The version of frugality that makes sense to me is: mind the ROI on your expenditures. Pay for the fancier equipment if it pays for itself faster somehow. hire

The version of frugality that makes sense to me is: mind the ROI on your expenditures. Pay for the fancier equipment if it pays for itself faster somehow. hire the expensive engineers if they speed you up and that speed pays for itself. Buy equipment on ebay if the delays in returning defective equipment doesn't cost you more than you're saving. Different people mean different things by "frugality", but "save money at all cost" doesn't make sense as an implementation.