The F word
To some saying the F word just causes them to tense up and get defensive, to others it is a welcome word because they have found someone who thinks like they do.
However, this F word is neither your 3 letter variety nor your 4 letter expletive either, it is 6 letters long and it conjures up a variety of opinions from each person who hears it.
Frugal. So how did you react to the word?
In case you didn’t react well, I just wanted to give you a head’s up that for the next few Mondays, Queercents will be having a new series on frugal living, or more specifically, my take on frugal living.
What do I know about Frugal? I started a little blog called Frugal for Life, because it is a life-long endeavor for me, and I have been keeping the site up for the last 2 1/2 years. I don’t have all the answers, nor am I God’s gift to the spendthrift. But, I try, really hard.
So what does frugal living mean to the Queer community? Some would say that the LGBT community isn’t all that different from the straight community. I have a different opinion on that; one that involves legal cases of LGBT people losing their jobs, homes or health because they are not straight. We are in danger of legislation that would take away rights or people who would want to make life difficult for us. These put a financial strain on our lives and we need to plan ahead and be prepared to deal with it.
Frugal living is about living below our means; so that when those means come up short, we already know how to handle it and yet still live a life that is of value.
Over the next few weeks you will read my take on living a life of value, living a frugal life. I hope you enjoy the ride with me!
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Dawn C. is site owner of Frugalforlife.com and is residing in Colorado with her spouse, Teri, of 11 years. Dawn can be reached at Frugalforlife@gmail.com
Bravo Dawn,
After reading the Ten Money Questons for Mitchel Gold ( IMO a big ad encouraging readers to spend money) I welcome your contributions on frugal living. Spending less than you make each month (regardless of your income level or how much you may want to buy and “collect” things) is key! I am hoping that QueerCents readers will respond to your series with their own ideas, tips and tricks ( no pun intended). This reader of QueerCents is along for the ride ! Cheers!
Hi Dawn! It’s great to see your posts again. Ahhh, the F word. I’ve incorporated into my life a lot more than usual lately. Budgeting isn’t the only path to reaching our financial goals. In fact that approach alone isn’t usually enough. I’m hoping frugality and creativity can help me modify my spending habits! I’m looking forward to your upcoming posts.
John~
Thanks for the welcome. I look forward to your input and any other reader’s ideas and thoughts. That’s the wonderful thing about frugality, one may not work for one person, may work for another with a twist and a kick.
Allison~
I’m glad to be back again, even for a short while. I agree with you, a budget can only take us so far. I hope to fill in some of the rest.
AAhhh…Looks like this will be an interesting Thread!!
The LGBT Community really needs to look at the idea of being F….FF….FFF…..FFFrugal..}:~D. LOL!!
Your comments about those that want to keep us down via the Legislative side are quite valid Dawn.
However I may have a slightly different perspective (that of a 50 year old Single Gay Male who was able to Retire at 48 to be precise) about some of the reasons a large number of LGBT people have Money problems.
IMO I think it has much more to do with the attitudes towards those like us that we are exposed to while growing up.
We see the “Culture” deride and make fun of us and treat us as Second Class Citizens while inside we know that we are part of that group….thus came about “THE CLOSET” from which we peer out as many attempt to “Pass” while watching those who have been Brave enough to step out fight the battles.
The pressure of trying to “Pass” many times leads to the destructive behaviours that will almost invaraiably lead to an impoverished Old Age and at worst an early Death.
And I have seen a Generation grow up that in the beginning saw HIV as an Early Death Sentence (So Why Save??) to today where the progression is slowed dramatically but the treatment is still costly. (And you have to be Broke to get any form of meaningful Government help).
I’m now starting to see a New Generation that is Out and Proud, mostly in their twenties, who are getting away from these behaviours and I hope they are the ones that read and take your messages seriously.
~ Roland
Roland~
That is an excellant point. I had noticed an aspect of that but couldn’t quite put my finger on a reason for it, thank you.