avoiding waste; "an economical meal"; "an economical shopper"; "a frugal farmer"; "a frugal lunch"; "a sparing father and a spending son"; "sparing in their use of heat and light"; "stinting in bestowing gifts"; "thrifty because they remember the great Depression"; "`scotch' is used only informally"
People who are frugal or who live frugal lives do not eat much or spend much money on themselves. She lives a frugal life. + frugality fru·gal·ity We must practise the strictest frugality and economy. + frugally fru·gal·ly We lived fairly frugally He frugally saved various bits of the machine in carefully marked boxes
Economical in the use or appropriation of resources; not wasteful or lavish; wise in the expenditure or application of force, materials, time, etc