Would you still live frugally if you got rich?
Posted by Lise on 11 Jan 2008 at 05:32 am | Tagged as: frugality, voluntary simplicity, work
This is a question that has bothered me since I started this blog: if money were no object, would I still want to live frugally and simply? I mean, it’s only voluntary simplicity if it’s voluntary, right?
Well, one could argue I don’t live all that frugally or simply now – this blog has always been about the journey, and currently the best I can do is to live out of sync with the consumerist culture I inhabit. When I think of the crushing weight of my mortgage, it’s handy to reflect on women who spend upwards of $1,000 a month on their beauty routine.
I think the conclusion I’ve come to is this: If I were independently wealthy, I would “invest” more heavily in sensual, temporary pleasures. I would do almost no cooking or eating at home, unless Matt was moved to make one of his extra-special dinners. I would buy a subscription to a tea-of-the-month club. I would buy more perfume oils. This stems from an observation that my joy results not from having stuff, but from fleeting experiences. Some of my happiest moments have been sitting in bed with a cup of tea, reading H.P. Lovecraft, and smelling the warm blend of smells coming from my bureau, where I keep my perfumes.
Most importantly, though, I would harness the extra money to break the chains of full-time employment. I don’t mean I would necessarily quit my job – but I wouldn’t live in fear of being fired, and I wouldn’t be afraid to pursue my passions. Work can be transformational when you’re not afraid.
But if I were wealthy, I would still use the public library, in part because I find it such a welcoming place. I would still go to garage sales. I would still not buy a gym membership. I can’t imagine investing more in my beauty regime – I’ve never worn makeup, never shown much of an interest in fashion, and my idea of “put-together” is clean and with clothes that match.
On some level I worry that every cent I spend above my basic needs is snatching food out of the mouths of poor children. But down-shifting is so much more difficult than improving the quality of life. We are constantly swayed to improve the quality of our life, and it takes a great deal of conscious effort to examine our crap and decide it doesn’t fit with the person we want to be.
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“Being frugal does not mean being cheap!
It means being economical and avoiding waste.”
Catherine Pulsifer
As Ms. Pulsifer points out, frugality and wealth are not antithetical. I would argue that a certain measure of wealth actually enables greater frugality. The character of Vimes in Terry Pratchett’s novels (to bring in a more accessible piece of culture) has expressed the notion that a $50 pair of boots will last him a far, far longer amount of time than a $10 pair, but due to the nature of his finances, he finds himself having to continually buy $10 pairs, to the possible long term detriment of his finances. Lather, rinse, repeat. There are many, many cases in our lives where such proves to be true. Good clothes, good cars, good houses, good medical care, good investments, and good government all cost more than their inferior counterparts, but are more ‘frugal’.
Along the old adage ‘You’ve got to spend money to make money’, I think you’ll find that a lot of the wealthiest people out there are ‘frugal’. Maybe not with the day to day luxuries that you are thinking of here, but anyone who has worked to make their money knows the value of it pretty well, and is inclined to make it return profits rather than just go down the drain in waste.
I think you’ll find that a lot of the wealthiest people out there are ‘frugal’.
Indeed. It’s the old concept of “the millionaire next door” – you can’t tell how well-off they are because they don’t flaunt it.
That’s what I aspire to.
[...] “My joy results not from having stuff, but from fleeting experiences.” ~Frugal in the Fruitlands [...]
We too prefer to spend a little more on experiences versus stuff. After all, those things are more enjoyable than having a ton of things. Every person is different, but I think most of us in the PF blogging world would still be frugal with a lot of choices we make even if we had a lot of money.
Thanks, Aimee, for the comment – good to know I’m not alone :)
(And what an adorable therapy pup that is on the front page of your blog!)
I am in complete agreement about breaking the chains of employment. I like my job currently, but if I wasn’t concerned with benefits and security, there are other things that appeal to me. I would do a lot more volunteering, for example.
Welcome to FitF, Dawn, and thanks for following my comment here :) I wish you luck in your fight against foreclosure.