Comments on: Ask the Readers: Is Frugal Movement Just a Fad?

By: Jenn

Jenn — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:13:11 +0000

I follow a “frugal normally so we can splurge occasionally” theory. We intentionally live way below our means – on about ~50% of our take home pay. We do it by cutting out all non essentials, eating at home, brown bagging lunches, shopping at Goodwill, driving only used cars and driving them until they drop, no fancy TVs, game systems etc. To some it wouldn’t appear that we’re being frugal, but maybe that’s because we’ve achieved what we feel is a good balance. We built our own home for far less than buying it. In order to fund the construction, we delayed having children for the first 10yrs of our marrage so we could save up to buy the lot and start construction. We sold our starter home, and lived for two years in my parents unfinished basement with all our posessions in boxes stacked around us while we built the house. You haven’t lived until you sleep beside the furnace for two years… To the world, all they see is the lovely big house on several acres of forest, not the sacrifices that made it possible. Last summer we spent a month in Europe with the kids. I can’t tell you how many hours I spend online researching travel deals to put it all together at a very reasonable price. We flew almost completely on points, got deals or freebies on virtually everything, and due to extra cost cutting in the months before we went, everything was paid for before left. In every city we balanced low cost options with splurges on once in a lifeime moments. We stayed in modest hotels, skipped fancy restaurants most of the time and picniced or bought from street vendors. On the flip side we splurged on a gondola ride, let our son go for a ride in a Ferrarri, toured every castle we passed, and bought a couple of nice souvenirs. For every splurge there was a corresponding compromise. The trick for us was figure out which experiences really make the trip and which are ultimately not worth the cost. In many cases the most memorable parts of the trip turned out to be the least expensive or even free. To the world, all they see is what appears to be a lavish holiday with no expense spared. Our system wouldn’t work for everyone but we’re willing to do without what we consider the non-essentials in order to get the things we want. Once in a lifetime trips aside, mostly what we want is to be completely debt free and retire early.

As for the long-term trend toward living frugally, I agree with most of the other posts, and for those who are doing it out of necessity most will revert back to their old lifestyles as soon as possible. For us, living way below our means has meant that there really hasn’t been any stress as a result of the current economy. We aren’t concerned about losing anything because we can’t make the payments. Actually, I’ll be laid off in the next 4-6 months when my company shuts down. I’m looking for another job of course, but I’m not in a panic because I know if I haven’t found a new job before the layoff, we’ll still be fine on one salary for a long while because we have so much headroom in the budget. Living frugally gives us the breathing room to take whatever life throws at us.

By: Deb

Deb — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:10:41 +0000

I can’t see that the way people think has changed in our area. People are still buying things at astronomical prices, going out to eat, traveling. I do believe that living frugal is a lifestyle and people who are not committed to just living a more simple, contented life, aren’t going to change their way of thinking until things have gotten so bad, they have no other choice, and sometimes even that won’t change them.
Getting caught up in the ‘I gotta have’ mentality is so easy. People look at me very strangely when I tell them that I’d rather live with less, drive paid for used cars and live in a more modest house, than sacrifice the time and relationships I get to enjoy with my two teenagers and my husband of 25 years.

By: marci357

marci357 — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:32:41 +0000

Here’s where I think the fallout will be:
Frugal by necessity vs. Frugal by choice.

Once the necessity is ended, that group will not hang around any longer.
Those that are frugal by choice will stick around as it has become their habit, their lifestyle. It will stick.

By: Dave Griffin

Dave Griffin — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:09:21 +0000

I agree with you. Americans will get a little frugal, we’ll also be upset, complain and blame it on everybody we can. When the economy comes back, most people will forget frugality.
I have helped build churches in 8 different countries in the Carribean, S. and Central America including Haiti and have seen the conditions they live in. Those who think they’re being frugal ought to visit. Most Americans don’t know how good we have it!

By: Interesting Reads From Fellow Personal Finance Bloggers #11 | Pecuniarities

Interesting Reads From Fellow Personal Finance Bloggers #11 | Pecuniarities — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:03:27 +0000

[...] Dad asks “Is Frugal Movement Just a Fad?” I think it’s a temporary fad borne out of fear and necessity. Some may learn from this [...]

By: Penelope Pince

Penelope Pince — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:49:11 +0000

I agree that frugality isn’t really a trend. I think a lot who are starting to cut back now are doing it out of fear and necessity and not out of desire to save. People are still twittering and powncing about buying iPhones and Macbooks.

I have a cousin who decided to pursue a culinary degree after getting his Masters in architecture and his father told him he would no longer pay his upkeep, and he told me “I’ll have to live frugally like you now.”

But the moment the iPhone came out, he bought one. He also buys every new model of the iPod, and made fun of my digital camera which I bought in 2003, calling it ancient.

By: Mr. ToughMoneyLove

Mr. ToughMoneyLove — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 02:28:40 +0000

Some day a lot of people who have been frugal for no particular reason other than to be “frugal” are going to look back and wonder “what did I do that for?” Frugality should be a strategy followed towards a larger goal.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 14:47:07 +0000

I think that for the people who have always been frugal, even if just a little, it will stick. For others I think they will start spending freely again. Unfortunately I keep hearing others say how finally the government is going to “fix their finacial problems” Too many people are relying on somebody else to dig them out of debt.

By: New Frugal Hacks Post and Roundup

New Frugal Hacks Post and Roundup — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:02:41 +0000

[...] Dad asks his readers if the frugal movement is just a fad. I think it’s probably more popular right now than it will be when things get better, but [...]

By: DANA

DANA — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 22:00:26 +0000

The whole “fad” frustrates me. Many people would not be in this predicament if they lived within their means to start with. Americans tend to buy based on what they afford instead of buying based on values. My boyfriend and I just took a well-derserved vacation and spent a week in Maui. It was our first real vacation in several years. The best part? We may have come back broke but we also came back DEBT-FREE having decided in advance to pay for the entire vacation in cash. To those of you out there who have had to cut back I ask: Are you willing to live this simply after the recession ends?