Frugality

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the dietary disposition, see Frugivore.
James Gillray's satirical print Temperance Enjoying a Frugal Meal. George III is depicted with patched breeches and a chair covered with protective fabric, eating a simple boiled egg and using the tablecloth as his napkin. Winter flowers fill the unlit fireplace.[1]

Frugality is the quality of being frugal, sparing, thrifty, prudent, or economical in the consumption of resources such as food, time or money, and avoiding waste, lavishness or extravagance.[2]

In behavioral science, frugality has been defined as the tendency to acquire goods and services in a restrained manner, and resourceful use of already-owned economic goods and services, to achieve a longer term goal.[3]

Strategies[edit]

Common techniques of frugality include reduction of waste, curbing costly habits, suppressing instant gratification by means of fiscal self-restraint, seeking efficiency, avoiding traps, defying expensive social norms, detecting and avoiding manipulative advertising, embracing cost-free options, using barter, and staying well-informed about local circumstances and both market and product/service realities.

Frugality may contribute to health by leading people to avoid products that are both expensive and unhealthy when used to excess.[4] Frugal living is practiced by those who aim to cut expenses, have more money, and get the most they possibly can from their money.[5]

U.S. History[edit]

American Colonial Period (17th and 18th centuries): Frugality was intertwined with moral and religious values among the population of Puritan and Quaker settlers in American society.[6][7] They emphasized the virtues of productive work for the benefit of society and frowned upon unnecessary consumption.[8] Laws were enacted in colonies like Massachusetts and Pennsylvania to regulate extravagant spending,[9] reflecting the religious belief that individuals should not indulge in luxurious living.[10] The Great Awakening religious revival of the 1730s emphasized the virtues of simple living, and further reinforced the importance of frugality.[11] A shift towards consumerism began to emerge as the century progressed.[12] Colonists began acquiring imported luxury goods and amassing debts with the British.[12] This can be considered the start of consumerist desire in America, and lead to the gradual departure from frugality.

Antebellum Period (early 19th century): The United States experienced significant economic growth and social change during the Antebellum Period,[13] which influenced frugality discourses in various ways.[14] Middle-class women played an increasingly active role in making household purchases.[15][16] Figures like Lyman Beecher preached the conservative and moralistic messages of Christian simplicity which mirrored Puritan ideals of frugality.[17][16] Concerns about materialism undermining social order were widespread including ministers' sermon's warnings against luxury and excess.[18][19] Retailers like Alexander Turney Stewart experimented with the concept of department stores[20] and larger-scale merchandising formats began to emerge.[19] Consumer culture started growing as distribution methods improved and advertising became more advanced.[21] The Antebellum Period was a transitional phase in American consumer culture, where traditional values of frugality coexisted with consumerism.

During the Gilded Age (in the late 19th century), a notable critique emerged of excessive consumption and the glaring wealth disparity prevalent in society.[22] In the Gilded Age, characterized by industrialization and urbanization, consumer culture flourished with aggressive advertising and the feminization of shopping spaces. Thorstein Veblen's critique in "Theory of the Leisure Class" highlighted conspicuous consumption as a means of social distinction, while authors like Edith Wharton and Charles Wagner advocated for a simplified life amidst growing materialism. John Wanamaker's embrace of simplicity, despite his wealth, exemplified the paradox of promoting frugality while profiting from consumerism in ornate department stores.[23]

In World War I (the early 20th century), the ethos of conservation and thrift gained further traction, especially during World War I (Hauerwas, "War and the American Difference: Theological Reflections on Violence and National Identity").[24] Governments and organizations promoted these values as essential for supporting the war effort and ensuring resources were allocated efficiently. Citizens were encouraged to practice frugality through rationing programs and voluntary austerity measures to conserve supplies for troops abroad.[25] In the early 20th century, frugality gained prominence in the U.S, spurred by events like World War I and the Great Depression. Figures like Stuart Chase promoted thrift as a patriotic duty, leading to the National Thrift Movement. The 1930s saw a populist backlash against excess, with media and advertising promoting controlled consumption amid economic hardship. Despite fears of consumerism's collapse, ingrained habits persisted, reflecting the enduring tension between aspiration and austerity in American society.[26]


During World War II (September, 1 1939 - September 2, 1945), the United States government launched poster campaigns which promoted frugality to American consumers, which included advocations for thrifty behavior, recycling, adherence to price controls and rationing laws, and more. Posters promoted conservation efforts such as saving gasoline and automobile tires and encouraged Americans to recycle materials such as tin cans and waste fats for ammunition and explosives.[27] Commercial advertising at this time also incorporated frugality appeals. Companies such as Texaco, the American Gas Association, and the Bell Telephone System encouraged responsible consumption and energy-saving behavior. Newspapers, magazines, and private companies were also promoting frugal consumption, encouraging Americans to practice behaviors to conserve food such as meal planning and home canning.[28] As a result of the promotion of conservation efforts, Americans responded by recycling 538 million pounds of waste fats, 23 million tons of paper, 800 million pounds of tin, and planting 50 million victory gardens.[29] Due to increased military spending, consumers faced shortages and restrictions on goods as a result of resource redirection for raw materials and production.[30] Frugality became a major topic in public discourse during this period of time. Most Americans accepted the limitations placed on private consumption during World War II. Following the war, there was a rapid transition from frugal consumption to consumerism as a result of economic barriers disappearing, leading to economic expansion.

Philosophy[edit]

In the context of some belief systems, frugality is a philosophy in which one does not trust (or is deeply wary of) "expert" knowledge from commercial markets or corporate cultures, claiming to know what is in the best economic, material, or spiritual interests of the individual.[31]

Different spiritual communities consider frugality to be a virtue or a spiritual discipline.[32] The Religious Society of Friends and the Puritans are examples of such groups.[33] The philosophy behind this is that people ought to save money in order to allocate it to more charitable purposes, such as helping others in need.[34]

Benjamin Franklin paired frugality with industry as the key virtues for financial security: "[W]aste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both. Without industry and frugality nothing will do, and with them everything."[35] Cicero agreed, arguing that "men don’t understand how great a revenue sparingness is."[36]

There are also environmentalists who consider frugality to be a virtue[37] through which humans can make use of their ancestral skills as hunter-gatherers, carrying little and needing little, and finding meaning in nature instead of man-made conventions or religion. Henry David Thoreau expressed a similar philosophy in Walden, with his zest for self-reliance and minimal possessions while living simply in the woods.[38] Degrowth movement advocates use the term "frugal abundance" to denote the enjoyment of a simple, yet culturally, emotionally and spiritually rich, life through which one’s necessities are achieved through collective sufficiency respecting the Earth’s limits.[39]

Corporate world[edit]

Frugality has been adopted as a strategic imperative by large enterprises as a means of cost reduction through engendering a philosophy of careful spending amongst the workforce.[40] Cost reduction is often perceived negatively, be it within a corporate organisation or in society, so inviting each employee to embrace frugality transfers the burden of cost reduction from management to the employee. In doing so, corporations introduce a moral obligation to cost cutting, proposing that careful management of costs is in the company, shareholder, and employee's best interests.[41]

See also[edit]

Wikiquote has quotations related to Frugality.
Look up frugal or frugality in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Temperance enjoying a frugal meal". British Museum.
  2. ^
    • "frugal". Century Dictionary Online. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
    • Macdonald, A.M., ed. (1972). Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionary. Chambers.
    • Oxford American Dictionaries (computer application). Apple Computer. 2005.
    • Woolf, Henry, ed. (1980). Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary. Springfield MA: Merriam. ISBN 0-87779-398-0.
  3. ^ Lastovicka, J.L.; Bettencourt, L.A.; Hughner, R.S.; Kuntze, R.J. (1999). "Lifestyle of the tight and frugal: Theory and measurement". Journal of Consumer Research. 26: 85–98. doi:10.1086/209552.
  4. ^ Rose, P.; Toney Smith, S.; Segrist, D.J. (2010). "Too cheap to chug: Frugality as a buffer against college-student drinking". Journal of Consumer Behaviour. 9 (3): 228–238. doi:10.1002/cb.314.
  5. ^ Gorman, C (1990). The Frugal Mind: 1,479 Money Saving Tips for Surviving the 1990s. Nottingham Books.
  6. ^ Weber, Max (2001-05-17). The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. London: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780203995808. ISBN 978-0-203-99580-8.
  7. ^ Witkowski, Terrence H. (1989). "Colonial Consumers in Revolt: Buyer Values and Behavior during the Nonimportation Movement, 1764-1776". Journal of Consumer Research. 16 (2): 216–226. doi:10.1086/209210. ISSN 0093-5301. JSTOR 2489320.
  8. ^ Weber, Max (2001-05-17). The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. London: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780203995808. ISBN 978-0-203-99580-8.
  9. ^ Witkowski, Terrence H. (1989). "Colonial Consumers in Revolt: Buyer Values and Behavior during the Nonimportation Movement, 1764-1776". Journal of Consumer Research. 16 (2): 216–226. doi:10.1086/209210. ISSN 0093-5301. JSTOR 2489320.
  10. ^ Witkowski, Terrence H. (September 2010). "A brief history of frugality discourses in the United States". Consumption Markets & Culture. 13 (3): 235–258. doi:10.1080/10253861003786975. ISSN 1025-3866.
  11. ^ Witkowski, Terrence H. (1989). "Colonial Consumers in Revolt: Buyer Values and Behavior during the Nonimportation Movement, 1764-1776". Journal of Consumer Research. 16 (2): 216–226. doi:10.1086/209210. ISSN 0093-5301. JSTOR 2489320.
  12. ^ a b Witkowski, Terrence H. (September 2010). "A brief history of frugality discourses in the United States". Consumption Markets & Culture. 13 (3): 235–258. doi:10.1080/10253861003786975. ISSN 1025-3866.
  13. ^ Shalhope, Robert E. (1976). "Thomas Jefferson's Republicanism and Antebellum Southern Thought". The Journal of Southern History. 42 (4): 529–556. doi:10.2307/2208005. ISSN 0022-4642. JSTOR 2208005.
  14. ^ Witkowski, Terrence H. (September 2010). "A brief history of frugality discourses in the United States". Consumption Markets & Culture. 13 (3): 235–258. doi:10.1080/10253861003786975. ISSN 1025-3866.
  15. ^ Wilson, Joan Hoff; Defeis, Elizabeth F (1978). "Role of American Women: An Historical Overview". India International Centre Quarterly. 5 (3): 163–173. ISSN 0376-9771. JSTOR 23001287.
  16. ^ a b Witkowski, Terrence H. (September 2010). "A brief history of frugality discourses in the United States". Consumption Markets & Culture. 13 (3): 235–258. doi:10.1080/10253861003786975. ISSN 1025-3866.
  17. ^ Spanjer, Daniel (2016-01-01). "The intellectual life of Lyman Beecher : an intersection of Calvinism and the Enlightenment". Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024).
  18. ^ Spanjer, Daniel (2016-01-01). "The intellectual life of Lyman Beecher : an intersection of Calvinism and the Enlightenment". Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024).
  19. ^ a b Witkowski, Terrence H. (September 2010). "A brief history of frugality discourses in the United States". Consumption Markets & Culture. 13 (3): 235–258. doi:10.1080/10253861003786975. ISSN 1025-3866.
  20. ^ Resseguie, Harry E. (1965). "Alexander Turney Stewart and the Development of the Department Store, 1823-1876". The Business History Review. 39 (3): 301–322. doi:10.2307/3112143. ISSN 0007-6805. JSTOR 3112143.
  21. ^ Witkowski, Terrence H. (September 2010). "A brief history of frugality discourses in the United States". Consumption Markets & Culture. 13 (3): 235–258. doi:10.1080/10253861003786975. ISSN 1025-3866.
  22. ^ Pethel, Mary Ellen (2008-04-01). "Calhoun, Ed., The Gilded Age - Perspectives On The Origins Of Modern America". Teaching History: A Journal of Methods. 33 (1): 54–55. doi:10.33043/th.33.1.54-55. ISSN 2766-6174.
  23. ^ Witkowski, Terrence H. (2010). "A brief history of frugality discourses in the United States". Consumption Markets & Culture. 13 (3): 235–258. doi:10.1080/10253861003786975. ISSN 1025-3866.
  24. ^ "Book Review: A World Without War: Stanley Hauerwas, War and the American Difference: Theological Reflections on Violence and National Identity". The Expository Times. 124 (6): 302. 2013-02-20. doi:10.1177/0014524612470788g. ISSN 0014-5246.
  25. ^ "Food Rationing in Wartime America". HISTORY. 2023-09-13. Retrieved 2024-05-09.
  26. ^ Witkowski, Terrence H. (2010). "A brief history of frugality discourses in the United States". Consumption Markets & Culture. 13 (3): 244–245. doi:10.1080/10253861003786975. ISSN 1025-3866.
  27. ^ Witkowski, Terrence H. (2003–2004). "World War II Poster Campaigns--Preaching Frugality to American Consumers". Journal of advertising, 2003-04,. 32 (1): 69–82 – via JSTOR.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date format (link) CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  28. ^ Ward I Adkins II Colati III Cullity IV, Barbara McLean I Tracey E. II Gregory C. III Karin E. IV (1994). Produce and conserve, share and play square : the grocer and the consumer on the home-front battlefield during World War II. Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England. pp. 184–185. ISBN 9780874516555. {{cite book}}: line feed character in |first= at position 17 (help); line feed character in |last= at position 7 (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  29. ^ Fox, Frank W. (1975). Madison Avenue goes to war : the strange military career of American advertising, 1941-45. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press. p. 54.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  30. ^ Witkowski, Terrence H. (2010-09). "A brief history of frugality discourses in the United States". Consumption Markets & Culture. 13 (3): 235–258. doi:10.1080/10253861003786975. ISSN 1025-3866. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ Child, Hamilton (1867), "How to Succeed in Business", Gazetteer and Business Directory of Ontario County, N.Y., for 1867-8, p. 91
  32. ^ Austin, Richard Cartwright (1990). Environmental Theology. Creekside Press. p. 169.
  33. ^ Mecklin, John M. (1920). An Introduction to Social Ethics, The Social Conscience in a Democracy. Harcourt, Brace and Howe. p. 254.
  34. ^ Watkinson, William L. (1908). Frugality in the Spiritual Life. F.H. Revell company. p. 7.
  35. ^ Franklin, Benjamin (1791). Autobiography.
  36. ^ Cicero, M.T., Paradoxa Stoicorum
  37. ^ Swain, George Fillmore (1915). Conservation of Water by Storage. Yale University Press. p. 26.
  38. ^ Thoreau, Henry David (2017). Walden. Ebook: Vintage Digital/Penguin Books (published 1854). ISBN 9781473547933.
  39. ^ Nelson, Anitra (2024-01-31). "Degrowth as a Concept and Practice: Introduction". The Commons Social Change Library. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  40. ^ Woerner, Stephanie L. (2001), Networked at Cisco, Center for eBusiness Teaching Case 1, MIT Sloan School of Management
  41. ^ Thoreau, Henry David (1910). Walden. T.Y. Crowell & co. p. 184.
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