Welcome to the third edition of the Money & Minimalism Monthly Roundup. I’m really enjoying this series so far! On the last day of each month, I will share my favourite content from personal finance and minimalism bloggers in Asia, especially South-East Asia.

I debated about creating this series for the longest time because I wasn’t sure if I had the time to commit to something like this every month. However, recently I felt that I needed to do more to promote bloggers from the Asian region, especially in South-East Asia. We are a tiny sliver of a very tiny pie, and readers in Asia are hungry for localised personal finance and minimalism content.

This month, I want to explore the idea of being frugal – a surprisingly controversial topic in Malaysian and Singaporean personal finance circles. “We can’t frugal our way out of poverty”, some say. Instead, one should earn more money instead. What do you think? Personally, I find great joy in being frugal as I believe I’m being kinder to the Earth through my simple, self-sufficient, less materialistic life. Here’s what these bloggers thing about frugality:

1. My portfolio is built on Frugality by Dividend Magic

I love how Dividend Magic calls frugality a great “defence strategy”. With a good income and good frugal habits, your money can go really far. “Because a penny saved is a penny earned, a penny earned is a penny invested and compounded.”

2. Reply to Reader: The Choices to Live Frugally by Keeping That Simple

You’re only able to live a frugal life because you’re privileged, argues a reader of Keeping That Simple. Is frugality only possible for the privileged? Here’s his reply.

3. Five downsides of being frugal by Ringgit oh Ringgit

A fun article from Suraya about the downsides of frugal living. I totally feel Reason #4! As a first adopter of many new technologies (I bought a Sony ebook reader before the Kindle was even invented), it’s sometimes depressing to resist the siren call of new gadgets.

4. Why I’m Still Practicing Frugality – From a Global Crisis Perspective by Frugal in Singapore

Although Frugal in Singapore doesn’t have to live frugally, she chooses to. Frugality resets one’s expectations, she says. “It reminds me that we (those living in a developed nation) are all lucky and that those in less developed nations can only dream of having our life.”

5. Frugal fatigue by KC Lau

Counting every penny. Tracking every expense. Sometimes you get tired of it all – what causes frugal fatigue and what is the cure? KC Lau explores the issue.

What about you? Do you find great joy in being frugal? Or do you think it’s just a chore? Share your thoughts below!