Saving and frugality or playing same old Scrooge

Our world is changing all the time. Society in its constantly moving form brings new meaning to old words, new words with old meaning suddenly resurface: crisis, stability, savings, frugality, financial health, nutrition, organic and so on...

What does it mean to be frugal? Where is the border between being frugal, thrifty and plain old Scrooge? When should we save and when we should not? It’s probably different for different people.

For me being frugal means not driving a car, walking, and renting, not buying the apartment. I work full time plus some more, but I have two dependants and two cats. Usually I am trying to save money on big things. I would love to buy my own apartment or a house, any small and ugly would do. With lots of repairs is okay.

Unfortunately to buy a house in Toronto is a very expensive project, and if you are not earning a decent salary, banks are extremely unwilling to lend you money. My paycheck is less than my dreams, I guess...The problem is the gap between my salary and required salary for mortgage approval. To earn more money, I need a car and more expenses come with it. Buying that car will eat my little savings that I am trying to squeeze from my paycheck every month. Well somebody might say, "WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM? At least you have a job and can pay your keeps! What else do you want nowadays? " Yes, that's very true, and I am grateful to my fate right now.

I am very scared to lose my job, I admit. But things happen. What should I do then? Play Scrooge and save every penny, feed nothing but pasta and rice to my family including my cats, they just love to eat rice (oh, no, please, don't scratch me that hard, I am just kidding about the rice!) or to move 3 people into one bedroom apartment as my friend did?

I want to be frugal but frugality should be reasonable. I remember in my old country my dad used to go around switching off the lights after everybody and complaining that nobody was saving electricity and money. Forgive me dad, but I think you were terribly wrong. If you do not have enough money, you must find the means to earn more, and do not tell me that it is not that easy, I know that. You cannot just live by penny pinching all your life, it's hard.

You have to step out from you comfort zone whatever it is, and do whatever you have to do to provide for yourself and to help your family with decent living. Penny pinching won't do, it's erodes your soul and makes you miserable.

There are certain limits to dollar stretching. That's why I want my own house. If something happens, you can rent it out and live in the basement yourself, or sell it and have some money, or refinance. And if mortgage becomes too expensive, you can always go around, turn off the lights after everybody playing Mr. Scrooge. Isn't it fun? - Just kidding!

There are different ways to save money and to be frugal in your home.

Clever way to save money and be frugal:

1. Install contemporary efficient electric system with thermostats and economy bulbs everythere.Check it every year, especially before winter season brings extra bills to you.

2. Check all taps regularly - no leaking water permitted!

3. Have a good efficient electric, gas, or oil heater.

4. Buy cheap paper towel and tissue. In Toronto, Canada, for example, it is almost always on sale at Shoppers Drug Mart. Just pay attention to quantity of sheets in a roll, some of rolls are quite economical but not in every brand.

5. Count your money; know your needs and wants. Know what you can and cannot afford. Life in debt is horrible. You can lose your family, your sanity and self-esteem. Try to earn a little bit more than your regular expences, you need some savings for emergencies. You never know.

Stupid way of saving(I am not serious about this, believe me, but some people do that kind of savings too):

1. Buy 25w bulbs and put everywhere so nobody can see anything properly including electric bills!

2. Do not wash your floors often as with 25w bulbs visibility who cares anyway, no one will see your dirt.

3.Do not take a bath, take a shower and in cold water only and once a week (year, month) only! You'll probably stink but again' it's your private matter!

Wash your kids in a bucket in the same dirty cold water, so you can save a lot of water (money). If they complain - spank them, spoiled brats!

Never mind that you smoke a pack of cigarettes a day - you have to save somewhere.

If you stink, wipe yourself with vinegar well diluted with water. Make sure you diluted it all right otherwise you might turn yourself into red-skinned Indian (no offence to Indians especially red-skinned, please).

4.Do not buy paper towel at all, buy regular cloth towel, preferably at a dollar store. Wash it only when your cat starts fainting in the kitchen, and your friends start avoiding your house like a plague.

Divide every sheet of tissue paper in half or - even better, use old newspapers from your neighbor’s recycling bin. People used to live for centuries without bathroom tissue and paper towels after all and they were fine and so can you.

5.Do not count your money; if you want something, you just go and get it. Screw credit card companies, they are rich b**s anyway. Get a loan and do not pay it back, saves lots of money. If you need something, just go and steal it, they won’t notice, they are big corporations with lots of stuff. You can always file for a bankruptcy, or pledge insanity, big deal!

I think I should stop at that. I think you are bright and resourceful and come up with your own ideas how to be frugal and save money. And you understand a joke when you see it. Though sometimes life is the biggest joke of all…

Good luck on you path to a frugal life. I am with you on that.