Ongoing linky parties: Motivation Monday and Fabulously Frugal Thursdays.
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I’ve seen the phrases ‘”needs vs wants” and “having enough” thrown around in posts about frugality, books about frugality, conversations about frugality. While I love these phrases, and I think they’re a great starting point for someone new to frugality, I don’t think they capture the personal growth involved in becoming frugal.
It’s not about being frugal per se. Yes, some of us are more naturally inclined to be savers. husbanding our resources for a rainy day. Let’s not neglect the more expansive of us who want to enjoy what we have because today is the day we have to be who we are.
The operating word for me is “becoming.”
We become frugal over time. We make choices over time, evaluate them, learn from them, and hopefully make better choices the next time.
It’s also about being “intentional.”
Where are our choices leading us? Is it towards paying off our mortgage early, or is it because we have a dream of visiting every single country? Both are legitimate choices when accomplished in a financially responsible manner.
Finally, it’s about feeling “balanced.”
Just as your car runs more smoothly and requires less energy to go faster and farther when the wheels are in perfect alignment, you perform better when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals, and values are in balance.
Brian Tracy
What does frugality mean to you?
Because I love meeting new people and sharing, this post is linked to:
DIY Thrifty Thursday, The Mommy Club, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, Thoughtful Thursday, Simple Lives, Frugal Thursday Rewind, 31 Days of Resolutions, Frugal Friday
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
We’ve adopted the “need” vs. “want” in our household over the last few years – I’m a huge pack-rat, so I have to really think hard about buying stuff, even if it’s a wicked good sale – if I don’t really “need” it, no matter how good the deal is, I won’t buy it, because I’d rather save that money for something that I truly “need”. Still have work to do in that respect (and to get Princess Nagger to adopt it as well) but it’s a work in progress.
Stacy Uncorked recently posted..Cat Tales – Center of Attention
I prefer the word intentional when it comes to spending rather than frugal. For me if all of my choices in life are thoughtful, then it’s very easy for me not to get off track when it comes to the goals I have to myself in life. And this applies to everything in my life which includes my finances.
Kellyology recently posted..January 2013
I need to really focus on the needs vs wants this year. For example, I looked at my outrageous coffee spending in 2012 so I am cutting it out! I don’t need it, I just want it!
Steph recently posted..Reader Survey
I agree, it is a choice you have to make daily, not a one time decision. The word “intentional” was my choice for 2012. This year it is “discipline.”
Jamie at Prepared to Eat recently posted..New Year’s Resolutions
Yes! I think Aristotle said that excellence is a habit, something that you do over and over again.
I’m afraid I come from a family with a strong stingy streak, so I get the frugal thing almost too well! But it _is_ well aligned with my green streak, since so often what’s good for the planet is also good for your wallet.
As far as the “intentional”, I try to listen to myself for my needs, and regard advertising with suspicion. Since that is where we get our needs and our wants mixed up. Having no tv in the house really helps me that way: I am relatively shielded from the incessant stream of messages that awaken the desire for the latest iThing. This makes me an oddball – but a peaceful one.
CelloMom recently posted..A New Budget for 2013
Ah, advertising. I’m generally pretty good about questioning it. Not so good when a friend is telling me about their latest find especially if it’s a thrift store find.
Where are our choices leading us? Is it towards paying off our mortgage early, or is it because we have a dream of visiting every single country? Both are legitimate choices when accomplished in a financially responsible manner.
I totally agree. Everyone has different priorities – the real question is, are you making choices that will help you achieve those priorities? Once I sat down and figured out my personal priorities, financial responsibility did become (slightly…it is still a work in progress
) easier.
Sarah recently posted..january 1 and 100 posts
Great explanation of how you view frugality. It’s a goal of mine to grow towards. Thanks for linking up again!
Becky recently posted..Setting Budget Goals in 2013
I love when you said that it happens over time. That is definitely true for us. When I look back at the money wasted on dinners out and clothes we didn’t need I wish I could kick that couple in the rear end and tell them to save it for someday instead.
Jessica @FoundtheMarbles recently posted..How to Reward a Hometown Hero
Yes, me, too! We started late with saving for retirement because we didn’t know and our parents didn’t say anything to us.