Fed up with being frugal? How to stay motivated

By Shoestring Jane

Frugality may be becoming more fashionable as people choose to make more conscious decisions about how to spend their money. However,  there are also many people who have no choice but to live frugally, especially in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis. It would be easy to feel down about not having much spare cash. Sometimes, watching every penny is a chore, and it’s easy to get fed up with being frugal!

Most of the time, I enjoy my thrifty life. It’s kind of a hobby to get the best value for my buck, to find bargains and to pay less for everything. Frugality is often very satisfying.

However, sometimes I get fed up with penny pinching. I see other people who are better off who don’t have to question every purchase and I feel envious. When they want something, they can just buy it. If they fancy a trip to the theatre, the pub or a restaurant, then they go. If they feel like a holiday in the sun or a new piece of expensive furniture they buy it.

There are things I would love to do in my life that I can’t do because I don’t have the spare cash. For example, I would like to travel more often and go to places further afield than just the UK. There are a ton of things I would like to do to the house (new carpets, new front door, solar panels), the garden needs landscaping and I would love an electric car.

However, we don’t have the cash to just buy these things. We have to wait and plan, prioritise and save up.

So, how do I stop myself from getting down about it?

When I find myself being a negative Nancy and feeling fed up with being frugal, here are some things I do to help me through.

1# I am grateful for what I have

I remind myself how lucky I am and practice gratitude for all that I have. I live in a peaceful country, I have never known hunger, we own our own house and don’t have a mortgage. We are lucky to have a loving family and extended family and to live in a beautiful place. I no longer have to work full time for some faceless corporation. What is there to complain about? I know I am luckier than many people in this country and the world.

Being grateful for what I have is my number one way to get myself out of a fug.

2# I enjoy life’s simple pleasures

As I have said in previous blog posts, I appreciate the simple things in life that don’t cost much money. 

A good book, a decent glass of wine, time with friends and family and a dog walk in the countryside are things that make me happy and contented. A beautiful view will always lift my spirits.

I am pretty good at window shopping too. I sometimes visit a stunning garden centre as it is fun just to look. It would be easy to spend a fortune, but I don’t buy unless it is something we need at a good price.

3# I love chasing a bargain

Buying second hand is my default position, because I know I can get so much more for my money. Boot sales and charity shops are my hunting ground, but I also like Facebook Marketplace, eBay and Vinted. When I am fed up with being frugal and want a cheap retail fix, there is little I enjoy more than a root around a car boot sale. 

Buying second hand is more eco-friendly too, which is important to me. You can see some of my great second hand hauls on my YouTube channel.

When I do buy something new, I always get cashback from Top Cashback* or Quidco* , search for money-off coupons online and shop around for the best price. It is really satisfying!

4# I enjoy finding free stuff

These days, I struggle to walk past a skip without having a sneaky peak. We recently found a large box of hand-thrown pottery in one just down the road, then a limited edition framed print. (This is now on our wall, and looks fab.)

I always look on Freecycle and Freegle to see what’s going begging too, as well as outside people’s houses. I found a cat flap with a free sign on it the other day. We had been talking about fitting one on the garage door so the cats can get in the dry if we are out, and the universe was clearly listening.

I also keep an eye on the Olio app for free waste food and check the food pantry near to my parents when I go by. I like to stop things from going in the bin if I can, plus it helps our grocery bill stay low.

5# I plan ahead and practice patience

By planning ahead, budgeting and saving for the things we want – be it new carpets or a holiday – we tend to get there in the end. Plus, because we have waited, it is very satisfying to see a plan coming together.

Many of us aren’t used to having to wait and practice patience. It is so easy to use a credit card and pay later these days. However, I prefer not to have any debt.

Conclusion

There is no doubt it would be nice not to always have to be sensible and to have more spare money, especially now that times are so tough for all of us. But, by being grateful, enjoying simple pleasures, bargain-hunting, finding freebies and planning ahead, I can soon shake off any dark moods caused by a lack of money.

How about you? Do you get fed up with being frugal, or do you enjoy rising to the challenge?

*These are my referral codes and if you sign up then make a purchase, I earn a small reward.