Being frugal does not mean one should not enjoy life, just that we should examine our way of life to see if what we are doing is bringing us pleasure for the cost associated.
I recently had the problem of deciding to fill in the artificial nails that was given to me as a gift from my husband or taking them off and saving the money spent for upkeep. I do feel like I'm worth $15 every other week, but in the end I think it just comes down to the fact that I have other interests that I would rather put my money.
In deciding to explore just what I could do with $15 bi weekly I realized that just as artificial nails require upkeep, so do many other items in our lives. It just comes down to is the price to keep the item worth the sacrafice somewhere else.
In my instance, the item cost at the bare minimum $15 bi weekly or 26 times or $390 yearly. $15 biweekly does not sound like much but when one takes it a step further and then investigates what could that $15 really buy that would give equal joy to myself, then that is where the significance is really seen.
For me personally, I decided I would get just as much enjoyment for my $30 this month in the following way: I could buy school supplies for a child I do not know or I could buy a lot of pencils and take to the school for use when a child does not have one. The next month, I could find a nursing home in my area and take $30 worth of socks in all different sizes or I could save my money for a couple of months and take some nightgowns and PJs for the ones that do not have family.
My nails were pretty but I found after examining that I can get much more joy for my money. I'm gonna take the same money and buy some polish, calcium and vitamin D (as someone mentioned) and work on my own nails and use the leftover money in a more frugal and neighborly use.
By Meemaw
I came from a home where everything was bought new. My parents would never buy "someone else's junk".
I was raised during the depression by my maternal Grandparents. We had to be saving and making do. "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without". I'm 76 now and I still make do a lot of the time. I still do things the "OLD TIMEY" way.
There's not much that would make me happier than seeing a dollar sign followed by the number two at gas stations. I long for the days that I complained about gas prices exceeding $2 per gallon.
Oh, yes, ThriftyFun has helped me in many ways showing me ways to improve our lives. I never dreamed there were as many others such as ourselves, trying to live and get along with everyday life as frugally as possible.
When making a budget, be sure to identify Discretionary and Mandatory expenses.
Whether it's at a school, church, or local community center; starting a frugal club to help your friends and neighbors save money is a great idea. This is a page about start your own frugal club.
However and whenever you learn to be frugal, it will be helpful for your life. This is a page about learning frugality.
After purchasing items The Four R's are: 1. Re-think different uses. 2. Re-use. 3. Reduce waste in landfills. 4. Recycle. Most items have more than one use.
I am determined to increase the portion of my monthly pay I put into savings. It goes without saying, this is not always easy.
When at first it appears that life is giving you lemons, you may find a blessing in the final results.
This is a page about trash to treasure. Many discarded or flea market items are actually just waiting for a new life and purpose in your home or garden.
Enjoy nature in your own backyard by observing animals! Keep a camera close by to capture them candid. Use the pictures to make your own greeting cards or postcards with sayings to go along with the mood of the picture!
Use as little of a product as possible. Try starting out using half of what you would normally use and then go from there. Also, buy generic and store brand products.
In the event you find yourself unprepared for the financial hard times we are facing right now, Don't panic, here are some things you can begin to do to help weather the storm.