Meet a Reader | Jane from Arkansas
Thank you so much to all of you who volunteered for the Meet a Reader interviews. I've sent lots of sets of questions out to you guys, and some of you have already sent back your responses. Yay!
Jane's was the first response to hit my inbox, so we're meeting her today. 🙂
1. Tell us a little about yourself
My name is Jane and I live in the Hot Springs National Park area in Arkansas with my self-employed, forestry-consultant husband and two of my three sons (adopted from foster care) under my roof.
(plus three dogs and two cats.)
We are surrounded by beautiful mountains, trees, hot springs, lakes, and abundant natural resources.
After early “retirement” from a public high school as a chemistry teacher, I currently teach middle school science part-time, for fun, at a small Catholic school and also instruct an additional university biology course for high school students online from my home.
For most of my life, I have been surrounded by unusual animals (newts, aquatic frogs, crayfish, lizards, and snakes) plus the furry ones that currently overrun my home.
I love anything artistic and have dabbled a bit in many areas as I managed a retail arts and craft store many years ago and also taught art for a number of years recently.
Right now my main interest is watercolor animal portraits, but recently I have been exploring a bit of wool-felting and some beadwork.
I enjoy reading and I also love to cook and bake with frugality in mind.
2. How long have you been reading The Frugal Girl?
My introduction to FG was around 11 years ago, I estimate, when I was looking for a yogurt recipe (I was tired of paying the price) and found one I loved on Kristen’s site.
(Note: Here's the homemade yogurt recipe.)
I immediately was attracted to her text, photos, and expression in the blog. I started following her then, probably have never missed a post, and have used many recipes.
I was a fanatical fan of the Tightwad Gazette and still have all my copies that arrived at my home as I cannot throw them away! I was saddened by Amy’s departure to the publication but felt I found a special kinship in Kristen’s blog that took over the reins a bit! Kristen talks about TG from time to time.
3. How did you get interested in saving money?
My parents were frugal by nature and we just grew up that way. It is just in my DNA.
They grew their own vegetables and fruit, seldom went out to eat, took care of everything they owned, and made any place they lived more beautiful through landscaping and tasteful decorating. It was just in my nature to do the same as my parents and not to “waste” money. They paid cash for everything but their homes but paid them off early.
4. What single action or decision has saved you the most money over your life?
The largest recent financial gain is probably in our current home.
Eight years ago, we were thinking about building our forever home but located one for sale near my school. We purchased this home and decided to put our stamp on it by adding a few additions such as another garage, saferoom (it is the south folks…tornado alley), geothermal heating/cooling, plantation shutters, and my husband’s office.
Just recently we added a small art studio I share with the doggie door (not a good plan by the way).
We bought our house way under the current value, at the perfect time in the market, paid cash for it (ouch!), bought in a small, gated but growing community, and the value has almost doubled even before the recent housing market boom. We have not paid a penny of interest.
We had paid off two homes prior to purchasing this one, so we knew the money would go into our pocket rather than a lender’s coffers. What a financial blessing this has been for many years of no house note. I call medical insurance the NEW house note instead!
5. What's a dumb money mistake you've made?
Before adopting our children, we had a little extra money and wanted to do some different types of investing. We were looped into investing with Whole Life Insurance to help shelter our money.
In comparison, mine turned out well but my husband decided to take a relative’s suggestion, and he lost so much profit that would have been better served elsewhere. I took mine out when I had the chance and put it into the purchase equity of our home. He had to wait 10 additional years as the market boomed and his insurance made the company the profits, not us!
It was not a wise choice one bit. I would never do it again or advise anyone into that realm.
6. What's one thing you splurge on?
If there is something of quality I want, I purchase it. I love plantation shutters.
I buy my favorite vanilla by the gallon; it makes gas look cheap! I like art and office supplies or anything to organize my systems.
We sometimes buy new vehicles but we drive them for decades. My husband still drives his 22-year-old ToyotaTundra with almost a half million miles…still has a perfectly fine engine and clean interior. He did replace the first light bulb in year 19.
I still own my 20-year-old Honda Odyssey van and I gave a friend my 1995 Honda Civic VX that is still running like a top! I drive a newer but used Honda CRV; we hang on to older cars so as not to put money into depreciating items.
My husband is waiting on the Tesla Cybertruck as he made a deposit on one years ago. It is his splurge that I might consider burying him in one day! Hope the Tundra hangs on a while longer!
7. What's one thing you aren't remotely tempted to splurge on?
I am not into anything that involves fine dining, name brands, or flashiness.
I don’t like to spend money at restaurants very much but do enjoy the experience of eating out with a friend. I pack lunches and find little cabins with kitchens when we travel and prepare food.
8. If $1000 was dropped into your lap today, what would you do with it?
I had a luxurious financial gift added to my life seven years ago and it did not alter my spending pattern or frugality a bit. We invested it all for our family's future.
I would do the same with $1000, more than likely, or try to help others around me that are struggling.
9. What is something you wish more people knew?
How great buying used items are!
I love to buy used items on Facebook Marketplace. I have bought so many nice decorative pieces for my home. This past week l bought a Kitchen Aid mixer, with all the attachments, for $50 for a friend that wanted one but could not afford to buy one. It took some time but I found one again.
If I am looking for something, I start scouting it out and over time I usually find a deal. You have to be patient but it will come up.
Probably the best deal I scored was a $4000 refrigerator for $1200 that was one year old. It was posted for 45 minutes and I keep cash on hand to deal. I would have never purchased one that nice unless I had a bargain. You usually have to act fast to land deals like this.
It is satisfying to know that we saved almost $3000 that we did not have to spend. No taxes either! It was a little work getting it in here…note the steps in front of my house.
10. What single action or decision has saved you the most money over your life?
Having a frugal lifestyle is the key to having wealth.
As a teacher and a forester, we NEVER made a bunch of money compared to other professionals. I listened to Dave Ramsey and had the opportunity to be on his radio program a few years ago discussing personal wealth and how to achieve it.
As I said then, I DO sweat the small stuff and I have found that living below your means, by saving and investing with frugality at the core, allows you to have the money to spend however you want, later in life.
Frugality and wealth building allows you to give freely without worry. Living on less allows one to have more..frugality rules!
Thank you Kristen to your devotion to the frugal-minded community! We love you!
___________________
Jane, I'm so impressed that at the way you have managed to avoid a mortgage. Good for you guys!
You said you like to read; what are your favorite types of books to read?
Also, I was so surprised to see snow in your front door picture. Do you guys have snow very often there in Arkansas?
What a gorgeous art studio! Is the shelving unit holding tiny things from a printers? I saw one offered for sale on FB a while back and didn’t buy it and have regretted that decision ever since.
@Mands, That is an antique type tray on the wall, or a printers tray, you occasionally see them in antique stores. I've had mine since I was a little girl when I collected figurines. I have a few of those in there now. When I set up my studio, I wanted to have it up again, it now houses mostly my liquid watercolors and a few little knick knacks within. On the shelving above, are different pieces of art that I mainly have done except for maybe one. Most of my work I have sold or given away. I haven't done just a whole lot but need to get back to it. Sometimes life gets in the way of hobbies you want to pursue. Wa
@Mands, As Jane said, you should be able to find a printers tray for not a lot. Wish I still had my old one--I'd mail it to you!
I was surprised to see as the snow as well. I can't say I know much about Arkansas! It was great to read about someone who lives there. Thanks for sharing!
I'm amazed at your low adoption cost!!! That's fantastic that you weren't burdened to pay thousands of dollars to adopt.
A Toyota Tundra is currently my husband's dream vehicle. We have a RAV4 and a Sienna right now, but he would like a Tundra once our kids are old enough to drive the RAV4. Good to know yours is lasting forever. 😉
@Ruth T, my husband has a tundra as well. It's a 2006 and still going strong. We plan on giving it to our oldest in 4yrs when she's old enough to drive
Good morning, it’s great to meet you. Your interview has me thinking about so much. First and foremost, it warms my heart that you adopted your children out of the Foster Care System. We have friends and family members who have adopted. Adoption is a wonderful thing.
I love your water color pup portraits. It looks like the home pack provides you with quite a bit of inspiration. Do you have an Etsy shop?
I had the opportunity to visit Arkansas recently. It is a beautiful state and the people were friendly and kind everywhere we went.
Thanks for sharing!
Hi Jane! I've visited Hot Springs a couple of times. If you get up at dawn the forests and hills look magical in the mist.
You and I seem to have a lot in common. Your way of life appeals to me on so many levels. I love your dogs, your art, and your safe room. A tornado came dangerously close to us one year and I sure wish I had a safe room then. LOL!
Thank you for sharing a slice of your life with us. It was great to meet you.
My husband has often said that Arkansas would have been his first choice to move to from New York if it wasn't so far from our family in Arizona.
Your art studio looks like such a wonderful place to be creative (pet door notwithstanding). I've never had any talent for drawing or painting, which means I am always very impressed with people who do. I love your pet portraits.
@kristin @ going country, That's really funny that you would be interested in the Arkansas area because one of my favorite places in the world is upper state, New York. I'm a Vermont fan and would just love to be displaced New England forever. I have been told that I don't want to be there in the winter but I sure do love the spring and the falls. Please come and visit us again soon and come to the Hot Springs area. Northwestern Arkansas is just stunning in the fall as pretty as New England. Anyone can learn to draw. You're not born with it. It's a skill that's developed. I taught myself to paint with a little instruction but it just sort of fell into place. If I can do it, I promise you can too.
Nice to meet you. I enjoyed reading about your life and frugal ways. I would love to know what type of vanilla you buy as I bake all the time so buying a gallon at a time would probably work well for me. I have gone the homemade route but am not particularly thrilled with it. It doesn't seem to have as much vanilla flavor as I had hoped. And after buying the vodka and vanilla beans that is very frustrating.
@Barbara, As for the vanilla, I've been a Watkins vanilla user for decades. You used to have to get it from a private dealer that sold from their home, but now Walmart even carries it. I'm a heavy duty baker myself and I found years ago that I could save a tremendous amount of money if I could get vanilla in bulk. So that's what I did. Having a little knowledge with chemistry myself and knowing that imitation vanilla is virtually the same thing as pure vanilla,
and the company offered both, I switched over. That was a tremendous savings but as everything else and especially vanilla, it has gone through the roof pricewise. It was starting to price me out of the market but I refuse to bake if I don't have it. There is a product that is a clear vanilla. It's an immitation vanilla also and it is a fraction of the price. If you look on Amazon, you will see that vanilla varies from pure at $495 per gallon to around $239 for immitation, and a mere $75 for a clear immitation vanilla. My psyche would not let me purchase vanilla without the brown coloring. I like what it lends to my cookies and other baked goods. Bakers that make wedding cakes want no alteration of color. They want stark white so they use clear. I got the brainstorm after a little research that I would add caramel coloring to some white vanilla. I ordered some in. I'd had some years before so I knew that it tasted exactly the same, but the psychology was about like purple or green ketchup. I poured it up into some of my old saved bottles and started adding caramel coloring to it. The coloring is not exactly the same but it's close enough. So rather than paying $239 ,(because I did buy imitation and not pure), $75 is a lot better as that was less than I started paying for it 30 years ago! So that's my ultimate frugal vanilla story. When it calls for a teaspoon I'll put a tablespoon. I tell people... don't ask me to bake something if I'm out of Watkins when I could not pick a quick one up at Walmart like today. I have made things that people insisted to go ahead and then they would tell me it just doesn't taste the same. Which is true. If you have not tried it, I highly recommend it. I see people with these huge containers of Mexican vanilla and I have found it not to be comparable to good ol' Watkins. It's been around a long time and their products are all excellent. They even make lotions, or at least they did, with this scent. I had a vanilla air freshener from them that I taught chemistry. Hope this helps. Let me know how it turns out if you try it! I promise if you're a serious baker, you will never regret it.
@Barbara,in case you're wondering, even the experts can't tell the difference between natural & fake vanilla in baked goods: Cooks Illustrated has tested that multiple times. For a vanilla-heavy dessert such as flan, it makes a difference; for cakes and cookies, it does not. This is why I stock both natural and fake vanilla.
Fun fact: the world-wide demand for vanilla ice cream alone exceeds the supply of natural vanilla.
@WilliamB,
Thanks for the info that Cook's Illustrated endorses fake vanilla. Last year I bought 2 bottles of mexican vanilla online (clear and caramel colored) because they were much cheaper than what I had been buying at Sam's and they were horrible. I had always heard that mexican vanilla was superior--maybe I got a bad batch? I am going to try the Watkins vanilla that Jane recommends.
Hi. Just wondering what your favorite vanilla is that you buy by the gallon?
@Lori, I will get back with a few of you about the vanilla. I want to take a few pictures.
Hi, Jane. I love that you found the KitchenAid type mixer for a friend. Sharing with others is the best benefit of living below our means. We too put a gift of funds towards paying off our mortgage much earlier than we would have other wise been able to. That gave us piece of mind to know we'd have our home even if something drastic happened in future.
One of the things Dave Ramsey speaks about resonated throughout this entire interview and that is how you can change your family tree by the younger generations learning from you. I like to imagine the younger readers, far flung as they may be, learning from all the things you have said here. For those of us who didn't always make the best decisions or were hypnotized by bright shiny things, it's good to know there are others who set a good example to follow.
"Having a frugal lifestyle is the key to having wealth." Jane, you are one of my people. That and I nearly squealed "DOGGIES!" aloud when I saw the photos. And yes, sweating the small stuff makes growing money possible.
I never thought about buying used (from marketplace) saves you on taxes!
@Jenelle,
I have gotten some wonderful things on marketplace and sold a few. It’s addictive!!!
@Jenelle, It really is addictive but you can get some absolutely great deals if you wait around long enough. I've got some awesome things that I would have never found. And I love getting a good deal.
I too have a paid off house at the age of 49. It is the best financial freedom you can give yourself. I loved reading about your life. I have 2 adopted daughters from China who are now 14&18. They came home at 10&12 months. I worked 60 hours as a nurse and paid cash for both of their adoptions and saved enough cash to be home for an additional 10 weeks with them. Anything is possible no matter how much you make and this is on a single income. Now at the ago of 50 I am debt free and can continue investing. Being frugal has given me a lot of hope for retirement as the nest egg will more than enough to live off of and travel the world. It has been a lot of hard work, but I would do it all over again to have had the chance at our beautfiful lives and family that God helped create. Anyone can have success financially no matter how big or small your income is. It is all about being frugal, but still having fun in life.
Hi, Jane!
The pictures of Arkansas take me back. My family made several visits to Arkansas, and Northeast Arkansas was part of my "weather area" when I was growing up; it was always included in the local nightly weather reports. I remember the many tornadoes in that area all too well. Your safe room is a good thing to do and worth the money.
I don't have a lot of opportunities to make or save money with big stuff, so sweating the small stuff is my method as well. It's great to see that you and your husband have done so well by being frugal. Buying a home with cash is something almost no one does anymore.
Thank you for adopting out of foster care, too. Maybe it didn't cost much, but the benefit to the children is priceless.
So nice to meet you! I too am a public d hook chemistry teacher. TWO. MORE. YEARS.
@Stephanie, public school chemistry teacher. Sorry for typo
Nice to meet you, Jane! What a lovely spot you have for your artwork. Thanks for sharing!
Jane, you are about 16 varieties of awesome, but your and your husband's decision to adopt your boys probably tops my list. I know my own limits of patience re: children (one of the many reasons my DH and I never had kids), so my hat's off to parents in general--but to adoptive parents in particular.
And as a fellow member of the Tightwad Gazette Fan Club (Complete Set of Original Issues Subgroup) and the Keep Those Senior Hondas Running Club, I salute you!
Love your artwork, although to be truthful I am a fool for any dog paintings! But yours are very much to my taste so thank you for showing them. And for showing your studio!
Every time I read a Meet a Reader, I'm amazed anew at the variety of talents and interests Kristen's frugal readers have. Among other things: I love how you and your husband design and add features to your home, and your pet portraits are lovely! I also like wool felting and working with wool - there's something satisfying about the feel of the materials and it can be a great frugal hobby as well. I'm no artist, but I've repaired boiled wool clogs and a Pendleton wool backpack in vaguely creative ways recently, and it was fun to use recycled wool.
Big congratulations on being able to buy your house outright!
I’m in love with your brown pit bull sleeping in the chair. So adorable!
I missed out on the original Tightwad Gazette newsletters, but found the compiled books at the library after I saw Kristen mention them here. I checked them out so many times, I eventually invested in my own. I still enjoy reading them years later.
Jane, I think I missed something. I saw that you mentioned adopting your children but I didn't see anything about foster care. But other commenter mentioned foster care.. As a former foster parent, I would be interested in hearing about your time as a foster and how you made the decision to adopt.
Thank you Kristen for sharing your readers. I've gotten such loving and kind replies that I wish I could just meet these people. Yes, you are correct. We do not get a whole lot of snow in this part of the world. In Northern Arkansas, the location is really close to the Missouri line, and they get quite a bit of snow. We have gone for 4 or 5 years without any snow and what we usually get is a very wet, icy-type snow, not the beautiful flakes that you often see. My picture was one of probably a rare sleet event that look like snow. People make fun of southerners claiming that we can't drive on what they call the snow, but it's not snow. It's pure ice! We have a lot of injuries during snow events. You can drive on snow but you can't drive on ice, and you certainly can't drive on black ice which is what we get at night.
As for reading, I've read so many textbooks and science books through the years plus chemistry, I mainly read for pleasure, entertainment and just pure escapism. I like to read fiction of all types but only with happy endings for the most part. I have been an avid reader of the classics and used to be religious about reading one or two every summer that I'd always wanted to pick up. I quit this practice but I really need to start back. My favorite author is Somerset Maugham in the classics. My favorite books He has written are the Moon and Sixpence and The Razor's Edge (which had some deplorable movies made of it). My overall favorite book is Gone with the Wind, and one of my favorite more contemporary authors is Pat Conroy (his favorite book was also GWTW); it is a masterpiece of only one. An author with a very interesting life too! So, I've got a few going and also pick up a couple of christian books and I like psychology a lot. I always get more than I can read. Right now, I am reading the college biology book from which I am teaching. I think you know all about that experience not too long ago!
@Jane Estes, Like Kristen, while reading your post (thanks for sharing!) I was curious to know what kind of books you like to read.
The author who immediately came to mind given your and your husband's careers, your love of unusual animals, and your artwork is Emily B. Martin. She works as a National Park Ranger every other summer. She's both an author and artist. I recommend starting with her Creatures of Light trilogy. (I have a feeling you'll like Queen Gemma, but you won't really find out until the 3rd book in the series.)
Here's a link to her website: http://www.emilybmartin.net/ If you're on Instagram, she posts there, too.
Welcome, Jane, nice to learn more about your life. I love the pooch pix. How do you care for so many animals, in addition to your family?
I love meeting other readers! This is my favorite blog,ever. This past few years have brought some health challenges to our family and I get in the doldrums, but when I read Frugal Girl and read comments, I am uplifted. My husband and I also have lived frugally all our lives. We paid off our house by age 50. We retired at age 60, but my husband went back to work part time and loves what he does. We get a lot of pleasure from simple pursuits:riding our bikes, playing music, hanging out with our pets and our friends,playing cards, cooking, lunch dates,library dates, and gardening. We traveled a lot when we worked, in retirement (and due to covid..)much less.. I’ve kind of lost my taste completely for travel lately.. now, we enjoy our home and our state..much natural beauty here in Arizona.. Life is what you make it and Kristin and her readers know how to get the most out of life.. thanks for all of you!
Thank you for sharing? How old was the Tundra when you purchased it? Love that it has lasted that long! 🙂 What virtual school do you work with? I have been thinking about that after "early retirement" from public schools. I would love to try Catholic school and virtual as well.
Whoops...!* 😉
Thank you Jane, and all the other people who volunteer their storied!
I'm also here because of the yoghurt 🙂
wow. amazing post. love the fur babies, love your house. love everything.
Great to meet you! You have inspired me to try another vanilla. I love the one Costco sells but your prices are better...
Also love your watercolor portraits. I'd like to be a Sunday painter again, something that kind of got lost when I got married. Good news: watercolor paints mostly keep quite well!
Jane,. I had a cousin I came to call Mr. Common Sense. He never bought big vehicles like most of us did back in the late seventies when we came of age. He bought a Ford Escort. He and his wife never made a great lot of money but they were frugal and steady. Now they have a three car attached garage in a newer suburb. They put two daughters through college, too. I did not always admire him for his common sense. When I was young I didn't understand being frugal. As someone famously said, "Common sense is not so common.".
Wow, Jane, I am impressed! (And a bit envious of you getting to be on Dave Ramsey's show. Did you yell "I'm debt freeeeeeee!" ?) Like you, I'm a Tightwad Gazette devotee and I think you've won the gold medal in frugality.
I hope you didn't have to move in your refrigerator when there was ice and snow on the ground; the steps look challenging enough. But, wow, you really snagged a deal!
Your art room and home are gorgeous. I also have a paid-for home (my 3rd) and you get real spoiled not having to shell out $ for the mortgage (or rent) payment each month. And like our friend Dave Ramsey says, "scientific research has shown 100% of the houses foreclosed upon had a mortgage." The peace of mind knowing that won't happen to you is priceless, IMO.
Love your pets and artwork. When I saw the photo of your poodle, it looked like our "G.G.", during her younger years; may she rest in peace. (She was 20-something and really gray when she crossed the rainbow bridge. )
I've always been told term insurance is the way to go, and you've confirmed it.
I am greatly impressed, and envious, of your getting almost half a million miles out of your Tundra, and keeping your vehicles running as long as you do.
Thanks for sharing your tightwad tactics with us, and bless you for adopting your children. Give my regards to your family (they sound like cool people!) and to your students.