Basics of Frugality

We felt it would be good to explain some of the basic principles we try to stick by and why we think they are important, which translates over to why we share what we share here at Pretty Providence.

Provident living:
Becoming self-reliant, staying out of debt, and saving for the future. These principles are part of our faith. Our church leaders have advised us to live providently. We have been blessed time and time again in our lives for following this sound advice, so we value it greatly. We strive every day to be better and better at living this principle because we know how powerful it is to have the financial security and peace that comes from living this way. Read more about our church's provident living resources here.

Living within our means:
In order to keep ourselves in a good financial state, we practice living within our means. This means spending less than we make! It seems simple, but somehow it is not. This principle is where most of our posts here at Pretty Providence are based. We avoid debt, use what we have, purchase used items, try to be handy, limit large expenses, plan creative and inexpensive activities, shop thriftily, plan meals and cook at home, evaluate wants vs. needs, and save as much as we can.

What is so bad about a little debt?
Credit cards, car payments, financing big purchases, etc. These are things that basically everyone in our society does. They are a way of life, but they don't have to be. We know that it seems difficult to avoid sometimes, but it is worth it!  If you can pay in cash for something, even if it takes you longer to be able to get it, you will pay so much less for it by avoiding interest, and be able to use the money that would have gone to interest toward savings or charity. It's just more peaceful to do it that way. Ultimately, debt is not just an inconvenience. It can seem to be a very feasible bill to pay one month, and then the next a job loss has occurred and you not only have no money coming in, but you owe other people money. You never know when an emergency might come, and then the debts you have agreed to pay suddenly seem impossible. A home within our means is the one thing we feel is worth borrowing for. Maybe education, if there is no other way. Still, borrowing as little as possible and repaying as quickly as possible is ideal.

Money isn't everything...
Financial burdens cause all kinds of stress and insecurities that ultimately affect everything else in a person's life. Financial problems are one of the top three reasons for divorce. Stress takes a huge toll on people's physical health. So no, it's not everything, but it affects everything.

So, we like to be frugal. We value it. We promote it. And that's why we make things at home instead of buying, why we share affordable gifts and fashion, why we freezer cook and meal plan, and why we post about budgeting or other money stuff. It all goes together. Little events in life are even more fun, food tastes better, it becomes possible to give more to those who are less fortunate, and it feels way more satisfying to buy something when you do not feel guilty, have to go into debt, or pay interest on it later. I hope you find our posts helpful to you, we love being able to share how we keep frugality fun.