Many people assume that living a frugal lifestyle means never letting yourself enjoy treats and luxuries. This is a view point that I’ve never personally subscribed to, so I was glad to come across this article on ‘Frugality Doesn’t Mean Depriving Yourself’ on Free From Broke. This post is keen to highlight the fact that being frugal doesn’t mean denying yourself just because you’re on a limited budget. We often focus so much on the little things in our budget, when it’s the big bills and expenses that are killing the budget. As long as you’re sensible, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy little splurges now and again. In fact, it can be more damaging not to because there’s the definite danger that a self-imposed ban on absolutely anything that’s not deemed to be essential can make you miserable and potentially lead to a big spending spree further down the line if you can’t stick to it.
Here are some more great articles from the personal finance blogging community.
Turn Your Passion Into a Living. Do you dream of landing a dream job that is based around your main interests? This great article has plenty of advice for making this less of a dream and more of a reality. [Wisebread]
Too Much of a Good Thing? Taking advantage of bargain buys looks good for your budget on paper, but not if you’re buying things you don’t really want or need. Here’s how to avoid the trap of picking things up just because they’re cheap. [The Dollar Stretcher]
5 Ways to Ask Your Boss for a Raise. If things are going great at work and you feel that it’s time to ask for a raise, read this article for some tips on how to prepare. [Money Ning]
Don’t Take a Vacation From Your Budget. Going on vacation doesn’t mean ditching your budget. Here’s how to ensure that your vacation doesn’t throw you off financially. [Five Cent Nickel]
Downsizing: Quit Dreaming and Start Planning. Thinking of making the jump into self-employment but not sure how to prepare for what would be a massive lifestyle change? Check out this post for some great advice on the subject. [Frugal Dad]
Smart Ways to Spend Your Tax Return. Are you looking to invest your tax refund somewhere but aren’t sure which options are the most sensible? See this post for help. [Money Smart Life]
Job Loss – Save Money or Get Out of Debt? If you’ve received notice that a job loss is looming on the horizon, is it better to spend your time tackling your debts or start building up an emergency fund to fall back on until a new job arises? This post offers advice on how to prepare for being laid off. [Debt Free Adventure]
Four Atypical Things to Do Before You Consider Buying a House. If you’re thinking about buying a house, this post offers advice that you won’t necessarily find on other money blogs. [The Simple Dollar]
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