Vote on Best Frugal Idea

While the first one - gratitude for what one has - is close, in my humble opinion, the best way to save money is to ask the simple question: "How badly do I need this?" A need is an absolute must have without which my ability to conduct my daily affairs is directly impeded

The answers come back usually in three degrees - not at all, somewhat and very badly. A not at all is passed up. Somewhats are given some consideration: How often am I in this store? How much money is it? Can I find it somewhere else and possibly for less? How much trouble will it be to get it when I HAVE to have it? How soon will I need it? It's a judgment call, but at least it gets you thinking about the necessity of the purchase and the other expenses involved (time, gas, distance, etc). Most often, somewhats are left until they hit the very badly category. Very badly's get picked up immediately.

This applies to all aspects of life as well - meals, sleep, relationships, etc. How badly do you need them? Or is it just overindulgence? We overindulge so much automatically because live in a society which glorifies overindulgence. The bigger car, the bigger meal, the bigger house (McMansion, anyone?) without considering whether our needs have long since been filled. It's not a contest to have the biggest, best, latest, trendiest, newest or most expensive. And once society begins to frown on our excesses (I expect it will as time goes on), our wants will fade until we evaluate most things on the basis of need as opposed to want.

Finally, frugality based on need makes the rare and occasional excess based on want much more rewarding than living in a world of constant excess. I expect life will be more enjoyable when the 'extras' are truly rewarding rather than a perceived expectation.

Fatesrider of CA 1:00PM August 18, 2008