Are you embarrassed to be frugal?

For years I was a closet money saver. I was a bit embarrassed to be frugal, I can see with hindsight. The issue is that our society tends to look up to wealthy people. They are perceived as more successful that those of more limited means. This makes no sense, when you consider that some of the great movers and shakers of history often weren’t motivated by money and sometimes chose to live very simply. Think Mother Theresa and Ghandi, for example! Success comes in many forms, not just financial.

Be a frugal rebel

We are constantly told that we aren’t successful if we don’t have a great job, lots of money, a big house, etc.  There is a social stigma around frugality; in fact, many people equate frugality with penny pinching or meanness. It’s almost an act of rebellion to choose to live frugally and not take on loads of debt in order to impress other people and keep up with the Joneses.

Nowadays, my frugality is (mostly) a choice. I have chosen to live more simply and avoid consumerism and materialism. Sure, I could go back to a full-time job instead of doing a bit of this and a bit of that and getting by on what I earn as a self-employed person. But I would rather have more time than more money. Once you hit your sixties, you start to become aware how precious time really is. You also become conscious that endless stuff is pointless! You can’t take it with you.

Frugality isn’t always a choice …

A frugal lifestyle is not always a choice, of course. People are judged for being poor. The media and some of our political parties constantly berate those on benefits as being lazy. The talk is always how to get people back to work, even the sick and disabled. This continues to be the case even though we know that well-paid jobs are hard to come by, and that there are many people and families living below the poverty line even when they work full-time.

Certainly, when I began my frugal journey I didn’t have the luxury of choice. If I hadn’t watched my pennies and budgeted carefully, I wouldn’t have have had enough to get to the end of each month. I had three kids to support and a mortgage to pay. It was hard at times, relentlessly counting every penny, but it got us where we needed to be.

… but embracing it gives you control

What I can say is that embracing frugality can give you a sense of control.  You won’t be embarrassed to be frugal when it allows you to pay off debt (or avoid it in the first place), save an emergency fund or take out a mortgage. It might allow you to work less or choose a job that you enjoy rather than one that pays the most.

Frugality can sometimes be satisfying and fun. For example, when you realise that buying secondhand saves you loads of cash, your idea of a great morning out will be at a rummage sale or a car boot rather than a trip to a shopping mall. You might enjoy the satisfaction that comes from creating lovely meals out of inexpensive ingredients, repairing something, growing some food, or making your own clothing and gifts.

You are also likely to stop being embarrassed to be frugal when you are choosing to actively reduce your consumption, to cycle or walk instead of driving, to reduce your bills with sensible energy saving measures and to learn to enjoy some of life’s simple pleasures.

It’s all in your perception of a frugal lifestyle and why you are choosing to live a certain way. So, when money is tight and it’s getting you down, consider yourself a frugal rebel instead!

What do you think? Have you ever been embarrassed to be frugal?