Wisdom In All Things Special Series
You might say that it was Benjamin Franklin’s disillusionment with a sermon on Philippians 4:8 that was at least partly responsible for his conceiving of “the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection” that is his 13 virtues.
A wise life is a virtuous life. There is an expectation of behavior from someone who claims to be wise. This 13-part series will seek to help us understand a life that is exemplified by the characteristics elevated by this great American statesman.
What This Virtue Means
Frugality is often mistaken for deprivation or miserliness. Franklin meant neither.
For him, frugality was about purposeful use—directing resources toward what genuinely matters and refusing waste that serves no good end. Frugality is not about having less, but about using what you have well.
Franklin recognized that waste quietly erodes freedom. Money, time, and energy spent without intention reduce capacity for generosity, growth, and responsibility.
Frugality, then, is the virtue of stewardship.
Why Franklin Practiced It
Franklin lived in a world where financial instability was common and opportunity fragile. He understood that careless use of resources limited future choices.
By practicing frugality, Franklin sought to:
- maintain independence
- preserve resources for meaningful purposes
- avoid unnecessary debt or obligation
- increase his capacity to do good
Frugality gave Franklin flexibility. It was not about hoarding—it was about keeping resources available for wiser use.
Modern Examples of Frugality
In a culture that equates spending with satisfaction, frugality is quietly countercultural.
Modern expressions of frugality might include:
- spending aligned with values rather than impulse
- reducing wasteful subscriptions or habits
- using time intentionally rather than filling it mindlessly
- investing resources in growth, relationships, or generosity
Frugality creates margin—financially, emotionally, and morally.
Want a simple way to practice the virtues the way Franklin did?
Download the free printable virtues chart and weekly habit tracker—modeled after Franklin’s original system.
There is Freedom in Frugality
By design, Mr. Franklin originally laid out the list of virtues in the order that we have them today.
“My intention being to acquire the habitude of all these virtues, I judged it would be well not to distract my attention by attempting the whole at once, but to fix it on one of them at a time, and, when I should be master of that, then to proceed to another… and, as the previous acquisition of some might facilitate the acquisition of certain others.”
What might be a helpful sidebar, is to reflect on the list, and its application, holistically, and even speculate as to why he decided on this particular order.
Another, and more specifically, would be to consider Frugality in light of what we have waded through up to this point. There was Order, Resolution, Temperance, and Silence.
Benjamin described the influence of Frugality, as well as Industry (next in our list), as “freeing me from my remaining debt, and producing affluence and independence.”
There really are two aspects to enabling growth. Stop doing what we shouldn’t, and start doing what we should. It would be counterproductive to only do one or the other. Pursuing frugality should lead us to “backfill the hole”, but also produce a level of wealth and autonomy that puts us in the driver’s seat.
We put ourselves in the financial position to be free to do what must be done–what needs doing. It wouldn’t be prudent to develop the previous virtues, to then be held back because of debt or lack of means.
A keen sense of frugality will be a balance of “prudence in saving” while “lacking in wastefulness”, with the maturity of growing financially independent. Being free and clear puts us in a better position to say Yes! when presented with the right opportunity. Having a choice is freeing!
Limitation with a Purpose
My wife has been a real influence on me in the area of frugality. The draw of having, or doing more, without real purpose has lost its appeal. There just isn’t the desire to go or spend, unless it meets the right criteria.
I first want to visit some of the more familiar recommendations that are offered when considering frugality.
Live within your means
Katherine Martinko points to some of those key principles of being frugal in her article, 20 Habits of Frugal People: make your own food, don’t buy new (i.e. car), buy in bulk (just not cheese puffs–but oh, so tempting), find low-cost exercise, and think long-term. Then she plainly states what it is to be frugal: live within your means.
The Diderot Effect
In his article, 9 Daily Extravagance Habits Frugal People Don’t Have, Jim Wang is equally persuasive in applying the essential foundation for frugal living. He covers things like comparison shopping, and overpaying for convenience, but also highlighted the Diderot Effect. This social phenomenon is where someone will buy pants, but not have a shirt or shoes that really go with it, so to complete the outfit, will buy new shoes and a new shirt.
Is it any wonder we have trouble with frugality when we’re so given over to complete sets, make sure everything goes together, and feel compelled to keep the cycle of adding more stuff going.
Frugality is liberating
If you really want to be motivated to consider being more frugal, consider how liberating it is! Chris Muller, in his Money Mozart article, The Top 10 Reasons Frugality is So Liberating, provides near-instant euphoria with just the first reason: you retire earlier. Not having to do what you’re doing day in and day out, sooner?! I’m in.
What I especially appreciate in his article is the idea of thinking more strategically. There are two sides to frugality. Those that are forced to be, and those who do so intentionally. This is significant. There is a dramatic difference between someone who has to be frugal but would not be if they didn’t have to, and someone who does need to be as frugal, but chooses to. Franklin encourages the latter; that making money is not so that we have more to spend, but that we can do more good.
Do the best you can with what you have
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner is a successful “frugalist”, and in her article Change Your Life By Becoming A Frugal Freak – 11 Ways To Be More Frugal, highlighted two points I want to reiterate here. The first is: be content. It also sums up the idea of frugality. Live within your means. Do the best you can, with what you have. The other point she made, which goes hand in hand with contentment, is dissolving the idea that you deserve everything. Even if you did, you can’t afford it. Especially if you’re intending to be frugal.
Limit your frequency
In addition to these foundational principles, I wanted to provide a way to transition, or at least, simply bring balance to being frugal: force yourself to experience the freedom from frequency. You don’t have to spend as much, attend as much, consume as much, watch as much, subscribe as much, or upgrade as much. Reducing the frequency can help balance the need and want.
Becoming frugal (or more frugal) doesn’t necessarily mean going without. It is limiting of course. But rather, think of it as storing. Having the surplus to pursue a specific direction, with purpose. It can put you in the position of spending wisely for your own good and the good of others, and keep us in line with Franklin’s admonition to “waste nothing.”
How to Practice Frugality This Week
Frugality begins with attention, not austerity.
To begin:
- Observe where resources are leaking
Money, time, or energy spent without clear benefit. - Choose one area of waste
Not everything—just one. - Redirect rather than merely restrict
Use what you save for something meaningful or necessary. - Reflect at week’s end
Did restraint feel limiting—or freeing? What possibilities opened?
Frugality grows when purpose replaces impulse.
Download the exact habit-tracking chart Benjamin Franklin used to pursue the 13 virtues.
This free, printable PDF gives you the (modernized) chart Franklin used to track his progress toward moral growth, designed to help you slow down, pay attention, and cultivate better habits one week at a time.