Mission Statement

I waste money on stuff I don't need. That, predatory lending practices & a naive belief in the American dream have landed me in my present financial situation. Big debt. Medium income. And the thing about it that's a real bummer is that I would like to start planning my future with my Sweetie but we don't have the resources to do that. I feel bitter about it when I'm getting housewarming & wedding invitations & birth announcements from my peers. I sometimes wish I had made different financial choices. But I'm certainly not a victim. I can lay down in the bed I made or claw myself out of the hole I dug. I prefer to claw. So that's what this year is about. Making different financial choices.

One thing I can control is buying stuff I don't need. How much money could I save in a year by treating every spending decision (even the little ones) with care? I'm dedicating myself to a year of spending money only on the things I truly need. I'll be making major cuts to my grocery budget, entertainment budget & overall living expenses. I will document everything here, interview my favorite thrifty friends & hopefully spread the message that every cent adds up to your future resources. How much could I squirrel away spending a whole year living frugally? This year will be my experiment.

I want to warn readers that every method I write about in this blog may not be rosy & printable in a women's home magazine. This is the opposite of those features you see written about "making a family meal for $10 or less". This is more raw. This is about meals for $1. This is about outfits for $1. This is about what you can find to eat in your front yard. This is about stretching a dollar to lengths that may not always be mainstream. Join me.