Over the years I have seen pop culture glorifying the “grind” and the expensive “drip” — but what if we actually didn’t need to grind our lives away for these expensive materials?

The frugal lifestyle seems to be making a comeback in today’s culture, but there’s no reason to only see frugality as a trend. Saving money, reusing items, and only buying things that we need should be something we do throughout our entire lives.

Spending money in moderation helps to reduce stress and improve people’s happiness. Being connected to material things can often prevent us from being grateful and happy with the life that we have. Frugality helps to prevent people from connecting their own life and worth to objects that can easily be destroyed — and to prioritize what is actually necessary. 

Living frugally also encourages people to be productive and to work with their hands. A family who has been living with minimal spending said, “If we took the boring, traditional route of running to the store and buying a dresser, we’d not only be several hundred bucks poorer, we also would’ve missed out on the satisfaction that comes from working with our hands to transform something from the trash into a gorgeous treasure.” 

Studies show that this “satisfaction” from creativity is connected to overall well-being. “The present research not only replicates the positive relationship between creativity and well-being but also demonstrates that creativity is beneficial to subjective well-being,” said a 2021 study.

Modeling spending after a frugal lifestyle can also allow for financial independence and the ability to follow one’s passions. Some of the richest people (like Elon Musk and Warren Buffett) have benefited from this financial model. There are even wealthy people who take the time to clip coupons in order to save money.

Saving this kind of money can help students to save for college or even retirement if you’re thinking that far ahead.

Watching your spending can also make it possible to give back to others in need and build community.

Instead of spending a ton of money on something that makes it hard to pay back your debt, find something that is good quality at a lower price. Thrifting is always a good option for furniture and clothes. It helps to reduce waste in landfills, and it gives back to the community.

Now, I’m not saying that you should never buy anything ever again. I’m saying that it’s okay to save. It’s okay to use something to the very end before replacing it. 

I highly recommend adapting to a more frugal lifestyle. It’s sustainable, creates financial leeway, and can improve one’s quality of life.