Wednesday, November 13, 2013

The Frugal Life, Extended

Jumping in the way-back machine... When I started this blog, I fully intended to use it to the fullest extent of its capabilities. Then LIFE happened, as it often does.

So here I am, five years later, thinking "What happened?" and "Where will I go now?"

Well, the "What happened" is pretty simple... I tucked my head under and kept on keeping on, and changed priorities as needed... through my 2-year-old's emergency appendectomy and all the resulting financial interestingness; through my efforts to make my art financially viable -- first through teaching; through the birth of another son.

So where am I now?

Still in the in-laws' basement, though hopefully the financial necessity of that will go away soon. Though now there are five of us, living in a 2-room space, sharing a kitchen and cooking duties... and I think I'm ready now to talk about the adventure.

Will you join me?

Coming up: How to prepare to share living space! (Hopefully some good advice, whether it's moving in with the in-laws or roommates, or whatever the situation may be.)

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Intro post

Well, here I am, starting my new blog!

A little about me... I've been married seven and a half years, and we have two sons: Bean, age 5 1/2, and Sprout, age 2. My husband is a musician, and I am a visual artist. And no, I don't think we'll be starving artists for the rest of our lives. That's what frugality is all about, right?

Hubby is still working on his bachelor's degree, and for the time being is working part time at a music store. He's also an on-call accompanist for a local performing arts charter high school, and is accompanist for a music instructor (who currently has no students, thank you bad economy). He is taking some classes at the local community college, and is looking for another job that can better support us.

I used to work for our state arts agency, but quit just over a year ago to be a full-time mom. There were many reasons behind that, and I'll post about that another time. For now, I do some work from home... I go back to my old work every other month to do minutes for their bimonthly board meetings, and I take the occasional freelance illustration job that comes my way. (I need to actively search for more.)

Bean is in kindergarten, and thriving at it. He already knows how to read!

Sprout is growing, and his vocabulary is expanding exponentially by the week.

And that is us!

We live in my in-laws' basement for the time being, because we cannot afford to live anywhere else. Our arrangement is that Mom-in-law buys the groceries, and I cook. I also do a lot of house-cleaning, and we help with maintenance around the house. And keep a vegetable garden. It's an okay arrangement, if you have to be living with the in-laws, and it works for now. We'll be glad when we can afford our own place.

On that note, I'll be posting some articles here about frugality and provident living, for my own benefit. Hopefully what I find will be of use to others, as well. :)