I’ve be seeing the word frugal a lot lately it seems. There are a lot of blogs out there referencing frugality in the financial world. I’m wondering if the word is taking on a new meaning? Maybe it’s connotation has changed?
The Merriam-Webster definition of frugal: “characterized by or reflecting economy in the use of resources”. What I think is even more important is the word origin. It’s from Latin frugalis meaning virtuous from frux- meaning value.
To me this hints at a person who is great at finding value. Is that what it is today? What does a frugal person look like? How do they act? I see the blogs based on being frugal and they are focused on how you can save money. They advertise these different deals you get at banks and credit cards. They push coupons. I’m missing the focus on value. These blogs are becoming cheap. They are getting away from enjoying your money. Isn’t there a balance? Can’t you find value and happiness from your money? Are they getting away from the root and origin of the word that focuses on value?
To me, to this blog, value is king. I want this to be a frugal blog in the original meaning of the word. A blog focusing on the value and the virtuous use of economical resources. This will be our definition of frugal. What is yours? What is your connotation of the word? Will you let us help you change it? Do you have an open mind?
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Of course you know from my 8/12/09 post on fivecentnickel, I completely agree,
The problem is that our whole culture really does need to be frugal. For the past couple of decades, easy credit has created an arms race of buying. Now everyone’s loaded up with debt and a houseful of stuff that won’t necessarily make them happy.
I can see the clipping coupons and looking for less expensive ways to live, but we all need to respect that it’s possible to push saving money to the point where it becomes counterproductive or worse.