In the same vain as yesterday’s Ignorant is Bliss post, I’ve been thinking about frugality.  There are numerous articles talking about a possible recession and/or depression in the U.S.  I’ve been reading many of them with great interest.  The pollyanna that I am sees this as a great opportunity to really see how resourceful I am.  I understand the economic news is devastating for many people, I understand the poorest of the poor will need help, and I’m willing to step up where I can.  I also know that many people are living well beyond their means and for them this is where the blissful ignorance will have to end.  I’m hoping that all this talk will be a wake up call for us as society.

I know people are feeling the pinch, financially.   I talk to many of these folks in a variety of ways, whether its the gal on the cross-trainer next to me in the gym, someone in one of my continuing education classes, or random folks in the grocery store.  I use Jeff’s favorite phrase of “tightening up the belt” often with these folks.  It never ceases to amaze me how that bristles some people’s feathers.  When I taught my frugal living class, I had one student who very much wanted to learn how to live within her means but still be able to go out to eat at expensive restaurants 4 nights a week.  The idea of giving up on luxuries to save or be frugal seems so hard for a society that feels entitled to the “American Dream” of more, bigger, better.

Grandma’s favorite saying of “use it up, wear it out, make do,” is very much a frugal philosophy we apply to our lifestyle here at Two Frog Home.  Imagine what an impact that would have on our environment, our communities, and our homes if that was picked up as modern movement as hip as the current “go green” movement has become.  It won’t become as popular, however; because it doesn’t benefit all the companies going green in order to get your dollars.  You won’t see Walmart using that as a slogan because it encourages you not spend money in their stores, but you will see them hawking cheap T-shirts made from recycled plastic bottles because its hip and it makes them money.

In talking with people, I understand that a lot of people don’t know how to practically apply the “use it up, wear it out, make do” philosophy.  So far in their lives, they haven’t had to be frugal or they’ve used credit cards to spare themselves from any perceived deprivation.  Let me share how we apply grandma’s philosophy and frugal living daily around here.

First, let me share one of my most favorite quotes by Amy Dacyczyn (of Tightwad Gazette fame) “Frugality without creativity is deprivation.”  For me, that’s key.  No one wants to feel deprived, myself included.  The trick is learning to make do creatively with what you have until you can afford, without credit, to buy whatever you want.  I’ve learned that making do for a period of time, generally leads to not wanting/needing the gadget anyway.  I find great satisfaction in doing myself (or asking Jeff to do it) without relying on outside sources and/or conveniences.  Doing for myself and waiting for items, makes that item more valuable somehow. 

Instead of buying the newest fashion trends, why not wear out the old standards in your closet and repair them when possible.  There’s something to be said for wearing something so often that it requires multiple repairs.  It means I’ve worked hard and that I’m stretching my dollar, saving by repairing instead of buying new.  I assign financial worth to that, if I repair of jeans, I put $15 dollars into savings, figuring I’ve paid myself for some future need/want/desire.  I do find immense satisfaction when I have to cut something up for rags, because that means we’ve worn that article of clothing completely out and the pieces that remain will serve us in another way. 

Getting creative with making do can extend into every aspect of our lives.  Instead of running to the grocery store to get one item that’s missing from the recipe, get creative with substitution’s.  Would it really hurt to leave that particular ingredient out?  Instead of running to the store for paper towels, make do with those old T-shirts.

Practical things we do that save money and in turn add to our savings:

• We rarely eat out
• We buy in bulk
• We eat whole foods in their natural form, not pre-boxed/convenience foods
• We buy used
• We bargain hunt and wait for the best deal before buying whenever possible
• We freecycle
• We garden and preserve our own foods
• We repair and otherwise adjust our own clothing (take in, shorten, etc.)
• We wear everything out and try to repair everything before buying new (Jeff has alot of mechanical aptitude which comes in handy)
• We pack our own lunches
• We don’t use paper towels, paper plates, etc. (I just see that as throwing money away)
• We use natural and cheap cleaners like vinegar
• When we do have to make a major purchase, we save to buy the best we can afford, because we want quality equipment that will last and not need to be replaced
• We don’t upgrade every time the newest model comes along
• We don’t buy into every toy/gadget that comes along (we still don’t have an I-pod)
• We use the library instead of buying new books

I could go on and on, but I think I’m making my point. 

In the end, I do believe that Jeff and I have been blessed in that we both have jobs that pay above minimum wage and seem to be steady.  However, the rest has been the result of hard work on our part.  We are debt free and have a healthy savings to cover us in case of job loss as well as money saved for property downpayment and repair (looking for cheaper houses means fixer uppers).  We don’t indulge in a lot of luxuries but we don’t feel deprived.  I do feel like a good amount of frugal living is done inside ourselves in that we have to choose what is important and make sure our spending habits reflect those priorities.  We have to choose and learn to be content with what we have and ignore what the “Joneses” are doing.

Finally, a huge thing is getting support from partners, family and friends.  Find people who are choosing to live within their means and learn from them.  The internet is full of frugality resources, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t say the book Your Money or Your Life will change the lives of everyone who reads it, at least it did mine.  Research and learn from folks who lived through the depression, find what works and get creative and maybe whatever comes this way won’t feel as bad as the media makes it seem.