. . . begins with a single step. ( Lao-tzu, The Way of Lao-tzu (604 BC – 531 BC) )
Today I just wanted to take a minute to talk about the process of becoming frugal. I know I look pretty darn together and frugal when you read my articles, but as I state in my profile, this has been a 5 year journey for me. Sometimes I worry that someone starting out could look at all that I (or any other frugalite-we’ve got some definate blackbelts over on the Frugal Living Forums) might actually discourage someone who is just starting out. I want to reassure you all, I wasn’t always this way- I am constantly learning and trying new things to improve my frugality.
Remember, any lifestyle change takes a series of steps. Sometimes all of those steps are thrust upon us without a choice. A job loss, a sickness, even something positive like starting college or getting married all can cause multiple changes simutaneously. To many changes at a time can overwhelm a person, but human beings are incredible-when we have to we can cope with just about anything.
For those of you who are parents, think about all those changes you had to deal with when that first little bundle of joy entered your life. Suddenly you were in a twilight zone of sleep deprevation, constant feedings, loud crying, cleaning up (spitup, dirty diapers, and other miscellaneous excreted substances). If you had really understood what you were getting yourself into ahead of time, you might have believed that you couldn’t cope with it. But there you are, and there is this little person who you love more than you thought possible who is totally dependant on you. So you do what you have to-and somehow it all gets done.
The problem with doing everything at once comes when you actually have a CHOICE. Becoming frugal is in a lot of ways a continuous series of small choices. Is that item I’m coveting a want or a need? I’m tired tonight, do I make dinner or order takeout? Do I shop around or buy what is most convenient? Do I turn down the thermostat and put on a sweater or just nudge it up a little to be more comfortable? There are a million choices you can make on the road to frugality-but if you try to do too many of them at once you can overwhelm yourself. And since you know, in the back of your head, that you don’t HAVE to do each of these things, it is easy to just stop doing everything.
Set yourself up for success-don’t try to become a black belt frugalite in one fell swoop. Try adding one thing at a time to your routine until it becomes easy, then add another. As Lao-Tzu says “a single step”. Anything you do is an improvement and a movement forward to your goal. If you don’t try to make massive sweeping changes you (and your family) are more likely to stick with it and reach that goal.
The very first thing I did to start becoming frugal (and the easiest) was to start analyzing my purchases. This really was just a change in perspective. Thats all I did-just think a few more minutes about something before I bought it. Do I need this item? Do I have something else that I could use instead? If I do need it, and I can’t use anything else, do I really need it right now at full price, or can I wait and see if it is cheaper somewhere else/goes on sale? (this last one is important-how many times have you run out because you just had to have that widget, then had it sit in a box in the corner for 6 months before you used it for the first time?)
From there I started washing out ziplock baggies (if not too gross), then cooking more from scratch (which involved OAMC for me when I worked), making my own laundry detergent, and on and on.
If you really want to, you CAN do this. Just start today with a single step.
This post is a great reminder that frugality is a continuing journey.
No matter how long we have been at it, there are always more ways to improve our savings.
We started with investment cooking – no longer are we making 2-3 trips a day for prepared food from a restaurant. Is it cheaper? Yes, but the quality is better too.
I started my frugal journey because of need, we did not have much money and I wanted more things for my family. I have been called cheap now for years because I am frugal and it does not bother me. Others seem to say that I am cheap and then comment on what a great deal I got at the same time.
I found that I can cut my own, and my families hair most of the time and I go in to pay for a hair cut only once a year.
I use the thrift stores. I can get so much of what we need for next to nothing if I buy it used. Most of the time the product is a better quality than if I would have bought it new because it original price is higher than what I would have paid. For instance I bought my son some clothes at the thrift store and they were all clothes from the Gap where I could never afford to purchase clothes. The quality of the clothing was better than if I had bought them new at Walmart. This is the same for many other items in my home like sheets, curtains, blankets, bread machine, dishes, kids toys, and much more.
There are many ways to save if you think twice before you buy like she said. There are many things you can do without if you ask yourself if you want it or need it, and most of all can you afford it.