Frugal is the New Black:

Far be it for me to shun a new trend.  For months I’ve been hearing words I hadn’t heard since childhood.  Some of the words I’d NEVER heard before.  Whether I turned on the news, listened to commercials on the radio, overheard couples talking in restaurants or listened to my own friends…this chatter never stopped.  What were they all talking about?

Courtesy of a.drian

• Recession
• Budgets
• Downgrading
• Coupons
• Sales
• Staycations
• Consignment Stores
• Selling on Ebay and Craigslist
• Canceling Services like Cable and Second Phone Lines

I must admit, I fought this with everything I had.  Tried to ignore the chatter.  But it got louder.  I kept spending as I always had, revelling in all the new discounts and sales.  But it finally caught up with me.

As with most drastic trends, I moved somewhat cautiously.  I tried it on for size.  But wasn’t sure if the color looked good on me.  After clearing my head for a few weeks, I tried it on again.  I don’t know if it was the spring tan or my new highlights, but suddenly it looked good on me.  Suddenly I was a Recessionista!

And let me tell you, when I embrace a new trend…I am not shy about it.  As budget websites popped up daily, I tried to visit them all.  Before I knew it I was chattering like everyone else.  My vernacular completely changed.  Suddenly I was buying store brands of food and cutting services left and right.  Some of these examples include:

• Cutting out movie channels on cable.
• Buying in bulk when possible.
• Putting thought into every non-necessity purchase, and often choosing to go without.
• Downgrading cell phone plans.
• Cutting frequency of services.
• Doing an Insurance Check and increasing deductibles.
• Using coupons.
• Shopping sales at the grocery store.
• Not eating out.
  
• Actually sending in rebate paperwork.
• Turning up the thermostat.
• Using cell plan’s free long distance instead of paying extra for these calls on landlines.

Before I knew it, I had literally saved thousands of dollars!  Granted, I was spending way too much before becoming a Recessionista, but let’s not talk about that today.

As it turned out, I’m glad I embraced this trend when I did.  Since I started, things in my life have changed.  My full-time career is Sales.  And sales careers have become very difficult in this economy.  Many colleagues have already lost their jobs.  Will I be next?  Only time will tell.  Whether I am or not, I think this economy has changed the way I will view money for the rest of my life.

I finally respect money and what it can do for me.  I have come to be more disciplined  in my use of it and more realistic about what I really need to live.  I know you’ve heard it many times before, but I am starting to appreciate the little things more.

Spending used to give me a bit of a high.  I loved the feeling of new clothes and furniture.  Or the sparkle of new jewelry.  I’m now going back and appreciating my “gently used” treasures.  After all, gemstones still sparkle after a few years…just clean them.

In the meantime, my mind has become more calm.  While I used to be a shopper looking for a fix,  now I use my time to appreciate the things I already own.

And I must admit, joining in on new trends is always fun.  I think I’m going to embrace the Recessionista Lifestyle for at least several seasons, as I don’t think this new trend will become outdated for some time.  And the lessons I’ve learned will stay with me always, just like a classic Chanel bag.

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