The art of frugality - Frugal Luxuries

**homesteadmamma** · 10-02-2002, 10:29 AM

I love how Tracey describes the "art" of frugality.

~quote

You may call it anything you wish, it alwasy means the unwillingness to squander goods or spend money unnecessarily. It is the careful use of materials and resources.

~end of quote

What a profound statement and yet so many people don't live by it. Being careful of resources means so much to me. It means not only squandering our finances, but taking care of the environment and making sure there will be resources for future generations. It means making doing with what I have and always being on the lookout that I'm not abusing the resources I've been given.

I love her use of the word "frugalite" - one who enjoys attractive surroundings and endeavours to transform the simplest foods into a feast. You exult in keeping the bonds of family and friendship alive through simple yet elegant entertaining. You enjoy quality accoutrements to daily living. They prefer to make wise decisions on how to spend money and time. They know that money saved by wise spending, can be used to enhance their lifestyle, contribute to worthwhile charities or both.

I'm proud to be a "frugalite" and Tracey's book has really made me look at frugality in a different light. We don't have to be misers like old "scrooge" was, but we can live elegantly and still be frugal. A perfect example of that is yesterday I hung on our one wall in our m/bedroom 4 antique nighties I had purchased a few years ago for very little money at an old antique store. Just a little way to be elegant and yet it didn't cost me much. I learnt through this profound statement that finding a doily and placing it on an end table or on a dresser can cost little but makes my home "a home". I learnt too that simple things make me feel far happier than having a housefull of "stuff".

What are your thoughts?

**captclearance** · 10-02-2002, 10:32 AM

Very nicely put !!! I agree !!!!!!!!

**vecollins** · 10-02-2002, 10:41 AM

I AGREE TOO ---HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK THOUGH, WOULD LOVE TO READ SOME BOOKS ON FRUGALITY......VICKIE

**~Sherry~** · 10-02-2002, 10:56 AM

I love the way Tracy shows us the difference between frugal and miserly.

A Frugalite is one who enjoys comfortable, attractive surroundings and endeavors to transform the simplest foods into a feast..... They know that money, saved by wise spending, can be used to enhance their lifestyle, contribute to worthwhile charities, or both.

Born from the Latin word for "wretched"' miserliness is the absense of generosity. A miserly person will spend money reluctantly and deprive himself of all but the barest essentials, for the sole purpose of hoarding money.