Frugality Can Make you Wealthy

They should call him "Froog" Mc Duck

They should call him “Froog” Mc Duck

The word “frugal” can elicit different emotions from different types of people.  In the personal finance world, frugality is a virtue that allows you to save money every month and not get caught up in Keeping up with the Joneses.  The frugal practices of Warren Buffet, for example, are well documented and legendary.  For those people who know money, being frugal is a way of life.  But if you tell a guy who knows nothing about money that you try to live a frugal life, one word will come to their mind: cheap.  This is loaded with a ton of connotations and this person will think you are this stingy and mean person who only cares about keeping their money (as if keeping your money was a bad thing?).

Being considered frugal (or cheap) is frowned upon by most people.  But it shouldn’t be.  In fact, if everyone practiced frugality this would would be a much better place with much happier (and wealthier) people.  This post is not going to talk about different ways to live frugally.  You can search my other posts for that (like how to save money on eating out) or the countless other great frugality blogs out there.  I just wanted to touch on the idea that frugality is the ULTIMATE way to become wealthy.  It’s an idea many people propagate but I have not seen it explained better than in this article by the Badass himself, Mr Money Mustache.

While saving ten bucks a month doesn’t seem like a whole lot by itself, the implication is much greater.  If you’re able to kick a habit that costs $10, you have to realize that will be $10 a month you shouldn’t have to spend for the REST OF YOUR LIFE.  This will allow you to reach your savings goals that much quicker and will let you retire that much earlier.  The whole point of personal finance is increasing your assets and decreasing your spending.  Saving $10 a month does both of those things.

It should be obvious that the goal is not to stop at just $10 a month.  Look at ways to save on housing and transportation, usually the biggest money sinks for most people.  Learn to eat more at home and bring awesome lunches to your workplace.  Evaluate your cable and cell phone needs.  Most people can easily find ways to save a few hundred dollars a month by looking at where their money is going.  At the same time, you should try to increase your income and put those savings and increased income to work in the form of investments and/or paying off debt.  This is the sure path to financial success and it all starts with living a frugal lifestyle.

One thing you will most likely get from living a completely frugal life is resistance from others.  People are not used to living frugally.  Most want to spend their hard earned money on things that will only end up bringing temporary happiness.  Many people scoff at the idea of trying to cut down on your morning coffee, for example.  But this little change can free up money which you will have for the rest of your life.  Cutting out things you can live without to create a life that you enjoy is nothing to scoff at.  Let others think what they want while you trim your monthly expenses and reap the enormous benefits.

One final argument for frugality.  Living a frugal life and being able to live on less will teach you skills that will last you for a lifetime.  Almost everyone will go through tough times financially at some point, so it would be ideal to learn to live on less when times are good.  Cutting expenses won’t be such a shock and that will help you dig out of any hole you get in.  Besides, living frugally when times are good will allow you to save more which will hopefully prevent those tough times from affecting you too much!

Taking the time to go through your monthly expenditures and cutting things you don’t need, and banking the savings, can be one of the most powerful things you could ever do for your finances.

Share

Comments

  1. Us PF nerds do indeed see frugality as a virtue – as we should. But there is a fine line (sometimes gray) between frugality and cheap.

    Where you cross that line is different for everyone.
    For example
    Is it frugal or cheap to re-use zip lock bags? I’ve done it…but don’t make a habit of it…if its too dirty…I chuck it.

    I’ve read somewhere that people can cook meals in their dishwasher! I have NO desire to do that…to each their own!

    Frugality should be encouraged, while being cheap should not. The problem is….finding the dividing line.

    • Syed says

      It definitely is a fine line. I guess it also helps if you have thick skin because you probably will be getting comments if someone find out you cook in the dishwasher! Thanks for the comment.

  2. Frugality can also allow you maintain a “self-budget” and of course, /r/Frugal and /r/Frugallearning/ are both great sub-reddits for additional information 😀

    • Syed says

      Thanks for the info I’ll definitely check those subreddits out.

  3. Though I haven’t had the most frugal couple of months (getting married is EXPENSIVE!) I am usually fairly frugal and enjoy getting the best bang for my buck – without being cheap, of course.

    • Syed says

      Marriage definitely is expensive! But it’s worth it. Plus you get a bigger standard deduction on your taxes so that’s nice. Here’s to frugality! Thanks for the comment.

Trackbacks

  1. […] successful lawyer or doctor will be able to shift the numbers in their favor after some time, but it’s not easy. It will take a combination of smart investing and being diligent in paying back those student […]

  2. […] should give yourself a few months to live frugally and build up an emergency fund so you can cover your daily expenses when you leave your job.  If […]

Speak Your Mind

*