Cheerful Frugality Celebrates Abundance
You're working hard to save money, to pay off debt, to live a responsible life...all without feeling poor.
And then you see family.
Maybe they don't listen to your advice. They want to whine about their money problems, even as they frequent restaurants with abandon. They chide you for not seeing the latest movies, but at least your bills are paid.
What is the cheerfully frugal person to do? Here are some ideas:
- Get Rich Slowly just tackled this question with a great ask-the-reader response: I'm Doing Well Financially, But My Family Is Not.
- When a family member makes fun of your conservative money choices, remember Simplicity And Frugality Don't Equal Deprivation.
- Personally, I'm trying to use our conflicts with extended family as motivation:
Let me work even harder, Lord, to raise children who are grateful and unafraid of work. Let me save even more, Lord, so that I can be there to help someone if they really need it. Let me appreciate what we have earned, Lord, so that I don't forget what it took to get us here.
...and the cheerfully frugal prayer I need to focus on the most:
Let me extend Your grace, Lord, for I am incapable of handling this situation alone!
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6 Responses to “Cheerful Frugality Celebrates Abundance”
May 20th, 2008 at 5:53 am
I’m somewhat lucky, most of my family at least get it a bit-some wholeheartedly. For me it is more friends who are skeptical. In those cases I just don’t talk about my choices, and I try to be non-comital about theirs.
For example, my one girlfriend is a small buisness owner, her husband is leaving his job which makes him totally irritable and miserable this fall to finish up nursing school-so they will be down to one income suddenly just when prices are rising. We went out together the other day and she was talking about how she’s already cut expenses to the bone-and yet she buys all of her handsoap at bath and bodyworks (granted, on sale) and uses the schwanns man for a good percentage of her groceries (to be fair, she works long hours and that is fairly convenient for her). I’ve made some gentle suggestions and offered to talk with her if she ever wants to, but she has ignored it-so I’ve just tried to let go.
May 20th, 2008 at 6:18 am
It does take a good bit of prayer sometimes for me to remain content. My sil just “had” to buy a new SUV because her 2 kids take up so much room (making 5 vehicles for them). I’m still loading my 4 kids into the same camry we’ve had since 99 (and thanking God for that!). But I can’t bear to listen to how “lucky” I am to be able to stay home and how she wishes she could “just quit working.”
Using the conflicts for motivation is an excellent idea. It does make me even more determined to have a good life on our budget.
May 20th, 2008 at 6:50 am
I am posting those prayers in my kitchen.
May 20th, 2008 at 8:36 am
I tracked down the article mentioned in this post. Here’s the link:
I’m doing well financially but my family is not
May 20th, 2008 at 10:44 am
My struggle comes from being around people who actually have lots of disposable income, not those who just live as if they do. For example, we go to a church in a very wealthy area. We work with the youth, and the kids go out to eat together after church every single Sunday, and we’re not talking fast food. A few weeks ago, some parents were asking if we were joining them at whatever restaurant they were going to that day. I said no because we were taking my parents out to dinner that evening. The dad said, “What, you only eat 2 meals a day?” referring to breakfast and dinner. He owns a large property, nice house, animals, several cars, a boat, ATV, and a vacation home. I think he genuinely didn’t realize/understand that our budget is stretched by too many dinners out. I just smiled, but inside I was really upset.
Prayer would definitely be the best response after encounters like that. I genuinely don’t feel deprived, as our lifestyle allows me the privilege of being a SAHW. But sometimes it’s just so hard to be around those for whom money really is no object.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
First, thank you Meredith for the link!
It can be hard to remain content with life and financial choices when we’re around people who don’t support or agree. I like your thought to use the conflict as motivation. If anything, I try to use the naysayers and those who think I can’t live a fulfilling life on less as my motivation to prove that I can. And I am.
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