Maybe it’s a silly question, but if I’m going to dedicate time and energy to being frugal, I think it’s important to consider why I am doing it. What is the point in comparison shopping, making food from scratch, and going without luxuries? Is saving money really worth the time and sacrifice? To me it definitely is, and here are some things that I personally gain by trying to be frugal:
* A Peace of Mind. By saving money, my husband and I have less conflicts and worries about money. We are confident that we can pay all of our bills on time, have money to pay for unexpected expenses, and save for things like our kids’ college tuition and our own retirement someday.
* A Chance to be Creative. To me, being frugal gives me the opportunity to be resourceful and creative. I enjoy having to use some ingenuity to figure out how to do or get what I want for less.
* A Longer-Lasting Satisfaction. Some people get a rush from buying new things. I’ve learned to replace that rush with the satisfaction of resisting an impulse to buy something I don’t need or hadn’t planned to buy. This type of satisfaction is much more long-term and definitely outweighs the high you receive after buying something you really couldn’t afford.
* A Choice. Since I have learned to live more frugally, I can choose to stay at home with my children. We were not use to living extravagantly before our son was born, so it was not a big struggle to live on one income.
* A Proper Outlook on Priorities. How a person spends his or her money really shows what things they believe are most important. I choose to not let money and possessions be my main priorities. Instead, I aim to focus on other priorities like developing my own character and strengthening relationships with those I care about.
Maybe being frugal is silly to some, but if not, then I would love to hear why being frugal is important to you.