Meet the Frugalwoods
Ratings14
Average rating3.6
15
Ratings14
Average rating3.6
The deeply personal story of why award-winning personal finance blogger Elizabeth Willard Thames abandoned a successful career in the city and embraced extreme frugality in order to create a more meaningful, purpose-driven life and retire to a homestead in the woods at age thirty-two with her husband and daughter. In 2014, Elizabeth and Nate Thames were conventional 9-5 young urban professionals. But the couple had a dream to become modern-day homesteaders in rural Vermont. Determined to retire as early as possible in order to start living each day—as opposed to wishing time away working for the weekends—they enacted a plan to save an enormous amount of money: well over seventy percent of their joint take home pay. Dubbing themselves the Frugalwoods, Elizabeth began documenting their unconventional frugality and the resulting wholesale lifestyle transformation on their eponymous blog. In less than three years, Elizabeth and Nate reached their goal. Today, they are financially independent and living out their dream on a sixty-six-acre homestead in the woods of rural Vermont with their young daughter. While frugality makes their lifestyle possible, it’s also what brings them peace and genuine happiness. They don’t stress out about impressing people with their material possessions, buying the latest gadgets, or keeping up with any Joneses. In the process, Elizabeth discovered the self-confidence and liberation that stems from disavowing our culture’s promise that we can buy our way to "the good life." Elizabeth unlocked the freedom of a life no longer beholden to the clarion call to consume ever-more products at ever-higher sums. Meet the Frugalwoods is the intriguing story of how Elizabeth and Nate realized that the mainstream path wasn’t for them, crafted a lifestyle of sustainable frugality, and reached financial independence at age thirty-two. While not everyone wants to live in the woods, or quit their jobs, many of us want to have more control over our time and money and lead more meaningful, simplified lives. Following their advice, you too can live your best life.
Reviews with the most likes.
Truly enjoyed reading their story. Yes, it's true they earn above average incomes. But still, the family made significant sacrifices and changes to their lives to make their dream life possible - and that should be admired and learned from :)
Mostly memoir with a little financial advice thrown in, the end goal is raising the the quality bar on our daily lives is essential so we're not living life in the valleys (i.e. cubicles, 9-to-5ers, etc.) waiting for peaks of decadence. The author acknowledges her privilege but also offers a helpful foundation around paying down debt, saving, and investing. Even the smallest changing around spending habits are important so we're not led by the next dopamine hit of the next hot, spendy trend. Excellent read.
