Author Archives: thefrugalfight

That’s right! Grab those sneakers from the basement! Pull out that ten-speed! Reacquaint yourself with the grandeur of public transportation! Better yet: sell that money pit on wheels. It costs you 56 cents per mile when you drive it. The gas! The wear and tear! The horror! Car insurance sucks. Red-light tickets suck. Deductibles suckContinue reading “Ditch That Money Pit on Wheels”

Why a blog? Why not a diary instead? One preferably kept under lock and key. The answer is you. I need you to know you’re not crazy. There’s a reason you’re burned out, exhausted, and shell-shocked. And it has nothing to do with you as a person. It’s not some inherent character flaw. You’re notContinue reading “Living in the Ruins”

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! No, I’m not talking about the holidays. I’m talking about my annual financial health check-up! I get unreasonably excited about this—it’s my Super Bowl! It consists of three parts: I pore over bank statements to see how our household spent every single penny. I calculate how muchContinue reading “A Year Lived Frugally”

For 10 years I dreaded the Monday following Thanksgiving weekend. That’s because I was a white-collar grunt. You never knew what absurdities and inanities awaited you. Maybe your job duties had doubled in a single email sent by a CEO with no discernible life. At the very least, you had to make up for theContinue reading “Confessions of A Former White-Collar Grunt”

I’m full of shit. I present myself to the world as Mr. Frugal, but I actually spend $52,000 a year on peace of mind. That’s the difference between my white-collar salary and my blue-collar salary. To be fair, it’s more than peace of mind. It’s options. It’s flexibility. It’s headspace. It’s presence. After I clockContinue reading “Who the Hell Turns Down $52,000?”

Exactly one year ago today, I splurged. That’s right! I got in my pre-owned car and drove straight to a church rummage sale with $25 burning a hole in my pocket. Three hours later, I left with a trash bag full of the latest fashions. That was the last time I spent a single pennyContinue reading “The System Hates Me and I Hate It Right Back”

I know what that eye roll means! You think I’m a cheap asshole. False! I might be an asshole, but I’m not cheap. No! No! I’m frugal! There’s a difference: Being Frugal Does Not Mean You Buy the Cheapest Option Cheap shit breaks. I’ll pay extra for value and durability all day long. It’s actuallyContinue reading “The Difference Between Frugal and Cheap”

I’ve sure talked a lot about how to go frugal, but the why is just as important. Here’s ten reasons to jettison those spendthrift ways. 1. Wouldn’t be Nice to Actually Retire One Day? Ceaseless labor is highly overrated. That’s why Hercules put a cap on his heroic feats. My wife and I have aContinue reading “Ten Reasons to Go Frugal”

Telling Americans not to spend is sort of like singing abstinence’s praises at an orgy: You’re not going to be the most popular guy in the room. Sure, it’s not entirely thankless. Some folks will display a modicum of interest in shrinking their grocery expenditures, but beyond that you sure confront a lot of dismissivenessContinue reading “The Half-Ass “Prophet” No One Asked For”

You’re out and about (it’s the before times), and you find $5 lying on the ground. Score! This may be your biggest win of 2020! (The bar has been set incredibly low.) Question: What do you do with Mr. Lincoln? A. Try desperately to find its rightful owner B. Use it to create an origamiContinue reading “Money is Money is Money is Money”