Frugal Living

"Frugal living" is not a phrase that warms anyone's heart. However, it doesn't have to mean deprivation or giving up things you enjoy. There are many ways to live frugally that don't deprive you of anything but expense. Mostly these are small expenses, but the savings add up.

Flexibility and Imagination Are Elements of Frugal Living

I'm in the process of moving across country, which is a very expensive undertaking. By being flexible about my departure and arrival times, I've been able to save almost a thousand dollars by sharing a van with others headed in the same general direction. Even the smaller expenses, such as boxes, tape and bubble wrap, mount up alarmingly. I was pleased to save both money and space, and also help the environment, when I realized that I could layer washcloths between my plates instead of using a roll of plastic bubble wrap. Holding a big yard sale was a lot of work, but I made several hundred dollars and got rid of things I didn't want to move. I also met some very interesting people.

Attitude is crucial to frugal living. If you can learn to take pleasure in watching your savings increase and your debt decrease, your life will be much more pleasant than if you focus on what you are giving up. Especially if there are children in your family, try to make it a kind of game or sport to see where you can cut expenses with no real loss to yourself.

It's also important not to deny yourself small pleasures. You might be surprised by how much pleasure you can get from buying three dollars worth of flowers for your table--especially on a night when you would have usually eaten out. You may not be able to afford any major additions to your wardrobe, but a new necktie or a piece of costume jewelry will give you a lift. When you do get grumpy about frugal living, remind yourself of how good you will feel when you are out of debt and have money in the bank.