Comments on: The Benefits of Frugal Living. http://www.mytwodollars.com/2009/07/22/the-benefits-of-frugal-living/ A place to discuss money...for the rest of us. Thu, 24 May 2012 23:41:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Matt Jabshttp://www.mytwodollars.com/2009/07/22/the-benefits-of-frugal-living/#comment-33539 Matt Jabs Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:53:52 +0000 http://www.mytwodollars.com/?p=2125#comment-33539 @Morrison touched on the matter of "taking frugality to an extreme" and mentioned how it can be problematic. I think Pete addressed this well when he said "there is a difference between being frugal & being cheap. It is important for us to remember that being frugal does not mean you should sacrificing so much that you become unhappy. Frugality means living below your means in order to enjoy your surplus. It means being a good steward of the resource you have to work with. In my experience frugality truly is a blessing! Thanks for all your comments @Morrison touched on the matter of “taking frugality to an extreme” and mentioned how it can be problematic.

I think Pete addressed this well when he said “there is a difference between being frugal & being cheap.

It is important for us to remember that being frugal does not mean you should sacrificing so much that you become unhappy. Frugality means living below your means in order to enjoy your surplus. It means being a good steward of the resource you have to work with.

In my experience frugality truly is a blessing!

Thanks for all your comments

]]> By: morrisonhttp://www.mytwodollars.com/2009/07/22/the-benefits-of-frugal-living/#comment-33538 morrison Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:59:27 +0000 http://www.mytwodollars.com/?p=2125#comment-33538 I interpreted the line to mean: government, corporations and individuals WERE being responsible. My bad. Anyway, yes, frugality is good up to a point but then you reach a threshold whereby it becomes extreme. I am all for frugality and because of my frugality (and all the good deals popping up) I am able to get back into enjoying life due to my cash savings. The trip to Italy (5 days) only cost $549 (Rome, round trip airfare, breakfast, hotel, etc.) If I haven't been frugal all along, no, I couldn't do this. When I became frugal in 2001, sorry dudes, but a lot of people used to make fun of it. Now, it's all the norm and the rage. But I'd be hard pressed to take it to extremes. That's all I was saying. Sorry for the misunderstanding. Yup. I read it wrong. I interpreted the line to mean: government, corporations and individuals WERE being responsible. My bad.

Anyway, yes, frugality is good up to a point but then you reach a threshold whereby it becomes extreme. I am all for frugality and because of my frugality (and all the good deals popping up) I am able to get back into enjoying life due to my cash savings. The trip to Italy (5 days) only cost $549 (Rome, round trip airfare, breakfast, hotel, etc.) If I haven’t been frugal all along, no, I couldn’t do this.

When I became frugal in 2001, sorry dudes, but a lot of people used to make fun of it. Now, it’s all the norm and the rage. But I’d be hard pressed to take it to extremes.

That’s all I was saying.

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Yup. I read it wrong.

]]> By: thisisbethhttp://www.mytwodollars.com/2009/07/22/the-benefits-of-frugal-living/#comment-33537 thisisbeth Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:51:52 +0000 http://www.mytwodollars.com/?p=2125#comment-33537 Frugal doesn't mean denying yourself of everything. People don't necessarily do it because they can't afford any better. Sometimes, they find it a fun game to play with themselves. My brother drove a rusty old GEO Metro despite having a decent salary, simply because he loved bragging how he kept the rust heap going. There are many things I do myself, because it's cheaper, and there's pride of saying that I did it myself. Frugal doesn’t mean denying yourself of everything. People don’t necessarily do it because they can’t afford any better. Sometimes, they find it a fun game to play with themselves. My brother drove a rusty old GEO Metro despite having a decent salary, simply because he loved bragging how he kept the rust heap going. There are many things I do myself, because it’s cheaper, and there’s pride of saying that I did it myself.

]]> By: Camillahttp://www.mytwodollars.com/2009/07/22/the-benefits-of-frugal-living/#comment-33536 Camilla Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:37:37 +0000 http://www.mytwodollars.com/?p=2125#comment-33536 @morrison I am not in debt, I have a very good amount of savings at the bank, I save around 30% of my salary each month and I try to live as frugally as I can. What label would I have in your world, insane? Do not judge all others by your standards: many people couldn't care less about restaurants and trips, and just want to have a good time with their family, friends and themselves. This does not have to involve a lot of money. A person can find joy in the smallest things, and I personally feel accomplished when at the end of the month I look at my finances and see that I am within my budget. Who are you to tell Matt that frugality only stems from extreme situations? Accept that people are different and move along. Your opinion may be shared with many other people, but that does not make it a universal truth. @morrison

I am not in debt, I have a very good amount of savings at the bank, I save around 30% of my salary each month and I try to live as frugally as I can. What label would I have in your world, insane?

Do not judge all others by your standards: many people couldn’t care less about restaurants and trips, and just want to have a good time with their family, friends and themselves. This does not have to involve a lot of money. A person can find joy in the smallest things, and I personally feel accomplished when at the end of the month I look at my finances and see that I am within my budget. Who are you to tell Matt that frugality only stems from extreme situations?

Accept that people are different and move along. Your opinion may be shared with many other people, but that does not make it a universal truth.

]]> By: Enrique Shttp://www.mytwodollars.com/2009/07/22/the-benefits-of-frugal-living/#comment-33535 Enrique S Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:35:43 +0000 http://www.mytwodollars.com/?p=2125#comment-33535 I'm a big fan of self-reliance, so frugal living works for me. I'm always trying to learn new skills, such as electrical wiring, masonry, etc. in order to save money with DIY projects. I’m a big fan of self-reliance, so frugal living works for me. I’m always trying to learn new skills, such as electrical wiring, masonry, etc. in order to save money with DIY projects.

]]> By: Bible Money Mattershttp://www.mytwodollars.com/2009/07/22/the-benefits-of-frugal-living/#comment-33534 Bible Money Matters Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:17:49 +0000 http://www.mytwodollars.com/?p=2125#comment-33534 @morrison: I'm not sure what you were disagreeing with in your first couple of paragraphs: <em>You lost me at: "Like many modern governmental, corporate, and individual budgets the country over "” fiscal irresponsibility was the central theme of our family finances." Ah"¦.what governments are you talking about? What corporations are you talking about? Who's individual budgets are you talking about?</em> I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who thinks that government, corporate and personal finances haven't been out of control recently. Irresponsible spending has been the order of the day for quite some time. Our government runs at a huge deficit, corporations are highly leveraged, and people use their credit cards like there is no tomorrow! I've met plenty of frugal people, although it may be the circles that I run in. I'd have to agree that most people don't spend responsibly, and really don't care about their finances. It really is a shame - because like Matt I've found that simplifying things, becoming more frugal and not spending a ton of money on things I don't need really does bring more Joy in my life. It allows me to give more, to not be in bondage to debt, and overall be more self sufficient. I don't have to worry about monetary things nearly as much. By the way, I don't think that being frugal means never enjoying yourself by going out to dinner - or by not taking vacations. Like you I just got back from a European vacation - but we were frugal about our expenses while there - we shopped around for the best deal and we paid cash for everything. If we weren't frugal that probably wouldn't have happened - we would have put it all on a credit card like most americans. There's a difference between being frugal and cheap! @morrison: I’m not sure what you were disagreeing with in your first couple of paragraphs:

You lost me at:
“Like many modern governmental, corporate, and individual budgets the country over “” fiscal irresponsibility was the central theme of our family finances.”

Ah”¦.what governments are you talking about? What corporations are you talking about? Who’s individual budgets are you talking about?

I think you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who thinks that government, corporate and personal finances haven’t been out of control recently. Irresponsible spending has been the order of the day for quite some time. Our government runs at a huge deficit, corporations are highly leveraged, and people use their credit cards like there is no tomorrow!

I’ve met plenty of frugal people, although it may be the circles that I run in. I’d have to agree that most people don’t spend responsibly, and really don’t care about their finances. It really is a shame – because like Matt I’ve found that simplifying things, becoming more frugal and not spending a ton of money on things I don’t need really does bring more Joy in my life. It allows me to give more, to not be in bondage to debt, and overall be more self sufficient. I don’t have to worry about monetary things nearly as much.

By the way, I don’t think that being frugal means never enjoying yourself by going out to dinner – or by not taking vacations. Like you I just got back from a European vacation – but we were frugal about our expenses while there – we shopped around for the best deal and we paid cash for everything. If we weren’t frugal that probably wouldn’t have happened – we would have put it all on a credit card like most americans. There’s a difference between being frugal and cheap!

]]> By: Paulhttp://www.mytwodollars.com/2009/07/22/the-benefits-of-frugal-living/#comment-33533 Paul Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:12:14 +0000 http://www.mytwodollars.com/?p=2125#comment-33533 I was going to share some pithy frugal stories of my own but was side tracked by morrison's rant. I think perhaps you missed that he compared his finances to the financially inept governments, corporations etc. Nice tirade though. And a victory garden driving out your local businesses? Seriously. Maybe you should give me a break. Nice post Matt regardless. I was going to share some pithy frugal stories of my own but was side tracked by morrison’s rant. I think perhaps you missed that he compared his finances to the financially inept governments, corporations etc. Nice tirade though. And a victory garden driving out your local businesses? Seriously. Maybe you should give me a break.

Nice post Matt regardless.

]]> By: morrisonhttp://www.mytwodollars.com/2009/07/22/the-benefits-of-frugal-living/#comment-33532 morrison Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:33:54 +0000 http://www.mytwodollars.com/?p=2125#comment-33532 You lost me at: "Like many modern governmental, corporate, and individual budgets the country over "” fiscal irresponsibility was the central theme of our family finances." Ah....what governments are you talking about? What corporations are you talking about? Who's individual budgets are you talking about? The Untied States of America is technically broke and is up to their eyeballs in debt and borrowing. Plus USA has now started to borrow against the future taxes paid by anyone still left standing with a job or a profitable business. Most American corporations and financial institutions had to be bailed out by the broke government of America. What planet are you from? Other than myself, I haven't met one voluntary frugal person/family/human being in the past 10 years. I became frugal in 2001 after the dot-com disaster out of forced necessity. I only stayed frugal because after surviving the stock market crash of 1987 and 2001, I knew 3 times would be a charm. I was right. 2007 became #3 and this time I was ready. You find joy in frugality??? Give me a break. Who the hell in their right mind finds happiness in making do with less? People are only hugging frugal concepts now out of extreme survival. Granted, yes, there is little joy in debt and overextending but let's get real here. After a while, people want to wear brand NEW clothes, go out to a fancy dinner, take a vacation, buy a new car, enjoy their lives, for pete's sake! I'm cost conscious but I still want to find joy and happiness in my life. And I ain't finding it by scraping lint off my clothes dryer to make a Halloween face mask for my kids! It takes around 3 years to get off the debt merry-go-round and save enough money to get back to spending (wisely) again. I just booked a trip to Italy, I'm back to eating out in a real, honest-to-goodness restaurant once per week, and I'm hiring service people again to mow my lawn, fix my car, thus freeing up my time. Again. I still have a landline, watch cable news shows, have 2 cell phones and I do NOT have a victory garden because I do not want my local farmers going out of business! Can you imagine life without them? There is a limit to frugality when it interferes with common sense. I understand you must get your financial house in order but give me a break! Hurry up and get your expenses back under control, build up your savings account, switch to cash only and get back out there and enjoy your life and the wonderful services and inventions our fellow human beings have brought to us. You lost me at:
“Like many modern governmental, corporate, and individual budgets the country over “” fiscal irresponsibility was the central theme of our family finances.”

Ah….what governments are you talking about? What corporations are you talking about? Who’s individual budgets are you talking about?

The Untied States of America is technically broke and is up to their eyeballs in debt and borrowing. Plus USA has now started to borrow against the future taxes paid by anyone still left standing with a job or a profitable business. Most American corporations and financial institutions had to be bailed out by the broke government of America.

What planet are you from?

Other than myself, I haven’t met one voluntary frugal person/family/human being in the past 10 years. I became frugal in 2001 after the dot-com disaster out of forced necessity. I only stayed frugal because after surviving the stock market crash of 1987 and 2001, I knew 3 times would be a charm. I was right. 2007 became #3 and this time I was ready.

You find joy in frugality???

Give me a break. Who the hell in their right mind finds happiness in making do with less? People are only hugging frugal concepts now out of extreme survival. Granted, yes, there is little joy in debt and overextending but let’s get real here. After a while, people want to wear brand NEW clothes, go out to a fancy dinner, take a vacation, buy a new car, enjoy their lives, for pete’s sake! I’m cost conscious but I still want to find joy and happiness in my life. And I ain’t finding it by scraping lint off my clothes dryer to make a Halloween face mask for my kids!

It takes around 3 years to get off the debt merry-go-round and save enough money to get back to spending (wisely) again. I just booked a trip to Italy, I’m back to eating out in a real, honest-to-goodness restaurant once per week, and I’m hiring service people again to mow my lawn, fix my car, thus freeing up my time. Again.

I still have a landline, watch cable news shows, have 2 cell phones and I do NOT have a victory garden because I do not want my local farmers going out of business! Can you imagine life without them?

There is a limit to frugality when it interferes with common sense.

I understand you must get your financial house in order but give me a break! Hurry up and get your expenses back under control, build up your savings account, switch to cash only and get back out there and enjoy your life and the wonderful services and inventions our fellow human beings have brought to us.

]]> By: Mirandahttp://www.mytwodollars.com/2009/07/22/the-benefits-of-frugal-living/#comment-33531 Miranda Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:58:39 +0000 http://www.mytwodollars.com/?p=2125#comment-33531 Many people see frugality as limiting. However, with creativity, it isn't. And, even more important, frugality, rather than binding us, can help keep us free of the chains of debt -- and paying interest. Great post, Matt! Many people see frugality as limiting. However, with creativity, it isn’t. And, even more important, frugality, rather than binding us, can help keep us free of the chains of debt — and paying interest. Great post, Matt!

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