On Becoming a Cheapskate
This is my new goal. I want to be a super cheapskate. I want people to look at me and think, “Man, she’s cheap.”
First, Josh and I have been working hard to get out of debt. I’ve been reading a few books. Josh has been connecting with many of the Crown Ministries resources. He’s also into Mvelopes and Wesabe. We’ve been looking at a ka-jillion ways to stretch the old greenback a little further and to stay within a very tight budget. So far, honestly, it’s been kind of fun. I like a good challenge, especially one that pushes you to question the very core of your beliefs. Letting go of materialism and managing the blessings you receive is certainly one such challenge.
So, back to becoming a cheapskate. I was thinking today about how having a child, and desiring to be with him as much as possible, has shifted my thinking on all things financial. Suddenly, saving a dollar is so much more important than making a dollar (no one can tax me on how much I save). Shopping at thrift stores seems more chic and better for the environment (it’s the reuse part of the 3 R’s). Two cars seems like overkill (at least for our current needs). Seeing a company make too much profit off of me makes me really angry. Craigslist rules. Basically, I’ve been thinking a lot about the subject and it’s making my life seem almost like a really interesting strategy game.
Considering this, as well as making your life matter, I was thinking about how money saved by a frugal life could be used to better the lives of others. Or as a ministry. It makes me want to see the world with more open eyes to better understand the role that money has in everything.
I want a bumper sticker that says, “Cheapskating is not a crime.” (Ahhh… that’s a horrible joke.) But, I’m too cheap to buy one.