Frugal = Prudent
Sometimes words can be cheap. Most of us, at one time or another, have encountered some type of slick salesman. It could have been for cars, houses or high school seniors from the football team fundraiser. You knew you were listening to a string of empty words and were either politely, or not so politely, trying to make your exit. Other times, you can find people sharing $25 words pregnant with depth and breadth. Frugality is one of those $25 words.
People toss frugal around in all kinds of ways. It can be meant as an insult for your miserly aunt. It could be offered jokingly by someone who is trying to give up their daily Starbucks so they can save for a dream vacation. It can even be a mantra for those trying to encourage themselves in a time of financial leanness. It can be negative; it came be positive. Frugality is one of those words that you have to stop, look and listen to the speaker before you truly know what they mean.
Before we get deep in the conversation of Out of the Box Frugality, I want to define frugality – and how I plan to use it.
Frugal - adjective: economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful. Entailing little expense; requiring few resources; meager; scanty.
Some people look at a glass as half empty, others, half full. I like to look at the glass as half full. When I think of frugal, I like to embrace prudently saving or sparing. Is there anyone that doesn’t want to think they are prudent? Or be prudent? Especially when it comes to money? I find it encouraging to go without or wait because I’m being prudent. A positive spin makes the situation more bearable.
For me, as a Christian, I know God calls us to be good stewards of the resources he gives us. Whether we’re trying to spend something wisely, save for the future or get into or out of debt, we need to be mindful of what God provides for us. Proverbs 31 wannabes are presented an incredible example of a woman who makes good use to her family’s funds and contemplates what is and isn’t a wise investment for her family’s future. All Scripture is given for our learning, so we should work to pick up some of her wise ways. I embrace frugality as a practical way to live good stewardship and stake a claim in the (in)famous P31 Territory.
I think most of us have heard the phrase, “He’s so tight he squeaks.” To me, squeaking is miserly. Being miserly is not the same as being frugal. Although both are based on making good choices and getting the most money for our dollar, a true miser will spend money with regret or calculate what it could have been spent on, particularly if it would have made more money. There is no joy, no satisfaction – except in haggling for a paltry amount on an already well priced item.
On the flip side, a frugal person will examine their options and the resources at hand, then choose the most prudent opportunity. They will be satisfied that the money was spent well. Generally, they’ll have few regrets. Although you can be excessively miserly, I don’t think you can be too frugal. Why? I don’t think anyone can be too prudent. At this junction in history, I think society could benefit greatly by being too “wise or judicious in practical affairs.”
As a final thought, people sometimes jump to conclusions that the cheapest option is frugal. But the cheapest option is not always the wisest or best way to manage the affairs God has given us. In order to be truly frugal, we need to weigh the options carefully and prayerfully, then choose the most prudent. What is most frugal in the long term, might cost us more upfront. I’ll talk about my iron next time…
In the coming weeks as we discuss frugal, keep in mind that my definition of frugal is prudently saving or sparing. It might be saving money with a good buy or sparing loved ones a disastrous choice of excessive expensive later, buy spending a bit more now. Genuine frugality takes many forms. This week at Pearls I'm sharing thoughts about frugality and dressing nicely. It's amazing how our wardrobe can affect or reflect our choices.
How are you using the word frugal? Are you squeaky or prudent?
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9 Responses to “Frugal = Prudent”
September 26th, 2007 at 6:40 am
Great insights!! :0) I have been struggling with the concept of frugal vs. penny pinching. This has definatly helped me. :0)
September 26th, 2007 at 9:08 am
I love this post. My family – my parents and my sister – have much greater means than my husband and I, and so many times I’ve felt like the poor sister. But I’ve learned that when I get into that mode, I switch my thinking to this: I’m the one in the family who gets the most bang for my buck. I have so few dollars that I have to get the most out of each one that I can. That is both in terms of paying less for things I might pay more for as well as really using and loving the few things we do have an not indiscriminately filling our house up with things we don’t really need. You don’t know how many times this type of thinking has saved me from having a very down day! It’s so good to hear someone else try to say the same thing. Thank you.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:38 am
I agree with this post. I think that to a certain extent, there needs to be a flux & flow of money. To be wealthy you have to be able to part with your money for the future good, and trust that it will come back to you.
September 26th, 2007 at 10:36 am
A program around finances was titled “Peace In Your Hearts.” To me money is spiritual in nature. Since all comes from our Heavenly Father, how we use our resources reflects how we feel about ourselves in relation to Him. Love your perspectives.
September 26th, 2007 at 11:08 am
Lesley, the two concepts are something to battle with. I personally think there can be a fine line between the two and some of it boils down to simply where your heart is about the matter. Happy to help!
Tana, I’m glad I could encourage you. Living with “just enough” for a long time can become discouraging. Without our focus and perspective, we’re lost. I’ll take all the positive thinking I can get!
Jennifer, I definitely agree with the need to let go and trust. The prudence is knowing when.
September 26th, 2007 at 11:10 am
I completely agree Stacey! Some people legalistically tithe 10% and put a check on their to do list. Rich and I feel that 100% of everything we have, are and do belongs to God because of what he’s done for us. We have to manage it well.
Great thoughts ladies!
September 26th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
I think this post summed it up nicely! I am somewhat new to being frugal, and still learning more all the time. I view it as cutting back where I can (like saving lots on groceries, for example) so I can have more money to do the things I want (pay off bills, add to savings, go on a nice vacation).
September 27th, 2007 at 8:17 pm
This post was very well-written and thoughtful. Great insights and perspectives on frugality. Thanks so much for posting this.
June 4th, 2008 at 4:01 am
[...] is not my passion. Frugality for me is part of Christianity. It’s good stewardship and prudent living. Because of that, there is a part of frugality that knows when to pack the boxes and close up [...]
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