Frugal v. cheap...choice v. desperation Share This:

I hate giving frugal tips during a recession because, in a real sense, the worst time to impose frugality upon yourself is when you absolutely need to. No, I am not indulging in a paradox.



I adopted frugality as a lifestyle about four years ago when I became intrigued by 'voluntary simplicity' -- a practical approach to living in which you consume only the goods/services you value as much or more than you do the cost of acquiring them. For example, a designer dress may cost eight hours of labor at a high-paid job you despise. Is it worth it? Perhaps it is. But not for me. I'd rather have comfortable cotton clothing that I can afford through an hour or two of modestly-paid work that I enjoy. Voluntary simplicity is about finding out what you value and where you draw the line in what you will trade for it. Everyone's lines are different.



Some choices I make seem to go against frugality -- that is, if you equate frugality with cheapness. For example, living on a 40-acre farm instead of in a small apartment. But if you equate frugality with spending your resources (e.g. money, time) in a manner that returns as much or more pleasure and satisfaction than is being consumed, then our farm is the height of frugality. An apartment would be cheaper but it would also impoverish my life: no dogs, no daily walks on my own land, no garden, no privacy....



My style of frugality is about increasing your choices by being aware of whether you value X enough to pay Y for it. And remember...one of the costs in life is "opportunity cost." Because I live on a farm, I do not and cannot live on a houseboat. Which is more intrinsically valuable? Neither. The value -- the content of a frugal trade -- depends on who is answering the question.



Because I approach frugality in this manner, it has never made me feel poor or deprived. Quite the opposite. But, if you have been plunged into frugality against your will as a way to pay for your children's groceries, the process may make you feel impoverished. If so, then talk of "enriching" your life through frugality might make you want to slap the speaker's face. Ouch! -- because that face would be me.



A freethought writer named John Mackinnon Robertson once said that the best time to treat yourself to a sumptuous meal is when you are down and out because that is when you really need it. There is a kernel of truth here. Frugality is now being adopted by people who are in a terrible position to appreciate/enjoy it because they are driven to frugality (actually to cheapness) through desperation rather than coming to it with a desire to increase the choices/control in their lives. To them frugality must seem like a dreary thing.



I encourage everyone who is "cutting back" to take the opportunity to carefully assess the value of what you have been trading your time/live in order to acquire. I am not one of those dreadful people who look on suffering and say "Wow! What a growth experience." Suffering is suffering. But, during the process of alleviating it, we can sometimes form new habits and attitudes that are worth holding on to. Back to category overview Back to news overview Older News Newer News



Printer Friendly Wendy McElroy - Friday 26 December 2008 - 23:33:01 - Permalink I hate giving frugal tips during a recession because, in a real sense, the worst time to impose frugality upon yourself is when you absolutely need to. No, I am not indulging in a paradox.I adopted frugality as a lifestyle about four years ago when I became intrigued by 'voluntary simplicity' -- a practical approach to living in which you consume only the goods/services you value as much or more than you do the cost of acquiring them. For example, a designer dress may cost eight hours of labor at a high-paid job you despise. Is it worth it? Perhaps it is. But not for me. I'd rather have comfortable cotton clothing that I can afford through an hour or two of modestly-paid work that I enjoy. Voluntary simplicity is about finding out what you value and where you draw the line in what you will trade for it. Everyone's lines are different.Some choices I make seem to go against frugality -- that is, if you equate frugality with cheapness. For example, living on a 40-acre farm instead of in a small apartment. But if you equate frugality with spending your resources (e.g. money, time) in a manner that returns as much or more pleasure and satisfaction than is being consumed, then our farm is the height of frugality. An apartment would be cheaper but it would also impoverish my life: no dogs, no daily walks on my own land, no garden, no privacy....My style of frugality is about increasing your choices by being aware of whether you value X enough to pay Y for it. And remember...one of the costs in life is "opportunity cost." Because I live on a farm, I do not and cannot live on a houseboat. Which is more intrinsically valuable? Neither. The value -- the content of a frugal trade -- depends on who is answering the question.Because I approach frugality in this manner, it has never made me feel poor or deprived. Quite the opposite. But, if you have been plunged into frugality against your will as a way to pay for your children's groceries, the process may make you feel impoverished. If so, then talk of "enriching" your life through frugality might make you want to slap the speaker's face. Ouch! -- because that face would be me.A freethought writer named John Mackinnon Robertson once said that the best time to treat yourself to a sumptuous meal is when you are down and out because that is when you really need it. There is a kernel of truth here. Frugality is now being adopted by people who are in a terrible position to appreciate/enjoy it because they are driven to frugality (actually to cheapness) through desperation rather than coming to it with a desire to increase the choices/control in their lives. To them frugality must seem like a dreary thing.I encourage everyone who is "cutting back" to take the opportunity to carefully assess the value of what you have been trading your time/live in order to acquire. I am not one of those dreadful people who look on suffering and say "Wow! What a growth experience." Suffering is suffering. But, during the process of alleviating it, we can sometimes form new habits and attitudes that are worth holding on to.