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My Frugal Life: Living in a "Post-Consumer Age"

Almost two years ago, my husband and I bought our first home.My Frugal LifeWe were excited about finally being about to make a place our own: fun wall hangings, even more massive amounts of bookshelves, unique paint colors on all of the walls, and so on. About a year after being in the home, my husband decided that he wanted to go back to college and pursue his passion of exercise science. He does work part-time but, needless to say, our monthly income has drastically decreased.

They say that money issues often create conflicts between couples, but our money issues have just made us appreciate everyday things more often. While we used to basically waste our money on books and DVDs, we now use the library more than ever. When we kept our heat down quite low this winter, we snuggled up together (not a new trait) and drank hot tea and milk constantly.

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We don't go out to dinner unless it is for a special occasion and would rather revel in the luxury of eating healthier foods, but eating them at our own house. Sometimes instead of going out for drinks, we stay home and have unique-flavored beers, all in the convenience of our own house.

While we never were gigantic spenders, we definitely used to spend money, at times, mindlessly. Now we are very aware of our purchases. We've stopped buying things just for the sake of buying things. My husband even has a name for our lifestyle. He says that we live in a "post-consumer age." While we obviously can't TRULY live without buying, we have re-thought our purchases and paid more overall attention.

Although we may have our lowest joint income ever, being happy and focusing on each other is truly worth all of the other sacrifices. We live simply, and we love simply.

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By Michelle from Rockaway, NJ

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March 20, 20110 found this helpful

You have done a great job with saving money and helping him achieve his dream. The bonus is that it seems to have brought you closer together as a couple. Thanks for sharing your story.

 
March 21, 20110 found this helpful

This is truly a beautiful and inspiring essay for all of us to share.

 

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March 22, 20110 found this helpful

This is really the only way to live your own life for yourselves instead of living it just to pay for "things" which is what most people are doing today.

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We can all do without so much more than we are, and if things get a lot worse in order to teach it to our children, it might not be the worse thing that ever happened to us American people. Too much spending only leads to the downfall of a country. Look at the mess this country is in today and make it your example of what NOT to do.

Thumbs Up Michelle.

Songwriter

 
March 23, 20110 found this helpful

I guess a good question to ask before a purchase is do I want to be owned by this item? Because everything we buy represents time and effort on our part. Not just the time it took to earn the money to buy it, but it has to be stored and kept in shape and used or it is wasted money.

 

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Better Living Frugal Living My Frugal LifeMarch 18, 2011
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