Frugality is the practice of acquiring goods and services in a restrained manner, and resourcefully using already owned economic goods and services, to achieve a longer term goal.

Common strategies of frugality include the reduction of waste, curbing costly habits, suppressing instant gratification by means of fiscal self-restraint, seeking efficiency, avoiding traps, defying expensive social norms, embracing cost-free options, using barter, and staying well-informed about local circumstances and both market and product/service realities. Frugal living is practiced by those who aim to cut expenses, have more money, and get the most they possibly can from their money.

Frugality, in the context of certain belief systems, is a philosophy in which one does not trust (or is deeply wary of) "expert" knowledge, often from commercial markets or corporate cultures, claiming to know what is in the best economic, material, or spiritual interests of the individual.

Different spiritual communities consider frugality to be a virtue or a spiritual discipline. The basic philosophy behind this is the idea that people ought to save money in order to allocate it to more charitable purposes, such as helping others in need. There are also environmentalists who consider frugality to be a virtue through which humans can make use of their ancestral skills as hunter-gatherers, carrying little and needing little, and finding meaning in nature instead of man-made conventions or religion. Henry David Thoreau expressed a similar philosophy in Walden, with his zest for self-reliance and minimal possessions while living simply in the woods.

My friend at work is remodeling one his bathrooms. So far I have acquired the old toilet since he had it pulled out already and helped me to take it to van. He will have the old sinks out this weekend for me to put in my new bathroom, too. The bathtub he said will take a while to pull because it is built-in. I have bartered some concrete blocks that he needs. Another friend who is jealous of his wife and appreciates me helping her at work is hauling off my trash for free and is bringing me enough shingles free of charge to finish my roof in my new room. A nurse at work who doesn't like to eat alone brings extra food that her daughter makes especially for me. My cousin's husband has given me a door for my new room just because he likes me being there for my uncle who is his wife's father. These are just examples.

I gotta admit, the topic header caught my eye ... my first thought was "Well, duh ... who'd ever think they'd get any business if they networked with their enemies?" ... btw, I'm not 'frugal' - I'm 'cheap' ... unless it's something I need desperately - like food - it stays in the store ... and if I can get something that's 'previously owned' for cheaper than retail, I'm all over that ... on eBay, I pull stuff off my 'watch' list once it exceeds 25% of retail, and I'm always amazed at how much stuff sells for MORE than retail these days on there ... I'm not about spending money - I'm about making and KEEPING money ...

It all comes down to a truism:

"The more you know, the less you need."

I think you are ahead of me, then. I would say I am cheaper rather than cheap. I think it would take me more maturity to be cheap. I am getting there though. I haven't quite made it to the Ebenezer Scrooge category quite, yet. I would have to say I am more like Marley.

When the choice is between McD's 99¢ burger and BK's 99¢ burger, it's all moot. When it's between Del Monte green peas or Dollar General green peas, Dollar General wins. Commodities are commodities. $7 per lb coffee doesn't taste qualitatively better than $3 per lb coffee. Skim milk, no matter the price, is still fat-free. Bread that's a day old is still bread - just cheaper. Non-brand-name peanut butter is still made from peanuts. All hot sauces are not equally hot, but all are equally sauces. Most often, the difference is not one of quality or price, but of competing art departments designing labels to appeal to individuals at different price points and at different socio-economic levels ... Eggs, no matter how pretty the label, will always be calcium-shelled ovoids dropped from a chicken's asss.

Here in this sleepy little beachside hollow we as a community have just formalised a Community Garden, A Men's Shed, and a Women's Space...

places and spaces created for this community to economise, learn, share skills, wisdom and insights...benefitting ALL with frugality and co-operative communal existance. We have a movement here called Transitional Townships...and as the Peak Oil situation moves forward...we too shall move forward with a more sustainable reusable existance...we are a small population, isolated geographically so is an ideal situation to utilise what we have.

It all comes down to a truism:

"The more you know, the less you need."

I really like that. I am sure you have heard that song by Madonna where she sings, "I am a material girl and I live in a material world." I am thinking that stuff really makes you happy, huh? I can remember when I was just happy to have the clothes on my back. Sometimes when you are happy go lucky you just don't need all that stuff. It is like we are attacked with all this consumerism and it can affect the way we view life and happiness.

I think that is beautiful; Even more beautiful than an utopia because it seems more real and practical.

My view of life 'n 'stuff' can be explained quite simply by invoking the classic bell curve ...

(1) When we're on the 'uphill' (left hand) side of the curve, we're all about 'acquisition'.

(2) When we're on the 'downhill' (right hand) side of the curve, we're all about 'giving away'.

I don't really 'need' material stuff beyond food 'n clothes now. Software is getting to be 'need to have' stuff, tho' ...

You really make a lot of sense. That is so cool how you explained that.

Thanks ... I still need new software, tho' ... if you know anyone with Illustrator CS4 for Mac who's looking to sell it (reasonably or, preferably, cheap), I'm in the market ...

http://www.downloadkeeper.com/illustrator-cs4-mac-crack-serial-download.html

I will keep a lookout for it.

Cool ... thanks a lot ...