Comments on: Cheerful Frugality & The Gift Of Less

By: Jora

Jora — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:01:37 +0000

I think of this often: it applies to cars, clothes, housing, food, house repairs, vacations, and many other aspects of life. But we need to model living-below-your-means to our children.

For example,

If the money is available, ANYONE can spend $10,000 on a 1-week trip.

But, by driving, doing most of our own cooking, and looking for inexpensive accommodations, we’re teaching the kids that you don’t have to fly to Hawaii to have a nice vacation.

By buying (slightly) used cars, we save thousands over the new car price. (And insurance costs are less too).

By letting the kids have friends over and cooking at home, we give them the experience of a meal together without the restaurant price tag.

Just cause you CAN afford some things doesn’t mean you SHOULD afford them.

By: Annie

Annie — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:10:35 +0000

Smaller house means more time together in the living room and kitchen. Using the woodstove for heat instead of central heating means more time as a family gathered around the fire and more time chopping and stacking wood together. Small closets mean less accumulation because there are limits.

Good thoughts. I can think of more examples and will keep looking–it’s fun to find things that fit this mindset.

By: ts_peach

ts_peach — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:22:08 +0000

I really loved this post and wanted to pass it on to some friends as i feel it gives really good perspective. Can i copy and paste and give credit by linking the source? (i’m afraid they won’t go to this blog if i just send a link). wanted to ask permission before i did.

thanks for the great reminder of the benefits of living with less.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 01:43:18 +0000

I agree – we recently went camping, taking my niece and nephew along with my two kids. All we did was swim in the lake, bike, and cook out. Best time they’d had in ages!

By: Andrea

Andrea — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:15:38 +0000

My girls are happily wandering the back yard right now looking for spider webs and drawing with sticks in the sand. I’m trying to balance things with experiences as a kid so they know the important thing is the time we spend together.

Thankfully, they were both recounting this morning why they love their gramma and papa so much…papa because he brings them muffins once a week (my dad is a feeder of all) and grammma is loved because she gives so many big hugs!

Yeah for the gift of less.

By: Miss Mary

Miss Mary — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:40:29 +0000

When I first read Amy Dacyczyn’s “Tightwad Gazette,” I was struck by her analogy that “too much” of anything is overwhelming. Much like a museum of art that is all stuck together – floor, ceiling, every inch of wall space. It would have no space, and, no mats around the art. The art, no matter the quality, just becomes clutter.

I try to make sure that my kids have “experiences” not clutter in their lives. So, we plan activities and talk about our plans. We do whatever we have planned. Then, we talk about what we did. My kids are clear about what they have been doing – at home, on vacation, projects, etc. Because we chose less, we have the luxury of more time.

My children “do” far less than some of their friends on vacation. For example, we plan our beach outing in the morning and pack as a family. We go to the beach for most of the afternoon and evening. We enjoy every single minute of it because we are so primed for fun!! Afterword, we enjoy a can of soda (a treat) and chips (also a treat) while singing and chatting on the way home. No new toys, no restaurant meals, nothing fancy. Just focus and family. My kids LOVE it. And, interestingly, their friends clamor to go with us! These are kids that are given everything at a rapid rate. They never just talk over something, they acquire and run around chasing happiness.

Kids long for the closeness in a family. They want to discuss things that they may or may not get. (I think that delayed gratification can help kids develop an imagination.) My kids are sometimes jealous of what the other kids are given. But, they have more joy in their lives, more of their parent’s time, more time to absorb their surroundings. They seem more content then their wound-up, cranky counterparts who are frantically seeking the next experience rather than the joy of the current moment.

By: Monique

Monique — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:20:01 +0000

I think that the more we indulge our kids, the more they come to expect special treatments as the norm. Treats ought to be exactly that–treats! Great post.

By: Gina @ The Shabby Chic Cottage

Gina @ The Shabby Chic Cottage — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:57:15 +0000

Having less means you have more time. It takes less time to maintain a relaxed lifestyle, which leaves more time to enjoy the time with your family. They are only children for such a short period, and I would much rather spend my time snuggled up with giggly girls on a couch than running around constantly trying to keep too many things together.

By: Shannon M

Shannon M — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:13:47 +0000

First, yeah! You’re still writing here! I’m so glad.
The Gift of Less is something I think about quite a bit. We’re good friends with a family whose children are so overloaded with lessons, camps, playdates, sports. Even a traveling “all star” sports team for the 7 year old. It’s easy for kids (and sometimes moms) to follow into the “why can’t we?” line of thought.
I know that we’re on the right path, but I can’t help feeling like we need more fun. Especially these days when I am to tired (and huge!) to go anywhere that isn’t absolutely neccessary. Right now we’re really focusing on spending time with extended family which we wouldn’t be able to do if we were busy running around!

By: Lynn

Lynn — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:20:24 +0000

We chose to keep picking berries when the children were rather tired of it, and we talked about how if we do a good job of picking the berries, we are actually saving money, because food costs money; and when we store up what food God provides us, we will be thankful when we can eat it later. Plus, all enjoyed an afternoon together in the sun while doing it. We even took some cute photos which will be lovely to look at later when it’s blowing snow outside. Less this month has meant seeing better what God is giving, and being so thankful. Which isn’t really less at all.