Some activities can make you feel frugal. You might pause and smile because you know you're doing something that is aligned with your values. That's the frugal fuzzies, aka the frugal feel-goods. Have you ever had a moment of cheerful frugality? Maybe it's when you mend an item, creatively use up leftovers, or meet another frugalista while shopping (she's easy to spot with her frugal binder) and you feel like kindred spirits.
Here are a few inspirational stories from readers.
COOKING AT HOME: I feel really frugal when I have to buy more flour or shortening or sugar, etc., because it means I've been making things for my family from scratch instead of buying them pre-made, which is more expensive and not as healthy. -- Amy B., New Jersey
WATCHING SALES: I feel frugal when I need an item and it goes on sale for a good price and I have a coupon for it, too. That puts a big smile on my face. -- Carol, New Jersey
STOCKED PANTRY: When I run out of something in the kitchen, I walk into the laundry room where my stockpile is and replace it. No wasted gas for a quick trip to the store, either. -- Jan, Texas
WARDROBE CHECK: I feel extra frugal whenever I add up the cost of what I'm wearing (often less than $5) or how long I've owned certain clothing. And I'm not dressed in rags! -- Hannah, e-mail
PACK A SNACK: I feel frugal when I bring a cooler with platters in it and a thermos with glasses when I know my errands are going to take all day. I just find a park or a nice shady spot under a tree somewhere and pull it out, and the kids and I have a picnic. When my husband and I were first married, he thought this was just crazy. Now he's the one grabbing mason jars and filling them with iced tea and grabbing an apple before he heads out the door for errands. I guess after almost two decades, I'm rubbing off on him. -- J. Goettling, Missouri
SECONDHAND CHIC: I took a dress I bought at Goodwill and sized it down to where it fits me perfectly. I'm so excited because I love the dress; it was just too big in the bodice. (The shoulder seam hung down on my arms, and it looked as if I was playing dress-up in my mama's dress.) So what I did was seam-rip the sleeves, trim one inch all the way around where the sleeve attaches, take in the side seam at the bust about two inches, and then reattach the sleeves. Now it fits perfectly. A custom dress for a Goodwill price!
I also feel frugal when I see my daughter's cloth diapers drying on the rack in my bathroom. Although my husband probably is slightly annoyed by them, he appreciates that they save us money.
And lastly, I feel frugal when I look at the pile of Goodwill- and yard-sale-purchased Christmas presents (hidden in our bedroom closet) that I'm saving for my children. We're going to buy them each one or two medium to large presents (something they really want and ask for) and "pad" each child's Christmas morning with these other smaller (but still nice) toys that I've picked up for a song. -- Lindsay F., Alabama
Sara Noel is the owner of Frugal Village (www.frugalvillage.com), a Web site that offers practical, money-saving strategies for everyday living. To send tips, comments or questions, write to Sara Noel, c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10016, or e-mail sara@frugalvillage.com.
