What Does Being Frugal Mean to You?
By Patrick on Jan 24, 2008 in Frugal Living
Being frugal is about more than just saving money. To me, being frugal is about using your resources wisely and being more efficient with everything you do. Unless you are independently wealthy, you probably have a limited amount of time, money, and other resources - and you probably need to find a way to make the most effective use of all of them. To me, doing this is being frugal.
I try to make frugality a part of my daily life by finding ways to save money, saving energy, recycling, doing my own projects around the house instead of paying someone else, and borrowing books and movies from the library instead of buying them.
The more I think about it, the more I realize that being frugal is not just important to me, but to everyone. In fact, I would say it is necessary.
Resources are limited
Money, energy, time, and materials are finite. There never seems to be enough of any of them and wasting these resources stresses people, our wallets, and our earth. Finding ways to cut energy usage, reuse items, and save money and resources will help everyone in their personal situation, as well as help everyone as a collective.
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
I remember learning the “Three R’s” when I was in grade school. It was funny though, because I lived in a small town where no recycling facilities existed. However, I did take those lessons to heart, and I taught myself to make better use of my resources. Now, the town I live in has recycling centers and I recycle everything I can. Being frugal with my resources has become second nature to me.
Do the big things and everything else will fall in line
Go for the big wins first – use a programmable thermostat to save a lot of money on your utility bill, buy a fuel efficient car, buy used instead of new if it makes sense (or cents) to do so. Just keep in mind, there needs to be a balance. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to search for 3 hours to save $5, or drive half an hour each way to save $10 on an item. Sure, you save some money, but in my opinion, frugality is also about being efficient with time and energy usage.
Make frugality a habit, but don’t deprive yourself
Frugality is a lifelong habit for me. I have always been careful with my money, but as I have grown I have become more considerate of other things as well, including conserving resources and trying to find more efficient uses for my time. But I don’t deprive myself; I prefer buying quality items, I like a certain (expensive) brand of orange juice, and sometimes I like a long hot shower. You don’t need to deprive yourself to be a frugal person, you just need to be aware of how you use your resources, and decide what is best for your situation.
Do you have a definition of frugal that varies from mine? Feel free to leave your definition or frugal tips in the comments section.
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11 Comment(s)
By CiaranFromChance on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
I’m learning a lot from you guys on how to reduce. I’m still formulating my ideas on frugality but am picking up a lot of good habits from my favorite PF blogs.
For me, going forward frugality is likely going to come in the way of going green. I agree that we are putting an awful strain on this planet and each one of us has to do our part to change that.
By Patrick on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
By Kyle on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
Nice post. I am a frugal person, with a strong bend towards time saved. I won’t waste a ton of time to save a small amount of money. Especially when I can use that time to earn money in another more efficient way. This is why I can’t get into clipping grocery coupons, can’t find a time efficient way to do it…yet.
By Lynnae @ Being Frugal.net on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
To me, Being Frugal means this great blog with a green banner and a cute little piggy bank logo…. Oh wait…different being frugal.
Your definition of being frugal is pretty similar to mine. My official definition is “making the best use of your resources for your own situation.” It’s going to look different for everyone. I focus a lot on being frugal with money, because I have a lot of time.
Someone with less time and more money might be more frugal by spending money to conserve time.
By Randall on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
Being Frugal is a website I visit often,..:)No, actually being frugal is living within my means. I can expand my lifestyle to anything I want it to be, as long as I don’t have to take from others (money, resources, etc) to do it. I make my own way for me and my family. I do stupid stuff, I make it right. I enjoy the fruits of my labors, and don’t regret it.
By Emily on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
For me, being frugal has gone from living within my means (which I’ve done for years but at least for my current frame of mind wasn’t always frugal) to really putting time and effort and a lot more thought into what I spend my money on. I have started to question things that I used to just take as necessities in spending and found ways to reduce in all areas of my life. To me, just living within ones means doesn’t equal frugal. It’s taking that a step further and reducing even more even when you don’t necessarily *have* to, but it’s for the better of your life situation and for the world around you.
By deepali on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
Emily took the words out of my mouth. “Living within my means” isn’t enough - not when the “means” for most people results in not enough for others.
Just as an example - a lawyer friend of mine makes 250K a year. Living within his means wouldn’t be so hard to do! But imagine if a million people (or more) did that… it’s just not sustainable.
The 3 Rs start with “reduce”. That’s where I’m focusing now.
By Patrick on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
Lynnae, your definition is great!
Emily, it amazes me how much “less” we can all get by on. I think a lot of people are wasteful because they just don’t think about their actions.
deepali, great point - as usual.
By Lisa Spinelli on Jan 25, 2008 | Reply
To me, being frugal needs to be balanced with eating organically, and being socially responsible in some way as well. For example, I cut grocery coupons regularly, but will buy organic (especially dairy) if I can. I always buy free range organic eggs, and free range chicken that has not been treated with hormones.
It’s all what is important to you, I think.
Lisa
By Julie on Jan 26, 2008 | Reply
First time here:)
I have to say being frugal for me is pretty much the way you’ve defined it. “Waste not, want not” comes to mind when I think about how I live a frugal life.
By Frugal Dad on Jan 28, 2008 | Reply
I think we are in agreement on our definitions of “frugal.” One of the things I find myself doing more of now that I am in a “frugal” mindset is not wasting things as much (food, water, even time). I consider those living a frugal lifestyle to be efficient consumers of all resources.