[Katie]

Someone with patience and the willingness to break this down for me, I would love any advice you’re willing to give me.

This is so hard for me. Being very vulnerable here, it’s hard for me to determine needs from wants.

I’m not an impulse shopper. I don’t enjoy shopping until I find something I really like using.

I don’t think I’m particularly high-maintenance. But I find thrifting overwhelming. I don’t like choice.

I look up online what the good, better, and best of something (like small appliances) are and just buy that. I’ve always followed the rule of buying quality over quantity.

Somewhere along the line, I lost the concept of what’s reasonable. What’s actually worth buying to solve a problem? Or is the convenience worth it?

I don’t know how to determine how many of so-and-so you need. I don’t see being frugal as a simple equation.

I see so much nuance. I’ve got to figure this out. Awareness is the first step, right?

[Nataya]

I dont think being frugal is black and white. If some things bring you joy, like having a nicely organised cupboard, then do so.

Having food items clearly labelled to make sure you use it up before it expires seems like that can be from a frugal mindset.

Not everything has to be mismatched mason jars from the opshop.

I think save in different areas to enjoy things you like

[Darla]

Definitions:
Needs = Food/water, shelter/Rent/Mortgage, transportation, utilities, medical,
Basic clothing

Wants =
Everything else
On limited/low/fixed income, government assistance, buying new is a luxury.

If you can afford to choose new storage containers, after your survival needs have been met, frugality is a choice for you.

There are two types of frugality:
1. Necessity
2. Choice
When steel dumping took place in the 80’s my dad was impacted as a millworker. Frugality was a necessity.

We prioritized needs over wants.
In 1986, I was 16 and went to work to cover my expenses: clothing and personal care products, all luxuries).

I walked to work, initially, unless it was storming. I bought $500 car before the 2nd winter.
Eventually, I paid for college.

As a result, I built my career in accounting and finance.
Needs will always be the items required for survival.

If your home burned down and so did the business you worked for, what would be your priorities?

Those items listed in the needs category.
I now live frugally by choice.

[Lindsay]

I think im like you when it comes to shopping. For me, before I buy something, I think about what purpose the item has, how often I would use it, where I would put it, and if the price is reasonable.

Purpose- is the item going to add to my life?

Where – is it just going to sit there taking up space? Do I have the space where I want to put it?

Often – I don’t want to buy it if I’m not going to use it frequently.

If it is decorative it comes down to how much I like it and if I already have alot of that season.

Cost – I don’t like wasting $

[Donna]

What I do is first try to make do with what I have…and then look for ideas on Pinterest or online for the “perfect” fit item for the issue…then I look for a cheaper fix that’s almost as good, like keep my eye out for dollar store organizers, or look online for “dollar store organizing ideas”, or just keep a list of things I am looking for, and I might just find it cheaper at stores like TJ Maxx, Costco, or even a thrift store or years sale!

We did a 2 year RV Life, and the limit space drive us to try new and different ideas, some of them we still do: use the space on the back of doors and cabinets for hooks, baskets, hanging pockets, behind the door hooks for clothing, I even used lightweight tins from Amazon and sticky velcro tape to hold my spices there alphabetically! And old frame with window screen places in it held my earrings and jewelry.

Hanging poly canvas closet shelves for sweaters and shoes hold our casual clothing just rolled up— and used the space better from top to bottom in our closets, and we could immediate see what we were looking for!

Collapsible silicone food storage containers with locking lids are a bunch easier to store and you can see at a glance what you have!

You can buy mixing bowls, colanders, a dish pan and a dish drainer set, even a salad spinner this way, and it saves so much room!

They even sell nesting pots and pans nowadays with handles that are removable and lock into place…I would love some of these.

I guess you have to weigh what is important to you, is it frugal enough, can you make do with a cheaper, less expensive item?

[Melissa]

I determine needs vs wants by “can I live without this?” (yes=want, no=need). I ask myself, “do I already have something that would serve the purpose this would serve?”, as well as, “will I get any significant benefit from owning this in my day-to-day life?”. “How soon” or “how often” will I need or use this are also helpful to ask.

If something is only going to be used once a year, I probably don’t need it.

If I’ll be using it daily and it will greatly simplify my life or help me in some major way, I usually consider it worthwhile.

There is no harm in having fewer items that are higher quality, especially if they actually function better & last longer. (Some expensive things are worse than their cheaper alternative, so it’s not always a matter of more pricey = better.)

I have a lot of the same tupperware you have- they are nice quality and I don’t know about you but I use them daily for all kinds of things.

They last, are easier to clean, & healthier for both humans and the environment.

I however am a minimalist so I tend to get the minimum quantity I need of any given thing, maybe plus one or two if I’d need to wash it or have a back up for some reason.

If you’re meal planning 7 meals at a time it makes sense to have 7 containers to put things in ahead of time.

If you’re just cooking things as you go maybe you only need 2 or 3. That’s how I logic things anyhow, hope it’s helpful.

[Author]

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