Frugal Friday: Checking In

It’s been a month or so since the layoff, and while things have started to look up, this period has really made me consider what it means to be frugal.  Necessity really forces you to consider all your choices, from “do I want this?” to “do I need it to survive?”  And let me tell you, asking myself that every day with every single item I thought about buying was pretty depressing.  

It also makes me feel tired, because every time I go to the store I have to do mental gymnastics just to get through my shopping trip.  “If I don’t get the good cheese, can I get lunchmeat for my sandwich?  Well, what about yogurt instead of crackers?  It’s healthier, but more expensive.  And I really like that one brand, but it’s $0.25 more, so… I’m putting it back.”  Every decision is a process.

I’ve been thinking about people that have to do this regularly, and I have a newfound respect for them.  I didn’t really understand how agonizing it is to have your financial future be uncertain until now.  Even though my personal situation seems to be improving, we still took a big loss of income and it makes you feel pretty insecure when you don’t know where your next paycheck is coming from.  Everything has to be put on hold until that’s resolved, and even so, you have to survive.

So that’s why I keep posting frugal ideas I find and keeping you in the loop about our great deals: because something that extends that dollar further means more comfort, more safety, and more enjoyment.  It means the difference between just living and having a life worth living.