Do you really practise what you preach? Am I really frugal?

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If you tell a lie enough times you can come to believe it.

From people stuffing down a cheeseburger between salads, pretending debt doesn’t exist, hiding a drug problem in the family, or even ignoring domestic violence, it can get extreme. Keeping up appearances dictates a lot a of external behaviour and harbours internal issues. On many levels we all do it.

I blog about frugality. I pride myself on being frugal, conscious of my spending decisions and able to think beyond the good something will do for me and how it will affect others. This leads me to try to be sustainable too. Frugality is not just about saving money it is also about saving resources. I want to share this message and live it to show others it can be done.

Am I really living frugally and sustainably?

A friend called today wanting to meet for a meal this evening. A meal out in this city can cost a pretty penny.

Of course, I allow myself to eat out here and there. It’s a vice that we fit into our budget. The thing is, I already have plans for tomorrow eve and Saturday, so the meal tonight would throw me well over budget.

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I was going to just say ‘yes’. Excuses are easy to make when it comes to spending over budget or making non-frugal decisions. My partner reminded me that we need to take our budget serious.

In the last few weeks, I have found excuses to go out for expensive meals or do extra last-minute activities. We have been more or less sticking to budget but we could have spent below.

It started me thinking about my real level of frugality. I think I am pretty good but at times I am lying to others and myself. I have told people that I cook everything from scratch, and whilst that is quite true, it doesn’t count the fact that I ate out at least 2 times a week (often cheaply but it’s still happening) over the last few months.

I talk about the abuse of animals and why a vegetarian diet is the responsible and sustainable way to go for guilt free eating but then I pick up and somehow justify cheap milk.

I’ll throw a few dollars away on a can of soda when I could drink juice or coffee at home. I’ll toss a piece of paper into the general waste instead of into the recycling, or use several paper cups for drinks instead of bringing a reusable drinks bottle.

These could be seen as small issues but I think it’s a big deal because I have been letting them slide. I talk the talk when it comes to being a frugal and sustainable and, for the most part, I walk the walk. But occasionally I slip over. I have been casting those slip ups off as if they didn’t happen.

It could be seen as extreme to dwell on such things but if you don’t they can grow. A soda once a week could turn into a daily ignored habit and end up costing $15 extra a week, $780 a year! Ignoring any problem gives it an environment to grow and that is why we need to keep ourselves under constant watch and work to improve anything that works in the opposite direction to the standards we have set and believe in.

The answer to the question for me is ‘yes’. I am living a frugal and sustainable life but I could do better to live to a standard I have set for myself. There are areas that need work and habits that need to be kept in check.  There are regular budget and lifestyle adjustments that need to be made.

I don’t expect others to live to my standards because everyone is different and we all have a different set of standards and morals. However, you should live up to your expectations and not allow yourself to cast off little secrets and slip ups.

So, ask yourself: Are you practising what you preach? Living to your morals? To the standards you expect of others?

I look forward to your thoughts and comments.

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Do you really practise what you preach? Am I really frugal?, 5.0 out of 5 based on 3 ratings

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16 Responses to “Do you really practise what you preach? Am I really frugal?”

  1. Ruth P

    06. Jun, 2012

    Well I think it shows that you’re not perfect, which is completely OK and allowed, but it’s good that you just don’t let it all slide.

    I am actually exactly the same with the specific examples you listed. The milk one is something I always think about but never act on. I kid myself sometimes that thinking about it is enough. Of course, it isn’t. But it takes steps to reach the point you want to reach, some steps are slower than others, some habits are harder to get rid of!
    Ruth P recently posted..Welcome To The Internet Dream: What It Is And Why I Needed A Fresh StartMy Profile

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    • Forest

      06. Jun, 2012

      Totally agree Ruth, we all need to work on some things and being human is a good thing overall (maybe).

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  2. David Leonhardt

    06. Jun, 2012

    Usually. I am a counterbalance to the natural urge to spend among the female population in my household.
    David Leonhardt recently posted..Google’s Penguin Update…My Profile

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    • Forest

      06. Jun, 2012

      If you notice in my post it was my partner who stopped me spending! With her masters in Gender studies she would have something to say about the females spending habits being “natural” ha ha :) , a product of society and culture, yes! I’m actually quite good overall but sometimes cave for a good time, I think that’s ok though!

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  3. Isela

    06. Jun, 2012

    I used to actually post my expenses every month on my blog, this to show to my audience where my money was going.

    Also it helped me to compromise in actually sticking to the budget, and boy it really made a difference.

    We can write a lot about what we should be doing, but to prove we are actually doing that is the hardest part.
    Isela recently posted..Ahórrate la crema para las arrugasMy Profile

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  4. Joe @ Retire By 40

    06. Jun, 2012

    We’ve been going out to eat about once a week. I think that’s pretty good and it keeps us from getting too bored. How much do you spend a month? Our monthly nut is a bit high due to housing, but our other expenses are pretty good.
    Joe @ Retire By 40 recently posted..What’s Your Monthly Nut?My Profile

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  5. Krantcents

    06. Jun, 2012

    If the purpose of the meal is to get together, why does it have to break the budget? Saturday, I am going out with my son for llunch which is unplanned and I won’t spend spend much money. After all, the purpose is to get together!
    Krantcents recently posted..When Do You Have Enough?My Profile

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  6. Katherine

    06. Jun, 2012

    The way I know if being frugal helps is looking at my bank account at the end of the month, if I’m in the black I’m happy.
    Katherine recently posted..Is Pregnancy Miracle Really That Good?My Profile

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  7. Financial Samurai

    07. Jun, 2012

    I do believe I practice what I preach. I am VERY disciplined in my spending. Living comfortably on less is fun, and I welcome the challenge.

    With my likely decision to engineer my layoff, all these years of training is going to come to ahead!
    Financial Samurai recently posted..A Cynic’s Argument For Why Facebook Stock Is A BuyMy Profile

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  8. Practical Parsimony

    07. Jun, 2012

    I am oh, so glad you caught the “natural” bit about women spending, so that I did not have to get testy. I have a degree in Women’s Studies, so that was getting my hackles up. Yes, we studied both genders.

    Being perfect is not the point of being frugal. Being mindful and controlling impulses that start controlling our spending is the best part. I want to be better at being frugal, but I doubt I will ever reach perfection. Anyone who tells me she or he is living a perfectly frugal and sustainable life is most likely deluded or just plain lying.

    I drink too many cans of Coke each day. I am not giving up milk even though I deplore animal cruelty. Maybe a concerted effort on the part millions of milk drinkers would be the solution.

    See? I am imperfect and know where all my problem areas are! Now, to do something about those areas.

    Oh, I got hens because I saw chickens being treated cruelly and could not gag down another egg from a factory farm. Now, I eat eggs with a clear conscience. Well, I did until a snake has decided to eat them all.
    Practical Parsimony recently posted..The Pretty Elderberry and the Ugly TrashMy Profile

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