Avoid "Keeping Up With the Frugals" to Improve Your Finances

We’ve all heard that we should avoid “keeping up with the Joneses,” which means spending money just because other people buy certain things. Trying too hard to be the most frugal can ruin a budget just the same.

As personal finance blog Red Debted Stepchild explains, if you spend much time in money-saving circles, you’ve probably felt pressure to win the World’s Most Frugal game. However, it’s okay to indulge in a financial vice every now and then. And spending hours finding the best coupons won’t save you nearly as much as reducing one bill permanently. In short, it’s okay if you don’t win the frugal game:

Instead of trying to be uncomfortably frugal to keep up with the “standard” in our community, I’m admitting to myself and to you all that I’m never going to be the most frugal blogger you’ll read. I’d much rather find ways to earn more money so I can afford my lifestyle and continue to pay off debt instead of cutting the things I love out of my budget to save a few bucks.

The same social pressures that lead us to overspend can lead us to under-spend in ways that aren’t always as productive. Remember, being financially responsible is about spending less than you take in. You don’t have to be a master couponer or live entirely without luxuries to be financially responsible.

Keeping Up with Those More Frugal | Red Debted Stepchild via Rockstar Finance

Photo by TaxCredits.net.

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