October 19, 2022
What’s Happening With Our Rental Property?
Did you know I have a rental property? I do! Many of you have asked me to share an update and so today, I will! I love hearing what you want to read about on Frugalwoods, so please keep the suggestions coming! You can add your ideas for future posts in the comments below or…
October 11, 2022
A Beach Vacation And Other September 2022 Expenses
Last month we took the kids on their very first vacation! To the beach! We didn’t travel during Covid and, pre-Covid, the only trips they went on were to visit family (which is also a vacation, but you know what I mean). Our dear friends have a family beach house on the New Jersey shore…
October 7, 2022
Reader Case Study: Two Working Parents, Two Young Kids and Three Old Cats
Kay and her husband Max recently moved to rural town an hour south of Minneapolis with their two young children and three old cats. Kay works as a financial operations manager and Max is a government attorney. The couple was able to lower their cost of living by making this move–most notably in the areas…
September 29, 2022
The Clothes I Wear For Comfort and Confidence
Last month I shared a journey through the recesses of my brain, or at least, the clothing and appearance-related recesses of my brain. If you haven’t read that post yet, I recommend you go there first since today’s article is the second in this mini-series. Today I’ll take you on a journey through my closet,…
September 21, 2022
Reader Case Study: Looking For Less Stress and Lower Spending
Laura and her husband Sam live in Virginia with their two young children and one dog. Sam works for the federal government in a law enforcement capacity and Laura works as a full-time stay-at-home parent. Sam is eligible for retirement (with full benefits) in nine years, but the stress of his job has the couple…
September 16, 2022
Introducing Private Reader Case Studies!
I’m starting something new, people! I love helping folks with their money, so I’m going to do more of it. Starting today, you can schedule a one-on-one Private Reader Case Study with me. These consultations will bear a striking resemblance to my on-the-blog Reader Case Studies, but will be confidential, will include a phone/video call,…
September 9, 2022
Reader Case Study: Fix the Fixer Upper or Move On?
Elisabeth and her husband James live in New Hampshire with their two young sons. James works as an architect and Elisabeth is a private reading tutor for students with dyslexia. The couple live near Elisabeth’s extended family, which is perfect. What’s not quite so perfect is their fixer-upper home. They’ve invested time and money into…
September 7, 2022
Doggie Doppelgänger And Other August 2022 Expenses
Birthday Brewery Bash! Mr. FW celebrated his 39th birthday in August and my in-laws graciously kept our children for three days (and two nights!!!!)! We decided against traveling this year–last year we went kid-free to Cambridge, MA–and instead stay-cationed it up. When I asked my husband what kind of cake he wanted me to bake,…
August 30, 2022
Why We Bought A NEW Car
We bought a new car. Not a “new to us” car, not a “nearly new” car, an actual factual brand new 2022 Subaru Outback. But Liz–you’re now fretting– don’t you know that: Buying a brand new car has to be one of the worst financial decisions a person can make. Buying a new car is…
August 19, 2022
My Ever-Evolving Relationship With My Clothes
I have a hectic relationship with clothing. In my 20s and early 30s, I worshipped it. I stuffed the closets of our various rental apartments with beaded slip-on loafers I bought at an outdoor market in Strasbourg, France; a vintage bubblegum-pink stewardess dress I liberated from a Goodwill in rural Kansas; a red Banana Republic…
August 16, 2022
Reader Case Study: Rock Climber Seeks the Freelance Life
Sam loves her outdoorsy life in Salt Lake City, Utah and is an avid rock climber, hiker, trail runner, ultimate frisbee player and skier. On the professional side, she manages content creation for a company that manufactures work-at-height equipment for careers in vertical spaces. She enjoys her job and the stability it provides, but craves…