I’m nonetheless right here! I took an unplanned (and due to this fact unannounced) break from writing the weblog, which was supposed to be for per 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 performed anyone job and I spotted throughout this impromptu hiatus that I–gasp–MISSED writing and MISSED all of you. Generally one will need to have some absence to ensure that one to understand what one misses. So, I’m checking in to let that I haven’t died or deserted Frugalwoods, however that I’m attempting 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 need to take full months off once more both. Thanks to your endurance as I–as soon as once more–work out what I need to do with my life. I like writing and I like serving to folks with their cash and I’m very grateful that I get to do exactly that.
My imaginative and prescient going ahead is to put up a brand new Reader Case Research every month.
The Reader Case Research are the clearest distillation of what my work is evolving into: extra serving to different folks with their cash; much less speaking about moi-self. As longtime readers know, my writing on Frugalwoods started basically as a cash diary. A approach for me to know my very own emotions about my cash and the way I wished to create a unique 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 cause for my supposed new deal with Reader Case Research is the undeniable fact that…
I’m Drained Of Writing About Myself
What I realized throughout this unplanned sabbatical is that, frankly, I’m bored with writing about myself. I’ve spilled numerous 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 youngsters 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 most likely stated nearly the whole lot I’ve to say–if not right here on weblog, then in my e book.
That being stated, I need to proceed our Frugalwoods group and proceed serving as a useful resource for folks at each stage of the monetary journey. I envision that occuring in just a few methods going ahead:
- Via a month-to-month Reader Case Research right here on the weblog, the place we’ll learn by way of 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, earnings degree, retirement plan, marital standing, occupation, location and extra! I hope it will assist people discover Case Research that replicate their very own monetary conditions and questions.
- Via the archives of this weblog. There are 737 revealed posts on Frugalwoods along with my e book, Meet the Frugalwoods. In case you’re inquisitive about my ideas on any given subject, take a look at 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 :).
- Via my one-on-one monetary consultations and monetary plans. In case you’d like my assist along with your cash, you possibly can learn extra about what I supply and rent me right here. I’ll allow you to perceive your whole monetary state of affairs, set clear objectives, and supply sensible options for managing your cash.
- Via being interviewed on podcasts and the radio. I take pleasure in being on different folks’s podcasts and, when you’re a podcast listener, you possibly can sustain with the reveals I’m on by way of this web page.
- Via my free Uber Frugal Month Problem (UFM). As most of you already know, you possibly can take the Uber Frugal Month by yourself at any previous time. As you might also know, we take the UFM collectively each single January. This January will probably be our seventh annual UFM Group Problem. Signal-up within the field beneath to hitch me!
Does This Imply You’ll By no means Write About Your Life Ever Once more?
Nope! I’ve realized to “by no means say by no means” since I usually follow the artwork of fixing my thoughts. I very effectively would possibly come throughout a brand new problem or discovery about myself sooner or later that’ll warrant new posts (or one other e book) 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 part of deep gratitude for what we’ve constructed and, in some ways, I’ve much less to jot down about versus once we have been within the striving-for-this-goal part. 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 pay attention to the place I’m at on this journey so 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 practice I need 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 need to proceed the UFM as a result of I’ve heard from hundreds of oldsters that the Problem modified their monetary lives for the higher. In case you haven’t taken the UFM earlier than, take a look at 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’ll be able to 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 enhance your funds. There’ll be motivational mantras thrown in, however the main function of the UFM is to provide you detailed, easy, easy-to-follow monetary motion objects. Woohoo!
Lots of people (me included!) take the UFM each single 12 months as a refresher course to assist get again on observe or to verify that they’re nonetheless in nice monetary form. Different folks come to it as cash newbies and finish the month with new confidence about their funds. Nonetheless others are at professional degree and take the course as a option to join with the broader Frugalwoods group and supply encouragement and recommendation to newer group 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 should be any of these issues. Cash is usually a beast you tame, perceive, and make be just right for you–not in opposition to you. You’ll be able to both grasp your cash or it could actually grasp you. Be a part of me and take cost.
A couple of years in the past I launched a personal Fb group for UFM members to share concepts, focus on challenges and be in group collectively, which suggests your subsequent query very effectively may be…
Q: How do I be part of the personal Uber Frugal Month Fb group?
You’ll obtain a hyperlink to hitch after you sign-up for the UFM. In case you’re already on this personal Fb group–which hundreds of you’re–don’t fear, you don’t must do something. Simply hold being superior and supportive within the group!
Q: Do I would like to make use of Fb (or different social media) as a way to take part?
Nope! The Problem is carried out fully by way of electronic mail and right here on Frugalwoods. The UFM Fb Group is an non-obligatory bonus. No must sign-up for Fb as a way to take part within the UFM. All it’s important to do is sign-up along with your electronic mail tackle within the field beneath.
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, nevertheless, must sign-up once more as a way to be part of us beginning January 1st.
Actual Dwell Individuals Love The UFM!!!
Enjoyable as it’s to learn what I write (proper?!), it’s even MORE enjoyable to learn what different folks (actual, stay folks!) have stated about their participation within the Uber Frugal Month Problem. Fortunate for you, I’ve collected testimonials from previous Problem members who’ve written heartfelt notes about how the UFM modified their funds and in the end, their lives. Listed below are however just a few chosen to your enjoyment and revealed with permission.
“I’ve loved finishing this month with you. You’re completely proper concerning the significance of cooking at house and never consuming out usually. It’s good for the pockets and the waistline since we’ve management over what we put in our meals. Our cash reveals our priorities. At present is my payday for January and with some surprising 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 strong reaffirmation of your frugal tenets. It’s nice to see such a complete information by way of the frugal mindset. It strengthened that I’m on the correct path, however self-discipline is required to maintain in examine. 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 12 months as a self check-up. Thanks a lot!” -Adam
“Thanks a lot to your day by day emails and encouragement. It helped me to remain targeted, to be taught, and to implement new concepts and methods of considering.” -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’d of spent my cash on, but it surely was liberating to not do this….I’ve been on a frugal journey already, however to learn your emails was such a delight to see all of the solutions that you simply gave. I’ve stored 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 surprising at first, however half-way by way of the month it turned my mission. Now I see that what I’d have spent cash on was simply issues, not wanted issues, simply locations to go, time to waste, and so on. I saved some cash, however that cash will snowball if I proceed subsequent month, which I’ll! Thanks for this guided lesson, I realized a lot” -Mary
“This UFM was surprisingly straightforward! It’s additionally my…third or fourth time attempting it?- and none of these went effectively. I began out sturdy however fizzled out, falling again into previous spending habits. That is the primary time I’ve performed an UFM as a working guardian (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 enthusiastic about frugality and the numerous methods it advantages me, my household, and the longer term we would like. This month has been a great reset. It hasn’t felt restrictive, it’s felt empowering.” -Meredith
“I’m very grateful to your writing and insights, particularly this month’s frugality mindset collection. It was an important re-set, re-directioning for me. I’ve had frugal intervals of life however have gotten away from it. This collection was an important reminder, renewer, instructor for the way I need 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). We’ve saved a bit over $1,600 on our total spending. We’ve 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 vital to me. ” -L.P.
“I managed to save lots of much more cash this time round, I feel doing this problem greater than as soon as helps to refocus on objectives.” -Ashley
“That is my second 12 months finishing the Uber frugal months with you and our group. I’m on my option to residing this as a life-style not simply months.” -Maxine
“I simply completed the Uber Frugal Month (once more!) and it’s at all times 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 somewhat consideration.” -Vanessa
“This month was enlightening for me. It was primarily due to the great 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 facility of in-sourcing in my very own life. I’ve additionally shocked myself at discovering issues I take pleasure in at low cost or free of charge! Frugality helps us quiet a lot of the noise that takes us away from one another.” -D.S.
“It has shocked me how straightforward it was to not purchase something however meals. I do have a protracted option to go on that entrance however I’m excited for the problem. I really feel this can be a life-style to work towards & that’s the reason I thanks. I completely love the Fb group you could 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 to 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 objectives, what do I need on this life, being within the frugal problem has triggered this… I actually like your writing model and I’ve regarded ahead every day to see what’s subsequent on the problem and studying the related hyperlinks.” -Wayne
