One of my favorite columnists Michelle Singletary wrote about agencies that want to make being thrifty/frugal the hip thing to do.
I’m trying to do my own frugal campaign, too. Fun, fashionable and frugal is my mantra. What else is there to life? I mean, my readers revolt at squandering money but are sure up to see a free concert or two. It’s the best of both worlds. My philosophy is to enjoy my life as much as possible, while minding the bank. Miser McNeal will never be my name. I don’t mind blabbing about a balance on a credit card or how I couldn’t go out to play because I’m trying to save a buck or two. Financial freedom works better for me. Since I’ve taken a vow a frugality, I feel much more focused.
In the personal finance blogging world, paying off debt is a big old carnival on the internet. I am so glad I started blogging. It’s like group therapy but you go to sessions at your leisure. Tricia at Blogging Away Debt, posted about several bloggers who paid off debt. For some folks, it took years, but they did it. Tricia’s no slouch either. She’s gone from $37,614 to $8,998 in debt.
Certainly, saving money is not a new concept, but somehow it got placed on the back burner for far too many.
I’m glad that speaking/blogging/writing about not becoming prey to subprime loans, credit cards or extravagant lifestyles is en vogue. It’s overdue.
Do you think it’s becoming cool to be frugal? Is the culture of bling and excess out of style? Do you think Americans are having a wake up call? Do you think even saying that saving money is a new craze hilarious to you? I mean, America has gone through a Great Depression.
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I think it’s cool to not be mindless about my money. My co workers may look at me funny when I say that I can’t go out to eat lunch/day with them that particular day, because I have food I need to eat, or I’ve already spent my eating out food, but my bills are very slowly going DOWN! I don’t want to ever see them going up again!!!
Actually, my friends and family are very supportive – they understand that being in debt is bad.
So if doing the right thing is cool for a change, sign me up!!!
In Utah, there are commercials about a “support group” where people talk about saving money. They are funny and I think people get the point.
I don’t get that vibe here in California — it’s all about “what more can I buy to look fabulous?”
I’d almost say it’s the difference of being in a red state vs. a blue state — and the “state” of mind that comes with that (i.e. Utah = conservative), but it’s probably an overgeneralization.
I believe the concept of frugality is in line with the growing green movement, and something to be commended! Living within our means, avoiding excess and existing as simply as possible benefits the world around us and our personal lives in very profound ways – less material waste, more precious time for ourselves and our friends/families. I’m no theologian, but it also seems that many religions support ideals of thrift and living with what we have at hand: Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism, and many others, I’m sure.
I hope thrifty living and simplicity isn’t just a drive-by trend, but something that Americans can embrace and permanently incorporate into our culture.
I think PF blogs like ours are definitely a sign of the times. I mean, for people our age, we’ve watched as over the past several decades our financial habits were shaped by parents and grandparents and even the government racked up more debt that they couldn’t pay off, companies that used to take care of employees got more cutthroat about laying people off and cutting benefits and the cost of EVERYTHING went up. You can’t come of age watching that and not be affected by it, and the blogs are just a reflection of the technology of our times being used as a tool to talk about it. 60 years ago, we’d have all been talking on the radio about how much we needed to save or pay off debt.
I agree with all of the above. Growing up, I don’t remember anything chic about being cheap. Suggesting that someone shopped at Kmart was a great insult. Now the high fashion celebrities are lining to cut a deal with H&M or Target.
Our grandparents lived through the depression and our parents were the 1st to experience the gift/curse of credit cards. Maybe we’ll find a balance.
GLM-My family is very supportive. Some of my friends are like, “what do you mean you can’t go out with us?”
Natalie-Image has a lot to do with spending.
Liz P.-Indeed. Conservation is cool. But I remember growing up, the environment was very cool and then it seemed to fall off the radar. Glad green is back.
$ out of $.15-Yes, our generation just can’t suffer in silence. It’s either a reality show or a blog. heheh.
Coco-I know a lot of us are worried about retirement after seeing our parents work a little longer than they’d like or struggle in their graying years.
Yes, the days of excess will soon become a thing of the past, at least for now. I think it is very cool to be frugal so Im sticking to it.
You need to come and see what Grandma has to say if you are interested in saving money and/or pinching pennies. 100′s of ideas on over 80 pages.
It’s definitely becoming cool to be frugal, and what a welcome change! I’ve been waiting all these years for peer pressure to become positive, and it finally has!
Homemaker Barbi (Danelle Ice)