September 11, 2017
Reader Suggestions On Frugal Preserving, Canning, and Otherwise Putting Up Food
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 participate in next month’s Reader…
September 6, 2017
This Month On The Homestead: Vegetables, Fruits, And Nuts!
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 last…
September 1, 2017
A Cider Press And Other August 2017 Expenditures
Howdy! If you feel like I was a bit absent during the month of August, well, you are correct: I was! Babywoods and I were gone for a whopping three weeks in August (and Mr. Frugalwoods for one), which as it turns out, is an incredibly long time to be away from one’s home(stead). But this travel…
August 16, 2017
This Month On The Homestead: Harvest Time, Berry Time, And Toilet-Fixin’ Time
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 last…
August 11, 2017
Reader Case Study: Moving To Europe From South Africa, Trying To Make Ends Meet
Welcome to this month’s Reader Case Study in which we’ll address Clara’s questions on where to move her family and how to make ends meet every month. I’m particularly excited about Clara’s story as it’s a unique angle we haven’t addressed before: she currently lives in South Africa with her family but plans to move to Europe in the…
August 7, 2017
Shelves And Other July 2017 Expenditures
Our basement, as previously disclosed, is undergoing a vast improvement plan. Our Cambridge, MA home (the one that’s now a rental) has a delightful panoply of built-in shelves in its basement, which suited our needs just fine. Here in our Vermont home, however, the basement is a huge, empty, concrete-floored cavern. A cavern I’m very thankful…
July 31, 2017
There’s No Perfect Time To Start Being Frugal
There’s no perfect time to start being frugal. Come to think of it, there’s no perfect time to start doing anything! Life, by its very definition and practice, is messy, imperfect, laden with surprises both quotidian and profound, and undeniably averse to our best laid plans. And that, my friends, is perfectly fine. Frugality doesn’t…
July 27, 2017
Frugal Minimalism: Do Less, Buy Less, Worry Less, Live More
I’m currently engaged in what can only be described as a battle with our basement. When we moved to our homestead last May, we established a mentality and practice of minimalism in our home. Mr. Frugalwoods and I eliminated just about every object that we don’t actively use on a daily basis. As we unpacked, we only…
July 17, 2017
How To Stop Eating Out According To Frugalwoods Readers
Eating out, take-out, restaurant meals, dining out, take-away, delivery… whatever you want to call it, not preparing your own food is the #1, top, chief, primary, far and away most commonly cited roadblock to frugality. Without fail, this is the most frequent question I get from readers. Without deviation, this is cited as the largest area…
July 14, 2017
How Making Luxuries Rare Increases Our Happiness
Going to Portland, Maine for three days to celebrate our ninth wedding anniversary last month was transcendentally idyllic. Mr. Frugalwoods and I strolled the streets hand in hand, popped into funky shops, and hopped from one culinary delight to the next (you know, beer, coffee, beer, coffee… ). My in-laws watched Babywoods and Frugal Hound for us, which…
July 12, 2017
Reader Case Study: Starting From Scratch In Canada; Where Do I Go From Here?
Welcome to this month’s Reader Case Study in which we’ll address Alison’s questions on how to map out her financial future. 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, and feedback in the comments section….
July 7, 2017
This Month On The Homestead: The Rhubarb Jungle
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 last…