Meet a Reader | Ph.D. Emily from the South
Today we are meeting a reader who has three college degrees, but amazingly enough, she's about to completely pay off her student loans. Color me impressed!
1. Tell us a little about yourself
This actually feels funny to write because I have had to write many a bio and I think it always feels so strange.
So here goes: I have three higher education degrees, finally landing on a Ph.D. so I am done! I work as a therapist/adjunct professor.
I have lived in what I consider the South for the last several years, and I love to travel, read, and hike.
I love that it is possible to do some great things and not spend a lot. You just have to be creative, also I actually like to check out local grocery stores! I think you get a unique insight into a place.
2. How long have you been reading The Frugal Girl?
I think the last five years maybe longer, I really cannot remember.
I know I started when Kristen was a homeschooling mom. I started reading a ton of blogs probably 12 years ago and have sporadically kept up ever since, so I may have found Kristen earlier.
3. How did you get interested in saving money?
My parents experienced financial trauma during the recession in 2008. This has deeply affected me to this day.
There was a lot that went on, including our landlord letting the rental that we were living in go into foreclosure without telling us.
I know that I have a lot of fear about having enough money to be okay but this fear has also been kind of helpful when I have had to deal with a lot of unexpected expenses.
4. What's the "why" behind your money-saving efforts?
The financial trauma I mentioned and desiring financial security were big reasons. I want to have flexibility and freedom and to be able to deal with the unexpected.
5. What's your best frugal win?
Not being afraid to try out different approaches and be creative.
Even after I got my Master’s, I ended up living with my sister and helping her as a babysitter for a while. I moved in with another relative for the last couple of months to save more money and pay off student loans. I should be done paying them all off by the end of the year.
6. What's an embarrassing money mistake you've made?
I am going to say this counts as a money mistake because it was a pricey mess up: I once tried to do a DIY phone screen repair.
What I did not realize was that cell phone batteries are extremely flammable. My phone burst into flames and ended up burning a hole in my roommate’s rug and damaging the flooring underneath.
My landlord was super understanding but I replaced my roommate’s rug and had to buy a whole new phone. It is moments like that which remind me that sometimes DIY is not less expensive.
7. What's one thing you splurge on?
Good shoes.
I tore the ligaments on both sides of my ankle and then had to have it surgically repaired, which was quite an expensive process as you can imagine.
My physical therapist who worked with me after surgery told me I could mess up the surgery if I wore the wrong shoes, so I have been buying supportive shoes and my feet hurt less. The whole surgery experience was so intense, and I could not walk for awhile.
Now I am just so appreciative and grateful for my feet, so I want to take good care of them.
Also, years ago, in Laura Vanderkam’s book All the Money in the World, that it is always cheaper to buy things at the grocery store. I have taken this to heart and will buy more convenience foods, but on the flip side, I basically never eat out.
8. What's one thing you aren't remotely tempted to splurge on?
This question is tough because I think there are a lot of things I might be tempted to splurge on but would successfully talk myself out of. Maybe professional hair dye?
My mind is boggled by paying like $300 for something that has to be constantly redone and does not last.
I am intrigued by some other hair treatments though, so who knows.
9. If $1000 was dropped into your lap today, what would you do with it?
Probably put it towards paying off my student loans or saving it for future travel.
I actually need to work on spending my money in ways that matter to me and bring me joy. Travel is one such thing for me and I have not done it in awhile.
10. What's the easiest/hardest part of being frugal?
Being intentional.
Last year I went to a concert and my friend who I was with talked about all the concerts she had been to. I think I realized in that moment that because this was such a rare experience for me it brought me such joy.
I have also found that when it comes to buying things, it's important to really slow down and have more intention and savor the experience.
11. Is there anything unique about frugal living in your area?
I have lived in more southern states for several years now and I love being able to enjoy nature year-round.
Although this is not unique, I think being aware of the resources that are available to you is really helpful.
For instance, when I was in school, I ended up working with the school lawyer who helped me deal with a tough landlord situation. I would have never reached out and gotten it handled without having that resource available so I was so grateful to know things like that were available.
12. Do you have any tips for frugal travel or vacations?
I love to travel so this is a big one for me. I love using the app Hopper to find good flight deals. You set alerts for places and times so this has been super helpful. I have used it for rental cars too.
Also: staying with friends and people you know in different places and bringing snacks, always snacks. When I fly, I bring so many snacks because airport prices are just appalling.
When it comes to flights I am a sucker for cheap flight and I am not afraid to think through alternatives. I have slept in my car on more than one occasion while traveling.
13. What is something you wish more people knew?
Avoid credit card debt! And start an IRA as young as possible. I tell this to my younger siblings all the time.
The interest rates on credit card debt are INSANE. My Dad told me to pay off my credit card monthly which I have always done, in fact it happens automatically from my bank account.
I am always stunned by the interest rates on credit cards and how tough it can be to catch up when you get behind. I am so grateful to have never fallen into that trap. The IRA thing is because of the power of compounding interest.
A couple years ago, I read Ramit Sethi’s book “I will teach you to be rich” and I have really resonated with his approach. It is a great book but one of things that I finally understood was how compounding interest works.
14. Which is your favorite type of post at the Frugal Girl and why?
I love the gratitude posts as it reminds me to be more grateful. I also like reading about the tiny frugal things. I have always loved the insights that blogging gives into someone else’s ordinary world.
When it comes to the small frugal things I love this quote that the internet tells me is by Annie Dillard: “How we spend our days is how we spend our lives."
The small moments of intention and frugality are how we live our lives and I know Kristen has helped me be so much more mindful and intentional.
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Emily, as I said above, I am so impressed you are about to be free of student loans as a Ph.D.! Good work.
I love the picture of the gold tray with the blue plate; I know you said that was from your travels, but I'm wondering where, and what the drink is.
Also, is the snowy lake picture at Lake Tahoe?
Thank you for the Hopper app tip. I'll check it out because when I am done with nursing school, oh hey, I could actually go somewhere!
Thank you for sharing your story! That cell phone picture is scary - how lucky that you weren't hurt. ( Too bad about the rug, though.)
Nice to meet you, Emily! For what type of therapy field are your advanced degrees? And yes to packing lots of snacks when traveling 🙂
@PD, Mental health counseling and counselor education!
@Emily, a challenging field for sure. Thanks for making the world a better place!
Nice to meet you, Emily!
Hi Emily - nice to meet you! I am happy the advice to buy what you want at the grocery store was helpful. If you want the red peppers and a rotisserie chicken, go for it. You are still miles ahead of eating out 🙂
Ohhh I’m so glad you saw this! I was going to message you today since your book was mentioned in this post.
@Laura V,
I'm putting your book on my summer reading list!
@Fru-gal Lisa, thank you! It’s an old one (2012??) but I hope you enjoy it.
@Laura V, Thanks for the tip!! I have read all your books and have found some great things (usually more than one) from every single one. 🙂
Hello, Emily. I'm really impressed that you're about to pay off your student loans *and* have started an IRA. Good work!
Also, you mention investing in "good shoes" after your ankle surgery. Which brands do you prefer?
@A. Marie, I like Dr. Scholl's and I actually just got a pair of Dansko sandals that are supportive and cute! I can't remember where I read about this but I do the shoe test outlined here https://www.gastonfoot.com/A-3-Point-Test-for-Shoe-Selection-999.aspx
@Emily, I'm a big fan of comfortable shoes, too! We are going to a concert tonight, and my husband told me to wear "comfy shoes". I said, "all my shoes are comfy!"
I also loved what you said about making outings like concerts rare so you appreciate them more. I find that to be true, too! I'm very selective with the concerts I attend, because they are so expensive now. That being said, when I was a college student 4-8 years ago there was a great local band that performed at local bars/restaurants. The cost to attend was just to purchase something to eat or drink, which was a great sliding scale for broke college students. I miss college resources, LOL!
@Emily, thanks for the shoe link. As I’ve gotten older I have had some foot problems and comfortable, supportive shoes are a must!
I love these Meet a Reader segments!
Yikes to the cell phone. I'm so glad nothing more serious happened (as in more catastrophic; the rug and floor and destroyed phone are plenty serious).
Congrats on paying off the loans. That is a huge milestone!!!
@Elisabeth, Thank you so much! I was really grateful it was not more serious too. I have learned my lesson there.
@Emily,
I really want to know how it started on fire? I'm just curious because I've upgraded computers avoiding the battery, but how did it ignite? Were you trying to solder some wires?
Just curious!
@ms.b214@gmail.com, I think when I was trying to take out the battery, I nicked the battery with the tool I was using, there was a spark and then immediate flames. I was actually holding my phone when it happened but threw it across the room.
I'll answer Kristen's questions, for the picture you referenced, that was espresso coffee but the whole arrangement was so pretty. I was on an airport layover in Istanbul. The lake photo is Lake CleElum in Washington state.
As soon as I saw that photo in your submission, I was like, ooooooh I love it! So eye catching.
@Emily,
Wow! Dora the Explorer has nothing on you!
@Fru-gal Lisa, Thank you! This was so fun to look at old photos and made me want to plan some more travel.
Getting those loans paid off is very impressive. I also love to visit grocery stores (and gas stations) when I travel. I usually find the best treats there. In a small, local grocery in the mountains of western NC, I found the best apple fritters ever. In a gas station in Ireland was a red velvet donut filled with cream cheese filling and topped with a white icing glaze. Also, one of the best breakfasts we ate in Ireland came from a hotbar in one of the local gas stations.
Nice to meet you, Emily!
Hi, Emily, nice to meet you!
I'm always impressed with anyone who could get through that much school. I was just sick of it by the time I finished my B.A. And to have it already almost paid off, wow! You seem to have the frugal thing down.
The pictures are lovely, thanks for including them.
I like checking grocery and local stores, too. Because of that, DH and I discovered a small grocery store in a small town on the way to the VA clinic that sold 2-gallon bags of shelled, fresh, White Acre peas in season. We bought those at that store several times. Also, we found a fabulous deli and varied wine selection in a working gas station in Savannah.
Thanks for posting!
@JD and Emily, you never know what treasures you may find behind an unassuming facade. In my city, there's a little store that appears to be your basic bodega in the front, but has one of the best meat departments in town in the back.
@JD, I know that gas station and market! Savannah is my home.
Oh, credit cards. I got a letter the other day from Citi which has administrated my Sears card for years. (I got it to buy a dress at, obvs, Sears, when Sears was a legit thing three decades ago, and it now has this astronomical limit that is some kind of mental backup plan.) As with all things Sears, it's being rebranded as just Citi, and I was *blown away* to see that the interest rate is some decimal above 34 percent. I haven't tried to look up what qualifies as usury, but man, that sure feels like it.
@Karen., cancel that card!! Yikes almighty.
So nice to meet you! I also love to go in local grocery stores while traveling…esp in Canada and Europe! We get most of our meals from grocery stores and only eat out once or twice when we travel. Thanks for HOPPER tip!
Lithium battery fires are scary. It's one reason the terror attacks against the Tesla dealerships were so bad. I've done a DIY screen swap but I also had a nice setup. Generally speaking, disconnecting the battery should be enough but definitely don't do this on a rug. 😉
@Battra92, I basically had to take apart the entire thing and I think trying to disconnect the battery is when it burst into flames. This is something I will always leave to the experts from now on.
Thank you for sharing your story! I can't believe what a booby-trap the cell phone was - I always knew to be careful with lithium batteries, but in my mind that was more about not exposing them to extreme temps or puncture, etc. That's a great cautionary tale that even just disconnecting may need special precautions and can cause a fire!
Wow, that's rough about your parents' landlord and the hidden foreclosure. I'm glad you're in such a good position now, so you can hopefully let that financial trauma fade.
Also thanks for sharing that shoe test. I too want to only buy good, supportive shoes and love Danskos. I get confused sometimes about what's best for feet, given all the information about minimalist/barefoot shoes. But that more rigid structure does feel better on my own feet!
@Suz, there is so much conflicting information about feet. This is because each “expert” only knows what works best for the problems they encounter, and then it is assumed that one must always/never wear heavy support/barefoot shoes. We just must know our own feet and do what works best. I wore arch supports for about 30 years, thus weakening all the muscles on the underside of my feet. It took awhile to wean off them and develop muscles, and now I have feet that feel best in Crocs.
Another thought is that the societies that live with either bare feet or flipflops don’t develop all the foot troubles that we do with all our fancy-pants designs and devices to “enhance” foot health.
I had no idea phone batteries were so flammable so I really appreciate you sharing this mistake!! I can very easily see myself in this same situation.
Also excited to see a meet a reader with a PhD as well! I'm a scientist and I think what people might not know about the PhD is that usually they don't cost money (at least this is true for STEM fields). As a PhD graduate student, I received a stipend that covered my living expenses and did not pay tuition myself. That said, there was an opportunity cost in the sense that I was making way less money than I would have had at a 'real job.' For Masters degrees though, usually the student does have to pay themselves and it is often comparable to what you pay for undergrad. A Masters is not necessary to enter a PhD program though, most of our students apply directly from undergrad without one. Some PhD programs will grant a Masters degree (which would be free) as part of completing coursework. My program did not, so I only have Bachelors and PhD, no Masters! Anyway, I felt compelled to share because I didn't know anyone with a PhD growing up and would never have contemplated this career path if I had to take out even more loans for graduate school.
@Ally, It is nice to meet someone else with a PhD. I did not know anyone who had one either and so the whole idea was quite foreign for me. For most counselor education PhD programs which is what I did, you have to have a Master's degree before you can even apply. My school did offer some work study options so they gave us a stipend that in no way covered living expenses and covered part of our tuition at times. I just kept my regular job and worked a bit less to balance it all. It was the hardest thing that I have ever done.
@Emily, its very interesting to see the differences between programs and disciplines, thank you for sharing!
Ph.D. Emily from the South,
Thank you for sharing an interview. It was great to read about all that you've accomplished and I love your advice about credit card debt and IRA savings.
Emily, I enjoyed your interesting post! I'm glad the mental health field has someone like you in it. Allegria has good shoes, too. Pricey but worth the support they provide. Kudos on all of your educational and financial accomplishments!
Phew! I don't know how people cope with student loans! So happy for you that yours is about to be over and done with.
When I was in 2nd grade, my frugal and incredibly sensible mom took a school job and signed up for extra work each summer. (That was a scandal since most of my friends had SAHMs, or teacher moms who took summer off; mom did not have a college degree, only a biz school certificate, and was an office worker). Mom put all her summer pay into a savings account (this was when interest wasn't so ridiculously low as it is today). After a decade, she had enough money to completely cover my first year of (a lower-cost state) college (and partially pay for the next three). Being very focused on this goal, she made plenty of sacrifices, refusing to touch the college fund even when my father got laid off; he had a years-long stint of unemployment. Between Mom and my college job, and living in the cheapest (old haunted) dorm, and getting one scholarship as a senior, we didn't have to borrow any money for my college. I graduated debt-free!
I did not realize what a HUGE blessing this was until I was 30 and buying an older starter house (very small 3 BR 1BA) under a First Time Homebuyer program. Meanwhile, most of my (same or similar aged) coworkers couldn't buy houses due to their student loans; as years went on and prices went up, they were paying more in rent for terrible 1 BR apartments or mobile homes than I paid in mortgage. Oh, and the SAHMs who criticized Mom for working? They and their kids were up to their eyeballs in college debt!
Again, I'm very happy you are about to pay yours off! And congrats on your Ph.D! That is fantastic!!!
Thank you for your story! What a fascinating life you lead. I'm so impressed by your travels, and that you almost have your student loans paid off! What a feat that will be. I have always been fascinated by the panama canal, your pictures are awesome! I agree wholeheartedly about how we spend our daily life is how we spend our life. I feel like I'm much more aware of that as I am approaching the empty nest phase of life.