Skint But Fit.

If you are frugal for the fun of it, that's all well and good, but if you are having to be frugal, forced to live in a style you'd rather not be accustomed, it can make a person feel powerless. Without choices. Many of the adverts we see are not for us, holidays and new cars and such. People we know ask us where we're going on holiday this year, we almost burst out laughing at the thought.

There can also be bitterness. Anger at the cut-backs that made us redundant, at the ex-partners who don't pay child support, and many other things.

However, there is always a choice, and we always have power. To quote Rocky (which I often do)

'But it ain't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done.'

People overcome huge adversities far greater than a lack of funds, which can very easily be a temporary problem. Kids grow up and leave home, new career paths can open, for many of us without physical or mental disability we have it made. We can achieve, and while it's depressing to get red bills and letters from the court, it's a lot easier to handle rough stuff with a healthy, strong, fit, endorphin-filled body. 

And a note about food. It is possible to eat well on a low budget, it just requires some cooking, and a return to basics. Lentils and carrots, soups and stews, in season fruit and veg, hearty, wholesome things we can make ourselves (and generally freeze in huge quantities.) The internet is full of frugal recipes, so you don't even need to buy a cook book.....