Meet a Reader | Mid-Atlantic Julia
Hello everyone!
Today we are meeting a reader who lives in the same region of the U.S. as me: the Mid-Atlantic. 🙂
1. Tell us a little about yourself
Hello! My name is Julia (JP when I comment, which is fairly sporadic), I am 35 and have been married for ten years.
My husband and I have four kids ranging from age 3-8, and I am a stay-at-home mom.
I have a degree in nursing and worked in pediatrics for 8 years, then left the profession right before I had my third child.
Last year, to make a little extra cash, I started boarding dogs through Rover, and I am about to start a very very part time job using my RN license for a home care company.
Our family lives on a ten-acre homestead property in the Mid-Atlantic region which we bought in early 2022. We're in a semi -rural area within 30 minutes of a few good-sized towns, and within 2-3 hours of several major cities.
It has been a learning curve to take care of this much land, as well as the chickens and cows we've since added.
In my free time I enjoy canning and preserving food (well, I enjoy the results of it, ha!), baking, library storytimes, and being involved in our church's Bible study, meals for the sick, and other various ministries.
2. How long have you been reading The Frugal Girl?
I think I started reading FG regularly in 2018 or 2019.
I can't remember exactly, although I do know that I had read a few posts in years prior, but for some reason, it didn't stick as a habit until a few years ago.
I love this blog because it feels like you are talking to a friend. Kristen is honest, kind, genuine, practical, relatable, and a great writer! I appreciate that she doesn't sugarcoat things or present a perfect image, but shares real life with us.
3. How did you get interested in saving money?
I grew up with frugal parents so it was ingrained in me from an early age. As a teenager, I saved quite a bit of the money I earned babysitting and working in a dining hall. I liked seeing money accumulate and grow, and that has continued into adulthood!
Over time, I have realized that I had somewhat of an unhealthy way of depending on money for a sense of security and control. I think I have grown in this area into seeing money as a tool, instead of trying to hoard as much as possible and be miserly.
4. What's the "why" behind your money-saving efforts?
Being frugal allows me to stay at home with our little ones, which was always a goal of mine, and my husband has been very supportive of that.
It is also important to me not to waste money on things that don't have much value or that I could get for less money. Right now, we are also trying to save money so we can accomplish some projects around our property and fix some things around the house.
5. What's your best frugal win?
My husband and I bought our first home in 2013 when interest rates and housing prices were pretty low. We knew that I would likely not be working full time much longer as we wanted to start a family, so we chose a house that was in a low price range and got a 15-year mortgage.
This allowed us to build equity pretty quickly and that benefitted us greatly when we moved in 2022.
6. What's an embarrassing money mistake you've made?
In my 20's, I finally had a "real" job and wanted to buy a newer car. I decided to get a loan even though I had the money to pay in cash.
Shortly after that, my brand new husband and I took a financial course (by the famous D.R., for anyone curious 😉 ) and realized we should pay off this debt as quickly as possible.
I made a few lump payments over the next couple of months... and realized probably a year later that the way I had made the payments was also paying ALL of the interest that was due, not just the principal amount. Ugh!
7. What's one thing you splurge on?
Many people would probably consider it a splurge that we send our children to a private Christian school. The teachers and education are wonderful and our kids are thriving there so we will continue it as long as we can afford to.
Within reason, we like to give our kids a nice Christmas with presents they enjoy. This especially was very important to my husband growing up.
We also love going to a tree farm and picking out a tree to cut down. It's not cheap but it's a great tradition and it makes it such a special time of year.
8. What's one thing you aren't remotely tempted to splurge on?
Fancy haircuts, color, etc. I have never dyed my hair and have cut it myself at home for about six years now.
Of course, I have to say that my hair is rather forgiving- thick and curly- so the mistakes that I'm sure I make are not very visible.
9. If $1000 was dropped into your lap today, what would you do with it?
I would probably add it to our savings account for house projects. That is a never-ending list!
10. What's the easiest/hardest part of being frugal?
The easiest part is that it comes pretty naturally to me. I am also very grateful to have like-minded friends who are also frugal (many are also SAHMs), and we enjoy potluck meals and game nights and have lots of fun without spending much at all.
The hardest part is that I sometimes get swept up in the comparison game of feeling like I am making sacrifices when others spend freely, and they seem to be doing just as well or better.
I know appearances are not always what they seem though.
11. Is there anything unique about frugal living in your area?
In comparison with many other parts of the country, our area has a pretty low cost of living. Housing and land is still generally affordable, although it has certainly increased in the last few years like everywhere else.
We have lots of orchards and farms around us which makes fresh delicious produce readily available.
This is also an area where many people stay after they've grown up (like my husband!) so there are lots of connections to various people with different skills, abilities, equipment, etc which makes bartering and borrowing a fairly common thing.
Neighbors are generally helpful and friendly to one another.
12. Did you ever receive any financial education in school or from your parents?
I had a math teacher in high school who commonly used compounding interest examples in the classroom. Since I was already interested in money, this really stuck with me and I began saving money at an early age.
My parents didn't teach me about finances outright, but I saw them reconciling their checkbook, living below their means, and I knew they invested in the stock market.
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Julia, I am so impressed by your canned goods! That's a seriously impressive amount of applesauce.
Your homemade bagels look lovely; what recipe do you use?
I think your repurposed tramopline as a chicken run is a brilliant idea! Good for you guys.
Did you work in pediatrics in a hospital? Pediatrics is one of the specialties that I'm considering, and I'm curious how you liked it!
Ah, that robin's nest with the blue egg!
Nice to meet you Julia!
@JNL, isn't it beautiful? It was really amazing to see the eggs, then the hatched babies, and even get to watch mama bird feed them!
I love the repurposed trampoline! So creative. And your salsa picture was mouthwatering...
@SK in Norway, thanks! My husband saw that idea somewhere online and it works well for us!
The repurposed trampoline is a brilliant idea. Does having it on your property still increase your home owners insurance if you aren't using it as a trampoline? I've heard stories of insurance companies using Google maps to change rates, but it could be urban legend.
@Becca,
Apparently, many insurance companies will not charge for a trampoline (mine doesn't). I think most trampolines have safely nets now, which probably reduces the risk of injury a lot.
@Becca, I have never heard of that! However we do also have a trampoline for our kids... So I guess it doesn't matter if they count the chicken one!
@Becca,
In Florida, home of the highest homeowner’s insurance rates in the country, companies fly drones over your property to assess your risk before they insure your property. Most companies also conduct a 4-point, in person inspection on any home that is more than 10-years old. Often this is done at the homeowner’s expense. Generally speaking animal and trampolines are exempt from liability coverage here.
@Becca,
I think this is the right blog to promote the clay animations The Chicken Run. It was hilarious, especialky if you ever read Escape from Colditz. Will look know where I can stream it.
@JNL, The new one subtitled Dawn of the Nugget, starts streaming on Netflix on Friday. I happened on a museum exhibit in London, years ago, that was devoted to the making of the movie and they had parts of the scenery and samples of how they make the clay animations. Fascinating. I loved Chicken Run!
Hello, Julie. Nice to meet you.
I love your repurposed trampoline. I will have to show my husband. We are always on the lookout for cheap chicken ideas.
@Jody S., yes I thought it was a pretty creative idea! My husband saw it online somewhere. It gives them some shade and hawk protection, and we can move it around without too much trouble.
Another admirer of the trampoline turned "chicken tractor" here. (Although I'm giggling at the idea of what might happen if you put a chicken *on* the trampoline...) And I'm enjoying all the other photos of your lovely and productive homestead.
@A. Marie, haha, that would be entertaining! Chickens in general are pretty fun to watch!
Hi Julie! Canned peaches are the absolute best canned fruit. So much work, but always worth it. Also, I love that trampoline chicken run. How's that work with your kids wanting to use the trampoline?
@kristin @ going country, the kids have their own trampoline, which is in much better condition than the chickens'!
We love canned peaches. A taste of summer year round.
Julia/JP,
Wow! I am amazed by all that you do, especially the canning and baking along with parenting and working. I think your kids are lucky to be living this life. Kudos on creating it.
I love all the photos that accompanied your interview.
@K D, thank you. I gradually increased what I can and preserve over the past ten years. It was really intimidating to me at first. My mother in law and I canned a lot together the first few years.
It is lovely to meet you. The zinnias that you have grown are beautiful! I love your homestead property. Are you growing/raising the majority of your food?
@Bee, I probably gave the wrong impression with all my food photos! During the summer we certainly buy less produce thanks to the garden, but we are nowhere near producing the majority of our food. The cow we have is a beef cow though, and he will be butchered next month, so that will provide all of our beef for quite a while. We haven't had meat chickens yet but may venture into that too.
@Kristen, thanks for having me!
Here is the bagel recipe I use:
https://www.sophisticatedgourmet.com/2009/10/new-york-style-bagel-recipe/
I definitely recommend using parchment paper to line your pan!! The only adjustment I made to the recipe is to boil is slightly less time than she says (I do about 30 seconds per side). I just don't prefer quite so chewy of a crust.
Yes, I did hospital nursing. I worked in two different pediatric hospitals and really loved *most* of it.
My mother in law and I always have "applesauce day" in October where we work together to make and process apples for an entire day. Our record was 99 quarts in one day which took us over ten hours of work! I think about 60-70 of the quarts were mine to take home. This lasts us at least a year but we do eat applesauce several times a week.
Hi Julia--what gorgeous children you have and sure seems like a wonderful lifestyle! Look at all that gorgeous canned produce, yum.
@Rose, thank you Rose! We are glad to be here, although there are ups and downs like there are anywhere else!
Your dog is so cute, and I love your chickens! Are several of them Production Reds? They look like our neighbor's chickens that are, so I was curious. Using the trampoline for their run was such a great idea, too.
@Danielle L Zecher, the dog is one of our Rover clients. Agree that he is cute!
Yes, our chickens are called Red Star and they have been great egg producers for us.
So nice to meet you! Happy holidays. Enjoy your yummy smelling fresh tree!
@Stephanie, thank you!
I'm reading this while eating breakfast, and bagels suddenly sound really good. 🙂 You are in a busy, but wonderful, stage of life. Thanks for sharing with us!
@Kris, I think I am going to have to make some this week now! I started looking for a recipe in 2022 when the price almost doubled at the grocery store bakery.
@JP, You do boil them, right?
@Rose, yes I do! After making it a few times, I've found that boiling 30 seconds on each side is just right for how I like them.
@JP, I have a "baking friend"--we get together a couple times a year to bake together. Last year we made bagels--this morning she texted me to see if I still had the recipe, since she had misplaced hers (I didn't, unfortunately), so I have bagels on the brain today. Anyway, we experimented with different kinds of flour as well as boiling times and we also found that 30 seconds per side worked out well. It's fun to bake and brainstorm together to learn new skills. She makes me up my game. 🙂
Hi Julia - Thank you for sharing, and especially for the pictures of bright zinnias and golden peaches on this cold, drippy morning!
What a good observation about your area being one where many people stay and there are connections/knowledge about bartering and borrowing opportunities. I miss that! We live in a more transitory area than where I grew up. And I agree with everyone who is now hungry for bagels and applesauce..
@Suz, I love zinnias, and the fact that you get such a variety of vivid colors from a single seed pack. They attract beautiful butterflies as well!
Julia, you take beautiful pictures just like Kristen. I feel like I have had a trip to the country.
@Ava, thank you for that compliment! I have never considered myself a photographer but it helps when the subject is naturally beautiful or yummy-looking.
Julia, your pictures are lovely. I especially like the picture of the baby robins.
You and your husband have created a wonderful life for your family. My husband and I had a good life with our family but I don't think we were intentional in that. It just happened. I wondered this morning if we should have planned our life a little more.
My sister's name was Julianne but my father was the only one who called her Julia. I loved that and loved the name.
@karen, I think doubts and wondering about decisions we've made is completely normal. I often experience some guilt for where we've chosen to live because we are a good distance from the kids school (25 minutes one way), and that results in a long bus ride and not living near their friends. It's time-consuming to drive to any activities and sports they might be involved with as the years go on. But for us, the pros outweigh the cons.
JP/Julia, you used the term "free time", and all I can think is WHAT FREE TIME??? Four children, cows, chickens, boarding dogs, and parttime nursing! You are truly amazing.
As a DR follower, I commend you for your financial decisions, including the private school for your children. Besides, you wouldn't even seem human if homeschooling was also on your plate.
Phew. I need a nap after reading about your life.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, it does look like a lot written down. But I assure you I am no superwoman! I'd say that I am mediocre at cleaning my house, and am by no means a perfectionist, so that helps me in many situations. Also, canning has a season of sorts- August and September are busy for that, and lots of other things get neglected in the meantime. I have learned (am still learning) to prioritize and get the most important things done, and the rest will have to wait. I do a lot of list making!
The dog boarding is not particularly time-consuming. It's more like 10-15 minute spurts throughout the day. And my new job is about 2-3 hours per week- not much at all!
P.S. Great photos!
Just one more thing: the photo of the colored leaves brought to mind the blog called STILL. (If you scroll through far enough, you'll find colored leaves). https://stillblog.net
Hi, Julia!
I'm not sure, you might not have enough applesauce... ha, ha. That's a lot of applesauce, and it looks great. Great job!
I used to can peaches when my S-I-L had a peach tree, but she had it cut down because it was too "messy." Sigh. So far, my attempts at growing peach trees in my yard have failed, but I haven't given up.
I loved the head full of curls on your little strawberry picker!
Your life sounds full but good. Good to meet you!
@JD, yes, full but good is an accurate description!
Hi Julia! What mouthwatering fruit pictures. I would love to know where to go apple-picking in the Mid-Atlantic area where I also live. I really miss freshly pressed apple juice.
We just got rid of an old trampoline that was no longer safe to jump on, now I'm kind of regretting it after seeing the chicken run picture 🙂
We have a lot of foxes and hawks though, so most of our neighbors who've had suburban chicken coops have eventually lost all their chickens to wildlife. I hope you get to enjoy yours for a long time!
@Kristina M., we used to let our chickens free range, then we lost 12 to foxes in one terrible weekend last January. So now we keep them contained in the run, and they have a chicken wire tunnel back to their coop.
One of the great things about my husband having connections in this area is to some of the fruit farmers. He grew up with sons of an orchard farmer, and although this guy typically only sells to commercial fruit plants, if we ask him he will set aside a few bushels of apples and peaches for a good price.
@JP, Oh my, that must have been an awful sight! I hope your current chickens stay safely in their run.
Your community sounds very close-knit, and I love how your family has kept these community ties alive. Where I'm from it's very similar as I'm from a rural area, but sadly I don't live nearby.
I love the repurposed trampoline. So creative. The canned peaches look delicious.
@Jill A, thank you!
What a fun look at your life (thank you for sharing with us) & your photos are beautiful! That's an absolutely amazing amount of applesauce!
@Hawaii Planner, we eat it quite a lot! As a family of 6, we can easily eat a quart in one meal, so I try to make 50-60 quarts once a year so it'll last.
Hi Julia, it's nice to meet you.
I'm so impressed with all the canning you do! I usually only make a few batches of jam each summer.
@Beverly, I mentioned it in another comment, but when I first started canning, it really intimidated me. I started with just one thing, then gradually worked my way up as I became more confident. It takes a lot of time, but I have come to enjoy the effort, or moreso, the result.
Looks like at least one of your children has inherited lovely curly hair! Your canning results are impressive. Thank you for a peek into your life.
@Lindsey, yes my youngest has the curls! Yesterday she was called Shirley Temple at church!
Julia, good for you!
It was refreshing to read about someone who paid enough attention to the 'little things' (like canning) to let her attend to the 'big things' (like caring for your children when they were little. Proud of ya, girl!
(And we had chickens for a long time, too. I hope to get more in the spring, now we're living in a house again. We were in a fifth-wheel for nearly 5 years before this.)
P.S. We enclosed an old library table with wire, so the chickens had an 'extension' into the garden. They loved it, and often watched me pulling weeds. (Which they got to munch on)
@Cindy Brick, thank you Cindy!
Julia, I love your post with all the photos. Repurposing the trampoline for your chickens is simply brilliant. I'm so glad that you're able to fulfill your goal of being a stay-at-home mom. Thanks for giving us a glimpse into your life!
@MB in MN, thank you!
Thank you for sharing. Your photos are exquisite. Love the pup and the bagels. I wish you and your family all the best.
@Anita Isaac, thank you!
Nice to meet you, JP! Thanks for the beautiful photos. You illustrate how beautiful a frugal life can be, as basic cooking, canning, and baking are so sensuous. I like to cook too and enjoy, most of the time, the whole process, tho I don't enjoy mopping much. I am confused by Kirsten's comment, tho--mid Atlantic vs. mid Pacific? Doesn't Kirsten live in Oregon?
@Kristina, I don't like mopping either! Probably the task I put off the most often.
I believe Kristen lives on the east Coast but I'll let her answer 🙂
Thanks for sharing, Julia! Reading about your mid-Atlantic life reminds me of the mid-Atlantic place that my husband grew up in. 🙂
I am always fascinated by homesteaders and definitely agree with you about canning and preserving - I love it... or at least, I love the results of it.
Glad you're here!
@Ruth T, thank you! I grew up in suburbia and I don't think I would've ever predicted that this would be my life! Funny how things work out.
Kristen, thank you for having me on your blog! I tried to leave a comment yesterday with a link to the bagel recipe, but I don't think it went through. If you search for "sophisticated gourmet bagel recipe" you will find it. My only note is to make sure to use parchment paper or a silicone mat, otherwise they will stick badly!
I worked in two different pediatric hospitals and really loved *most* of my jobs. Feel free to ask if you have more nursing questions!
Julia, Super thanks for sharing your wonderful life. And, for highlighting it so well with those photos. You make me want to spend a week or two visiting your family and all your lovely animals, learning to can applesauce, and playing with the chickens.
Also, your financial boo-boo is an important lesson.
Hi Julia - thanks for sharing and I love your zinnias!