the art of frugal living

I’m no stranger to economic recessions. I graduated from school during the recession of the 1980s, followed by another recession a decade later. As a young, aspiring artist with a capital A, I was the antithesis of affluence. In my circle of artists, punk rockers, anarchists, and neo-hippies, having less was cool for all the right reason: it demonstrated detachment from materialism, plus you stuck it to the Man by eschewing a consumerist lifestyle. Truth is, I didn’t need or want any of the trappings of the middle class.

Fast forward about 15 years. A few things have changed in my life, but my core value has remained the same: less is more. Whether by design or by circumstance, I’ve managed to live small, allowing me to indulge in the things that mattered most to me. To me, thrift is a responsible choice.

Over the years I’ve found my personal formula for financial happiness. This is not meant to be a recommendation or advice on personal finance, but it works for me.

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