Posted in Frugality-Simplicity

Simple Journey Ministries Presents

Simply Frugal

Frugal & Simple…Is it always a savings?

Simple & Frugal living are two different concepts. Simple living has a focus on deliberate and voluntary simplicity, which does not always mean low cost. Frugal living is a lifestyle that is focused on spending the least amount of money possible on any aspect of living. However, these two lifestyles DO cross paths from time to time. When that happens it is time to evaluate whether a lifestyle method fits YOUR goals.

For example, I am not a coupon clipper. It has been years since I have seen coupons that save me any money. The time it takes to keep track of coupons in addition to the fact that I would rarely purchase a product that has a coupon makes this practice neither frugal nor simple in my life. Make sure you take time to evaluate certain methods of saving money from time to time. Compare how much you are saving with how much time you spend on the actual activity to determine whether this is worth your time and efforts.

I encourage buying in bulk when the cost is significantly reduced to buying in small quantities. However, if you don’t have the cash to purchase the bulk, and have to put it on a credit card, you have saved nothing. If you do not use all of the bulk item before its expiration, you have actually wasted your money. If you want to get the savings of bulk try to find one or two other families to share the expense and the bulk with. If everyone can chip in cash to purchase an item in bulk and split the item so that you ensure that it will be used to its fullest, then you WILL save.

If you are new to frugal and simple living, start slowly! You can spend a small fortune trying to gather items that are “must haves” for frugal and simple lifestyles. Keep the objective of your new lifestyle in the forefront and take it in baby steps. You cannot run before you can walk. If you want the new lifestyle to stick you must practice each small step before taking the next step. Be certain to take your personality into effect, so you don’t waste your money on products and books that suggest ideas that fit the author’s lifestyle and personality and are not adaptable to yours.

It is important that with any simple and/or frugal lifestyle choices that you check yourself periodically. Every 3-4 months ask yourself what is working and what is not working with your family and make changes accordingly. This can save you TONS of money and stress in the long run!

These are my thoughts.