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!

Readers, the floor is yours!