It’s Frugal Friday, right? I started to think about whether or not I have been frugal this week, and then I remembered, oh yeah…I bought all those extra local in-season produce that I don’t need right now. 

But then, I also remembered…

• They are so very inexpensive right now, compared to rest of the year when they have to be shipped in from places that are able to grow them, say in the middle of January!

• They are still going to get used throughout the year, or at least till they last.

• They have not been packaged and shipped from places, which means they are also frugal choices for the planet.

Thinking about these points, I do not feel that I have been unfrugal buying a ton or pears or tomatoes or blueberries.

We supported local farmers or berry pickers. We are enjoying these fruits at their freshest, even though frozen. How lovely is all of that?

So yes, I have been frugal in that regard.

Besides that, I read books from the library. And I am reading what I bought 4 years ago, slowly and steadily- one needs time to go though the complete works of William Shakespeare, no?

And in my monthly reading, I have decided to add a book of my choice that I already have. These are books that I found in Little Free Libraries all over our neighborhood with the intention of reading them one day, and now they sit collected ALL OVER MY HOUSE! Obviously I liked the sound of these books, or the authors are known to me. So, all I need to do is actually make the time to read them. 

And then give them away to other people for them to enjoy. 

So frugal reading is my ongoing agenda in life. I first look for books on the Toronto Library website, or the Libby app to borrow, and 99% of the times, I find them. I have no desire to buy fiction books anymore. I may think about non-fiction if I think I may come back to refer to it often. Otherwise, borrow, borrow, borrow…

I did splurge on my yoga pass this month. But I intend to really use it well…like 5-6 times a week on a regular week so I can make good use of this pass, and give myself the gift of growing in my practice and being a part of an awesome community.

Spending intentionally and making good use of one’s purchase is one of the ways of the frugal lifestyle in my opinion. 

Because frugality is about optimization, not deprivation. 

So thinking deeply about what truly matters and spending time and money on it, and letting the rest go…that is the essence of a good life, no?