​There are many reasons to start a frugal lifestyle. For people who haven't dipped their toes in the frugal pool yet but want to, it begins with consciously committing to practicing this way of life so that it becomes second nature.

I hope to empower others to adopt this lifestyle without giving up what they are accustomed to. Being frugal not only saves money, but energy and time as well.

Here are my Top 10 Benefits of why someone should consider living a frugal existence... if not all the time, at least some of time. It starts with choosing to do it versus having to do it. Some of the wealthiest people in the world are frugal and most live below their means.

10. SAVE MONEY
This is the obvious reason for most people. Choose to spend your money wisely and smartly only the necessary things in life. But allow yourself a special treat when you have the extra cash in your budget.

9. A SIMPLER LIFE
Life is less chaotic and easier to manage when you pare down to just the essentials you need. Avoid buying "stuff" that has no meaning or purpose. Start by decluttering, purging and eliminating things that have no room in your life.  Start organizing and consolidating things so that they are easier to find or manage, which in turn saves you time and money. Read more about ways to simplify your life here.

8. TIME FREEDOM
Learn to say no to invitations, favors, tasks, etc.. that zap precious time and energy out of you. By politely declining parties or other events from someone you are not exceptionally close to, you save money on gifts and gas, which equates to time for more important things in your life. By choosing how, when and whom you spend your time with gives you more freedom overall.

7. SAVE ENERGY
By simply unplugging from your phone, the internet, the TV or any other electronic device, you not only save money on energy cost, but you have more time and life energy to enjoy life beyond technology. Read more about tips on how to save money on energy costs here.

6. LESS DEBT
While it would be nice to have zero debt, most people have some form of debt.  Tackle your lower balanced loans or debts first and try to pay those off right away. Once you've eliminated or at least reduced your debt, you will feel a sense of freedom that's priceless!

5. EARN SOME CASH
Why not make some extra money by selling unwanted items around the house. My best tip is to sell your stuff via Craigslist or the LetGo app. It's free and it's easy. Another way to make a little cash and declutter you house is to have a garage sale. Any item that does not sell can be donated to Goodwill or your favorite thrift store, which is tax deductible. Check more ways to earn extra cash here.

4. EAT HEALTHIER
By eating out less (especially at fast food restaurants) and preparing meals at home is one way to not only save money but also make healthier choices. Although dining out to a favorite restaurant is always a treat, it can be costly vs. making food at home. Read more on how to buy and eat organic foods without breaking the bank here.

3. LOSE SOME WEIGHT
What an awesome benefit... by choosing eat healthier (see #4), one can actually lose some weight. By eating foods that are either organic or fresh vs. processed our bodies tend to burn more fat. Check out this option for a healthy weight loss supplement.

2. GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Instead of throwing stuff away, evaluate whether you can either recycle, repurpose, or reuse it somehow. For example, by bringing bottles, cans, newspapers, cardboard, etc... to your local recycle center you can also get cash. Also, if you have a piece of furniture that just needs a new coat of paint, why buy a new and expensive piece when the one you have is perfectly fine. Less waste means we can all make a contribution to save our planet. 

1. A RICHER LIFE
Be smart in how you choose to spend your money, your time and your energy. Prioritize and take control of what's really important, by accomplishing this, you can truly enjoy a more rewarding and richer life.
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Back in high school, I wrote an essay titled "The Agony of the Feet" - a play on words from the saying "agony of defeat". The essay was about how my feet would hurt every time I wore high heeled shoes. I have avoided wearing any shoes that had heels higher than 2 inches. I have worn mostly flats or shoes with low heels ever since then. In hindsight this probably contributed to my "flat feet", which I will explain later.

Within the last year I've been experiencing heel pain, which I believe is plantar fasciitis. I tried many natural remedies to "heal" my heel pain, such as: apple cider vinegar foot soaks, heel stretches, as well as several sessions of Myofascial Release Therapy or MFR. What exactly is MFR? It's a manual physical therapy (not massage) that connects deeply with the connective tissue (fascia), using sustained traction or compression for an opportunity to heal long term. Although I got some benefit from these sessions, I honestly did not feel any major change in my heel pain. I decided to halt my sessions, since they weren't giving me any relief and was not financial savvy either. I was also considering the chiropractic route, but after a "free consultation" with one chiropractor, I decided I would try to find a better and a more affordable solution.

So my search continued for a frugal way to eliminate or at least manage my heel pain. I bought several insoles and heel cups from various companies, but I ended up either returning them or never using them again! I found out through my research that I have over pronation or flat feet. Over the years of walking and wearing shoes without enough support, my arches have collapsed, which caused extreme stress on my plantar fascia. 

Although most "experts" will say that wearing flip flops are a big no-no for plantar fasciitis, I have found great relief with Dawgs' original flip flops. However, I can't wear flip flops everyday - and I have several shoes that I like and would prefer to not have to buy several new pairs of shoes with arch support. I do however have a pair of Skechers that are my go to slip on sneakers when I walk the dog.
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I was so happy when Laina Gossman, CEO and founder of Soul Insole reached out to see if I was interested in receiving a pair of their insoles - then do a review about my experience. Needless to say, I said yes! The Soul Insole is a unique washable, reusable, micro-sized orthotic that adds support and comfort for various hard to fit shoes and sandals. This sounds like the answer to my dilemma of not having to buy new pairs of shoes!

I've been using the Soul Insole shoe bubble for a few weeks now. So far, I feel they've address my flat feet issue because the shoe bubble provides arch support where I need them most. I can now wear my favorite pairs of shoes and be comfortable all day! There's adhesive under each insole which helps keep them in place, but I can still adjust them if necessary.

I wash my insoles after a couple of days wear. I love how easy it is to keep them clean - just rinse under water and magically the adhesive regenerates! Their website also states that they can be worn with sandals and flip flops. 

Since my arches have collapsed, my entire alignment is off.  I have been experiencing some pain in my left hip area. Since wearing the insoles, I have noticed that my posture is slightly better. One of their many benefits is that the insoles promotes good balance and alignment.

    

    

I addition to wearing the Soul Insole shoe bubble to help relieve heel pain, I also rub Arnica Cream on my heels and ankles every night before going to bed. I believe I have found the best solutions that work for me. I have saved hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on products and treatments by combining different non-invasive and affordable methods of healing my "agony of the feet".
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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, where I earn a small commission when purchased thru my link.