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Welcome Frugalistas!

What exactly does frugal lifestyle mean?  I believe it’s being smart and savvy in your choices. Prioritize and take control of what’s important to you and you will come out ahead.

This blog and website offers frugal tips and money saving ideas to help you live a richer life. Save money on everyday living. Start living the "Frugal Lifestyle" today.

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Does Quantity of Possessions Determine the Quality of Life?

10/13/2016

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​It’s often been said that in life, the things you own end up owning you sooner or later. While not everyone becomes a slave to their possessions, it's undeniable that many people are caught in a rat race that involves working hard everyday in order to be able to buy things they don't necessarily need. Owning objects that have no use for you can result in a decreased quality of life, especially when you factor in the following consequences:


Less space to work with
One of the most basic problems related to leading a clutter-filled life has to do with the sheer space it takes up. Most modern apartments and houses don't have a lot of room to begin with, so knowing how to best take advantage of it is incredibly important. In this regard, unnecessary objects only serve to occupy space that you could use in another much more appropriate fashion. Today's homes favor the concept of open floor plans to a much higher degree than ever before, as space itself has become a prized commodity. In such environments, unneeded clutter sticks out like a sore thumb and can leave your home looking cramped and stuffy. 


A bigger cleaning burden
It's not a stretch to say that most people are not especially fond of cleaning these days. But, whether you prefer doing some light maintenance work on a regular basis or relegating all your chores to one single day of the week, there can be no doubt that having more stuff automatically translates into a bigger cleaning burden overall. From furniture that needs to be wiped down to all the various tidbits that have to be arranged, this can significantly impact your cleaning times, leaving you drained and with fewer hours at your disposal that you can dedicate to other aspects of your life.


Significant health risks
Speaking of cleaning, it's important to note that having a clean home isn't just a cosmetic issue. By living in a grungy environment you expose yourself to all sorts of health risks due to the myriad strains of unwelcome bacteria that take refuge in such homes. Studies have shown that clutter tends to attract more than its fair share of dust mites, which is why people who live in particularly crowded homes have a higher risk of developing asthma and various allergies. What's more, living a clutter-filled life also has plenty of mental downsides, as your brain will live in a state of constant overstimulation and tire much more easily as a result.


A depreciated home value
Finally, clutter also has a negative impact on your home's overall value. In fact, the price of your home seems to be significantly affected by the amount of clutter you keep, as potential buyers tend to be turned off by places they see as not being particularly welcoming. Renovation experts and realtors alike always recommend removing clutter before putting your home up for sale, a simple process that can boost its value by an average of 7%.


As you can see, there are significant side-effects to having excessive possessions. Luckily, there are steps out there that anyone in this situation can take in order to revert back to a healthier lifestyle.Minimalism has grown in popularity over the last few years, and there are lots of handy guides that show just how you can go about eliminating clutter from your life. To start with, simply take a piece of paper and write down every sizable object you own, then proceed to really question the role each of them plays in your life. You'd be surprised to see just how very few things are actually necessary in order to lead a fun and fulfilling life.

All in all, the road to a clutter-free existence may not always be easy, but, if you truly value your family's well-being, it's something that's definitely worth fighting for. By taking the first few steps towards a simpler life today, you'll be starting down a path that can give you peace of mind, not to mention facilitate a much higher degree of financial independence down the road, so that one day you may be able to look back and see just how far you've come.
​
About the author:
Mila Payton is an economist by profession. She enjoys traveling, writing and cooking. While looking for answers and inspiration, she can be found on various conventions worldwide.
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    What does living frugally mean to me? Well, it does NOT mean being cheap, quite the contrary, I believe it’s being smart in your choices, such as how you spend your money everyday. Prioritize and take control of what’s important to you. I always strive to spend less on almost everything.

    In this challenging economy, some of us have had to cut back on our expenses. Wouldn't it be nice to still have the things or services you want and need but not have to pay full price or even better, get them for free? 

    Choose value and quality over quantity or fads and you will come out ahead. The great benefit of being frugal is that it eliminates waste and clutter which in turn helps our environment.  By doing simple changes towards more “green” and frugal ways, together we can make an impact on our planet. 
        

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     Hi, my name is Marissa Winfrey and I have been living the frugal life ever since I can remember. I have always looked for great bargains and getting the best value for my money without compromising style and quality.

    My background is in visual display and interior decorating. It’s always been my objective to recommend cost effective solutions to my clients. I, of course, practice what I preach! I have furnished my own homes mostly with furnishings and decor items from my own little vintage boutique, estate sales, discount stores, flea markets, yard sales, thrift stores and even curbside discarded furniture!

    My frugal practice goes beyond the home. I offer money saving tips on just about everything, from shopping to travel and everything in between. I hope my blog and website will inspire everyone to be their own Frugalista.

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Read and learn about useful tips and tricks from experts on how to live "the frugal lifestyle" everyday!  Check out the books below, to see more of my top picks of frugal and financial savvy books, please visit The Frugal Book Store.
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Living The Savvy Life:
The Savvy Woman's Guide to Smart Spending and Rich Living
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It's Not About Being Cheap.  Living the Savvy Life isn't about being a cheapskate, a miser or a tightwad.  It's about having security and peace of mind by spending less than you make.  It's about knowing where you stand financially on a daily basis so you can make intelligent fiscal decisions. 

​It's about being penny-wise on the things that are less important to you so you can spend money on the things that are important to you. It's about choosing to purchase only the things that you love and make you happy.  
It's about finding, attaining and maintaining balance.  Are you ready to start Living the Savvy Life?

   
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​Thrifty: 
Living the Frugal Life with Style


Best-selling author Marjorie Harris offers a timely and entertaining guide to living the richly frugal life. From tips on how to haggle to becoming a frugal fashionista, maintaining your home on a budget, and thrifty gardening, travel, and entertainment, Harris provides essential guidelines to living a quality life on less. Written in her trademark witty, engaging, and accessible style, Thrifty is packed with simple and savvy tips drawn from Harris' own fulfilled, thrifty experience. Bonus tips come from renowned experts such as best-selling author Margaret Atwood, chef Jamie Kennedy, actor R. H. Thomson, travel writer Sylvia Fraser, and The Globe and Mail's style columnists.
  
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How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free: 
Retirement Wisdom That You Won't Get from Your Financial Advisor
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How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free offers inspirational advice on how to enjoy life to its fullest. The key to achieving an active and satisfying retirement involves a great deal more than having adequate financial resources; it also encompasses all other aspects of life -- interesting leisure activities, creative pursuits, physical well-being, mental well-being, and solid social support. 

What sets this retirement book apart from all the others is its holistic approach to the fears, hopes, and dreams that people have about retirement. This international bestseller (over 110,000 copies sold in its first edition) goes way beyond the numbers that is often the main focus of retirement planning in most retirement books.
   
To see more of my top picks of frugal and financial savvy books, please visit The Frugal Book Store.

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