Is Frugal living simplifying your life?

I definately think frugal living has simplified life for me. At first it was a way to save money, but now I realize it is so much more. I tossed out all the extra clutter I didnt need and found out I was happier with less. I dont want for things like I used to. We still have stuff but it is always stuff we really wanted or needed. We dont make as many one second decisions when it comes to spending any more. Mostly we are happier and less stressed than we used to be. We stress about things that need to be stressed over and not finding lost things or where to put our extra crap. It is a lot easier to keep the house clean too!

I'm pretty frugal but I don't thnk it really simplfies my life. If anything, it is more labor intensive. For instance, we don't use a dishwasher, dryer or car. That means we wash everything, line or airing cupboard dry everything, I walk everywhere. I als like organic, but that generally means I grow it myself. You pay one way or the other, in the long run.

Frugal living has definitely simplified my life. I have much less now and want for nothing! I think we become indoctrinated into a buy, buy, buy religion and it's hard to break out of it, but once you begin to see the light, it becomes much easier. What steps I've taken could fill a book, but basically they are: Never shop unless I really need something. Never pay the first price I see Double check insurance and taxes to see if I can lower the payment (legally!) Make do as long as I reasonably can. I don't have to have a full set of 8 cups and I've found that two pairs of shoes is quite enough. This has been discovered by "making do" for awhile.

I am not sure if what I do would be called frugal, but I do try to save money, resources and time. For instance, I was trying to cut electricity costs. I walk around turning off all unnecassry lights.I use the fan rather than the air conditioner if possible. Nearly all our meals are home cooked from scratch, due to my husbands allergies. I try to look for specials and home brand a lot. Fuel? I haven't solved that one yet. My husband uses public transport for walk, but I drive my daughter to school (although she has to catch the bus home). Then there are text messages. I have to cut down on them, a lot. I ts proving difficult.

I've been trying to do a lot of the same. Decluttering my little apartment is a top propirity for me right now. At first, it's costing me money...I've been buying some storage/organizational furniture to help me in my quest. But I'm also going to be trying to sell some of the stuff I am getting rid of on consignment, so I'm hoping that will even things out. As Willow said, I'm also seeking balance (I'm a libra, so I'm hoping this will come a little more naturally :-) I was pretty proud of myself in that the last few times I have been shopping I've actually put stuff back, rather than impluse buying. I think that's a good step in the right direction. I also try not to buy anything that's not on sale...if i can help it.

For me frugal living and simplifying my life go hand in hand. When I stop buying all the expensive junk that is marketed to me every day my life begins to simplify and I feel calmer and more at ease.

For one thing, you don't own your things...they own you....you have to provide a place for them, insure them, worry about them, move them, make room for them, take care of them and it is a full time job just organizing everything. I think you are smart to frugalize your life and make it simplier. I, too, am determined to cut down on the buying and use what I have. Cooking from scratch is healthier because you are not eating all the additives, fat,salt,sugar,etc.etc. that is found in packaged food. Plus...it is more creative to make your own meals. Good Luck on your endeaver....stick with it!

i have a hard time living my life in simple ways. especially when i go to the grocery store. and see this a lot of stuff that i feel i needed badly but in the end just clutters my life. its really hard keeping life in order especially if you are impulsive.

Seeking balance is what you are after. When it is becomeing daunting take a break and head to the mall. See what you feel like then. You might find that your methods are doing you alot of good after all. It is a process and it should all work together. It is nice to be more simple in our ways. People become amazed at us and ponder what we must be missing. We already know what they are missing. I cannot imagine doing anything different.

I totally agree with you. My motto of life is being simple but decent. My requrements are very less and simple. I live in a very small way and I am just happy with myself.

i also doent familiar with this thing.can u explain a little bit

Since, I live on a budget. Frugal living is the only way I can go. I make everything i can from scratch. I use coupons at the store. I make my own garden with fresh vegetables. I buy things on sale and stock up. I actually don't mind it. I also hang my clothes on a line when its sunny to save electricity. I love the smell of freshly sun dried clothes. Its a way of life for me and I don't intend to stop.

We are from a country that calls for frugal living. I can say that ourlives are simpler than those from the western countries. We don't have to worry about so many things like paying for so many bills like cellphone subscription, gym membership or even credit cards. We even have vegetables from our own backyard that supply us food when there were times when we really have no money to buy us food.

I have simplified my life very much in the past and it does mostly work to make a less stressful existance. Make sure you have some money for fun though. The stats show that up to $40 per person usually does make like better. More than that often doesn't.

I too have taken to the frugal life. And yes I find that it simplifies my life. Not only hasit simplified my life but it has also helped me to ascertain who my friends are more readily

Its definately my goal to be frugal and simplify, but I sometimes find that in te early days you often need to buy some extra things to allow you to be simpler. For example, I already made a lot of our clothes, but I've had to stockpile wool and fabric to allow me to do even more of it, so for the moment we have more clutter. Finding time to declutter can be a major task as well, my aim is to give up my day job in a year or two, but to do that I need to work much more this year so we can pay off the mortgage and some debts. SO for us, aiming for a simpler life is meaning that this year is very complicated indeed and I'm looking forward to cresting this hill and being able to start on the sensible things like having a good clear out.

Yes, my frugality has indeed simplified my life. I feel like I don't have anywhere near as many gadgets as I used to have (and didn't use) and I don't feel the need to purchase things on impulse. Most of the things I buy are used, and I only buy them when I really need them. I feel much better about myself now and I can live off much less - $24,000 / year and that includes paying my mortgage. That is my goal - to maintain that number.

That is one way to describe being frugal. I never thought like that before. How it could help simplify one's life. I always thought beging frugal just meant saving money and reusing things. It's great seeing a different point of view.

First I wish you success on this project of simplification of your life. I hope you don't become a radical vegan or worse. Taking actions to become healthier is always a good thing.

I have always had very few posessions but in our society there is constant pressure to buy things we don't need or replace things that are still useful. People spend there lives working for their income to buy and consume so many things and yet seldom are they any happier.