Monthly Archive: October 2016

175

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, are the ways in which frugality has simplified and improved our lives–not the least of which is that it frees...

110

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? And makes you a more interesting, mysterious individual? Ok maybe not the hair thing, but I posit the other two...

71

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 last month’s installment here. Although I was mostly homesteading-in-absentia in September thanks to my travels, we were still able to squeeze in...

73

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. As frugal adherents, we don’t strive to never spend money, rather, we strive to spend only on things that matter. And...

234

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 Studies are posts whereby a real person, who is a reader of Frugalwoods, contacts me with a financial dilemma that...