Let’s Talk About Frugality and What It Means

“Without frugality none can be rich, and with it very few would be poor.” – Samuel Johnson

What do you think of when you hear the word Frugal? Thriftiness? Being a cheapskate?

I’m looking at a gorgeous view of the park from my studio apartment window, thinking to myself, this is heavenly. The golden sunset beaming its rays across the leafy treetops is mesmerizing. Because I live in a studio apartment, my rent is lower than a 1 or 2 bedroom apartment. I was frugal in my choice so that I would have more money and more freedom but I didn’t sacrifice quality. There is no deprivation involved.

‘Cheap’ means something different. The word ‘cheap’ has negative connotations. It can range from a certain attitude in someone’s personality, to buying things that are yes, inexpensive, but of low quality, and will not bring any lasting happiness or satisfaction. I was being frugal in my choice of living space, but definitely not cheap. I absolutely love it here. It’s my peaceful getaway in the middle of the city.

Frugality is:

• About living smarter and wisely, and not depriving ourselves of things we want in life
• Making thoughtful decisions, using research and intellect on what we buy
• Understanding the value of our money and how it is spent, stretching a dollar as far as it can go
• Better money management and knowing where all our money goes, getting rid of debt, eliminating or decreasing unnecessary bills
• An awareness of the long-term value of an item
• Understanding the value of purchasing higher quality items that last, vs things that will fall apart quickly
• Getting back to the simple things in life, and focusing on what is important
• Freedom!

Cheap is:

• An item/thing being of low quality and eventually falling apart
• Being stingy and difficult around friends and family when it comes to spending
• Holding onto money in the detriment of others
• A lower quality of living and sacrificing personal happiness

Below is a beautiful excerpt that a friend sent me that talks about Frugality. It’s from the book “Your Money or Your Life” by Vicki Robin, Joe Dominguez and Monique Tilford.

There’s a word in Spanish that encompasses all this: aprovechar. It means to use something wisely – be it old zippers from worn-out clothes or a sunny day at the beach. It’s getting full value from life, enjoying all the good that each moment and each thing as to offer. You can “approvechar” a simple meal, a flat of overripe strawberries or a cruise in the Bahamas. There’s nothing miserly about aprovechar; it’s a succulent word, full of sunlight and flavor. If only “frugal” were so sweet. 

The “more is better and it’s never enough” mentality in North America fails the frugality test not solely because of the excess, but because of the lack of enjoyment of what we already have. Indeed, North Americans have been called materialists, but that’s a misnomer. All too often it’s not material things we enjoy as much as what these things symbolize: conquest, status, success, achievement, a sense of worth and even favor in the eyes of the Creator. Once we’ve acquired the dream house, the status car or the perfect mate, we rarely stop to enjoy them thoroughly. Instead, we’re off and running after the next coveted acquisition. 

Another lesson we can derive from the dictionary definition of “frugal” is the recognition that we don’t need to possess a thing to enjoy it – we merely need to use it. If we are enjoying an item, whether or not we own it, we’re being frugal. For many of life’s pleasures it may be far better “use” something than to “posses” it (and pay in time and energy for the upkeep). So often we have been like feudal lords, gathering as many possessions as possible from far and wide and bringing them inside the walls of our castle. If we want something (or wanted it in the past, or imagine we want it in the future), we think we must bring it inside the boundaries of the world called “mine”. What we fail to recognize is that what is outside the walls of “mine” doesn’t belong to the enemy; it belongs to “the rest of us”.  And if what lies outside our walls is not “them” but “us,”, we can afford to loosen our grip a bit on our possessions. We can gingerly open the doors of our fortress and allow goods (material and spiritual) to flow into and out of our boundaries. 

Frugality, then, is also learning to share, to see the world as “ours” rather than as “theirs” and “mine”. And, while not explicit in the word, being frugal and being happy with having enough mean that more will be available for others. Learning to equitably share the resource sof the earth is at the top of the global agenda, and some creative frugality in North America could go a long way toward promoting that balance. 

— from the book “Your Money or Your Life”

What are some ways that you are frugal? Let me know in the comments below or send me an email at lessoftheexcess at gmail dot com.

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