Comments on: Gradual Frugality: Finding Enjoyment in Saving Money

By: loofah

loofah — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 12:13:39 +0000

I agree,being frugal does not mean we need to deprive ourselves of what matters to us.
Cooking at home and taking a bottle of tea from home is not only frugal but also healthier.
Recycling/exchanging old clothes and things is not only frugal, but also fun(both for kids and adults) and environmental.
It also gives you the “right” to treat yourself to something costly you really like;-)

By: Cejay

Cejay — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 03:26:05 +0000

I honestly like being frugal. I feel like I am more in touch with myself, with my family and with the world. I do spend for things that are important to me. When we want a good meal ou then we go to a nice steakhouse. I do not feel deprived since I think of fun things to do. I enjoy my life and would not trade it for anything.

By: skylog

skylog — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 23:44:49 +0000

very true paul. i agree, although, i will add that even if you do one does not also mean you can not do the other.

By: skylog

skylog — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 23:43:00 +0000

amen lynn, amen. if only it were so easy to achieve.

By: Ceecee

Ceecee — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 19:28:45 +0000

Frugality is a little bit of a game to me—-a challenge to see if I can create something rather than buy it, or find it used or on the cheap. It can be satisfying to live with less stuff and enjoy simple pleasures.

By: wylerassociate

wylerassociate — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:39:35 +0000

those are some good tips. To save money, I cook at home most of the week, don’t go out to movies, shop at sam’s club, subscribe to netflix, spend more time visiting friends, going for walks, exercising more often.

By: Bobka

Bobka — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 13:00:52 +0000

We all like to get a good deal in using the funds that we have. However, there is nothing to be gained by cutting out enjoyable things (as defined by whoever is spending his/her own hard earned money) just for the sake of cutting back.. If you find cable TV enjoyable, then spend the money on it and enjoy! If you enjoy a spartan life, that’s OK, too! It’s also OK to reallocate. Your money is yours to save or spend as you see fit. Just remember that when you die, you can’t take it with you.

By: lynn

lynn — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 21:06:43 +0000

Balance and moderation. The keys to a content life.

By: shellye

shellye — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 20:25:03 +0000

Great post! I agree with the above comment about “cutting back in some areas so you can spend more in others.” It’s all about balance and moderation.

By: lynn

lynn — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:41:24 +0000

JohnN: When does it end? Stress out over more commitment to others in a job. Cutting back gives a sense of well being. A true sense. Pride that you recycled and had a moment of creativeity. Pride that you accomplished something as simple as cooking a meal for pennies and watching a bank account grow. Life is good!! for some of us.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Mon, 02 May 2011 03:45:01 +0000

their . . . not the

By: Andrew Alexander

Andrew Alexander — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:38:06 +0000

okay so do you not believe that growing has its struggles as well? The list goes on and on for what you need to grow through resources and time.

By: MissYuri

MissYuri — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 08:01:05 +0000

Having less is ok. Maybe you don’t believe that, and that’s fine. But don’t ridicule others for having a different mindset. This post is not defeatist. It does not say, do not succeed, do not expand, do not strive for better.

By: AgentSully

AgentSully — Tue, 08 May 2007 02:14:06 +0000

I agree that less is more. More things don’t equal more happiness. What makes our life truly rich is enjoying the present moment, being with friends and family, listening to music, appreciating nature, etc. These don’t have to cost a lot or much at all.

When we stop grabbing, clinging, striving for more more more, then we can slow down and really enjoy life.

Also frugality is different for everyone. Maybe for a film buff, they would cut out other things so that they can have money to spend on films.

Depending on age and whether you have a family to provide for, what you need to sacrifice will be different. When you’re single you can be more indulgent in your spending even if you don’t have a lot of money. When you have a family (like I think Leo’s site says he has 6 children!) then you don’t mind making sacrifices for the betterment of your family.

Another thing about ‘less is more’ is that this way of living is really good for the environment too.

Everyone should live their life in the way that makes sense for them, but if you’re looking to become better at frugality (to save for “expansion” in your future) then this post is a good place to start.

Nice writing as usual Leo!

By: steve

steve — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 11:46:07 +0000

I can understand the focus on limiting what you buy. Expanding income is for another day.

I grew up not well off, and know that there is no feeling better than money in the bank. It allows one to stop thinking about money and live, even when the unexpected happens.

I also have the uncanny ability to be attracted to the most expensive items in a shop!

I brown bag lunch, Netflix instead of cable, buy consignment furniture (always get nice comments about my home, no IKEA here), have nice quality clothes that last a long time, found that going to bars really isn’t that much fun since it’s always the same old story.

The first thing I’d recomend is to slow impulse buying. Just think about each item you are buying before you get into line, and ask “Do I really need this?”

Second, keep a water bottle in your car. Get one from REI, EMS, or other hiking store. This keeps you from stopping at 7-11 when you are thirsty, saves a buck or two or more a day. Fill it with tea or iced coffee or whatever from home if you want.

If you don’t piss it away a little at a time: 30th birthday spent in Puerto Rico, Ritz-Carlton Concierge level, $500 dinners. Spend it when it counts!

By: anonymous

anonymous — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:15:58 +0000

LESS IS MORE.. nuff said

By: Savage Old Lady

Savage Old Lady — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 14:45:23 +0000

When I consider that around 20,000 children a day die of hunger related causes (about one every five seconds) it makes going to the movies once a week rather than twice a week seem pretty easy. In fact sometimes when I start to think about all the things I’d like to have for myself, my kids, or my granddaughter I think about what it must be like to watch your child starve. Kind of puts things in perspective. We have been sold a bill of goods that says to be happy we have to have _____ . I fight this battle on a daily basis. Great article.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 12:09:03 +0000

This post reminds me a bit of Small is Beautiful by E.F. Shcumacher. He argues that you can have an economy of production and abundance once you get rid of the habits that persuade you to consume. Once you stop being beholden to consuming people what other people make, you can free up time to be create and produce expirences, which end up having more value over the long run than small consumable goods.

By: broknowrchlatr

broknowrchlatr — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 11:42:28 +0000

I agree 100% with the retort to the cutting back vs. expansion arguments.

I make a fairly substancial income. My wife stays home with the kids. I save about $30k a year for retirement. But, I have no savings for short term needs (like buying a new house). Subtracting $30k from my income still leaves a fairly decent ammount. My wife asked if I wanted her to work to make more money. I said that was not an acceptable solution. Her making $20k-$30k a year isn’t worth the affect on out kids (having to put in daycare). Cutting back on little things is a much better solution. We’ve already figured out how to cut out $120 a month and it has been relativel painless.

This also gives me the peace of mind that if I lose my job, our real expenses are less.

Great discussion!

By: Conor

Conor — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 07:55:00 +0000

Good post. I agree. You do not need loads of crap in your life. Stop living a life dictated by advertisers and companies who just want you to spend your hard earned money buying their crap. Free yourself from the addiction. Think for yourself. Take a holiday instead, give the extra money to charity, relax, go easy on the limited resources on this planet.

By: Leo

Leo — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 06:46:53 +0000

Hi all … thanks for the comments. Regarding John N’s comment about cutting back vs. expanding:

I hear your point, but I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive. I do both. I think frugality is an important starting point for many people who overspend and are getting themselves into debt … but it makes sense for others as well. If you’re trying to increase your income, why waste it by needless spending?

Think of it this way: If you currently make $30,000, and then make an additional $10,000 through your website or ebay or other side business … does it make sense to spend most of that extra income, or would it make sense to cut your spending even more — if you cut your expenses by $5,000, you’ve just given yourself a $5,000 raise, in effect.

I suggest that people do what works best for them, but for myself, I am frugal while at the same time, I have increased my salary, I make extra money through free-lancing, and I have a decent side income through my website. Combine them and you’ve got a winner!

Thanks for the excellent point and the opportunity to clarify my article.

By: Ajay

Ajay — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 06:12:54 +0000

Actually… i totally agree with the article…

Gaining more and more… hmmm … let me see.. for a population explosion.. i dont think this is a good idea..

The above steps which I have been practicing for a long long time is the best way you can understand yourself…

The more you want.. the more blinded you are.. (simple.. but yet so complex..)

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 00:49:34 +0000

There are 2 ways to save more money.

One way is to cut expenses and the other is to increase income.

Some people are good at cutting expenses and others are good at creating new income. Because you do one, doesn’t mean others can do the same.

By: JohnN

JohnN — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 22:56:09 +0000

This whole article is bogus, absolute nonsense, every heard of the term “retreat into the inner citadel”. Its when people con themselves into thinking having less and less and less is ok and good simply because they cannot have more. Instead telling to cut back everywhere, why not tell them to EXPAND there means. sell stuff on ebay, start a part-time business, start a decent blog and throw ads on. Your kidding yourself if you think cutting back will make u feel better!

By: ciwood

ciwood — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 18:49:05 +0000

My students think I am crazy but I have been poor and I do not want to go back. It is infinitely preferable to choose what I deny myself than to have circumstances dictate it. I have become monastic in my lifestyle in order to choose How I live my life and how I spend my money. I understand that life will not work out the way you plan it and I want to be prepared this time. Great website!!!!

By: Flexo

Flexo — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 15:59:50 +0000

Making frugality as painless as possible the way you suggest is the key for many people. Taking the first step in any change is difficult, and making that first step easier makes early success come faster, and that feeling of success can help motivate working harder for future success.