I’ve had years of experience in frugal living going back to my childhood. My parents eventually reached job prominence, but in my childhood as the eldest in a very big family. I worked summers to buy my own school clothes. Once I was old enough to learn how to use a sewing machine, I made my own. Our family bought an older farm house and we remodeled it ourselves. My parents divorced when I was college bound, so I put myself through college by working and honor scholarships. Over the years as an artist/writer working low paying social service counseling jobs, I had to be very frugal. I got very good at it. I also became convinced that people like my former patients and students, who have few budgeting skills can become locked into debt servitude very similar to oldtime share croppers.
As a therapist I´ve counseled many people with problems, taught college, and I co-authored a textbook on Family Counseling. Check out Chapter number 16 which plainly has my name on it!!!
Case Studies in Marraige and Family Therapy.
But necessity aside -- I like being frugal.
I have some very deep seated beliefs about money and its place in people’s lives that has nothing to do with any particular system of religion, or thought. Since I spent long summers with my grand parents most likely its an odd mix of rabbinical thought, American Indian beliefs about respecting the earth and avoiding waste, solid European peasant concepts about preparing for the next famine, and Mennonite, German, Greek Orthodox and Catholic concepts about "right living." Some of all that must have sunk in. I think being greedy and wasteful is just plain wrong. As I got older my belief in ecological living and self sufficiency added to my strong convictions.
We live a full and happy life. Being frugal has got us a house (admittedly with a mortgage), a car(used but paid for) and other material items similar to many people. As I mentioned earlier the issue is controlling ones finances -- not bring controlled by debt!
But my Mom says I was born a cheapskate, and perhaps that explains things best.
I hope to give some guidance to people seeking a more stable economic situation for what ever reasons --- from dire circumstances to voluntary simplicity. I think a frugal lifestyle with the goal of financial independence is a lot of fun! And rather than begging for "credit," you can just purchase what you need for the lifestyle you desire.
So check back bi-weekly for a new article, and sign up for our free newsletter!
Submit a Comment - Suggestion - Request to this Editor
NOTE: If you want a response, please make sure to include your email address. Also, make sure that any anti-spam blockers you have are set up to allow mail from bellaonline.com! Otherwise our response won't be able to get to you.
