Being Content In Your Frugalness

Just like working out or drinking eight glasses of water a day, my commitment to being frugal can get lax at times. With fitness, I’ll still go for a

jog a few times a week or hit the gym for a workout class, but the intensity isn’t behind it. I’m kind of skating through it so I can check it off my to-do list, or not feel so guilty about that cheesecake I ate yesterday. Saving money can be like that too.

I am a couponer, but I must admit that sometimes I get a little bored doing it. I still refuse to go to the grocery store without doing some research first, but I may be less dedicated to seeking out hard-to-find coupons or I may skip over some really good deals on items I can’t use, but someone else might. It’s the same with saving money in other areas of life. That’s why it’s important to find what inspires you. For me, it’s hearing other people’s stories of saving money.

I recently went to the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina. It’s a beautiful place and admission is free. It’s an inspiring place, but I even found inspiration for saving money. One of the displays showed a light fixture Ruth Graham, Billy’s wife, had made out of a cut tin can. While I may not copy her interior design skills, I thought it was inspiring to see that ingenuity. Also, I was able to interview Michelle Duggar from 19 Kids and Counting a few weeks ago. We talked a lot about how she saves money. Hearing about her family’s motto to “buy used and save the difference” really inspired me to check out my local thrift stores. Where do you find inspiration for staying motivated to save money, pay down debt or keep clipping those coupons?