Meet a Michigan Reader | Stevie
Hey everyone! I've got a post-Christmas reader interview for you today. My favorite part of this one is the photo under question #4. 😉
1. Tell us a little about yourself
Hello! My name is Stevie and I have been married for 28 years and have two sons and one daughter-in-law. I have two fur babies and two fur grandbabies!
I am a pretty recent empty nester...I thought it was going to be terrible but it is okay! My husband and I have adjusted and now have a lot of fun.
We met in TX and moved to his hometown in a tiny remote area of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan ( 200-300 inches of snow a year) from 1994-2019.
Then we decided to "switch it up" and moved to metro Detroit in July of 2019.
Our kids were downstate and my Dad and sister live in Southern Indiana. We were having a marvelous time with sporting events and art events until COVID hit in March of 2020!
2. How long have you been reading The Frugal Girl?
I have been reading the blog for about 10+ years, but I really did not comment much until the pandemic. The blog really helped to lift my spirits and connect to others. Metro Detroit has been hit hard and we stayed very close to home for 14 months.
3. How did you get interested in saving money?
I am naturally a saver. My mom could stretch a dollar. My friends growing up were from farm families.
I grew up in a small agricultural county in Indiana, so there were just not a lot of ways to spend money. I am good at saving and now am good at donating to others, but I have a hard time spending on myself.
4. What's the "why" behind your money-saving efforts?
My why has always been my love of travel. We are both public school teachers, so money is not in excess in our home.
When I was in high school I was determined to take an airplane SOMEWHERE. I saved and purchased a plane ticket to see my older sister that year and was very proud. I still love to travel. Before the pandemic, we took our growing family to The Dakotas, Miami, NYNY, Las Vegas, San Antonio, Chicago, and Gulf Shores AL twice.
I have also been to Europe as a chaperone to a school group, both of my boys have been to Europe with their small public school group.
Since the pandemic, we are not traveling much and I miss it. I have been still saving to the travel fund, but am using a lot toward helping others and tipping well instead.
5. What's your best frugal win?
I have always shopped my house first and second hand or clearance for everything else. My boys were not picky about clothes. I also am a bit of a minimalist, which helps immensely.
6. What's a dumb money mistake you've made?
I hate to even mention this, but we got sucked into a timeshare once upon a time. We did use it and gave it away after four years. DUMBEST DECISION EVER. Cannot explain. It is in our past!
7. What's one thing you splurge on?
We like good groceries. We cook in about 27 days a month or more....so we do like nice quality cheese, milk, eggs, organic butter etc. We shop at Aldi as much as possible!
8. What's one thing you aren't remotely tempted to splurge on?
The latest electronics or all of the streaming channels. We use Amazon Prime for streaming and Peacock which is free.
9. If $1000 was dropped into your lap today, what would you do with it?
Wild idea: I would like to say that I would go back to NYNY and see two shows on Broadway in the eighth row, center! I would probably put it toward my son's college tuition next semester. He pays 60 percent, we pay 40 percent as long as he is working and keeping his grades up! ( 3.0 or better!) and he is....
10. Share a frugal tip with other Frugal Girl readers
Find frugal friends. My friends and I love to go to free events. We also love to hang out in each other's homes and play board games while eating well and laughing. We have good couple friends.
11. Is there anything unique about frugal living in your area?
I live by a huge park with miles and miles of nice bike trails. Metro Detroit also has great high school sports, so we go to many events for very little money. Detroit also has many music fests that are "bring a lawn chair" and come and listen.
The best perk is that if you live in my county, you can go to the WORLD RENOWNED Detroit Institute of Arts for free with a picture ID. We try to go once a month. There is so much to see and do!
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Stevie, I showed my family the picture of your cat peeking over your laptop screen and they all loved it too. So cute!
And I love that you said the empty nest years can be fun; that stage of life is coming up for me pretty soon, since Zoe will graduate high school in 2023.
A Yooper! 🙂 You get a lot less snow in the Detroit area now! We lived in Western MI for 12 years, having moved there from California. MI was a nice state to live in, if it weren't for all the snow....haha. We got lake effect snow, which is not nearly as much snow as the UP but it was still plenty.
@Tammy, yes we now have green grass most of the year. Detroit is a little pocket that does not get much snow due to the position of the surrounding Great Lakes. Western MI gets more snow than eastern MI.
Hi Stevie! My husband has always wanted to visit the UP. He's a big outdoors guy. I'm . . . not so much, but I do love the Cat Who series, which I always figured was set in the UP. Maybe we'll make it there someday.
I absolutely love Michigan. Haven't been there in five years and I can't wait to come back! I wouldn't want to live in the UP, but what a great place to visit! Thanks for sharing Stevie! (Loved your critter pix too.)
@Bobi, we love Michigan too!
I will be moving to the UP in the next few months and I am so excited. It will be warmer than where we are now and I am looking forward to how beautiful it will be.
@Julia, people there are very kind. Get very good outdoor clothes and you will be fine!
@Stephanie, we live in Northern Minnesota now- so the UP will actually be warmer!
@Julia, yes. Not so bitter cold.
Hi Stevie,
I'm now an empty-nester too, something I dreaded from my newborn son's first cry until his little sister went off to college. But now I'm loving the freedom and uninterrupted conversations with my husband. An elderly relative tried to give us a timeshare, thinking it would be a gift. Thankfully my husband was very gracious in declining her offer, rather than screaming and running away. love your cat!
@Elaine N, TIME SHARE NO GO FOREVER!
I didn't think any place in the states got more snow than the Central & Western NY area (average 120 inches in Syracuse)! That is a lot of snow and as pretty as it is to look it, I prefer my new location in the sunshine state.
Love being an empty nester, but miss my grand daughter in Western NY very much. Don't go visiting in the winter, that's for sure.
@Maureen, we also curtail travel in winter to a minimum.
@Maureen, you may be surprised to learn that we have had next to no snow here in CWNY so far this year. Sean Kirst, formerly of syracuse.com and now of buffalonews.com, has started referring to the Golden Snowball contest as the "Golden Noball." (Of course, the minute I post this, we'll probably get whacked with a foot or so. I shouldn't be tempting fate.)
@A. Marie, my daughter is supposed to do some traveling over the next few days, so I hope not! at least not until the New Year!
Stevie, I enjoyed your post. Thanks for sharing your words and pictures! We share a minimalist bent. And I also view this blog as a lifeline once COVID hit. I'm just heading outside to shovel our 6-inch snowfall, and now that I've read your annual snowfall totals, I promise not to grumble and instead be grateful that we didn't get more!
@MB in MN, shoveling is great frugal exercise!! Lol
Hi, Stevie!
I’m from farm folk in farm country too, so thriftiness was a way of life in my community growing up, too.
I love your generosity. That’s something I had to learn so I appreciate people who are as generous as you are.
Good to meet you!
@JD, farm folk are the best folk!
Hi Stevie,
I am fascinated to learn about your frugal journey particularly because it mirrors my own. I grew up in the Upper Peninsula (Christmas) and Metro Detroit (Wyandotte). I love hearing from people who have experiences close to my own.
@Anna Chan, would love to chat more!! Driven through Christmas MI many times and Wyandotte is very cute.
Another delightful interview. I love learning just how wonderful the readers of this blog are. There is so much wisdom shared by Stevie. Thank you for sharing.
@K D, you are welcome!!
I've never been to the Midwest. I'm embarrassed about that. Everywhere I've been in the US has either been on the East Coast (where I live), West Coast (usually for business), or the South, Florida, Louisiana etc. One of these days I have to branch out more. I'm currently longing to go back to the UK, though, which I think of as my second home. Stupid Covid.
Just about everyone in NYC has Covid, it seems to me. Offices are once again closing and requiring people to work from home.
@Rose, so much to do in Indy. Detroit. CHICAGO. and Minneapolis! All is due time…
@Rose, Yes, come visit the Midwest for the most part people really are as friendly as they say. There are some really beautiful places here. Something for everyone from cities to rural and everything in between! The most gorgeous places to visit in my opinion are Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. If you don’t like snow visit in late spring through early autumn (just before Memorial Day to mid September) you won’t be disappointed.
@Stephanie,
....and don't forget Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus in Ohio, too! Lots to do and see here. The Lake Erie area of northern Ohio is beautiful.
(Signed, an Ohio transplant 😉
@Liz B., guess what? We are going exploring in Cleveland over Presidents’ Day weekend.
Hi Stevie! Thanks for sharing. Your fur babies are adorable! Love your tip about frugal friends. It's definitely easier to stay on budget and enjoy life when you are with financially like-minded folks. One of the reasons I prefer shopping alone is so I am less likely to be influenced by someone else to buy things I don't really need.
@AnnieH, thank you! Our fur babies are very spoiled!
Hi Stevie! This was fun to read. Your picture of the Upper Peninsula looks like it belongs on a postcard. I have an extended family member who went to Mackinac Island many years ago and she still talks about it. Seems like it's gorgeous up your way. Like others have said, I hope to visit there someday. Thanks for your post!
@BJS, we were from the very western tip of the peninsula so six hours west of the island. The island is beautiful but a bit crowded in summer. The western end is not so crowded. YAY
@BJS, my family visited Mackinac island summer of 2019 and that memory of that whole trip (we mainly stayed in Eastern UP) is one thing that has kept me going through COVID. My parents and I had a great time. It was actually a very frugal trip we camped in the UP and drove to Salut Sainte Marie for a day, saw lots of light houses, spent another day on Mackinac island, and another day on a river boat cruise to see Tahquamenon Falls. It was amazing!
@Ali in the Midwest, you did it right!!! Next time try to explore Marquette area and the porcupine mountains!
Hi Stevie! West-side Michigander here! I grew up in a small town between Flint and Detroit and moved to the west side when I got married. Lake effect snow was a shocker for me. 🙂 These days, I'm disappointed when we don't have a decent amount of snow so I guess I've adjusted. My son started college at LSSU in the Soo this past fall and loves it. Good to hear from you! I'd like more details on the owl structure in your pictures. So cute!
@Kris, the owl structure is from LAKENLAND near Marquette MI. Lakenland is a must stop if you re near the Marquette area…eastern side. It is quirky artsy and free, by donation only. It also has a Picnic area… frugal at its best!
Tank you for giving me an alternative picture of the Detroit area. I think that if you live in Alaska long enough, you can begin to imagine that the rest of the U.S., especially the urban areas, as a dystopian hell-hole packed with people and crime and highways with people driving 90 miles an hour. You make it sound very attractive.
@Lindsey, Thank you, not tank you. And I do reread stuff before posting...
@Lindsey, Detroit has a lot of green spaces and water ways. But it also has terrible areas too! We steer clear of those areas and really focus on the metro parks!
Great photos. Our biggest mistake was a timeshare. The best thing was that we never fell for that one a second time. I hope you get to NYNY again. I live there and I love it.
Before my kids were born I had an empty nest. If they want to live with us forever that is ok by me. Of course I know that is unrealistic. But I am a dreamer. Thanks for sharing.
@Anita Isaac, I would love to live in a teeny NYNY apartment for one year!!! It is a dream of mine…
I am originally from your neighborly Southern Illinois! You are correct, it is much more difficult to spend money there than it is here in the city!
Thank you for sharing:) My dad was from Iron Mountain in the UP and my mom from Indiana. They met at U of M and eventually landed in Southern California. I had never been in the snow until I was an adult as my dad refused to go to the snow. I loved visiting the UP in the summer as a child.
@Sandra, I grew up in southern Indiana and my hubby grew up in IRONWOOD MI which is two hours from Iron Mountain.
It must be a "cat person" thing. I didn't even notice the cat in the photo until you said your girls like it poking over the computer too.
@Linda, MY CAT IS OBSESSED WITH ZOOM MEETINGS. We die laughing!
Hi Stevie, I really enjoyed your interview. I grew up in Saginaw, Michigan. I moved to Arizona in 1996, for the weather. I'm not a fan of Michigan winters.
We do visit Michigan every year in the simmer to see my parents and always make it a point to visit Detroit. I love the DIA too, and Detroit has really become a cool city, with so many good restaurants and festivals.
Your fur babies are adorable!
@Beth B, we are loving the large city after 24 years in a remote setting with only one stoplight and zero local grocery stores.
My husband and I traveled around the country this year. On returning home people ask what did you like best Well that is a hard question to answer because everywhere was great.
So I told people the biggest surprise was the upper peninsula in Michigan and I mean the upper upper peninsula on Lake Superior. We had no idea what was there but we loved everything. The beaches and water were beautiful, the hikes and waterfalls were spectacular. And I think everywhere we stayed had the friendliest people. Of course we were there in optimum weather, I wondered about the winter.
I loved reading your interview. UP sounds like a magical place. What is it like in the summer?
I agree with you about tipping well. When we eat out I so appreciate servers and all the hard work they do wearing masks. I can't wait to RIP my mask off once I get outside a restaurant. Tipping is a good way to help others who work hard.
Hooray for another Michigan reader!! So nice to meet you, Stevie!
I imagine that it was quite a difference to go from the UP to Detroit. I've always had a great respect for the people who live up in the UP.
That is so cool that you get into the DIA for free!!! I have great memories of a trip there in college and would love to take my daughter sometime.
I loved your answer to question number 5. Sounds like a definite frugal win and is something that would be helpful for me to do more.
Also, I didn't realize when I first commented that Stevie=Stephanie. I always love reading your comments knowing that you live so close to where I live! (Probably an hour and a half-ish.)
Fun and interesting! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Stevie, how lively to read from you! Again, this is an interview that underscores how people from widely different parts of the world can have a common interest. And also, what amazing sights the US offer. I've never been to the States and if I had to choose a state based on these interviews and their pictures, it would be a hard choice! Same for the non US interviews. It makes me want to take a map and have a look!
I loved this post! My family moved to the Western side of the UP from Finland 100 years ago - and we still spend every summer at Lake Gogebic!!! When I was in college I worked for 4 summers at the Porkies, so I recognize your summer pic from the UP :). I was also so encouraged by the way you have embraced the new season of life as empty nesters. We have 4 children and the oldest is just bumping up against college (he wants to go to Michigan Tech;), and I am feeling a sense of dread and loss when the children move out. It sounds like you have found new ways to connect with your husband and your community that looks different from family life, but also fun and interesting. Thank you for sharing!!!
Yooper! Beautiful part of our state. I worked Job Corps in the late 1970's and we worked all along the The Pictured Rocks improving trails, decking walkways & campground cleanup. The D is an awesome place too! Nice to read your story.
Nice to meet you, Stevie. Glad you are enjoying your empty nest. It is strange at first. Although I miss my kiddos, it is nice to have time for myself.
My husband is a native Michigander, (he's from Croswell, in the Thumb) and we love metro Detroit! I love how hard they are trying to make a come back...and we root for them all the way!
Thanks for sharing, Stevie. We visited the UP for the first time this summer (and are trying to get back next summer) and I recognize your Lake of the Clouds picture. Such a beautiful area.