Website owner: James Miller
Frugality is not just important for the role it plays in the
accumulation of wealth. It is the parent of many good things.
Things like certain good habits of mind, certain good character
traits. What are we talking about? What habits of mind or
character traits? Let us name some:
self-reliance
self-discipline
self-control
self-denial
resourcefulness
industriousness
practicalness
the habit of thought and analysis
inquisitiveness
self-confidence
How does it tend to produce or create these traits? Well, the
frugal man, because he doesn't like to spend money
unnecessarily, doesn't like waste, and wants to live as
inexpensively and efficiently as possible, learns how to do a
lot of things for himself. He isn't willing to hire someone to
paint his house, fix his malfunctioning commode, or repair his
faucet. He does it himself. Doing things yourself requires
thought, analysis, self-discipline, inquisitiveness,
practicalness, resourcefulness and industriousness. We acquire
habits by doing something repeatedly and that strong desire to
save money causes the frugal person to repeatedly do the kinds
of things that gradually build these traits. He can't be lazy.
The lazy person hires everything done. If he doesn't want to
pay out the money he has to figure out how to do it himself,
learn how to do it himself, and then do it himself. He has to
read, ask questions, and apply himself to the job. And so,
without realizing it, he is gradually building up certain
habits of mind, certain character traits. And as he becomes
competent in doing many things he acquires self-confidence.
And so, in this way, that strong, natural disinclination for
spending money characteristic of frugality is the impetus that,
over the years, produces many good things in a person.
Frugality imposes a natural self-discipline on a person, always
controlling and regulating his behavior. The frugal person
computes and figures and lets his mind rule, as opposed to
impulse.
July 2004
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