Frugaling

Opulence: The New Solitary Confinement?

Being famous and/or wealthy must be lonely. Private jets, VIP sections, gated (physically or otherwise) communities, and priority lines all have a way of separating you from the masses – the main cabin.

This life is sold to us: Rise above the rest. The reality: Advertisements scream elite status and individuality that is ironically reminiscent of solitary confinement.

From car commercials (i.e., Mercedes) to airlines (first-class and beyond), the platinum life begets platinum isolation. The people in these advertisements tend to be alone with the product.

The rewards of status are enticing when you’re crammed in the middle seat, back of the plane, with a crying baby in front of you. But these are all signs of reality. Most of the world’s people don’t have it this good. Segregating ourselves to a distorted reality in front of the rest may have corrosive psychological effects and impaired empathy to the poverty around us.

…An electric blanket makes you forget about the cold, and cold can be a good thing. Cold can make you have compassion for poor people who are cold and don’t have electric blankets. Cold could cause you to snuggle closer to your partner. Most importantly, being cold reminds you that it’s cold. –Paul Miller, The Verge

It’s impossible to ever have complete empathy for another, but moderation should be a goal amidst the poles. Frugaling brings us to a humble understanding of the world around us. The aim is to save amidst the temptation. The aim is to dive into the world around us and save by enjoying what we couldn’t ever buy. The love of others, close friends, and purposeful relationships all hold an impressive price tag: free.

Travel Budgets

By Frugaling 2 Comments

One mountainside divides us from a cloud forest preserve in Monteverde, Costa Rica. The ninety degree weather has finally abated, and we’re sitting in the cool shade of our hostel. A rural city center provides an oasis of Internet and food. It’s here that I look at my budget, login into Mint, and choke at the refreshed results. Traveling hasn’t been friendly to my bank accounts.

A few months ago, my partner and I decided we would take a summer trip to Costa Rica. I’m fortunate to have flight benefits, which made it $40 roundtrip (pays for airport, state, and federal taxes). With this shocking price tag and a propensity for travel, I couldn’t contain my excitement.

As we landed in Costa Rica, a couple thoughts coursed through my mind: one, I only have $150 in cash; two, we have no plans – enter panic here. We were funneled out of customs and immigration with ease – straight to a rental car that was supposed to cost $55 for five days. Instead, switching between Spanish and English, the attendant assured us that price was incorrect. The bill was nearly $200. This was to be the first of many monetary mix ups.

At the currency exchange, I converted my cash to colones. The exchange rate sat around 500 colones for a dollar, but I was given 430 at the counter (service fee). Upon leaving the hotel and venturing out into the Costa Rican landscape, I quickly learned that most people accepted US dollars as tender. The conversion and fee made no sense, as the places that didn’t accept dollars would usually take a credit card.

There’s only a day and a half of adventure left in Centroamerica. Tomorrow will bring hours of hiking, driving, eating, and fun with my partner. But it also means keeping a watchful eye to what I spend.

Frugaling is limited when you’re stateside. You can research currency rates and read travel guides, but the costs always seem to fluctuate. What you see isn’t always what you get.

If you’re like me (balling on a budget and eager to travel), it’s important to know that travel expenses deserve wiggle room. Humans are prone to budgetary error and spending. This is only compounded when traveling abroad. Talk to as many people as you can, but don’t forget to ask how much it cost them. Budgets vary and affordable adventures are relative.

Bargain Breakfasts

By Frugaling 3 Comments

Whether you’re stressed and busied with work, school, or something in between, it helps to have some quick, healthy options for breakfast. Before I became a hardcore frugaling nut, I was lazy about prioritizing food (Read about “Eating On The Go“). It didn’t mean starvation or malnutrition; instead, it meant fast food runs (arguably more unhealthy than going hungry, at times) and convenience stores. I frequented the Starbucks across the street for a tall coffee (~$1.75) and breakfast sandwich (~$4). Not only would I be pressed for time on these days, but I would also be spending about $5.75 for breakfast alone.

That lifestyle didn’t fit my budget. It was terribly stress-inducing, expensive, and cholesterol-laden. By waking up a bit earlier and going to bed at a more sane hour, I’ve been able to cook breakfast and pack a lunch every morning. If I wake up at 7:15 AM, I can make my traditional breakfast. If I’m beat and need to sleep in, I wakeup at 8:30 AM. The latter leaves me with 30 minutes to get ready and hop on my bus. Thankfully, I have another option for that scenario.

The goal is to circumvent convenience and prioritize healthy, frugal nutrition. Julia Childs would be rolling in her grave if she saw these “recipes.” Nonetheless, these are aimed for those with little time to prepare. Hopefully, these bargain breakfasts can help you save money, keep you healthy, and regain your time.

Option 1: “The Standard” Eggs and Turkey Bacon (10 minutes)

This has been my stalwart meal for about three years. Eggs are a nutritious, wholesome start to your day. One egg has about 70 calories and over 6 grams of protein. Most of all, eggs are incredibly affordable. The one downside is the heightened cholesterol levels. To minimize this arterial risk, I supplement with egg whites, which are free from cholesterol. Turkey bacon is far cheaper than traditional bacon, and much healthier, too. In fact, the cholesterol levels pale in comparison to pig-bacon. All in all, the meal costs about $0.97 and 10 minutes of my time.

One dozen eggs: $1.50/12 = $0.125 per egg

Turkey bacon (21 strips): $3/21 = $0.143 per strip x 2 = $0.286 for 2 strips

Egg whites (about 20+ eggs per carton): $3.75/20 = $0.188 x 3 = $0.563 for 3 egg whites

Total cost: $0.97

Option 2: Banana Nut Oatmeal (3 minutes)

As a runner, I crave a balanced diet of carbs, protein, and vitamins. The Banana Nut Oatmeal has all three. This is stupid simple, too: grab some instant oats and microwave with water, chop up a banana and throw it on top, and then grab a handful of mixed nuts. In the span of 3 minutes and about $0.64, you’ve got a healthy, no-excuses breakfast.

Oatmeal: $1.99 (for carton) = ~$0.15 in bowl

Banana: $0.24

Mixed Nuts: $0.25

Total cost: $0.64

These are two simple breakfasts that will get your day started off right. Psychologically, I was convinced that there wasn’t enough time to cook and eat. When I compare $5.75 a day at Starbucks to my “standard” breakfast, I save $4.78 each time. The time and money saved pads my wallet and makes me more efficient. I’m no longer cramped for time and scarfing down a Pop-Tart.

What bargain breakfasts do you make?

Eating On The Go: My Stomach vs My Wallet

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Far from the drool encrusted books of my graduate studies and the lectures that seem to drone on for lifetimes, I’m traveling between three different time zones in two days. Traipsing through well-worn airports, convenient foods glisten with a preservative-laced sheen that scream, “buy me!” Somehow, it feels like vacations and travel are excuses to break free from the bounds of reality. This is where frugaling can crumble.

Oftentimes, the frugaling rules I set are adapted and designed for a home environment. The breakfasts, lunches, and dinners that I make save hundreds of dollars per year. When I venture beyond the refrigerator and packed lunches, frugaling unravels and I lose the rules that are righting my course back to zero debt.

When I was growing up, my family would go on exceptionally affordable vacations and generally stay with people we knew. Even then, we would buy soda, juices, and bottled water on the go. When we got hungry, we’d often eat out. Generally, we attributed this to a new place: different restaurants to try, wanting to make the most of our time, and/or not sure that we could find food to make and pack.

In reality, we could’ve done more. In my recent years, I haven’t done more. But now, my spending habits are changing. As I took a brief pit stop at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, on my way to Los Angeles, my stomach began to churn. I was hungry and ready to eat anything: burgers, fries, donuts – you name it. I walked around the gigantic airport and found any number of places that would satiate my fancies. I approached two restaurants, stared into their food displays, and fumbled for my credit card. But each time, I slowly walked away. The $2.30 banana nut muffin wouldn’t break my bank, but it wasn’t frugal or necessary. Embarrassingly, I would approach the glass displays with lust for everything.

Instead, I slowly boarded my connecting flight and pulled out a tattered granola bar. The unsatisfying flavor made me question my decision to keep my credit card tucked away. But as the energy bar began to digest, the pains and urges to buy food abated. I had satisfied the hunger and craving.

It spoke to my competing biological and psychological desires: one for food and one for money. Frequently, fast, convenient options prey off the former, at the expense of the latter. By accepting the discomfort, we can save and still satisfy. Now that’s frugaling.