Posted July 18, 2009 - 09:00 by Xin Lu
Lately I have been hearing about the concept of "forced frugality" from the media and my peers. Many colleagues and family members say that they feel a need to be frugal in this economic climate due to job loss and investment losses. With this shift to frugality it seems that shopping at thrift or dollar stores is suddenly trendy. However, will this new wave of frugality last?
Posted June 24, 2009 - 08:21 by Philip Brewer
A while back, I heard an interview with a guy who, troubled by the Exxon Valdez oil spill, decided the right response was to quit driving. The bit of the interview that stuck with me was the part where he talked about how surprised he was at the negative reactions. He wasn't telling anyone else that they shouldn't drive, but people were treating him as if he was a walking criticism of their lifestyle.
Posted June 18, 2009 - 09:46 by Xin Lu
A friend recently told me that someone she knows is so cheap that he would not let her use paper towels at his place. Yet at the same time he complains about not having enough money and lives in a very expensive apartment and drives a brand new car. I also know some similar folks who seem to be tightfisted about everything except for one or two big expenses in their lives. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but perhaps it is more efficient to save on that big expense instead of clawing onto paper towels.
Posted May 25, 2009 - 08:37 by Myscha Theriault
I understand we all need to make a buck. I also understand that the folks in charge need to make decisions about things such as price hikes and product locations according to whatever their marketing and sales gurus are telling them. But three standard events that occur at basically every grocery store on a semi-regular basis throw me for a loop every time.
Posted December 31, 2008 - 05:08 by Philip Brewer
I view frugal living as essentially hedonistic: I don't deny myself things. Rather, I spend less on the things I don't care about in order to be able to spend more on the things that matter to me. Anybody who does this, though, sooner or later (as soon as friends, relatives, coworkers, or neighbors notice some of that spending on things that matter more) is going to hear, "You're so lucky to be able to afford that!"
Posted December 19, 2008 - 07:36 by Philip Brewer
For some time now, we've had good success drawing on the decades from the 1950s through the 1990s for our retro. Some bolder types have even made some use of the 1890s and 1920s--periods of wealth and excess--to inspire fashion, architecture, lifestyles, and the arts. The new economic realities, though, I think will convince us to draw on some new periods for our retro: the 1930s and 1940s.
Posted August 31, 2008 - 06:02 by Myscha Theriault
Being connected on the road can be a challenge. Doing it while your life is in complete transition adds another layer altogether. When our home recently got wiped out during a flood, we had to figure out very quickly how to accomplish our normal, work from home all day routine while being completely displaced. Here's how we're pulling it off.
Posted August 7, 2008 - 13:48 by Xin Lu
Recently CNN published an article titled "No kids, no jobs for growing number of wives ". This article profiled two women who are stay at home wives with no kids. A quote from the article states that "stay-at-home wives are the latest 'status symbols'" and that "a stay-at-home spouse is often an extreme and visible luxury".
Posted July 26, 2008 - 14:54 by Linsey Knerl
Everyone’s looking to become less dependent on the traditional economy. As we wean ourselves from manufactured luxuries and discover ways to create for ourselves, it can be difficult finding where to start. This handful of print magazines offers timeless advice and step-by-step instructions for living on less. There’s something here for everyone!
Posted July 14, 2008 - 08:05 by Myscha Theriault
Are you a Frugal Duchess fan? Can’t keep from tuning in to her blog to read about luxury living for less? Then you’ll be delighted to know that Sharon Harvey Rosenberg has a new book out.
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