The term WAS FRUGAL can be broken down into four crossword solutions: STINTED (7 letters), SCRIMPED (8 letters), SAVED (5 letters), and SPARED (6 letters). To be frugal is to practice economy in the use of resources, and these words all describe different ways of being economical. STINTED means to limit or restrict something, while SCRIMPED means to economize or save money by using less than usual. Saved means to put aside money for future use, and SPARED means to refrain from using something. All of these words describe different ways of being frugal.