Frugal?

I hope that I come across as someone frugal, but sometimes I know that I am just plain cheap!

I am reminded of a presentation last year in CA at FCC about how to make room in a budget to support a missionary. It was a stretch for me to get up in front of a group of peers (who support us heavily so that we can live here) and discuss how to save money by possibly skipping a latte run or considering generic brands. I hoped to be informative, not too directive. It is amazing how those little things add up.

After the presentation a woman who was visiting, came and thanked me for my talk while pushing a $20 bill in my hand. I thanked her, but hoped I hadn't laid it on too thick.

For me all this scrimping and saving has come with the job title, a group known to be on a budget to say the least! But that is not what changed my mind and thinking in regards to money. It is living among the Mongolians who live in poverty or on a very tight budget. While there is generally enough to eat (meat and potatoes) and to clothe their families, there is no extra money. There is no money for fun and games or vacations. No money for refrigerators or electricity to run one. There is just no work here.

It fills me with gratitude. In this world where there is so much poverty, it is amazing to have any extra money. It makes me want to be wiser with what I have.

I talked about money with my language tutor today. We discussed saving, bartering, borrowing, loans and credit. An interesting subject to discuss and learn vocabulary about. It was a good discussion. Compared to her, I am no money manager. My friend and tutor does so much to make her tugric stretch.

Later, I was reminded of my frugality again as I sewed organizational bags for my luggage. We travel so reguarly and often that I feel sometimes my life is series of packing and unpacking. Finally in an effort to embrace this life, I packed a suitcase that never has to be unpacked. Now there are gallon sized ziplock bags filed with kits, one for each child, one for toiletries, one for kitchen supplies, etc.

Now I am sewing little bags to replace the ziplocks. Today I sewed a bag organizer for my "stationary kit." There is a pocket for paper, another pocket for pens and pencils and a final pocket for CD/plug adapters. I made it out of a scrap of fabric, labeled each section with a marker and added a handle to hang up and keep organized in any place I end up! I have looked into bag systems, but they aren't what I want and they cost a fortune.

It made me chuckle to see my finished product tucked into my $10 carryon from Walmart. That little bag has faithfully traveled tens of thousands of miles since 2001 when Peter was studying in Chicago. That bag confirms it, I am a cheapskate!