Meet a Reader | Lauren from Georgia
Hey everyone! Today we're meeting a reader from the south and like me, she's a Converse fan. I think she has even more pairs than I do, actually!
Here's Lauren:
1. Tell us a little about yourself
My name is Lauren and I live in a small town in the North Georgia mountains.
I am in my early 40s, married, and we have 3 kids who are in elementary school. I am a speech therapist.
I have loved Converse shoes since I was in 4th grade. (I keep it frugal by purchasing on sale and wearing them till they fall apart).
I grew up moving around a lot, including overseas (I LOVE learning about other cultures and traveling!!). We’ve been living in our current house for 6 years and it’s the longest I’ve ever lived in the same house in my life.
We really like our house, which was a frugal win! Our house is older—built in 1960, but it is sturdy, has some fun features (like the pictured phone shelf and bookshelves that used be a built-in planter!), and we can repurpose a lot of the space as needed as our kids grow.
2. How long have you been reading The Frugal Girl?
10 or 11 years. A friend sent me a link to it and I’ve been reading ever since!
I don’t comment often at all, but I read nearly every post and usually the comments, too! I learn so much and get so much encouragement and lots of ideas.
I don’t subscribe to many blogs, but this is definitely one of my favorites. I also really love the recipes! Ramen, Aussie Chicken, and Baked Potato Soup are among our favorites!
3. How did you get interested in saving money?
I am naturally a “saver.” My first consistent job was a babysitter as a young teen and I felt really satisfied with the results of saving, even in little $25 increments. I have had a job of some sort ever since then (fast food, switchboard operator, resident assistant, Christian bookstore, elementary school teacher, B&B restaurant waitress…).
My parents helped me start a savings account and a checking account, so I could have responsibility and ownership over the money I earned from an early age.
My husband and I were both in our 30s when we got married, so we already had a good bit of time on our own (and the habits that go with it). We both tend toward the frugal/saver side of things, so that was helpful as we started life together.
I also became a mother a good 10 years after many of my friends, so I’ve been the happy (and grateful!) recipient of lots and lots of hand-me-downs. And I’ve been glad to pass them along to others.
When we had our 3rd child, we started aggressively saving for a minivan. We bought a used one in cash a couple of years ago and I LOVE it.
It was so worth the extra time squeezing 3 carseats into our previous car to save all the money on interest/a car loan. We tend to drive our cars (and most everything else!) into the ground before we replace it.
I love our library and get almost all of my books there or secondhand. Georgia has a great app for searching the card catalog of all the libraries in the state and requesting interlibrary loans. This is really useful since our branch is very small! It is a small building with a big heart!!
It thrilled me when the librarians introduced me to a new employee as “one of our regulars.” In 2021, I also started a book club with 2 friends and we’ve since added 3 more members! We meet once a month and the only rule is that the book has to be available at the library!!
4. What's the "why" behind your money-saving efforts?
I like not having to worry about having enough money for the month.
We “pre-decide” a lot about our finances, and that helps a whole lot. All of our retirement, giving to our church, mortgage, and bills are paid at the first of the month and then we allocate other percentages to short-term and mid-term emergency funds.
That way, we can give to others as needs arise and have some discretionary spending and not be concerned about running out of money at the end of the month.
5. What's your best frugal win?
Our house.
We were approved for a much more expensive bracket, but we bought well within our means before the housing market went crazy. We have a creek and lots and lots of trees in our yard.
They are great shade in the summer and SO MANY leaves in the fall. It’s a good spot for our family to grow.
Our van is another one. It felt great to buy it outright after saving up for so long.
6. What's a regrettable money mistake you've made?
I missed a credit card payment once (by accident—I thought I had scheduled the online payment and hadn’t). The interest that accrued over just one month (and I think the billed amount was less than $1000) horrified me and I’ve never missed a payment since.
And to give credit where credit’s very due (pun intended, haha), my husband is the one who now handles paying our bills each month and he’s very organized and careful about it!!
7. What's one thing you splurge on?
Groceries are a major one. I wouldn’t call it a splurge, but more of an allowance. I really like to have good food. I feel better all the way around when we have good options to choose from.
Travel is another one. I really love to travel and it’s becoming more feasible now that our kids are older. It is money I consider well spent. Nine times out of ten, I would rather give and receive an experience over an object.
8. What's one thing you aren't remotely tempted to splurge on?
Concerts, getting hair and nails done, designer clothes/handbags, newest/greatest technology.
9. If $1000 was dropped into your lap today, what would you do with it?
I would take a trip out west. So many fun places to explore.
10. What's the easiest/hardest part of being frugal?
Easiest—compounded habits, the space and margin to be ourselves and not to worry about money. It challenges me to be creative and keep a little slower pace of life.
Hardest—FOMO, keeping my contentment in check.
Haha, I always know that I’ve been spending too much time on social media when I start feeling discontent or jealous of what other people are buying or where they’re traveling. (Cue gratitude practices!! Helps me get my perspective back.) I tell my kids *and myself* frequently that we can celebrate others without feeling bad for ourselves.
11. Is there anything unique about frugal living in your area?
Small-town living can be both cheap and expensive. Recycling is very limited. We have to drive 40 minutes + to get to most of our chosen medical providers.
On the other hand, property is relatively cheap, and all of our kids’ schools are 10 minutes or less away from our house. Not having a lot of chain stores nearby (Target and Hobby Lobby and, unfortunately, Aldi are all 45 min + away) helps me not to spend on impulse.
We enjoy all 4 seasons (I tried to send pictures of each season) and we have a lot of outdoor options to enjoy and state parks that are nearby. We all really like hiking and exploring.
My husband tells his students, “Enjoy the town for what it is, don’t hate it for what it’s not.” This is good advice that can be applied to a lot of life, haha. And there is a lot to appreciate about where I live.
12. Did you ever receive any financial education in school or from your parents?
Not in school. My economics class in high school was a disaster. My parents modeled frugal living and paying off credit card bills in full every month. They paid my tuition for my undergraduate degree, which gave me a huge step ahead financially as a young person. And I hope that we can do the same for our kids!!
And after I loaned a friend some money (I think it was $300 or so?) and didn’t get repaid, my dad told me some great advice—“Don’t give a “loan” unless you can consider it a gift. That way you’re happily surprised if they pay you back and not bitter if they don’t.”
I have used that mindset again and again. I wish that I had learned more about saving for retirement earlier on. I’m learning lots now, but I wish I had been putting money away aggressively starting in my 20s.
13. What is something you wish more people knew?
Little things can go a long way. Little habits add up to a big difference.
Frugality is accomplished one decision at a time.
Small, free things like smiling at someone or holding or a door can make all the difference for someone’s day.
14. How has reading the Frugal Girl changed you?
It has made me not feel so weird or alone in my frugal habits, haha. I also frequently "shop my house" for organization solutions, which is a tip I'm pretty sure I picked up from Kristen.
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Lauren, thank you! I'm so happy that my blog has helped you to feel less alone.
I love your Converse collection, of course! And I understand your delight in the van; I saved up for so long to pay cash for my current van and man, it was so satisfying to finally buy it.
I love your husband's advice about the small town, and I agree with you; I really think that philosophy could be applied to so many things in life.
Lauren, it's nice to meet you. I've lived most of my life in (our outside of) a small town, and I love your husband's advice. I love housed like yours that have those little things which make them unique.
@Jody S., Thanks so much! Yes, small town and older house living is the best. 🙂
Lauren,
What a great interview. It makes me feel good to know that some parents today are modeling frugality for their kids.
I agree with Kristen on your husband's advice about small town living. I also loved "How has reading the Frugal Girl changed you? It has made me not feel so weird or alone in my frugal habits, haha". I don't have many frugal people in my day to day offline life so this community is great for the journey.
@K D, Thanks!! We are trying. Yes, this community is so fantastic! I don't comment often, but I sure do enjoy the atmosphere and learn so much! 🙂
Nice to meet you LAUREN!
@Stephanie, Thanks so much! 🙂
Hi Lauren! I was so excited when we got our minivan, too, right before our third son was born. So much space! So nice to be able to walk right back to the backseats to get to children! Then we got a 12-passenger van (purchased after child #4). So much MORE space! 🙂 That one is going to be nursed along until at least two of our kids are gone in about 8 years, and my next car is going to be, like, a Mini Cooper. Well, maybe not that small, but driving something smaller than an RV would be nice.
@kristin @ going country,
Haha, yes, for sure! I never thought I'd be a minivan person, but I dearly love it now!! Our other car felt huge to me once all the carseats were out!! Some days, I even miss my little Honda I drove till my middle child was born. But sounds like it's a van season for both of us right now!!
@Lauren, we just had our second and hubby has started hinting we should consider a minivan. I've been resisting because I hate driving big vehicles; I love our sedan. But maybe I will like it when the time comes!
Hi, Lauren. Your North GA photos have made me a little homesick for the area where I grew up; my father's family came from NW GA, and I was born and raised in the adjacent city in SE TN.
And I think your phrase "the space and margin to be ourselves and not to worry about money" sums up beautifully why I myself am frugal. I'm willing to bet it applies to most of the rest of us, too.
@A. Marie, That's a beautiful part of the state! Thanks for the encouragement--glad to be in good company! 🙂
Hi Lauren from a middle GA reader. Enjoyed learning about you and your family and the pictures of your home town. I love small towns! We have visited North GA several times and hubby always wanted to move there. Now that we're retired, we think about it more and more. Are you in the northeast or northwest area? Curious because you mentioned land prices were cheap where you live and, being retired, that would make it more feasible for us.
I also wanted to ask about the library app for interlibrary loans. I have to admit I don't physically go to the library much these days; although when my children were younger we went all the time. Since Covid, I have been a big lover of ebooks through the Libby and Hoopla app our library has. But sometimes neither app has a book I am looking for, so the idea of a statewide service sounds very appealing to me.
@Barbara, I live in northeast Georgia. We were definitely hit by the crazy uptick in real estate prices, but it's starting to come back down to a reasonable rate.
The app is the PINES app. It's fantastic. You can do it from your computer, too. It's like grocery pick up for books!
@Lauren, another middle GA reader here, and PINES is the best! Access to so many books from all over the state. My library system isn’t part of PINES so getting a card there opened up a whole new world of books. That was very helpful during our elementary homeschool years. And for Barbara, PINES has a different electronic catalog than my library, so you may find other audio and e-books available to you. Most of the apps allow you to easily switch back and forth between multiple cards, a very handy feature!
Hey y'all! I'm in middle/SW Georgia also. I love the hoopla app - it has saved me so much money! Lauren, I love the quote by your husband. So many people put down where I live because of what it doesn't have, but I love it and value it for what it does have - family, my church, community, dirt roads, open spaces, and lots of good produce.
@Jan G, yes, you're right!! Love that PINES app.
@Sherri, thanks so much. I haven't tried Hoopla! But I'll look into it!
Great philosophy, Lauren! I learn so much every week from these posts. Your area looks lovely. I feel you about the driving, though. Last month our town lost its one and only doctor (he got tired of the driving) who I liked a lot. And it takes an hour to get to civilization, by which I mean chain stores, I guess.
@Rose, thanks!! Ugh, that is hard. Hope that the dr. Is still near enough to get to on occasion! Yes, haha. I count shopping "civilization" as containing certain stores and restaurants, too.
“Enjoy the town for what it is, don’t hate it for what it’s not.” I LOVE this! It can truly be said for wherever we find ourselves at the moment. So nice to meet you!
@Tricia, you're right!! Thanks so much for the kind comment.
Lauren, nice to meet you. I enjoyed your post very much. In fact, I am older but could identify with so much you wrote about.
I am not a car person but loved my mini van when our kids were little. We rented one to try it out when we drove to Florida. And I was sold when I could get up mid trip and get something for the kids. Plus the extra space kept them from bugging each other.
I have had other cars since the mini van but I still say that was my favorite car. So useful and appropriate for that period of our life.
My daughter with 2 young kids is starting to talk about getting a mini van. I guess it is a thing.
Hey Lauren, I enjoyed your post. We went the mini van route when our kids were at home and it was great! As someone else mentioned, that extra space between them was wonderful!
We have visited North Georgia several times, but our most memorable visit was when an unexpected snowstorm hit as we were arriving for a visit to a B&B which was up a steep hill! What a trip! But some beautiful photos!
Lauren! Nice to meet another rehab professional! Do you work in a school system or a medical setting? I'm an OT in an acute care hospital. Speech pathologists are some of my favorite people. 🙂
Besides our professions, we have a lot in common. We also have a house that was built in 1960 with fun built-ins .... we enjoy hiking .... we got married in our 30s and started a family later in life and yes, we benefitted from hand-me-downs for our kids. We started going on trips out west when our kids were older--maybe 9 & 11 years old? I'm glad we waited to go on our big trips--I think our kids were at an age where they appreciated it more and were better able to remember the vacations.
Love this quote from your hubby--“Enjoy the town for what it is, don’t hate it for what it’s not.” That's good advice for all of us living in smaller towns.
@Kris, Thanks! I have worked in both settings, but am currently in a school. I love working alongside OTs! I always learn so much!!
Hi, Lauren! So nice to visit with you. I grew up in northwest Georgia and now live in southeastern Tennessee. I miss the PINES app. It was like having the whole state as your own library.
Years ago, when Aldi was 45 minutes from my house, I'd go once every six weeks with coolers in the car to do stock up shopping and saved a bundle.
Nice to meet you, Lauren! I love all the hiking photos with your kids. We have done a lot of it here in the mid-Atlantic region, northeast and out west, but not so much in the south. Camping has been the number one frugal way our family likes to travel (other than when we have to fly overseas to see family).
Love your thoughts about FOMO and finding contentment in the place you are in/with the things you have. As somebody without extended family or large group of friends to draw from, I often feel the pressure to spend more money on experiences that other people enjoy socially. A celebration with family and friends feels more "rich" than when done alone, so one compensates with a meal our for instance. Which of course isn't a bad thing either, but something I have struggled with sometimes.
It is nice to know one isn't alone with not just frugality, but with these kinds of feelings of feeling left out.
Lauren, thanks for sharing your words and pictures with us! Your post is chock-full of nuggets of wisdom. My interlibrary loan system is awesome, too, and whenever our taxes increase I take the sting out by looking at it as paying for all the resources I get at the library. Since you prioritize spending money on good food as I do, I like how you call that an allowance vs. a splurge. Your quotes from your husband (enjoying what is vs. what's not) and dad (loans that become gifts) are gems. Your kids are lucky to have a mama that tells them "we can celebrate others without feeling bad for ourselves." Priceless.
Hi, Lauren,
I'm another small town girl, and I have family in the north Georgia area, so I'm somewhat familiar with that area, mostly around Marietta and Stone Mountain, though.
Your life sounds so ordinary, so simple, yet so rich. I think your post really drives home the reward and contentment that living frugally can bring. This was really uplifting.
p.s. My daughter always said she would never be that mini-van mom. Four kids later, she's got a mini-van and loves it!
Such a wonderful interview, Lauren! So nice to see you and your husband and all of that beautiful scenery. There are several nuggets of wisdom that had me nodding my head in agreement, but your husband’s advice to his students about enjoying their small town and your comment about it applying to a lot of life really stood out. As an older person, I am going to remember that as “Enjoy your life for what it still is, don’t hate it for what it’s not.”
Ooh, I like your final sentence, Shirley.
Hi Lauren! I join with all the others who appreciated your family quote about appreciating what you have in your own town/life. And I love your older house built-in examples - we had a nook in our kitchen growing up that used to house an intercom. The actual intercom was still embedded in my childhood bedroom and I still remember when I first brought my husband up there and he was startled by the weird shiny doodad in my wall. Very Jetsons chic. : )
@Suz, I remember those!! Haha, Jetson chic. I like it!
It's so nice to meet you, Lauren! Since speech therapy has been life-changing for one of my children, speech therapists will always have a special place in my heart. Thank you for the work you do!
We also have a phone shelf in our house! Ours is in the dining room. I can't recall ever seeing one in a house until this house (or perhaps it just wasn't memorable for me), so it's really fun to see yours.
Squeezing 3 car seats into a car is no joke. When we were pregnant with our third, we debated on buying Diono car seats that could fit 3 across or going for a minivan. We ended up doing both! We bought the car seats, then right before the baby was born my husband's co-worker was selling the exact kind of minivan we wanted at a stellar price and we had enough saved up to buy it. We tested it out before the baby was born, then my husband took a hospital break after the baby was born so he could go sign the papers! It's been so helpful to have those car seats, though, so we can use either vehicle. But I sure do LOVE my minivan!
You nailed it with: "I tell my kids *and myself* frequently that we can celebrate others without feeling bad for ourselves." This is something that's true of us, too, and it can be hard work! My kids attend a private school with a lot of families that are wealthier than us (we could never swing it if it wasn't for the extremely generous financial aid package) and so we have to work at being content with the beautiful life we have and not letting jealousy take over on the things we see friends doing. I really hope to help instill in my kids that it's much more joy-giving to celebrate others than to play the comparison game.
I'll have to remember your husband's “Enjoy the town for what it is, don’t hate it for what it’s not.” line when my kids get into high school. 😉 Thanks for sharing with us all, Lauren!
@Ruth T, Thanks for your kind comment! So glad that speech has been helpful for your family! I love my job and getting the opportunity to come alongside kids and families to help them communicate.
Haha, Diono is actually the brand we bought! It was the only one that would fit 3 across. Our youngest is still in one of those-- the boys have moved up to booster seats.
Yes, 100% on staying out of the comparison game. Glad that your kids are learning it now!
I should paste your husband's saying above my desk. I am very poor at not hating something for what it is not...thank you for taking the time to share your life.
@Lindsey, you're welcome! I hear ya -- it is something I frequently remind myself!
I love this post. The serenity that she enjoys is so palpable! I'll add the quotes by her husband/ father to my quote collection- such words of wisdom. Kristen, do you have an FB page/ group for TFG? It'd be great if I were visiting a part of the US and can meet another in that area.
@Farhana, I love that idea!
I do! Here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/625821557935844 You just have to request to join and I'll approve it, and then you can chat with other FG readers!
Lauren,
It is a ton of fun to read about your uplifting life.
Using money to travel and for good food are two of my priorities, too. Travel here and abroad has allowed our kids (now adults) to feel comfortable in any country or large city here in the US. And I feel that the food we eat today determines our health in later years….so it’s an expense one way or another ha.
Thanks for sharing!
@Erika JS, I agree!! Yes, glad for good food and travel options!!
And That's great that you were able to have good travel experiences w your kids as they grew up. So important!
Lauren, your interview is full of excellent and practical wisdom. It is so thorough that for once in my life I don't have any questions. Thank you for sharing!
WAIT! I have 2 questions! Where did you go to college, and where did you live overseas? (Don't answer if either one messes with privacy too much.)
@Central Calif. Artist, Thanks for the questions! I did my undergrad at Toccoa Falls College, and my masters at the University of Georgia. I lived in North Africa and Greece as a child and in North Africa again as an adult.
Lauren,
So much of what you wrote resonated with me: After getting married, we consciously left the suburbs and chose to live in the small town where my husband graduated high school. Currently, I drive 40 minutes to work in a somewhat large city and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Small town living, and it's slower pace, coupled with less emphasis on material goods and keeping up with the suburban Jones', shaped our children (three in their 20s) in ways I hadn't expected: they are able to entertain themselves simply, they are not impressed with how much wealth/stuff someone has, and they can appreciate a slow pace. As young adults, each one of them has learned to appreciate this small town for what it has, even more so now that they have traveled the world/moved to other places.
Your relationship to the minivan, and frugality, also struck a chord. My husband and I are in our 50s and I have been driving a minivan for 20+ years. We were just told by the mechanic that our latest version should be good for another 100K miles. When we purchased it, we purchased the most reliable brand we could and it now has almost 200K miles on it. Since it's been paid off for several years, and we are almost empty-nesters (the "kiddos" fly back in between semesters..lol) it would be so easy to purchase a smaller vehicle, as so many of our friends have done. But we've done the math: even with the price of gas, it's cheaper for us to keep the minivan. We are paying nothing for repairs and less than if we were to buy a new vehicle outright plus weekly gas. The minivan is still so useful: for those rare moments when we five are together, for hauling large things from place to place, and for towing our trailer sailboat or kayaks to various lakes in the area or towing bikes to paths (nearly free day trips!)
I think it was Jamie Lee Curtis who once said "compare and dispair." It's so easy to do that, but reading posts like the Meet the Reader and all the ones Kriaten writes helps me to remember what it really important and why it is good, for me, to be happily frugal. Thank you so much for your post!
@MH, thank you! I like your minivan story--drive on!!
Yes, I really enjoy the Meet a Reader posts, too. Thanks for giving me the chance to share! And I like that quote, "Compare and despair." So true.
I enjoyed your post! I too love our library -it is my happy place. Many libraries offer so many resources these days. My library has free seeds in the spring. I love inter-library loan programs too.
Your house was built in an era when many had “good bones” -I love the extra built-in touches.
@Jean, Thanks! Yes, it definitely has good bones. Working on saving up money for upkeep, but I'm glad we have something good to start with.
Seeds at the library! That's cool! I have a friend who lived in Chicago and their library loans wall art and puzzles!
Looks like Toccoa GA area-my daughter was married there last year! I like your husband’s advice to his students-it’s such a good way to turn their thoughts around!
Hi Lauren, love the Converse collection! Love the positivity!
@Sarah K, Thanks! I've been a fan of Converse since 4th grade!
Goodness, I think I could comment positively on everything you’ve said here! I’ll narrow it down to three: I love your husband’s advice about liking the town for what it is/has ,not hating it for what it doesn’t have. Also, your dad’s counsel about loans and gifts is similar to advice my dad gave all 6 of us kids growing up… not just about money but all sorts of items we would “ loan” then never see them again or else get them returned in deplorable condition.
I like how you “ shop your house.” I tend to be more frugal with spending money on clothes if I first “ shop my closet” and many times “find” exactly what I need without spending any money or time( another precious commodity) chasing down the perfect whatever.
I thoroughly enjoyed your post, Lauren!!
Lauren
I really enjoyed peeking into your life which seems to be filled with contentment. I love the pictures, especially of the children and the fall tree. Fall is my favorite season and that tree is stunning! Also, when someone smiles at me or holds the door for me it does brighten my whole day. You and your husband are well matched and so levelheaded, you are blessing your little ones. God bless you as you live your best life.
I also was a minivan mom of 3 and I loved that van. Everyone had their own seat and window, no bickering. LOL, at least not on car rides.
And my niece graduated from Toccoa Falls and I was fortunate enough to be able to travel there and stay in a wonderful B&B. I loved that area.
@Vickymac, cool!!
Haha, yes, it cuts way down on bickering in the car. Except that w 3 kids, I have one who complains if being "lonely" when seated in the row w an empty seat, lol.
Hi Lauren, such a lovely interview, I love your and your husbands mindset on everything. I think my favourite quote is "Frugality is accomplished one decision at a time"; as it applies to me it rang very true. Step by step.
Hi Lauren...loved your essay today. You have great values.
All 3 of our boys had speech therapy in school...1st and 2nd grade I think. They loved their "speech teacher"...she did a good job; all 3 are in education and all have masters and one a Ph.D. They are 49, 52, and 53 now. So, you may guess that I am in my late 70's and my hubby is 80.
No minivans when our kids were little, but we DID have a monster station wagon with 3 rows of seats (back one facing the back)... It was red with "simulated wood grain" trim. No car seats were required, and I think that we had seatbelts in that station wagon, but they weren't required. I brought all 3 babies home from the hospital in my arms in the front seat. We did have a baby carrier of sorts and the baby rode with me in the front seat facing the back, with the seat resting on the dashboard! Guess we survived all the non-safety. That's where Moms learned to fling their arm out to the side when stopping quickly. (sometimes I still do that!!!)
Anyway, sorry for the trip down memory lane...what jolted me was the phone niche...we had that in our first house and also a built-in corner cabinet in the dining room...and a mail slot at the front door where the mailman, on foot, would drop the letters in the slot. Also, my grandma had a phone room (closet) near the front door where the phone lived and there was a chair in there and a shelf where the phone sat with her address book and paper and pencil. As a child I liked to sit in there and close the door.
Thanks for a happy post today...I am smiling with many memories...
"“Enjoy the town for what it is, don’t hate it for what it’s not.”"--This is a great mantra. I am going to share on a town FB page.
I too love the public library. It is a great place to continue and expand one's education. Anyone can afford to borrow a book but not all can afford to buy every book that they think they want. Not all books are worth buying. Sometimes I think I want a book for patterns or recipes, etc.; but when I review it from the library I may find only the one item I initially saw.
I loved reading about Lauren and her life! I have traveled around that area a bit, back-roads style, and wondered what it would be like to live somewhere like that! It’s very pretty, and I think I guessed right about the pros and cons. The house and family are beautiful and Lauren’s gratitude is very apparent. Thank you!