5 Ways to Ensure Success in the Frugal Life
As I have been mulling over my frugal life of late, I thought I would share five ways that can ensure success in the frugal life:
1. Define Your Terms:
The word "frugal" can mean many different things to each of us. My frugal life may seem spartan to some of you and yet be quite lavish to others. Success comes best in pursuing the frugal life when we have a clear cut understanding of why we are choosing to live out this lifestyle. The foundation for why Husband and I choose frugal living is because we base our life decisions on the Word of God and so seek to be good stewards of all God has blessed us with, including our finances. (And no, I do not believe the Bible teaches that all need to be pennypinchers, but I do believe it teaches us to use our financial blessings with wisdom.) On this foundation, Husband and I build our frugal life with consideration of our desire to live debt free and within our means. Our personal health and our commitment to our family also are elements taken into consideration when defining our frugal life.
2. Keep a Positive Perspective:
Frugal success comes from having the right attitude toward the process. Not everyone gets to choose all the details of living out their frugal life, but we do get to choose how we respond and our bias towards the experience. Seeing the frugal life as an adventure and an opportunity to develop character, how to skills and resourcefulness really helps to keep a proper focus.
3. Use Comparison With Others Wisely:
Husband has always said that it is the rare person who can stand alone all the time. In most any season of life, there can be great encouragement found in sharing the path with others that are like minded. Find a friend on a similar journey if possible. Going against the culture and the mainstream of society (which is what living the frugal life does) can be lonely at times. However, books, blogs and even others in your church or community can be great assets to your frugal life. I would also share a caution that comparison with others can be deadly. Everyone has different goals, abilities and motivations for the why and the how of the frugal life. We can learn from and be encouraged by another and yet still desire to or need to walk a very different frugal path. I enjoy following a blog where a young couple have made amazing financial progress by following a frugal lifestyle (and by making many wise business decisions.) More than likely I will never have their monetary reward. That does not however, give me cause for despair or discouragement. On the contrary, I rejoice with them at every new success and am grateful for their heart and financial savvy.
4. Count the Cost:
For most of us the frugal life is not an easy one. That is okay. Easy is not always the best choice. For real frugal success, you need to be able to say no to yourself. Learning how to be content with living within your means and finding ways to make ends meet can make you feel uncomfortable at times. Delayed gratification usually brings much blessing but the process of denying yourself things now for a better later can be quite an adjustment. I confess my thoughts do consider the ease of opening a can of soup for a pot when washing the plethora of pans after making the homemade variety. The washing, drying and folding of plastic bags is one more thing to add to a busy day. Saying no to an item I would love to purchase for my home or seeing an adorable outfit out of my price range for a grandbaby isn't always easy, but it is best for me to do so. If yours is the frugal life, you must be willing to learn to say no.
5. Find the Routine:
After really coming to terms with the reasons and motivations for living out your frugal life, one of the best ways to ensure success is very practical. I am most successful in my frugal life when the things I do become routine. Recently I purchased a new lamp for next to my bed. The old one could only be turned off by pulling the plug. Do you know I still find my new lamp unplugged some mornings? Pulling the plug each night before going to bed had become so routine that I still do this even though there is no longer a need. For me, attaching something new to what I already do or consciously doing something new in the same way and as close to the same time in my day, ensures that this activity will soon become my routine. Right now I know that I need to make bread baking a part of what I do at least one of the days I am home each week. It has not been happening because I have not been diligent to make this a part of my homemaking routine.
Each of us will have a different definition of what it means to live our frugal life with success, but stopping to consider what works well for us and sharing with others is a great way to encourage those seeking this path. What ensures your frugal success?
4 Responses to “5 Ways to Ensure Success in the Frugal Life”
February 26th, 2013 at 8:15 am
Hi DL- You know I loved this article.
I agree whole heartedly with everything you’ve said here.
Being where I am today…with a retired husband AND A MORTGAGE!…having NO debt but the mortgage and then running up the cards after his heart attack…
I can only add 1 point to your list.
PERSEVERANCE:
If you fall off the “Frugal Lifestyle” wagon, after doing well for only a few years…DON’T STAY OFF THE WAGON.
Pull yourself up by the bootstraps…and set out again–regardless how bad it looks. It will only get better, just stay with it.
…starting over with your bullet points is a good place to start for those who have tried and failed. (you only fail if you don’t get back to it and try again!)
Getting OUT OF DEBT also helps you to achieve a frugal lifestyle…going hand in hand, really.
I guess that is 2 points(well, you actually mentioned that as your definition in point 1)…but you know what I’m saying.
blessings, Pat
February 26th, 2013 at 11:59 am
I got started on this frugal lifestyle decades ago when my husband and I both went to graduate school at the same time. I am still doing it and now it is an ingrained habit, just how we do things.
I really love feeling like I can beat the system and stretch the dollars.
My daughters sometimes make fun (Gee Mom, in ten years that might save you a dollar.) but I know it works. There are very few ways you can save a bundle of money doing one thing BUT there a alot of ways to save a little money at a time and those little bits add up.
We managed to educate our daughters and they graduated debt free. And, we are going to be retiring at 62 and have the money to enjoy our retirement (assuming we continue to follow our almost life long habits). And, no, we do not have high paying jobs. My husband teaches and I have never made more than 30,000 a year and often less. Plus, I stayed home for years when my girls were growing up.
So, take heart. It can be done. It can even be fun. I now think of saving money and thrift as a hobby.
February 26th, 2013 at 7:25 pm
I like what Sandy said;
‘think of saving money and thrift as a hobby.’
I’m going to use that phrase in conversation…because, honestly, we do have people in the Honey’s family, that look at us like a calf looking at a new gate! They ask “Why?”…and just stare at you with their mouth hanging open.
I like this… A hobby.
thanks Sandy!
~Pat
February 26th, 2013 at 7:53 pm
Pat:
As always your comments are excellent and I definitely would add your points to my list.
Sandy:
What a great frugal testimony! Thanks for sharing the encouragement.
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