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I'd agree that it's great that these people are saving so much money. But it is ONLY great if they aren't doing it at other people's expense.
I suspect that someone whose husband is earning a moderate salary and who is managing a household with two small children is able to save $300,000 over a period of about ten years (calculating the ten years based on their being in their middle thirties) is doing it by taking advantage of other people.
I remember reading the Frugal Zealot books when Amy Daczyzn was publishing her newsletter and I was impressed because she was truly frugal in the best sense of the word. But how many people are frugal by accepting gifts wihtout ever reciprocating, by taking advantage of public services or facilities in ways that are unreasonable, or by taking advantage of things that are free but that were never intended to be taken to an extreme. I suspect that a woman who can't bring herself to spend money on a sweater at the Gap, as a Christmas present for someone who has presumably done a ton of things for HER is not being frugal, but is being selfish and cheap. It is not ok to keep taking without occasionally giving in return. No one is saying she has to fritter away her $300,000, but there is a happy medium.
Furthermore, Amy Daczyzn does point out something that I think is always worth remembering in these discussion of frugality. Just because things are free doesn't mean they don't cost. They may not cost the person who is taking advantage of the offer of their being free, but they cost someone. It costs the taxpayer to maintain parks and zoos, it costs the taxpayer to maintain libraries; it costs restaurant owners to provide water and crackers and butter and bread. It costs waiters and waitresses to supply service to people who don't tip. There is an issue of ethics in frugality that those who are frugal often seem to feel justified in ignoring. The bottom line is that it is fine to save money if you are being responsible and kind citizens and family and society members at the same time.
