Frugal By Choice
Frugality is the act of thriftiness: not being wasteful, purchasing second hand goods, seeking out durable items, and repairing broken ones. Dumpster diving is a favorite frugal past time, so are yard sales and flea markets. The present green movement marketing campaigns have revitalized frugality, selling reuse as a trendy choice; although dumpster diving has yet to hit the sports arena. The recession has also provided a face lift for frugalness. This makes me wonder, what actually inspires frugal behavior and who is really frugal by choice?
Some people decide to do with less to ease their personal burdens. Some think having less will increase their spiritual experiences. Some just savor the challenge of getting the most for their dollar. And then there are those who I question if they even have a choice. For example, the woman with the blue sweat pants, pushing her stuffed shopping cart around town; or, the man in leather clothes walking barefoot as he salvages cigarette butts. Is frugality a conscious choice or one that was dealt by circumstance?
Many of the frugal folks I know had no choice. Necessity inspired their creative and conscientious behavior. This is not to say they are unhappy, they are very pleased with their acquired skills; but given a choice, they would prefer to live less sparingly. And although it is empowering to live simply, many are green because they lack the green. The redeemable bottles and cans help keep recyclables out of the trash barrels and someone fed. War, famine, foreclosures, unemployment, and disabilities foster frugality and sometimes cultivate desperate behavior. Just the other day, I noticed two frugal folks rifting quietly through a heaped up shopping cart while the owner napped nearby. It wasn’t too long ago when copper piping and catalytic converters were being stolen from homes, warehouses and car dealer lots. And now, people are pawning family jewels that may otherwise remain in the family for future generations. Does this benefit our environment?
There is no doubt that the American dream for an abundance of material goods needs to change and should not be replicated on a global level. “If the Chinese drove as many cars as we do, they’d use all the oil the world currently produces plus 15 million extra barrels a day” (McKibben, Deep Economy). Therefore, practicing frugal behavior by reducing and reusing resources is a smart choice for Americans. It helps everyone endure the recession and it’s good for the environment. Overconsumption will not work for the billions of people living on this earth who strive for the American dream. Even the Europeans use half as much energy as Americans do.
There are numerous treasures to be found in things that already exist. One just needs to hone their creative saver traits. As noted on the web site betterbudgeting.com, there are many ways to be resourceful. One that is at the heart of source reduction: Ask lots of questions, such as “How can we get this cheaper?” “How can we make this last longer?” “How can we do without this particular item?” “What could we do instead?” “What creative way can we make this work?” And, another that helps change ones perspective during troubling times: “Approach a problem or question from different angles, rather than getting stuck into one way of viewing the situation.”
The next time you see someone practicing frugality on a daily basis, whether it’s their personal choice or not, thank them for their efforts in helping our community be green. They are the true green ambassadors practicing the slogan “Live simply so others may simply live.”
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