Originally Posted by saltwn

One of the issues that many people have with frugal living is the idea of denying yourself.

Frugal Living: Attitude of Gratitude
Here are some things you can do to help you cultivate the quality of gratitude:

Keep a list of things you are thankful for: One of the easiest ways to begin recognizing what you already have is to make a list. Think of things you are grateful for, and make a list. Include things like your health, the picture your child drew for you, your favorite chair, your morning cup of coffee. Turn the list into a journal. Add two or three things to the list each day. Peruse it often to remind yourself of all the things that you have.

Avoid dwelling on those who appear to have more: Try to avoid comparing your car to someone else’s new car. This goes for other material possessions. Try to focus more on improving yourself in non-material ways, and try to stop comparing what you have to what others have. This can be difficult in a society that equates money with status and “worth.” But you can work at it, and learn to value a simpler life.

Realize that you are more fortunate than others: Recognize that, compared to many others, you are fortunate. Most of the rest of the world gets by on less than $5 a day. Even in your own community there are probably people less fortunate. Don’t let that puff you up, though. Donate to the less fortunate, and volunteer your time, and you’ll begin to feel more grateful for what you have.

Catch the direction of your thoughts: As you go through the above exercises, pay attention when your thoughts start to wander down the paths of envy and dissatisfaction. When you catch yourself thinking negatively, consciously make an effort to find something positive to think about.

Originally Posted by GottaGo

I would never use the word 'gratitude' for a mindset that is satisfied with what they have because they earned it. Gratitude is for someone who doesn't believe they earned it, but got it anyway. It's not a bad state of mind for those that it applies to, but I feel it's an incorrectly used word in this case.

Originally Posted by cnredd

There's also the issue of "Pride" in what you have depending on how you got it...

A high school kid working 2 years at McDonald's to buy a used car will love that car MUCH more than the kid who gets one from his rich sugardaddy for his birthday...

Originally Posted by saltwn

One of the issues that many people have with frugal living is the idea of denying yourself.


Frugal Living: Attitude of Gratitude
Here are some things you can do to help you cultivate the quality of gratitude:

Keep a list of things you are thankful for: One of the easiest ways to begin recognizing what you already have is to make a list. Think of things you are grateful for, and make a list. Include things like your health, the picture your child drew for you, your favorite chair, your morning cup of coffee. Turn the list into a journal. Add two or three things to the list each day. Peruse it often to remind yourself of all the things that you have.


Avoid dwelling on those who appear to have more: Try to avoid comparing your car to someone else’s new car. This goes for other material possessions. Try to focus more on improving yourself in non-material ways, and try to stop comparing what you have to what others have. This can be difficult in a society that equates money with status and “worth.” But you can work at it, and learn to value a simpler life.


Realize that you are more fortunate than others: Recognize that, compared to many others, you are fortunate. Most of the rest of the world gets by on less than $5 a day. Even in your own community there are probably people less fortunate. Don’t let that puff you up, though. Donate to the less fortunate, and volunteer your time, and you’ll begin to feel more grateful for what you have.


Catch the direction of your thoughts: As you go through the above exercises, pay attention when your thoughts start to wander down the paths of envy and dissatisfaction. When you catch yourself thinking negatively, consciously make an effort to find something positive to think about.

Originally Posted by rivrrat

And take much better care of it.

Originally Posted by GottaGo

I would never use the word 'gratitude' for a mindset that is satisfied with what they have because they earned it. Gratitude is for someone who doesn't believe they earned it, but got it anyway. It's not a bad state of mind for those that it applies to, but I feel it's an incorrectly used word in this case.

Originally Posted by Coyote

I disagree strongly.

Gratitude is thankfulness for good fortune and is independent of whether or not you "earned it".

I am grateful that mother is still healthy. I am grateful that my dogs are healthy. I am grateful that my car still runs despite 280,000 miles on it. I am grateful that - even when I can't afford fuel oil I have firewood and a roof over my head. Others are not so fortunate. There but for fortune go you or I....

"Earned it" is the icing on the cake because everything could taken away in an instant through adversity - a tornado, a diagnosis of cancer, a car accident, a child in trouble, a job loss....

Originally Posted by GottaGo

Fortune only plays a part, and most often you make your fortune. Choices, and taking responsibilty for those choices.

True, even with the best planning and best choices, things can and do still go wrong. For good fortune or bad, I have no one to blame but myself.

Because I planned, I did not loose everything I owned when I was dead broke and eating Cream of Chicken soup everynight. Because I planned, I will have something to retire with, even though SS won't be there when the time comes.

There is no one/no thing to be 'grateful' for but me.

I share the fruits of my labor with those that truly need it because I choose too, not for someone to be grateful to me.

Originally Posted by Coyote

I think you and I have completely different definitions of "gratitude" and I don't understand what "blame" has to do with it at all.

Nor do I understand why you need to state: I share the fruits of my labor with those that truly need it because I choose too, not for someone to be grateful to me

What does "having someone to be grateful to me" have to do with being grateful?