The Frugal Greenie: 16 Ways To Make The Most Of What You Have
By: LiteGreen on 02/09/2010.
Frugality is a life concept. It’s not just buying on sale or turning off light switches. (Although that’s part of it, of course.) Frugality is more about asking yourself, “Do I really need this?” Or, “How can I fix this so I can still use it?”
Today, it seems that people everywhere in the U.S. just plain have more. No home is without several TVs and computers. Most families have more than one car. Families eat out several times a week, just for the convenience. We buy clothes we don’t need and won’t wear, just because they’re on sale.
As a society, we’ve grown bilious and lazy. We throw something away simply because it needs repair. We drive to the post office instead of walking because it’s warm outside. It wasn’t always that way, you know.
For centuries, humankind did without A/C, cars and coffee houses. And hey, guess what, we survived. Imagine that.
I’m not suggesting we give up modern medicine, electric coffeepots or washing machines, but I think maybe it’s time to take a look at how we spend not just money, but all resources. Even if the economy weren’t sagging, it’s just not right to consume so much in the face of a world that has so little. (I’m thinking of water here, especially. So the next time you brush your teeth and just let the tap run, remember, children in Africa don’t have clean water to drink. Think about it.)
