I’m nonetheless right here! I took an unplanned (and subsequently unannounced) break from writing the weblog, which was supposed to be for every week, however expanded to a month after which two months… WHOOPS. I confess I wanted a while off from ye olde Frugalwoods after constantly posting for 9.5 years. That’s the longest I’ve ever finished anybody job and I noticed throughout this impromptu hiatus that I–gasp–MISSED writing and MISSED all of you. Typically one should have some absence to ensure that one to comprehend what one misses. So, I’m checking in to let you realize that I haven’t died or deserted Frugalwoods, however that I’m making an attempt to discern how usually I’ll write going ahead. The times of thrice weekly posts are definitively over, however on the opposite excessive, I don’t notably wish to take full months off once more both. Thanks on your persistence as I–as soon as once more–work out what I wish to do with my life. I like writing and I like serving to individuals with their cash and I’m very grateful that I get to do exactly that.
My imaginative and prescient going ahead is to publish a brand new Reader Case Examine every month.
The Reader Case Research are the clearest distillation of what my work is evolving into: extra serving to different individuals with their cash; much less speaking about moi-self. As longtime readers know, my writing on Frugalwoods started primarily as a cash diary. A method for me to grasp my very own emotions about my cash and the way I wished to create a special kind of life, one divorced from the rampant consumerism and hectic oneupmanship that dominates a big share of media in America. I’m humbled by what number of people have adopted alongside these 9+ years and in awe of the deeply inspiring conversations, friendships and self-exploration this work has prompted for me. The opposite purpose for my supposed new concentrate on Reader Case Research is the undeniable fact that…
I’m Drained Of Writing About Myself
What I discovered throughout this unplanned sabbatical is that, frankly, I’m uninterested in writing about myself. I’ve spilled lots of digital ink delving into my very own funds, my monetary psyche, and my method to the whole lot from making oatmeal to index fund investing. And it’s been enjoyable! And rewarding! However as my children become older, I’m much less comfy mining my life for content material and fewer comfy sharing the nuances of their lives. I additionally suppose I’ve in all probability stated nearly the whole lot I’ve to say–if not right here on weblog, then in my ebook.
That being stated, I wish to proceed our Frugalwoods neighborhood and proceed serving as a useful resource for individuals at each stage of the monetary journey. I envision that occuring in a couple of methods going ahead:
- By way of a month-to-month Reader Case Examine right here on the weblog, the place we’ll learn by a reader’s actual stay funds and supply compassionate, productive suggestions and recommendation. I even have a brand new search instrument for the Reader Case Research (of which there are 104) that lets you seek for particular Case Research primarily based on age vary, revenue stage, retirement plan, marital standing, career, location and extra! I hope it will assist people discover Case Research that mirror their very own monetary conditions and questions.
- By way of the archives of this weblog. There are 737 revealed posts on Frugalwoods along with my ebook, Meet the Frugalwoods. For those who’re interested by my ideas on any given subject, try the brand new classes on the weblog homepage. I did my greatest to re-organize previous posts into consolidated classes to assist with looking. Hopefully that is extra simply navigable than my earlier 8,000 completely different classes :).
- By way of my one-on-one monetary consultations and monetary plans. For those who’d like my assist together with your cash, you’ll be able to learn extra about what I supply and rent me right here. I’ll assist you to perceive your whole monetary scenario, set clear targets, and supply sensible options for managing your cash.
- By way of being interviewed on podcasts and the radio. I get pleasure from being on different individuals’s podcasts and, should you’re a podcast listener, you’ll be able to sustain with the reveals I’m on through this web page.
- By way of my free Uber Frugal Month Problem (UFM). As most of you already know, you’ll be able to take the Uber Frugal Month by yourself at any previous time. As you may additionally know, we take the UFM collectively each single January. This January will likely be our seventh annual UFM Group Problem. Signal-up within the field under to affix me!
Does This Imply You’ll By no means Write About Your Life Ever Once more?
Nope! I’ve discovered to “by no means say by no means” since I usually apply the artwork of fixing my thoughts. I very effectively may come throughout a brand new problem or discovery about myself sooner or later that’ll warrant new posts (or one other ebook) or… who is aware of! However at current, I’m settled and content material on my peaceable rural homestead with my husband of 15 years and our two daughters, now ages 5 and eight. I’m in a section of deep gratitude for what we’ve constructed and, in some ways, I’ve much less to write down about versus once we have been within the striving-for-this-goal section. We’re contentedly boring at this level, with no main information or monetary revelations to share. Life’s good and I’m grateful. However, as all my fellow writers know, boring and pleased usually doesn’t translate into attention-grabbing content material for readers. Life is lengthy and unpredictable, so I’ll but shock myself and return to full-time running a blog. Or not. Time will inform! However, I wished you all to concentrate on the place I’m at on this journey to be able to proceed to stroll alongside me–if you wish to–on this new iteration of Frugalwoods.
It’s Time To Signal-Up for the January 2024 UFM Group Problem!
The UFM is a convention I wish to proceed because it outlines the method my husband and I adopted to kick-start our personal frugal journey. It’s additionally the roadmap we used to achieve monetary independence. I additionally wish to proceed the UFM as a result of I’ve heard from hundreds of parents that the Problem modified their monetary lives for the higher. For those who haven’t taken the UFM earlier than, try my FAQs:
Q: What’s the UFM?
To not be confused with Underwear Fang Monkeys or Common People-dancing Moths, the Uber Frugal Month Problem (UFM) is my FREE, 31-day, holistic, emailed-based cash re-vamp program. You may sign-up to take it at any time, however we take the UFM as a bunch each January.
From January 1-31, I’ll ship you an electronic mail a day with particular steps on the way to enhance your funds. There’ll be motivational mantras thrown in, however the main function of the UFM is to offer you detailed, easy, easy-to-follow monetary motion objects. Woohoo!
Lots of people (me included!) take the UFM each single yr as a refresher course to assist get again on observe or to substantiate that they’re nonetheless in nice monetary form. Different individuals come to it as cash inexperienced persons and finish the month with new confidence about their funds. Nonetheless others are at skilled stage and take the course as a method to join with the broader Frugalwoods neighborhood and supply encouragement and recommendation to newer neighborhood members.
It’s enjoyable (I imply, on the very least, it’s not painful), it’s free (completely free), and it’s written in plain English (no monetary jargon allowed).
The Uber Frugal Month isn’t nearly saving cash. It’s a holistic re-evaluation and re-structuring of our human relationship with some of the polarizing, stress-inducing, divorce-causing, fear-mongering issues: our cash. Cash doesn’t need to be any of these issues. Cash generally is a beast you tame, perceive, and make be just right for you–not in opposition to you. You may both grasp your cash or it might probably grasp you. Be a part of me and take cost.
Just a few years in the past I launched a personal Fb group for UFM individuals to share concepts, focus on challenges and be in neighborhood collectively, which implies your subsequent query very effectively is likely to be…
Q: How do I be part of the personal Uber Frugal Month Fb group?
You’ll obtain a hyperlink to affix after you sign-up for the UFM. For those who’re already on this personal Fb group–which hundreds of you might be–don’t fear, you don’t must do something. Simply hold being superior and supportive within the group!
Q: Do I want to make use of Fb (or different social media) with a purpose to take part?
Nope! The Problem is performed solely through electronic mail and right here on Frugalwoods. The UFM Fb Group is an elective bonus. No must sign-up for Fb with a purpose to take part within the UFM. All you need to do is sign-up together with your electronic mail tackle within the field under.
Q: If I’ve already taken the UFM, can I take it once more?
Completely! I had my tech man (AKA Mr. Frugalwoods) arrange the e-mail thing-y such you can sign-up to re-take the Problem with the identical electronic mail tackle you used to take the Problem beforehand. You do, nonetheless, must sign-up once more with a purpose to be part of us beginning January 1st.
Actual Stay Folks Love The UFM!!!
Enjoyable as it’s to learn what I write (proper?!), it’s even MORE enjoyable to learn what different individuals (actual, stay individuals!) have stated about their participation within the Uber Frugal Month Problem. Fortunate for you, I’ve collected testimonials from previous Problem individuals who’ve written heartfelt notes about how the UFM modified their funds and in the end, their lives. Listed below are however a couple of chosen on your enjoyment and revealed with permission.
“I’ve loved finishing this month with you. You’re completely proper concerning the significance of cooking at residence and never consuming out usually. It’s good for the pockets and the waistline since we now have management over what we put in our meals. Our cash reveals our priorities. In the present day is my payday for January and with some sudden bills having cropped up in November and December I’m well-positioned to have all of it paid off with the self-discipline from January. Thanks for the motivation!” -SK
“I wished to answer virtually each single morning with stable reaffirmation of your frugal tenets. It’s nice to see such a complete information by the frugal mindset. It strengthened that I’m on the fitting path, however self-discipline is required to maintain in verify. I feel anybody who hasn’t adopted it won’t perceive the very actual happiness you report. They need to perceive that you simply aren’t uniquely suited to this, your recommendation is extraordinarily sensible!I’ll be right here subsequent yr as a self check-up. Thanks a lot!” -Adam
“Thanks a lot on your every day emails and encouragement. It helped me to remain targeted, to study, and to implement new concepts and methods of pondering.” -Donna
“It was a delight to learn all of the emails from you. It made clear sense to not spend extra on the issues I might of spent my cash on, nevertheless it was releasing to not try this….I’ve been on a frugal journey already, however to learn your emails was such a delight to see all of the strategies that you simply gave. I’ve saved some to return and browse them once more. It gave me function to maintain proper on going” -Arthur
“What was clear from the beginning was what number of instances I needed to say no. It felt like each weekend there have been simply so some ways to spend cash, however nothing was actually wanted. Saying no to frivolous expenditures was stunning at first, however half-way by the month it turned my mission. Now I see that what I might have spent cash on was simply issues, not wanted issues, simply locations to go, time to waste, and so forth. I saved some cash, however that cash will snowball if I proceed subsequent month, which I’ll! Thanks for this guided lesson, I discovered a lot” -Mary
“This UFM was surprisingly simple! It’s additionally my…third or fourth time making an attempt it?- and none of these went effectively. I began out robust however fizzled out, falling again into previous spending habits. That is the primary time I’ve finished an UFM as a working dad or mum (my son is sort of 2), so I feel the acute lack of leisure time was useful 🙂 However I even have a greater understanding of why I’m occupied with frugality and the numerous methods it advantages me, my household, and the long run we would like. This month has been a great reset. It hasn’t felt restrictive, it’s felt empowering.” -Meredith
“I’m very grateful on your writing and insights, particularly this month’s frugality mindset sequence. It was an ideal re-set, re-directioning for me. I’ve had frugal intervals of life however have gotten away from it. This sequence was an ideal reminder, renewer, instructor for a way I wish to stay shifting ahead.” -Sarah
“I’ve in contrast our month’s spending for this problem month, as in comparison with November (as December I had some irregularities and bookkeeping variances). Now we have saved a bit over $1,600 on our total spending. Now we have additionally reduce our meals spending by $975. Your weblog and this problem has actually began us on the values spending journey.” -Samantha
“I believed I knew the whole lot about frugality, however your articles gave me some new views about why frugality and lowered consumption is necessary to me. ” -L.P.
“I managed to avoid wasting much more cash this time round, I feel doing this problem greater than as soon as helps to refocus on targets.” -Ashley
“That is my second yr finishing the Uber frugal months with you and our neighborhood. I’m on my method to dwelling this as a life-style not simply months.” -Maxine
“I simply completed the Uber Frugal Month (once more!) and it’s all the time good to get again to fundamentals and reevaluate what and why I’m doing what I’m doing. Being frugal is my default setting, however it’s nonetheless good to reset and provides some uncared for areas slightly consideration.” -Vanessa
“This month was enlightening for me. It was primarily due to the fantastic emails. The very factor I objected to on the problem, I discovered to be nice! Your messages about in-sourcing resonated with me. These emails got here after I noticed the ability of in-sourcing in my very own life. I’ve additionally stunned myself at discovering issues I get pleasure from at low cost or totally free! Frugality helps us quiet a lot of the noise that takes us away from one another.” -D.S.
“It has stunned me how simple it was to not purchase something however meals. I do have a protracted method to go on that entrance however I’m excited for the problem. I really feel it is a life-style to work towards & that’s the reason I thanks. I completely love the Fb neighborhood you might have created additionally. Makes me really feel heat & fuzzy!” -Jamie
“My month was nice! I didn’t miss a lot and was in a position to make use of my financial savings to snowball more money in direction of my daughter’s pupil loans. Win-win! Thanks on your inspiration!” -Christie
“This frugal problem has been nice for my pockets, my well being and with my time administration. I’m now additionally beginning to consider my targets, what do I need on this life, being within the frugal problem has triggered this… I actually like your writing type and I’ve regarded ahead every day to see what’s subsequent on the problem and studying the related hyperlinks.” -Wayne
