Comments on: If This is Frugalism, Count Me Out

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 17:58:27 +0000

One of my sisters takes frugality to the point of self-denial. She not only refuses to spend money (buys her clothes at Goodwill on senior days, when everything’s 10 percent off! eats mostly beans!) — she refuses to earn. She’s been offered good jobs with benefits, e.g. teaching, editing, and rejects them so she can sit at home and freelance for $20/hour — $15 to 20K/year. Both she and her daughter have medical problems which go untreated b/c “I have no munnee!”

Her goal seems simply to be not to have to deal with money, either incoming or outgoing. She also has BPD, which is customarily associated with excessive out-of-control spending — hers is out-of-control NONspending.

Has anyone else ever heard of this? Is it common?

By: LAL

LAL — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 19:40:51 +0000

Wowsa. I am in shock. I don’t think I could do it. I like to go out for a walk with my dogs. I like to go parks and I like to do things outside. I also volunteer so I don’t forget what it’s like to struggle.

I also enjoy going to bookstores to browse and libraries to borrow books. I occasionally rent videos from redbox for $1.

I would be saddened if this was all there was to life.

By: Mr. ToughMoneyLove

Mr. ToughMoneyLove — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:37:24 +0000

Dick – Great comment. One of the issues I had with the Moore’s story is that it appeared that frugalism was their goal without any other purpose, such as saving the environment or achieving financial independence. Like you, I beliove that goal setting is important and if a period of extreme frugalism is necessary to achieve that goal, go for it.

By: Dick

Dick — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 06:46:01 +0000

We all possess a certain pain threshold and maybe the Moores’ is higher than most. That said, a life of frugality is not a bad thing, but extreme deprivation may be. We could all probably stand to cut back a little (or a lot) in various areas, but from personal experience I have found that balance sets the tone for longevity of purpose. We may all slip now and then in our spending, but if we remain aware of where our money goes and responsible to our obligations we can all eventually meet our financial goals. Instant gratification insidiously embedded itself in our collective consciousness sometime within the last 30 years and we need to exorcise this demon. I could and would never discourage anyone from achieving their goals, but for most of us, those goals will most likely need to be medium to long term goals; along the way enjoying life in albeit a less extravagant way than we may prefer. So what? Hedge the future vs. a few meager purchases or realistically evaluate our financial situation and accept that not everyone can live like those privileged few worshiped as gods that have the income to weather virtually any economic storm? Wake up and take care of yourself America. You, as an individual, are the only one with a vested interest in your future.

By: Mr. ToughMoneyLove

Mr. ToughMoneyLove — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:36:56 +0000

Andrea – I don’t mean to judge them. It’s just as to what was reported, it doesn’t even appear that they financially need to do what they are doing. It’s more of trying to make a statement to others. If so, the statement is too extreme.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:53:42 +0000

Judge not, I suppose.

I mean, I won’t deny that it sounds totally crazy to me, but my thought is that perhaps it’s like a “rehab” for them. Total denial for a while to cleanse the system, so to speak, and then ease back into things.

Or maybe they’re just agoraphobics who have found a way to justify their fears.

By: Doctor S

Doctor S — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:37:27 +0000

To be perfectly honest, I would rather live a life getting out of debt than live like a “hermit” as yoou dsecribed. This is a constant struggle I have with people in my life, I tell them the key is to find a balance, but what we must understand is that it takes time and failures sometimes to find that balance. You did it again Mr. TML!