“Adapt or die,” people say. Most circumstances in life, it’s not that extreme. But in many aspects of daily life, it’s very true. Let’s take an example, modern societies like that in American cities, people depend too much on oil import. From transportation to household utilities, the demand never stops increasing, while everyone knows the supply of oil is always limited. So up to certain point in time, there’ll be an energy crisis. In larger scale, societies have to adapt to the limit of oil production by improving gas mileage in vehicles and encouraging people to conserve electricity, and funding research on alternative energy sources. In smaller scale like individuals, people may have to give up cars to take public transportation. It’s the concept of adaptation that not many people even realize, yet they all have to carry out. So basically, saving is a must for everyone, whether he/she want it or not.

Perhaps you must agree with me that being frugal-minded is a positive trait, or at least having nothing to be shameful of. It’s amazing that many of my friends still stick with the perception that being frugal or stingy is considered shameful. I’m not sure where that ideology came from, but perhaps from a misconception. While being stingy with others may be considered negative, being stingy with oneself does carry merits. In modern way of life, I haven’t known any instances where a person is ridiculed for being frugal. On the contrary, those who spend lavishly so that they quickly run out of resources for a normal life are always criticized. As a matter of fact, they would be most criticized and despised when they have to ask for social welfare assistance, because that creates a burden on other responsible individuals in the society.

With that said, saving attitude is something so positive parents should teach their children to have since early ages. Our resources are always limited, from energy, food, to fresh water. Imagine if everyone in a city waste a little bit more water or electricity every day, that city will soon get into troubles of depletion, or at least things will get so expensive no one can afford. On the other hand, if everyone possesses a responsible saving attitude, the whole city can enjoy long-term stability.

Lastly, I believe it’s never too late to save. Our society will be much better if more people adopt this saving attitude and pass it on to their kids.