Ask the Readers: What Makes You Feel Rich While Being Frugal?
Published on - May 22nd, 2009 (by J.D. Roth) Earlier this week, Aaron asked whether repaying debt should be an obsession.
I replied that for some people, “gazelle intensity” makes more sense. (Trent from The Simple Dollar is one of these folks.) For others — including myself — it’s important to exercise balance, to allow a budget for fun.
Everyone who opts for a life of thrift can benefit from finding one or two things that make them feel “rich”. These indulgences don’t have to cost a lot of money — they just need to provide mental relief, an escape of sorts. While browsing through old conversations at Wesabe, I stumbled on a related question from Rebecca2Lexington, who asks, “What makes you feel rich while being frugal?”
Ok, let’s get some creative juices flowing and share with some great ideas to feel abundance while paying off debt. We have been paying down debt and staying on budget for several months now. Tell us about your mini splurges or thoughts are that keep you going.
This is a great question. It gets to the heart of what frugality is all about: establishing priorities so that you’re able to spend on the things that matter to you while ruthlessly cutting the things that do not. The 59 comments in the Wesabe discussion include suggestions like:
- Potluck dinners with friends
- “Spending the $10 to clean my car thoroughly, inside and out, but especially the inside.” (I know from first-hand experience that this is also a great way to kill the new-car itch.)
- Getting your hair done at a beauty school or getting a massage at a massage school.
- Debtkid says that a $2 firelog makes him feel cozy.
- Several people mentioned prepaying their mortgage or paying down credit card debt or contributing to mutual funds as actions that make them feel rich.
- Allese offered two great ideas: spending time outdoors and organizing her home. A clean home can make a huge difference in how you perceive your environment.
For me, food is an important part of my lifestyle. I’m able to cut back on clothes and books and entertainment, but I’m unwilling to economize on food. Why? Because when I eat well, I feel wealthy. Being able to spend $15 on my favorite pasta dish at Gino’s makes me feel rich even when the rest of my expenses are cut to the bone.
But one thing that has helped me feel richer than anything else: Quitting my day job. For the past 15 months, I’ve worked from home. I’m actually working longer hours than I did at the box factory, but I don’t mind. I have the freedom to go for a 6-mile run at 10 a.m. I can go to lunch with a friend. I can take a break to walk to the library. If I feel like taking a hot bath at 2 p.m., nobody’s going to stop me. Though I’m working long hours, the freedom to structure my life the way I want it makes me feel rich. And it doesn’t cost me a dime.
What about you? What makes you feel rich while being frugal? What mini splurges keep you going? What about cost-free ways to feel rich? I’m not looking for all of your indulgences — just the ones that make you feel as if you have a greater disposable income than you really do.
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This article is about Ask the Readers, Frugality, Psychology
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What makes me feel rich while being frugal?
Lol, easy! I take the money that I save and I invest it in silver. Even if I don’t have very much (being a college student and all), being able to touch something valuable makes all the difference. Hoorah, ramen noodles and silver!
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I too enjoy spending money on good food. One of my fav “feel rich” outings is going to a local upscale restaurant that features Jazz Guitar music seven days a week. I get to eat some really fine food and to listen to some great players of Jazz. I come out a few bucks “poorer” but physically and emotionally much richer…:)
Another “feel rich” moment for me is going for brunch with a friend on a weekday. I too work from home and have been for the past nine years. This lifestyle allows me to hang out when I want with friends and it’s very decadent to be eating brunch on an open air terasse while others are locked away in office buildings. Thanks for asking and tale care.
Lyle
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Walking into a five star hotel bar and having a cocktail or a coffee,makes you feel really well and rich!Or a cycle through a well to do neighbourhood.
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For me it’s having a LOT of toilet paper in the bathroom closet. Lots and lots of it. When I was in the dorms/college apartments, that was something we never had enough of. Stupid roommates. We were all so poor then. Now, though, there’s never a worry that we’ll ever run out, and that’s a great feeling of luxury and security.
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Spending a day with family and friends, I have calculated that with our current comfortable standard of livig a day of living cost us 150$ a day. This means that for every 150$ we manage to save (or pay of debt) we pay for an additinal day of with family and friends in the future.
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J.D.,
Commanding my time pretty much tops the list of what makes me feel rich. I work from home so I can be flexible with the use of my time…that gives me a feeling of empowerment!
Other activities that make me feel rich:
1. Paying myself first. The first thing I do with the money I make is pay myself.
2. Discovering a “new outfit” from the same clothes I have, but had not thought of wearing together. For example, the other day when trying out some of my clothes, I discovered there was a top I had never thought of wearing with a certain skirt that looked amazing together! Now I have a “new” outfit!
3. When I realize I have so much to be grateful for.
-Romy
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I see I’m not the only one who enjoys a glass (or three) of wine. I almost always buy the cheapest glass of wine at the grocery store. Now I’m sold on boxed wine. I calculated a per unit cost of about $1.65 less than the bottled stuff. I really can’t tell the difference in taste, and the experience is the same once it’s in a wine glass.
Sparkling wine is even better. You can get Andre, my favorite, for about $5 when it’s on sale.
I recently visited the Hillwood Museum and Gardens in D.C. The mansion and accompanying gardens belonged to Marjorie Merriweather Post, a very wealthy woman. I absolutely loved examining, photographing, and learning about all of the beautiful items she purchased over her life time.
The tea, cheese, crackers, scones, etc. provided in the cafe seemed like such a delicacy. Champagne was provided as well. Until I have my own, it’s good to know I can enjoy someone else’s wealth even if only for a few hours.
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I have my friends from the hippie days who love me, I have an emergency fund account. I live deep in the woods and hear no sounds but nature. I have a good job that follows my values(environmental work). I have had an interesting life. much love and fun. All this and more gives me the feeling of being “rich”. If I was to die today- I have no regrets, to date I am happy with all the good and bad this life has provided me.
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-Getting good coffee. Having time to drink and enjoy it in the morning.
-Sitting in my living room and staring out the window at a wonderful city view.
-Sleeping late on Sunday mornings.
-Sitting with my family (partner and cat) in the mornings before I go to work.
-Having a job that I LIKE!
-Giving my brother cash when he needed it a lot, and not missing it at all.
-Being able to drop everything and fly to my grandmother’s funeral on a day’s notice, and not incur any debt while there.
-Shoes that fit.
-Fancy soaps and lotions (as opposed to whatever’s on sale).
-A car that runs.
-Water that’s clean and tastes good right from the tap.
-An armload of books from the library. Then reading them under a blanket for hours.
-Hot water.
-A non-flooded apartment.
I feel QUITE rich.
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Having a dollar shop box of paper “Kleenex” in most rooms at home and in my car. Dining out on the dollar menu at Wendy’s (I NEVER eat out otherwise). Brewing ONLY Maxwell House Columbian Supreme and not garbage brand coffee at home because I ONLY buy it on deep, deep sale — and being able to “afford” half-and-half because I NEVER buy coffee out and always bring the rest of my morning coffee to work.
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Several things make me feel rich and frugal. Starbucks for one. I get $30.00 a month on my registered Starbucks card and buy the smallest coffee. Because the card is registered my refills are free and most of the stores here have WiFi. I can stay there all afternoon for only $1.75. And the best part is that after 14 drinks the fifteenth one is free and I splurge and get a Venti Caramel machiado. Plus I cook everything from scratch. The favorite times I have had with my 4 grand kids is baking cookies or creating some kind of soup or stew. I found a little thrift shop where I bought a Hobart stand mixer like they have in restaurants for $25.00 and they sell cook books for only $1.00 each. The books keep me busy at Starbucks (ha ha) and by not buying processed foods I have lost 20 pounds and lowered my cholesterol 20 points. The last thing I do is to remember to be grateful for gifts I have and to try to see what is going on around me . The world has already got enough miserable people in it without me contributing to the problem. I am so thankful thst I able to do my bit in several groups to help the needy even though I have very modest means. Feeling useful and not used is probibly the biggest way I feel rich because it is something that I give of myself.
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