Frugaling

Save more, live well, give generously

  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Popular
    • Archives
  • Recommended
  • Contact
  • Save Money
    • Lifestyle Downgrade
    • Save Money with Mindfulness
    • Save at Starbucks
    • Psychological Trick To Reduce Your Online Shopping
    • Best Freebies
  • Minimalism
    • 8 TED Talks To Become A Minimalist
    • We Rent This Life
    • Everything Must Go
    • Lifestyle Downgrade
    • The Purchase Paradox: Wanting, Until You Own It
    • Nothing In My Pockets
  • Social Justice
    • Destroy The 40-Hour Workweek
    • Too Poor To Protest: Income Inequality
    • The New Rich: How $250k A Year Became Middle Class
    • Hunter Gatherers vs. 21st Century Desk-sitters
  • Make Money
    • Make $10k in 10 Months
    • Monetize Your Blog
    • Side Hustle for Serious Cash
  • Loans
    • 5 Rules To Follow Before Accepting Student Loans
    • Would You Marry Me?
    • Should I Have a Credit Card If I’m In Debt?
    • $50k in Scholarships in 70 Minutes

Buying The Ticket And Taking The Ride

By Frugaling 15 Comments

Share This:

Buy the ticket, take the ride

In The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Ben Stiller’s character races across the globe in search for an adventurer, played by Sean Penn. The ensuing travels take Walter on a psychological rush. Suddenly, his life is full of excitement and uncertainty. But before he jumps — takes that chance — Walter is stuck at the office. He’s afraid to leave. His life is a boring repetition of the same cycle of work.

Recently, I’ve noticed a similar dissension within me. While I enjoy my work immensely and have deep passion for helping others, this delayed gratification of graduate school prevents me from engaging in a fundamental, eye-opening experience: international travel.

Seeing another culture has been shown to aid in the development of empathy. Intuitively, that finding makes sense, as we often live blindly to those in difficult life circumstances. Immersive cultural experiences such as travel and reading help people become rounded.

Sign me up for the discomfort of having to negotiate a car rental without speaking the language. I’ll find a way. Sign me up to confront class differences between cultures and peoples. I’ll question my assumptions. Sign me up to try the exotic foods and push my boundaries. I’ll open my stomach and heart.

With these values and ideas in mind, I’ve been fantasizing like Walter Mitty. Days go by in work and writing, but I secretly imagine a getaway — daydreaming my way to Denmark, Egypt, France, Israel, and Russia. Sometimes I picture dropping everything and running; after all, we only have these moments. Each time I dream big, I slowly regain composure and repeat simple mantras: “must save, later will travel” or “must work, employer needs me” or “once I get my PhD, then I’ll travel.”

But moments of lust for flight keep hitting. Nowadays, the fantasy occurs every time I’m in an airport. If the flight is delayed, cancelled, or I’m flying standby, I look at Kayak.com for the cheapest flights to… anywhere. From hundreds to thousands of dollars, I wonder if I could just go — without fear or restriction.

One of my greatest regrets has been my failure to develop fluency in a second language. Travel could’ve aided in language acquisition. As a frugal person, I can’t quite afford it yet. I’m stuck on saving a little egg that can protect me and someday empower me to travel. I find that terribly frustrating.

My guess is many people are like me. We’re busy working away during the week and the money is helping us get by. If you’re more frugal, you can sock away a little more, too. We’re hardly rolling in the dough, though.

If we could cheaply travel, we would. And yes, there are ways to travel more affordably. You can get a credit card with a signup bonus, buy tickets well in advance, look for student/senior discounts when possible, stay at hostels, and travel light. But at the end of the day, travel requires time off work and savings. It necessitates a certain safety net, unless you’re willing to risk homelessness because of the desire to travel. And there are classes and cultures right here at home that cannot and will not travel — ever — despite whatever desire they have internally.

When my head and heart race, I slow down by remembering my consistent goals. I want to be able to provide for others, give healthily to charity, avoid nasty loans, save for retirement, and be prepared for an emergency. Travel will come, and as much as the daily drools of quotidian life will never appeal to me, I do recognize what I’m building here. Frugality is a philosophical aspiration where I realize that life can be grand with less. Eventually, I’ll buy the ticket and take the ride.

Filed Under: Save Money Tagged With: Class, cultural, cultures, empathy, fly, flying, international, ticket, Travel

5 Common Myths Of Frugality

By Frugaling 8 Comments

Share This:

American Airlines Airport Las Vegas

The word “frugal” is frequently synonymous with an unflattering list of words. The most common one I’ve heard is “cheap.” But what I’ve noticed is that when words like that are thrown around, they often represent a stereotypical idea of frugality. People who’ve adopted a frugal mentality might balk at those descriptors because they tend to discount, under-appreciate, and confuse this philosophy around money.

Every now and then I like to revisit the definition of frugality, as it bears repeating. This time, I figured I’d address a snapshot of the many myths I regularly hear regarding this way of living. The following are five popular assumptions/myths that people tend associate with frugal living.

Myth 1: Buy the cheapest products possible

If someone has a surface-level understanding of frugality, they tend to assume that I shop for the cheapest everything. From shampoo to razors to coffee to cars to bikes to phones, the myth is that frugal people scour the world for the cheapest option every time.

In reality, I tend to shop for the top and work my way down. I try to understand what the “best” products are selling and see if I truly “need” what they’re offering. Similarly, I search for similar abilities in more affordable products. Who wouldn’t want to save money and get the features of a more expensive product?!

Also, cheaper products don’t always pay off in the long run. Various problems can occur from poor resale values to early failure. I have two examples that come to mind. In both of the following instances, long-term planning pays off better than short-term savings.

First, disposable, plastic razors are one of the cheapest ways to shave upon looking at the face value. But these razors don’t last as long, rust quicker, and do not shave as closely. In total, that actually results in spending more money over time. How anti-frugal!

Second, a cheap Windows laptop might cost $400 to $500. Again, on face value, this seems cheaper than an Apple laptop for $900. It takes a critical eye to parse apart the savings. For starters, an Apple computer is more reliable and powerful than the ~$450 Windows computer. You’re paying for that though, so not very frugal yet. The real cost savings comes with resale value. Because of the power and dependability, Apple computers retain their total value for longer periods of time. That $900 purchase price degrades at a lesser percentage each month.

Myth 2: Never pay full price

This one is tricky. No one wants to pay full price for anything. Sales, deals, coupons, and special savings entice us. I promise, they affect my buying and likely sway you, too. Grocery stores and malls are full of these opportunities. Heck, some of us wait for weekly ads to make our purchases!

In the end, we hate paying full price so much that we will spend countless hours over our lifetimes scoping out deals. But the frugal person doesn’t necessarily focus on the sale to buy a product. The key is buying it consciously, with intention, and through savings — not credit. Being a frugal consumer means avoiding purchases because of sales. Sales shouldn’t be the catalyst for purchases.

When you focus on a new item for purchase, it’s important to consider the place it has in your household. New shoes might be vital to your job. Rather than focusing on the “savings,” concentrate on the value. What shoes will stand the test of time, be comfortable, and limit future purchases?

Like before, the full-priced option may actually be better than the sale deal. Evaluate sales carefully. End of year or last year’s models might actually be a great deal, though. The point is, this myth is reductionistic and oversimplifies the complicated task of staying frugal.

Myth 3: Avoid adventure

Personally, I never want my frugality to be boring, limiting, or burdensome to trying new things, experiencing cultures, and developing a greater appreciation of the world around me. While yes, travel tends to be expensive, there are ways to adventure and take advantage of the world around you.

Perhaps it includes attending a free concert or talk at a local university/library. Perhaps it means taking a long bike ride around your city. Perhaps it means strategizing a bonus miles credit card to reduce ticket costs.

Regardless of the method, travel and adventure can be made more frugal. It takes forethought and planning. While many people buy tickets on a whim or whenever they’re gearing up for a flight, frugal people tend to find dates earlier on and book tickets then. The savings is often greater further away from a flight date.

Even more, the frugal philosophy necessitates a new definition for adventure. It seems that many people associate spending money with “fun.” The reality is far easier. We needn’t spend money to enjoy life. Adventure is right out your door — all it takes is a perspective change and appreciation of the world’s natural offerings. Hike, run, read, walk, chat up a future mate — whatever!

Myth 4: If you must eat out, tip poorly

The more brutal stereotype of frugality states that we tend to cut costs everywhere we go. If we eat out, we’ll likely tip poorly because that’s an opportunity to save.

Frugality needn’t be at the cost of others. In fact, that’s an ethically dubious version of this cost-saving and life-affirming philosophy. Savings shouldn’t undercut another way of living or punish others. If you’re a poor tipper and don’t recognize that servers don’t make much as an hourly wage, you should avoid eating out altogether because that’s the more frugal option anyways.

Most of the time, I tip about 15 to 20 percent for good service. If it’s bad… Well, all rules are off. Eating out is a treat for me — rare compared to the amount I eat in. When I do treat myself, I try to be respectful to those serving me, as well.

Myth 5: It’s hard to maintain

We are not born into a world that advocates for frugality. Choosing this lifestyle takes years of relearning and backtracking. Surrounded by advertisements and marketing for products we likely could avoid or go without, we are not accustomed to avoiding purchases. In that sense, it can be challenging to initiate frugal living.

Once you’ve started living with less, reduced spending becomes more habitual and quotidian. It’s all about relativity. When spending is reduced gradually over time, the cuts are less effortful. Then, when you reach a basic level of spending, maintenance can occur.

This stage requires less consideration for purchases and decisions. Maintenance doesn’t require rethinking spending patterns, reformulating grocery lists, etc. All you need to do is continue at the same rate and frugality will be yours!

Every now and then, opportunities to buy something will crop up despite your maintenance, and you’ll feel the pull to purchase. When that occurs, it’s important to recognize what motivates your frugal life. Why did you start living frugally in the first place?

Frugality is a philosophy and way of living. And many of the myths and assumptions that people carry about frugality are wrong and/or exaggerated. It’s bigger than simply spending less. It is a conscious philosophical decision to save money where you can to enjoy what you love.

Filed Under: Save Money Tagged With: adventure, cheap, flying, Frugal, frugality, living, myths, philosophy, Products, Travel

If I Were Rich, Would I Still Be Frugal?

By Frugaling 7 Comments

Share This:

Thanksgiving Dinner, Wishing I Was Rich

For my first year of graduate school in Iowa City, I wasn’t able to get back to see family for Thanksgiving. Motivated by the irony and sadness of spending the holiday alone, I watched a sappy movie and ate a cold turkey sandwich. This sorry state was only amplified by my linoleum/concrete floors that were like permafrost ice blocks for my feet, and the dingy, yellowish light of my apartment. All I could think was, “If I were rich, how would this be different?”

Dreams of a vacation I didn’t have

Presumably, I would’ve sat near the front of the airplane — speeding to my destination. The service would’ve been better, too. Maybe I could’ve afforded a first-class ticket. Perhaps this could be a regular weekend getaway. Luggage fees wouldn’t have been usury and awful — just mere pennies to my millions. Although, I probably would not have needed to pay for those fees anyways, as my credit cards and connections would lead to waivers. Either way, I would’ve been wealthy enough to afford whatever outcome. I would never stand in front of a ticket counter, after buying a ticket online, and be surprised that there’s an additional bag fee — breaking my budget and robbing me of my little available savings.

Finally at my destination’s airport, I would’ve rented a car. Not just any car, but a luxury vehicle to speed around the mean streets — something familiar and like my lifestyle. Again, I would have enjoyed the whisk and breeze of skipping lines, priority rentals, and free upgrades. My parents, family, and friends wouldn’t have needed to worry about me; I’d show up on time, no help and reliance necessary. Time would continually be on my side, as waiting would be heavily reduced.

As I walked through the airport, and saw the nice luggage and bags, I could have looked them up on my phone and instantly purchased my own. I wouldn’t need to hesitate to buy something so practical and helpful. Why not get some class with a Louis Vuitton set? Throw in those shoes, too! Traveling in style feels better.

Going home, I would have been excited to see all the friends and family I could. But I’d have to look sharp. Maybe I could stop by my favorite barber for a cleanup? My photos would be filled with the material goods that ooze success. I could show my parents, in person, what they had raised — that I had picked up my bootstraps and become a capitalistic achievement. They could be proud of my wealth and ability.

Thanksgiving without family, but not without heart

Reality is a cold shower. I can’t remember the last time I purchased something and didn’t feel guilty, nervous, and anxious for the added expense. I had looked at plane tickets for this Thanksgiving, but at nearly $500 plus airport shuttle fees, I couldn’t afford it. In a way, it felt like I was forced into frugality, without a choice (unless you consider debt to be an option, which I don’t).

As my friends and the rest of this consummate college town fled their studies and small-town lives for another location, there was a powerfully isolating feeling to my thriftiness and decision to stay. I fully expected it to be another cold turkey sandwich and night alone, but that all changed when a co-worker invited me to dinner. He knew I’d be here, without plans, and suggested I tag along.

What really matters

In that moment of deep gratitude, the Louis Vuitton dreams subsided. Pictures of first-class comfort and VIP lines faded. Suddenly, I felt humbled by his generosity and honored to be included. I was truly thankful — without any need for material goods, money, or proof of my worth.

Wealth is a funny target. If I only wanted to make money, I should’ve chosen a different career. Instead, I was motivated to help others and temporarily delay earning potential. My path to occupational success likely won’t include boatloads of cash.

Undeniably, if I had enough money available, I would’ve flown to Colorado to see my family. And honestly, if I had the money, I would’ve loved the creature comforts of first class. Both of these decisions would get me spending more money and being less frugal.

But at the end of the break, it was clear and simple: I just wanted to enjoy the day with people who are kind and open-hearted. Wealth just didn’t matter. If I were rich, I would’nt have wanted anything more than to share that moment with those I care about.

Filed Under: Save Money Tagged With: airport, cash, flying, holidays, money, rich, savings, Social Class, Thanksgiving, Travel, Wealthy

Eating On The Go: My Stomach vs My Wallet

By Frugaling 2 Comments

Share This:

Eating On The Go: My Stomach vs My Wallet. Somehow, it feels like vacations and travel are excuses to break free from the bounds of reality. This is where frugaling can crumble.

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.

Filed Under: Save Money Tagged With: flying, on the go

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Subscribe

Best Of

  • American College Students: In Debt, Distracted, And Doomed
    American College Students: In Debt, Distracted, And Doomed
  • The New Rich: How $250k A Year Became Middle Class
    The New Rich: How $250k A Year Became Middle Class
  • Dating As A Minimalist
    Dating As A Minimalist
  • My Low-Income Lifestyle
    My Low-Income Lifestyle
  • Do You Care What I Wear?
    Do You Care What I Wear?
  • The Real Reason Poor People Can’t Save
    The Real Reason Poor People Can’t Save

Recent Posts

  • How to Eat Healthy on a Budget
  • How To Live Stream Your Art
  • 5 Fun Summer Activities on a Budget
  • How to Pay Off Medical Debt
  • 5 Ways to Save Money Before a New Baby

Search

Archives

  • June 2023 (1)
  • May 2023 (2)
  • January 2023 (1)
  • March 2022 (3)
  • February 2022 (2)
  • November 2021 (1)
  • October 2021 (2)
  • August 2021 (4)
  • July 2021 (5)
  • June 2021 (3)
  • May 2021 (2)
  • January 2021 (2)
  • December 2020 (2)
  • October 2020 (2)
  • September 2020 (1)
  • August 2020 (3)
  • June 2020 (1)
  • May 2020 (2)
  • April 2020 (1)
  • February 2020 (2)
  • January 2020 (1)
  • December 2019 (1)
  • November 2019 (5)
  • September 2019 (4)
  • August 2019 (1)
  • June 2019 (1)
  • May 2019 (1)
  • April 2019 (1)
  • March 2019 (3)
  • February 2019 (1)
  • January 2019 (3)
  • December 2018 (1)
  • September 2018 (2)
  • July 2018 (1)
  • June 2018 (2)
  • May 2018 (1)
  • April 2018 (5)
  • March 2018 (6)
  • February 2018 (4)
  • January 2018 (1)
  • December 2017 (10)
  • November 2017 (3)
  • July 2017 (2)
  • June 2017 (5)
  • May 2017 (2)
  • April 2017 (8)
  • March 2017 (4)
  • February 2017 (3)
  • January 2017 (2)
  • December 2016 (2)
  • November 2016 (4)
  • October 2016 (2)
  • September 2016 (1)
  • August 2016 (4)
  • July 2016 (1)
  • June 2016 (3)
  • May 2016 (3)
  • April 2016 (4)
  • March 2016 (5)
  • February 2016 (2)
  • January 2016 (2)
  • December 2015 (3)
  • November 2015 (5)
  • October 2015 (5)
  • September 2015 (4)
  • August 2015 (6)
  • July 2015 (8)
  • June 2015 (6)
  • May 2015 (14)
  • April 2015 (14)
  • March 2015 (13)
  • February 2015 (12)
  • January 2015 (15)
  • December 2014 (10)
  • November 2014 (5)
  • October 2014 (6)
  • September 2014 (7)
  • August 2014 (12)
  • July 2014 (11)
  • June 2014 (12)
  • May 2014 (16)
  • April 2014 (13)
  • March 2014 (13)
  • February 2014 (9)
  • January 2014 (20)
  • December 2013 (9)
  • November 2013 (18)
  • October 2013 (15)
  • September 2013 (11)
  • August 2013 (11)
  • July 2013 (27)
  • June 2013 (18)
  • May 2013 (16)

Best Of

  • American College Students: In Debt, Distracted, And Doomed
  • The New Rich: How $250k A Year Became Middle Class
  • Dating As A Minimalist

Recent Posts

  • How to Eat Healthy on a Budget
  • How To Live Stream Your Art
  • 5 Fun Summer Activities on a Budget

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2025 · Modern Studio Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in