Frugal Child Turns Into Squandering Adult

I was raised to be a frugal child. We were what current standards define as poor thus we found creative ways to use our resources wisely. I did not get to have trending toys or clothes growing up in the mid 60’s. My parents drove an old brownish rusty Studebaker. We had a backyard garden, a swing set and a sandbox to play with. I once confessed to a banana stabbing crime I did not commit just to get a dime. Susan Ragolia, in the edited book, The Frugal Woman’s Guide to a Rich Life, defines frugal as someone who is the mother of creativity. Frugal is getting the most for your money,”

Growing up I watched my parents get the mist for their money. This meant buying groceries prudently and on a strict cash only grocery store budget. For entertainment we used free nature events to keep us busy and outdoors all the time. I loved going to Lake Michigan most of all and we always entered on a free entry point to the beach. We always recycled everything. I don’t recall having garbage or even a garbage can. My grandmother made all my clothes.

The Webster’s Dictionary defines frugal as an adjective derived from the French meaning virtuous and from Latin to enjoy. Around 1590 it began to define characteristics or reflecting economy in the use of resources. I think a lot about being virtuous but I never really thought about being frugal as a virtue. I think it really is a virtue to have and I’ve managed to lose sight of the virtue of ‘being frugal.’

What is interesting to think about is the derivative of the word from Latin to mean enjoy. You could make the claim that to be frugal is to find joy or enjoyment in nothingness. Joy is within and the virtue of frugality enables you to find joy within and not from external resources.

I’m going to look into these questions from a different perspective of virtue living styles and how the French did that. In the meantime, I am still at a loss of how to explain being a squandering adult given my virtuous childhood. I don’t know where this behavior went south or even why for that matter. And when told, “You’ll never change your behaviors. You’ll fall back into your old ways again.” How can I change? Why haven’t I changed back? When will I change? Can I change? What will it take to not change back? Those are all questions I think I need to resolve some how if I am going to change.