A Piece of Kake

Why to Be Cheap

I’ve been hearing a lot of talk about frugality lately. Considering the economy and increased prices in staples like food, this only makes sense. People keep telling me I should write something about how to be cheap since I’m good at it and other people aren’t. So this is my attempt to help out those of you who weren’t born cheap like me.

First, I would like to acknowledge the limits of my experience with frugality. I don’t have kids or a house or other expenses you might have. I don’t have any financial expertise, either. Probably many people can out-cheap me, so I’m just offering you what I know. If you need help planning and shopping for cheap meals, I can offer some good suggestions. Also I follow some general principles which I’ll lay out.

But before we get into the details of how to be cheap, you need to consider why you want to be cheap (by which I mean frugal). Because being cheap isn’t easy; it requires planning, discipline, and effort. So if you aren’t motivated to be cheap, or you’re motivated for the wrong reasons, you probably aren’t going to stick with it. And if you’re cheap for no reason, there’s another word for you: stingy.

Consider Your Goals

Maybe you need to be cheaper because you’re living beyond your means. That’s a good reason. In that case it would be helpful to determine how you got into that position in the first place. What false expectations about your lifestyle are you holding on to? Are you trying to keep up with someone, maintain the lifestyle you grew up with, or make life as easy and comfortable as possible? Identify and repent of any ungodly attitudes in this area. (I realize that emergencies and other circumstances may contribute to this problem rather than wrong attitudes.)

Perhaps you want to save money. What is your goal? Is it to save a down payment for a house? Do you want to buy a shiny new piece of technology? Do you want to have more money for emergencies? Consider whether your goal is worthwhile enough to motivate you to save. Also determine whether your goal is reasonable. If a goal is too lofty you’ll get discouraged trying to attain it.

Also ask yourself if you’re saving without a goal in mind. Are you just saving to have a lot of money stored up, because it makes you feel safe and secure? Or maybe it’s just your personality to want to save. You may be very motivated to save, but if you don’t have a reason, you’re probably being stingy and not trusting God.

I say this as one who is a natural saver. It’s good to be a saver, but there is a better reason to be cheap: giving.

Generosity: The Best Reason to be Cheap

If you really want to be cheaper, give more money away. There is no better motivator for frugality than generosity. Being cheap because you have to makes you feel like you’re under the law. You can’t buy this, or you must save that. This mindset makes people want to rebel. It’s part of the reason poor people splurge on fancy cell phones or hair-dos. When you feel deprived, eventually you’ll treat yourself because you think you deserve it.

But generosity follows from grace. Because God has given us so much that we don’t deserve, we want to share with others. And then if I pass up buying a new shirt or eating at a restaurant, I won’t feel deprived. I’ll feel grateful for what I do have, and for the opportunity to share my provisions with those in need. Gratitude, not guilt, should motivate your giving and your frugality.

God calls us to generosity: “They only asked us to remember the poor– the very thing I also was eager to do” (Galatians 2:10). The Macedonia church is praised repeatedly for their generosity (despite their own poverty) to the Jerusalem church during a famine. As Americans, God has blessed us financially. So let us be good stewards of God’s provision and give to His work here and around the world, including poverty relief efforts. The first step to being cheap is to have the right motivation: making wise financial decisions which will allow you to be more generous.

Stay tuned for practical suggestions…

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