By Michael Smith (Veshengro)
Being frugal is not about being mean; it is about making the best of your resources and getting the best from your life.
Being frugal is good for you, your wallet and for the Planet, and this especially so if you can and are prepared to to make things that you need and want from “nothing”.
OK, I admit, the “nothing” is not really nothing but is items of waste, or material from Nature, or what-have-you.
Our ancestors, especially those of the “lower” classes, were masters in frugal living and in making things to make their lives better from what others discarded or from what came their way in other ways, including natural materials.
Today we live in a society and world, however, where being frugal is being frowned upon and that even and especially by our very governments at times. People not going out and spending money during the Great Recession in the early part of the 21st century have been equated to terrorists. Yes, you read that right; terrorists.
The great majority of people today demand instant gratification in everything and instead of thinking about what they can reuse for something that they may want or need they just go out and spend money on something that they could make themselves, for nothing basically, from some items of waste. They want, however, instant fulfillment and DIY would just be way too much effort.
The frugal person uses a clean tin can for a pencil bin (and many another thing) or a glass jar from some produce for a storage container. The general 21st century citizen of the developed world, however, rather puts tin cans and glass jars into the recycling bin and goes to the shops to fulfill his or her needs and wants.
The frugal person also tries to stay with what he or she has for as long as possible – not made easy by the factored in obsolescence with almost everything nowadays – and does not buy the newest item and fad. This is good for the wallet and the Planet but may not be that good for economic growth.
© 2011
