As a true frugalite, I am constantly trying to figure out how to save on every aspect in life. Using coupons, second hand clothes, used furniture, the list goes on and on. Even though we are not below the poverty line, we are not in the upper class. We are the typical American family, making right at the average for the middle class. I know that we are blessed to be so fortunate, especially in our chosen careers, not jobs that we have to drag ourselves out of bed to go to.
So, you might ask, “What are you saving for?” These days it seems like I have to work to save everywhere. Back before gas, milk and eggs were at record prices, I started cutting my frugal eye-teeth on simple things that just saved us a little here and a little there. Those little bits added up to enough that I could begin giving my children luxuries in life that were educational and entertaining — trips to museums, school trips across country, and a better life in general.
But, amongst this frugal journey, we have been able to do things — paying cash — that most people take out loans for: home renovations, buy cars, purchase big ticket items. The beauty in this, of course, is that we not only save the finance charges, you can always get a better deal by paying cash rather than credit.
I am so thankful that I learned to be frugal when we were broke and I had to be cheap. I am blessed in the fact that God has always found a way to provide for us, even when we felt like we could not provide for ourselves. I am also proud of my family, who never complains, even though we don’t have to be quite so frugal, but we choose to be. Since we have all learned to be frugal and stuck with it, what used to be a “tight time” doesn’t really affect us.
So, in the long run, I guess we constantly strive to save, so that our rainy days are very far between. Don’t get me wrong, we still have an occasional rainy day — but at least now we have umbrellas.