By: frugality

frugality — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 19:15:49 +0000

I grew up in an above average socio-economic background where my dad worked for the provincial electric company (BC Hydro) and my mom stayed home until I was 10, then worked part-time. My parents were also young enough to have parents still living and working. Because my dad’s dad worked for the province, they were very well off, in the 70’s definition of the term.
They splurged when it cam to Christmas, that you could barely see the tree Christmas morning.
From my upbringing, I needed a change of pace, and decided to see what it was like to experience life on the other side of the tracks, so I enrolled in a Catholic school for a portion of my educational journey (grades 8 & 9). One of our projects was to experience what it was like to live on the street for a day, with only a quarter in our pockets.
We ate in soup kitchens, walked on the main streets of the city, asked people for the time, since we didn’t wear our watches, and experience what it was like being homeless. At the end of the project, we wrote down our experiences, and how it felt.
Many years later, and throughout 12th grade and beyond, I volunteered at many soup kitchens, because that project taught me about humility and compassion.
Now, living in another province, I still hold those values, and have become more aware of my spending. I try not to over spend, but don’t deprive myself of my needs either, although recently, I caught myself putting my needs on the back burner until absolutely necessary.
The first year of living across the country, I went home twice: once for a wedding and Christmas. I haven’t been home since, but this year, I’m taking the leap. I miss home for what it is but know that financially, I couldn’t survive there if my life depended on it. Besides, I found myself to be more and more unhappy there.
Do I strive to have more than I need? no.
Do I seem satisfied with what I have? Yes.
As long as I’ve got a roof over my head, clothes on my back, a means to pay my rent, and food in my stomach, I’ll be fine
For me, a simple life is a happy life.

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By: frugality