It seems that this question keeps coming up every where I turn. Sometimes I encounter it when I am visiting our forums. Other times I may read it in a frugal book, and of course, friends may ask me, either to get some advice or to keep me on my toes.
Frugal living really is a sort of lifestyle that develops over time. You can form many frugal habits that come naturally and without even thinking. I couldn’t tell you how many lights I’ve turned off today, because I am in the habit of turning them off whenever I leave a room. Sometimes, I never even turn them on in the first place.
Other things you do are just a part of your lifestyle. We don’t eat out as often as most people, we don’t have personal cell phones, we don’t spend money on soda, alcohol and cigarettes, and we prefer going to a park or to going to the movies. All of these things are just part of our family life, but they are still frugal.
Some of frugal living is an attitude or way of thinking. When my eldest son tore his twin comforter yet again while using in a game, I could have thrown in the towel (or the blanket in this case) and gone out to get him a new one. Instead, I got out the sewing kit today and hand stitched the holes in the seam while the kids played with their toys at my feet. Going out to buy a new comforter was never on my radar.
Sometimes, you can practice frugal living by not doing things. You can see a little of that above in the not going to the movies, but I mean something a little deeper. I had good reason to run to the post office today, but instead, I’ll combine that trip with some other errands that are along the way, tomorrow, thus saving on both gas and time. Other frugal not doings: not always using the dryer, and the big one, not trying to keep up with the Jones. (Figuratively. Our friends who are actually the Jones are frugal savvy themselves.)
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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