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Frugal and minimalist go together like pickle juice and an upset stomach. Despite what the critics say, and they always have something to say, being frugal and a minimalist is similar. 

Being a frugal minimalist is a way to empower goals by clearing away what is less important and focusing on what is. 

What is a frugal minimalist?

My personal assistant, Bing Chat, states that,

“A frugal minimalist is someone who combines the principles of frugality and minimalism to live a richer and more abundant life with less stuff and more money. Frugality is about spending less and saving more, while minimalism is about owning less and valuing more. A frugal minimalist aims to reduce both their expenses and their possessions, and focus on the things that truly matter to them.”

His accuracy is as impressive as his ability to scare the masses. 

Frugal and minimalism are similar. Both focus on getting rid of excess to focus on what’s valued. 

Being frugal means I:

Rarely eat out,

Don’t shop often,

Participate in self-care because it’s cheaper than healthcare,

I clean, repair, and mend before I replace, and 

I prefer free entertainment to overpaid.

Being minimalist means I:

Declutter consistently,

Only keep what I love or find useful,

Engage in hobbies over shopping, and

Question wants versus needs.

There are similarities between the two and when combined, their power is maximized. 

Why am I a frugal minimalist?

Not with intention, I ended up falling into a frugal minimalist like how I fell into a mouthful of hot coffee on a Monday morning. I started being frugal initially to get ahold of my finances and avoid living paycheck to paycheck. As my financial journey continued, minimalism became more appealing. 

Eventually, they became so similar it was hard to tear them apart. They both focus on a few values versus a multitude of desires.

Both traits support each other. With minimalism, when I declutter, I generate money from a sale or a receipt from a donation. Plus, I shop less because I want to own less cheaply made items and save up for expensive items with lifetime warranties. 

Being frugal also means I shop less. When I do shop, it’s with a coupon or discount after a long period of waiting. I’m frugal 80% of the time, so I can travel and invest in experiences in the other 20%. 

How am I a frugal minimalist? 

Similar to my journey, it’s best to start small and easy. I didn’t go from zero savings to saving $12,000 in a year. It took many small steps to go from 0 to 12K. 

That’s the joy in the journey, every small step counts. 

I was drawn to frugal first because I was in a bad spot with money, whereas someone else may be drawn to minimalism because they’re in a bad spot with stuff. 

To each their own, the important part is to start.

For a tiny frugal step, I’d:

Start a budget and track expenses (not setting boundaries yet, just actively viewing where money is going),

Sign up for local grocery and gas loyalty apps (many have infused coupons or discounts),

Switch to water as a default, and

Park in the back and add a few more steps to my day.

For a tiny minimalist step, I’d:

Clear one drawer or shelf,

Take a bag of donations to a donation center,

Find a free hobby to replace time spent shopping, and

Make a shopping list instead of buying instantly.

These are a few ideas that came to mind in a matter of minutes. There are many more floating on the web waiting to be loaded onto a webpage. 

The beauty of modern marvels is there’s plenty to read, choosing relevant content is the challenge. 

A frugal minimalist is placing priorities and values over whims and wants. 

Last year was quite a year. I traveled to Iceland to see the Northern Lights ($4,000), South Dakota for a wedding ($500), and Crater Lake for the “Ring of Fire” eclipse ($500). In a year, I spent $5000 on travel to thrilling destinations and saw fabulous friends. 

Because of frugal minimalism, I’d saved and paid for these trips in cash. When I came home, what lingered was their memory, not debt. 

Since I was frugal, I could afford multiple travel locations in 365 days. Since I’m a minimalist, I traveled lighter and cheaper with a carry-on, stayed with friends, or in a tent. 

Despite this last year’s travel expenses, I still have 2K in the bank for travel as a federal employee.

I clear away clutter and excess to streamline what truly matters – experiences and adventures.