I wouldn’t describe myself as tall, dark, and handsome. I’m no one’s ideal man. If they put me on Bridgerton, I’d be comic relief. You won’t find me gracing the covers of a dime novel anywhere. Due to inflation, they probably cost a dime and a nickel by now anyway. Who wants to enable inflation? The best way I’d describe myself is a frugal minimalist eager to save money.

How did I get this way? What kind of childhood trauma led here?

There’s nothing wrong with being a frugal minimalist eager to save money. In fact, you might be feeling a little jealous if this is the biggest putdown I can give myself. It’s not. We’ll save that for another day, perhaps.

I view frugality as a good thing. It compliments being a minimalist. It leads to saving money. This description is a big part of my identity on the consumer side of things. I do it subconsciously by following three steps.

Step 1 to becoming a frugal minimalist eager to save money: Ask yourself if you really need it

Even if you aren’t an FMETSM (frugal minimalist eager to save money) it can’t hurt to have this mentality. Before making any kind of purchase, you should ask yourself if it’s a need or a want. All things fall into those bins. Sometimes, the line does get blurred.

Do you need clothes? Outside of certain beach communities, YES! But do you need those specific clothes? The tattered, acid-washed jeans that cost twice as much as a pair from the local Walmart? Probably not.

Everyone gives into needs at times. It’s a good thing. Otherwise, if you never do get to enjoy your money, you’ll feel like a slave to the dollar.

It’s still important to always raise this question before making any purchase. Identify how vital it is to your life. And even if it is a need, there are more follow-up questions to ask.

Step 2 to becoming a frugal minimalist eager to save money: Ask yourself if you already have a solution

Many of the things we purchase are to help solve a problem. Soap cleanses our hands of germs. Toilet paper does the same for somewhere else. Some purchases simply cure boredom. It’s okay to make those every once in a while.

Sometimes when we’re looking for a solution there is already an answer in your possession. Rather than buy a new coat, maybe it is more practical to wear an extra layer. Instead of buying an extra fan for a room you don’t use too often, considering not being lazy and moving it as needed. Why are both of my examples about extreme weather, and why are only my fingerprints on the thermostat?

There are many solutions to the problems a purchase can easily fix. It doesn’t quite fit into the mold of being a frugal minimalist eager to save money. In fact, it goes against it entirely. You want to not spend money, minimize the number of things you own, and have extra cash stashed away as a result.

Not everything will have a solution. This leads to one final step.

Step 3 to becoming a frugal minimalist eager to save money: Ask if there is a cheaper alternative

Maybe you do have to spend some money. The horror. The horror. First, make sure there isn’t a cheaper alternative you can consider.

Cheaper isn’t always better. Cheap blenders always seem to die quickly. The same goes for microwaves. Don’t even get me started on cheap phones. They can all go back to Tie-won, the offshore nation pretending to be Taiwan.

When it comes to non-electronics, there usually is a more affordable and abundant choice. Medicines are one of the primary examples. The brand without the commercial or fancy logo will usually cost a lot less. You may even get more! Although the more may not seem so minimalist, we’re talking about some tiny little pills. They aren’t taking up too much room to freak out over.

Only when there is no cheaper or practical alternative should you continue on and actually spend the premium price. It might hurt a little. This goes against your consumer identity.

Don’t sweat it. Even I, a self-identified frugal minimalist eager to save money, end up having to fall in line. Hopefully, it’s not a literal line at the store. I have yet to identify a solution for that. There isn’t anyone famous I can pretend to be.

Below are affiliate links to products we use and recommend. By using those links, we may receive a small commission from your purchase. Using these links does not affect the price.

The book that convinced us to start investing and being more proactive with our money and lives: The Only Investment Guide You’ll Ever Need by Andrew Tobias

The gear we use to make our YouTube videos at the Practically Humans YouTube Channel

• Sony ZVE10 Camera
• Sony Retractable Zoom Lens
• MOVO Shotgun Microphone
• Audio Cable
• Memory Card
• RGB Lights
• Studio Light

Thank you for stopping by!