Anyone can save money by
not spending it. Misers and scrooges pinch
their pennies and have a perfectly miserable
life to show for it. Frugal living, however,
is not just about saving money. It is about
making choices to enhance your life.
There are always ways to spend your money
– no matter how much you have. You can buy
your lunch at work or you can buy groceries
to make your lunch to take to work. The
frugal person will make her lunch and then
save the rest of the money for something
else (a vacation, paying off the mortgage
early, a spa day as a treat, or a new
pre-owned car).
Income tax checks are a great chance to
be frugal. You could use the money to put a
down payment on a new car or to buy that
surround sound system you always wanted. A
frugal person will save a portion, pay off
any outstanding debts with a portion, and
use the rest for a treat that they have
desired for a while (maybe a professional
hairstylist or a new outfit for business
meetings). The money will be used or spent,
but it will go towards things that have
lasting value. Splurges are allowed, but
they are controlled.
Being frugal is about spending money the
best way it can be spent. You learn to
compare items and opportunities and decide
which one is the best choice for you. It
requires a willingness to do some research,
a boldness to ask questions, and the ability
to walk away until another day (or for
good).
It takes a special mindset to live a
frugal life. You have to understand the
bigger picture and be willing to sacrifice a
little now in order to gain a lot tomorrow.
The trick is that you may not be able to see
the gain for some time. It’s a walk of faith
that in the end it will be better.
A great way to start on the frugal path
is to meet some truly frugal people. They
will be the happy people who have no hefty
bills weighing them down because they have
paid them off. Talk to them about their walk
and see if they will help you along your own
journey.
Learning to be frugal will help you to
save money, but it is not just about the
money. A frugal person learns to make the
best choice in financial situations so that
he can enjoy his life to the fullest.
Recommended Reading
Debt Free
In Three
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in full). The principles taught in this
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