Whenever the subject of frugal living comes up in a conversation, you’ll notice different reactions. Some people believe that frugal living is a smart financial strategy for growing wealth. Others believe that frugal living is self-inflicted misery and shows an incapacity to enjoy life to the fullest. Between these two opposite views, you’ll find many more nuanced opinions. But what makes people react so differently to the idea of frugality? Are some people naturally more inclined to see benefits in a frugal lifestyle?
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Let’s dive into more details and discover if some people are naturally more frugal than others or this is just a myth.
Different Value Systems
Human personality is incredibly complex. Each person is the total sum of their unique thoughts, feelings, and behavioral patterns. However, the core of a personality consists of innate traits that remain fairly consistent throughout life, despite external influences. The more you learn about personality, the more obvious it becomes that people have different value systems and respond differently to the same stimuli.
Due to the innate value system embedded in their personality, some people can feel satisfied with a simple, minimalist life. They find more joy and contentment when they focus on relationships, creative pursuits, athletic performance, hobbies, or activism. Spending recklessly, buying more things than they need, or living a lavish lifestyle is at odds with their value system.
Different Priorities
A person who adopts a frugal lifestyle doesn’t necessarily dislike comfort, luxury, or convenience. But people feel an internal need to prioritize some things in life to the detriment of others. When frugality can help them achieve a higher purpose, some people will happily embrace this lifestyle. By understanding their personality and identifying their core values, most people can become frugal without seeing this as a burden. For example, looking at INFJ strengths, it’s probably easy for an idealist person to become frugal if this can help them achieve their goal of making the world a better place.
Different Upbringing
The first years of life have a significant impact on how people relate to the external world and what beliefs, preferences, and values they develop. Some people who grew up in a frugal household never change their frugal habits, even if they experience incredible financial success. Frugality is deeply ingrained in their worldview so they find it natural. Of course, some people who grew up in a frugal family feel the need to compensate for it as adults by splurging. In general, a person who has never paid attention to their spending habits is more likely to see frugality as a drop in their quality of life.
Due to the complexity of human personality, some people are more inclined than others to embrace frugality. To be content with this lifestyle, you need creativity, high tolerance to peer pressure, and a strategic mindset. However, you can cultivate these qualities in time too. Do you think a frugal lifestyle is not for you? Maybe you haven’t found a cause that can make frugality a worthy challenge.
