Claim. A frugal household is one in which every member spends less personally so that the whole can grow — and the deeper warrant is that ownership belongs to God; True Father holds nothing personally, and prosperity follows from this returned-ownership posture.
Elaboration. SMM ties frugality to family unity: “When all members of a family strive to create something for the entire family rather than for their individual selves, when the grandfather, father, and mother and even the children are frugal in their personal spending in order to create something for the entire family… that household will prosper” (8.1. A frugal life, 167-214, 1987.7.19). The ownership claim is unconditional: “The rights of ownership must be returned to God. For this reason I do not have anything. Since I know this, I live a simple life” (ibid, 229-65, 1992.4.9). The missionary culture is named — “we have a new culture called ‘the sleeping bag culture.’ Wherever they go, our young people do not feel disoriented” (ibid, 130-280, 1984.2.7) — and the homes of Unification missionaries show “only the simplest of household goods.” The implication: frugality is doctrinal, not merely thrifty, because possession itself is a borrowed stewardship.