Further Frugal Reading
I’m back! My freelance work took longer than I expected, but I’m finally finished and back to being full-time frugal. The work has put me 1/4 of the way to my savings goal, so I am very happy right now.
I was perusing the New York Times book reviews today and I stumbled upon a review for the book “In Cheap We Trust” by Lauren Weber. It sounds like it could be a good read even though the book reviewer is wary of the concept. The reviewer obviously has a negative perception of frugality. At one point, the reviewer says “Don’t get me wrong: I like to save money. But I also like to spend it. Weber, on the other hand, is fervently . . . well, cheap.” Well duh! Would the reviewer have such a negative view of the book if it was called “In Frugality We Trust”?
The reviewer goes on to say, “once things are priced properly, there’s nothing particularly admirable in refusing to spend money you can spare.” Well just because something is on sale for a fair price, it doesn’t mean you have to purchase it. The ability to resist buying even fairly priced items is very admirable. It’s what frugality is all about. The reviewer also wants everyone to quit pinching pennies and simply stop worrying about money. Easier said than done. I didn’t worry about money when I maxed out my credit cards, I didn’t worry when I opened additional credit accounts, and I didn’t worry when I went on shopping sprees – look how far that got me.
I worry about money all the time now, and it works for me. The more I worry about my money, the less I spend. On a side note, the one part of this review I did like was the part about “freegans“. I didn’t know there was such a word to describe the people I always see lurking in the alley behind my apartment. I guess you learn something new everyday.
October 13, 2009
Tags: book review, books, freegan, freelance, frugal vs. cheap, My Progress, reading, spending habits, tabs Posted in: Frugal or Cheap?, My Progress
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