Book Review: Making a case for living frugally

Updated 07 April 2017
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Book Review: Making a case for living frugally

Many people associate happiness with wealth. But is it wise to have a taste for luxury? Is it morally or economically sound to incur debt in order to buy things? And is it wrong to be a spendthrift?
Throughout history, thinkers have praised the art of simple living. Frugality was viewed in the past as a smart and dignified activity, which nurtures our ability to reason and become self disciplined.
In this book Emrys Westacott explores the pros and cons of living frugally. He tries to explain why, despite its benefits, many admit they prefer a taste of luxury to the harshness of frugality. Westacott also argues that in view of the environmental problems threatening our planet, it may be finally time to listen and follow those who believe in a simpler way of life.
But what does it mean to live frugally? The concept of thrift and frugality carry in fact many meanings. One of them is the idea of fiscal prudence mostly associated with Benjamin Franklin. A self-made man, at his death, he was celebrated as one of the greatest men of his time. An entrepreneur, politician, diplomat, scientist, inventor, philanthropist and a writer, Franklin mentioned in his autobiography the importance of cultivating 13 specific virtues. The fifth on his list refers to frugality: “Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e. waste nothing.” Franklin warns especially against the dangers of debt, which he says “exposes a man to confinement, and a species of slavery to his creditors.” Franklin also gave us another good piece of advice: “Beware of little expenses, a small leak can sink a ship.” Some people like Oscar Wilde believed the opposite: “The only thing that can console one for being poor is extravagance.” And indeed, Oscar Wilde lived as he preached, above his means. He died impoverished in a hotel in Paris.
Living cheaply brings to mind a lifestyle using few resources like that of Diogenes, a 4th century Greek philosopher who believed that material goods had little or no value especially when compared with simple pleasures. During his famous encounter with Alexander the Great, when the latter asked him what he could do for him, Diogenes replied: “Don’t block my sunlight!” Enjoying the sun is a pleasure.
What people considered necessary in ancient Greece has little in common with 21st century basic needs such as electricity, running water, central heating, air conditioning, a smartphone and an Internet connection. However, some communities like the Amish prefer not to use modern technology. The Amish work toward communal rather than individual well-being and self-sufficiency. They farm without tractors because they can rely on each other’s help. But then we can argue that in some ways, technology can help us become more self-sufficient like when we use a washing machine instead of having servants.
However, the desire for riches can reach a stage when one is never satisfied. One is so easily caught in a vicious circle of always wanting more. There are examples of very rich people who instead of becoming more generous become increasingly mean. This was the case of Hetty Green, known as the witch of Wall Street. At the time of her death in 1916, she was the richest woman in the world and yet such a miser. She insisted that only the dirty hems of her dresses should be washed to save soap.
Seneca, Diogenes and Benjamin Franklin would be disappointed if they lived in today’s consumer society. People are more than ever eager to make money and willing to live beyond their means.
According to the Pew Research Center, 64 percent of Americans aged between 18 and 24 said that becoming rich is their most important goal in life. A Gallup Poll in 2012 found that the same percentage of Americans wanted to become rich, which is the reason why in 2010 US lottery ticket sales totaled $58 billion.
However, “Wealth can also be less than the blessing it is expected to be when its distribution is highly unequal... among wealthy societies, those where income inequality is greater suffer more from a variety of social ills, including higher rates of physical illness, mental illness and violence, along with lower levels of education, social mobility and trust,” wrote Westacott. But in countries where economic and social inequalities are less pronounced like in Denmark and Costa Rica there are higher levels of happiness. Denmark’s high standard of living, decent health care, education for all and a fair distribution of wealth contribute to the happiness of the Danish people. But does wealth make you happy? A consensus has emerged among social scientists that people living in poverty tend to be significantly less happy than those living above the poverty line.
However, when a certain level of comfort and security is attained, more wealth will not enhance one’s feeling of happiness.
This satiation level is said to be around $75,000, which means that increasing the number and quality of pleasurable experiences does not make one happier. “It seems that our culture is still torn between accepting acquisitiveness as a necessary condition of economic growth and denouncing it as an undesirable character trait that bespeak false values and encourage unethical conduct” wrote Westacott.
This brings us to the pros and cons of extravagance, one of the most interesting chapters of the book. The concept of extravagance means going beyond what is wise. Although few people would defend the idea of living beyond one’s means, capitalism constantly encourages us to buy on credit and capitalism also persuades us that “to be an enthusiastic consumer is to be a good citizen: that consumerism is a form of patriotism.” This was the case after World War II when buying American-made goods was considered a patriotic action to rebuild the country.
Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, reiterated the same idea after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US. He declared in a radio interview: “There is a way everybody can help us, New York and everybody all over the country. Come here and spend money, just spend a little money.” And even Newsweek made a similar appeal following the 2008 recession under the headline “Stop Saving Now!”
How do we feel about the way rich people behave? Do we approve of Paris Hilton, who had a house that was modeled on her own mansion built for her dog at a cost of $325,000, and the pop star Bono who while attending a fund-raising event in Italy had an urge to wear a particular hat. He had it flown from Ireland at a cost of $1,700.
Some rich people think that we might feel envious of such a behavior but on the other hand, this extravagance encourages others to act in the same way. The top salaries and bonuses given to the CEOs of the world’s biggest companies push other people lower down the ladder to demand a rise in their salaries. The extravagant lifestyle of rich people gives birth to a materialistic culture, which encourages a disparaging individualism as well as a desire for personal wealth. Yet one can also argue that extravagance is economically beneficial since one person’s extravagance is another person’s income.
Spending money on luxury goods creates jobs, which enables those employed to earn more and spend more and this in turn stimulates the economic activity. Most of the palaces, gardens and museums that tourists visit today were built thanks to the generosity of enlightened monarchs and well-intentioned philanthropists combined with the government’s efforts to spend great sums of money to maintain them.
Interestingly enough the food, clothes, computers, smartphones, cars and kitchen equipment, to name but a few, are not very much different to those owned by rich people. No one will be impressed by a new iPad. To arouse people’s interest, you need to mention that you had breakfast in Paris, lunch in New York and dinner in Rio de Janeiro!
According to psychologists, spending our money on holidays, concerts, and social gatherings makes us happier than buying material things. “We quickly adapt to having the new stuff, whereas good memories remain a continuing source of pleasure,” wrote Westacott.
Showing off one’s wealth is still viewed as an act of vulgarity, and people who live beyond their means are considered foolish, but rich people who spend their money on a worthwhile project can genuinely be considered virtuous.
Paradoxically, some of the same factors that have lessened the appeal of frugality are also responsible for sparking an interest in the ideals of a simple life.
Life nowadays is characterized by constant change and movement, which triggers complexity, instability and confusion. This creates a feeling of nostalgia for a time when life was simpler. Bob Dylan, incidentally, captured this sense of loss in “Dream,” a wonderful song where he looks back on the easy-going innocence of his teenage years “It was all that easy to tell wrong from right.” Dylan realizes that simple issues have now become so complex. The singer is ready to renounce material wealth and return to the simple life he had, but he knows that is a wishful dream.
This nostalgia for more peaceful times is also felt in China where the most popular art hanging in restaurants and sold to tourists represents pristine landscapes symbolizing peace, serenity and harmony.
This longing for another lifestyle is manifesting itself in Europe in the form of the Slow Movement, a desire to fight the fast pace of life.
Frugal simplicity is critical of consumerism and of the capitalistic values of Wall Street. Though many acknowledge the multiple benefits brought by economic growth, they also criticize the fact that these sources of enjoyment are not distributed equitably; they are not available to everybody.
However, provided that a person’s basic needs are satisfied, “many kinds of life may be fulfilling, including some far removed from the life of frugal simplicity. But that life still has much to recommend it for the values it expresses and the responsibilities it accepts. It remains one of the surest paths to contentment, and there are good reasons to associate it with wisdom,” concludes Westacott.
Westacott sheds light on the conflict between the virtues of a frugal life and the economic imperative for growth. Frugality is a smart and dignified activity, which should not be confused with poverty. Living frugally is essentially soul satisfying and it leads us to a more meaningful way of life.

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Scientists observe ‘negative time’ in quantum experiments

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Updated 21 December 2024
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Scientists observe ‘negative time’ in quantum experiments

  • The researchers emphasize that these perplexing results highlight a peculiar quirk of quantum mechanics rather than a radical shift in our understanding of time

TORONTO, Canada: Scientists have long known that light can sometimes appear to exit a material before entering it — an effect dismissed as an illusion caused by how waves are distorted by matter.
Now, researchers at the University of Toronto, through innovative quantum experiments, say they have demonstrated that “negative time” isn’t just a theoretical idea — it exists in a tangible, physical sense, deserving closer scrutiny.
The findings, yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, have attracted both global attention and skepticism.
The researchers emphasize that these perplexing results highlight a peculiar quirk of quantum mechanics rather than a radical shift in our understanding of time.
“This is tough stuff, even for us to talk about with other physicists. We get misunderstood all the time,” said Aephraim Steinberg, a University of Toronto professor specializing in experimental quantum physics.
While the term “negative time” might sound like a concept lifted from science fiction, Steinberg defends its use, hoping it will spark deeper discussions about the mysteries of quantum physics.

Years ago, the team began exploring interactions between light and matter.
When light particles, or photons, pass through atoms, some are absorbed by the atoms and later re-emitted. This interaction changes the atoms, temporarily putting them in a higher-energy or “excited” state before they return to normal.
In research led by Daniela Angulo, the team set out to measure how long these atoms stayed in their excited state. “That time turned out to be negative,” Steinberg explained — meaning a duration less than zero.
To visualize this concept, imagine cars entering a tunnel: before the experiment, physicists recognized that while the average entry time for a thousand cars might be, for example, noon, the first cars could exit a little sooner, say 11:59 am. This result was previously dismissed as meaningless.
What Angulo and colleagues demonstrated was akin to measuring carbon monoxide levels in the tunnel after the first few cars emerged and finding that the readings had a minus sign in front of them.

The experiments, conducted in a cluttered basement laboratory bristling with wires and aluminum-wrapped devices, took over two years to optimize. The lasers used had to be carefully calibrated to avoid distorting the results.
Still, Steinberg and Angulo are quick to clarify: no one is claiming time travel is a possibility. “We don’t want to say anything traveled backward in time,” Steinberg said. “That’s a misinterpretation.”
The explanation lies in quantum mechanics, where particles like photons behave in fuzzy, probabilistic ways rather than following strict rules.
Instead of adhering to a fixed timeline for absorption and re-emission, these interactions occur across a spectrum of possible durations — some of which defy everyday intuition.
Critically, the researchers say, this doesn’t violate Einstein’s theory of special relativity, which dictates that nothing can travel faster than light. These photons carried no information, sidestepping any cosmic speed limits.

The concept of “negative time” has drawn both fascination and skepticism, particularly from prominent voices in the scientific community.
German theoretical physicist Sabine Hossenfelder, for one, criticized the work in a YouTube video viewed by over 250,000 people, noting, “The negative time in this experiment has nothing to do with the passage of time — it’s just a way to describe how photons travel through a medium and how their phases shift.”
Angulo and Steinberg pushed back, arguing that their research addresses crucial gaps in understanding why light doesn’t always travel at a constant speed.
Steinberg acknowledged the controversy surrounding their paper’s provocative headline but pointed out that no serious scientist has challenged the experimental results.
“We’ve made our choice about what we think is a fruitful way to describe the results,” he said, adding that while practical applications remain elusive, the findings open new avenues for exploring quantum phenomena.
“I’ll be honest, I don’t currently have a path from what we’ve been looking at toward applications,” he admitted. “We’re going to keep thinking about it, but I don’t want to get people’s hopes up.”
 

 


‘Don’t hit him too hard!’: Zelensky tells Usyk not to endanger British arms deal

Updated 20 December 2024
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‘Don’t hit him too hard!’: Zelensky tells Usyk not to endanger British arms deal

  • Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky jokes for Oleksandr Usyk to be gentle with British rival Tyson Fury to not harm UK weapon supplies

PARIS: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded with boxing star Oleksandr Usyk to be gentle with British rival Tyson Fury in their world heavyweight clash in case a battering delivers a knockout blow to a crucial arms deal.
Usyk defeated Fury in May to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and the two men meet again in Riyadh on Saturday.
“All Ukrainians are on your side. Of course, Britain is helping Ukraine in a fight against Russia,” Zelensky told Usyk on Friday in a video on Zelensky’s Telegram account.
“We respect our partners. That’s why when you beat Fury, don’t hit him too hard, because we don’t want them to ban Storm Shadow.”
British media reported last month that Ukraine had fired Storm Shadow missiles into Russia for the first time after London gave Kyiv the green light for such strikes.
The UK government refused to confirm or deny the reports.


Britain’s Stonehenge is yet again a source of fascination ahead of the winter solstice

Updated 20 December 2024
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Britain’s Stonehenge is yet again a source of fascination ahead of the winter solstice

LONDON: It’s that time of year when crowds of pagans, druids, hippies and tourists head to Stonehenge in Britain to celebrate the winter solstice, with the shortest day and the longest night in the Northern Hemisphere.
Thousands are expected on Saturday at the megalithic circle on a plain in southern England as the first rays of sun break through the giant stones that make up one of world’s most famous prehistoric monuments.
Rain has been forecast but there is no doubt it won’t be able to drown out the drumming, chanting and cheering.
Beyond the fascination of the ritual, the eternal question may still linger in the back of the minds of many visitors: What was the real meaning and purpose of Stonehenge?
The site has been the subject of vigorous debate, with some theories seemingly more outlandish, if not alien, than others.
This year, those gathering will have something new to discuss.
In a paper published in the journal Archaeology International, researchers from University College London and Aberystwyth University say that the site on Salisbury Plain, about 128 kilometers (80 miles) southwest of London, may have had some unifying purpose in ancient times.
They base that on a recent discovery that one of Stonehenge’s stones — the unique stone lying flat at the center of the monument, dubbed the “altar stone” — originated in Scotland, hundreds of miles north of the site.
What was surprising was that it came from so far away. It was long known that the other stones come from all over Britain — including the so-called bluestones, the smaller stones at the site that came from Preseli Hills in southwest Wales, nearly 240 kilometers (150 miles) away.
That varied geology is what makes Stonehenge unique among over 900 stone circles in Britain.
“The fact that all of its stones originated from distant regions ... suggests that the stone circle may have had a political as well as a religious purpose,” said lead author Professor Mike Parker Pearson from UCL’s Institute of Archaeology.
It may have served as a “monument of unification for the peoples of Britain, celebrating their eternal links with their ancestors and the cosmos,” Parker Pearson said.
Whatever its original purpose, Stonehenge today retains an important place in Britain’s culture and history and remains one of the country’s biggest tourist draws — despite the seemingly permanent traffic jams on the nearby A303 highway, a popular route for motorists traveling to and from the southwest of England.
Stonehenge was built on the flat lands of Salisbury Plain in stages, starting 5,000 years ago, with the unique stone circle erected in the late Neolithic period, about 2,500 B.C.
English Heritage, a charity that manages hundreds of historic sites, including Stonehenge, has noted several explanations — from the circle being a coronation place for Danish kings, a druid temple, a cult center for healing, or an astronomical computer for predicting eclipses and solar events.
So as far as symbolism and unification go — maybe Stonehenge really was a Mount Rushmore of its day?


Starbucks workers’ union to strike in LA, Chicago, Seattle before Christmas

Updated 20 December 2024
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Starbucks workers’ union to strike in LA, Chicago, Seattle before Christmas

The workers’ union representing more than 10,000 Starbucks baristas said its members will strike at stores in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle on Friday morning during the busy holiday season.
Workers United, representing employees at 525 Starbucks stores across the United States, said that walkouts are expected to escalate daily, potentially reaching hundreds of stores nationwide by Christmas Eve, unless Starbucks and the union finalize a collective bargaining agreement.
The union and Starbucks created a “framework” in February to guide organizing and collective bargaining. Negotiations between the company and Workers United began in April, based on the framework, that could also help resolve numerous pending legal disputes.
“Since the February commitment, the company repeatedly pledged publicly that it intended to reach contracts by the end of the year, but it has yet to present workers with a serious economic proposal,” the union said in a statement late on Thursday.
Starbucks did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The coffee chain is undergoing a turnaround under its newly appointed top boss Brian Niccol, who aims to restore “coffee house culture” by overhauling cafes, adding more comfortable seating, reducing customer wait-time to less than four minutes, and simplifying its menu. 


Invasive ‘murder hornets’ are wiped out in the US, officials say

Updated 19 December 2024
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Invasive ‘murder hornets’ are wiped out in the US, officials say

  • There had been no detections of the northern giant hornet in Washington since 2021
  • Northern giant hornets pose significant threats to pollinators and native insects

SEATTLE: The world’s largest hornet, an invasive breed dubbed the “murder hornet” for its dangerous sting and ability to slaughter a honeybee hive in a matter of hours, has been declared eradicated in the US, five years after being spotted for the first time in Washington state near the Canadian border.
The Washington and US Departments of Agriculture announced the eradication Wednesday, saying there had been no detections of the northern giant hornet in Washington since 2021.
The news represented an enormous success that included residents agreeing to place traps on their properties and reporting sightings, as well as researchers capturing a live hornet, attaching a tiny radio tracking tag to it with dental floss, and following it through a forest to a nest in an alder tree. Scientists destroyed the nest just as a number of queens were just beginning to emerge, officials said.
“I’ve gotta tell you, as an entomologist — I’ve been doing this for over 25 years now, and it is a rare day when the humans actually get to win one against the insects,” Sven Spichiger, pest program manager of the Washington State Department of Agriculture, told a virtual news conference.
The hornets, which can be 5 centimeters long and were formerly called Asian giant hornets, gained attention in 2013, when they killed 42 people in China and seriously injured 1,675. In the US, around 72 people a year die from bee and hornet stings each year, according to data from the National Institutes of Health.
The hornets were first detected in North America in British Columbia, Canada, in August 2019 and confirmed in Washington state in December 2019, when a Whatcom County resident reported a specimen. A beekeeper also reported hives being attacked and turned over specimens in the summer of 2020. The hornets could have traveled to North America in plant pots or shipping containers, experts said.
DNA evidence suggested the populations found in British Columbia and Washington were not related and appeared to originate from different countries. There also have been no confirmed reports in British Columbia since 2021, and the nonprofit Invasive Species Center in Canada has said the hornet is also considered eradicated there.
Northern giant hornets pose significant threats to pollinators and native insects. They can wipe out a honeybee hive in as little as 90 minutes, decapitating the bees and then defending the hive as their own, taking the brood to feed their own young.
The hornet can sting through most beekeeper suits, deliver nearly seven times the amount of venom as a honeybee, and sting multiple times. At one point the Washington agriculture department ordered special reinforced suits from China.
Washington is the only state that has had confirmed reports of northern giant hornets. Trappers found four nests in 2020 and 2021.
Spichiger said Washington will remain on the lookout, despite reporting the eradication. He noted that entomologists will continue to monitor traps in Kitsap County, where a resident reported an unconfirmed sighting in October but where trapping efforts and public outreach have come up empty.
He noted that other invasive hornets can also pose problems: Officials in Georgia and South Carolina are fighting yellow-legged hornets, and southern giant hornets were recently detected in Spain.
“We will continue to be vigilant,” Spichiger said.