Frugality Under Attack And Not Socially Accepted
J.D. from Get Rich Slowly wrote the post, What Developing Nations Can Teach Us About Personal Finance
Trent from The Simple Dollar wrote a related post, The Backlash Against Frugality about someone promoting frugality in an article and in return received some “flaming” comments, sadly. If only people are more opened and receptive to new ideas…
It’s hard to talk about personal finance without ever touching on the subject of frugality. I have talked about taking responsibility and making choices, and such are we do in personal finance, such are we do in frugality also. Let’s not forget about the “personal” part of this whole idea, so at the end of the day, it’s your own choice.
You don’t HAVE TO get rid of your TV, but you can CHOOSE TO.
You don’t HAVE TO wear all used clothes, but you can CHOOSE TO.
You don’t HAVE TO drive a crummy 2nd-hand car, but you can CHOOSE TO.
You don’t HAVE TO live without an iPhone, but you can CHOOSE TO.
So on and so forth.
You choose to live frugally.
You choose and find ways to be frugal based on your preferences.
Just like you choose your lifestyle.
Oh btw, I choose to not have an iPhone because I cannot guarantee myself I will never drop my cellphone (as I had too many times already), I prefer “pure” mp3 player of another brand with better sound quality, and I don’t think $400 + the monthly upkeep is worth it. Anyways…
Those articles are merely suggesting ways to be frugal, which serve to provide others to think about frugality. But alas, how many really use their brains and think these days.
With that, I leave you with the comment I left for J.D.:
Thanks, J.D., for the thoughtful post, and I am sorry to read all the comments from people who find it offensive.
I believe the article is meant to be a thought provoking piece that can get us to find ways to be more frugal ourselves and find ways to change our life to be better (happier), with “change to be better†echoing with my own values. And not with the intention to argue that Americans should be just like these 3rd world countries, which is the reasoning a majority of the people used in their comment to refute this post.
No, we shall not have to live in a 200sq ft apt, or some shed in the middle of no where, but neither shall a single person live in a 4000sq ft mansion.
No, we shall not have to eat crap food, but neither shall we spend $1000 eating out per month.
No, we shall not live like a miser so we can retire at 45, but neither shall we live as pure hedonists.Anything taken to extremity is a bad thing. Find your own way to live simpler and happier, and not live a life that is bloated and driven by consumerism and capitalism.
Originally posted 2007-10-05 16:27:41. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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Thanks for visiting my blog! I’m glad to have discovered yours; I’m going to subscribe as soon as I finish this comment!
I think it’s OK, important, and even imperative to open up the discussion–and people’s minds–about frugality. Americans assume that because you CAN do something, you SHOULD. Just because I can afford to spend hundreds of dollars a month on food or thousands of dollars a month on housing DOESN’T MEAN I HAVE TO. There are billions of people in abject poverty around the world. Do I really think I can’t live without my ipod? (note: I don’t even have an ipod. Or a microwave. Though I do blow money on clothes and vacations…).
Before I started blogging, I didn’t know many people–normal people–existed who are frugal. None of my friends worry about their 401ks or how big their car payments are. It is too easy to think “well, I’m OK financially–look at how bad THEY are doing; I can afford X or Y.”
When I think of frugality I think of my Depression-generation grandparents, or my tight-wad father. But now I think it’s AWESOME that young people are admitting their frugal ways. Since I started blogging, one of the best things has been to discover that there are cool, witty, interesting people my age who are concerned about saving and investing just like me. It keeps me motivated like my spend-y friends can’t!
Meg, thank you very much for your comment and your enthusiasm about my blog! It’s resassuring to hear.
You are right. Not only does the blogging world lets us find similar people who are frugal, interesting, and actually apply thoughts to their action, it had also provided me with a wealth of information. And then partly satisfy my curiosity about other people’s lives. :)
One thing though, I’ve noticed that more bloggers, pf bloggers at least, are engaged, settled, married, and/or have kids. Or is that just me?