photo by KevinSnaps
Recession got you down? Are you feeling grumpy about all the things you feel like you have to give up?
For so long our society has lived by the mantra, "More! More! More!". For most working adults alive today, this is the message our government and media have spewed forth day in and day out. As we are seeing now, the health of our current economy is hugely dependent on people consuming more and more and more - there is not any room for us to stop.
And yet now, we seem to have hit a wall. The inevitable wall that has always been there but no one wanted to think about. The point where we just cannot consume any more. We have maxed out our credit, sent both parents to work, run around like crazy people and turned shopping into a national past time. Our three car garages are stuffed to the gills and the creditors are calling - all the way to Wall Street. The party is over and our society has a serious hangover.
Now we are reassessing (at least we as individuals, not necessarily our government quite yet) - what is all this stuff we think we need? What can we live without? What should we live without? Are you feeling like everything is about living without? It can just feel painful sometimes. After "More! More! More!", "Less! Less! Less!" can be a bit of a shock. At the very least, it is culture shock.
Well, I think if you turn your view around you will see the bright side of having to be frugal.
Having to be frugal makes you rethink the things you mindlessly purchase. Latte in the morning, take out for lunch and dinner, unlimited cable, clothes with the tags still on. Were you really enjoying those purchases? Each and every one? Were they each deliberate and enjoyed?
When you pare things down, you might realize you can actually wear the things in your closet - and enjoy them and use them to get the most from your hard earned cash. Packing a lunch from home? It does take planning, but it is really not that big of a deal. Skipping the latte? - - - Now, wait a minute!
I am not a coffee drinker, but I have enough common sense not to stand between my husband or coworkers and their morning cup of joe. Maybe you have pinched and saved and so on, but life is just not the same without the latte - at least once in a while. That is OK - that is the bright side of being frugal.
You learn to appreciate what you love!
When you cut back on things, those things that actually do give you the most pleasure for your buck float to the surface and you can ENJOY them.
So the bright side of being frugal? Truly, there are a few - one of which being the pride you feel when you discover you can make do without something you formerly thought to be indispensable - but the one I am talking about here is that you filter out the "More! More! More!" and actually enjoy the purchases you consciously choose to make.
So, can't live without the latte? Bravo! Cut it to twice a week and ENJOY and savor each one.
For me, leaving excess is about leaving all that stuff I don't need, don't want, don't enjoy and costs me money. It is not about leaving what I love and enjoy. Thankfully, I don't have a latte habit to break, but never fear, I certainly do have my own vices ;>)
Welcome to being frugal - where mindlessness is a thing of the past and living and enjoying each moment is all the rage.
10 comments:
Great post. I pray that you and your family will make it through the set backs you have encountered. I enjoy reading your posts and the plans you have made to overcome your hardships.
GREAT post! I agree - Leaving Excess, Voluntary Simplicity... It's known by many names but in the end, it's about living deliberately. Finding out what truly makes you happy and then reducing or eliminating the rest of the things in life that only serve to distract us from what's important.
Thank you for this post! You say it so eloquently. I am new to "leaving excess" (both the blog and the concept). My husband's job was downsized a few months ago and we had to start looking hard at our expenses. What an eye opener. I am not enjoying finding great deals, couponing, shopping at Goodwill, Craigslist, garage sales etc. I actually am getting a thrill out of it! Thanks again.
I loved this post. As an economics major, I remember a professor explaining the law of diminishing marginal utility by talking about how the first hamburger one eats will taste the best, while each consecutive hamburger will taste good, but not as great as the first. I see this work out in living frugally as well. Perhaps we could call it the law of living frugally: the item or thing consumed most thoughtfully and less frequently will taste infinitely better than the one consumed regularly and mindlessly.
I also think that the rampant consumption that we've let ourselves indulge in is partly a symptom of the hectic lifestyles we let ourselves lead. For example, I often feel like my craving for coffee drinks in Starbucks skyrockets when I have a lot going on in my life, as it becomes a "comfort drink" to calm down my stressed nerves or rev me up when I'm feeling exhausted. You're willing to pay $3 - $4 a pop just to get someone to ask you how you're doing and make something for you, even with your own name written on the cup.
I love this post Michelle. Having gone from poverty to luxury and back to poverty I can honestly say that there is so much more to savor and enjoy when everything is special. It takes all the pleasure away when you can have anything you want whenever you want. I look ahead sometimes and think "I can't wait until we make more money." And then I catch myself and realize I'm not sure I really want to ever get there. I'm learning to be comfortable and happy with less.
Cheryl - thank you.
Heather @ SGF - Once you get going, it gets easier - that is a good thing!
Sara Beth - I am so glad you found the post helpful! Congrats on your newfound journey (sorry about the circumstances, though) - I don't regret having to be frugal.
Life from the roof: What a great comment! I like that - The Law of Frugal Living - how about that? I never even thought about getting coffee being about the interaction, but you have a great point.
Gayle - I agree with you. Sometimes it would be nice to have more money, but having less keeps you focused on what is important.
Well said! I agree with it all. And it's never to late to start. :) Thanks!
Michelle - You hit the nail on the head. Great post! One way I save a great deal of money on coffee is through buying a giant 188-count box of International Delight French Vanilla individual coffee creamers from Costco. I leave it at work, and for $8, the box lasts several months. It makes the free coffee at work taste just as good as a fancy Starbucks or Caribou drink (at least to me!).
Debra, great point!
Deal Diva - that is an excellent idea!!
I love your comment about knowing enough not to get between a coffee drinker and their coffee. LOL
I didn't drink coffee for a long time and just couldn't get my mind around the fact that some people LIVE for coffee. I always wondered why on earth company wouldn't rather have a nice glass of iced tea or water... Looking back they probably thought I was very inhospitable.
Blessings,
Trixie
Post a Comment