One Frugal Girl

Finding Myself Again

As part of my fanatical decluttering I gave away the majority of my wardrobe. To be honest I grew tired of looking at drawers full of clothes that didn’t seem to fit properly anymore. Some items didn’t really suit my taste and others were from a time long gone by. There were those button down … Read more

Out With the Old, In With the New.

“Stop talking to me about money,” my husband said. “I don’t care if that costs $45 or if you saved 30 bucks. Just spend the money on things that matter and don’t feel guilty about doing it.” But how could I stop? I’ve thought about money for as long as I could remember. “How could … Read more

Climbing

Although I was born in August I consider April 15th a birthday of sorts. Eleven years ago on that very day I sat in on a bed in the emergency room, unable to catch my breath and deathly afraid to find out what was wrong with me. Every April I reflect on my medical history … Read more

Shedding Stuff and Moving Forward

I felt the need to tidy my house long before the I read Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Last year I took the room by room approach to discarding. I went through my drawers and closets carefully and methodically. The first pass I removed the easy stuff like clothes that didn’t … Read more

Cheerleaders

For the past four and a half years I haven’t taken the greatest care of myself. Instead I have poured every ounce of my being into raising my children. Now everyone on earth has told me that this is not healthy, but for some reason I failed to heed that message. After waiting over thirty … Read more

When You Stop Worrying About Money

My son snowboarded out west for the first time this year. The price tag for two days worth of lessons was just under $500. Surprisingly, I did not bat an eye. No. I happily pulled out my wallet and wholeheartedly believe that money was well spent.  By the second day he was riding the chair … Read more

Saving Pennies and Dimes

Thoughts on my compulsion to save: My husband keeps telling me to look at the big picture and stop saving pennies and dimes. I hear him, (even though he thinks I am ignoring his words), but I have a hard time actually foll0wing through on that. When diapers are on sale at the local drug … Read more

Homes and Possessions

Random thoughts on a snowy day: I have extremely mixed feelings about moving a few years from now. After a long fifteen years in our current house it finally feels like home to me. I don’t love the layout of our kitchen or the fact that the bedrooms can fit little more than a queen … Read more

Questions about Flying with Kids?

A few thoughts/questions about travel on this snowing evening: We plan to fly out west next month and I am unbelievably concerned about a four hour flight with an eleven month old. We opted NOT to buy a seat for the little guy and I am a bit terrified that he’ll fuss the entire time … Read more