Have you ever felt as if you were trying your best to be frugal in vain? One Reddit user says that for over 5 years, they have gone from budget conscious to frugal to misers. They did not spend money unless they felt it was absolutely necessary.
They have a good job, low debt, some savings and investments, and live comfortably. However, they dread spending any money and have not bought anything for themselves for over a year. They only spend money on necessities.
They wanted to know how they could get out of this mindset where they were hoarding money and constantly thinking they were robbing their future selves.
Other Reddit users responded to this call with advice and opinions. Here are some of the best responses.
Do Not Forget Why You Started the Frugal Lifestyle
One user thinks forgetting why one started the lifestyle can be why many people feel worn out, “You seem to have reached a point where you might have forgotten why you adopted a frugal lifestyle and are now just doing it automatically. I try to be frugal so that I have money to afford things that really mean something to me. If nothing means anything to me, then there’s no reason for me to be frugal.”
Frugality Is About Money, Time, and Well-being
If you focus on money alone, you will get worn out soon, “Frugality is not just about money; factor in time and well-being too. For example, if it takes an hour to walk home from work or 15 minutes to bike, buy yourself a bike and use the extra 90 minutes daily for something awesome. Spending money on the bike is frugal because the money earns you time. Money is just a tool,” says another user
Do Not Rob Yourself
Buy the things you need, as this impacts your mental health; as one user observes, “If you get too frugal, you are robbing yourself. Not buying things like underwear when you need it is going to have an effect on your mental health, making it harder to do everything across the board. Family members notice and feel guilty.”
You Cannot Take Money With You When You Die
Another user urges people to spend some money when they are alive because they will leave everything here when they die: “My mindset, you can’t take it with you when you’re dead. Sure, you can give it to your [potential] children or charity, but better preparing your children for adulthood is more valuable than an inheritance, and spending your life-saving money just to give it away when you die sure seems unpleasant.”
Plan To Spend on Something Frivolous
Always set a budget where you have to spend money on something non-frugal; as one user advises, “Give yourself some part of the budget you MUST spend on something frivolous. $20/month. Whatever feels right. Or, second option, for every dollar you give to charity, spend $1 on something frivolous for yourself.”
Get a Hobby
A low-cost hobby you can spend some money on can help reduce the pressure, “Get a low-cost hobby like video games and spend money on it. You’ll be able to rationalize it well based on some dollar-per-hour calculations you do as you go.”
Spend Money To Make Yourself Happy
“You need to realize that spending money to make yourself happy is a very worthy reason to spend money. By spending money on yourself, you’re helping the future you become a happier, more fulfilled person with a wider breadth of experiences and skills and better mental and physical health. Don’t completely rob yourself of pleasure now, or you’ll be sitting there in 40 years realizing you’ve wasted all the time in your life where you had your best opportunities, saving it for a future when it’s too late to enjoy most of them,” illustrates another person.
Do Not Lose Track of the Big Picture
According to another user, it can be easy to derail from the frugal journey if there is no fulfillment, “This has happened to me before, but I find it cyclical. After being frugal for so long it wears you down mentally; the time between paydays feels like an eternity as you’re waiting to collect new money and disburse it. At first, when you transition from spending recklessly, it feels great to take control of your finances and the situation at hand. Every step is a step forward…until you reach a point where you’ve accomplished so much that the next milestone is so far away. It’s depressing, and you can easily lose track of the big picture (working to make money, which in turn allows you to live life m/buy things/and enjoy living it).”
Avoid Spending Anorexia
Frugal is not about pinching pennies; it is about spending wisely, notes one user, “You have a version of spending anorexia. Try buying yourself something, truly, that isn’t just to survive once a week. Frugality isn’t just penny-pinching; it’s mindful budgeting so that you can afford the things that make life enjoyable. Start with the undies.”
If It Hurts Emotionally, It Is Not Frugality
One user says being frugal should not subject one to emotional trauma, “There’s a difference between being frugal and being cheap. If you are so frugal that it’s hurting you emotionally, you’re being cheap.”
Do Not Be Addicted To Saving Money
Saving money is good, but being addicted may not be the best thing in the long run; as one user observes, “This might sound extreme, but is it possible that you’re addicted to saving money? The way you described this reminds me of how eating disorders can spiral. At first, you’re eating broccoli to feel healthier. Then, one day, you get to the point where eating anything but broccoli leads to panic. Whether managing your money or the size of your body, sometimes we find things in our lives to assert control over…”
Treat It as a Game
“Don’t be too serious about it; I view it as a game to find the best price on the thing I want rather than questioning whether I really need the thing every single time. Treat yourself sometimes,” urges another user.
Get a Partner Who Will Counterbalance Your Frugality
Sometimes, we need someone to help us stay sane when being frugal, “Is your partner as frugal as you are? Us frugal folks always seem to partner with the “enjoy life now” types who help balance us out before we get that far.”
15 Tips For Frugal Living On A Tight Budget
If you are looking for tips for frugal living on a tight budget, this post is for you.
Being on a tight budget means looking for even the slightest opportunity to save money. It could be saving to clear your loans, for a bigger purchase, or even for early retirement.
15 Tips for Frugal Living on a Tight Budget
12 Extreme Frugal Living Tips You Can Try
via DepositPhotos.com.
A Reddit user was curious to know the extremely frugal things people did that they didn’t tell people about. He gave an illustration that he used to collect promotional coffee sachets on top of car windows, and that saved a ton of money. He wanted to know whether other Reddit users did extremely frugal things that they did not want other people to know.
12 Extreme Frugal Living Tips You Can Try
12 Not Very Obvious Sign That Someone Is Rich
It is easy to know when someone is rich. However, sometimes it is not obvious. One Reddit user wanted to know what non-obvious signs pointed out that someone was rich. We have sampled some of the best responses from other Reddit users in that conversation.
12 Not Very Obvious Sign That Someone Is Rich
11 Insanely Frugal Things Most Frugal People Admit To Doing
Ready to kick your frugality up a notch? We’ve rounded up the top 11 super-duper frugal moves that even the savviest penny-pinchers happily own up to. Yep, you might already be a frugality champ, but trust me, these ideas are like gems of money-saving wisdom you won’t wanna miss!
11 Insanely Frugal Things Most Frugal People Admit To Doing
15 Frugal Living Ideas To Make Your Money Stretch
Frugal living comes with so many pros. You should embrace it whether you want to save up for big purchases, pay off your debts, or build a robust emergency or retirement fund.
Implementing frugality is an excellent way to get your finances under control. These frugal living ideas can make that happen.
While people embrace the lifestyle for different reasons, the motivation is usually similar; to save as much money for the things that matter the most to us—looking to get started? These frugal living ideas will help you hit the ground running.
15 Frugal Living Ideas To Make Your Money Stretch
This article was produced and syndicated by A Dime Saved.
