Thrifty versus Scrooge
Which one of those words describes you? Does your family look to see if you are around before picking up a penny off the floor? Or, do they embrace your ideas for ways to save a buck? There is a fine line between being frugal and being a miser when it comes to saving money.
Money matters can make us crazy. Counting every penny is not how most of us want to live. Well, that’s the next step for an overzealous spendthrift who takes money matters to the extreme. The term “thrifty” used to pertain to old ladies who shopped at the five and dime for their clothes or visited the flea market. Nowadays, it is chic to shop for the least expensive clothing. It is even acceptable to go to thrift and consignment shops to find wonderful bargains.
Despite what’s in fashion, being thrifty can save your family money. Learning to save is a valuable lesson for the younger members of the household. A family environment is the best place to learn to handle money responsibly.
Do you have loose change around the house? Put it into a jar. Each person can have their own jar. Change can add up quickly. My father empties his pockets each night and places the change into a jar. When one is filled up he starts another one. When the money was taken to one of those change counters in the grocery store he had over $600! I’m not saying that everyone will have that much, but there is the potential for a little pocket change when you need it most.
Saving money doesn’t have to be a depressing thing. Kids don’t have to wear hand-me-downs and you don’t have to eat leftovers for a week unless you want to. As long as you observe the basics, there is no need to be a miser about money.
Resist the urge to think about money every minute of the day. What usually happens when you first encounter the idea of saving money and creating a budget is that you get penny-pinching fever. It starts in your brain and quickly spreads to every part of your body. Around every corner is a dollar waiting to be squeezed to the last breath. The family is afraid to ask for anything because they’ll get “the speech” or “the scowl”.
To save money, start by changing one thing at a time. You could cook dinner each night instead of going out. Save outings for special occasions or as a reward for saving money all month. Just be sure to budget in for that meal!
Don’t let money hold you prisoner. It is okay to spend it. Following a budget teaches you to spend it more wisely than you did before. You can live comfortably while saving for the future.
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