Frugal Japan » Frugal Websites

Radical Frugality

Frugal Japan — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 21:00:16 +0000

I’ve had some major life changes in the last two-and-a-half years: quitting a job, starting a company, major cross-country move, and a new baby (now toddler!). I’ve also made a few steps in my own frugal journey: surviving the lean months with little income during my maternity leave, descent into overspending from overwork, and hopefully now a return to more dedicated budget control. Through it all, I’ve gained and learned from doing Frugal Watch.

Here is a new breed of Frugalite I’ve found that might provide some fodder for inspiration and/or amusement. Frugality, it seems, is much more hip than it was when I started the Frugal Japan community back in 2002. As with any movement, there are a wide range of participants. There are people that are mildly interested (frugal observers), folks like me (the modestly frugal) – and then there are folks like Brown Dress Girl.

Actually, Brown Dress Girl is extremely cool. (If you didn’t click on the link above, know that Brown Dress Girl spend an entire calendar year wearing a *single* brown dress that she made. She layered during winter, washed it many times, and of course replaced the buttons, but she spent an entire year without buying any new clothing. A deviant, brilliant social statement.) She, and the other urban homesteading, dumpster-diving, dryer-lint saving crew are what I term the Radically Frugal. They’re vocal, driven, and … actually, quite an inspiration.

The start of a new year is an excellent time to wipe away a past of financial mistakes and start afresh. And heck, even if your well-intentioned goals only last a few weeks – you’re still a few weeks better off financially than you were before! So, to get your frugal drive in gear, I offer below links to a few Radically Frugal persons and websites I thought might inspire you. As with anything, take the recommendations with a shaker of salt. I’m not suggesting we all follow their paths (I certainly couldn’t), but perhaps one step in the direction of radical frugality might be worthwhile.

Radical Frugalites/Frugal Sites

Judith Levine
http://www.judithlevine.com
Author of “Not Buying It – My Year Without Shopping”

Dumpster World
http://www.dumpsterworld.com
No, I’m not kidding. It has over 3400 members.

Freeganism
http://freegan.info
Frankly, these folks sound a bit extreme. But there is a good philosophy (in moderation) here worth looking at.

Urban Homesteading
http://www.urban-homesteading.com
This sounds more do-able – and very fun!

Earthaven
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/14/AR2006111400979_pf.html
Eco-commune in the North Carolina mountains

Frugal Website: Gary Stretcher

Frugal Japan — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 21:00:59 +0000

http://www.stretcher.com

Frugal Website: Life Insurance Association of Japan

Frugal Japan — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 21:00:55 +0000

Insurance has to be one of the most confusing topics for long-term foreign residents in Japan, but is a necessary one to understand. The Life Insurance Association of Japan website gives an English language overview of the Japanese life insurance industry, which might be helpful for those looking into the matter.

Frugal Website: Froogle

Frugal Japan — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 21:00:52 +0000

Google has launched a new price-comparison service called Froogle.com. Just type in the name of the item you want (the more specific the better) in the query box, and Froogle will find sites selling the item on the Internet and list the prices, usually with a picture included. The “Advanced Froogle Search” will also let you set a price range. This is a useful site for comparison shopping on overseas or mail order shopping from Japan.

Frugal Website: All Things Frugal

Frugal Japan — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 21:00:48 +0000

All Things Frugal is a US-based web site that is a sort-of clearinghouse of “Do-it-Yourself” frugality. They offer the Pennypincher E-zine, a weekly free e-zine, and the Tightwad Tidbits, a daily free e-zine filled with tightwad tips. Some of the tips are pretty straightforward, or “Oh, I knew that” sort of things, but some are useful. Be warned, the e-zines are full of free advertising.

Frugal Website: Cookpad.com

Frugal Japan — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 21:00:37 +0000

Cookpad.com is a community-based, Japanese cooking website featuring tens of thousands of recipes in easy to understand Japanese, with pictures. Rate your favorite recipes or add your own to the mix – its all free. (Note that cooking from recipes is a great way to study Japanese!)

Frugal Website: Top Secret Recipes

Frugal Japan — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 21:00:34 +0000

Top Secret Recipes is an interesting, slightly commercial website devoted to divulging recipes for famous or brand name American foods (from restaurants and other establishments) to make at home.

Frugal Website: Gourmet Navi

Frugal Japan — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 21:00:32 +0000

Gourmet Navi is a great website (in Japanese and English) for searching out recommended restaurants in a specific area, based on price, food style (Italian, Asian, etc.), and other preferences. Favorite features include online menus and coupons that offer real bargains (free bottle of wine, 20% of dinner, etc.) on dining at the restaurants.

Frugal Website: Tawra’s Tightwad Tips

Frugal Japan — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 21:00:31 +0000

Tawra’s Tightwad Tips is interesting in its personal, down-to-earth tone and real-life examples. Tawra and her husband paid off a US $20,000 debt in four years on an income of $22,000, with two kids. While the topics relate very closely to US life (and thus might not apply to our lives here), we can all relate to ideas of getting rid of consumer debt, doing without, and being fiscally responsible. Also includes sample monthly budgets and grocery bills. She has also written a cookbook called “Not Just Beans.” The tiptionary here might be an interesting read!

Frugal Website: Mary Hunt’s Cheapskate Monthly

Frugal Japan — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 21:00:30 +0000

Mary Hunt’s popular Cheapskate Monthly magazine probably most closely resembles Frugal Japan in terms of philosophy, which is “bringing dignity to the art of living below your means.” Favorite features are online back issues to years’ worth of Cheapskate Monthlies, as well as online calculators for computing budgets and other useful tools.