Frugality as a Lifestyle

My wife and I often joke about how we typically end up making larger purchases.  As an example, we were considering purchasing a new microwave recently.  Our current microwave is a countertop Panasonic that works fine, but is starting to get fairly loud when running.  I’m not sure if it’s always been loud, or if it’s slowly gotten louder over the years.  Our decision making process went something like this:

Step 1: The Expensive Option

We looked at wall mounted over-the-stove models with built-in convection (now called “air fry” because marketing departments always need to come up with a new name for things to justify new purchases).  This would be convenient since it would replace our existing vent hood and allow us to get rid of the microwave cart we currently use, freeing up that space for shelving or a spice rack.  An over-the-stove convection microwave was about $600, plus we were looking at about $200 worth of Ikea shelving to put in place of the microwave cart.

Step 2: The Less Expensive Option

We evaluated how often we actually use our air fryer and determined that while we do use it, there isn’t really anything stopping us from just using the regular oven. We used the air fry function a few times shortly after purchasing, but then we ended up using the regular oven and toast settings nearly every time thereafter.  So, we looked at non-convection microwaves.  These were around $250, plus the aforementioned $200 worth of Ikea shelving.

Step 3: The Free Option

After thinking about it for a while, we realized that we do like our current microwave and vent hood.

• The current microwave is an inverter model.  This means when it’s set to 20% power, it applies only 20% power for the duration of cooking.  Typical microwaves will approximate 20% power by applying 100% power for 2 seconds, then no power for 8 seconds, and then repeat this cycle for the duration of cooking.  Constant low power means something like melting butter is trivial in our current microwave.

• The vent hood is vented outside and seems quite effective when cooking something smoky like bacon.  In addition, it has two very bright 45w halogen reflector bulbs that illuminate the stove well.

So, after much consideration, we decided on the nearly-free option.  This was a modified version of the free option: we ended up donating the large air fryer to reduce kitchen clutter and purchasing a basic toaster for $20.  This gives us the functionality we need, and removing the air fryer from the top of the microwave frees up space for either a spice rack or cookbook shelf.  Either option I will end up making from scrap wood one of these days.

This is the core of how my wife and I choose to live frugality as a lifestyle.  We usually look at the expensive, fancy option, see if we still like the less expensive option, and then ultimately question if we need to make a purchase at all.  This applies to many categories in our life, such as:

• Cable ($$$)?  Streaming services ($$)?  Yes, we could use those, and rotating one streaming service at a time is a less expensive option than say cable or a package deal with many streaming services included ($).  Or, we could check out DVDs or Blu-Rays from the library with an occasional purchase from the used store for favorites.

• Activities for our toddler?  We could go to the mall ($$$), or go to one of the many indoor activity parks ($$).  But she also seems just as happy making a snowman in the yard, playing at a park, or visiting a nature preserve.

• Going on a date?  We could go to a fancy dinner ($$$).  But we could also substitute lunch dates ($$), or coffee dates ($), or simply pack our lunch as a picnic.

I often hear that choosing frugality means missing out on life experiences.  I disagree - it’s all about perspective.  A relaxing afternoon with our toddler in a nature preserve is arguably better than the spendy options because it’s more relaxing for all parties involved.  This approach also does NOT mean avoiding the expensive option every time.  We love to travel and plan to continue to do so locally, nationally, and internationally.  The intentional choices we make to be frugal on a day-to-day basis afford us the option of traveling, which is much better aligned with our life goals than a bunch of random trips to a trampoline park.