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Frugality 101: Why be frugal?
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So, you want to be frugal, eh? Good for you! You'll be joining a varied crowd of people from all walks of life, social levels, races, religions, and backgrounds. You'll be taking steps in your life to enable you to live independently of others who may be helping you financially. You'll be working to get rid of that debt and to learn how not to accrue more.
Be prepared, though. You'll likely be called names like "cheap," and "stingy." You'll have to do some explaining to your friends when you no longer go out for drinks after work every other night. You'll struggle with learning to say "no" and with accepting that your definition of "enough" is going to be vastly different than those around you. Doesn't sound so appealing now, does it?
Why be frugal, then?
- Because you need to. The economy isn't getting any better right now, and even if it was, it's bound to hit another downswing again in the future. Establishing the frugal mindset now will not only help you to cope with the current economic climate, but will also help you to be better prepared to deal with future recessions, job losses, and other major financial events.
- Because your kids need it. Let's face it, children are bombarded with advertising at every turn. Commercials for toys and food appear what seems like every thirty seconds on television. Grocery stores place expensive, brightly colored food items at munchkin-eye-level, knowing that you'll have to buy something to keep your little one from going berserk on the dairy case. And, what better gift to give your kids than to teach them how to live independently within their means (additionally, what better way to keep your empty nest from becoming an eternal hostel for your adult children?)
- Because the planet needs it. Have you ever noticed all of the trash that we throw away on a daily basis? Between plastic silverware, individually-wrapped snacks, "disposable" cookware, single-use dusters and mops, water and soda bottles, and the like, we're a "use it and toss it" society. Who do you think pays for all of that packaging? You do. And, ultimately, the planet does.
- Because it's a way to "stick it to the establishment." Your kids aren't the only ones being influenced by advertising. People sit in big conference rooms for hours on end trying to figure out the best way to subtly convince you that your life is incomplete without the item they're currently hocking. Think about that. Enough said.
- Because all of your friends are doing it. If the above reasons aren't enough, then dig deep back to your middle-school days and take hold of that peer pressure. Frugality is gaining popularity by leaps and bounds, for many of the reasons listed above. Sometimes, it's okay to follow the crowd if they're doing something that makes sense.
So, there you have it; being frugal makes sense. Stay tuned! Next, we'll tackle ways to begin to ease yourself into a more frugal mindset.
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