On Being Frugal

On being frugal.

Here is what Wikipedia had to say about the strategies of frugality:

Common strategies of frugality include the reduction of waste, curbing costly habits, suppressing instant gratification by means of fiscal self-restraint, seeking efficiency, avoiding traps, defying expensive social norms, embracing free (as in gratis) options, using barter, and staying well-informed about local circumstances and both market and product/service realities.

Reduction of waste. Now who doesn't want to reduce the waste that we produce on a daily basis and at the same time teaching our children the meaning of saving our planet and being kind to Mother Earth.

Suppressing instant gratification by means of fiscal self-restraint: Wow, that was a big one for me and I know for many others. I get an idea in my head or I see something that I want and that's it, I want it NOW. No delaying gratification. I have tried this since January and I have to tell you that instant gratification is not all it's cracked up to be. I have found that waiting for something that I want and researching other opportunities to obtain what I want....has brought me either to the conclusion that I don't really want it or when I finally get it used, new, borrowed, I am much more satisfied with it.....hmmmmmm....interesting concept.

Seeking efficiency: Again saving the planet, saving money, becoming more self reliant.

Avoiding traps: That's a hard one for a lot of people especially since you can't walk, drive, watch or listen to anything without being bombarded with advertisements explaining why we absolutely NEED their product.

Defying expensive social norms: This was a hard one for me since some of my wonderful friends shop a lot. I have come to realize why I shopped so intensely in the past and I am actually disgusted by my actions. I bought because I could, without thinking or caring about the cost, where it was made and how, with what materials..... I can honestly say that I am very conscious with all of my purchases, be it food, clothing, books.... We rarely go out to restaurants anymore. It is so much healthier, easier and more fun and relaxing to eat at home.

Ebracing free (as in gratis) options, using barter. I love this one. I have always taken advantage of our local library, but now more than ever I am so happy and eager to get there. I love books and have always loved bookstores, never leaving without buying something. When I look around my house now at all of the books that I own I can't believe the money I have spent. I go to the library and take out craft books, decorating, cooking, fiction. I either read there or take out past issues of magazines. No more subscriptions for me. We take out DVD's. We use the computer....for free! Now I know what to do with all of those books in my house collecting dust.

Wikipedia also had to say about the Philosophy of Frugality:

There are also environmentalists who consider frugality to be a virtue through which humans can make use of their ancestral skills as hunter-gatherers, carrying little and needing little, and finding meaning in nature instead of man-made conventions or religion.

I may hunt and gather, but not in the right sense. Which brings me to carrying little and needing little. That's where I am at right now. I am de-cluttering, organizing and most importantly carrying and needing little. With a lighter load, comes a lighter heart and more room for things in my life that really matter.

So being frugal has made my family and I happier, closer and wiser.