Frugality

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For the dietary disposition, see Frugivore.

Frugality is the quality of being frugal, sparing, thrifty, prudent or economical in the consumption of consumable resources such as food, time or money, and avoiding waste, lavishness or extravagance.[1][2][3][4]

In behavioral science, frugality has been defined as the tendency to acquire goods and services in a restrained manner, and resourceful use of already owned economic goods and services, to achieve a longer term goal.[5]

Strategies

Common strategies of frugality include the reduction of waste, curbing costly habits, suppressing instant gratification by means of fiscal self-restraint, seeking efficiency, avoiding traps, defying expensive social norms, detecting and avoiding manipulative advertising, embracing cost-free options, using barter, and staying well-informed about local circumstances and both market and product/service realities. Frugality may contribute to health by leading people to avoid products that are both expensive and unhealthy when used to excess.[6] Frugal living is mainly practised by those who aim to cut expenses, have more money, and get the most they possibly can from their money.[7]

Philosophy

In the context of some belief systems, frugality is a philosophy in which one does not trust (or is deeply wary of) "expert" knowledge from commercial markets or corporate cultures, claiming to know what is in the best economic, material, or spiritual interests of the individual.[8]

Different spiritual communities consider frugality to be a virtue or a spiritual discipline.[9] The Religious Society of Friends and the Puritans are examples of such groups.[10] The basic philosophy behind this is the idea that people ought to save money in order to allocate it to more charitable purposes, such as helping others in need.[11]

There are also environmentalists who consider frugality to be a virtue[12] through which humans can make use of their ancestral skills as hunter-gatherers, carrying little and needing little, and finding meaning in nature instead of man-made conventions or religion. Henry David Thoreau expressed a similar philosophy in Walden, with his zest for self-reliance and minimal possessions while living simply in the woods.[13]

Corporate world

Frugality has been adopted as a strategic imperative by large enterprises as a means of cost reduction[14] through engenderment of a philosophy of careful spending amongst the workforce.[15] Cost reduction is often perceived negatively, be it within a corporate organisation or in society, so inviting each employee to embrace frugality transfers the burden of cost reduction from management to the employee. In doing so, corporations introduce a moral obligation to cost cutting, proposing the notion that careful management of costs is in the company, shareholder and employee's best interests. If done successfully, there are many benefits, including the efficiencies of scale aspect when summing up individual contributions.

See also

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References

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  7. ↑ Gorman, C. The Frugal Mind: 1,479 Money Saving Tips for Surviving the 1990s. Nottingham Books, 1990
  8. ↑ Child, Hamilton: "How to Succeed in Business," Gazetteer and Business Directory of Ontario County, N.Y., for 1867-8, Page 91 e.g. H. Child, 1867
  9. ↑ Austin, Richard Cartwright: "Environmental Theology", Page 169. Creekside Press, 1990
  10. ↑ Mecklin, John M.: "An Introduction to Social Ethics, The Social Conscience in a Democracy", Page 254. Harcourt, Brace and Howe, 1920
  11. ↑ Watkinson, William L.: "Frugality in the Spiritual Life", Page 7. F. H. Revell company, 1908
  12. ↑ Swain, George Fillmore; Conservation of Water by Storage, Yale University Press, 1915, p. 26 e.g.
  13. ↑ Thoreau, Henry David: "Walden", Page 184 e.g. T. Y. Crowell & co, 1910
  14. ↑ Hill, Phil: "http://freecheap.blogspot.com/" 2010
  15. ↑ Woerner, Stephanie L.; "Networked at Cisco", Page 13. Center for eBusiness, Sloan School of Management, MIT, 2001
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