Author Archives: thefrugalfight

Now, you may look around and see two groups here: White collar, blue collar. But I don’t see it that way. And you know why not? Because I am collar-blind. Michael Scott, The Office Ever been miserable at a job? I mean truly miserable? So miserable that you’d rather make a living cleaning specks ofContinue reading “From White Collar to Blue Collar: An Unexpected Journey”

The country I come from is called the Midwest. So sang Bob Dylan on his landmark 1963 record The Times They Are A-Changin’. Now, the Midwest is known for many things, namely passive aggression and squeamishness. And nothing gets Midwesterners more squeamish than conversations about money. (Fine, it’s a three-way tie between money, sex, andContinue reading “Let Your Frugal Flag Fly”

Frugal Tip: if you drive a car, clean out the trunk. You’ll get better gas mileage and do the environment a solid. A group of researchers conducted a study where they asked a student to sport a Barry Manilow t-shirt and enter a crowded room full of peers. The student was convinced everyone in theContinue reading “A Life Lesson Courtesy of Barry Manilow”

I have enough.  Enough of everything. I decided this seven years ago. I have shelter. I have food and clean water. I have clothing. I have the necessary suite of insurance products. To me, everything else is a luxury, a bonus, the icing on the cake. This epiphany led me to freeze my standard of living inContinue reading “When Enough is Enough”

For many years, my default setting was set to “spend.” If I was bored, I spent money. If I was miserable (the American workplace all but ensures this), I spent money. If I hung out with friends, I spent money. This is why I spent close to $2,000 on ordering pizza in a single year.Continue reading “Change Your Default Setting”

Let’s begin with a few things about me. I’m not especially attractive. I’m terrible with directions. I can’t build Ikea furniture to save my life. I once used a knife upside down for two minutes, wondering, with increasing frustration, why I couldn’t cut a cafeteria pork chop. I am, nevertheless, great at saving money. Don’tContinue reading “Fighting Back”