Living frugal or Living Cheap ?

Every time I have met fellow South Indians, Tamils in particular the common complaint is that big businesses regularly ignore their markets focus on Delhi and consider it done. How media is delhi obsessed where in “cut offs for admission to commerce in St. Stephens in Delhi, trumps fire in kumbakonam which kills tens of children etc.”. There is an element of truth in it, about which I will blog later, but we also need to introspect as to whether this is due to anything that we do as a culture/species?

I for one is of the firm belief, that for us to be respected by businesses, we need to pay equal attention to the way we live, entertain and interact with people. Perhaps, the same level attention that we pay to ensure that our kids get “centum in mathx” (for the less informed it is scoring 100% in mathematics).

Please answer the following Questions, so that it becomes easy to understand the personality
1. Does your idea of living room furniture, comprise only of plastic chairs ?
2. Do you receive your guests (including the manager you invited for Dinner), in a Lungi and torn Banian ?
3. Do you avoid owning bigger house, because “Maintenance is difficult ?”, but don’t shy away from owning several matchbox houses/apartments ?
4. Do you ever ponder, as to since the bathroom is used only for a few minutes everyday can a timeshare concept be adopted and rent it out ?
5. Do you shy away from installing netlon or other mosquito protection, thinking “No matter what I do one or two will invariably come in…” and choose to let in millions..
6. After saving Rs. 1 Crore in your SB account, do you debate as to whether you should paint your bicycle ?
7. In your mind diarrhea drugs are cheaper than buying AquaGuard or mineral water
8. Do you spend almost all your time (for the female of the species) in nighties, the 10 year old check-patterned shorts (for the male of the species) -- which is largely faded…
9. If a nightie were available in silk, would you consider it as a “convenient dress” for attending marriages ?
10. Do you still keep that 20 year old TV around hoping that one day spare part will become available and it can be repaired ?
11. Do you spend two full days buying up necessary stuff for a pooja/event at home, spend Rs. 4990 on it and feel really happy about how you saved over the Rs. 5000 package that was offered to you by the priest/pandit ? Though you spend Rs. 500 more in conveyance not mention the value of your time ….

If you answered Yes to two or more of the questions, though you can definitely afford (or have the means to spend to be able) to say NO… Congratulations you are of the species -- who has mistaken living cheap for living frugal.

Pay attention to the sayings “Charity begins at home” (தனக்கு மிஞ்சித்தான் தர்மம்). Let us live within our means but certainly live well… (அளவோடு வாழ்வோம், ஆனால் வளமோடு வாழ்வோம்)!

Now let us introspect as to whether there is a valid reason why businesses largely ignore the south and focus on Delhi?

Consider this, when a Punjabi guy in Delhi saves Rs. 1.5 lakhs he will immediately take out a loan of Rs. One lakh and buy a car and “live well” (the other extreme of living that focuses on ostentatiousness) but you on the other hand will think about painting your bicycle even when you have several lakhs as savings in our account! Obsess about whether the house you buy has “rent potential”, any enhancements or modifications all get warped as to whether they would fetch higher rent. Now can you blame the companies for ignoring you?

Me thinks NOT… My simple rule of thumb, go for the best you can afford – you will automatically begin to live well…