Books I love: The Art of Frugal Hedonism

I recently re-read The Art of Frugal Hedonism, by Annie Raser-Rowland with Adam Grubb. And I got to tell you, I love it.

Ok, Ok. I know what you’re thinking.

“Amy, hedonism is basically the antithesis of everything the financial independence movement stands for.”

Yes. Accurate.

The FIRE crowd aims to reduce the hedonic-treadmill-like effect of modern culture through saving and investing instead of unbridled spending. This is true.

But, this lovely little book reframes frugality, slow living, and DIY as absolutely luxurious and hedonistic.

It is a touch older (published in 2016), but the concepts are timeless, to be sure. And, it has the added quirk of being written by a cheeky Australian couple.

Now, in the world of financial independence, there are a handful of books that are evergreen. Your Money or Your Life, The Simple Path to Wealth, The Millionaire Next Door, to name a few. But I have never, not even once, heard anyone mention this book. And I think it’s a cryin’ shame.

It is delightful, and funny, and perspective-shifting. It is occasionally ridiculous.

With chapter titles like “ Don’t be a selfish %$*#”  and “Have an open relationship with recipes” anyone who reads this book is bound to be, at very least, amused.

And as amusing as it is, it is also chock full of wise and uncomplicated advice. Often backed up by data. Always easy to read.  There were short vignettes sprinkled throughout the chapters that gave beautiful examples of their premise.

One of the authors related a story about heading out (to a thrift store, no less) to buy a bit of kitchen equipment. But after she got there, she realized her life was just fine without it. She then used this little story to illustrate her point; that sometimes less is more.

One of my favorite chapters is called “Be a character”. It is a one-page section on how to cultivate your own vibe. Essentially, living a frugal lifestyle is already strange enough to modern, western people, that going all in, and creating a unique style is a no-brainer. To quote the song Uptown Funk: If you’re freaky then own it.

There are well-known “stages” to the process of financial independence. Many people tend to think of the early days as being the most frugal ones. As people gain financial traction, they tend to relax a bit and the frantic frugality of the early days gives way to a more relaxed approach.

So, if you are already early retired or financially independent, you might go thinking that this book isn’t for you, because of the word “frugal” in the title. But, the frugality is only one half of the point. The hedonism? That part about enjoying yourself? That’s for you.

Because once people achieve their goals…sometimes the happiness part isn’t exactly what they thought. This silly/funny/practical book is good for shifting focus towards living a good life. Wasn’t that why you chose the FIRE route to begin with?

I got a kick out of this book. And I hope it becomes a FIRE classic.

 

  

 

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