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When Does Frugal Go from "Good" to "Good Grief?" by Nikki Willhite How do you know when you are being too frugal? When does being frugal turn from "good" to "good grief?" There was a woman born in 1834 that was known for her excessive frugality. Her name was Hetty Green. She was actually very rich. When her father died, she inherited $7.5 million dollars. You'd think she would relax and enjoy life. However  Hetty was a miser, in a bad way. At one time she was listed in the Guiness Book of World Records as the world's stingiest person. Among the things that are either said or known about her are that she went without heat in her home, never used hot water, never washed her hands, and wore the same black dress every day as well as undergarments that she only changed after they were worn out. Now that is a major "good grief." One of the most tragic results of her excessive frugality caused her son to lose his leg. Her son broke his leg, and she tried to have him admitted to a charity ward, where she wouldn't have to pay any money. However, she was recognized, and they would not admit him. She then tried to treat the leg herself. It contracted gangrene, and had to be amputated. This is obviously excessive frugality. Unfortunately, I've also seen it on a personal level. One of my husband's male relatives went from "good" to "good grief" as he got older. This was heartbreaking for the spouse.  Her home became probably the most dated house I've ever seen, and it was not comfortable to visit her. The sofa, well over 40 years old, and was so broken there was plywood under the cushions so you didn't fall into the springs. Sleeping on their pilled sheets was like laying on sandpaper, and you didn't dare eat any of their food, which looked like it had been in the refrigerator for over a month. The woman was  not allowed to do anything but knit. She tried to buy a sewing machine, but her husband took it back. Her husband wouldn't even buy her a much needed hearing aid. He just didn't want to spend the money, which in his case, was not lacking. So what can we learn from the above examples? I think this is an example of "The love of money is the root of all evil." There is nothing wrong with money. Money is a tool. It provides for the needs of our family. It gives us security. It gives us our food, pays for our utilities, housing and transportation. It is when we love money for the sake of money that we are making a "good" into a "good grief." The next question I have to ask is how can we check to make sure we are not crossing that line? I think as long as we are viewing money as a vehicle to help not only ourselves but other people, including charitable donations, we are being frugal in a good way. Be careful that you never get obsessive about money. Everyone needs to have fun in life. There is nothing wrong with being as comfortable as possible, both in the present, and with an eye to the future. Value money, but don't turn "good" into "good grief." About the Author: Nikki Willhite, mother of 3 and an interior design graduate, has been writing and publishing articles on the topic of frugal living for over a decade. Visit her at www.frugalhappyfamilies.com - where you will find hundreds of frugal living tips and articles. Frugal Happy Families- more than just money!

 

 

 

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