In the name of science this blog, I attempted a thing: I recycled my shoes. More specifically, I tried recycling my shoes at DSW. I’ve learned a lot of lessons decluttering. One of the most important lessons is that sometimes things are just garbage. But sometimes things aren’t. That’s how I felt about these shoes. … [Read more…]
For some people, frugality comes naturally. I. Am. Not. Some. People. But I have adopted a fairly frugal lifestyle for the past few years, and I like it. I really do. We are much more intentional with our spending. The constant influx of of stuff has stopped. I wreak far less havoc on the environment. … [Read more…]
‘Tis the season to be… I know. Christmastime is over and there’s probably nary a carol left stuck in your head. Until now. You’re welcome. While there’s a good chance this next season is all about being grumbly over the gray weather as we all wait for spring, I’m actually using it as time to … [Read more…]
Peanut butter and jelly. I eat it every day for lunch. After a recent interview on the FIRE Drill Podcast, that seemed to be the sound bite that stood out to most people. I could practically hear people’s sighs laiden with pity. Rather than write an ode about that the deliciousness of that simple sandwich … [Read more…]
Today is a holiday. My inbox has been celebrating for over a week. Each day, more and more emails arrive. I can’t unsubscribe fast enough. Weekly ads. Daily deals. For a limited-time only. The limited time, though, seems to grow in sync with the commercialization of each holiday. Today, a day intended to honor better … [Read more…]
My son is starting daycare. Real daycare. The kind run by licensed professionals total strangers. While most people mark the start of a new school year with back-to-school shopping based on supply lists and maybe even child requests (and peer pressure and clever advertisements), I’m shopping for a whole different reason. I’m shopping because I’m … [Read more…]
Would you accept fifty cents or a dollar for your photos? If you’re a professional photographer, absolutely not. But what about a snap that you take on your way into or out of a grocery store or a local coffee shop? Now, we might be talking. If you are looking to add a few dollars … [Read more…]
I felt like a fraud. Here I am writing about spending $7 a month on breakfast and paying down over $50,000 in debt in two years, and all of a sudden, I’m playing eeny meeny miny moe on my Instagram story with two pairs of $99 Michael Kors flats. (Confession: I ordered four. I’m only … [Read more…]
Why do you save? This question is spotlighted enough in the personal finance world that if I asked it in a room, I’m sure I’d see arms waving everywhere. For a rainy day, a downpayment, early retirement, any type of retirement. Pick a goal, slap it on your savings account. But what if I asked … [Read more…]
The second month of my pregnancy was, hands down, the most spendy month of my frugal life. While I don’t think it was quite on par with my 200-pairs of-shoes existence, it was exorbitant by every other month, especially when it came to our grocery bill. Of course, I understood that when there was a … [Read more…]