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#715149 09/19/11 10:39 PM
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Do you live frugally because you have to or because it's something you value - or both?

I'm interested in what motivates people.

I do for both reasons.


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Because I lost the desire to clutch and hold things of this world.

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Well, I was born right after WWII and frugal living was the way we survived till my Dad could complete his education. So I do it from habit and it seems the best way to conserve natural resources for future generations.

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Frugality was instilled into me by my parents: they too were post WW II.
I honestly say that I hate waste and value frugality. I try to live as simply as possible.


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This is an exciting and complex question. For one thing, I do it bc I live far under the poverty line in the US. But for another, I also enjoy living frugally. Everything is like a fun treasure hunt - how can i make something last, get it cheaper or free, or reuse/repurpose what I already have? How can i made do or go without?

It's a game I enjoy far more than the pursuit of making more money in a mind-numbing form of employment. Much more satisfying!

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I also want to reject the notion that we have to work, work, work all our lives. We work to live and live to work. I'm just not interested in that kind of life.

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I was brought up to conserve electricity, not waste food, and to take care of the things I do have. I am frugal minded because of that, and because I was never very well to do, so I had to spend money wisely. I am unemployed and below poverty level as well. What little funds I have must stretch quite far. Right now I do not have much choice in the matter. I do without a lot of things and I make the best of it.

I am like Jilly in that I think work can suck the life out of you. When I do find a job it won't be a high stress one. I have been there and done that, supervised others and made decent money, but I can't do it anymore. You forget who you are on the inside when your energy is all taken up by work. When you go home there is nothing left to focus on yourself or to care for others. Not the life for me anymore. I'd rather make less, have less, and be happier.

Last edited by Debbie-SpiritualityEditor; 06/10/12 10:11 AM.

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Here in The Netherlands the work ethic is work to live, not live to work. People value their off from work time for exercise, out of doors, recreation, family time.

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That sounds like it should be.


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I agree it seems more of a balanced life. I see adults walking (biking) around with smiles.

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I am always amazed, Susan, how Western Europe seems to have their priorities straight for living good lives. Happiness studies even show that your country has one of the world's highest happiness ratings, for many reasons. Among which is the inherent value perceived in a balanced life.

How did that get skewed here into the work all the time mode? The protestant work ethic?

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Debbie, I was raised in an upper middle class family where work was valued and even saw as a fun activity. My parents LIKED working and making money. They were good at it, and worked hard for it. They also played hard with vacations and such, and the expectation was I would be just like them.

The trouble is that I seem to just hate work. I've tried literally hundreds of careers and jobs up and down the various ladders. I've read books on finding your dream job, taken scores of career and personality placement tests, and applied myself to everything I could think of. Nothing stuck.


I love to learn and hate to work. So my philosophy these days is to live as frugal as i can and enjoy the learning/experiments/time to myself/freedom.

Here's a difference. my mom and retired and has a full time job. because she wants to, not bc she has to.

I'd rather be fishing! And i don't even fish. smile

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