frugalatiness

i've been learning about thriftiness and frugality.

the desire to learn about these characteristics has increased after i checked what my student loan repayments are going to be.

not that i've never valued thriftiness or frugality.  i think they are great ideas.  but normally convenience and appearance seem to win out in any competition between the four.  and i've been afforded the upbringing and post-undergrad lifestyle that allowed this to happen.  this challenge of needing to be frugal when i moved to chicago was/is one of the appeals of moving here.  there's something i like about trying to live off of little and with little need (though i am far from this).

my moments of frugality (i keep typing frutality) included:
- sticking with the grocery list.
- riding a bike instead of taking the train.

now, these may seem small until you think of these things:

- i really like food.  i also like good marketing.  i am also forgetful sometimes.  thus when i enter into a grocery store, the smells of freshly baked items, fried chicken and oraganic granola (i don't smell that one) always whisper sweet, seductive nothings into my ear.  also, i am more likely to buy something if i like the label.  it's the same rationale i use with good salespeople.  if they are good at their job, i'm more likely to buy it just because they are good at selling it and are genuinely making me feel like i need their product.

anyway, the power of these things combine into one gigantic, smoke monster-like force that multiples my original grocery list by two (at least) on normal days.

not today.

comment on bicycling:

- it was supposed to be rainy today.  and i was going somewhere where i wanted to look (and smell) pretty.  i struggled for about a half an hour with trying to figure out (in my head) how my hair would look after 20 minutes of helmet wearing.  i actually did practice wearing the helmet for two minutes to see.  then, time ticking down, i knew i needed to risk the rain and the helmet hair and see if i could be frugal and fashionable.

it worked!

- the downfall was the ride home.  i wish i could say i rode beneath the city lights, basking in the freedom of bicycling down famous streets such as clark and addison.

- no, instead, i was riding into the chilly wind with rain spitting into my face as i navigated cars, buses, trucks and motorized bicycles (cheaters).

- at one point, i thought that a raindrop had gotten under my contact or my contact had dried out (opposites, i know) because it felt crinkled on my eye.  when i got into my apartment bathroom, i realized that i had a gnat stuck in my eye.  ew.

BUT i have no regrets and, looking back, was glad i could experience the chill, droplets, gnatlets and cardiovascular workout that was my ride home. 

FURTHERMORE, i was thrifty. 
and frugal. 
and the success of that feeling far surpasses any minor concern or cold (and i know that i can bicycle somewhere and have only minor damages done to my hair :) - priceless... ha).