Part 3 and final chapter; My true journey begins. It is 8:30 in the morning and I have just finished one blog and now I am working on this post. I found my true calling. I know how to save a buck or least try. As soon as I finish this post, I will be going to get my Sunday papers and look through the coupons, sales and ads.
Last night, I checked on some of my other frugal sites to see what out there and what to expect. I like this site on FB called Deal Divas. They share info, post deals and showcase their latest hauls. I also subscribe to other coupons and saving sites. I visit well over 15 sites; coupons, tweeting, face booking, garage sales, thrift shopping, repurposing, restyling, recycling, shopping, paying bills, etc, etc, etc!
Sometimes it feels like I am in a bowl and I just keep swirling around. I admire those women who can get all this done. I give a good honest try. But I have a full time job and a family, with grandchildren. I am also trying to extend my part-time handmade jewelry business (Jets Jewelry) off the ground. Sometimes, I am not as frugal as I need to be. I don't always have a coupon. I tend to eat out more because of my schedule and there are days when I don't tackle anything at all.
Those days are far and in between, I don't like inactivity. Sometimes being frugal is a lot of hard work, especially when you are doing all by yourself. I was also younger, but still stunning. I live within my means, but I have no other choice. I make whatever I make work. I sit and wonder would I react any different if I had more money to spend and would not have to watch every penny that leaves my hand. Would I throw away my frugal ways and just go for easy, and smooth?
The answer is NO! Being frugal is choice, a lifestyle. I choose to save money, recycle, rethink my wardrobe, and visit thrift shops. All the words, being green, frugal, cheap, waste not want not, repurpose restyle all have the same meaning. The choice. I choose to see where my money is going. I choose to get the best bargain my money can buy. I choose recycle to make my world a better place to live. Yes, I slip up and resort back to spend without thought, but I always come back home. It's my choice.
By Georgetta from Waterloo, IA
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Editor's Note: Here are the other two essays in this series
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By
08/14/2012
I still shop at Goodwill and Thrift shops I love it you can get so much more and nice things too. Yesterday I bought a Fashion Bug shirt at half the price at Goodwill. I wouldn't have to, but I do.
By
08/13/2012
Hello,
I admire your dedication to being frugal. Sometimes I see these stories on the TV about how much money people save using coupons (and I have been behind some of these at the grocery store) and it mostly seems they are hoarding a lot of stuff.
I know this is not true with everyone and I do believe that using coupons can save everyone money. I just cannot seem to find a reason to have 200 deodorants or 100 boxes of Kitchen Helper (seems that would definitely go bad before it could be used) and all of the other items these people have on their shelves.
This type of life style seems to be an addiction and may even be harmful to the family. Most of these "savers" seem to spend hours everyday and appear to have have turned a once useful thing into a way of living.
Your articles do not appear to be anything like this, but I am just commenting on what "good" things can turn into.
By
08/11/2012
Nice thoughts on being frugal. I grew up in a modest family and learned from an early age that expensive purchases are usually a waste of money.
Having worked my way through college only sharpened my frugal ways, and now that I'm an adult I use those skills all the time.
By
08/10/2012
Comment from the author of Pam's Pennypinching with Style (on myfrugallife.com) I had a chance to briefly compare living without being as normally frugal when I received a small inheritance a few years ago. For once, I could buy things I usually only looked at & I bought NEW clothes, instead of thriftshop ones. Funny thing. There was little or NO difference in my lifestyle! I just spent more money! That was a great lesson for me. Most of the time, I manage to fulfill most of my needs frugally, rather than at full price!
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