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fort·a·bly adv. Synonyms: comfortable, cozy, snug1, restful. These adjectives mean affording ease of mind or body.[/quote_box] Comfortable may mean differently to various person. One’s comfort may be another one’s hell. It’s rather a personal choice, the level of which certainly depends on some acceptable norms within a society or community you’re living in. [quote_box author=”The Free Dictionary” profession=”(Online)”]Frugality n. – prudence in avoiding waste [/quote_box]
If you’re just observant of the lifestyle of the [highlight class=”highlight_yellow” style=””]true rich and wealthy people[/highlight], you’ll probably know by now that many of them actually live way below their means! These wealthy people can afford to buy those luxury cars and live in sprawling high-end subdivisions. How many of these true wealthy people buy those luxury cars? Or live extravagantly? If we’re talking about the real, wealthy people, its quite a rarity don’t you think? The ones flaunting their extravagant living are the wannabe rich individuals who need status symbol to gain rights to the elite circle. I don’t have any problems with their chosen living, but I’ve long decided it’s not the lifestyle that I wanted for myself. Hence, I subscribed to the idea of “living below your means” a long time ago.
[styled_box title=”How to live below your means” class=”sb_orange”][check_list]- [highlight class=”highlight_yellow” style=””]Self discipline plays a big part in this.[/highlight] The discipline to say NO when you don’t need it, or NO, even if you can afford it.
- [highlight class=”highlight_yellow” style=””]Setting financial priorities according to a need only spending habit.[/highlight] What’s bloody of course is deciding what’s basic and what’s just wants. One has to take a hard look on his financial status to lay down his priorities.
- [highlight class=”highlight_yellow” style=””]Financial literacy is a must and should be a part of everyone’s continuing learning process. [/highlight]It’s one thing to be frugal and its another to be blindly frugal.
- [highlight class=”highlight_yellow” style=””]Patience is a virtue by which most wealthy people commonly have. [/highlight]It gives you time to think about financial occurrences and study ones that are suspicious.
Frugal living is a pain of the dash(ing), especially in a society who favors extravagant living. Who wouldn’t drool on that new model car? Or that new gadget that was just displayed on the store? I do. But every time I look my need-only-spending-strategy, the real benefits for me seem dubious at best. The same frugal living has saved me from debt traps, financial compromises and lots of headaches. Frugal living pushed me to live a-need-only-lifestyle that I want for myself. So far, I’m enjoying it.
Last modified: February 17, 2010
Hi,
While I’m a fan of living below your means, my entrepreneur friends would often correct me as this could sometimes become a limited belief.
Like you mentioned, you really liked to buy those stuff but you just chose not to… But what is wrong with buying just one gadget that would make you happy for at least a year or two? As long as you’re not hoarding, and you’re not switching devices every time a new one comes out.
Why not increase the means then, and still live below your new means? Of course, you can also increase the means, and maintain the same level of lifestyle you currently have.
Sometimes I ask myself if I’m being frugal or am I being cheap? If I want something and have a good reason for wanting it then I think I should try everything I could afford that, it’s more proactive in a sense…
Hi,
While I’m a fan of living below your means, my entrepreneur friends would often correct me as this could sometimes become a limited belief.
Like you mentioned, you really liked to buy those stuff but you just chose not to… But what is wrong with buying just one gadget that would make you happy for at least a year or two? As long as you’re not hoarding, and you’re not switching devices every time a new one comes out.
Why not increase the means then, and still live below your new means? Of course, you can also increase the means, and maintain the same level of lifestyle you currently have.
Sometimes I ask myself if I’m being frugal or am I being cheap? If I want something and have a good reason for wanting it then I think I should try everything I could afford that, it’s more proactive in a sense…