Due to the recent increase in goods and services around the globe, I am prompted to write this letter.

Frugal living is an art. It certainly does not mean any suffering is involved. It merely means that you prioritise what is worth paying for and what is a complete waste. If you think buying an expensive pair of shoes is well worth it, then it probably is to you. But, you cannot be buying expensive shoes, phones, cars etc. Now that is simply dumb. There is a difference between being frugal and being plain cheap. Being frugal does not affect your friendship, being cheap does.

Here are ways to cut down expenses:

Since gas (fuel, not the gas emitted from your body) prices have increased, what can you do to save money? Check your air pressure in the tires. Remove unwanted junk in the car and trunk. This alone can save you quuite a bit is fuel bills.

If you are going on a family outing, ask yourself if your mother-in-law is really necessary for this trip. Lighter load on the car means less fuel consumption.

Don't buy groceries for two weeks. Use whatever food that is in the house and try to finish that off first. You will be amazed at the amount of food that is already in your house and has been sitting there waiting to be eaten.

Buy generic products when you can. Again, this is a personal choice. To me, bread is bread. I buy the cheapest bread I can find. However, buying generic underwear may have some side-effects on your sex life.

Look at your bills. Are there any monthly expenses that can be trimmed? When was the last time you switched on Astro? Is your hand-phone bill too high? Was it necessary to SMS your answer to that silly third-rated competition on radio or tv?

Eating out. Eat at cheaper places. Sure its nice and dandy to eat at that French restaurant, but if you are looking to cut down on your expenses, this is one of them. Mamak food is cheap and tasty. Don’t order that second drink. Tell the blind guy you already gave him money yesterday.

Sell your expensive car and drive a cheaper one. If you are married, who are you trying to impress really? In the West, some professors cycle to college and some drive junkie old cars. If you buy a used Toyota Camry for example, you should be able to resell it three years later with very little loss. Be seen in a used Camry but pretend you bought it new several years back.

Clothes. It never ends. You don’t need more than an X number of shirts or a Y number of jeans or a Z number of handbags. Keep track of what shirt was worn where. Avoid meeting the same people when you repeat your shirt on the third day.

Don't buy bottled water. If your grandfather survived fine by drinking tap water and fighting the Japanese while walking two miles to school, so will you.

Join a book-club and share books with your friends or just read the summary online and consider it done.

Ask relatives for furniture that they do not want. Watch out for sofa's with stains, unless you are very frugal (or simply cheap).

Going to the clubs/bars. Drink at home prior to going there (assuming you are not the driver). When you are there, you might only need 1-2 more drinks! That’s it. Huge savings factor here.

When I was a broke 18-year-old college student, I used to visit the local liquor store and buy a RM6 whisky bottle called ‘Sahib’. I use to gulp down the entire thing. Obviously it tasted like the actual sahib coming out from the bottle and kicking my intestines, but you know what? I was done for the night. I went to clubs and didn’t have to even order one more drink. The ‘Sahib’ kept me warm and nice inside.