not make you a slave.