I'm currently waiting on some readers to send back their completed interviews, so we'll do a Q&A post today instead! And of course, if you want to do a Meet a Reader post, just let me know, and I can email the questions on over to you. 🙂
As I've been reading the Meet a Reader posts, I noticed that nearly all of your readers (myself included!) seem to have found your blog in some mysterious way about 10 years ago, but apparently none of us can remember how.
Zoe and me about ten years ago
Do you have any thoughts on what led us to you? Was your blog featured somewhere significant or did you have a viral Pinterest post? All I can remember is that it was right after I got married so probably 2010-2011.
2010
It’s fine if you don’t, I just think it’s so interesting to see that as a recurring theme in your reader highlight posts!
-Emily
This is a good question; I'm not sure! 10 years ago would be 2012....I had a TV spot in 2010, but that was twelve years ago.
I wonder if maybe blogs were getting more popular in 2012, so a lot of people just happened across mine around then, since it was already an established 4-year-old blog by then?
Maybe all my 10-year readers can chime in and answer!
Hi Kristen,
I was wondering if you could give me some advice about homeschooling. My daughter is finishing up her kindergarten year and we have decided to continue with homeschooling for first grade. I’m due with our fourth baby mid August and I’m trying to decide how to plan for that. I’m debating about homeschooling through the summer so we have some cushion in our “required 180 days” for the state.
I really don’t want to go through the summer but I’m just not sure what homeschooling will look like with a newborn. Our state is pretty lenient when it comes to homeschooling laws but I would like for us to get in the right number of days.
Just curious what you would do? Have you ever started early to give more time? Have you had a newborn while homeschooling?
Also, I did take some time off in January and February of this past school year due to my morning sickness. It was rough. We still managed to be on track with going into first grade work though.
Any advice would be great!
-Megan
I have not ever started in the summer, but that's mostly a timing thing for me. For instance, Zoe was born in February, and then Lisey started kindergarten in the fall of that year. So, no need to start ahead of time.
I haven't done homeschooling with a brand new baby, but I have done it with babies six months and under and with a toddler/preschooler around as well.
Once you get past the super duper labor-intensive weeks of newborn care, I think infants are not TOO hard to do school around. You can hold them or put them in a sling or a bouncy seat, and that's a pretty workable way to do school.
Here's what was my biggest hurdle: whoever was the toddler/preschooler at the time.
Toddlers are much harder to manage during schoolwork because they don't sit still, they're not very quiet, and they can get into mischief in a hurry.
The blonde one in the middle there: that's a high-maintenance age!
So, my solution was to mostly do school in the afternoons, when the toddler was napping. That way, I only had to manage the baby and the school-age kid(s).
As I'm sure you discovered, you do not need an entire day to do early-grade work with a homeschooled kid. We generally got our tablework for kindergarten done in an hour or so, and first grade wasn't terribly different.
And that means that if you start right when your toddler goes down for a nap, you can be reasonably sure that you will have enough time to knock out the bookwork without the toddler.
I know it kind of sucks to give up the toddler nap time by devoting it to schoolwork, but I always thought that was less miserable than trying to do school with a toddler underfoot! 😉
I also think that if you are just doing first grade, you can feel free to give yourself some light days. It's not like you're trying to cover high school chemistry at this point, so don't put too much pressure on yourself. If you get the basics done, your kids will probably be fine.
Ultimately, you know yourself better than me. If you are going to feel super stressed about taking some time off post-baby, then maybe you should do some days of school in the summer, just to get ahead.
You could do three mornings a week or something like that (so you still have time to enjoy summer activities!), and then you might feel like you have more wiggle room to rest once the baby arrives.
How long do you expect to be frugal?
-Battra (this was one when I made a post asking for reader question ideas!)
I imagine that I will be frugal (at least to some extent) for the rest of my life.
I don't really know quite what my future holds right now, but I'm guessing frugality will become a bit more necessary for me, at least temporarily.
But honestly, no matter my financial situation, I think I am always going to want to manage my money wisely, and I will always be looking for ways to do things more cheaply. I always have an eye out for a discount/freebie/DIY angle.
If my financial situation is tight for a while, my frugality will enable me to survive and thrive without debt (because I know how to live a good life on a tight budget.)
And if my financial situation gets better, my frugality will enable me to save, invest, and give more.
Plus, there are lots of good reasons to maintain frugal habits even when it's not strictly "necessary" financially. For instance, lots of frugal habits are also healthier for humans (cooking at home) and healthier for the environment (avoiding disposable products/purchasing things that could be heirlooms).
So, yeah...I envision 85-year-old Kristen will still be mending and getting birthday freebies at local restaurants. 😉
Readers, if you have input on any of these questions, please do share in the comments.
P.S. Got a question for me? Send me an email (thefrugalgirl@gmail.com) and I can include your question in a future Q&A post.
@Brooke, I agree with both these statements. The table leaf looks great. What a beautiful transformation! I thought the table leaf might be beyond salvation. I think there is a lesson in this.
Frugality has taken many shapes over the years but has remained part of my life for different reasons.
Ooh! Is that the leaf to your dining room table?? You made it look so good!
I hope to be frugal for the rest of my life as well. I know there will probably come a day where I am not able to devote as much time to frugal things as I need to right now, but I'm hoping the principles stick with me for life.
Yep, it's the leaf! My dad had to do some glueing, screwing, and clamping to straighten out some of the water damage, and we sanded it with SERIOUSLY high grit sandpaper, using the belt sander.
I know exactly when I found your blog, it was when you posted on Katy's blog, nonconsumeradvocate. I clicked on your link and loved how friendly and helpful you and your followers were, and saved that link to go to from then on.
@Joanne in the U.K., @MommaL pretty sure this is when I came around too via NCA Katy's blog. I have always been kind of frugal but once I realized we did not have enough to retire I became more Mega Frugal.
@MommaL,
Me too!! Kristin, I think Katy posted a 5 Frugal Things and I clicked on your link. Our lives are very different, but your basic personal beliefs seemed similar to mine and I’m still here. I don’t post very often, but I follow closely. I was following a number of frugal posts early on, but most of them have been weeded out because I didn’t have time, but yours and Mrs. Frugalwoods are “still standing.” Thank you! I’ve enjoyed and learned a lot. Another one I enjoyed was 365 Less Things. Even though she’s not an active blogger now, I still have a friend from that blog and we are still in contact.
I liked the second part of your answer to the question of Battra.
I don't get it how anyone raising children would choose the less healthy and less environment friendly option AND pay more for it then necessary!
@WilliamB, I kind of hate the "spoons" metaphor, even though, with chronic fatigue syndrome, I'm one of the ones it was invented for.
But I agree. Sometimes I just can't do the cheaper option. I just don't have the energy. I work full time, I'm chronically ill, I volunteer, I use paper towels. And disposable Swiffer pads.
Also, I think some people are naturally frugal and some people aren't. It's good to be frugal, but for some of us, it's not our natural bent.
@Lea,
Another factor is impulsivity. It’s a complicating factor for many, particularly those with adhd. Intentions can be great but the follow-through is the hard part!
As our dear Kristen says, “you be you and I will be me”. Love yourself first and you do not need to do what anyone else is doing. That’s the beauty of this blog and the wonderful readers. And you, Rose, are as wonderful as your pretty name. Take care and God Bless You.
I also "discovered" your blog somewhere around the 10 years ago mark... Maybe a bit more.
Did you ever do scrapbooking? Or were friendly with anyone who blogged about it? I was quite big into that 12-13 years ago, and picked up quite a few of the blogs I still follow from back then.
-Emily-homeschooling with an infant: My opinion is that if you are even slightly concerned, why not school through summer? We do "light" school through the summer because I seem to always have more interruptions during the school year than I ever plan for. For us, light school means I cut out spelling and Latin. When the handwriting book is finished, we don't start up again until Aug./Sept. We don't do every subject every week. Since we seem to be perpetually "behind" in math and grammar, those tend to be the things we carry over most. In summer there are more days for fun field trips and such.
And, congratulations on the new baby. I've had all those littles while homeschooling, and it's not easy. From the other side (my oldest is graduating in June), it's doable even when it's not always pretty. And it is rewarding. And don't look at too many homeschooling blogs or whatever online because you will feel so miserable by comparison.
On Homeschooling: I think you never say, "I sure wish I didn't have those extra days banked." I say school a little this summer, but make it fun and don't call it School. Hit reading hard with summer book clubs, favorite books, and extra snuggle time with Mom reading -- a book outside on a picnic blanket is special. Another thing I liked to do in the summer was buy a honking big workbook for the following grade. Every few pages the child would find a "coupon" for something fun. It might be a trip to the library, pool, mall, ice cream shop, or it might be inviting a friend for a play date. Typically things you wanted to do in the summer anyway, but nothing to break the bank. Doing some of these things will also help prevent a Summer Slide.
I was following you before you were featured on TV. My best guess is a I found you through a mention in a newspaper or magazine article (or through Katy/The Non Consumer Advocate discovered that way).
I expect to be frugal as long as it is an environmentally friendly way to live. There is a huge overlap between the two and when not then we choose the environment first. It becomes a comfortable way of life, I think it fosters contentment as well as a way to save and give more.
I think people who are truly frugal (and in the positive way, not what I call the negative way where people are being frugal while relying on others to pay or not paying their fair share of financial responsibilities,) are lifetimers. It may be more necessary in certain situations but it's a mindset. It's always the default mode as it were in spending and saving.
Around here we call it the "never pay retail" approach meaning we are always looking for a legitimate bargain and carefully monitoring spending, looking for leaks and ways to improve. Some of the most frugal folks I know (sometimes to the point of creating problems in all kinds of relationships) are quite well off.
I also tend to view frugal as taking steps and time to ensure that one gets the most value for their money when spending it. So sometimes you spend a lot for say an investment like an education or appliances that will last or better quality items that will last. It isn't always the cheapest route but about getting a solid return on the investment of your dollars that are available to you.
If frugality is only employed in desperate times, one is likely to have more desperate times and debt than is required.
I truly enjoy when I can get good value and save money and plan so that I can do that most of the time so that I have money for emergencies. I wished I had been frugal much earlier in my life, but it's never too late to embrace careful spending.
I wish I could remember exactly when I discovered your blog. But I seem to remember, I found you in a two-step process. There was a link to another blog on The Pioneer Woman’s website, and THAT blog ultimately led me here. I think. I do know it was when Food Waste Friday was going on with the blogger in the U.K, your kids were little, you had Kristen 365 ( am I remembering that right?) and you were teaching piano.
Well, I do know we were still in a recession 10 years ago, and 10 years ago was the last time gas prices were this high, so that may have also played a role!
@Amber,
That's what I was thinking - there was probably something that really pushed us to find it. For me, I was looking for a way to make yogurt. Probably one of the best internet searches I ever did, because I have enjoyed Kristen's writing ever since.
*Raises hand as one of the 10-year flock* I was searching the interweb for blogs/articles/tutorials on refinishing/painting/repurposing furniture (I loved me some before/after pics - still do!) and your blog was one of the links that popped up that I checked out. I believe it was your tutorial that I followed when I made my first (like a baby deer on wobbly legs) attempt at refinishing a desk. I loved your friendly, welcoming tone and how your way of explaining the how-to made me confident that my attempt wouldn't be an utter failure. *Hopping on the "been following you ever since" train*.
@sfeather, Same here - I had bought a little unfinished book shelf with knobby hooks for my then infant (who is now 11) and I was looking for tips on how to best paint it. I used the tips from a dresser FG had repainted (I think it was black -does that make sense, Kristen?) and I've been reading since.
I remember I started reading your blog in 2010, when I was laid off from work and my oldest was just a year old. I think I was just googling frugal blogs when I came across this one.
We decided to homeschool our two school-age children in 1984 and then promptly discovered we were expecting a fourth baby in December of that school year. Surprise! 🙂 I would agree with Kristen that homeschooling with a baby is not too bad, contrary to what I expected. Our little guy was just there with us a lot. It was easier than packing him up to drive a carpool to the private school we had been using. Homeschooling is very flexible. Many babies sleep a great deal of the day, often a morning and afternoon nap, so that helps a lot. And in the early stages of homeschool, you really do not have to spend hours and hours on it. Much of your normal life is education. At school they have to simulate real life for education: shopping, cooking, health education and hygiene. And remember that reading books together is great education and can be done with a baby on the lap or nursing.
Ditto to what @Ruth said about the early years of schooling:
"... you really do not have to spend hours and hours on it. Much of your normal life is education. At school they have to simulate real life for education: shopping, cooking, health education and hygiene. And remember that reading books together is great education and can be done with a baby on the lap or nursing."
Megan, if you're not familiar with Charlotte Mason, you may want to google her take on schooling. Best wishes for a relaxed and rewarding year!
@Becky Stewart, Also, amblesideonline.org outlines a quite frugal way of doing school if you have a lovely local library. (Or if you know somebody who has lots of interesting books.)
I agree with Amber who posted about 10 years ago and the recession, that’s when I found you as well. Also, that was about the time my health monthly insurance premium tripled.
So anxious to see the finished table. So far it’s beautiful!
I found your blog 12 ish years ago when googling how to paint wood furniture. You were at the top (or close to the top) of the list. But I was really impressed that you made bread from scratch. I still check out your old bread recipes when I want to try a new yeast bread.
I'm also struck by some of these comments. I grew up with my mom refinishing furniture, baking yeast bread, so it's just usual for me. She also built furniture if she couldn't find what she wanted, etc.
Regarding homeschooling with a new baby, I completely agree with Kristen that toddlers are more challenging than babies. We did the opposite of Kristen though, and tried to do all our school in the morning or right after lunch, so everyone under 5 (and me!) could have quiet time in the afternoon. During morning school, the toddlers rotated through different activities, like special toys that only were used during school, longer snack time, a short video, etc., but they often wanted to be part of school and would listen in to our reading.
We did adjust our school year once to finish early, but as Kristen said, school at that age doesn’t take much time and we never had an issue meeting our 180 day requirement.
I have zero advice for homeschooling, as I never did that.
I expect to always be frugal. I've got some retirement saved up, but I am having to dip into it because of my husband, so I need to be careful with my spending to help my retirement last, plus, I am working as long as possible to keep adding to my retirement fund. On both sides of my family, there were a handful of centenarians, quite a few nonagenarians and numerous octogenarians. Nothing is guaranteed, but I figured it's best to plan as if I'm going to live for at least 2 or 3 more decades.
I agree with Kristen that it also makes no sense to be wasteful or unhealthy, so that is an added incentive.
I have struggled, by the way, to remember how long I've read this blog and when and how I found it. I think I finally figured out that I found it through food waste Fridays. I was struggling with food waste created by not planning menus and not making a conscious effort to use up what I bought. It was a process, but I now plan menus ahead and use up what needs using before it gets too old. I throw out very, very little food these days. I'm so glad to be able to say that now! Thanks to everyone here!
Emily, first of all, congratulations on baby number 4! I know it’s tough homeschooling with a newborn. We had baby 4 in 2020 born in June. At the time, we also had a 5th grader, 1st grader and a 1 year old who turned two in July a few weeks later. I agree that the toddler makes the job more difficult, but it’s totally doable! Just give yourself grace and enjoy these days! You may have to start in summer and take more frequent breaks because you can/need to. I know where we live, the weather is so miserable in summer, being outdoors is awful at times, so no big loss there. Nap time is typically when we knock out big subjects, but I’ve noticed giving the toddler “school” activities helps a ton! Let them use stamps in play dough (no ink) to practice learning letters, do a puzzle, sit with the others and color/draw to feel like part of the class. You’d be surprised at how much you can accomplish in those few moments they’re busy!
I was introduced to your blog about 10 years ago by a friend who makes her own bread and yogurt. I also love making bread and most of my own meals but had never tried making yogurt. She sent me to your website for the yogurt instructions, and I've been a daily reader ever since.
I found you from the Terrific Links area of the Non Consumer Advocate blog. Even though our lives are very different, following you has been like keeping up with an old friend that always has something kind and cheery to say. Thank you for 10+ years!
P.S. Thanks to Katy @nonconsumeradvocate for also being a great frugal read and correctly labeling this blog a "Terrific Link"
I found you maybe six years ago, or more, when I did a Google search on how to paint furniture. Your perfect directions came up, and I have been tuning in ever since. I am almost 85--raised six children--and it always made sense to me to be frugal. I still am--it doesn't make sense to me to be anything different! Kristen, I like your meal plans, recipes, and common sense. Thank you!
I do not remember where or when I found and started reading your blog-quite a while ago. The frugal girl is the only blog I follow. I look forward to the new posts and read those first. Yesterday I was going to order fast food then my not always so frugal self, told myself “that’s crazy-not good for my pocketbook or a healthy body.” I think that could have been “whispers” from your blog postings!!
Homeschooling in the summer notes... When we homeschool, I always homeschool in the summer. The weather is warm, so it's not the favorite time of year to be outside. My husband's work schedule is more routine in the summer (leading to us having more routine). And having those days allows us to take off in the spring and the fall for a couple weeks at a time when the weather is gorgeous.
My kids were third grade and below when we were homeschooling, so it didn't take the entire day and they still had plenty of time to play.
And I hope you're finding a curriculum that doesn't require hours and hours for your K/first grader. One of my friends with three kids five and under was struggling with homeschooling. Then I realized she was trying to do 4-5 hours of serious school each day with her five year old. She needed someone to say you don't have to do all that.
@Dorinda,
I think the curriculum I bought only requires about an hour or two of set work. It gets hot here too in the summer so probably will start early just to beat the heat. Thank you so much for the feedback!
I've homeschooled with newborns (twins!) and with babies and toddlers! Kristen, you are right, it's the toddlers who are most challenging! I don't normally homeschool through the summer but this year we will continue with some reading and math. I'd say, do what you want to do and what makes you as a mom feel best about the situation. If you love homeschooling and find joy in it, it will be a blessing to your family. You know yourself and your kids best!
Another thought is to do some learning games, books and puzzles with your daughter this summer so she finds learning fun and so do you. That will make her very ready to do well during her next school year and may seem a little lighter to both of you this summer.
I came to your blog by word of mouth in 2012. My friend - a former piano student of yours - referred me to your post on making homemade yogurt. After that, your blog was the only one I followed consistently. I never followed blogs before then. So it wasn't anything you did ten years ago, it was random chance. Our husbands were high school friends and I met her right around then.
As for homeschooling, we homeschool year-round for the sake of providing a cushion. We do six weeks on, one week off, and we have more of a loose Friday. We take off two weeks for Christmas and four for summer (I tried just one week for summer and I got a little burnt out by January, so now we do four and it's just right. One of those weeks is our co-op science summer camp which, theoretically, counts as school days.). I absolutely love this model. I makes the year feel gentle, provides margin for unpredictable opportunities or needs, and give us ample opportunity to accomplish all the necessary things.
I love what Kristen said about homeschooling little kids. This post from RAR (my favorite homeschooling blog in the world), made me want to homeschool AND gave me a solid vision for homeschooling littles: https://readaloudrevival.com/early-years/
I found you when you regularly posted at a food waste blog, can’t remember when that was. I think it was Jonathan Bloom, you posted about trying to stop waste. I liked your style so hung around.
I’ve always being kind of frugal, sometimes more than others. And I agree with you, I most likely always will. Because you can be doing great and something happens that changes it all. My husband was hurt and could no longer work. What saved us was having enough money that we still had choices. The savings helped in other ways also. He never paid for short term disability but did spend on long term. Which never pay what you could earn. We had friends asking how we could do this as our lifestyle really didn’t change except we tighten up our spending a bit. It was by living a stable frugal life.
I don't really remember when or how I found your blog, but my daughter was born in 2009 and I think I found your blog somewhere in that time frame. I had a blog myself at the time, and looked for other blogs to read, and I enjoyed reading your blog.
The homeschooling question: I homeschooled my daughter for 8 years (she's in 7th grade at a private school this year), and lived in a state that required 180 school days for 5 of those years. Unless your state has specific requirements as to what constitutes a "school day" you really have a lot of leeway. Most curriculum doesn't have 180 lessons anyhow, so give yourself about 10 field trip days. You can even add these in on the weekend turning a family outing into a field trip! A field trip for a 1st grader does not have to be 8 hours long! Any learning opportunity can turn into a field trip (look for free museums to visit, interesting things around your city/area, visiting local state parks, etc.) I was very dedicated to my daughter learning, but I wish I had had more informal learning peppered throughout our homeschool experience.
So actually...I just went back and looked at the very beginning of your blog, and I think I must have found you shortly after you started blogging. BUT...the food waste pictures you used to post makes me think I stopped reading while I was pregnant. I was quite sick during that time, and even regular food pictures made me sick! (One of the first indicators I had in my pregnancy that I was going to have trouble with feeling nauseated was when I saw a picture of a cup of coffee, and it made me feel like throwing up. Haha)
Oh, I understand that! One time when I was newly pregnant, someone emailed me a recipe for vegetable crab soup, and when I opened that first thing in the morning, I nearly puked. Even the thought of the soup was too much!
Some choices will ALWAYS be frugal! I'm retired and have sheltered in place for 2-1/2 years; I love movies; I pay for a Netflix subscription. And often, after watching a mildly-entertaining film, I've said that I'm glad I didn't pay movie theater prices for that one. Some frugalities never die!
I found this blog when nonconsumer ended. I guess I like reading this kinda stuff. A blog about Laura serving cornmeal mush to guests for a meal caught my eye and I enjoyed all the comments.
I found the Frugal Girl about 10 yrs ago while searching for advice on painting furniture. Then I went back and read all the earlier posts and have been reading ever since.
I'm also at the 10-11 year mark. I distinctly remember the time in my life - hubby deployed for a year, had a 1 yo, and was trying to fill my time productively with ways I can save us $$ by learning to cook from scratch. I don't remember how I found it though either but I'm definitely in the ready majority I see. You posted pretty regularly and since you were a little ahead of me life-wise it was nice to read your encouraging and helpful posts. I make fabulous homemade pizza now, because of you!
If I had to put a finger on it, I may also be in the 10-year crowd. I've always been frugal, having been a Tightwad Gazette newsletter reader and the child of two people who were children in the Great Depression, but the Great Recession had me searching on the internet for people who could put a new twist on things.
My child was not homeschooled, but he has what was then called Asperger's syndrome and school was a struggle for him. (He was simultaneously in gifted and special ed classes, depending on what he needed.) It was so hard for him to catch up if he ever fell behind on anything that every summer he and I would do a few minutes of reading, writing, handwriting, and math refresher work each day. Not every subject every day, and less than 30 minutes a day was all it took to keep him sharp.
I think I found your blog about 12 years ago. Im reasonably sure I followed a link from another blog - one of those link-up parties people used to have. It was probably a decorating blog, so I’m guessing it was a furniture refinishing post I first read. I loved your blog and went back to the beginning and read chronologically, and have enjoyed your style and the window you gave us onto your beautiful family ever since.
I'm a lot older than you, Kristen, but I'll take a swing at the "Forever Frugal" topic. I was single until 54 and DH was a widower when we married. Neither of us were ever high wage earners and we live in a HCOLA. We also have completely different kinds of frugality. DH has a very acute sense of needs vs. wants and is a Craigslist Master. I have always watched my spending and have pretty nimble frugality muscles. We've been married almost a decade now. Together, we are wealthy beyond our wildest imaginings. We still maintain our habits, because they're part of who we are. What has changed is our spending on charity. We have a Donor Advised Fund now and we really enjoy giving to causes we care about.
I think I've been reading since close to the beginning. I'm not sure, but I remember distinctly that when I went to Australia and New Zealand for the month of February of 2010, it was a treat to get to a place where I could get caught up on TFG posts, so I was clearly well and truly hooked by then. FWIW, I used to post under a different name, but someone with the same first name and last initial started posting and used different tone that I would have, so I changed my screen name to one I use on another forum. One of these days, I'll scroll through the archives to see when I posted my first comment, just for fun.
@Megan - I found out we were expecting surprise baby #4 just two months after we decided to homeschool. So my first year homeschooling, I had a 2nd grader, kindergartner, 3 year old, and newborn. As everyone has stated, the toddler is the hardest! I chose to begin seat work the minute the baby went down for his morning nap. Then we all had a break in the afternoon during mandatory quiet/nap time.
I also always sent my toddlers to preschool for 2-3 mornings a week. It was a gift to myself and the entire family! The toddler got a morning of fun games, songs, crafts, and play geared to his/her age. My school-aged kids and I got a morning (relatively) free from interruptions so we could dig into a project, book, or simply catch up! The perfect formula is a preschool where your spouse can do morning drop off, and they feed the children lunch! The years I had that were simply wonderful!
I worried that the toddler was always getting the message that he was in the way or being plunked in front of a screen out of desperation. For me, I know I would have burned out on homeschooling without those mornings “off.” Thankfully, we are still homeschooling 7 years later!
I love the way the table leaf looks! It is amazing to see all of your before and after furniture and home improvement projects.
Regarding your blog: I seem to remember that you were a guest blogger for someone else's blog. I liked your positive attitude and thought I might learn something from you (since I am not very frugal.) One of the first things I tried from your blog was to make my own yogurt. I fully expected to fail and was astonished when it worked...That started my learning to cook and bake some items from scratch. Since covid started, I have spent a lot of time baking my own bread, more for entertainment purposes but I do also like the way it tastes.
Aw thank you so much for posting my question about homeschooling! And thank you readers for all the helpful comments and suggestions. I love this community so much!
I started reading your blog in 2009, and I think I found it via another blog I had been reading. I don't remember the name of the other blog -- "under $10,000 a year" maybe? But I think you commented on some of her posts, or perhaps some other readers dropped your blog name, and I started reading your blog!
@Katie, that may have been Donna Freedman's Surviving and Thriving post on living on $12,000 a year, which is still hugely inspiring some 15 years later.
@Ruby, The blog I'm remembering disappeared in 2009 or 2010 because the author was receiving a lot of negative comments and harassment for some of her life choices.
On frugal forever… There’s a difference between saving as much money as possible and choosing to spend your money in the way that supports what you want to do in a responsible way. My journey with frugality began as a necessity when I was both in debt and in grad school. I’ve been debt free for a long time, continue to live well below my means and have good investments. I still take so much care to not waste food, and I still shop second hand since I can meet my needs and wants through those methods. That said, I’m writing this from an Airbnb on the west coast (I live on the east coast) because I wanted to explore the art museums and good hiking here. Frugality, like minimalism, is about being clear on your true needs and what makes you happy and prioritizing your funds, energies, and space toward those ends.
I was recommended by my sister who knows your sister to read your blog when the little one was a tiny thing. I was not interested in frugality at the time but I feel in love with your photos of your children and your recipes. Now that I am a senior citizen living on my own I appreciate the frugal tips on here. And I still enjoy your grown up kiddos but I will never darn a sock. Ha!
I remember finding your blog in the summer of 2009 because I had just made the decision to put a third of my already meager teacher salary into a retirement fund and I thought "I'm really going to have to be one frugal girl to meet this goal." I then randomly googled the phrase "frugal girl" to get inspiration and bam, I've been hooked ever since. I think the pictures of groceries with stuffies really helped. Maybe the stuffies can find their way into your move in pictures for old time's sake.
Oh, and my teaching position dropped to part time two years after I started that ambitious saving goal, so I never stopped living on two thirds of a teacher salary, and then I got married and had kids that my husband is homeschooling, so I'm a frugal girl for life at this point too.
Question 1–I have been giving this a lot of thought. I think the reason I found your blog is because of ATK and probably bread. I love ATK and I think I must have been searching for something and you came up in the search. It might have been bread related. Your blog super intrigued me and I felt so many similarities between your life and mine. Your blog is one of the last ones I still read “cover-to-cover”.
Question 2-I have been homeschooling a long time. I started when my daughter was maybe 2. First I will say, homeschooling is very forgiving. No need to school during the summer unless you really want to. If you decide to summer school-go on nature walks, read books, count things, and activity type books. Your child will definitely be learning.
Question 3-I hope to always have a frugality type mindset. It’s ingrained to a certain extent. These days I definitely feel like it’s a necessity. I want to be a good steward of the blessings we have been given.
I was pretty sure I've been reading about 10 years. Unlike others, I do recall how I found your blog. I was looking for DIY tutorials on how to paint furniture. After looking through the archives I'm leaning more towards 11-12 years. Fairly certain it was the post you did on painting Joshua's bed to be specific. I was trying to rehab my childhood bunk beds for my boys. They were solid wood and white so had yellowed a bit with age and my mom was a smoker. I ended up painting them black after sanding as much of the shiny coat off as possible. My youngest, 16, is still using his today. I passed on the oldest's a few years ago when he upgraded to a full size. Likely passing on the second this summer for a full-size upgrade as well. Tall boys are no match for a twin bed. Anyway, I got hooked and have been reading ever since. 🙂
I know I started reading your blog when I was in graduate school so sometime between 2005-2010. I was really into making things from scratch at the time so I want to say the gateway posts into your blog were likely the bread or yogurt ones.
It's funny I still consider myself to have a frugal mindset even though to anyone looking at our life now we must seem so extravagant. Part of this is due to my husband who is definitely not frugal or inclined to frugality. But part of it is also due to the stage of life we are currently in, where time is the most limited commodity we have. So we pay for grocery delivery (which has been amazing actually because it cuts down completely on the impulse buys and makes it easier to meal plan) and weekly housecleaning and it makes life run much more smoothly.
I believe I started reading FG in 2008. I don't remember how I found it, I do know I've read every blog post, including the ones on her old website. I'm in the minority that misses FWF.
Annie's point that "There’s a difference between saving as much money as possible and choosing to spend your money in the way that supports what you want to do in a responsible way" also describes my outlook as well. Money is a tool rather than a goal in and of itself, and I'm going to use it to make my life as I want it - both now and in the future. (That's the main disagreement I have with "The Millionaire Next Door," which seems to regard wealth as the main goal.)
Right now that means buying time and reducing effort by spending money, but never mindlessly. I also find that frugality is a habit that can be hard to break: I still argue with myself that it's really OK to buy, say, sliced apples instead of cutting my own for a trip.
Your table leaf looks amazing!
It seems like, for many of us, frugality takes different shapes over time, but it's always a part of our identity. 🙂
@Brooke, I agree with both these statements. The table leaf looks great. What a beautiful transformation! I thought the table leaf might be beyond salvation. I think there is a lesson in this.
Frugality has taken many shapes over the years but has remained part of my life for different reasons.
@Bee,
I, too, thought that leaf might be a goner.
Kristen, you are amazing at reclamation of furniture (and other items such as clothing and towels).
Well, a lot of the credit goes to my dad! I would not have been sure how to fix the warping.
Ooh! Is that the leaf to your dining room table?? You made it look so good!
I hope to be frugal for the rest of my life as well. I know there will probably come a day where I am not able to devote as much time to frugal things as I need to right now, but I'm hoping the principles stick with me for life.
Yep, it's the leaf! My dad had to do some glueing, screwing, and clamping to straighten out some of the water damage, and we sanded it with SERIOUSLY high grit sandpaper, using the belt sander.
But there was good wood underneath all that mess.
@Kristen, Great job! You and your Dad did an amazing job with that table leaf. Wow!!
@Kristen,
WOW! That's incredible!!
@Kristen, You must have shown the damaged leaf somewhere else. I missed the before photo. It looks great now.
I know exactly when I found your blog, it was when you posted on Katy's blog, nonconsumeradvocate. I clicked on your link and loved how friendly and helpful you and your followers were, and saved that link to go to from then on.
@MommaL,
Me too!!
I found Katy via The Prudent Homemaker and found Brandy via a recipe search, I think for white bean soup 🙂 🙂
@Joanne in the U.K., @MommaL pretty sure this is when I came around too via NCA Katy's blog. I have always been kind of frugal but once I realized we did not have enough to retire I became more Mega Frugal.
I started reading when a grad school friend told me how she enjoyed reading it.
@MommaL,
Me too!! Kristin, I think Katy posted a 5 Frugal Things and I clicked on your link. Our lives are very different, but your basic personal beliefs seemed similar to mine and I’m still here. I don’t post very often, but I follow closely. I was following a number of frugal posts early on, but most of them have been weeded out because I didn’t have time, but yours and Mrs. Frugalwoods are “still standing.” Thank you! I’ve enjoyed and learned a lot. Another one I enjoyed was 365 Less Things. Even though she’s not an active blogger now, I still have a friend from that blog and we are still in contact.
I liked the second part of your answer to the question of Battra.
I don't get it how anyone raising children would choose the less healthy and less environment friendly option AND pay more for it then necessary!
@Lea, I can answer that - because it's quick, and easy, and they haven't the spoons to think about doing it differently.
@WilliamB, You hit the proverbial nail on the head.
@WilliamB, I kind of hate the "spoons" metaphor, even though, with chronic fatigue syndrome, I'm one of the ones it was invented for.
But I agree. Sometimes I just can't do the cheaper option. I just don't have the energy. I work full time, I'm chronically ill, I volunteer, I use paper towels. And disposable Swiffer pads.
Also, I think some people are naturally frugal and some people aren't. It's good to be frugal, but for some of us, it's not our natural bent.
@Lea,
Another factor is impulsivity. It’s a complicating factor for many, particularly those with adhd. Intentions can be great but the follow-through is the hard part!
@Rose,
As our dear Kristen says, “you be you and I will be me”. Love yourself first and you do not need to do what anyone else is doing. That’s the beauty of this blog and the wonderful readers. And you, Rose, are as wonderful as your pretty name. Take care and God Bless You.
@Rose, I'm clueless. I don't have any idea what the metaphor means. Never heard it. Enlighten me.
I also "discovered" your blog somewhere around the 10 years ago mark... Maybe a bit more.
Did you ever do scrapbooking? Or were friendly with anyone who blogged about it? I was quite big into that 12-13 years ago, and picked up quite a few of the blogs I still follow from back then.
I was definitely into scrapbooking, but I didn't blog about it a whole lot. Here's a post I did about some gift scrapbooks I made, though: https://www.thefrugalgirl.com/scrapping-scrapping-and-more-scrapping/
-Emily-homeschooling with an infant: My opinion is that if you are even slightly concerned, why not school through summer? We do "light" school through the summer because I seem to always have more interruptions during the school year than I ever plan for. For us, light school means I cut out spelling and Latin. When the handwriting book is finished, we don't start up again until Aug./Sept. We don't do every subject every week. Since we seem to be perpetually "behind" in math and grammar, those tend to be the things we carry over most. In summer there are more days for fun field trips and such.
And, congratulations on the new baby. I've had all those littles while homeschooling, and it's not easy. From the other side (my oldest is graduating in June), it's doable even when it's not always pretty. And it is rewarding. And don't look at too many homeschooling blogs or whatever online because you will feel so miserable by comparison.
@Jody S.,
Thank you so much for the feedback!
On Homeschooling: I think you never say, "I sure wish I didn't have those extra days banked." I say school a little this summer, but make it fun and don't call it School. Hit reading hard with summer book clubs, favorite books, and extra snuggle time with Mom reading -- a book outside on a picnic blanket is special. Another thing I liked to do in the summer was buy a honking big workbook for the following grade. Every few pages the child would find a "coupon" for something fun. It might be a trip to the library, pool, mall, ice cream shop, or it might be inviting a friend for a play date. Typically things you wanted to do in the summer anyway, but nothing to break the bank. Doing some of these things will also help prevent a Summer Slide.
@Angie,
Thanks so much! I think we will start a little earlier this year!
I was following you before you were featured on TV. My best guess is a I found you through a mention in a newspaper or magazine article (or through Katy/The Non Consumer Advocate discovered that way).
I expect to be frugal as long as it is an environmentally friendly way to live. There is a huge overlap between the two and when not then we choose the environment first. It becomes a comfortable way of life, I think it fosters contentment as well as a way to save and give more.
I think people who are truly frugal (and in the positive way, not what I call the negative way where people are being frugal while relying on others to pay or not paying their fair share of financial responsibilities,) are lifetimers. It may be more necessary in certain situations but it's a mindset. It's always the default mode as it were in spending and saving.
Around here we call it the "never pay retail" approach meaning we are always looking for a legitimate bargain and carefully monitoring spending, looking for leaks and ways to improve. Some of the most frugal folks I know (sometimes to the point of creating problems in all kinds of relationships) are quite well off.
I also tend to view frugal as taking steps and time to ensure that one gets the most value for their money when spending it. So sometimes you spend a lot for say an investment like an education or appliances that will last or better quality items that will last. It isn't always the cheapest route but about getting a solid return on the investment of your dollars that are available to you.
If frugality is only employed in desperate times, one is likely to have more desperate times and debt than is required.
I truly enjoy when I can get good value and save money and plan so that I can do that most of the time so that I have money for emergencies. I wished I had been frugal much earlier in my life, but it's never too late to embrace careful spending.
I wish I could remember exactly when I discovered your blog. But I seem to remember, I found you in a two-step process. There was a link to another blog on The Pioneer Woman’s website, and THAT blog ultimately led me here. I think. I do know it was when Food Waste Friday was going on with the blogger in the U.K, your kids were little, you had Kristen 365 ( am I remembering that right?) and you were teaching piano.
@SandyH, Big fan of the 365 posts over here!
Well, I do know we were still in a recession 10 years ago, and 10 years ago was the last time gas prices were this high, so that may have also played a role!
@Amber,
That's what I was thinking - there was probably something that really pushed us to find it. For me, I was looking for a way to make yogurt. Probably one of the best internet searches I ever did, because I have enjoyed Kristen's writing ever since.
I learned of you from your segment on the 700 Club years ago. That may have been around 10 or 12 years ago…not sure when.
I think of being frugal as being intentional with my money and other resources. So how long will I be intentional with my resources? My entire life.
@Jenni, well said!
*Raises hand as one of the 10-year flock* I was searching the interweb for blogs/articles/tutorials on refinishing/painting/repurposing furniture (I loved me some before/after pics - still do!) and your blog was one of the links that popped up that I checked out. I believe it was your tutorial that I followed when I made my first (like a baby deer on wobbly legs) attempt at refinishing a desk. I loved your friendly, welcoming tone and how your way of explaining the how-to made me confident that my attempt wouldn't be an utter failure. *Hopping on the "been following you ever since" train*.
@sfeather, Same here - I had bought a little unfinished book shelf with knobby hooks for my then infant (who is now 11) and I was looking for tips on how to best paint it. I used the tips from a dresser FG had repainted (I think it was black -does that make sense, Kristen?) and I've been reading since.
Oh yeah, I did a black tallboy dresser that was popping up on google a lot for a while.
I remember I started reading your blog in 2010, when I was laid off from work and my oldest was just a year old. I think I was just googling frugal blogs when I came across this one.
We decided to homeschool our two school-age children in 1984 and then promptly discovered we were expecting a fourth baby in December of that school year. Surprise! 🙂 I would agree with Kristen that homeschooling with a baby is not too bad, contrary to what I expected. Our little guy was just there with us a lot. It was easier than packing him up to drive a carpool to the private school we had been using. Homeschooling is very flexible. Many babies sleep a great deal of the day, often a morning and afternoon nap, so that helps a lot. And in the early stages of homeschool, you really do not have to spend hours and hours on it. Much of your normal life is education. At school they have to simulate real life for education: shopping, cooking, health education and hygiene. And remember that reading books together is great education and can be done with a baby on the lap or nursing.
Ditto to what @Ruth said about the early years of schooling:
"... you really do not have to spend hours and hours on it. Much of your normal life is education. At school they have to simulate real life for education: shopping, cooking, health education and hygiene. And remember that reading books together is great education and can be done with a baby on the lap or nursing."
Megan, if you're not familiar with Charlotte Mason, you may want to google her take on schooling. Best wishes for a relaxed and rewarding year!
@Becky Stewart, I agree. I wish I had found Charlotte earlier.
@Becky Stewart,
I definitely will! Thank you!
@Ruth,
Thank you so much! So helpful and encouraging
@Becky Stewart, Also, amblesideonline.org outlines a quite frugal way of doing school if you have a lovely local library. (Or if you know somebody who has lots of interesting books.)
I agree with Amber who posted about 10 years ago and the recession, that’s when I found you as well. Also, that was about the time my health monthly insurance premium tripled.
So anxious to see the finished table. So far it’s beautiful!
I found your blog 12 ish years ago when googling how to paint wood furniture. You were at the top (or close to the top) of the list. But I was really impressed that you made bread from scratch. I still check out your old bread recipes when I want to try a new yeast bread.
I think people just can't remember when they started reading you. 8 years ago, 12 years ago, let's call it 10.
I'm also struck by some of these comments. I grew up with my mom refinishing furniture, baking yeast bread, so it's just usual for me. She also built furniture if she couldn't find what she wanted, etc.
Regarding homeschooling with a new baby, I completely agree with Kristen that toddlers are more challenging than babies. We did the opposite of Kristen though, and tried to do all our school in the morning or right after lunch, so everyone under 5 (and me!) could have quiet time in the afternoon. During morning school, the toddlers rotated through different activities, like special toys that only were used during school, longer snack time, a short video, etc., but they often wanted to be part of school and would listen in to our reading.
We did adjust our school year once to finish early, but as Kristen said, school at that age doesn’t take much time and we never had an issue meeting our 180 day requirement.
@Jan,
Thank you for the encouragement!
I have zero advice for homeschooling, as I never did that.
I expect to always be frugal. I've got some retirement saved up, but I am having to dip into it because of my husband, so I need to be careful with my spending to help my retirement last, plus, I am working as long as possible to keep adding to my retirement fund. On both sides of my family, there were a handful of centenarians, quite a few nonagenarians and numerous octogenarians. Nothing is guaranteed, but I figured it's best to plan as if I'm going to live for at least 2 or 3 more decades.
I agree with Kristen that it also makes no sense to be wasteful or unhealthy, so that is an added incentive.
I have struggled, by the way, to remember how long I've read this blog and when and how I found it. I think I finally figured out that I found it through food waste Fridays. I was struggling with food waste created by not planning menus and not making a conscious effort to use up what I bought. It was a process, but I now plan menus ahead and use up what needs using before it gets too old. I throw out very, very little food these days. I'm so glad to be able to say that now! Thanks to everyone here!
Emily, first of all, congratulations on baby number 4! I know it’s tough homeschooling with a newborn. We had baby 4 in 2020 born in June. At the time, we also had a 5th grader, 1st grader and a 1 year old who turned two in July a few weeks later. I agree that the toddler makes the job more difficult, but it’s totally doable! Just give yourself grace and enjoy these days! You may have to start in summer and take more frequent breaks because you can/need to. I know where we live, the weather is so miserable in summer, being outdoors is awful at times, so no big loss there. Nap time is typically when we knock out big subjects, but I’ve noticed giving the toddler “school” activities helps a ton! Let them use stamps in play dough (no ink) to practice learning letters, do a puzzle, sit with the others and color/draw to feel like part of the class. You’d be surprised at how much you can accomplish in those few moments they’re busy!
@Haley,
Thank you! And thank you for the feedback! So encouraging to know others have done it with an added baby and toddler
I was introduced to your blog about 10 years ago by a friend who makes her own bread and yogurt. I also love making bread and most of my own meals but had never tried making yogurt. She sent me to your website for the yogurt instructions, and I've been a daily reader ever since.
I found you from the Terrific Links area of the Non Consumer Advocate blog. Even though our lives are very different, following you has been like keeping up with an old friend that always has something kind and cheery to say. Thank you for 10+ years!
P.S. Thanks to Katy @nonconsumeradvocate for also being a great frugal read and correctly labeling this blog a "Terrific Link"
I found you maybe six years ago, or more, when I did a Google search on how to paint furniture. Your perfect directions came up, and I have been tuning in ever since. I am almost 85--raised six children--and it always made sense to me to be frugal. I still am--it doesn't make sense to me to be anything different! Kristen, I like your meal plans, recipes, and common sense. Thank you!
I want to say I found your blog around the same time as everyone else, and I think it was maybe through a mention in Katy's blog possibly?
I do not remember where or when I found and started reading your blog-quite a while ago. The frugal girl is the only blog I follow. I look forward to the new posts and read those first. Yesterday I was going to order fast food then my not always so frugal self, told myself “that’s crazy-not good for my pocketbook or a healthy body.” I think that could have been “whispers” from your blog postings!!
Homeschooling in the summer notes... When we homeschool, I always homeschool in the summer. The weather is warm, so it's not the favorite time of year to be outside. My husband's work schedule is more routine in the summer (leading to us having more routine). And having those days allows us to take off in the spring and the fall for a couple weeks at a time when the weather is gorgeous.
My kids were third grade and below when we were homeschooling, so it didn't take the entire day and they still had plenty of time to play.
And I hope you're finding a curriculum that doesn't require hours and hours for your K/first grader. One of my friends with three kids five and under was struggling with homeschooling. Then I realized she was trying to do 4-5 hours of serious school each day with her five year old. She needed someone to say you don't have to do all that.
@Dorinda,
I think the curriculum I bought only requires about an hour or two of set work. It gets hot here too in the summer so probably will start early just to beat the heat. Thank you so much for the feedback!
I've homeschooled with newborns (twins!) and with babies and toddlers! Kristen, you are right, it's the toddlers who are most challenging! I don't normally homeschool through the summer but this year we will continue with some reading and math. I'd say, do what you want to do and what makes you as a mom feel best about the situation. If you love homeschooling and find joy in it, it will be a blessing to your family. You know yourself and your kids best!
Another thought is to do some learning games, books and puzzles with your daughter this summer so she finds learning fun and so do you. That will make her very ready to do well during her next school year and may seem a little lighter to both of you this summer.
@Carrie,
Good suggestion! Thank you so much!
I came to your blog by word of mouth in 2012. My friend - a former piano student of yours - referred me to your post on making homemade yogurt. After that, your blog was the only one I followed consistently. I never followed blogs before then. So it wasn't anything you did ten years ago, it was random chance. Our husbands were high school friends and I met her right around then.
As for homeschooling, we homeschool year-round for the sake of providing a cushion. We do six weeks on, one week off, and we have more of a loose Friday. We take off two weeks for Christmas and four for summer (I tried just one week for summer and I got a little burnt out by January, so now we do four and it's just right. One of those weeks is our co-op science summer camp which, theoretically, counts as school days.). I absolutely love this model. I makes the year feel gentle, provides margin for unpredictable opportunities or needs, and give us ample opportunity to accomplish all the necessary things.
I love what Kristen said about homeschooling little kids. This post from RAR (my favorite homeschooling blog in the world), made me want to homeschool AND gave me a solid vision for homeschooling littles: https://readaloudrevival.com/early-years/
@Jen D.,
Thank you! I’ll check it out!
I found you when you regularly posted at a food waste blog, can’t remember when that was. I think it was Jonathan Bloom, you posted about trying to stop waste. I liked your style so hung around.
I’ve always being kind of frugal, sometimes more than others. And I agree with you, I most likely always will. Because you can be doing great and something happens that changes it all. My husband was hurt and could no longer work. What saved us was having enough money that we still had choices. The savings helped in other ways also. He never paid for short term disability but did spend on long term. Which never pay what you could earn. We had friends asking how we could do this as our lifestyle really didn’t change except we tighten up our spending a bit. It was by living a stable frugal life.
Oh yes! Wastedfood.com was Jon's blog.
I'm guessing I found you searching for a recipe or through Katy.
I don't really remember when or how I found your blog, but my daughter was born in 2009 and I think I found your blog somewhere in that time frame. I had a blog myself at the time, and looked for other blogs to read, and I enjoyed reading your blog.
The homeschooling question: I homeschooled my daughter for 8 years (she's in 7th grade at a private school this year), and lived in a state that required 180 school days for 5 of those years. Unless your state has specific requirements as to what constitutes a "school day" you really have a lot of leeway. Most curriculum doesn't have 180 lessons anyhow, so give yourself about 10 field trip days. You can even add these in on the weekend turning a family outing into a field trip! A field trip for a 1st grader does not have to be 8 hours long! Any learning opportunity can turn into a field trip (look for free museums to visit, interesting things around your city/area, visiting local state parks, etc.) I was very dedicated to my daughter learning, but I wish I had had more informal learning peppered throughout our homeschool experience.
So actually...I just went back and looked at the very beginning of your blog, and I think I must have found you shortly after you started blogging. BUT...the food waste pictures you used to post makes me think I stopped reading while I was pregnant. I was quite sick during that time, and even regular food pictures made me sick! (One of the first indicators I had in my pregnancy that I was going to have trouble with feeling nauseated was when I saw a picture of a cup of coffee, and it made me feel like throwing up. Haha)
Oh, I understand that! One time when I was newly pregnant, someone emailed me a recipe for vegetable crab soup, and when I opened that first thing in the morning, I nearly puked. Even the thought of the soup was too much!
Some choices will ALWAYS be frugal! I'm retired and have sheltered in place for 2-1/2 years; I love movies; I pay for a Netflix subscription. And often, after watching a mildly-entertaining film, I've said that I'm glad I didn't pay movie theater prices for that one. Some frugalities never die!
I found this blog when nonconsumer ended. I guess I like reading this kinda stuff. A blog about Laura serving cornmeal mush to guests for a meal caught my eye and I enjoyed all the comments.
Oh, Katy is still blogging, albeit more intermittently. So, you can still get an NCA fix here and there.
I followed a newspaper column about frugality and found Katy through that and then you through her in 2008. The first two blogs I started with!
I found the Frugal Girl about 10 yrs ago while searching for advice on painting furniture. Then I went back and read all the earlier posts and have been reading ever since.
I'm also at the 10-11 year mark. I distinctly remember the time in my life - hubby deployed for a year, had a 1 yo, and was trying to fill my time productively with ways I can save us $$ by learning to cook from scratch. I don't remember how I found it though either but I'm definitely in the ready majority I see. You posted pretty regularly and since you were a little ahead of me life-wise it was nice to read your encouraging and helpful posts. I make fabulous homemade pizza now, because of you!
Yay for awesome homemade pizza!
If I had to put a finger on it, I may also be in the 10-year crowd. I've always been frugal, having been a Tightwad Gazette newsletter reader and the child of two people who were children in the Great Depression, but the Great Recession had me searching on the internet for people who could put a new twist on things.
My child was not homeschooled, but he has what was then called Asperger's syndrome and school was a struggle for him. (He was simultaneously in gifted and special ed classes, depending on what he needed.) It was so hard for him to catch up if he ever fell behind on anything that every summer he and I would do a few minutes of reading, writing, handwriting, and math refresher work each day. Not every subject every day, and less than 30 minutes a day was all it took to keep him sharp.
I think I found your blog about 12 years ago. Im reasonably sure I followed a link from another blog - one of those link-up parties people used to have. It was probably a decorating blog, so I’m guessing it was a furniture refinishing post I first read. I loved your blog and went back to the beginning and read chronologically, and have enjoyed your style and the window you gave us onto your beautiful family ever since.
I'm a lot older than you, Kristen, but I'll take a swing at the "Forever Frugal" topic. I was single until 54 and DH was a widower when we married. Neither of us were ever high wage earners and we live in a HCOLA. We also have completely different kinds of frugality. DH has a very acute sense of needs vs. wants and is a Craigslist Master. I have always watched my spending and have pretty nimble frugality muscles. We've been married almost a decade now. Together, we are wealthy beyond our wildest imaginings. We still maintain our habits, because they're part of who we are. What has changed is our spending on charity. We have a Donor Advised Fund now and we really enjoy giving to causes we care about.
I think I've been reading since close to the beginning. I'm not sure, but I remember distinctly that when I went to Australia and New Zealand for the month of February of 2010, it was a treat to get to a place where I could get caught up on TFG posts, so I was clearly well and truly hooked by then. FWIW, I used to post under a different name, but someone with the same first name and last initial started posting and used different tone that I would have, so I changed my screen name to one I use on another forum. One of these days, I'll scroll through the archives to see when I posted my first comment, just for fun.
@Megan - I found out we were expecting surprise baby #4 just two months after we decided to homeschool. So my first year homeschooling, I had a 2nd grader, kindergartner, 3 year old, and newborn. As everyone has stated, the toddler is the hardest! I chose to begin seat work the minute the baby went down for his morning nap. Then we all had a break in the afternoon during mandatory quiet/nap time.
I also always sent my toddlers to preschool for 2-3 mornings a week. It was a gift to myself and the entire family! The toddler got a morning of fun games, songs, crafts, and play geared to his/her age. My school-aged kids and I got a morning (relatively) free from interruptions so we could dig into a project, book, or simply catch up! The perfect formula is a preschool where your spouse can do morning drop off, and they feed the children lunch! The years I had that were simply wonderful!
I worried that the toddler was always getting the message that he was in the way or being plunked in front of a screen out of desperation. For me, I know I would have burned out on homeschooling without those mornings “off.” Thankfully, we are still homeschooling 7 years later!
@Jenny,
Great advice! Thank you!
I love the way the table leaf looks! It is amazing to see all of your before and after furniture and home improvement projects.
Regarding your blog: I seem to remember that you were a guest blogger for someone else's blog. I liked your positive attitude and thought I might learn something from you (since I am not very frugal.) One of the first things I tried from your blog was to make my own yogurt. I fully expected to fail and was astonished when it worked...That started my learning to cook and bake some items from scratch. Since covid started, I have spent a lot of time baking my own bread, more for entertainment purposes but I do also like the way it tastes.
Aw thank you so much for posting my question about homeschooling! And thank you readers for all the helpful comments and suggestions. I love this community so much!
I started reading your blog in 2009, and I think I found it via another blog I had been reading. I don't remember the name of the other blog -- "under $10,000 a year" maybe? But I think you commented on some of her posts, or perhaps some other readers dropped your blog name, and I started reading your blog!
@Katie, that may have been Donna Freedman's Surviving and Thriving post on living on $12,000 a year, which is still hugely inspiring some 15 years later.
@Ruby, The blog I'm remembering disappeared in 2009 or 2010 because the author was receiving a lot of negative comments and harassment for some of her life choices.
On frugal forever… There’s a difference between saving as much money as possible and choosing to spend your money in the way that supports what you want to do in a responsible way. My journey with frugality began as a necessity when I was both in debt and in grad school. I’ve been debt free for a long time, continue to live well below my means and have good investments. I still take so much care to not waste food, and I still shop second hand since I can meet my needs and wants through those methods. That said, I’m writing this from an Airbnb on the west coast (I live on the east coast) because I wanted to explore the art museums and good hiking here. Frugality, like minimalism, is about being clear on your true needs and what makes you happy and prioritizing your funds, energies, and space toward those ends.
I was recommended by my sister who knows your sister to read your blog when the little one was a tiny thing. I was not interested in frugality at the time but I feel in love with your photos of your children and your recipes. Now that I am a senior citizen living on my own I appreciate the frugal tips on here. And I still enjoy your grown up kiddos but I will never darn a sock. Ha!
I remember finding your blog in the summer of 2009 because I had just made the decision to put a third of my already meager teacher salary into a retirement fund and I thought "I'm really going to have to be one frugal girl to meet this goal." I then randomly googled the phrase "frugal girl" to get inspiration and bam, I've been hooked ever since. I think the pictures of groceries with stuffies really helped. Maybe the stuffies can find their way into your move in pictures for old time's sake.
@Becca,
Oh, and my teaching position dropped to part time two years after I started that ambitious saving goal, so I never stopped living on two thirds of a teacher salary, and then I got married and had kids that my husband is homeschooling, so I'm a frugal girl for life at this point too.
Question 1–I have been giving this a lot of thought. I think the reason I found your blog is because of ATK and probably bread. I love ATK and I think I must have been searching for something and you came up in the search. It might have been bread related. Your blog super intrigued me and I felt so many similarities between your life and mine. Your blog is one of the last ones I still read “cover-to-cover”.
Question 2-I have been homeschooling a long time. I started when my daughter was maybe 2. First I will say, homeschooling is very forgiving. No need to school during the summer unless you really want to. If you decide to summer school-go on nature walks, read books, count things, and activity type books. Your child will definitely be learning.
Question 3-I hope to always have a frugality type mindset. It’s ingrained to a certain extent. These days I definitely feel like it’s a necessity. I want to be a good steward of the blessings we have been given.
I was pretty sure I've been reading about 10 years. Unlike others, I do recall how I found your blog. I was looking for DIY tutorials on how to paint furniture. After looking through the archives I'm leaning more towards 11-12 years. Fairly certain it was the post you did on painting Joshua's bed to be specific. I was trying to rehab my childhood bunk beds for my boys. They were solid wood and white so had yellowed a bit with age and my mom was a smoker. I ended up painting them black after sanding as much of the shiny coat off as possible. My youngest, 16, is still using his today. I passed on the oldest's a few years ago when he upgraded to a full size. Likely passing on the second this summer for a full-size upgrade as well. Tall boys are no match for a twin bed. Anyway, I got hooked and have been reading ever since. 🙂
I know I started reading your blog when I was in graduate school so sometime between 2005-2010. I was really into making things from scratch at the time so I want to say the gateway posts into your blog were likely the bread or yogurt ones.
It's funny I still consider myself to have a frugal mindset even though to anyone looking at our life now we must seem so extravagant. Part of this is due to my husband who is definitely not frugal or inclined to frugality. But part of it is also due to the stage of life we are currently in, where time is the most limited commodity we have. So we pay for grocery delivery (which has been amazing actually because it cuts down completely on the impulse buys and makes it easier to meal plan) and weekly housecleaning and it makes life run much more smoothly.
I have a question! What are you, and your readers, favorite birthday freebies?
Well, I usually make it a habit to sign up for reward clubs wherever I go, and then I wait and see what happens on my birthday! 😉
Starbucks gives you a free any-size drink on your birthday, so I always redeem that one. And local restaurants have been very kind to me this year.
I think I found you because Katy linked to you - searching her blog I'm pretty sure it was that homemade yoghurt post!
https://thenonconsumeradvocate.com/?s=frugal+girl
I also found the blog about 10 years ago, not sure how!!
Maybe for the yogurt recipe!
I believe I started reading FG in 2008. I don't remember how I found it, I do know I've read every blog post, including the ones on her old website. I'm in the minority that misses FWF.
Annie's point that "There’s a difference between saving as much money as possible and choosing to spend your money in the way that supports what you want to do in a responsible way" also describes my outlook as well. Money is a tool rather than a goal in and of itself, and I'm going to use it to make my life as I want it - both now and in the future. (That's the main disagreement I have with "The Millionaire Next Door," which seems to regard wealth as the main goal.)
Right now that means buying time and reducing effort by spending money, but never mindlessly. I also find that frugality is a habit that can be hard to break: I still argue with myself that it's really OK to buy, say, sliced apples instead of cutting my own for a trip.