Gabrielle Lavan – Opinions Columnist 

This is my testimony; the time has come to speak my truth. It has been a long-held belief of mine that being frugal takes skill, pizazz, and nothing short of sheer determination. I firmly believe that being frugal is cool and we need to make it trendy. Long gone should be the days of hauls, buying whatever we want, and constantly buzzing about what’s the latest object. It’s time we make ingenuity a trend.

Many people equate being frugal with being stingy. I believe that this is simply not true. It doesn’t make you stingy to know the value of your money or to know when it’s time to spend versus when to save. In fact, if we were smart, we’d all start being frugal very early in life. 

For many, being frugal may be embedded in the way you were raised. For better or worse, many have never even had to think about ways they could save money. They’ve never known the skill it takes to find the best deals in the supermarket, or how to make a week’s worth of dinners from what would appear to be an empty refrigerator. 

While frugality may already be part of a daily routine for many, it doesn’t have to be difficult for someone inexperienced to work it into their life. Being frugal also means thoughtful consumption. But because nothing is ever as simple as it seems, it is hard to ignore the larger implications of living frugally. 

Being frugal is a moral affair. Having the power to spend money how you want is a privilege, so shouldn’t it be your duty to spend it wisely? Not only that, but everyone knows that money speaks way louder than words. It says a lot when we purchase hordes of cheap clothing through conspicuous online companies. These companies, known for their malpractices of using child labor and contributing to the pollution of our planet, are reinforced in their behavior by our mindless spending. Of course, buy what you need to buy, however, I challenge us to consider why we feel the need to buy it in the first place. 

There is a large difference between being frugal and being cheap. Most notably, I would never give the advice to be a cheap person, monetarily or morally. But quite literally, a cheap person buys things that they may not have wanted if it weren’t for the low price tag or the social capital of it. A frugal person would instead say, “let me make the most of what I already have.”

The art of frugality became a trend around 2019 and 2020. Thrifting was in, malls were out, and soon a life-changing virus would unexpectedly be in. Shortly after 2020 however, many college students had extra money to spend by way of stimulus checks and grants. This new monetary freedom had many searching for comfort in purchasing power rather than social interactions. 

Fast forward to 2023, and we’re in the middle of a recession. People are scrambling to get by, groceries cost an arm and a leg, and coffee is $7 a cup. Such a cruel world. Therefore, being frugal is becoming more and more socially acceptable. People are choosing more cost-efficient choices on a daily basis. More people are staying away from Hyvee and going to Aldi, or picking up a coffee before class at Dunkin’ instead of Caribou. 

Being frugal builds character and helps to relieve the financial stress of living outside of your means. It is a moral practice and is good for the planet. Finally, if for no other reason, be frugal because the earth can no longer keep up with the literal weight of plastics from water bottles and other litter being thrown into its oceans. 

Always consider where your money is best used. Save it, spend it, donate it, and do what you will, but do it thoughtfully without sacrificing the things that make you truly happy. Be inventive and creative with how you use things. If you’re going to follow any trend, let it be the trend of frugality.