It’s been a while since I last blogged! I’m using this quarantine period to rediscover the joy of journaling and blogging in a personal voice, hoping to keep both you and me entertained. It might feel like you’ve missed quite a bit, but I’ll try to catch you up along the way. In the meantime, stay safe and remember to wash your hands.
Here we are on Day 44. Yesterday, I was reflecting on how much more enjoyable frugality is when it’s a choice rather than a necessity imposed by lack of income or outright poverty. When money is tight, the moment you get some, you want to splurge and treat yourself.
Personally, I don’t find much joy in spending money. I enjoy dining out occasionally and traveling, but for me, the value lies in the experience rather than the expenditure. I know quite a few people who dislike quarantine mainly because they can’t go shopping.
In the book Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, the author follows a woman on food stamps who spends most of them on the first day on luxurious items like lobster and crab legs, only to struggle for the rest of the month.
On the flip side, I have the privilege of choosing frugality. This privilege goes beyond the choice; it includes having a supportive network, which adds immense value to my life. For example, since arriving around Thanksgiving with two Great Danes, we’ve bought just one bag of dog food. The USO, a charity for active-duty military, provides us with damaged or returned bags from Costco for free. They also offer other pantry items, baked goods nearing expiration, and random items like Lysol sprays and perfumes.
Because my husband works with the USO and the staff likes him, they call him to pick up food even though they’re now closed to the public. Today, he brought home six bags of food worth over $200!
When I travel to France, I usually find a flight for $500 or less and stay for a couple of months, visiting friends and family throughout the country. This often includes trips to Spain, the U.K., or Switzerland. On average, I spend $25 a day, putting $20 of gas in my bike, buying a $10 bottle of wine, and getting $20 worth of groceries while staying with friends.
My friends have lovely homes, some with swimming pools in Provence, chalets in the Alps, or even an empty apartment in Paris, courtesy of my grandparents. My uncle lets me use his house and boat on a Mediterranean island.
Occasionally, I may foot the restaurant bill when friends want to go out, but typically, we enjoy spending quality time together, grilling in their gardens and relaxing by the pool.
I recently watched a documentary where three broke friends rented a van for a week, sleeping in parking lots by the beach, eating ramen, and spending $1,500 collectively. That’s $500 per person, which is double what I spend thanks to my network. I don’t take handouts; rather, I visit friends and family in their own homes, which significantly helps me save money.
Your network might include parents who babysit your kids or offer hand-me-downs, or a neighbor with whom you can share a Costco membership. You don’t have to take from people to benefit from the advantages of frugality.
While I’ve always been a saver and a hustler, I can’t deny that having a strong network has allowed me to reduce costs in ways that aren’t available to everyone.