The Real Deal
Many people have bought into the idea that being prosperous and looking prosperous are the same thing. They are not.
Trying to look prosperous with nothing to back it up is often done by people who are living beyond their means, have no savings and are falling further into debt.
There is a saying in cattle country: ‘Big hat, no cattle’. It refers to the person who looks the part but has nothing to back up the look.
Wearing the Big Hat
As strange as this might sound – the person who is wearing the hat without the cattle is usually not really impressed with their own image.
It is hard to be impressed when:
- your creditors are hounding you,
- you have a perpetual bank overdraft,
- your credit cards are maxed out,
- you live in fear of being outed as a fraud, and
- you haven’t gotten a good night sleep in years from worrying about debt.
Being truly prosperous – usually involves living below one’s means, saving money, and staying out of debt. To put it more succinctly – living frugally.
Living Frugally
Frugality is not a miserly and small way to live. It is making the best use of all your resources to enjoy today while saving enough to make sure you can also enjoy your tomorrows.
Frugal people are often prosperous, precisely because they do not waste resources on the trappings of prosperity. They often live in modest homes (that are mortgage-free), drive reliable cars (without car loans), and live happy comfortable lives.
For those who have gotten in the trap of living beyond their means – the idea of a happy, comfortable life can seem impossible. But it is possible for those who are willing to budget, plan, save and make the best use of their resources – in other words: live frugally.
The Choice is Yours
You can achieve prosperity through frugal and resource-smart living – or you can try to fake it.
