What Does it Mean to Live Frugally?

This Blogs Purpose:

Two years ago I was the stereotypical naive college student. I took out multiple student loans to pay for tuition; used my part-time job to fund my weekend habits; bought what I wanted and not what I needed and fell into every last one of the college money-traps. 

Somewhere along the line I realized that this was not normal and something needed to be changed. I did some research, experimented, talked to some professionals.  Now, with a changed attitude toward life, I am a happier, more social, and more successful individual (and no student loans!). 

My goal with this blog is to share what I have learned so that others do not commit the same costly mistakes.

Living Frugally? How?

Frugality can be defined as living without waste, being thrifty. It involves living a lifestyle that prioritizes waste-reduction, debt-reduction, budgeting, saving, D.I.Y, and practical knowledge.

In short, frugality can be summed up nicely in one sentence: Living beneath your means. This could not be stressed enough. You cannot spend more than you have. It is amazing how simple that concept is yet how many people disregard it. Only now, with the economy in it's current state, are people starting to realize the pitfalls they have set themselves.

Arriving along with our slowly recovery economy is a wave of frugal thinking. A new respect for a simple living. With it comes some personal sacrifice but the short and long-term benefits greatly outweigh the hardships. 

“Your life is the sum result of all the choices you make, both consciously and unconsciously. If you can control the process of choosing, you can take control of all aspects of your life. You can find the freedom that comes from being in charge of yourself.” -Robert F. Bennett 

I invite you to take control of your life.