Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
That she calls it cult is precisely on target, I think. As much as frugalism or minimalism or couponing or other "money saving" practices are largely useless, self-deceptive and faddish, the idea that a family can just jump into "being frugal" and stay there is pretty much nonsense - on a par with most fad diets or even truly eating sensibly as a family.
Whatever benefits spending less might bring, it's not a solution unless it's coupled with real reduction in buying unneeded and unnecessary goods. Getting junk on sale is not a positive step.
I have never seen being frugal as a fad, and I don't know about others, but I have always perceived and engaged in frugalism as an overall lifestyle change that MOST CERTAINLY inlcudes not buying crap one does not need.
And to go even further, to be truly frugal in a way that has lasting benefits, one has to unpack and unlearn what society teaches us about "needs." We were born in a consumerist, capitalistic system, and therefore, it socializes into deeply believing that things like smartphones, a new car every 4 years, and a big house are needs, when in reality they are wants.
When we unpack those things, we start being happy with the things that we truly need to live.
I did not realize that there was a worldview out there form which 'frugalism' could be seen as a 'fad'.
My grandparents were very frugal, my parents were very frugal. In my life I have known many people who spend freely and in my opinion without regard for a budget.
When I think of how much my salary was when we had five children living at home, I can see other posters in this forum who could not support themselves on the same level of income. Surely you would think that one person living by him/herself should be able to exist on the income that it takes to support five? But no. The difference is how frugal a person is.
I only see it as a lifestyle, not a fad.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lkmax
Frugality most certainly is not a fad. Frugality as a "cool thing to do" is a fad.
Kinda like how living in a tiny house is a fad. Living in a small (and often portable or semi-portable) home is certainly not anything new.
Yeah, I think that minimalism is something of a fad, as evidenced by the tiny house (fad.). Dude, it’s called a travel trailer...or cabin...
But I don’t see minimalism as being that closely tied with frugality. Minimalism is a philosophy; frugality is implemented practice.
Having served on subs for 20 years [where personal space is rather minimal], I have no desire to live minimalist today. We settled in a low COL area so my pension can stretch further. As a result we live in a large house [4900 sq ft footprint].
If you can do better on $1600/month I am all ears.
That she calls it cult is precisely on target, I think. As much as frugalism or minimalism or couponing or other "money saving" practices are largely useless, self-deceptive and faddish, the idea that a family can just jump into "being frugal" and stay there is pretty much nonsense - on a par with most fad diets or even truly eating sensibly as a family.
Whatever benefits spending less might bring, it's not a solution unless it's coupled with real reduction in buying unneeded and unnecessary goods. Getting junk on sale is not a positive step.
I was a minimalist long before it was cool to be a minimalist.
Yeah...people have lived in mobile homes, RVs, cabins and very small houses for many years...often out of financial necessity. And for many years, they have been seen as "trailer trash," "poor," "hillbilly" or whatever.
I have never seen being frugal as a fad, and I don't know about others, but I have always perceived and engaged in frugalism as an overall lifestyle change that MOST CERTAINLY inlcudes not buying crap one does not need.
And to go even further, to be truly frugal in a way that has lasting benefits, one has to unpack and unlearn what society teaches us about "needs." We were born in a consumerist, capitalistic system, and therefore, it socializes into deeply believing that things like smartphones, a new car every 4 years, and a big house are needs, when in reality they are wants.
When we unpack those things, we start being happy with the things that we truly need to live.
Although you might not, most people’s access to the internet is done via smartphones. I do everything on my smart phone, including moderate a forum, my banking, paying taxes, monitoring my investments, and run a business.
Property managers don’t want phone calls on broken things, they want photographs, the more the better. They need to be able to get hold of you immediately for emergencies, to take those pics. I might have to go to properties I don’t work for emergency, and I can get their via maps on my phone.
Almost all vendors I run into view a smart phone as a lifeline to their business. My hairdresser and my plumber and electrician use their smart phones to take payments, via Square.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Solly says — Be nice!
