Frugal living does not mean being deprived of anything but being smart and resourceful. Using and consuming less is also good for the environment.
In America, one might think it is not easy to live frugally. Come, find out how I manage it without tears.
We live in a wasteful, throwaway society. People buy more than they will ever need or use, so they discard clothes, food, and much more. We humans have one home: planet Earth with one sky. We share air, sun, and produce, so why waste or pollute the soil and sea with unnecessary waste like plastics?
Growing up in India, I saw my parents not wasting food or other things. Even trash was recycled—biodegradable stuff went back to earth to make fertilizer. Groceries were bought in bulk, needing fewer containers. Empty bottles and old newspapers were recycled. We had home-cooked meals and bought seasonal fruits and vegetables, which were healthy and cheaper. We also had fruit trees and a kitchen garden, which saved us money. This is the beginning of frugal living
Those habits are ingrained in me and have come in handy, especially in harder times here in America. I try to use money carefully. I don’t buy expensive clothes, cosmetics, or branded goods. Most of the cosmetics marketed to women are not even good for you.
I participate in activities that are either free or reasonably priced. There are many free events, such as street fairs, free theater and movies in the park, and meet-up groups. I don’t go to the gym to exercise. I do yoga, go for walks in the wilderness, or explore public gardens.
Cook at home
I live mainly on fresh fruits and vegetables. I prefer a plant-based diet, including beans and lentils. I come from Punjab, where milk flows like in a river. So, milk remains irresistible. I make yogurt at home. Be wise, I tell friends, not to use fancy oils full of trans fats that mess up our bodies. I try to cook at home but don’t stuff my fridge. I just buy what I need and only those that are reasonably priced.
“I try to cook at home but don’t stuff my fridge. I just buy what I need and only reasonably priced items: seasonal vegetables and fruits. I cook bigger portions to last me for at least two meals. If I don’t feel like cooking, I make lentil soup and have it with bread.“
I cook bigger portions to last me for at least two meals. If I don’t feel like cooking, I make lentil soup and have it with bread. Boiled sweet potato with fruits makes a savory chaat, as in India. One can also pickle vegetables before they spoil.
I drink tap water or boil it. Who needs bottled water? Do you even know how old that bottled water is? (There is no expiry date!) And so much non-biodegradable plastic is produced and wasted to bottle water that is freely available and potable everywhere in America.
I don’t drink sodas. If I go to a café, I pour hot water from their dispenser and use my tea bags and powdered milk unless I am with others. When I lived in Manhattan. I would buy a cup of coffee or tea with a bagel from a street vendor just for a dollar instead of spending $10 at Starbucks.
Sugary stuff, expensive cakes, or Indian sweets do not tempt me. With the same money, I’d rather buy an avocado, apple, or banana—good for the pocket and for health.
Reuse, recycle
I don’t throw things away; I recycle them. For instance, old bananas can make nice banana bread, and old apples or peaches can make great soup or stew.
Skip the 36-roll Bounty packs and boxes of Kleenex stacked at superstores. Use less paper, reuse scraps of paper, or use cloth. Skimp on detergents too. Simple water and soap clean better than any of that. I normally hand-wash small clothes and take the rest to a laundromat. Why install a bulky, two-piece washer-dryer at home, and increase the electricity bill?
“A penny saved is a penny earned. If I want to, I can make more money to spend. But then you need to invest more time and energy to make money. So, it is a bargain. Just remember that time, being limited, is more precious than money.“
Clothes I mix and match. I only have a couple of pairs of trousers and jeans. I change tops for a fresh look every time. Mahatma Gandhi did even better; he would possess only 2-3 sets of unstitched cloth (dhoti). Labels don’t mean much to me. It is convenient to go to big stores, but you buy more than you went there for. When I lived in NYC, I would buy clothes from street vendors or mom-and-pop stores. Their merchandise is cheaper because they don’t have to pay fancy store rent or hire staff. Now in less-densely populated Virginia, I go to thrift stores or look for ‘on sale’ drawers and aisles. This is another example of frugal living.
I take public transportation and buy a weekly bus pass. I bike for short distances and often walk, which helps me get some exercise. Besides, you see and notice more at a slow speed.
I never go to the hair salon. I cut my hair, oil it, and use henna for conditioning, saving on dyes.
When Covid spread, people would do many things at home themselves. Most of them have gone back to their old, wasteful ways. Not me. I find newer ways to save money.
Moneywise
A penny saved is a penny earned. If I want to, I can make more money to spend. But then you need to invest more time and energy to make money. So, it is a bargain. Just remember that time, being limited, is more precious than money.
It is better to be old-fashioned if it helps you spend money wisely. Avoid using credit cards except for booking a flight or car rental. I have not bothered with cable TV, Netflix, or fancy smart home gadgets subscriptions.
“I go to the public library to write my articles. They have computers you can use and free wi-fi. I have not bothered with cable TV, Netflix, or fancy smart home gadgets subscriptions.“
As a journalist, I receive many invitations to events, often at fancy places, but I don’t covet them. One friend told me that she became a food critic to indulge her taste buds. Another friend said she loved movies, so she became a movie critic. These are just other ways of living frugally and happily.
I go to the public library to write my articles like this one. They have computers you can use and free wi-fi.
Free air, sun and laughter
I remember talking to a woman working on her painting in Central Park in New York once. She pointed out how wasteful people are generally. Instead of breathing fresh air in a park or in the countryside, they go to a gym, breathing stale air. Instead of grilling their sandwich with cheese and tomato, they pick it from a fast food place, which most likely bakes bread from dough frozen for weeks. The amateur painter laughed and said, “Look, here we have fresh air, birds and their music, benches and rocks to sit on. Why go to a walled-in place and pay money for it?”
Indeed, whether America, India, or any place on earth, most of the important things in life are free, like air, sunlight, nature, and nature watch, smiles, and laughter.
My American editor at the Washington Times once confided in me he went home most evenings and cooked. It helped him unwind after a day of newsroom pressure. He even had a kitchen garden where he grew his greens and herbs. “That not only saves me money and a visit to the grocery store, but it also gives me a sense of grounding and calmness,” he said.
One can live happy and healthy lives when one learns that frugal living means living with the basics of life and valuing things, like enjoying nature, laughing more, being grateful for everything, and understanding what is good. If you put trash in your body or mind, you will pay the price for it sooner or later.
Life is beautiful when simple. We don’t need many clothes or shoes, rich food or fancy things. As the painter woman said, most of the good things in life are free. You may call it frugal living or stingy, but it is the wiser lifestyle.
