Ah! Peanut Butter and Jelly. Some people like it. Some people don’t. Others absolutely positively love it. It is the same way with frugality. Some love it, some hate it.

Being frugal has good and bad connotations. Some people see it as being miserly, some see it as being wise. Most don’t think about it at all. I would say that if you want to live a simple life then it is something to think about, and implement in your daily life.

What does it mean to be frugal anyway? Being frugal means…

• Shopping Local
• Saving 10% of your income
• Having a budget for your household
• Eating at home more often
• Limiting the amount you spend on credit cards
• Limiting your time spent driving
• Limiting the cost of your utilities by using less energy and water
• Shopping at thrift stores and garage sales
• Learning how to do things yourself
• Partaking in more free forms of entertainment

If you caught on you would realize that these are simply ways to be frugal, not what frugality ultimately means. When it comes down to it, being frugal is all about a philosophy and a way of thinking. If I had to define frugality down to its very essence I would say it is about doing more with less.

There are many ways to do more with less, but if you don’t have a frugality mindset than you will probably not see many opportunities to be frugal, let alone take advantage of them.

Being frugal starts with having a compelling reason to do more with less. Perhaps you are forced to do more with less because you don’t make a very good income. Perhaps you have added a newborn to your family. Perhaps you were raised that way. Whatever the reason is, it is hard to really be frugal without it.

Why would you want to be frugal? When people ask me a “why” question, I am always tempted to say, “Why not?” With that being said, here are some compelling reasons to be frugal.

• The economy may not always act in your financial favor.
• It helps keep you from spending above your means. (In April of 2005 the
  American Savings Rate went negative. This means people on average are now
  paying more than they take home in pay.)
• You will have less stress.
• You will be happier, despite what people say about being frugal.
• You will be more in control of your life.
• You will enjoy life more.
• You will gain new superpowers.

Ok, I made up the last one, but becoming frugal will make it seem like you have new superpowers. Instead of buying more and more junk that you have to maintain more and more, you will live a simpler life. This in turn will help you be more productive. When you are more productive you will get more things accomplished that you want to accomplish. When you accomplish more of your dreams you will be happier, have less stress, and feel more in control of your life.

In the end being frugal will help you enjoy life so much more!

There are a million and one ways to lead a frugal life, but it all starts with a mindset, a philosophy, and a compelling reason. Once you have that the world is yours.

Jeremy writes about personal development at his blog, Insight Writer. If you found his article useful, please consider subscribing to his RSS feed. Thanks!

Photo By thebeanblog

“I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come. I don’t do things half-heartedly. Because I know if I do, then I can expect half-hearted results.” – Michael Jordan

Effort: A conscious exertion of power, a serious attempt.

I have witnessed this with the soccer team I coached this year.  We have one player who gave his best effort every time he was out on the soccer field. However, because he gave such effort, he was quickly tired.  There were also have players that give maybe 50% effort, but could stay in the game the whole time.  Which one is the better player for my team?  Without a doubt, it’s the player that gives his best effort, even if he requires frequent breaks.

When this young man is out on the field, I know that he will play his position with everything he has to give.  I can count on him to defend our goal with all his heart when he’s on defense, and to fight for scoring a goal with all that is within him when he’s on offense.  Ironically, the two games we lost this fall were the only games in which he didn’t play.  And the other kids on the team all know that he is a player they can count on. They know that when he is in the game, we’ve always got a shot at success. And yet, he is one of the few players who ask to come out of the game.  He needs out so that he can catch his breath.  Full out effort, interspersed with frequent breaks – this is what success is to him.

How does this apply to our lives?  How often do we give less than our best effort?  How often do we do that, just so we can stay “in the game”?  Or so that we can “get by” at our work, or with our family, or the volunteer activities we do, or anything else in our lives?

And, if we’re doing that, then are we really doing the best that we can? No.  I argue that we do our best work when we give all we’ve got – when we give whatever 100% is for us.  Even if that means taking a break every once in a while.

Where are you most likely to give your “best” effort?  In the things you love to do.  So, I encourage you to find those things that mean the most to you, that really make you “come alive”.  These are the things that you will really want to give your best effort.  These are the things that you’ll want to see succeed.  And these are the things that you will go all out for – even if it means frequent breaks.  And the possibilities are enormous for much success – because you’ll be doing something that you love, and giving it everything you’ve got.

What’s holding you back from giving your best effort?

Photo By Vedia