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Have you made a commitment to living a frugal lifestyle? Are you in a financial place where the only option you have is to maintain a life of frugality? Although you might only view a frugal focus from a monetary standpoint, it really is about so much more than money.
Living a frugal life is something that I’ve done for more than 10 years – both by choice and out of necessity at times. In all reality, being frugal can be tough at times. In fact, it can even be brutal at times, but there are amazing benefits that come as a result.
The interesting thing is that not all of these benefits have to do with money. Many of the benefits that you will reap from living a life of frugality greatly color the overall grand scheme of life – not only yours – but those who come after you, too.
I have 10 surprising ways that being frugal enriches your life so much more than just from a monetary standpoint. I’ve got 10 reasons why being frugal is about so much more than money.
1. First, celebrate the decision you’ve made to live a life that is contrary to the way that the world often sees things
We live in a fast paced culture where it is said that money makes the world go ‘round. Although living a life that is countercultural is not always easy, there is often great reward to be found. This is certainly the case when you are committed to living a frugal life.
2. Being consistently frugal means that you have the opportunity to focus on so many more of the things that really matter in life
In making sacrificing and denying common wants on a regular basis, you have so much more time and energy to focus on your loved ones and living a life of intention. Lessening the amount of time you spend on shopping and buying gives you the opportunity to realize that we are not defined by what what we do (or don’t) have.
3. In living a frugal life, especially if you are making it a family affair, you are equipping your children with amazing skills that they will be able to carry with them into their adult lives
In learning to be frugal in a variety of ways, your children will be able to stretch a dollar if their lives ever necessitate. Job loss, an unexpected mountain of bills, or another unforeseen circ*mstance will not cripple your children as it might if they had never learned frugal skills while living in your home.
4. In being frugal on a consistent basis, you will have the skills in place for unexpected occurrences that happen in your own life
Much like your children in the example above, you will be able to weather any financial storms that may come your way. In choosing to be frugal, you are gaining practice for the time in life when you may have no choice but to halt unnecessary spending. If you are used to sale shopping, using coupons, preparing frugal meals, making wise purchases, and making due with things that are less than ideal, you will be able to do these things when it really counts should you face struggles.
5. Being frugal is an amazing measure of your strength, your resolve, your determination, and your commitment to purposeful living
These are skills that can spill over into numerous other aspects of your life that have nothing to do with anything monetary. After doing the hard stuff when it comes to your finances, you will have the courage and strength to do the hard stuff in other areas, too.
6. Being frugal means that you will have more time for other things in your life
I head to the mall only a few times a year, which means that I can spend time doing other things. I also don’t take the time to peruse for unnecessary things online. I also don’t have to spend the time and take on the added stress of running out of money before the end of the month due to overspending. If you make choices to live a frugal life, you will also reap great reward in this way.
7. You are an amazing inspiration to others
At times friends and loved ones can think your frugal lifestyle is a drag. Believe me, I know. In 18 Things We Did to Become Debt Free Before Age 42, I talked about some of these. However, I can say that as I sit now, poised to be completely debt-free in a few months, many of these same people who thought we were kind of nutty are wanting to hear all about just how we accomplished this enormous task. You can truly inspire others to live an amazing life filled with some of the fantastic benefits that you experience.
8. Whether you come from a long line of spenders or not, in discovering ways to be frugal you are greatly rewriting your family’s history
You will be modeling what it means to live a disciplined life full of purpose and making the hard choices and selfless sacrifices. In choosing this behavior, you are modeling what it looks like to do things that aren’t always easy, to stay the course, and to be committed to the things you feel strongly about. These are all attributes that will set your family up for an amazing destiny.
9. When being committed to being frugal, you are creating a timeless legacy birthed on an amazing journey to reflect on
Your children will remember so much about what it really meant to do the hard stuff sometimes. During some of our hardest times, we couldn’t even afford a Christmas tree so we hung ornaments on a large plant. Our kids don’t remember this, but they relive this time through pictures and know that we did everything in our power to give them the very best of what we had. We had no Christmas tree, we had no presents, and we wore the same three outfits over and over, but our kids know they always had food and a home to live in. Our kids know that we weathered the storm together.This is what makes for a shining legacy.
10. Choosing to be more mindful in the choices you make whether financial or otherwise paints you such a bright future
Living a life of frugality closes some doors, but it also opens others – sometimes lots of others. The sky really can be the limit when you are the one controlling your finances rather than your finances controlling you. Even if you only have two pennies to rub together, being mindful of how you spend them puts you in the driver’s seat.
Being frugal isn’t always easy, in fact, it can really stink at times. However, being focused on the bigger picture and the amazing gifts to be found in maintaining an intentional lifestyle when it comes to your finances is so beneficial. After all, being frugal really is about so much more than money.
Wondering about some of the hardest times? You can read about them in Sometimes You Have to Sift Through the Dirt to Find the Gems and in one of my guest posts over on Money Saving Mom, Lessons I Learned While in a Financial Valley.
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