Degrees of frugality

**Sara Noel** · 10-02-2002, 11:54 PM

I like in the book how she says frugality knows no social or economic boundaries. That it's about adjusting your standards. (treating the ordinary as extraordinary)

This section made me wonder how many struggle with the feeling of sacrifice and deprivation vs. empowerment?

I know at first I felt very deprived. I was downright angry with my situation. I missed many material things. Now, I just can't even believe so much of my identity was wrapped up in material things.

Occasionally, I still get small envy pangs. They pass quickly and I know that life is a tradeoff. I realize that if I truly want something different than I need to make some changes and adjustments to make it happen.

I just don't want to raise my children with that instant gratification nonsense.

Sara

**~Sherry~** · 10-03-2002, 10:39 AM

I love to shop. And most times I don't have the money to do it. And it makes me sad. Dave can tell when I'm wanting to get out and spend money... I get depressed. LOL
Then when we do have a little and I get to go out... even for groceries or diapers, I feel better.

Terrible, huh?

I'm really working on the being happy with "intangibles"... and not worrying so about money. But its hard.

**dozymom** · 10-03-2002, 11:07 AM

For me frugality gives me the tools I need to do what I want with my life which is to stay home, not to have to go out to work.

I find working around the home, doing the frugal stuff is more enjoyable. It's like a lot of hobbies.

I play with my baking, OAMC, sewing, cleaning routines etc.

I guess I play house a lot. I love the freedom to read, to garden to sit and brush my dog and talk silly to her, go online and visit.

I really enjoyed homeschooling, now I like it that they are in college and gone most of the day.

To me frugality opens up worlds of opportunity. I really like studying new things, and last Christmas I bought myself some physics books, and I need a lot of time to grasp that stuff. It's not ordinary physics. I read a bit, then go off and think a bit while I knit, then take another crack at it. I skim stuff I don't understand and I find it stimulating and refreshing to give myself a challenge like that.

For me that is the difference between merely existing, and really living.

Frugality lets me really live.

**Patchworkgirl** · 10-03-2002, 12:21 PM

Well put dozymom! Can I adopt you for my mentor????

**homesteadmamma** · 10-03-2002, 09:09 PM

Patchworkgirl, you couldn't have picked a better mentor. Dozymom is an absolute sweetheart and one I've had the privilege of visiting twice and I can hardly wait until I can visit her again.

I have to agree frugality allows me to do things that I want to do. We often look at frugality has never being able to do anything, but it allows me to quilt and use material purchased at quilting shops only. It allows me to freedom to purchase my bear material from France. The reason being is that I'm frugal in other areas.

It allows me to be a SAHM and have fun baking, creating my home the way I want. I'm with Dozymom 100% on her post.

And yes, it is about adjusting our standards in some areas to help us achieve in other areas. Got to love that part of frugality.

**MJsLady** · 10-03-2002, 09:23 PM

One of the things i am dealing with is trying to get dh to learn how to be happy with what we have. I mean we have a nice home, a working car, do we really need a bigger better pc?
To me, i want to double pay on things to get the payments down and over with but he wants to use the smaller longer term payments because it gives us (read him) more money to spend right now. Never mind it means I HAVE to work and would rather be home. Sometimes i get so irritated, but I try to look on the bright side. I only work 25 hours and i still have time to do all the homemaker stuff i enjoy so much.