Meet a Reader | Megan from North Carolina

1. Tell us a little about yourself

I live near Raleigh, North Carolina with my husband, two kids (tween/teen), two dogs, and a cat. I’ve been a paralegal for twenty years and currently work in the aesthetic pharmaceutical industry.

In my limited free time, I love to cook, be outside, and read. I am originally from New England and first came to NC for college, so I spend quite a bit of time (and money) over the last 25 years travelling up and down the East Coast.

2. How long have you been reading The Frugal Girl?

Since 2011, when our first was born. Back then my job was less stressful and more flexible, but did not pay as well. Daycare costs were a substantial burden. I needed help.

3. How did you get interested in saving money?

My parents were very frugal so that mindset has been ingrained in me since I was young.

4. What’s the “why” behind your money-saving efforts?

Because I want to be a good steward of the resources for which I’m responsible.

Because I want to set a good example for my children.

Because I want to be prepared for hard times.

Because I care about waste and over-consumption.

Because there is always a golden goose to chase.

Because buying this/that won’t actually make you happy.

5. What single action or decision has saved you the most money over your life?

Eating at home.

It’s a chore, it’s a grind, but it is the most fiscally responsible choice I make every day. It also saves time and is healthier. We do eat out, don’t get me wrong, and our meals at home are sometimes boxed / frozen.

But 3 meals x 4 people x 7 days = 84 meals/week, and we try very hard to eat most of those from home.

Working lunches – black bean and quinoa bowl:

…and pizza with goat cheese, fig jam, and arugula.

6. What’s an embarrassing money mistake you’ve made?

I have made a lot. Most recently, I bought an enormous expensive sectional that I’d had my eye on for years. We had a secondhand couch from the same company, so I thought I could trust the quality of the brand.

However, the company had been sold and the quality had plummeted – the back is uneven, the cushions are no longer upholstered on both sides, it’s nowhere near as heavy. So I learned an important lesson in KEEPING your research current.

7. What’s one thing you splurge on?

Groceries. It’s easier to eat at home when you’ve got good stuff there. Little things like goat cheese, olives, quality salsa, and ripe avocados can turn simple, frugal things like sweet potatoes or eggs into stellar home-cooked meals.

8. What’s one thing you aren’t remotely tempted to splurge on?

Ummmm, I am tempted to splurge on almost all the things… But I don’t care much about jewelry – either costume or fine. Also home décor — I don’t like the clutter and I don’t have enough time/energy to keep up with the seasonal changes.

10. What’s the easiest/hardest part of being frugal?

The hardest thing about being frugal is granting myself permission not to be.

I am raising my family in a different income bracket than the one I grew up in — and even the one I was in 15 years ago. I struggle still with the inner voice that tells me, “you shouldn’t buy this” or “you should just do this yourself” or “you are being irresponsible” when I can actually afford it.

I’ve had to learn (and relearn and relearn again) that I do not need to do EVERYTHING myself at the least possible cost. This is a privilege, I know.

11. Is there anything unique about frugal living in your area?

North Carolina has a very mild climate, so you can spend time outside for most of the year. For us, this means our recreational time is spent at parks, pools, lakes, and the beach. We are two hours from the closest beach, making a day trip an option, albeit a long one.

We are three and a half hours from the mountains where mild temps allow for hiking (a free activity requiring little to no gear) for much of the year.

Another awesome frugal thing about central NC is the quality and availability of locally grown food. North Carolina turns out a significant amount of produce (watermelon, sweet potatoes, and peanuts), meat (pork and chicken), and even Christmas trees – these are some of the state’s biggest exports.

Fresh produce is available year round. Cotton and tobacco are also still grown here.

The NC State farmers market in Raleigh is open year-round and has abundant offerings at reasonable prices, especially if you want to buy in bulk. They also have seedlings and plants if you want to grow your own. When life was less chaotic for me, I canned tomatoes, salsa, cucumbers, and jam.

12. How has reading the Frugal Girl changed you?

The Frugal Girl has helped me exercise muscles that could have grown dormant, and are easy to drown out in the high-income-high-stress legal world.

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Megan, your lunches look so good, especially that pizza! I’d love for you to share how you make that.

I agree about the effectiveness of eating at home; there are just so many meals in a week and each one represents an opportunity to save money.

Also: I’ve seen plenty of hay bales, but I’ve never seen a bale of cotton before!

I’ve been to lots of beaches in NC and SC; I’m curious what your favorite one is. 🙂

Readers, the floor is yours!