Frugal Living - Changing Your Perspective on What is Essential

Frugal living is almost a necessity for many people in this day and age. With prices going up and up, it is a challenge for most families to have something left over at the end of the month to add to their savings.

It is surprising what we learn when we begin to practice thrift at home. Today I want to share some tips with you about living frugally, that I learned over the past almost thirty years of married life. We were married in late 1980 and in the early spring of 1981 there was no work for my husband who is an industrial electrician. Who could have guessed that would happen -certainly not me! I thought there would always be work available in vocations like construction, nursing and teaching. This downturn of the economy taught me lessons that I still value today.

We do not always need what we want or imagine we have to have. While it is nice to only buy new things, second hand works too. Furniture, appliances, vehicles and electronics are often available at excellent prices due to people moving or upgrading. I remember buying a desk second hand from an elderly couple who were downsizing. After we explained that we had moved out of province due to lack of work at home and that we were setting up a household temporarily, until things got better, they gave us a bunk bed, a table and various kitchen utensils. They were happy to give the items to someone who needed them and we were delighted with the gifts. Often older furniture is more durable and with a coat of paint or stain can be made to look like new. Changing one's perspective on what is essential can help a person manage with a lot less.

Personally, I found that comparing my situation with those less fortunate, has aided me in being grateful for what I do have. Once, when I felt our three bedroom home was getting too cramped for a family of six, we received a newsletter from a mission in which mention was made of a mother and daughter living on a balcony. A balcony! Immediately, I tried to picture our family living under those circumstances. Suddenly I was very grateful for all the space we enjoyed. It was amazing to me to realize that my circumstances had not changed one bit, but my perspective sure had!

When you open any fashion magazine, you cannot miss the emphasis on clothes. But how many clothes does a person actually need? Generally people have far more clothes than they wear on a regular basis. Deciding to stop acquiring anything for a certain time frame can help you with your budget. Sometimes just pairing up your clothes differently gives you a new look. For frugal living, not buying clothes for awhile, can add substantially to your savings.

Saving money at the grocery store can also make a difference in the weekly budget. Cooking your own cereal and doing your own baking can save you big time. Buying boxed breakfast cereals, cookies, cake and bread really adds up. Besides saving money when you make your own, you will not have to eat all those ingredients you can scarcely pronounce and that sound more like chemicals than food. If you do not have time in the morning to cook cereal, you can prepare it in the crock pot the night before. In the vegetable section look for clearance items. Often produce, with spots you can remove will still make a lovely soup or stew. Mildly bruised apples can be used for apple crisp, apple pie, or apple sauce.

If thrift at home is not something you grew up with, it will require adjustments to change your habits. Managing with less is a goal you need to embrace and strive to reach. Examine the ways you can change your perspective and engage your creativity. Use your common sense, be patient with yourself and your family members as you go through changes. Think of the rewards you will gain when you accept the challenge to succeed at frugal living.