I get a bit “teched” when someone looks at me in my comfy clothes and offers to take me shopping for “better” clothes. My corporate Vice President grandfather wore polyester slacks, camp shirt and loafers when he wasn’t dressed for the office. He didn’t look a millionaire. His car was a VW or a Toyota that he drove for years. Not stylish by any means but serviceable and practical. He was a millionaire because he was careful.
He wasn’t stingy either. He and Grandma just spent their money in places that meant a lot to them like college for the kids and grand kids, world travel, maintaining a yacht. But the car and the clothes – the things folks usually decide someone’s class – were certainly of moderate to low importance to them. I remember even repairing the elastic for his favorite PJs. Sure he could have bought a dozen brand new pajama sets without a flinch but why!? His older ones did the job fine.
Granddad was frugal in the things that mattered to him. But he spent money where he liked to too! His breakfast was fresh squeezed OJ with toast, a lunch of cheese, crackers and fruit or left over meat from the night before and dinner was always a steak or meat pattie or chicken thigh, peas and rice or potatoes. Nothing fancy. He reserved “fancy” for eating out once in a while. He loved ice cream so he would have two or three flavors on hand and he would have a scoop (about 1/2 cup) every other night or so.
So I learned from Granddad that frugal is just the way to live when you have all you need. Why don’t we all feel that way? I have decided that it is poor people that decide if others are poor or not. Those who are truly wealthy “know” the difference between choosing to be frugal and suffering from poverty. It really is a state of mind. Being poor and repairing the elastic in pjs may seem like suffering. But from Granddad’s point of view, why spend the money when these do the job just fine.
Being frugal is deliberately choosing to live with less than the Jones’. And after all, who decides what we should all have and be and do? When is enough really enough? It is time to decide for myself that I have enough.
I love the book The Overload Syndrome by Richard Swenson. Probably the best book on the subject of learning to find enoughness. I borrowed mine from the library but because it was so good I bought my own copy. Any way you can get it, get it.
It’s time for a new revolution. The “in” thing is to learn to do with less. Once you try it for a time, you will relish the freedom you have.