Being Frugal doesn’t mean save EVERYTHING
Yes, we want to save money and be wise about what goes in and out of our homes, but with that also comes the responsibility of being smart about it. Often times in the name of “being frugal” we, in fact, become obsessive hoarders! Don’t save every scrap of fabric from old clothes when you really don’t spend all that much time sewing and you would never use that many rags. Why save every orange or lemon bag to make a scrubbie, when you can buy a whole bag of scrubbies already made at the dollar store for $2… Use common sense. It takes a little learning, but keeping it simple goes a long way in being frugal vs. hoarding.
Clutter Kills Frugality
Realize that part of living a simply frugal lifestyle is to have clarity of mind and an excitement about going about your day. Too much clutter physically can cause a lot of unnecessary stress and clutter mentally and emotionally! Better to have that mental clarity then become constantly on edge because of having to trip over things digging for whatever we truly need.
So now that we have THAT covered… let’s get on to our 5 tips!
Tip #1 Be willing to SELL things of REAL value
If you aren’t using it now, it has no value to you. It is better to sell it to someone who will use it, and later if you find you need one, then get one! (Use practicality here… if it has high sentimental value or is something you know would be almost impossible to find down the road when you need it, don’t be afraid to keep it!)
Tip #2 Only keep something if you have a specific use in mind
Don’t keep the plastic produce containers because you’re “sure they’re good for something!” BUT… if you are planning to grow, giveaway and sell lettuce or other produce that would fit well in those containers, by all means save them! Resist the urge to save something because it’s “sturdy,” “Nice,” or “pretty” when you don’t have a specific use for them.
This is probably one of the biggest differences in being frugal vs. hoarding. Being frugal is all about being smart in what you spend your time, money and mental and physical space on.
Tip #3 Don’t keep for “one day”
Unless you have a plan in action to getting to that point…
If you know you’re going to have chickens “one day” don’t save every egg carton you get now! However, if you know you’re going to have layers in a month or two, or are currently raising chicks to lay eggs for you, THEN save your egg cartons!
Again, this is a common mistake of hoarders… so don’t fall into that trap!
Tip #4 Set yourself a limit and STICK TO IT!!
Don’t save 75 egg cartons if you are only planning on having 10 hens… you won’t use them, and when the time comes, you’ll be able to get all you need from friends and family if you just ask! Give yourself a space in your house to store “empties” such as jars, egg cartons, containers, etc.
Don’t save tons of stuff if you do not have the space to neatly keep it!
Tip #5 Go through your stash on a REGULAR BASIS!
Set yourself a certain time to go through your stash… If it’s every other month, go through it with the criteria of 1) Have I used these like I had planned in the past month? 2) Do I know for certain I will use it like I plan in the next month? If you can’t answer “yes” to these two options, don’t be afraid to pitch or give away things!
Keep in mind that frugality is all about working smarter, not harder.
Spending extra hours or space to simply “not throw anything away” is not practical or helpful for you in the long run. Recycle or give things away if you must, but don’t keep extra, unused things around in your space.
What are some ways that you practice being frugal vs. hoarding?
What to learn more about leading a simply frugal lifestyle? Here are 5 tips to get you started!
