When the federal government announced that they would be shutting down if they did not agree on a budget, it made me appreciate my passion for frugality. If the shut down occurred, my husband, a soldier in the United States military, would not have been paid.

The thought of not having income coming in can be a pretty scary thing, but I rested in the comfort that because of our frugal lifestyle we would be okay for a little while.

I think a lot of people have the misconception that frugal means you are poor. That is not the case. Frugal means you are smart about your daily living. By being aware of what you are spending, it helps you cut costs and acquire a safety net of savings.

One important lesson in frugality is want versus need. It is easy to get caught up in getting a good deal on an item or wanting to purchase something brand new. So many people in today’s society want the instant gratification of purchasing something. Before making a purchase ask yourself whether you really need the item or do you simply want the item. Some frugal livers recommend waiting a 24-hour period to think about whether or not you really need the purchase. If the purchase must be made, make sure you shop around and get the item for the greatest price. Do not be afraid to buy the item second hand if at all possible.

It is also important in trying to live a frugal lifestyle not to live outside your means. If you cannot afford to pay for it in cash, you should not purchase it. If you really need the item, save up for the item until you are able to pay for it.

Tip Saving Suggestion for the Week

Once again, my column receives a lot of support for our area readers. I strongly encourage anyone who has a tip to write into my column and share with me how you save money. The tip of the week comes from Hemant Thanker.

Thanker has found a way to be frugal when purchasing milk.

“If you check you will find all categories of milk, 12 percent, two percent, one percent or zero percent are being sold at the same price,” Thanker said. “This gives the milk producer/supplier huge profits by getting free fats and selling them at huge profits. If for example one uses two percent to reduce the fat and cholesterol portions the same can be achieved by adding 50 percent water to every serving of 12 percent milk one takes and yet maintain the nutritional percentages of two percent type. Same way if one’s preference is of one percent or zero percent more water to the 12 percent would do the job. I am doing the same and have cut my milk bill substantially.”

Do you have suggestions for our Frugal Family columnist? Send your suggestions and questions to Stephanie Eaton Harvie at localnews2005 @yahoo.com.