About Me
I’m a 32 year old mom of four, and wife of one. I’m a homeschooler(I’m a homeschool graduate too!), part-time piano teacher, part-time piano player, dabbler in photography, and baking nut, among other things.
I’ve been frugal all my life, and I write this blog to inspire other people to live on less(cheerfully, even!). This blog is all about the practical, day-to-day ins and outs of frugal living(you won’t find posts on index funds and investing here!), and it’s also the home of Food Waste Friday.
(by the way, the shirt I’m wearing here cost me a whole $1…I got it from Express, on clearance, with a coupon. Oh yes. I live for bargains.)
Well, actually, I don’t live for bargains…I live for God. And bargain hunting is one of the ways that I serve Him by serving my family.
If you’d like, you can subscribe to my blog to get my posts delivered right to your email inbox daily.
If this is your first time here, you might want to browse through some of the most popular posts I’ve written.
To get an idea of how I spend my time, you can read:
Thanks for visiting! I hope that my blog is a blessing to you.
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if you are frugal-girl; then i must be miserly-mom.
the dress is good, but anything would be on you at any price.
thanks for opening the dialog.
I’m an (almost) 30-year-old mom of 4 too, and wouldn’t you know, I’m wearing a skirt I got on clearance at Target! (Not as cute as your dress though.)
Furthermore, I grew basil this spring and blogged about my pesto making adventure this week! Weird!
I found your cool blog through Wasted Food. I’ll be visiting again. Nice job.
LOL We live in parallel worlds, apparently! It’s lovely to meet you…I’ll bookmark your blog, and I hope you stick around here too.
Hi Kristen
I was really impressed when I saw your furniture painting. I was wondering if you could give further detail on how you get your furniture from freecycle.com. I looked at their website and was wondering if people post items they just dont’ want? I would really like to try it out to see if they come just as nice as yours, they look brand new no one would of guessed you just slapped some new paint and new hardware. Nice Job!!!
I love your blog! It is so nice to hear (or read about other mama’s who are trying to save and not be wasteful. Lovely dress, by the way. I will visit again!
Natalie-sure, I’ll do a post on freecycle soon.
Dianna-thanks for stopping by! I’m so glad you like my blog(and my dress! lol).
Thanks so much for commenting on my blog!
I wanted to leave you a little something but was not sure where to post it.. I guess here is a good place. I love your blog! I enjoy reading it and also learn so much from it at the same time.
My grandmother,who raised me, was a frugal lady.. she majored in home economics.. and became a housewife who was really good at her skills… especially baking… and that has turned her into a big business woman in Thailand .. that and her frugality of course
You remind me so much of her.. She was also a woman of god, she went to church everyday!
You are an inspiration and a good influence on all of us! Thank you so much for a wonderful blog! Speaking of which.. I’m going to go read your latest entry ! have a lovely day ♥
And thank YOU for commenting on mine! lol I love comments.
I had a really frugal grandma too…I think she would have liked my blog(if I could have convinced her to get on the computer! lol)
I have been reading your blog, but have never read this section! Do you homeschool your children as well?
…. I assume ‘homeschooler’ means that you do. (sorry, I hit submit comment before I was done! lol)
Yup, I sure do! Only two of them are old enough yet, but the third will be starting kindergarten in the fall.
That’s funny you never read the “About” page…I always look for those right away when I find a blog. lol
Kristen –
I’m thinking about homeschooling my son (currently 8 mos) and any future children (we hope/plan to have 4). Do you have a blog about your homeschooling experiences and/or any advice? I was raised as a public schooler with two working parents. I have friends from college who were homeschooled, but no one close to my age who is currently on the parent side of the equation! I’m 26, for the record.
Thanks!
For the record, I found your blog through thesimpledollar, and have enjoyed reading about your experiences! The practical, day-to-day issues are what I deal with the most, too – grocery shopping, cooking, etc.
Iam in the process of becoming frugal and I would like to paint my bedroom furniture instead of replacing it. I thought you did a wonderful job with yours. What paint did you use? Did you use a foam brush or a bristle one? A post on this would be very helpful!!
Thanks, Maggie from Montreal, Quebec
Maggie, I spent some time this last week working on a post about painting furniture. I also have a bunch of pictures to include in the post…I’m hoping to get it up maybe on Thursday, so stay tuned!
AWESOME! I love to find blogs that have good advice and then discover that the writer is also a believer. God keeps blessing me with all these new Christian Bloggers. I LOVE IT!
just found your blog and am thoroughly enjoying/heartily agreeing with all i’ve read so far.
I’m a 28 year old mom of three who is also a baking nut! I’m a stay at home mom, but I don’t homeschool. I tried when my oldest daughter was in kindergarden and I discovered that I’m really not a good teacher…At all. Thankfully we moved and the new school she is zoned for is really great. I kove your blog…The pictures are wonderful.
You are an inspiration girl!!! During these tough times I often wonder why I was spending SO MUCH $ at Walmart each week and had nothing to show for the money. I have spent most of the day on your website…from now on….I’ll be pocketing the money instead of spending. Thank You!!!
I am loving your blog! I am not a native to the idea of being frugal. As a matter of fact, I am a new immigrant. I made bread (using your recipe for the first time last week), I shopped off of the clearance last week, and today my girls (14, 12, and 11) and I are going to the local thrift store! They are excited about living a frugal lifestyle. I have tried to make it like a game. Thanks and please keep posting. Those of us who are new depend on you!
Where are you? – geographically speaking, I mean. I noticed you’re a Weis shopper, so I’m thinking you must be in my neck of the woods – mid-Maryland.
Love your site! I am a new frugal gal, and I am learning. You don’t say what part of the country you are in. Keep up the good work!
You are really pretty.
Lynn, I live in the DelMarVa area.
Rob, thank you.
Just wanted to let you know that your blog is an encouragment to me. I have two children one on the way. My husband just graduated from college and is looking for a job so we decided not to add on to the house until we have saved the money instead we are doing a little work to our bedroom so the new baby can stay with us. I have wanted to get rid of my bedroom furniture for along time, but it is a great set and SOLID wood which is hard to find these days. So a decided to paint it, I googled how to paint bedroom furniture and your blog came up. The step by step directions and photos are fabulous, the pics of the paint you used helped be out greatly. I was avle to walk in Home Depot and pick up exactly what I needed. I hope to start sanding and painting soon, I will try and post pics to let you know how it turned out. Thanks Again, from a stay at home, homeschool, trying to live frugal mom.
I loved it: “I don’t live for clearances…I live for God. I think clearances are a wonderful gift from Him, though.”
…my sentiments exactly.
I guess I should start back from the beginning of your blog because I can tell from the first page that you’ve got a lot of goodies on your hands!
Kristen–was just reading your bio. here (after I sent my email). I homeschool my four kids too.
Lucky I got mad enough to check out your link! Ha!
Thanks so much for following up on my question about sanding with an orbital sander and the little curlicues it can leave. I did some hand sanding after the major work and it took them right out. So far, my project is going good.
I’ve been looking through your blog and enjoying your tips for frugal living. Plus, your furniture looks amazing! Thanks for passing along all your great tips.
Kristen, I have been channeling you this week, and just wanted tos ay thanks for the inspiration.
(I’ve been friends with Katy “the non-consumer advocate” since high school, and originally found your blog through hers, which I read religiously as well.)
This week (and it’s only Wednesday) I have baked bread from your recipe, used up two nectarines before they went bad, used some CVS ECB deals to score items I *needed* for less and items I *wanted* for FREE, and carefully looked at the ads before I went grocery shopping. I brought my lunch to work every day this month, and I even (can you believe it) made my very first meal plan. I know, it’s shocking!
I’ve always been frugal-minded, but never very organized about it. I rarely buy things on impulse, and I have always looked at the sales in the grocery store while shopping, comparing per-unit prices. But the planful part — thinking ahead and planning meals in advance, looking ads for things I don’t need at this moment but will need in the next few months, etc. — that’s all new to me.
So again, thanks for the inspiration! –Barb
Hi Kristen,
I knew you excisted, just didn’t know where you were. And now I know ! Somebody who would rather buy a lens than spend it on food. (For the benefit of the other listeners check Kristen’s statement on the Simple Dollar blog) I, myself am even worse, I would even go without food (if pressed) if I had to choose. (yes..I know)
Cheers from Holland
Barb, I’m so proud of you.
Dick, just to clarify, I’d rather spend money on a camera lens than money on take-out food. lol I’m not one to want to go without food entirely. I just prefer to buy it and cook it myself so I can save up money for other things.
Are you into photography?
Hi Kristen,
I knew I was bad…but now you mention it, I think I am even worse. And I have the same “affliction” with books. As you can imagine I am a rather skinny photographer who also likes to read.
Wasn’t it Erasmus who would rather have books than food? If so, you’re in good company. lol
Yes ! Exactly . “When I get a little money , I buy books and if there is anything left I buy food” . Amazon used to use it in the early days. Now why do I know this .
Of course you meant to ask this but I will make easier for you !
http://www.columbusmagazine.nl/reisreporter/dickblom/home.html
Actually, I was looking to see if you had a website attached to your comments! lol Beautiful pictures and beautiful locations!
Deepest of bows !
Not full-time I’m afraid, I do have a day job in a law library as an information specialist. I used to make more money during my modelling days but I do all right. I don’t have to tell how expensive this photography business can be.
LOVE your blog!
My 2 favorite four letter words:
1. FREE.
2. SALE.
My husband is constantly amazed how I can take about $25 worth of groceries and make a week’s worth of dinners (and enough leftovers to take for lunch the next day for the parents) for a week, for a family of 4 1/2 (a dad, a mom, a 12 year old, a 20 month old, and one on the way!
I am getting the nerve worked up to make bread (gasp!), and took a look-see at your recipes… I may give it a try soon.
Thanks for all the sharing!
I just wanted to drop a note and let you know that I’ve been following your blog for the past month. I’m a married 31 y/o w/ 2 dog babies and praying for babies in the future. I do try my best to exercise frugality. I feel we have so much in common: I’m an avid freecycler, ferocious recycler, a GOODWILL hunter
, and I love America’s Test Kitchen. Do you craigslist? I managed to furnish 80% of my home w/ second hand furniture from craigslist purchases, GOODWILL and Freecycle. Mayble I’ll send you pics sometime. Have a great Labor Day weekend and keep up the fantastic work! ps: Yesterday I made ATK’s recipe for poundcake. Yummy!
Cindy, I hope you have great success with baking bread!
Jenn, I do Craigslist some, but I use Freecycle more because, well, free just can’t be beat! lol
I adore America’s Test Kitchen, though I don’t watch the show…I just read the magazines and the website. Cook’s Illustrated rocks my world. lol
Kristen, I just discovered your blog through blogher and am hooked! I believe I too am a born-frugalist who has lately had several lapses in judgement and succumbed to way too many impulsive buys because of (a) ‘wanting’ professional attire for my new job, (b) having to accompany shopaholic house-guests and (c) falling for all the cute baby stuff I see for my baby. I was actually quite ashamed of my recent splurges after reading your blog and i’m determined to fall back to my frugal senses. Like you, I also have longterm goals of having a paid-off mortgage (we don’t even own a house yet!) paying for my daughter’s (and any future babies’) college expenses, giving back to the people in my life who sacrificed many comforts and luxuries so that I may be where I am today, and to indulge in my true passion – travelling the world! I will be returning frequently to be inspired by you and hopefully, you can keep me in line so that I won’t lose sight of my ultimate goals! Please keep up the good work and have a great Labor day weekend!
What a great blog! Just started my own “F” blog last month on being Frugal and Fit. I’m trying to cook more, waste less, spend less and be healthy doing it, and I love finding others with the same goals. Keep up the good work!
Kristen,
One of our friends told me about your blog. I am so excited to read more and that you are getting good feedback!
How refreshing. I just stumbled on your blog and while I’m not in the motherhood stage of life, I love what you’re doing–living frugally, being a good steward with your resources and doing it for the glory of God. Awesome. I’m trying to learn all these “tricks of the trade” now so that when my husband and I do start our little family, we’ll have a head start! Thanks for the resources/ideas/inspiration!
i am so glad that i found this site.(on tiphero.com) looking at the dresser that you refinished. it’s awesome! i just made the yogurt for the first time. it’s due to come out of the cooler in 20 min. i am also making the pull apart garlic bread tommorow for my husbands birthday dinner. the typical school day post is encouraging since i just started homeschooling my son in 2nd grade & my daughter in kindergarten. i love it. We started the dave ramsey’s financial peace university & we are on our way out of debt. we just started budgeting in august last year. i can’t believe of our 8 married years we never budgeted before. i am now also a frugal girl
i shop at an amish store in my city and i get great deals on food. God bless!
I love your recipes and the photography. Great blog.
Hi,
I just wanted to say that I am a new visitor to your blog and I am loving it !!
I live in the UK and came across you blog it by accident …….and I am so glad I did.
Thank you so much for your very inspiring ideas.
Best wishes Karen x
Cheap snowy entertainment for kids. Turn them loose in the yard with a spray bottle filled with water and a little food coloring. Give your snowman clothes!
Keith, I did this with my daughter’s Girl Scout Troop in January — it was so easy, and so much fun. The kids had a great time and spent almost two hours outside in the snow making “graffiti” on the snow, brightly-colored snow-people, and lots of other things. For the cost of one package of food coloring (using spray bottles we already owned) 14 kids for were entertained. It would be a great idea for a winter birthday party activity.
Two quick tips if anyone wants to try it:
1) use COLD water. warm water will melt the snow, and you won’t see the colors as much.
2) be generous in your use of the food coloring. the color is quite diluted by spraying on the snow, so you need a fairly strongly colored mixture for the most fun!
Hi Kristen,
I caught you on 700 club Monday Feb. 22nd and thought your story was amazing and how we all can learn so much from each other, God Bless and keep up the good work .. you have a beautiful family and God Bless all them as well…
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