The imminence of August has me in a back-to-school kind of mood, and this time I want to learn from you.
Here I am, I thought, pontificating about all I do to save money, yet I know that each of you is busy with your own strategies and tricks.
So this year — beginning in September (since that’s when the year really starts for me) — the theme is YOU.
Besides wanting to get out the front door and see what the rest of the world is doing, I am percolating a book idea. It has something to do with finding happiness in saving — or making — money, and I want stories from all sorts of people to be the main inspiration.
Request Topics and Share Your Snippets
I also want to write about the things you want to hear about. For example, Melanie requested a post about how people can begin a new frugal way of living, and Nicole was wondering about flying internationally with babies. What do you want to hear about? Send me an email at amy@frugal-mama.com or comment at the end of this post. I’ll do my best to fill your order!
Submit Your Tips and Pictures
How do you save money? What is making you smile these days? I’d love to hear what is working for you — and even what is not.
Karen, for example, would like to do a year-long experiment where she tracks all the money she saves by using coupons, loyalty cards, or discount shopping, and reports about it here. Allegra and her family have gone out on a limb two years in a row with a “Month of No Spending,” and she is going to share her experience with us.
I know that Meagan Francis at the Happiest Mom is doing a farm share this year and having canning parties. John Cave Osborne is going camping with his kids. Simple Mom doesn’t use shampoo. Nancy Shohet West bonded with her son and saved on a gym membership by going on a running streak with her nine-year-old son. Jennifer Roberts created a prehistoric world in her dining room for her son’s birthday party.
What do you do to save money?
It doesn’t have to be unusual or weird or creative. I’d love to cover the whole gamut of thrifty pursuits — the newness will be your perspective, your voice, your unique experience because there is only one you.
So, as my grandfather would say, “Put that in your pipe and smoke it.” Meaning: please consider submitting a short (or long) story about a way that you have saved — or earned — money that has been fulfilling, rewarding, educational, uplifting, peaceful, or just silly fun.
Feel free to leave me a comment now, or stay tuned for another call to action (once those kiddos are busy in school)!
And p.s. — just because I like to keep you in the loop — we are now back in Washington, D.C., in our new house. I swing between feeling elated and exasperated, as I look at all the piles of lampshades mixed with spatulas and bike pumps and wrapping paper and unpacked suitcases. The poor place is a mess — and honestly, with four kids and more and more writing work (which is great), is it ever going to look fabulous? Oh well, I love it anyway. And: embrace imperfection, right?
Take care,
Amy
p.s. The photos are from the countryside of Emilia-Romagna, where we spent a few days with Enrico’s dad and his friends. Who gave us lots of fruit.
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Hi Amy,
Your blog goes on my top 10 favorite finds of the Summer! I love your tagline- Simple Life, Happy Family. Some of my favorite posts are anything about quick healthy cooking (kale chips- awesome!) and your family life posts that focus on staying organized, being on time to school, cleaning house, etc. Thank you for the babysitting co-op post. I am dying to do this. Paying for babysitters is a huge pet peeve of mine (since when did babysitters hourly wage skyrocket past min. wage). My idea for your book… ideas to make your own Simple Life, Happy Family… you’ve certainly inspired me to try. Keep the great information coming!
– Jennifer, mom of 3 (Maddie, 5, Abby, 3 & Jack, almost 1)