Want to be more frugal, without sacrificing your generosity?
Fear not, fellow Non-Consumers. Frugality and generosity can live together in one happy family. There’s no need to become a miserly Scrooge just because you’ve stopped overspending. And I have a perfect example to illustrate this theory:
Today was my mother’s birthday. So I invited her over for a nice dinner party.
I prepared:
- Delicious black bean chili. (made from soaked beans — super-de-duper cheap.)
- Corn muffins.
- Sauteed squash from a neighbor. (Free!)
- Salad, made from lettuce from my wheelbarrow lettuce farm.
- A homemade chocolate cake.
- We drank water and enjoyed a nice pot of tea afterwards.
If I had to estimate the cost of this special meal which fed six people, I’d say it was under ten bucks.
Total.
For her present, I’m taking her out Saturday night to see a play I scored free tickets to, and I’m going to treat her to a yummy dessert afterwards.
And there you have it. A great meal shared with loved ones, with a glamorous night on the town thrown in for good measure.
Because I am part of The Compact, (buy nothing new) I have to work harder to come up with gift ideas. But frankly, I think my presents are better than ever. If money were no object, I’d buy her some random whatever that would most likely be forgotten within a few short months.
So happy birthday Susan Stanley! Dust off your stiletto heels, cause the Stanley girls are going to paint the town red.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I am extremely impressed. I have a friend’s birthday coming up and I think he may get something baked from me. I think I may steal your chocolate cake idea.
I love your ideas. I’m way surprised that there are not more comments here because your blog is refreshing. I think it challenges one’s thoughts and core beliefs, because so many are absorbed within their life of consumption, even during a time of recession.
I’d love for someone to give such a creative and thoughtful gift to me, instead of slapping some purchased gift my way. Almost anyone can buy something, that’s easier to do.