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  • Playing around: Frugality as a game

    Posted Jan 10 2008, 07:16 AM by Karen Datko
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    Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money

    This post comes from Sarah Winfrey at partner blog Wise Bread.

    Face it: Most people don't find frugality fun.

    If you describe something as frugal, people tune you out. They walk away, uninterested, or afraid they don't have the willpower to do whatever it is you're talking about. Describe a person as frugal and that person immediately seems nitpicky and maybe even annoying.

    We are turned off for one of two reasons: Frugality seems boring, like something our parents would be interested in, or we're afraid of it. We fear frugality because it requires willpower, and our society doesn't exactly turn out people who can consistently choose something uncomfortable.

    It's a lot easier to never try than to try and fail, so we avoid frugality.

    The truth is, frugality can be difficult, particularly when it is required and is not a lifestyle choice. However, being frugal does not have to be so burdensome. When we think of frugality as a game we play with ourselves (and maybe with our friends or family), it becomes less threatening and more achievable.   Read More...

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  • 5 tips for making do with the right now

    Posted Nov 15 2007, 07:16 AM by Karen Datko
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    Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
    This post comes from Linsey Knerl at partner blog Wise Bread . My family has lived in the same house for two years, but we neither rent it nor own it. It is part of a family farming corporation with an uncertain future. We don’t know if we will be here another 10 years, or if we will need to move next spring. It seems silly to invest too much in it without it being a permanent home, but, at the same time, we really want to make it our own. It seems easy to hold your breath and wait for situations in life to become clear, determined and permanent. But what will you be missing in the meantime? Here are five steps that can help you live life while waiting to see just where it may go. Know that you are not alone. How many other honorable professions and lifestyles are temporary, nomadic , or without careful material plans? Plenty. Just ask any missionary family, military spouse, or theater troupe how it feels never to know what the next move may hold for them. Time spent at a single location   Read More...
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