Comments on: Frugality with Grace http://melaniemulhall.wordpress.com/2008/11/22/frugality-with-grace/ Living Your Best Life Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:57:48 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Melanie Mulhall http://melaniemulhall.wordpress.com/2008/11/22/frugality-with-grace/#comment-149 Melanie Mulhall Tue, 09 Dec 2008 01:23:26 +0000 http://melaniemulhall.wordpress.com/?p=71#comment-149 Rosemary, Contentment is a wonderful thing . . . and is absolutely a part of what I mean when I refer to frugality with grace. You have commented that what you spend money on has changed over the past fifteen years. It is interesting how what we value, prefer, long for, need, and demand for ourselves all change over time. And with those changes, we also change how we spend our money. Some of it is life stage. Corinne is younger and in a different life stage than me. Her spending reflects it (though her spending is curiously similiar to mine in some ways.) Tammy is also in a different place. Her work and where she is at in her life are reflected in her spending, I have no doubt. Some of it is connected to life experience and life lessons. As we make our way through life, our experiences inform us on what is important and what is not. With luck, we learn a thing or two and gain a bit of wisdom. That impacts everything, including how we spend money. There are other influences, too, and I would love to hear what you and others believe they are. Thank you for a comment that has me thinking! Melanie Rosemary,

Contentment is a wonderful thing . . . and is absolutely a part of what I mean when I refer to frugality with grace. You have commented that what you spend money on has changed over the past fifteen years. It is interesting how what we value, prefer, long for, need, and demand for ourselves all change over time. And with those changes, we also change how we spend our money.

Some of it is life stage. Corinne is younger and in a different life stage than me. Her spending reflects it (though her spending is curiously similiar to mine in some ways.) Tammy is also in a different place. Her work and where she is at in her life are reflected in her spending, I have no doubt.

Some of it is connected to life experience and life lessons. As we make our way through life, our experiences inform us on what is important and what is not. With luck, we learn a thing or two and gain a bit of wisdom. That impacts everything, including how we spend money.

There are other influences, too, and I would love to hear what you and others believe they are.

Thank you for a comment that has me thinking!

Melanie

]]> By: Melanie Mulhall http://melaniemulhall.wordpress.com/2008/11/22/frugality-with-grace/#comment-148 Melanie Mulhall Tue, 09 Dec 2008 01:11:20 +0000 http://melaniemulhall.wordpress.com/?p=71#comment-148 Tammy, When you are a one person business who can work mostly out of your home, it is easier to be frugal, I agree. We do run the risk of being alone a good deal and while virtual friends are great, I like the look, feel, and smell of the person in the flesh enough to make sure I'm around other members of my species with some regularity. I encourage finding a group or groups of like minded people to meet with. (I belong to Boulder Media Women and the Colorado Independent Publishers Association, for instance.) And rock on, Tammy! Melanie Tammy,

When you are a one person business who can work mostly out of your home, it is easier to be frugal, I agree. We do run the risk of being alone a good deal and while virtual friends are great, I like the look, feel, and smell of the person in the flesh enough to make sure I’m around other members of my species with some regularity. I encourage finding a group or groups of like minded people to meet with. (I belong to Boulder Media Women and the Colorado Independent Publishers Association, for instance.)

And rock on, Tammy!

Melanie

]]> By: Melanie Mulhall http://melaniemulhall.wordpress.com/2008/11/22/frugality-with-grace/#comment-147 Melanie Mulhall Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:52:28 +0000 http://melaniemulhall.wordpress.com/?p=71#comment-147 Corinne, You and I could give a class on this! And we're not alone, thank goodness. I love that you and your family are very clear about your priorities and I love that you are serving as a great model for your daughter. It is true that the time we have with our loved ones is of unknown quantity. All the more reason to make every moment with them special. Thank you for your thoughtful comments. Melanie Corinne,

You and I could give a class on this! And we’re not alone, thank goodness. I love that you and your family are very clear about your priorities and I love that you are serving as a great model for your daughter. It is true that the time we have with our loved ones is of unknown quantity. All the more reason to make every moment with them special.

Thank you for your thoughtful comments.

Melanie

]]> By: Rosemary Carstens http://melaniemulhall.wordpress.com/2008/11/22/frugality-with-grace/#comment-146 Rosemary Carstens Sat, 06 Dec 2008 00:05:00 +0000 http://melaniemulhall.wordpress.com/?p=71#comment-146 Another wonderful, thought-provoking post, Melanie. I always enjoy your thought process and your sharing. I have learned so much about how to live more simply and take my joys in whatever is around me. What I spend money on has definitely changed over the past 15 years. I love books, but only buy those I want for my work as a writer, with the rare exception. I read about 80 books a year, but mostly get those from the library or they are review copies sent to me, which I pass along to others when I am through. Although I've always loved beautiful clothes, since I work at home and don't have the social life I once had, I spend very little on them any more. I spend money on movies, on going out for food or drinks with friends, and occasionally I take a little trip where I try to combine both work and pleasure. I drive an old car that has served me well, clean my own house and try to be in the moment as I do. I enjoy cooking and very, very seldom use any processed foods. On an almost daily basis, I am content. Another wonderful, thought-provoking post, Melanie. I always enjoy your thought process and your sharing. I have learned so much about how to live more simply and take my joys in whatever is around me. What I spend money on has definitely changed over the past 15 years. I love books, but only buy those I want for my work as a writer, with the rare exception. I read about 80 books a year, but mostly get those from the library or they are review copies sent to me, which I pass along to others when I am through. Although I’ve always loved beautiful clothes, since I work at home and don’t have the social life I once had, I spend very little on them any more. I spend money on movies, on going out for food or drinks with friends, and occasionally I take a little trip where I try to combine both work and pleasure. I drive an old car that has served me well, clean my own house and try to be in the moment as I do. I enjoy cooking and very, very seldom use any processed foods. On an almost daily basis, I am content.

]]> By: alunatunes http://melaniemulhall.wordpress.com/2008/11/22/frugality-with-grace/#comment-145 alunatunes Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:09:04 +0000 http://melaniemulhall.wordpress.com/?p=71#comment-145 Hi Melianie- I so enjoyed your posts! As a "one person" business, I too find it easy to be frugal. No one to impress with the 'right clothes' or purse, no fighting am traffic, no lunches out... I really love working at home (i'm a music publicist and fledging writer) but i do tend to be alone alot and sometimes worry about that. I get out a couple times a week to run errands but have more virtual friends than real ones! Thanks for the posts - i loved the one about your mom's delicates.... Come by and visit me - i'm at http://alunatunes.wordpress.com Hi Melianie- I so enjoyed your posts! As a “one person” business, I too find it easy to be frugal. No one to impress with the ‘right clothes’ or purse, no fighting am traffic, no lunches out…
I really love working at home (i’m a music publicist and fledging writer) but i do tend to be alone alot and sometimes worry about that. I get out a couple times a week to run errands but have more virtual friends than real ones!
Thanks for the posts – i loved the one about your mom’s delicates….
Come by and visit me – i’m at
http://alunatunes.wordpress.com

]]> By: Corinne McKay http://melaniemulhall.wordpress.com/2008/11/22/frugality-with-grace/#comment-140 Corinne McKay Sun, 23 Nov 2008 01:21:51 +0000 http://melaniemulhall.wordpress.com/?p=71#comment-140 What a great post, Melanie!! As a die-hard tightwad, I think you're right on; it's all about priorities and putting your resources where they really matter. We also cook all of our own food, drive a 10 year old car (which is an upgrade from our previous 17 year old car) and house 3 people and 2 freelance businesses in a 1,200 square foot house. I really couldn't even tell you the last time I paid retail for a clothing item other than sports and outdoor clothes that are hard to find used. In addition our entertainment costs are almost nothing; we go to a lot of free concerts, but we don't do Netflix or movies in the theater. On the other hand, we sink a fair bit of money into things that are really important to us; we buy almost all organic food, good chocolate, etc. because we really enjoy cooking and eating. We also spend a lot on outdoor gear like bikes, passes to the climbing gym, etc. because we enjoy both the experience and doing things together as a family. Same with traveling; we take a big international vacation about once a year (on the cheap, camping or staying in budget hotels of course!!) but I really believe that these experiences, rather than things, are moments that my daughter will remember forever. I always tell her (at age 6) that the most precious thing we have is time together, because that's the great unknown quantity in life! What a great post, Melanie!! As a die-hard tightwad, I think you’re right on; it’s all about priorities and putting your resources where they really matter. We also cook all of our own food, drive a 10 year old car (which is an upgrade from our previous 17 year old car) and house 3 people and 2 freelance businesses in a 1,200 square foot house. I really couldn’t even tell you the last time I paid retail for a clothing item other than sports and outdoor clothes that are hard to find used. In addition our entertainment costs are almost nothing; we go to a lot of free concerts, but we don’t do Netflix or movies in the theater.

On the other hand, we sink a fair bit of money into things that are really important to us; we buy almost all organic food, good chocolate, etc. because we really enjoy cooking and eating. We also spend a lot on outdoor gear like bikes, passes to the climbing gym, etc. because we enjoy both the experience and doing things together as a family. Same with traveling; we take a big international vacation about once a year (on the cheap, camping or staying in budget hotels of course!!) but I really believe that these experiences, rather than things, are moments that my daughter will remember forever. I always tell her (at age 6) that the most precious thing we have is time together, because that’s the great unknown quantity in life!

]]>