Living la Vida Frugal – Spend Less With Frugal Living
Dec 26 | 2024
Tiny Home Image by Clay Banks_Unsplash
Everyone says the economy’s healthier than ever, but some of us still find it necessary to make that paycheck stretch…and stretch…and stretch. The better we understand our spending habits, the better we can manage them.
Living frugally can benefit you in many ways. You’ll grow more self-reliant, creative, and resourceful as you learn to make the most of what you have.
Plenty of online resources can tell you about the art and craft of living economically. A few of them are discussed below. Spoiler alert: the secret to frugality boils down to one thing – approaching money consciously.
Alaya Linton at Synchrony presents readers with quite an array of suggestions and tips, ranging from “Chose quality over quantity” (point # 1) to “Know the difference between wants and needs” (# 6) to “Buy used before buying new” (# 12).
Linton’s conclusions?
Take it slow and be patient with yourself as you make adjustments. Consider starting in the area where you can make the biggest impact. You’ll be most successful if you develop frugal strategies there first and then move on to others once you’ve successfully made some changes.
- Choose quality over quantity
- Prioritize value over price
- Use credit wisely
- Declutter regularly
- Use a spending plan to guide your spending
- Know the difference between wants and needs
- Be a savvy consumer
- Prioritize your values
- Audit your spending and bills annually
- Create boundaries for yourself
- Learn grocery shopping strategies & plan your meals
- Buy used before buying new
Good advice! Success in one area can be adapted for success in others.
Like Linton, nerdwallet’s Kelsey Sheehy sings the praises of planning: meals, grocery shopping, entertainment – all these and more benefit from planning. Sheehy also explores ideas that might not immediately spring to the mind of frugal-wanna-bes. “Create your own beauty products like deodorant, face masks, and dry shampoo,” she urges readers. “Make household cleaning products, such as stain remover, window cleaner, and laundry detergent, at home.” She points out that the web is filled with recipes on how to whip up safe, inexpensive, and effective products for your kitchen and bathroom.
RuDo Wealth investigates the philosophical underpinnings of frugal living. From ancient
times to the present moment, thinkers have said that who we are is more important than what we own.
Our souls, mental well-being, and the planet itself benefit from less consumerism, less clutter at home, and less strain put upon the world’s resources.
RuDo also addresses the flawed notions some possess about frugal living. It’s not deprivation: “It’s about making choices that align with one’s values and long-term goals.” It doesn’t mean we have to live like medieval monks: “One can still enjoy hobbies, travel, and other pleasures, but in a more planned and budgeted manner.”
And there’s no one all-encompassing method or strategy: “Everyone’s approach to frugality can differ based on their values, goals, and circumstances.”
Wonder how people incorporate frugality into their everyday lives? Check out Jordan Page, the self-styled “Fun Cheap or Free Queen.” Page has eight children, so planning and budgeting are clearly priorities in her household. Her website has tons of videos, articles, and other resources to help overworked and overstressed parents.
The bottom line for frugal living? Mindfulness, in all its manifestations. Awareness of what you actually need. The realization that making simple, small choices will ultimately produce the focused, frugal lifestyle you’ve been dreaming of.
So, live large, spend small – it’s easier than you think.
You can start today.
