July 5, 2017
June was a glorious month punctuated by a visit from my in-laws, which is always a welcome and wonderful event. I won the in-law lottery and Mr. Frugalwoods’ family is, in a word, superb. I’ve always felt lucky to have them as my second set of parents and that feeling is magnified now that they’re…
June 30, 2017
Note: You can sign-up for the Uber Frugal Month Challenge at any time! Although we take the Challenge as a group every January and July, you can start it on your own whenever you’d like. Just sign-up in the box below and you’ll receive an email a day for 31 days. The July Uber Frugal Month group Challenge starts tomorrow, July…
June 28, 2017
We celebrated our first full year of life on our homestead in May! We left urban Cambridge, MA to chart a wholly different life out here on 66 acres in rural Vermont and the change this represents for us is nothing short of transformational, radical, and miraculous. Neither Mr. Frugalwoods nor I grew up–or ever lived–in a rural…
June 26, 2017
Welcome to my monthly Reader Suggestions feature! Every month I post a question to our Frugalwoods Facebook group and share the best responses here. The questions are topics I’ve received multiple queries on and my hope is that by leveraging the braintrust of Frugalwoods nation, you’ll find helpful advice and insight. Join the Frugalwoods Facebook group to…
June 21, 2017
Mr. Frugalwoods and I celebrate nine years of marriage this month. We got married young–at 24–and reflecting back on the people we were when we met at age 19 during our second semester of our freshman year of college, I realize we’re quite different now. The languid unfurling of maturation that awaited us at 19…
June 19, 2017
Note: You can sign-up for the Uber Frugal Month Challenge at any time! Although we take the Challenge as a group every January and July, you can start it on your own whenever you’d like. Just sign-up in the box below and you’ll receive an email a day for 31 days. It’s baaaaaaacccckkkk!!! In January, I launched my first-ever Frugalwoods Uber Frugal…
June 14, 2017
If you’re just tuning in, this is a recurring series in which I document each month of our lives out here on our 66-acre Vermont homestead. After leaving urban Cambridge, MA in May 2016 to chart this wholly different life, we’re experiencing a constant learning curve of exploration (and plenty of stupid novice moments). Check out…
June 7, 2017
Welcome to this month’s Reader Case Study in which we’ll address Jemma’s question on whether or not she should buy a home in Sydney, Australia. Case studies are financial dilemmas that a reader of Frugalwoods sends to me requesting that Frugalwoods nation weigh in. Then, Frugalwoods nation (that’d be you), reads through their situation and provides advice, encouragement, insight,…
June 2, 2017
May was expensive. No mincing words, it was one of those pricey, pricey months. Heading up our expenses this month were the airline tickets we purchased for a trip to the west coast this August. My parents are celebrating their 50th!!!!!! wedding anniversary this summer and so my family is gathering at their home in San Diego…
May 26, 2017
One of the many reasons I love frugality–beyond, you know, the money it saves me and the financial independence it brought me–is the fact that its application in my life has made me a more environmentally conscious person. I’ve always respected natural resources, been a fan of mother nature, and loved the outdoors, but it…
May 19, 2017
After I shared the logistics of how Mr. Frugalwoods and I both work from home while caring for 18-month-old Babywoods (and thus avoid the expense of childcare), I was inundated with a chorus of requests for more information on how to find a work-at-home job. Since I’m not expert in that field, I decided to crowdsource…
May 17, 2017
What does the word “frugality” conjure for you? Perhaps a mirage of miserly discontent with no worldly comforts and a tin of beans at your side as your only solace in an otherwise cheerless existence? If so, then you’ve come to the right place! Frugality gets a horrendous rap, primarily from those who peddle the pricey products we’re…