Hi, I’m Ariel, Michelle’s sister-in-law and editor! Working for Michelle has given me the unique opportunity to not only read and learn from nearly all of the content she’s published on Making Sense of Cents over the past couple of years, but our relationship has given me a firsthand understanding of how her money making and savings tips work in the real world.

When I was 20 years old, my now husband and I bought our first house, we’ve added to our family, learned a lot from our mistakes, and we are now building a path towards financial freedom. This year is a big year for our family, as I’m about to graduate from Washington University with a degree in English Literature, and my husband will be adding a graduate degree in History.

I’ve never thought of myself as frugal, but the more and more I learn about the concept, I realize that, in a lot of ways, I am frugal.

While I have consciously grown this skill set in the past few years, some of my practices have grown out of necessity. In the past, I would rather have referred to my practices as resourceful and aware, but no matter what you call it, frugal means you are finding ways to save money. [Read more…]

Are you frugal? Or, do you like to waste money? By wasting money, I mean spending well beyond your needs.

If you're reading this article, I'm assuming that you are trying to become more frugal. Whether you already think you are frugal or not, I'm sure there's more you can be doing to save even more money.

Now, everyone has things that they enjoy spending money on, and you probably try to rationalize with yourself for why you deserve that extra spending.

But, you probably don't need a lot of the things that you spend money on.

If you truly want to pay off your debt more quickly, retire earlier than you thought you could, or reach whatever other financial goal that you have, then being more frugal is one path that may help you realize your goals.

I think earning more income is great, and it can definitely help you reach your goals.

However, some people believe that saving money alone doesn't work and that earning more is the only way to improve a person's financial situation. Others believe that saving money is better than earning more.

As far as saving money by being frugal, most people have room in their budget to cut back a little more, and the average person wastes a lot of money each month. And, even if you are a high earner or focusing on making more money, spending less will still help you on your path to financial freedom. [Read more…]

Frugality is one of the most beautiful and joyful words in the English language, and yet one that we are culturally cut off from understanding and enjoying. The consumption society has made us feel that happiness lies in having things, and has failed to teach us the happiness of not having things. -Elise Boulding

After I wrote this article, I found the above quote, which perfectly explains how I feel about money and spending.

Many people think that happiness comes only from spending money. However, that is a sad way to think about money. Yes, money can help improve your life, but it is not everything. And, if not managed well, it can lead to debt, stress, and more.

Being frugal isn’t always what happens when you are out of options.

Sure, there are times when people must buckle down and spend less than they usually do, like if you are living paycheck to paycheck. However, living a frugal life can go beyond cutting things from your budget. It can be something that isn’t just a short-term solution– it’s one that you can benefit from for the long-term.

What I'm talking about is just living your own life and learning how to save money by not engaging in needless spending just to keep up with others, going into debt, spending beyond your means, and so on. And, don’t confuse this with being so frugal that you may actually be stealing (read Frugal, Cheap, or Thief? Are You Smart With Money Or Actually A Thief? to learn more). [Read more…]

It's been over one year since I published Frugality And Ethics – Are You Being Cheap, Frugal, or Stealing?

This was a post I thoroughly enjoyed writing.

Since last year, I have thought of several more situations that some may categorize as frugal living, whereas others may think it's flat out stealing. Due to this, I thought right now would be a great time for Part 3 of this series.

I don’t believe there is anything wrong with saving money (this is a personal finance blog after all), but I do wonder how far people will go to save money – whether it be $1, $2 or $100.

No one is perfect and I definitely am not.

However, when does frugal living or cheapness cross the line and turn into stealing? I would love to hear your opinion on each of the situations below. [Read more…]