the simplicity of frugality
Money comes, money goes.
During the lockdown of March 2020, I was certain I would save money. Everything was closed and there was no need for shopping
Turns out, I was wrong. I spent more money in the month of March than any other month. Although I had no source of income, I found a way to justify my reason for spending large amounts of money.
Like any other individual, I am good at justifying my actions to make me feel good about those decisions. My wallet was hurt but I had a stomach full of food and a closet with new clothes; I was happy.
That is the problem. We’d rather look happy instead of experiencing actual happiness.
This month, I am practicing frugality. I don’t have a job, school is challenging, and all I have are the clothes in my closet and way too much coffee that needs to be brewed.
Like the money I lost, I am hoping to receive some kind of contentment and maybe save the pennies in my car.
So far, I have gotten rid of all the clothes in my closet. I’ve cleaned, organized, and reorganized everything in my room.
Cleaning has become an activity that is cathartic. Allowing me to get rid of negative emotions that are too hard to deal with, and replacing them with other not-so-negative activities.
I guess where I’m trying to get at is that, money or no money, I will find activities that will temporarily fulfill that empty feeling.
So as proud as I am for going through the month of March without spending a coin, I am still recycling bad habits in different forms to achieve the same feeling I would get if I were to spend money.
How do I learn?
