The Joy of Living a Simple Frugal Life -

Have you ever noticed how people living on less are often happier than those who seem to have it all? The truth is, they probably are. There is great joy to be found in living a simple frugal life, and you can have it too.

In our modern world, consumerism is saturating our culture. Marketing tactics continue to become more and more cunning and with the rise of social media, they’re in our faces constantly.

We can often be left thinking that our life would be better or happier in some way if we had that thing we think we need. Or even worse, if we covet someone else’s financial situation, home, cars or any other materialistic possession and think somehow we are lacking because we don’t have what they do.

But the truth is, there is great joy to be found in living a simple frugal life. One of honesty and integrity, simplicity and modesty. I write this post as an encouragement to you, sweet reader. You don’t need more, you simply need contentment.. but how to get it is the question we’re going to answer today.

Striving… the thief of joy

I would say I am a highly qualified person to speak on this topic, because I have spent much of my adult years in a state of striving. Striving for materialistic things, recognition, validation.. anything that I thought would make me feel the joy my soul was searching for.

It’s probably safe to say that we all have experienced this in some way or another because we are all fallen human beings. Ours souls are constantly striving for something because they were designed for joy. But joy isn’t the same thing as happiness, and that is where the world gets it confused.

We think that if we can hit a certain goal, obtain a certain thing, or finally get that attention or recognition we think we want then we will finally be satisfied. That’s striving. The feeling of leaning out hoping to finally clasp on to that thing that will fix all of our problems. But in the midst of our striving we are joyless and discontent. And because the things we strive for never actually wind up fulfilling us in the way we think they will, we remain that way.

The moment we realize that we cannot spend our lives looking for a worldly possession, relationship or achievement to satisfy our longing for joy is the pivotal moment for a human soul. And when we realize that it’s not a something that will fill our joy but a someone, everything in our life changes.

We were not designed to strive for things of this world for joy.. that’s why they never satisfy. We were designed to strive for the true giver of it. “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11.

Now how does this tie into the joy living a simple frugal like you may ask? Well now that we have the joy part covered, we will move on to the rest.

What does simple living actually look like?

The term simple living has become a trend often associated with homestead and “crunchy” aesthetics. While there is something pure and simple about stepping out of the modern way of living, simple living doesn’t have to involve any of those things.

Simple living isn’t a home without a tv. It’s not a kitchen where everything is made from scratch. It’s not minimalism or a certain lifestyle to be achieved.

True simple living is a life free from striving. It’s not a fight for control over what comes next or a trend to participate in, but a life of contentment and stillness, with open hands to God’s will for our lives.

Simple living means accepting what is and embracing the not yet. It’s a deep satisfaction with being right in the middle of God’s will for your life; a life of joyfully and diligently working in the duties set before us.

“and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you” 1 Thessalonians 4:11

When we accept this view as true simple living, one that doesn’t depend on slow mornings or perfectly maintained minimalism, then we embrace a new kind of slowness and stillness.. the slowness and stillness of heart. Because we know the one who holds our circumstances, and no longer need to strive for the control we once longed for.

Living a simple frugal life is intentionality, not deprivation

When my husband and I got married we were not Christians. I worked a full time job as a registered nurse and he worked full time as well, meaning we had two incomes coming in.

I had not yet had my eyes opened to the “fullness of joy” found in Christ, and was living as one of the world does. I looked to my circumstances and materialism to fulfill me. Shopping became something I did constantly, because it filled that emptiness inside me (although only ever briefly).

We found the Dave Ramsey plan in early 2020 and used our overtime pay working through COVID to pay off our debt. We didn’t set out with the goal of me being a stay at home mom, but as the year progressed and my views on modern medicine changed it was something we made the decision to do.

I was saved right around the time I quit my job in late 2020 and the years following were a whirlwind. I was suddenly faced with a financial situation I had never been in before. For the first time in my life I had to budget out of necessity, and my coping mechanism of shopping and escapism via spending money was no longer an option. Not only that, but I was suddenly confronted with conviction over where I was seeking joy, and how far from it I had been.

I would love to say that I coasted right in to my walk with Christ and was content in Him, but that truly couldn’t be further from the truth. I was clinging to my old ways with everything I had, and it took the Lord putting me through some serious fire to show me that.

It’s been 6 years since my life completely changed. We have lived on less than ever before over these years, yet somehow my joy and contentment have only increased. How could that be?

Because the false dopamine hits of unchecked spending, unhealthy relationship dynamics and all of these worldly things pale in comparison to the deep satisfaction of living an intentional, simple life focused on Christ. One that chooses sacrifice over fleeting comforts and long-suffering over instant gratification.

When we are intentional with the way we live our lives and steward the things God has entrusted to us, we are fulfilled in a way that could never compare with the ways of the world.

Many would look at the choices we have made for our family and think that one could never be satisfied in them. To the outside it looks like deprivation and lack of fulfillment. We both drive cars that are over 20 years old, we don’t take vacations and almost everything we own is secondhand. Years ago, I would have felt deprived by my current circumstances, too.

But stewarding what you have and making God-glorifying choices with your lifestyle and finances is anything but deprivation. It’s true freedom, because it is the dopamine hit that no worldly treasure could ever provide.

Joy in frugality

Living a frugal life sounds like some kind of less than ideal lifestyle. Many people think that if they are living a frugal lifestyle they will have to forfeit the things that bring them joy. But the truth is living a simple frugal lifestyle and enjoying it is entirely possible. In fact, there is so much more joy to be had when we strip away the materialistic and live our lives fully and intentionally.

A healthy baby splashing in the bathtub, a delicious homemade meal with a from scratch dessert to follow, the satisfaction of working hard to tidy and clean your home… these are all examples of things that are truly fulfilling and guess what, they’re free! Well mostly free.. you get my point!

When we slow down just long enough to compare the things we are seeking joy from with the things that are right in front of us, we can turn our everyday lives into an overflowing fountain of joy. No worldly gain can ever compare to the joy of the simple, God given blessings of a rooted family home life.

I used to crave getting out of the house on the weekends, but over the last few years it has gotten real expensive out there! When constantly going and doing was no longer within our means, I realized how discontent I was at home. Social media is a fierce contributor to discontentment in modern homemakers. We are constantly comparing and having our joy stripped away by what we think someone else’s life is like, and how ours falls short of that.

But when we ask the Lord to give us joy for the things he has given us.. this husband, these children, this home (however imperfect any of it is) He will do just that. He will give us joy in our circumstances because it brings glory to His name.

“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:13

Daily frugal living… transforming your heart and mind

No amount of frugal simple living tips will ever be sufficient to bring us contentment if we do not first start with retraining the way we view our circumstances.

Daily frugal living starts with forming new habits in our hearts and mind. We must train our minds to believe that our circumstances are the will of God and we must give thanks for them always (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

The only way to train our minds to be inclined toward contentment and thanksgiving is by taking our thoughts captive. “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” 2 Corinthians 10:5.

Over time our mind will build the habit of thinking thoughts that align with the fruits of the spirit and less inclined to dwell in negative thinking cycles. Retraining our old thought patterns and replacing them with positive thoughts is not only glorifying to God, but it truly gives life to our body. A life that cannot be bought, supplemented or even produced through a certain lifestyle.

The devil would love nothing more than to steal your joy with negative thoughts, but Jesus gives life abundantly to those who follow Him. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10.

Practical tips for being content in living a simple frugal life

Pray – This is absolutely the first step in contentment with living a simple frugal life. He is the giver of joy and will give it to you abundantly if you ask Him.
Take your thoughts captive – After you pray for contentment and joy, ask for the strength to notice and take captive negative thoughts that are stealing your joy in the simple life you are trying to cultivate.
Plan for adventures and treats – Frugal living doesn’t mean deprivation. It means being intentional and wise with the way we spend our money. Planning for outings, treats and other things that cost extra money gives us peace knowing it wasn’t an irresponsible, spur of the moment decision and allows us to take care of home responsibilities in advance.
Simplify your schedule – Having your kids in a ton of sports or overcommitting to too many outside activities doesn’t just affect your wallet with gas, cost of the commitment itself and grabbing drive thru food on the go. When we have less time in our homes, we have less time to take care of the things that make living a simple frugal life at home enjoyable. This keeps us in a constant state of escapism as we look to the outside activities to ease our discomfort in our homes. Joy in a simple frugal life at home is possible, if we make building our home life the first priority.
Implement habits to enjoy life as a homemaker – There are practical things we can do to enjoy being at home more when it comes to our children, systems and more. Check out my post on how to enjoy life as a stay at home mom for nine practical tips.
Make a budget – You can’t excel in living a frugal life if you don’t have an idea of where your money is going (been there)! Start with reviewing your last month of spending. This one might hurt a bit but it is better brought to light then left hidden away where it is causing damages. Then set a budget based on the necessary categories and go from there. It will take a few months of practicing this to get a good idea of what your budget should actually look like, and that’s okay!
Limit your time on social media – Comparison is the thief of joy. At no time in history have women had the ability to only compare themselves to the perfectly curated version of dozens of women in one day. The thing about finding real community in your real life is it is so obvious that they also are not perfect. And if you find the right kind of friends, they will inspire you all the more to pursue a simple frugal life by their devotion to their own homes in a way that content creators simply cannot.
Find frugal ways to infuse beauty into your everyday life – planting a garden, sweeping your porch, thrifting a comfortable sweater to wear around your house… there are so many ways to make your home life beautiful and a place you don’t want to leave. For more help with making your home a cozy and beautiful place to be on a frugal budget, check out these seven practical tips.
Keep your home clean – a clean home is a comfortable home. A comfortable home is a place that makes things feel lighter.. a place you want to stay. Obviously keeping your home perfectly clean all the time is impossible with small children, but don’t let that make you throw in the towel altogether! You can develop simple habits around laundry, tidying and cleaning that keep your home from becoming overwhelming and make it an enjoyable place to be.
Have patience – Your thoughts will not be transformed overnight. Your budget will have mistakes constantly. Your simple days will be interrupted by unexpected things out of your control. That’s okay, keep at it. You will see progress if you are faithful to ask the Lord for strength in go on in the things you know you ought to do. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9.