The Value of Frugality and Simplicity: A Lesson Learned Early

When I started high school, my dad handed me an envelope containing $50 for school supplies. “Spend it however you want,” he said, with a smile, “but if you decide to re-use some of your old school supplies, you can keep the change.”

At first, it seemed easy. I mentally filled my cart with fresh notebooks, shiny new pens, and colorful binders. But as I started calculating costs, reality hit. Did I really need new scissors when last year’s were perfectly fine? Could I stretch my budget by reusing my old pencil case and ruler? Should I keep some of the money for something else?

Every decision felt monumental. My lists grew longer, and my calculations messier. I made mistakes—one time, I splurged on cheap but flimsy items, only to regret it later. Yet, these moments taught me invaluable lessons about prioritizing, compromising, and valuing quality over quantity.

My sister had it tougher—she had to budget for new uniforms since I inherited hers. Watching her navigate those choices taught me to appreciate hand-me-downs, a lesson I’ve carried into adulthood. Today, my daughter wears clothes and uses toys lovingly passed down from her older cousin and our neighbors. She doesn’t mind, and neither do I; instead, we celebrate the stories attached to those items.

These early experiences shaped not just how I viewed money but also how I approached life: with intentionality, and the understanding that less can often be more.

Frugality and Simplicity: What Do They Mean?

Frugality is about making thoughtful decisions with money—spending wisely, avoiding waste, and focusing on value. Simplicity is its partner, a lifestyle of minimalism and clarity that prioritizes what truly matters. Together, they teach us to live intentionally, appreciating what we have instead of constantly chasing more.

For children, these values are transformative. They challenge the consumer-driven mindset that equates happiness with stuff, offering instead a sense of empowerment and contentment that carries into adulthood.

How Frugality and Simplicity Lead to Financial Freedom

Here’s the secret: when you keep your expenses low, you unlock the ability to save and invest more. Over time, this creates a powerful snowball effect, where your wealth grows faster and your financial goals become more achievable.

Living simply isn’t about deprivation—it’s about having the freedom to choose. Imagine raising children who understand this from a young age. They’ll grow up knowing that happiness doesn’t come from designer clothes or the latest gadgets but from living a life aligned with their values and dreams.

Saffi’s Lesson: Living Fuller with Fewer

In the Saffi Squirrel series, Saffi embodies these lessons through her simple yet meaningful choices. She shows young readers that happiness isn’t about accumulating more—it’s about finding joy in what’s already around us. Through stories like these, children learn that frugality isn’t a sacrifice; it’s a creative and fulfilling way to live.

The beauty of frugality and simplicity is that they transcend finances. These values encourage mindfulness, gratitude, and intentionality in every aspect of life. They teach us to declutter not just our homes but also our minds, freeing us to focus on relationships, experiences, and personal growth.

For children, this might look like learning to share toys with siblings or appreciating hand-me-downs instead of yearning for the latest trends. For adults, it might mean simplifying schedules to spend more time with family or letting go of the pressure to "keep up" with societal expectations.

Final Reflections: Planting the Seeds Early

Frugality and simplicity are gifts we can give our children—gifts that will serve them far beyond childhood. Through lessons like my dad’s budgeting game, stories like Saffi’s, or simply modeling intentional living, we can show them that less is often more.

It’s not about denying them the joy of new things but teaching them to value what they already have. It’s not about saying no to their wants but helping them discern their true needs. In a world that constantly tells them to want more, these lessons are a quiet rebellion—and a path to a richer, fuller life.