Tuesday, April 20, 2010

What's Your Frugal Flavor?

When people say they live "frugally", what exactly does that mean? If you look up the word in the dictionary, you will find definitions including:
  • thrifty
  • living without waste
  • economical
 What exactly is "economical"? Or "thrifty"? I'd hazard to say that if you put a hundred "thrifty" or "frugal" people together, while there will be some similarities, you'd find many, many differences in the way they live their lives. And that difference would be the result of each person's choices and attitudes about what's waste and what's economical (in both time and money), based on their values and ideals. Living "frugally" is a set of personal choices.

On deciding on a name for my blog, I chose "Frugal Frolic" because it's important to me that while we do our best to save money and reduce waste in money and time, we also have FUN along the way! While it may seem we work a little harder -- making our own bread, having a garden, doing our own home repairs and renovations, for examples -- we make sure we're putting efforts into what we enjoy. Plus, we make sure to take time out to enjoy life. Most of the time, these may truly be "frugal frolics" (a day at the beach, anyone?). But sometimes, it's not frugal at all - for example, a day at the aquarium.

If you're interested in living frugally, either out of choice or need, go with your strengths. Work on what you can do, and look for the opportunities to learn what you can. Let your interests guide you! In that way, you can "grow" your frugal choices as you grow your knowledge. Over the past 15 months, our lives have changed dramatically, but it didn't happen overnight. We weren't growing our own vegetables and cooking from scratch the day after my husband was laid off. We needed to learn what we could do. In that way, we've put our energy into what gives us the greatest benefit, both financially and lifestyle-wise.

If you make frugal choices that enhance your life, then your "frugal flavor" won't be the bitter pill that some imagine such a lifestyle might be. Instead, as you make your own decisions in how you can and will be thrifty and economical, the result will be the creation of your own, fabulous "frugal flavor", different from everyone else's. And don't be surprised when, along the way, your flavors develop into something new, and even surprising! Remember, Yes, You Can!

Looking for tips to make your life simpler and easier? Check out all the posts on Works For Me Wednesday at We Are that Family.

5 comments:

  1. I have enjoyed reading back through your blog. You are very inspiring. A lot of great tips. I will be reading more.

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  2. I like the name of your blog! Mine is "Sorta Frugal" because I also don't take it in a deathly serious way. I try this and that and do what works for me (I'm an avid couponer, for example, but I'm just not into beans and rice) and I have fun doing it. If it isn't enjoyable, or at least tolerable, why make yourself crazy, right?

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  3. I'm here from Works for me Wednesday. I like this post- yes, everyone does need to decide what is important for them and what they are willing to spend money on. For me, living in a good community is worth a lot for me, so I've been willing to pay more because of that. Others may say that that isn't frugal, but thats my flavor of frugal.
    Thanks for

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  4. Hi there! Niki here, from over at Free 2 Be Frugal, stopping by from Works for Me Wednesday.

    I love your post! Frugal living is subjective for sure.

    Stop by and visit me when you get the chance.

    :)

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  5. Great points. So important to have fun with the frugal lifestyle or I think you will burn out quickly as it becomes nothing but work.

    For my wife and I, we have the developed the motto of "less is more". Such a free feeling to live that way. We focus on experiences and time together and not "stuff".

    Glad I found your blog, I will be back!!

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