Living Simply, Giving Freely
“Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; that is, waste nothing.” ~ Benjamin Franklin
Franklin’s View of Frugality
For Franklin, frugality wasn’t about miserliness. It was about stewardship by directing resources toward what truly mattered and refusing to waste what could be used for good. Wealth gained through Industry had to be preserved by Frugality, not squandered on vanity. This virtue was practical: spend where it adds value, cut off what doesn’t.
Wisdom from the Stoics
The Stoics warned against being owned by possessions. Seneca wrote: “It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.” Marcus Aurelius reminded himself daily to use what he had wisely, aligning his choices with reason rather than appetite.
Biblical Echoes
Scripture also praises wise stewardship:
- “Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.” (Proverbs 21:20)
- Jesus taught about treasures in heaven over treasures on earth (Matthew 6:19–21).
“Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.” ~ Jesus (Matthew 6:19-21 MSG)
Frugality is not scarcity but alignment by spending in ways that bless, not burden.
Voices from Christian Writers
- C.S. Lewis: “The only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.” (Mere Christianity)
- G.K. Chesterton: “They may give their money away, but they will never give themselves away… To be smart enough to get all that money you must be dull enough to want it.” (A Miscellany of Men)
- Richard Foster: “Simplicity is the only thing that sufficiently reorients our lives so that possessions can be genuinely enjoyed without destroying us.” (Celebration of Discipline)
These voices echo Franklin: simplicity and generosity, not waste and vanity.
My Experience with Frugality
This week I saw how time and energy are my greatest wastes. Unlike money, their loss is harder to measure, but the cost is real with spiraling thoughts, wasted minutes, screen time that drains instead of restores.
I also noticed how easily small purchases creep in i.e. subscriptions, apps, Amazon orders. Technology has made it effortless to spend, which makes the discipline of frugality even more vital.
Spending isn’t always bad. Buying supplements for my health reflected values I hold deeply. So did my morning and evening routines: prayer, journaling, meditation, walking the dog. These are small acts of investment in my spiritual, mental, and physical well-being.
But I also saw the emotional cost of waste: the stress of undone tasks, the frustration of lost time, the guilt of distraction. Once gone, those minutes never return.
Simplicity and Joy
One realization stood out: joy is rarely found in the complex. We complicate our lives whether it is vocationally, relationally, even spiritually and then wonder why joy feels distant. Simplicity creates margin for what matters: relationships, creativity, peace.
Generosity as the Fruit of Frugality
Frugality is not about hoarding. Its fruit is generosity. Tithing, supporting charities, helping those in need can all flow from resources saved. And generosity is not just money. It is time, attention, and even the willingness to give away what we no longer use but others could benefit from.
Practical Focus Map: Practicing Frugality
| Area | Practice |
| Money | Avoid impulse buys. Invest in quality and generosity. |
| Time | Limit wasted minutes. Align schedule with values. |
| Energy | Guard thought life. Don’t drain energy on spirals. |
| Simplicity | Declutter possessions and routines. Keep only what adds value. |
| Generosity | Redirect saved resources into blessing others. |
Closing Thought
Frugality is not about being stingy—it’s about living free. Free from clutter. Free from debt. Free to give. Franklin knew that without frugality, Industry would be wasted. This week I learned the same. Simplicity does not shrink life; it expands it.
Chase The Kangaroo 
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