A Dread Decade?

It seems as though people are not only glad to see the last of 2009…but of the whole darn decade. That seems a little excessive to me. Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater, people. Last year was certainly challenging, but the entire last ten years? That would mean they were a waste and Frugals abhor waste.

When 2020 rolls around we don’t want to look back and mourn the preceding ten years as a waste, either (let’s not get started on that whole pointless debate again on whether 2010 is the start of new decade or the last year of an old decade, mmkay?). And one way we can do that is to stick to our Frugal guns.

Here’s a good way to get those guns in the first place - run right out and buy The Tightwad Gazette if you haven’t already. That will get the ol’ decade off on the right foot immediately. Oh, and don’t forget to read it, of course. The bad news is, it’s not available for download on the awesome Kindle. Yet. It’s at the library, but this one is definitely worth buying.

Believe it or not, it’s quite possible to go a little too far with the whole Frugal thing. So when you’re buying the T.G., also obtain a copy of Our Mutual Friend by Mr. Charles Dickens and read that too. It’s one thing to be a Frugal, and another entirely to be a Miser. See - miser, misery….get it?

Remember, too, that sustained Frugality is at it’s best and most effortless when it is simply a tool for making life more enjoyable. When we jump into Frugality feet first as a reaction to fear, it will work for a while but not forever. Because then it isn’t fun. And it should be, because it is. After all, every one of us have only a certain time here on this earth. We might as well enjoy it.

Right after you do the above, go into your husband’s/wife’s/s.o.’s/life partner’s underwear drawer, get out some of his/her old worn-out white t-shirts and cut them up for cleaning rags.

There. Now you’ve gotten the new decade off to a rousing (and FUN) Frugal start.