Be Not Idle

“Pinch pennies, spend dollars!”

That was my maternal grandmother’s saying, my mother’s saying… and so on to me. They both could squeeze a nickel until it screamed. However, when it came to cars, furniture and things built to last – such as others in need – they didn’t mind spending a little more for something.

When my parents visited, my dad made me laugh by assuring me, “You know, you CAN spend money.” My comparison shopping at the hardware store was getting to him, I guess. And then my mother commented about the number of cleaning products under my sink. (I have two of everything because I brought home my school supplies.)

So am I hoarder? Is my frugality crossing the line into being miserly? If I own very little, does that mean I’m living simply?

Frugality is spending very little money on everyday things that you use all the time. Some things, like toilet paper, you can buy in bulk at sales in order to save money. But that’s only if you have a reasonable place to put it, and will use it. Frugality is also taking care of what you’ve bought – putting the cap back on the toothpaste so it doesn’t dry out, refilling the soap dispenser instead of buying a brand new pump bottle. And not putting your eyeglasses on your favorite chair where you’ll be sure to sit on it!

Living simply is spending money and TIME wisely. I used to think it meant an ascetic existence, but I’ve met a few wealthy people who live simply because they focus on their true values. They don’t get sucked into materialism or a must-show-up-the-Smiths mentality. You can pare back on all your belongings, but still not live simply if you’re over-scheduled or unable to find time for what you love.

Hoarding is buying 25 cans of peas and getting sick of them – or forgetting you have them – long before their expiration date. It’s going shopping at every sale but still having nothing to wear because nothing really matches. Or needing one bottle of conditioner but buying more than you’ll use in three years because “it’s so cheap”. Hoarding is a panicky materialism, living in fear that you’ll never have what you need and you can’t afford to let anything go – or give anything away.

And a miser? That’s someone who loves money so much he can’t bear to part with it. I’ve met few misers, and they didn’t have many friends. (Although I’ve always wanted to swim in money like Scrooge MacDuck, which I think would be a great excuse for a pool party!)

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