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An Attitude of Gratitude 2

I’ve been talking about how an attitude of gratitude is important when living frugally. if you missed the first part of this topic, please click here: An Attitude of Gratitude. I really appreciate all of the great comments on that post! Here are two instances in the same day just this week that illustrate how good things may happen when you are grateful. The first was on a trip to the library to pick up some books and a movie. The person ahead of me had a large stack of books to check out, so I decided to browse around. … Continue reading →

Frugal Living Versus Earning More Income

One debate about living frugally is whether to concentrate on saving money by frugal living or whether to spend that same time concentrating on earning a higher income. Both sides of the debate have valid points. Here are just a few. There is only so much you can save. While you can save a significant amount of money by frugal living, at some point you reach an end. You can live off of the grid, raising your own food and clothing but at some point, there is no more to save. In comparison, income is limitless, at least in theory. … Continue reading →

How A Single Income Can Save Money

If you are wondering about going from being a dual income family to a single income family, consider the following. There are times when a single income can actually save you money and leave you with a better financial outlook that does a dual income. Here are some ways where you may actually do better on a single income. When the second income puts you in a higher tax bracket. Dual income earners are often penalized in the form of state and federal taxes based on that second income. I know I was shocked this year of how making just … Continue reading →

Health and Gratitude

It’s that time of year: time to start counting our blessings. Holiday season is upon us, with Thanksgiving tomorrow (for U.S. folks) and winter holidays on the horizon. I think gratitude is a healthy thing. It’s so easy to get mired down in what’s wrong, what’s hard, what’s stressful… and forget all the things that are good in our lives. Sometimes, stopping to take stock can be a real eye-opener. It’s a great chance to let the good things shine for a while. I happened to be at the doctor’s office today — my first appointment at a new office. … Continue reading →

The Value of a Dollar Can Make a Difference!

Everyone has a comment about the value of a dollar. Either it has gone down, isn’t appreciated (especially by kids) or means nothing these days. At least, that is what I keep hearing all around me. But the value of a dollar can be quite high, if you apply it the right way. Here are some things that you can get for $1. A child’s lined winter coat (at the Goodwill Outlet). Two apple pie deserts at a fast food restaurant A bag of beans that mixed with ketchup and seasonings can make an entire meal that feeds eight people. … Continue reading →

Embracing Frugality

Although we started practicing a frugal lifestyle to allow me to stay home with our first child, since then we have come a long way to embracing the lifestyle. A lot of it, I think has to do with attitude. We’ve gone from thinking, “How on earth can we figure out hoe we can afford to live?” to “I wonder what new opportunities will come our way today!” When you really embrace frugality, you don’t have time to moan about what you don’t have, because you are too busy living life and enjoying it. You’ve cut off the bad part … Continue reading →

Listening to Your Inner Frugal

Once you practice frugal living for a while, you may develop a little inner voice that will help support your frugal goals and practical saving. Much as a little inner conscious that helps direct decisions, I call this your inner frugal. You can help develop your inner frugal when you arm yourself with a good understanding of your financial reality and the things that you need and want in life. Then you won’t waste time and money on things that won’t contribute to those goals or make you happy. The New York Times recently had a very interesting article about … Continue reading →

How to Give When You Are on A Budget

Just because finances are tight doesn’t meant that you have to give up on giving. Here are some strategies to help you make the most impact within limited means. Play favorites Really take the time to concentrate your charitable efforts. Instead of giving a little to many charities, focus on one or two that really resonate with you and your family. Not only will this make a bigger impact to your chosen charities, but you will probably get to know the causes better than if you spread your money around every time there is a candy fundraiser, car wash or … Continue reading →

Feeling Affluent

Most people who chose a frugal lifestyle do so initially out of necessity. Perhaps they decide to have one parent stay home and are reduced to one income, sometimes circumstances require them to cut back, and sometimes they just want to lead a simpler life with less stress and less formal work. Whatever the reason, frugal living can make you always concerned with saving money. In the beginning, especially, you are constantly calculating costs and values. Later, it gets a little more automatic. You know, for example, how to get the best price on bread, and you don’t even agonize … Continue reading →

The Difference Between Being Frugal and Being Cheap

Do you know the difference between being frugal and being cheap? They are not the same thing. Here are some ways to tell, or at least explain, the difference. In the past, many people used the words cheap and frugal interchangeably. Someone who saved money was automatically cheap, a tightwad, a skinflint. Today, frugal is actually coming into style. As the economy and the environment changes, people are embracing the idea of saving money. But sometimes people are motivated to save money at the expense of the good of others. This in my opinion is being cheap. There is a … Continue reading →