thrifty

Thrifty is an adjective describing someone who uses money and other resources carefully and not wastefully. A thrifty person aims to minimize unnecessary expenditure while maintaining essential needs and quality. Thriftiness can reflect prudent planning, budgeting, and resource conservation, and is generally viewed positively in many cultures as a sign of financial responsibility.

The noun thrift historically referred to prosperity and wise use of resources; the adjective thrifty is linked to that concept. In Western history, thrift has been celebrated as a virtue, and thrift stores—where donated goods are resold at low prices—developed as community responses to economic hardship and efforts to promote saving.

In contemporary usage, “thrifty” describes people who manage money well, often by careful comparison shopping, cooking at home, mending rather than replacing items, and seeking durable, cost-effective options. The term connotes practicality and discipline, though in some contexts it can imply stinginess if taken to an extreme.

Related terms include frugality and prudence, while related practices encompass budgeting, saving, and recycling. Common phrases include “thrifty shopper” and “thrift store.”