I would be remiss in my journey of learning contentment if I didn’t talk about finances. All those words that spring to mind—saving money, frugal living, economical, simple living, thrifty, budgeting—some are decidedly more appealing than others. But the most charming expression for dealing with this topic comes from a favorite book, Cranford, by Elizabeth Gaskell. The term, “elegant economy” is described by the narrator as something practiced with fervor by the genteel middle aged widows & spinsters living in a sleepy little village in the middle of the 19th century. The story glides gently along, but the daily lives and wonderfully vivid personalities and quirks of these worthy women are the main focus of the book.
It is a funny and charming book whose central characters are not often found in classic literature. Beloved cows are dressed in flannel and cleaning lace can be fraught with perils involving buttermilk, a cat, and a dead husband’s boots. But I was struck on this reading (I reread this book every few years) by the strength that comes through from these women and how they cope with living graciously on very slim means. Though there is a healthy dose of satire in the depictions that sometimes borders on the ridiculous, there is also something admirable and noble in their characters. And they take frugality with elegance very seriously. If you haven’t read the book, I highly recommend it! If watching is more your speed, the BBC program does a great job of capturing the Cranford spirit and Judi Dench plays Miss Matilda Jenkins (whose practice of elegant economy is chief among her friends) to perfection.
Frugal Living ~ Lessons from the Past
I realized I could learn a thing or two from those thrifty ladies. Many people, (including me), have found themselves in changed financial situations as of late. To be blunt—less money to live on. It’s all too easy to fall into constant worry, complaining, lack of restraint, overspending, and debt. Here are some relevant and timely lessons from the ladies that have gone before us, fictional though they may be:
- Restraint is classy
- Surround yourself with likeminded people
- Live within your means
- Find the joy in frugality
- Increase your income
Restraint is classy ~ Overindulgence is not
Restraint is a word that seems foreign to our modern sensibilities. We deny ourselves nothing and expect it NOW. But I think some old-fashioned restraint and self-denial, is the best prescription for all sorts of modern issues that we face. We are in debt up to our eyeballs, eating ourselves to death, oversharing every opinion and thought that comes into our heads, and indulging every whim and desire with the petulance of a spoiled toddler.
The ladies of Cranford would be shocked at such self-indulgence and find it exceedingly distasteful and vulgar. To them, the idea of restraint showed a strength of character, a measure of wisdom, and selflessness much to be desired. It also ensured continued independence. In that time period, one had no choice but to live within her means regardless of how slim. To be in debt was dangerous and considered unwise. To know what you have, how much you can spend and possess the strength of will to stick to it is still a valuable and relevant virtue–one that I hope to cultivate more.
Surround yourself with like-minded people ~ Friends don't let friends spend
One of the most endearing elements of the ladies of Cranford is their support of each other especially in the matter of finances. As spinsters and widows, they are mostly ladies of reduced means and have very little to live on. They excel at being gracious without spending large sums of money.
The ladies have an understanding among themselves that shows of wealth such as keeping a carriage, large meals while entertaining, new gowns, and the like are unnecessary and to live with less is to live graciously. Though considered to be vulgar to speak about one’s finances, it was comforting to know that one’s friends would continue to encourage frugal habits as the most desirable thing. This seems as relevant now as it was in 1850. In the company of other spenders, I find it harder to control my own spending ways. Surrounding myself with people who will support and encourage frugal habits is very helpful.
Live within your means ~ Budgets are cool
Budgeting probably sounds pretty boring and unfun if you are like me, but it’s essential and immensely practical. The ladies of Cranford approached living within their means much like modern budgeting gurus. They built their budgets based on their incomes and stuck to them rather than the other way around. It’s all too easy to get that process backwards, making lists of our expenses and “needs” then trying to make our incomes stretch to fit. And all too often, we are not willing to even look at whether we can cut spending in a particular area.
Finding a budgeting system that works for you will truly transform your finances. I always thought I was the sort of person that just couldn’t stick to a budget. I would do great for a few weeks before falling off the wagon and slipping back into old habits. Then I found a system that works for me (most of the time). I budget by week with macro categories instead of by the month with tons of little categories. This has been a revelation for me. I will do a post soon with more details on how I adapted this budgeting method, but the important point here for living within your means like the Cranford ladies did, is to find a system that works for you and do it.
Knowing what your income is and keeping track of your expenses is a fundamental necessity to living within your means and practicing elegant economy. If you’ve struggled with implementing classic budgeting methods in the past, take heart. There are a ton of different systems and methods out there that can be adapted to fit your needs and personality. Keep trying until you find one that works for you.
Frugality can be satisfying ~ and other shocking truths
Cranford ladies have what the narrator calls, “private economies” or little areas in which they derive great pleasure or avoid great annoyance by being extra frugal. Examples that make sense in the 1850’s when the story takes place, include paper, candles, and butter–all things that ride the line of necessity and luxury. But to each person, being thrifty and saving pennies in their particular area was of supreme importance (though they may be wasteful in others).
I can appreciate this mentality. Even though I’ve never been super diligent about budgeting, I’ve always appreciated a good deal and love shopping at thrift stores, garage sales, and discount stores. I am always thrilled to find ways to achieve my goal for less. Decorate my living room on next to nothing? Check. Put together outfits for the cost of a couple of coffees? No problem. Part of the fun is the hunt and those boundaries and limitations of a tight budget are actually freeing in a weird way. It helps to narrow what could be an overwhelming number of possibilities to something more manageable. It also provides nudge to get creativity flowing to find solutions I wouldn’t otherwise have considered. Recognizing and encouraging areas of “private economy” can help budgeting and being frugal be more fun and enjoyable.
Increase your income ~ Start a side hustle
When Miss Matilda Jenkins loses all her savings in a bank collapse, she starts selling tea discreetly from her drawing room. It keeps her afloat until her long lost brother comes on the scene. And while most of us don’t have a wealthy relative to rescue us from our financial plights, we can learn from Miss Matilda by finding a way to increase our income.
There are a thousand and one ways to drum up a little cash. It could be something small like selling unused or handmade items on Etsy, Ebay or Facebook Marketplace. Or maybe a part time job is the way to go. Whatever your interests may be, chances are good there’s a way to make a little money from it.
Those who know me well might chuckle to think of me writing a post about frugality since I am a bit of a spender rather than a saver, but I found encouragement from both the ladies of Cranford and writing this post. I hope these tips help you as much as they have helped me. These are not new ideas—but I find that a dose of encouragement and inspiration can help motivate me on the path I know I need to take. It is a great comfort to learn from the examples of others that it is possible to live well on less. And like the Cranford ladies, we need not feel anxious or ashamed about our tight budgets and slim means—rather we can find satisfaction in our elegant economies.
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