‘Summer bachelors, like summer breezes, are never as cool as they pretend to be.’
Very aptly stated
by Nora Ephron. Aligning to Nora’s quote, tons of things matter less than they
seem to be.
It is better to
have a lot of money and time in your hands than to have lots of stuff in your
closet. Isn’t it? Frugality means the same. Spending smart ultimately results
in a fruitful, happier, wealthier, wiser, and sorted lifestyle. Mindful
expenditure is the key to today’s cost of living. You must have heard if you
buy something that has a discount of Rs.300 on 1000Rs. Then you are not saving
300. You are spending 700. Just like any habit takes around 21 days to get
installed into our routine. We can practice frugal living majorly throughout
all areas of our lifestyle.
Start small;
achieve great, ‘stick to this quote while practically implementing frugal
living in your daily routine. Start with making your coffee on your own instead
of stepping out for one. From preparing all meals, and lunchboxes at home to
taking walks to traveling around the city streets for groceries, start
compounding step-by-step.
For instance, I
follow frugal living in my gardening practice. I never buy plants from the
local plant vendor. Instead, I grow them from cuttings collected from friends,
family, neighbors, or any random garden I visit. This simple practice has
converted my little gallery into a mini jungle. Also, watching out for
discounts on clothes, groceries, and gym memberships will help in the long run.
Some Frugal Living Hacks to Elevate Your Finances:
- Cutting out on
‘eating out. Eating out damages your health severely and adds up to depleting
your balances.
- Find a suitable
place to live. Luxury is not in spending more. Luxury is living clean and
hygienic in whatever space.
- Unsubscribe to
all the entertainment channels that you don’t watch.
- Workout by
yourself, be self-motivated instead of paying thousands in the gym.
- Restrict partying
every weekend. Instead, try visiting your friend at his place or call him at
yours. It will save your vast entry amounts for that seemingly lavish club
& its savoring delicious yet unhealthy snacks & drinks.
- Invest smartly.
Try investing in a bicycle instead of modifying and flaunting the petrol-fueled
dashing bike. It will save you from the clutches of petrol costs and keep you
in fabulous shape.
- Avoid going to
the salon for treatments. Try natural homemade facials using ingredients from
the kitchen. Remember, the more realistic, the more beautiful!
- Visit the
wholesaler market once a week to buy veggies or groceries. They offer
discounted prices as compared to the local vendors.
- Carry your water
bottle wherever you go.
These things will help you spend less than you earn and will indirectly make you able to save a lot. Go on budget trips, visit all places, stay in a reasonable cottage, avoid taxis, and travel via—public transport.
Track! Track! Track all the
expenses monthly to be proud of yourself and how far you have come by changing
fewer choices. I have learned a lot about frugal living from my father. He
takes us hiking every Sunday at a fort nearby. Where I usually see people
eating out. Whereas my father only allows us to have the refreshing lemon water
once we have reached the top as a token of appreciation.
Gift yourself
materialistic things for your victories or wins to help you achieve the next
one. I was gifted a parker pen in the ninth grade for scoring good marks. With
that same pen, I wrote my board exams and came out with flying colors.
Start with small
habits of saving money wherever you can. Use the saved money to go to places
you always wanted. Eat from a restaurant you always dreamed of eating from, o
grab that branded activewear for your gym training.
Be mindful and keep
tracking your expenses. Because in today’s era, less is more & simple is
attractive!
- written by Neha
Shilamkar
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Neha Shilamkar
( India )