You’re happily coasting along with your frugality and enjoying the money you’ve saved. Suddenly, you realize, not only are some people whispering around you, some are bold enough to make comments. Some of your family and friends might be in awe and proud of you, but some are snickering or thinking you’re a cheapskate. Maybe they think you’re hoarding simply because you’re stockpiling. Or maybe they think you have more …

photo by cortomaltese

“Financial freedom has everything to do with your belief system.” — Ron Blue
A common misconception is that frugality is voluntary poverty, deprivation or selfishness. Frugal folks aren’t cheap misers with the world’s largest ball of saved rubber bands in their garage or 1,000 rinsed plastic baggies. Frugality is knowing when you have enough. It’s accepting that you can live with less, and that there is incredible freedom when …

photo by laurenatclemson

I’m not a total cheapskate, but I rarely purchase greeting cards. I am tempted on special occasions, but I resist. Looking through the card aisles, all I can think about is what I could give the recipient instead of a greeting card. I also can’t help but consider how quickly they are read and then thrown away.
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Birthday parties and weddings are as much a part of autumn as fallen leaves and crisp mornings. But wrapping gifts can be as expensive as the gift itself. I reuse materials I have on hand, give gift wrap that can be reused or wrap as inexpensively as possible so I can spend more money on the actual gift.
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