We have old friends by whom we’ve always measured our progress in life. I’m not particularly proud of the spirit of competitiveness that has quietly spurred us through the decades. That said, if Barbie didn’t get pregnant back in 1978, I’m not sure we would have birthed our first child in ’79. Neither would we have moved to a bigger house to accommodate the growing brood, nor installed a hot tub. You get the general drift.
But our friends have finally entered a realm we can’t afford to follow. No, they didn’t inherit big or win the lottery. Rather, impacted by the Recession, they decided to live more frugally. Instead of going to fancy hotels, for instance, they’ve taken up camping. They traded in their big car and bought a hybrid. And that’s just the beginning. Just a few days ago, I saw a farm truck pull up, and out poured a cadre of workers equipped with picks, shovels and shoots. They were putting in a backyard farm in order to grow their own food.
I’m a big believer in cutting back. I’m not sure if shopping at big box stores and coming out with $400 of groceries at a clip really qualifies. But I rarely buy any clothing that isn’t on sale any more. I’m spacing out haircuts and after months of careful experimentation, have determined that the generic drugstore brand of facial moisturizer does just as good a job as the three digit department store one.
In fact, looking for clever ways to cut back — without compromising one’s quality of life — is built into the Boomer DNA. Remember the book “Living Poor with Style” that came out in the late 70’s? We are the generation that invented food co-ops and recycled jeans: the raggedy ones with holes in them that earned their distress honestly, rather than at the effect of some high-priced designer’s razor and blow torch.
Now that the Recession has played havoc with our ability to reconcile our balance sheets through income and investments, it makes good sense to live more simply. In fact, where other’s opinions still matter, it is only in the realm of appearing to simplify our lives that there is even the urge to still compete. I admit it. I, too, would love to invite our friends over and serve salad made from tomatoes grown in our own backyard.
But here’s the rub. I checked into it. Simply put: we can’t afford it. The camping equipment, for instance: it’s not cheap. By the time I added everything up, we could have covered not only the fancy hotel, but the airfare, a couple of times over. The hybrid — it costs a whole lot more than a good used car, even factoring the gas savings in. And the backyard farm: unless you, yourself, have got a really green thumb, plus the time and equipment to do it right, you might as well put in landscaping and a heated pool for the amount that tomato is going to cost you in the end.
I know there are other reasons to invest in these things. Environmental concerns, for instance. Aesthetic satisfaction and yes, bragging rights. But if you really want to get your finances in order, it’s not going to be about conspicuous frugality any more than it used to be about conspicuous consumption. There’s only one rule of thumb you really have to follow, and you probably aren’t going to like it. Put your credit card down. Spend less. Really.
ReginaLove, that is SO great to hear! As for soy, it may help with menopause symptoms -- it it controversial. The best way to use soy is in the form of whole fermented soy foods (miso, tempeh, tamari and natto). Non-fermented soy foods such as soy mi
Agreed. I never thought I was vain until I had a mastectomy at age 39. I was devastated and told the doc I wanted to wake up with implants. Now at age 60, I am lopsided and wondering if I was just avoiding the inevitable. You get what you get and you
Sounds very interesting.
Spike, you are awesome! Love your perspective, thanks for sharing.
Conspicuous frugality is right! Your friends are not doing these things to save money, this is a fad to them. Real campers aquire their equipment over time. At least I did…borrowed the tent for years. The hybrid car…good idea if you’re going to buy a brand new car anyway. Having a company come in & install a veggie garden for you? Come on, that’s too much! Veggie gardening is not that hard, you can tuck some tomatoes & lettuce in your flower beds or along the fence. A package of four or six tomato plants won’t put you back much more than buying six hothouse tomatoes. The result will taste a whole lot better. These people just want look like they’re doing what the rest of us do out of neccessity. But they seem to think it’s still all about spending as much as you can. It’s what we used to call a cop-out. Don’t let their flamboyantly frugal lifestyle deter you from an honestly frugal one.
I have never been rich. I always bought the used car, not out of frugality, but necessity. I have a small community garden, it is a way of relaxing for me – one of those zen moments that give me peace. The bounty is a bonus, and does help the pocket book. But, I turn the earth, weed it and plant all the seeds myself. The thought of having someone come in and do all the work for me is way beyond my means. I don’t buy clothes unless they are on sale, and I shop Thirft Stores and other 2nd hand clothing stores like Value Village. I always have. I will always have to. I shop carefully for food, buying sales and planning my weekly menu around the flyers…again, I always have and will always have to. I am not poor, I eat well, my rent is paid – another thing I will never have is my own house. My bills are paid, but there is not much left at the end of the month for extras. Everything I do for vacations is planned. Trips are not out of reach, just not every year. I camp when I can, with a tent and the basic camping equipment I have owned for several years now. I have good friends, I love my job, my health is good, my family is close by. Those are the things that really matter.
I use several tips I have gleamed from ‘frugal living’ sites. There is a wealth of information and everything can be geared to your own personal circumstances, preferences and views.
I have to second Irish Rose. What you have described is not a shift in lifestyle……it is still conspicuous consumption—merely changing what you consume and falling in the same category as “green washing”. May I suggest something called “voluntary simplicity”. Duane Elgin wrote a book several years ago with that title and there have been any number of books, etc. on simplifying your life. What is required is an examination of your personal lifestyle and deciding what truly brings you satisfaction and joy….I am betting that bragging rights won’t be there! Having facilitated simplicity circles, what I have seen that usually happens is a shift in consciousness and then lifestyle–not overnight–but steps toward a more fulfilling and joyful life that aligns with your values. Frugality and concern for the planet are natural by-products of this shift. Rather than invest in more things, how about investing in ourselves, our families, our neighbors, and our planet?
Hear Hear!