What it takes to be frugal and practical?

There was a time when I debated in myself the concept between frugality and practicality. Are these two words synonymous? If you are practical, does that mean you are frugal?

In today's world, when people are quick in judging you based on what you wear, how much you've acquired, or how much money you have, you are challenged to acquire more and display more. Take a look at this sea of fashion bloggers that sprout rapidly from every corner of the world, most of them are indulging in excessive consumption flaunting at their blogs every new purchases they had. The competition is too tight and every fashionista wannabe is dying to create a by-line for themselves. Looking up for those few who were blessed with money that wearing new clothes daily does not hurt, plenty of these fashion bloggers dream of somehow making it in this universe of blogging if not ending up in a runway or attracting attention of pr firms. But that, however, is despite their credit card.

Thus my question, to whom is it necessary to be frugal? Spending too meager for something that I so love - fashion - is difficult. Ignoring my desires just for the sake of savings, at times is impossible. There are many things that I love to have even if they are not really a need. It is at this angle that practicality comes in. I try to buy expensive dresses and shoes ONLY and only if they are on sale. Spending less in exchange for an expensive item demands not only skills but creativity. I learned to surf the net for online shops that advertise clearance sales and discounts. But they demand time. It is amazing to discover that there are actually websites such as the Hewlett Packard promo code and Home Depot coupon code that devout their services in scouring the web for savvy discount codes, coupons and deals from thousands of online shops. These websites serve very useful in aiding me to hunt for sales that I so need. Buying something worthy of my money and passion for less through creativity is my idea of practicality.

However, I met this very well known blogger who authored the list of more than a hundred ways to save your money. His principle is complete frugality. His techniques are applicable to anyone who dream of retiring a millionaire. He sees the advice of collecting coupon codes and hunting for discount sales in shopping as nonsense. He claims that bargain or discount sale does not help at all in saving money because it only encourages spending more for less. The key word is MORE. He believes that the secret for being debt free with lots of money is downsizing of things that you don't need or things that you are not suppose to prioritize. Avoiding unnecessary spending and practicing economical spending is the way to go.

As for me, I wish to stay in the borderline of practicality and frugality. I dream to retire with money but I don't wish to deprive myself of things that can make me happy. What are your thoughts?

I’m a shopaholic no more!

Have you seen the movie “Confessions of a Shopaholic”? Oh, I can so relate to this movie. I used to be a shopaholic. I used to be on the time when nothing mattered much to me but getting a new dress, some new shoes, a pair of new jeans, and new bags. And take note, they all had to be branded, A labeled.

Well, I wasn’t speaking Prada, Gucci, Armani, Fendi or other high-end designers because during the time, when I was still in college and within the first two years of working, those brands were simply beyond reach. However, I was speaking of brands like Lee, Adidas, Levi's and some top local brands such as Sara lee, Avon, Natasha and others.

That line of Rebecca Bloomwood “underwears are human rights” was very true to me. I collected not just a few but quite a number of fancy and expensive underwears – panties and bras, and they were an obsession. Every morning, after I do my bed, I would sit in front of my closet looking at my expensive clothes hanging neatly in my closet and all my underwears piled neatly in a drawer, admiring them.

When I was in the university, I was survived by a scholarship. I was lucky to receive quite an amount of stipend allowance every semester and to have my tuitions free. However, there were several times when the stipend came delayed. During those times, things were very tight. I would need to stretch the money dad sent me to finance for food, fare, some computer printings and researches.

Yet, when I and my best friend would walk passed a boutique, my eyes would swiftly scan the inside through the glasses, then would gasp in awe, then would hurriedly go inside tagging my best friend behind. It could be a dress on a mannequin, a sporty t-shirt, or the latest trend of jeans that caught my interest but all the same, my heart would pump hard, my eyes would grow wide, my hands sweating and my head just spinning. A voice in my head would keep saying “I need to get this! I need to get this!” And no matter what, I would go home with that item in a fancy paper bag. The consequence? A week of only one meal a day.

When I was working, money was plenty at the end of the month. It gave me even more power to shop. I was able to acquire more of fancy things. But still, every time I brought home new items, the craving for more turned bigger. I lived like one day millionaire. Twenty seven days of meager food on the table in exchanged to three days shopping.

There was this very strong power inside that controlled me. The urged to shop and to get what my eyes wanted defeated my will to do what was right – to prioritize what was important.

But just like Rebecca Bloomwood from the movie, it was my childhood cravings that caused my being shopaholic. When I was younger, especially in my teenage life, things went bad for my dad’s business. He started losing money when I entered high school. And shortly, there was nothing left. During my transition period from late childhood to teenage life, I needed things that would help me define my personality. But such things were not my mom’s priority.

She had to prioritize her house and her obsessions with appliances. There weren’t much money so in order to acquire stuff to beautify the house meant to ignore her teenage daughter’s desire to wear some good clothes. While I walked in the corridors of the academy, my new school for my second year high school, the boys were shouting at me “The Sabbath is still far!” because while everyone was sporting some cool jeans and t-shirt, I was wearing my mom’s blouse and skirt from the 80’s.

So how did I become a reformed shopaholic? I went abroad exactly when I turned twenty-two. I went to a place where I did not know anyone. I wanted to explore and to get a job at the same time. But after a month of living abroad, my appendix erupted that I needed an emergency surgery [Read the story Living abroad with God]. Then shortly after five months, I had to have a dangerous cyst removed. I was completely indebted to my new employer. Thus, I was forced to be tight with money.

While working to pay all my debts for several months, I came across the book “Rich dad: poor dad” [Read the story The book that made me rich]. The timing was dramatically perfect. I realized that I sank in debt just for a couple of surgeries because I did not have a reliable health insurance and no savings. I was like hit my head hard on the wall.

Right now, I am a certified reformed shopaholic.