 |
 |
|
|
 |
Frugality Is a Virtue Again By Lauren Miyamoto * On a trip to Shanghai a few years ago, Attorney Jerry Zhang was invited by to meet several all local businessmen, all clients of one of his acquaintances. His friend introduced him as a famous American lawyer. Since he was somewhat unprepared for the meetings, he was dressed very casually: his socks had holes, and he was wearing a simple t-shirt. His cellular phone was equally unimpressive; it was one of the cheapest models in China. Moreover, he had a low key and humble attitude, not what one would typically expect of a hot-shot American attorney. Later, when speaking to his friend, Attorney Zhang discovered that the businessmen assumed that he was a fake attorney and that he worked as a cook in a Chinese restaurant in Houston’s Chinatown. They had called him Gang Dudu in private which means “fool” in Shanghainese and laughed at the idea he was an American attorney. In the age of mobile phones, the internet, fast food, and mass production, we are accustomed to instant gratification, and the idea of saving for tomorrow at the expense of today seems un-American. However, frugality was the sprit of many old civilizations, as far back as our hunter-gatherer ancestors, for a good reason: survival. In a general sense, frugality is the idea of acting responsibly today to achieve a long term goal. There are many strategies to frugality, some that include short-term practices such as reducing waste and excess, and some that are more long-term such as setting aside any unused extras. Therefore, one of the major benefits of frugality is that it helps ensure a safer and better future by providing a safety net to fall back on in difficult times and also offering more stability in the present. For example, many throughout the nation are curbing costly habits such as eating out or buying designer goods, saving them money in the present. Along with this, many are opening savings accounts as a back-up for the future. Beyond its financial benefits, living simply impacts environmental sustainability, as decreased use of resources today, for example by taking public transportation instead of driving alone, ensures resource availability tomorrow. Further many advocates of a pared-down lifestyle state that frugality enriches life by increasing the ability to focus time on the inner self rather than on material possessions. They emphasize that frugality makes individuals more self reliant and forces them to embrace themselves for who they are. Moreover, a simpler lifestyle gives individuals the opportunity to focus more on others. This rebuffs the common misconception that frugal people are stingy or miserly and save only for themselves. Warren Buffet, for example, is known to be very frugal but also extremely generous to the community. Furthermore, incorporating more frugal practices can be a creative and social outlet for involving family and friends. For example, many families have started cooking dinners at home together in place of more costly restaurant nights, while others have replaced expensive holiday gifts with homemade presents. Essentially, the negative stigma in the US attached to frugality has overshadowed many of its virtues. And, while some economic theorists have warned that too much saving and reduction will prolong the recession, there are certain aspects, such as responsible spending and a lesser focus on material goods, that are certainly worth incorporating into our own lives, both at home and at the office. Everyone, non-immigrants, permanent residents, and citizens alike, can play a role during this recession by making small changes in their habits and attitudes. Even if that change simply means embracing others’ decisions for a frugal lifestyle, we can all do our part to help ensure a successful future. Recently, some of the people who Jerry met while in Shanghai came to visit our offices in Houston and realized that Jerry is in fact a Co-Managing Attorney at a firm with professional and spacious offices in Houston, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and Austin. They apologized for their skepticism and began to explain their reasoning. Jerry smiled understandably and said, “It was an interesting and learning experience for me.” - ------ (01/12/2009) For more immigration news, please click here |
|
"The best way to |
| New York | Houston | Chicago | Austin | Los Angeles | |||
