Frugal vs Cheap Consummerism

Sometimes I've followed a blog or a website on frugal and simple living and over time,either by content, or reader comments it moves into a direction of cheap consumerism. On the other hand, I've stopped reading a few that also have taken on a tone of arrogance and self righteousness, almost a condemnation of anyone that spends their money in ways the writer would not. I'll never dive into the comments and bash the writer with my words, but will just stop reading if I'm not finding the posts of value more. The web page is theirs to write as they wish, and the beauty of the Internet is you can just stop reading at any time.

I write a wide variety of randomness in my blog, but at the essence is my journaling about trying to reframe my life- where I spend, money, time, and energy, in order to create space and opportunity for what is more meaningful.  This is part frugality in terms of where I spend time and money, and part decluttering stuff and commitments that not only don't add to my sense of well being, but detract from it. I may have a different definition of frugality and clutter than someone else, but that's OK, because I'm not trying to define it for anyone but myself. 

My story yesterday illustrates my definition of frugality. I didn't need to run into Target and buy clothes then and there. I could have turned around and driven home to change.  The trade off of that choice would have been spending an additional 90 minutes on the road, and burning three gallons of gas.  I would have missed a 9:00 meeting, so would have had to reschedule, wasting my and a colleagues time. I would have either needed to work more hours later, or use limited vacation time for those 90 minutes that I am planning for something else. 

I didn't need to buy two new sweaters and could have just sucked it up and worn the pants with my current sweater. As I had not replaced any sweaters, a Minnesota essential, in several years, I actually had been browsing options for some time. It was good timing that both of these sweaters were in the  right style and price range. I saved time and energy later looking for the exact thing when it was right in front of me that morning. Sure, I could have continued to look at other stores, including second hand, or do without, but these purchases will extend the life of other pieces in my wardrobe through the winter season. 

Ironically, I saw multiple posts and Tweets all day under frugal sites blasting out the Target sweater sale, with responses like, "I just bought 10 and threw out all my old." For me, that moved from frugality to cheap consumerism, buying more because it's cheap, throwing out just because a new version was found. The coupon queens and kings featured with their closets and rooms of stockpiled stuff makes me queasy, not understanding how anyone needs a years supply of anything unless you live in the Alaska bush so I ignore.

In that same vein, I love the frugal living blogs that share ideas on creating delicious and more healthy alternatives to fast and chain restaurant meals, share up-cycling ideas and ways to extend the life of things instead of just throwing out and replacing, and inspiring stories of where they saved money in order to put towards their own debt, or future dreams. I am  in awe by those that  for hobby can figure out the layering of store deals, and get the two for ones on products that they and their family need such as personal care items, but also as ways to stretch what they are able to donate to food shelves. Toiletries and household supplies are not part of government food support help for families in need so these items are in dire need for donations. I'm not skilled at this kind of bargain hunting, so I write a check, hopefully stretching the amount because I have spent wisely in other areas of my budget. To me, it is "smart frugal" to watch how you spend your money, not to have more stuff, but in order to support families in your community. Healthy communities are a bargain. 

Pantry Cooking for a Cause

While hunger is a year long problem in communities, messages at Christmas time combined with increased charitable drives sheds more light on the needs of families and individuals.  For families already on the margin, add extra days home from Thanksgiving for school kids and potentially two weeks off from school in December, families not able to utilize the school lunch program will be making some meal stretching decisions. With another mouth to feed in the house in December (two more for a week), I can see that our groceries will rise pretty rapidly. 

DD#2 is a vegetarian, but she has also become a pretty creative, while being thrifty cook, blending cheap pantry staples, with a few fresh ingredients. She made a couple meals for us this week, that I feel no doubt could have been served in a hipster cafe, but for pennies on the dollar.  While the rest of us like a little meat, we can easily fill our tummies with her meals. With her home, we also have an extra cook in the house, so lessons the need, or want, for takeout or restaurant meals on the fly. I have this idea of tracking a few of her meals, and looking up comparable restaurant meals. After calculating out the difference, I want to add up the difference between the restaurant priced meals and our pantry staple home cooked meals, and add that difference to our end of year regular donation to the local family service and food shelf organization.  

I have some ideas to get into the act as well, drawing heavily upon recipes from a few recognized chefs such as Jack Monroe and assorted other talented folks, and of course will credit and link when anything is borrowed or referenced. Recommendations are greatly appreciated. I'll add recipes from myself or daughter as I can get them pulled together on the recipe page. I'll start with two this week, because one, we didn't succumb to the mid week mindset that we are too busy to cook, let's pick up take out instead, and two) we originally thought we were going to go out last night, but changed our minds when we looked at the abundance of activities ahead of us for the month.

DD's Tomato and Zucchini Risotto fed the four of us to stuffed, with a healthy leftover portion for a lunch the next day. She learned this recipe from her new found Italian brother M when they were all poor students in London.  They did not have the money for cafe or pub meals, but would pool their collective cooking resources together to make international family meals.  She has been wanting to make this for a while, but it make so much, and is best served fresh, she waited for a cold winter night with all of us home  Here is my estimate of what it cost:

 Rice $ .50

Tomato Sauce  $ .89

Canned Tomato $ .59

Two zucchini  $ .89

Medium yellow onion  $ .15

$3.03 not counting assorted garlic powder, olive oil, and Italian seasonings.  Let's put a  50 cent allowance for those, and call it $3.53 for four people (not counting leftovers), $ .86 plate. 

August Special at D'Amico and Sons was a tomato and garlic Risotto at $12,99, with bread.  I'll deduct $1, generously for the bread, and call it an even $12, for DD's coming in at a savings of $11.14. or $44.56 for the family.

My Spinach, Cheddar, and Mushroom Souffle, served with roasted Italian potatoes, and a pantry shelf box of Uncle Ben's broccoli cheddar, and our own bottle of Red Wine, made a very gourmet and chi chi Friday night meal.  

8 Eggs  $1.50

1/3 bag spinach  $ .60

Can Aldi's Cr of Mushroom $ .49

4 ounces shredded cheddar (what was left in a 1 # bag) $ .82

8 ounce sour cream  $ .50

5 small russet potatoes $ .50

Rice  $ .89

Wine from wine club, so just putting 1/3 our monthly membership fee (high estimate because we have tastings every month, with appetizers, plus other special events.) $17

Grand Total for four (no wine for DD#2-just so that is on record)  Meal only $5.30, meal per person $1.43, wine for two (DH passed) $8.50

As I couldn't find anything specifically comparable, which makes this more of a home run meal because it isn't same old, I'll use a modest Omelet plate as comparison.  I found low cost from $8,99 to up to $12.99, which included sides of potato and toast, so comparable sides. A low range bottle of red was at least $22.00 a bottle.  My savings, using $10.99, mid range for omelet comparison, was $9.56 per person, $38.24 for family plus $5.00 for wine, so $43.24.

While financially, I might not be able to do every meal, the entire family, as a donation, this will give me a nudge to forgo an extra meal out of the house, in exchange for giving more to people who need the basics so much more than I need a restaraunt meal. How about you?  I'm reading a lot of creative ways people are stretching their own means in efforts to be more generous to others, from donating the second buy one get one, to pledging donations for every pound lost between now and New Years. If you are on the receiving end, here's hoping your opportunities expand, and you feel the love and support of your community, friends, and families.  We are all in this thing called life together. 

Speaking of clever and creative shoppers, pop over to Sluggy's Site for her December Gift Box give away.  Read farther back in posts and you will see how she has mastered not just shopping for her family, but has been able to be generous to the needs of her community.  Hat's off to  you Sluggy!