Living a frugal lifestyle is often viewed as a choice for people that require fewer adventures to be happy and fewer things to consume. While there’s some truth to that, this style of life is actually a fantastic concept for individuals who want to live a more intentional, adventurous, and happier life. Regardless if you and your partner are constant travelers or homebodies, frugal living is something you should miss out on practicing.
Keep in mind though that a frugal lifestyle is a lifelong journey that requires some changes in our decisions and habits toward money. To help you ensure that your life and adventures won’t be compromised while starting to live frugally, here are a number of tips to follow.
Take the vacations you desire
Who says you can’t take vacations when you live frugally? This lifestyle is actually a smart choice for achieving your travel goals. Frugal living can help you improve your financial situation in a way in which you can have enough savings to make vacations a priority. After all, every person needs a break and time to relax. In fact, even short weekend getaways are highly recommended to keep the both of you on the course of frugal living. The entire point of this lifestyle is to put things that matter to you and your partner on top priority, even if that is traveling or taking vacations.
Spend time with like-minded people
Surrounding yourself with individuals who love going on careless shopping to buy the latest phones whenever they come out won’t help you out in becoming intentional with your spending. In fact, it can lead to careless spending, financial crises, and can stress you out. Instead, spend time with people who have the same lifestyle choices or even life goals. This can make your frugal living a lot easier and you can be happier. As a bonus, you can get some inspiration and ideas on how to live and enjoy a frugal lifestyle. After all, having optimistic and like-minded friends can make you happier, according to several studies.
Learn to manage your time
Living a happier and healthier life would be nearly impossible if you can’t manage your time. This must be one of your top priorities. Besides the fact that time is money, this allows you to actually be able to focus on what you value the most in your life. Is it your career? Your health and wellness? Your relationship with others? Determining what you value most and actually making time for it will actually make you happier. Frugality isn’t just about being intentional with your money but also with your time and energy.
Give gifts to loved ones
Spending money on gifts might seem counterproductive, but it’s actually not. Be frugal doesn’t mean you need to completely stop yourself from spending on things that can make you and your loved ones smile. There’s a pure joy that comes with meaningful gifts. A great example is to buy a diamond wedding band for your partner. Why not take your relationship to another level with such amazing jewelry, right?
Giving thoughtful gifts isn’t just a way to let your partner, family, or friends know how much they mean to you. This meaningful act can also make you feel healthier and happier. Aside from boosting a person’s endorphins, studies show that giving meaningful gifts is also effective for reducing anxiety or stress.
Practice mindful resource use
When it comes to frugality, people often think that cutting down their purchases is how the lifestyle works. As a matter of fact, it’s more of being mindful of the resource you have. Not wasting energy around the house is a simple habit to practice but it can tremendously reduce your utility bills, allowing you to save money and stress.
Living frugally also involves being intentional with purchasing one-use products such as plastic cutlery and bags, cotton buds, paper towels, and a lot more. Being mindful about using resources is also a good way to help the environment. You don’t have to feel guilty about causing harm to the planet, and as a bonus, you also get
Focus on mental wellness
Another misconception about frugal living is that it can stress people out. Whether you’re just starting out with living frugally as a couple, it’s best to ensure that your mental health is in good condition. Now, we’re nothing suggesting anything fancy. Even cuddle times with your loved one will do. You can turn your TV or social media off and have quiet mornings. Or, you can enjoy the outdoors by going for a walk or run in the park. Experts also recommend positive thinking and creativity for a happy state of mind. Doing so allows a person to take control of their lives.
Whether you want to take on numerous trips or spend more money on leisure and nice things, starting a frugal lifestyle with your partner would be ideal. Make smart choices and purchases so you could start living a happy life filled with things and experiences that truly matters to both of you.
