Monthly Archive: May 2015

93

Strategic Frugality and The Tale of Stormzilla

Sometimes, the most frugal option is to spend money. Don’t fall out of your chair or topple over your standing desk–it’s true! Indeed, it’s rare that I advocate for forking over cash, but there are instances where avoiding the cheapest choice translates into frugality in the long run. And that, my frugal weirdo friends, is strategic frugality–also known as the inherent division between the lofty frugal and the lowly cheapskate. To illustrate my point, enter exhibit A:...

22

Frugal Hound Sniffs: Messy Money

A note to new readers: while we often delve deeply into financial topics (such as The Privilege of Pursuing Financial Independence and 11 Ways To Be A Frugal Weirdo And Love It), we also like to keep it irreverent and downright silly. Because hey, who doesn’t need an investigative interview series conducted by a dog?! And so, I hope you’ll enjoy Frugal Hound Sniffs! If you’d prefer a more, ahem, financial independence-related post, start here. Howdy, Cyber Space. Frugal...

140

How A Year Of Extreme Frugality Changed Us

Last March, Mr. Frugalwoods and I got serious about frugality. You could even say we become hardcore frugal weirdos. To prove it, we launched our Uber Frugal Month experiment. We slashed our already meager spending and started saving more money than we’d ever thought possible while still, you know, eating and bathing (even we have limits, people). We’d hatched our wild early retirement homestead plan and wanted to see just how far we could push...

105

12 Shocking Frugal Hacks (You Won’t Believe #2)

Are you looking for that one weird trick to catapult you to epic frugality and an early retirement epiphany? Do you want to know the super secret tactics Mr. Frugalwoods, Frugal Hound, and I employ to attain our sky-high 71% savings rate? Have you been prowling the internet for “hot frugal tips”? I know I have. Look no further because today, I’m revealing all. So just how are we positioning ourselves to retire at 33?...

343

Why I’m Grateful For Morning Sickness

Ok so the title may have scooped me a bit, but I couldn’t help myself. Mr. Frugalwoods and I are thrilled to announce that we’re expecting our first baby, a girl, this coming November. Babywoods and I (not to mention Mr. FW and Frugal Hound) are doing well, despite some entertaining first trimester food cravings, aversions, sleep problems, and morning sickness. (Disclaimer: If, like Frugal Hound, you’re not into reading about baby-related stuff, never fear, we’re not...

8

How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Embrace The Future

“Just start and do it now.” I repeat that incredibly simple little phrase to myself all the time. It’s my reminder that it’s within my own power to accomplish whatever I want. It’s my cue to tackle big projects and not worry about the fact that I haven’t started them sooner. It’s my impetus to make the changes in my life that I want to see right now – not tomorrow or in a week...

122

The Surprising Benefits Of Not Turning On Your Air Conditioning

We’ve entered the most wonderful time of the year. No, not Christmastime, but the shoulder months betwixt winter and summer when we can coast by without the use of heat or air conditioning. This climate control-free period provides the perfect opportunity to save money and breathe fresh air. It might seem like a minor shift in daily life, but we relish the chance to live without it. Despite the fact that we have a slew of techniques for...

22

Frugal Hound Sniffs: Gen Y Finance Guy

A note to new readers: while we often delve deeply into financial topics (such as The Privilege of Pursuing Financial Independence and 11 Ways To Be A Frugal Weirdo And Love It), we also like to keep it irreverent and downright silly. Because hey, who doesn’t need an investigative interview series conducted by a dog?! And so, I hope you’ll enjoy Frugal Hound Sniffs! If you’d prefer a more, ahem, financial independence-related post, start here. Greetings, Internet. Frugal Hound...

84

Frugal Advice For New College Graduates

May always makes me nostalgic for the day nine years ago when Mr. Frugalwoods and I graduated, hand-in-hand, from college. Ahh, we were young, in love, jobless, broke (though without debt), and blissfully happy. We were reminiscing about our early post-college days this weekend and it inspired me to share all the stuff that I wish I’d known when we graduated. I won’t say it’s the stuff I wish someone had told me, because someone probably...

157

Is Frugality Sustainable Without A Goal?

Mr. Frugalwoods and I had a conversation last night about how much more frugal we’ve become since formalizing our plan to retire in 2017 to a homestead in the woods of Vermont and it got us thinking: could we–or anyone–be this frugal without a destination in mind? I’m fond of saying that when you’re working towards a goal, frugality isn’t about what you’re giving up, it’s about what you’re going to gain. I think a frugality-fueled goal could encompass...