|
...of Creative
Frugality
|
Getting Back to the Basics of Creative Frugality
When your frugality needs a
boost,
what do you do to get back to the basics of frugal
living?
"When I need a new kickstart, I
read anything and EVERYTHING I can get my hands on about being
frugal. I pull out all my old books and read all the sites
online that I haven't visited for a while. I even check out
the library to see if there is something new that I haven't read
yet. It always helps me get a fresh start. I thank
everyone that has frugal sites and has ever written a frugal book."
~ Darlene in CO
"My husband and I took very early
retirement 18 months ago (he was 54 and I was 49), knowing that we
would always have to live simply and frugally in order to live well on
our small income. We got into the habit of tracking all our expenses 5
years ago, in preparation for retirement, and still do. It's the main
thing that keeps us 'on track' and motivated. If we see that we have
spent more in a month than we had come in, it's quite sobering and
motivational to realize that very many months of that happening, and
one of us would have to go back to work! And we love our new life too
much to go back to paid employment, so we use the monthly expense
sheet as a tool to keep us on track and on budget.
Other things that keep me motivated... reading
newsletters such as Counting the Cost, joining in online discussion
groups that focus on frugality, and doing lots of independent reading
about ways to live better on less.
My vegetable and herb gardens, honey
bees, and small orchard keep us motivated too. We put sooo much time
and work into them, that it would simply go against my naturally
frugal nature to just let it go to waste thru inattention. So, we find
ways to use it fresh or preserve it, or share the blessings with
someone. Doing this assures that we not only eat healthy, but it
keeps my grocery bills way down. Our eventual goal is to provide
75% of our own food; the gardening and canning keep us happily
occupied at home, enjoying nature and the change of seasons, and
providing us with needed exercise.
We've also recently begun heating with a woodstove. Now THERE'S a
motivator! If we run out of firewood, we'll be cold, it's that simple.
And if we run out, then we have to buy it. We have enough wood on our
small property, that if
managed properly, should always keep us supplied
without having to buy any.
And last but not least, I've found that by doing
volunteer work with folks that are less fortunate than I, and seeing
all the need there is, I'm motivated to find ways to spend less of my
monthly income so that I can use it instead to help others. For me,
true joy comes in giving.
I do hope your readers can use some of these tried
and true tips to help keep them on track too. My life is far richer
now that I'm living on so much less." ~ Sam in TN
"When my frugality needs a boost,
I follow the envelope system of putting a set amount of cash in
envelopes for things such as gas, groceries, clothing. When this
amount is gone, no more spending in that area. Also, due to some
bills that unfortunately accumulated during my husband not working for
the past six months, I have taken a part time job (in addition to my
teaching position). The money from the part time tutoring job goes
only to pay down those bills just accumulated. Also, if one goes
through a month's expenditures, it is usually pretty simple to find
numerous expenses that are not 'must haves', but rather are 'nice to
haves.' By cutting out many of these, it is amazing how much
money you can 'find' in your checkbook." ~ Linda
|
|
"When I notice my spending getting
a little more extravagant or I realize that I've been to the store
more than once a week, I stop to think about what our ancestors did
before there were 24/7 shopping opportunities. I imagine my
grandmother living during the depression and not having the ability
to buy frivolous things and then not take joy in the item. I also
note that sometimes the more I buy, the less time I have to spend
with the item. If I buy too many CDs, then I won't be able to listen
to them all in a reasonable amount of time and cherish each one
because I'll want to listen to another one right away. So, I try to
cherish what I already have and enjoy it. I also try to imagine how
people in other cultures live without the item that I feel myself
impulsively buying. Do tribes in Africa need an electric juicer? How
many sweaters does the average woman in China own? I feel
financially free and know that I could buy a new sweater or two if I
like... but then I realize that my money could be better spent being
donated to a family in my own community or around the world who may
be struggling to find money to buy just one sweater to ward off the
bitter cold of winter.
During my last pregnancy we moved across the country while I was 37
weeks along. Our furniture didn't arrive for a few weeks and our
family of three had to share an airbed mattress together. As I
lowered my large baby belly into the airbed I thought how nice it
was for me to sleep in a warm house with my loving family, with a
new life growing inside my belly. I thought that surely, somewhere
in the world lay a pregnant woman on a mat on the floor wondering
where her next meal would come from and praying that her family
would stay together through war and famine. My life is so blessed
and I'd be a fool to waste the opportunities that God has given me,
such as a financially free life." ~ DH in TX
"For thrifty inspiration, I
re-read The Tightwad Gazette -- I have the original three
books, which by now are terribly dog-eared from lots of use! While I
may not actually use the exact same ideas found in Amy Dacyzyn's
classic volumes, I get inspired by her 'frugal zealot' philosophy and
it challenges me to find ways in my own life where I can cut back on
my spending, make do with what I have, etc.
I also check out new ideas on free frugal
websites such as Counting the Cost, Dollar Stretcher, Bankrate.com,
Cheapskate Monthly etc. (The latter is not completely free, but
some of the pages are. Those are the parts that I read as I don't
pay to subscribe.)
Sometimes my credit union's newsletter
gives me good money-saving ideas -- how to get the best buy in
shopping for cars, how to sock some more money away for retirement,
etc.
And, I study inspirational and religious books
that focus on the subject of spiritual prosperity. One good author is
Rev. Catherine Ponder." ~ Lynn
"When my frugality needs boosting,
I go to a website at FamilyCorner.com...they have a thread there about
'What Did You Do Frugal Today?' I also do an internet search for sites
like CountingtheCost, Stretcher.com, etc., or I read my Tightwad Gazette
books." ~ Joyce in GA
Editor's Note: Thanks to everyone who took the time to share
his or her ideas!
|
|
