I've come to the conclusion that there are three types of people when it comes to frugality....the ones who don't practice it, those who want you to believe they practice it and the ones who actually do .  The first group makes no excuses for their purchases, they just buy whatever, whenever no matter the price.  It doesn't matter if they don't have the money (or if it would be better spent elsewhere), that's what credit cards are for right? 

Now the second group, you've met these people (and I've been guilty of this from time to time myself).  You know who they are, they're the ones that every time you see them they have on something new and are bragging about how it only cost them a dollar or whatnot.  "Oh yeah, see these shoes, I wasn't going to buy shoes the other day but they were a dollar and that's a great deal!"  Never mind that they have ten perfectly good pairs of shoes in their closet or that they didn't have that dollar to spend on shoes that day.  Somehow they feel guilty about the purchase (either they didn't need it or didn't have the money or just have some belief that it's not ok to enjoy spending when they do have the money).  It makes it all better in their eyes if they can say they got a good deal.  You see this from people who have money as well as those who don't.

Somewhere along the line we got the idea that enjoying money was bad.  It's totally understandable I suppose when having wealth seems to be condemned at times in the New Testament.  The fact is, it rains on the righteous and the unrighteous - so having wealth makes you no more or less holy than the next person.  What we do with whatever amount God has given us is where we show who we are serving.  Being frugal as a means (or excuse) to "get more stuff" isn't any more God honoring than throwing money out the window.  There's absolutely nothing wrong with buying something that you want as long as you keep it in perspective.  I may not need an ice cream cone but I may want one.  Do I have the money available for such an expense?  It really matters little if it's on sale if I really should be spending that money on something of greater need.  I know someone you cannot compliment on anything they own without them saying, "yeah, I got that for half off" or "can you believe it was only blah, blah, blah".  If someone admires something we have, why can't we just say "thank you, I enjoy it too."  If we truly have a grasp on frugality and are being good stewards, a simple "thank you" should be forthcoming, not the building of a case as to why you just had to buy it. 

Our third group consists of those who truly are frugal.  They are cautious, they read labels, check ads and scour for a good deal once they've finally decided they need to make the purchase.  They look for ways to save at every turn, not so they can say they saved a buck but so they can truly save the buck in an interest bearing account.  I believe that true frugality begins with a desire to honor God with what He's blessed us.  This should begin with giving back, not being tight fisted (which I think is often the picture people have of the frugal).  Once you've given back, being frugal is simply the art of living within your means.  What a novel concept huh?  It's a lesson that we're learning the hard way but learning nonetheless.  Truly frugal, God fearing, good stewards are not stingy people, quite the contrary.  Yes, they save for the future but they also give.  This is the type of person I'd rather be personally and it all begins with being obedient to God.

As our pastor would say, we need to get under God's authority so He can put us over the stuff He wants us to manage.  How many people do you know who are being managed by money and not the other way around?  I know we've been in that place, maybe you have too.  It's not a pleasant spot to be in. 

"Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf."
Proverbs 11:28