ABSTRACT
The notion of frugal abundance has re-emerged in degrowth discourse in recent years. It intuitively refers to feeling abundant despite modest production and consumption of material goods. However, it has so far not been given much theoretical and empirical substance. Rather than conceptualising it from an ‘expert’ perspective, this chapter in the Routledge Handbook of Degrowth (2025) focuses on its meaning in a particular community. The community, Djúpivogur, is part of the Cittaslow (slow) movement and has no intentional ties with degrowth. The qualitative data, gathered during interviews and a participatory workshop, provides evidence that the essence of frugal abundance in the village is swimming against the economic current. Moreover, frugal abundance in Djúpivogur is delineated by eight categories of values and practices, including resonance, having time, humility, caring for everything and grounding the future in some elements from the past. The chapter highlights one way of practising frugal abundance in the current world as well as a possible method for communities to relate to degrowth.
