February 6, 2017
Reader Case Study: Help Me Decide How To Pay Off $185K In Student Loans
Welcome to this month’s Reader Case Study in which we’ll help Bridget figure out how to tackle her student loan debt. 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…
February 3, 2017
Crowdsourced Ideas For A Unique And Thrifty Valentine’s Day
The intersection of money and romantic relationships represents one of the most volatile combinations. Furthermore, disagreements over money are a leading cause of divorce in the United States. Clearly, we have unresolved issues over not just our money, but how we spend our money in service of our relationships. And into this fray enters Valentine’s Day, the ultimate…
January 31, 2017
How To Turn An Uber Frugal Month Into An Uber Frugal Life
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. Today marks the conclusion of the Uber Frugal Month…
January 27, 2017
The Sweet Synergy Between Simple Living And Saving Money
What can you stop doing, stop needing, and stop buying? As I progress in my journey of lifelong frugality, I’ve come to realize that one of the things I value most about this lifestyle is the simplicity it delivers. I’ve learned that in many instances, I’m able to simultaneously save money and simplify my life. This gives…
January 24, 2017
Our Low Cost, No Fuss, DIY Money Management System
So exactly how do frugal weirdos manage their money? I get this question a lot and it makes me realize that, despite the fact that this is ostensibly a “personal finance” blog, I don’t discuss the precise machinations of my personal money management system very often. And the reason for that is quite straightforward: Mr….
January 20, 2017
How Planning Ahead Saves Us Serious Money
Perhaps the single greatest tactic a frugal weirdo can employ in the campaign to save money is… drum roll… planning ahead. Yep, planning. Not fancy apps or bizarre investing schemes or diets consisting solely of tuna fish. Planning ahead. There are different categories of planning ahead and different ways to apply this deceptively simple strategy to your own…
January 18, 2017
Our Complete Guide To Frugal, Healthy Eating
Without a doubt and without contest, the absolute most frequently asked question I get from readers is: “how do I save money on food?!?” And it’s a darn good question! Food is a necessity and it’s not like we can eliminate it from our budgets in one fell swoop (a la cable, haircuts, or coffees…
January 13, 2017
Reader Case Study: Renovations and Vacations
Welcome to this month’s Reader Case Study in which we’ll address Audrey’s questions about her family’s 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 (for…
January 9, 2017
My Foolproof Method To Stop Impulse Spending
I’ve heard from quite a few readers lately that impulse spending is something they struggle with and that, more often than not, these impulsive purchases derail their budgets. In mulling this over, I realized that Mr. Frugalwoods and I have instituted a few measures in our own life to curb impulse spending and so I thought I’d…
January 6, 2017
This Month On The Homestead: Snow Removal, Snowshoeing, and… More Snow!
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…
January 4, 2017
A Game Sled And Other December 2016 Expenditures
December rounded out my season of favorite months, with a stellar Christmas and even a New Year’s Eve celebration (by which I mean we stayed up until 9:30pm and managed to each drink a glass of champagne… ). Mr. Frugalwoods and I delighted in our frugal Christmas and spent the holiday week alternating between snuggling by…
January 1, 2017
Welcome to Day 1 of the Uber Frugal Month Challenge!
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. Happy New Year! And welcome to…