Does being frugal make you happy?

**forestdale** · 06-12-2004, 11:39 PM

Do you pick seeds of happiness from your frugal lifestyle or is it a pain to get up and do it again each day?

For me it's been the thing that's given me back the spark I thought I'd lost. It's a challenge, something to play with that will help me live the life I want to live. And yes, that does make me happy knowing that.

Don't get me wrong. I don't think that every second of being frugal is wonderful. In fact there are times when I think it's just plain hard work, but the feeling that it is difficult is one of the things that I like about it. I like working for what I get, it makes it seem like it's special. Which, of course, it is.

**MJsLady** · 06-13-2004, 01:16 AM

Yes it makes me happy. Even in the down times (of which there have been many lately) I have been able to find the good stuff.

**homesteadmamma** · 06-13-2004, 06:37 AM

Originally posted by MJsLady
Yes it makes me happy. Even in the down times (of which there have been many lately) I have been able to find the good stuff.

I agree with you sis. I also love challenges and being frugal is so much of a challenge for me.

**Darlene** · 06-13-2004, 08:08 AM

Happy, Snug as a bug in a rug!

**simplemom** · 06-13-2004, 08:26 AM

I'm happy about my frugal lifestyle. It's motivating for me and a challenge to see how I can save and stretch our budget each week.

**Early Bird** · 06-13-2004, 03:07 PM

For me, it's like a game: we could live a more lavish lifestyle, but ... that wouldn't be practical. I like having an emergency fund; that gives me more peace of mind than going out to first-run movies and eating out would!

When we lived in suburbia, a neighbor questioned that we 'never' went out to eat or had the pizza truck appear at our door. But that mom will stop at 3 different fast food places on her way to baseball -- 'Tess doesn't like Burger King and Joe doesn't like Taco Bell and ...'

I think my low-stress lifestyle is infinitely more rewarding.

**AmyMCGS** · 06-13-2004, 04:39 PM

The more frugal I become~ and I have a long way to go yet~ the better I feel.

I dealt with a lot of guilt when I stopped working full time and went down to a part time paycheck~ on one hand, I absolutely knew it was the right thing to do to be with my DD, but on the other hand, I felt that I wasn't contributing anything to the family finances any more. Now that I'm learning frugal ways and saving us tons of money, I feel much better~ I consider my coupons and stockpiling part of my "job" when I'm at home. When I know that I've saved us $150 a month by using sales and coupons, I feel that equals out to some of the income I no longer bring in.

**PrairieRose** · 06-14-2004, 10:07 AM

I'm happier when I am frugal because I feel more in control of my life. When we can have a cushion in the bank and no debts I feel much free-er to live a happy, care-free life.

**guest2** · 06-14-2004, 10:15 AM

I enjoy the challenge of our frugal lifestyle and knowing that the choices we made to have me be home and teach our kids is something that we cannot put a price on.

My Aunt shared something with me a few days ago when I saw her. She said that the 9 years she spent at home with her kids were the happiest times of her life even though they did not have a penny to their name. She wouldn't trade that for the world! I told her I felt the same way.

**sunshine** · 06-14-2004, 10:50 AM

Being frugal is a challenge for me as well. I enjoy seeing how little I can spend on certain items.

It makes me happy in that by being frugal in some areas, I'm able to splurge- or at least spend more- in other areas. I decide which areas to cut and which areas to splurge, and that makes me happy.

**slowtypinwoman** · 06-14-2004, 04:55 PM

I love it when I can share with my frugal friends, which are few, how little I paid for an item or outfit.
No, I don't like it all the time but next week when I write out the check to pay off one of our c.c. I will think it is the snazziest thing since home made sliced bread!

**dmvezina** · 06-14-2004, 05:06 PM

I'm definitely happy with my frugal lifestyle. No, we may not "keep up with the Jones'", but I dont' care. We dont' need so many of the things that other people "waste" or "splurge" on.
We basically live paycheck to paycheck, so if I were not frugal we'd certainly be drowning. And sometimes, I save us enough that we can splurge here and there or have a little extra money in the bank.

**MMP** · 06-14-2004, 05:18 PM

Being frugal makes me pretty happy. I know I can buy more things for my money shopping yard sales, clearance racks and salvage stores. Of course with almost 5 kids I need to stretch the money as far as I can. I love handmedowns, too.

I admit I have lots of areas to work on. Eating out comes to mind. I sometimes get tired of cooking so we will get burgers, tacos or PIZZA(thats the biggie, LOL). There are still many things I could make myself that I just do because of either laziness or they are too time consuming.