March 3, 2021
Littlewoods’ 3rd Birthday and Other February 2021 Expenses
Evidently February is a short and boring month. We didn’t buy anything interesting or story-worthy or unusual. So instead of talking about what we DID buy, I’ll talk about what we didn’t buy. Advertiser Disclosure: Frugalwoods partners with CardRatings for coverage of credit card products. Frugalwoods and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers at no…
February 23, 2021
This Month On The Homestead: Bonfires In The Snow and Leisure Cilantro
January 2021 We are in the season of snow every day. Maybe a lot, maybe a trace. There’s no forecast to tell us what’ll happen: we look outside, we bring in more fire wood. It dips into single digits every night and still, we go outside every day. We hike, we sled, we cry (mostly…
February 18, 2021
Reader Case Study: Looking to Leave LA?
Kate is 30 and lives in LA with her kitten Cashew. She works in payroll at a university, which is a stable job with great benefits and low stress. As she approaches the five-year mark in her current position, she’d like to examine her options for moving to a lower cost of living area and…
February 12, 2021
Reader Suggestions for a Wallet and COVID-safe Valentine’s Day
I am not usually a Valentine’s Day type of person. It’s a commercialized, chintzy, kinda made-up holiday. I even once wrote a screed on why it’s dumb: A Frugal Weirdo’s Anti-Valentine’s Day Manifesto. But let me tell you, this year, I am ON BOARD. Sign me up for ALL the tacky holidays. Frugalwoods reader Barbara…
February 5, 2021
Fruit Trees And Other January 2021 Expenses
We’re planting a pear, peach, apple and elderberry orchard this spring! Because why not. In a year (two years?) of unrest and insanity, why not plant an entire fruit orchard. We have a long-standing goal of expanding the perennial foods we grow and this’ll be our latest and largest undertaking. In years past, we planted…
January 26, 2021
This Month On The Homestead: Pancakes, Snow and Tractor Stuff
December 2020 Christmas at home and online, daily hikes, snowshoeing, baking cookies, fires burning in the wood stove and wrestling children into snowsuits. These are a few of our December things. And Bernie’s visit to the Glamour Shed. Pandemic “Homeschool” Continues My ‘give them real jobs’ approach to “homeschooling” continues with countertop wiping, laundry folding,…
January 15, 2021
Reader Case Study: Young Professionals Plan for a Wedding, Gender Confirmation Surgery and Financial Independence
June and Daniel are young professionals living the DINK (dual income; no kids) life in Chicago. While they’re grateful for the higher salaries the city offers, they’re not loving the urban hustle. They have a number of near-terms goals, including celebrating their wedding, gender confirmation surgery for Daniel, buying their own home and eventually, achieving…
January 8, 2021
Dryer Parts And Other December 2020 Expenses
The FINAL month of 2020 was one of gift-buying, food-buying, and tractor repair parts-buying. Also dryer parts. Plus liquor. And some beer. According to our expenses, we were either: a) giving gifts; b) eating and drinking; and/or c) repairing stuff. Sounds about right. A Festive At-Home Christmas We celebrated a quiet, lovely little Christmas at…
January 1, 2021
The Uber Frugal Month Starts Today (and you can still sign-up!)
It’s 2021, baby!!! 2020–that miscreant of a year–is gone. Today we begin the brave new adventure of a wholly transformed life. JK. Life looks exactly the same. BUT, you can start the year off right with the Uber Frugal Month Group Challenge. If you sign-up today (by 11:59pm EST on Friday, January 1, 2021), you’ll…