my grace to grass story
sponsored by extreme frugality
i have always considered myself frugal — or so i thought. i never bought anything i didn’t need, never spent beyond a certain percentage of my income, saved a significant portion, and avoided parties and oblee (being introverted, after all). but there was one exception: gadgets.
when it came to tech, my frugality took a back seat. my devices had to be mid-rangers or flagships as soon as i could afford them. i got the best gear for my workspace, obsessing over maxed-out specs even if i never used the extra features. even something as simple as listening to music had to be an elite experience — soundcore liberty series, motion+ series, q series, you name it. add a little bit of ocd to the mix, and i’d replace a device at the slightest sign of wear or tear. for me, these things were quiet luxury, and i could afford them.
fast forward to 2025, and i no longer have those luxuries. worse still, i now experience the opposite. my current phone is far from a flagship — in fact, it’s as low-end as it gets in an era of powerful computing chips and ai processors. sometimes, i listen to music straight from my phone, without high-end, noise-canceling, bass-heavy headphones. the only reason i still enjoy good audio occasionally is my macbook m1 pro — a work laptop that has long outlived its prime. i know this because, in my old mindset, i would have replaced it ages ago.
quite the contrast, right? what changed?
i have lofty goals — think million- and billion-dollar aspirations — and i knew i wouldn’t achieve them without serious lifestyle adjustments. if you’re aiming for something larger than life, you have to make insane sacrifices. this shift in lifestyle is what i consider opportunity cost. i’d rather invest in stocks, high-yield savings accounts, copyrights, trademarks — anything that positions me closer to my goals. for example, i went for a static desk instead of an electric sit-stand desk for my current workspace that would have cost me 10 times more, investing the difference in stocks. i’ve also put off purchases for my workstation for as long as required, until maybe one of my investments can pay for them.
but i won’t lie — i’ve had doubts. why not enjoy life now instead of stressing over a future that may never come? the thought of the rich fool in the bible always lingers in my mind — the man who hoarded wealth only to die before he could enjoy it. that fear is real. but i’ve countered it with a mindset shift: enjoyment, for me, has been redefined. i still value luxury, but what’s more important is happiness. i prioritize time with loved ones, investing in meaningful experiences, and making memories. i haven’t turned down an opportunity to travel to a new place, grab coffee, study with friends, or even splurge on a pizza night.
frugality hasn’t robbed me of joy — it’s just reshaped what joy looks like. and that’s a trade-off i’m willing to make.
oblee is a nigerian slang originating from the yoruba phrase “on blee,” it translates to “you’re on fire,” “you’re hot,” or “you’re blazing.” in contemporary usage, “oblee” signifies being lively, having fun, and enjoying life, often associated with socializing and vibrant activities.
