Last Thursday’s AZ Republic (6/12) ran an Associated Press article by H. Josef Hebert, titled “Gas prices are near their peak feds say,” projecting the U.S. average to stay at around $4.15 a gallon.
Cynic that I am, I waited to see what might happen. To date, the analysis seems on target. Oil prices are sitting at about $136 a barrel today, down close to $3 from their horrendous, disgusting, budget-destroying high of $139. So… that $2 a gallon we worked to find last week, well, it’s gonna have to be a long-term effort. A 401k gutting or a 2nd mortage, which rate as 2 of the 3 WORST financial fixes we Americans can choose, are only temporary salvation that will cost you BIG in the end.
Which leads us to today’s blog. Since frugal appears to be a word more people will have to learn, this simile adoring writer thought maybe a few comparisons might make your transition to practicing frugalite a little easier.
Frugal is like….
Yoga: I looked up the defintion (ok, many definitions) and liked this one the best:
- is a physical practice of stretching the body in different ways, focusing one’s attention, and becoming one with the universe. It uses body, breath and senses to reconnect the practitioner with the universe and move emotions and thoughts into stillness. thenewmedicine.org/resources/definitions
Frugal means stretching (a dollar) in different ways with a focused mindset that makes you one with your financial universe so your emotional roller coaster over debt and expense halts, bringing with it a sense of calm and control over the monster money (or the lack of…).
Gymnastics: I watched the Olympic trials last night. Such talent. But more so, gymnasts demonstrate two key frugal attributes. If you take a lesson from them, you’ll be on your way to that 10 in your savings score.
Eating, driving, entertainment, clothing, gifts – all those everyday routines (expenditures) – kiss your ol’ notions about them bye, bye. Frugality means flexibility – the only favorites you can have are those sites tagged on your computer. Your ability to ‘go with the flow’ (currently defined as $$$ surging from your wallet at tsunami force every time you fill up) lets you find new saving opportunities by forging into the unknown in all areas of your budget. You learn to like pork ‘cuz it’s on sale; figure out how to make your favorite food; treasure those 2nd hand store finds; take pride in gifts you made vs bought; delight in puzzles, catch, board games.
Second, frugality means you employ your skills with every expenditure. Just as gymnasts move from the vault, to the uneven bars to the floor routine, focused and determined to increase their overall score, your goal is broad as well. Each dollar in your pocket instead of someone else’s counts toward whether you’ve won this month’s savings competition.
Football: You have to be tough, dig in, and play hard all four quarters. It’s not something you do once or twice, but a daily ritual. You study game films (the marketplace), notice weaknesses (like stores desperate for your business) and on game day (any expenditure) you grind out a yard here, a couple more there, toward your savings goal. The other team (we call them Advertisers) constantly try to grab the football (your money) but you maintain control because, like football, you have a game plan. You can adapt it, based on game day conditions, but impulsiveness doesn’t exist in your world.
A Marathon: It’s the long haul, not a sprint. You pace yourself, understanding when to go all out and when to kick back for a few miles. People don’t just buy things out of necessity. We buy for pleasure, self-worth, spite… If you try to ignore those realities, you won’t finish.
Chess: You have to plan two, three, four moves ahead. When will the car need tires? Or license tags? Or a tuneup? What about insurance (if you pay quarterly or annually)? An illness? Bobby’s one-time opportunity to attend camp? Things come up. Your plan has to account for them.
Painting: No, I don’t mean that house fiasco we learned from earlier. I mean the kind with a canvas and brushes and a vision – you know, creative. (I could have used writing here, too, but that seemed well, self-serving…) People who can turn $1 into $3 or $5 – they’re creative geniuses, to be awed, admired and learned from. If you could turn just 10% of your monthly expenditures…
Let’s say you spend $2000 a month. That’s $200. Now, if you could turn every $1 into $3… would that $600 help each month? People do it with creativity. Hard as this is to say… There are tons of frugal blogs out there with great tips. Use them.
And, last but not least…
Dieting: For those of you who’ve never had the pleasure, I hope one of the other similes worked for you. (and, of course, I hate you). For those of us who’ve been down this path, you know what happens. Motivation is strong, goal is clear, plan is in place. Ready, set, DIET!
But, you also know motivation is inversely correlated to how quick the pounds slip off. At first, you have success pretty regularly and the plan is easy to follow (ok, not easy, but you know, worth the pain). Then, it slows or you hit a plateau and… BAM! Screw dieting! It’s too much work! It doesn’t work anyway! I can’t succeed!!!
Understand that any long-term goal must be interspersed with rewards. You can’t diet forever or you’ll be such a cheated, sour-faced, angry person no one will want to be around the thin you anyhow. The same is true with frugality. You can’t always be frugal. What counts is moderation when you deviate from the plan. Don’t eat a 1/2 gallon of ice cream (oh, I’m sorry, they aren’t half gallons anymore – they’re… I don’t know – less for the same money – you know, corporate America’s new downsizing plan) eat one of those single serving things. Or go buy a single scoop at Dairy Queen.
With frugality, go out to dinner (without a coupon, even), buy a new hacksaw, splurge on color ink for the printer. Doesn’t matter. What counts is that YOU feel decadently unfrugal; rewarded for your diligence these past days, weeks, months. Then, get right back on the plan. Think about it. If your goal was lose 20 lbs. and you lost 10, isn’t that success? You’re half way there. Same is true with money. Maybe you wanted to save $100 and only found $50. That’s $600 a year. Not bad for “failing.”
Now that we’ve got you motivated, check out this article for some great savings tips. http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/SaveMoney/28WaysToSaveForARainyDay.aspx?page=2
And remember: A Frugal Fiction book? $3.99. Reading to your child fifteen minutes a day? Priceless!!
