Mazel tov to Grid on issue #200, quite a feat for print journalism! Thanks for inviting me to update my article on frugal living from the magazine’s inaugural issue.
Frugality is often associated with stinginess, not surprising in our hyperconsumerist culture.
For me, with my longtime focus on greener living, being frugal is about efficient consumption and not thoughtlessly wasting material resources. When such an action also saves me money, I appreciate the endorphin rush. But it’s not the point.
Say I snag a super cheap Amtrak train fare by booking far in advance. That delights me, but the real focus is taking the train, rather than less fuel-efficient driving or flying.
I applaud the many new strategies and infrastructures that facilitate frugal living and help move us toward a zero-waste world.
Reviewing today’s consumption landscape, I applaud the many new strategies and infrastructures that facilitate frugal living and help move us toward a zero-waste world.
Think of all the options for buying and selling secondhand clothing, furniture, household equipment, toys and tools. The internet has brought us eBay, Poshmark, ThredUp, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace for exchanging stuff. For those who prefer free give-and-take, there are local Freecycle, Buy Nothing and Community Gifting groups, plus the ever-popular in-person clothing swaps. Consignment shops and thrift stores are now embraced by people with the means to buy new, but who enjoy treasure-hunting while shrinking their carbon footprint a little.
Now I am a grandmother. Recently, my daughter and son-in-law took their kids to a beautiful bookstore. My twin grandsons, then age 5, were very confused by the presence of a cashier and their parents paying money for new books. They had only checked out books from the library or picked them out of Little Free Libraries. That acquiring books in a store required an exchange of money was a completely foreign concept to them.
One of my personal hobbies is shopping on eBay’s art-to-wear section. Frugal, yes, but also self-indulgent. A handwoven jacket at a high-end craft fair can run into the four figures. Its value declines while hanging in someone else’s closet, and I am the beneficiary. And if I wind up not really wearing one of these acquisitions, I just pass it along to a friend or donate it to the annual clothing giveaway in my neighborhood.
Yes, I still make my popcorn in a paper bag in the microwave, but happily, I can say that my microwave is now powered by our rooftop solar panels, something not yet viable in 2008. While electricity bills soar, we receive $0 bills from PECO. Our investment will pay back more quickly, in a big win-win for both planet and pocketbook.
A big perk of reaching 65 in the Delaware Valley is a free SEPTA Key card. (When seniors swipe their fare cards, SEPTA actually receives revenue from the Pennsylvania Lottery, but it is free for the user.) I use mine all the time on buses, trains, trolleys and the L, aided by free, excellent real-time information from a terrific app, Transit (transitapp.com).
Come to think of it, Transit is always trying to get me to upgrade to a paid version. Given how useful its product is to me, that ought to be my next purchase. Sometimes I need to remind myself not to be too frugal.
A Look Back
Notes from Publisher Alex Mulcahy
Systemic changes are essential to the sustainability movement, but we wanted people to feel empowered by making small changes that aligned with their values. Thus, mindful consumption would be part of the editorial mix. Betsy Teutsch’s Frugal Living column advocated for backyard composting, buying Energy Star-rated appliances (but only when you must buy new), and making your own microwave popcorn by simply using a brown paper bag and popcorn kernels. We wanted to show that sustainability could be empowering and kind of fun.
