November 7, 2016
Reader Case Study: Stay Home With Baby or Return To Work?
Welcome to this month’s Reader Case Study! Case studies are financial dilemmas/questions that a reader of Frugalwoods sends to me requesting that Frugalwoods nation weigh in on. Then, Frugalwoods nation (that’d be you), reads through their situation and provides advice, encouragement, insight, and feedback in the comments section. It’s a way for us to support and assist one another…
November 4, 2016
Muck Boots, Rolled Oats, And Other October 2016 Expenditures
After last month’s bonfire of the expenses, it was frugally comforting to return to a sane spending level in October. Nothing dramatic happened (other than our slightly premature snow) and nothing terribly expensive happened either. This is an illustration of why frugality is a longterm proposition: spending fluctuates–along with savings rates–and success only occurs when you maintain a frugal…
November 2, 2016
This Month On The Homestead: From Leaves to 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…
October 28, 2016
Striving For Compassion In A World Of Judgement
I am an incredibly fortunate person: my frugality is elective, not a requirement for my survival. While I enjoy frugality and the tremendous benefits it yields, I’m also aware that part of this enjoyment stems from the fact that it’s an optional lifestyle for me and my family. Much of what I write about, and reflect on,…
October 21, 2016
The Sneaky Way That Frugality Fixes Paralysis By Analysis
Much of what I own was previously owned by someone else. This is not news to you frugal acolytes and I’d wager your stuff is probably of a similarly second-hand strain. Plus, we recently established that used stuff is decidedly not gross. But did you know that buying used improves your health? And makes your hair grow back?…
October 14, 2016
This Month On The Homestead: Moose and BTUs
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…
October 11, 2016
Checked Luggage And Other September 2016 Expenditures
Brace yourselves for an expense onslaught: September was our priciest month on record. By far. Yes indeed, we’ve royally outdone ourselves this time. Fueled by travel, a dishwasher, and our property tax bill–among other things–we spent a gigantic amount of money this month. But, it was (mostly) all for good. And, I am (mostly) unconcerned….
October 6, 2016
Reader Case Study: Earn More, Spend Less, Or Both?
I sort of forgot that sometimes we do Reader Case Studies here on Frugalwoods, but I love them! And fortunately, a loyal reader–we’ll call her Julie for this exercise–hadn’t forgotten. She contacted me last week to ask if I’d be willing to publish her story and I’m delighted to do so. A bit of background: Reader Case…
September 29, 2016
How To Fly With A Baby. On An Airplane. By Yourself.
Most of the time, my life looks like this. I’m on the homestead, frugaling it up with Mr. Frugalwoods, cleaning up greyhound barf (thanks, Frugal Hound… ), weeding the garden, not wearing make-up, baking bread, and letting Babywoods eat my toes while I write (at least they’re clean?). But these past two weeks, I’ve deviated….
September 12, 2016
This Month On The Homestead: Early Apples and Late Summer
If you’re just tuning in, this is a new series in which I plan to document each month of our lives out here on our 66-acre Vermont homestead. After leaving urban Cambridge, MA in May to chart this wholly different life, we’re experiencing a constant learning curve of exploration (and plenty of stupid novice moments). Check out…
September 8, 2016
Chimney Sweep And Other August 2016 Expenditures
August was a fairly reasonable month with a few aberrational annual expenses that bumped our spending up above my ideal $1,000 (non-mortgage) level. As we settle into rural life and the tumult of moving across state lines (with a baby and a dog… ) recedes, our expenses drop a bit closer to our pre-move level with each…
September 2, 2016
The Myth Of The Gross Used Things
We begin today with a satirical rant, which will, I promise, eventually wend its way around to some possibly useful advice. Used stuff is gross. I mean think about it, someone else sat on my couch before I owned it. Someone else petted my dog before I adopted her. Someone else WORE my clothes. My cars were driven…