“Elementary, my dear”, as Sherlock would always say, and to heed those words would prove really useful when talking about living frugally. One of the things that we learned in elementary was the basic needs of man. There are three – food, clothing, and shelter. Whether you are going for extreme or moderate frugality, you will be able to go with it without any trouble as long as you keep going back to basics. Let me elaborate on each of them, although they can be summed up to the abbreviation “DIY”.
A little disclaimer: although I currently live in Japan, my next statement does not mean that I am bashing on the Americans.
The US is known for the land of milk and honey – perhaps too much of it, that its citizens are known to be diabetic or obese. You may be wondering what this has got to do with frugality. The fact of the matter is that Americans really love their burgers and fast food and, consequently, oily foods. That being said, anything that is made into an oily, cholesterol-rich dish becomes so in demand – and that means the prices for it goes up. Add to that the other reason for obesity – laziness- and most people simply order takeaway food.
Frugality means going for the cheaper produces. This means fruits and vegetables – ironically, the healthier choice. Frugality also means cutting costs, so instead of ordering food from restaurants, you have to cook them yourself. It may not seem much, but when you go through a couple of months of cooking – especially if you “freezer cook”, as described in my other post – you will be amazed by how much you save.
Bottom line: Opt for healthier dishes, cook your own, and bring your own food to work. Find even cheaper routes such as freezer cooking.
Frugal Clothing
When it comes to clothing, you just have to have an appropriate suit for any occasion. Simply put – especially for women out there – you have to think like a man; in a sense that you just slip on the most comfortable piece of clothing without regard as to how you look. Go old-school – go grunge, even.
When going out to the mall, nobody will notice that you’re wearing the exact same pair of shoes that you wore a week ago. No one will come up to you and laugh at the fact that you’re wearing the same polo shirt that you wore yesterday. If it’s a really cold day, nobody tells you off for wearing the same exact jacket – and that’s the same with any piece of shirt or pair of pants that you’re wearing.
Also, there’s the DIY part. Always try to sow together your own clothing. If your grandma still weaves you sweaters, accept them gratefully and wear them as opposed to buying your own. If your come home and realize that you have a massive hole in your pants, patch it up instead of running to the store in your undies to buy another one.
When buying new clothes, you should try going through rummage sales first. Bargains are always bargains. This also goes the same when buying gifts. Find an unmarked piece of clothing in rummage sales and just embroider it for a little bit of personalization.
Bottom line: comfort over aesthetics, buy secondhand clothing whenever possible, and make your own.
Frugal Home
Shelter is the third basic necessity of man, and boy do we have a lot to say here, but I’ll make it short and sweet.
In the home, just focus on how much you can save on the bills. Are electric bills hurting you too much? Consider cutting down on TV usage or try the good old charcoal cooking instead of using your electric stove. Alternatively, you can set up some solar panels or wind turbines to give you free electricity.
DIY comes in the picture here too. If you need a new bed, try building your own or find a Murphy bed, which can sometimes be a lot cheaper.
Bottom line: cut down on bills, and go DIY whenever possible.
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