Beginning Blogger

This is uncharted territory for me, but I desperately need an outlet to document and share my new hobby - being frugal! It began in January when my husband and I enrolled in Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University and I think my interest grows as the days go by. My frugal efforts began by researching couponing extensively in an attempt to learn to save a little extra money each month. I've saved more than $1000 in the 4 months that I've done that and had so much fun with it that I held a class on couponing at our church to share it with others.

A couple of months into couponing, in an effort to sharpen my skills, I started reading various blogs like A Thirfty Mom (http://athriftymom.com/) and Saving and Giving (http://savingandgiving.blogspot.com/). These give great tips about couponing and where to find the best deals and sales, and I've saved a hundred dollars or more by using the information on their website in my shopping expeditions.

In addition to that, I subscribe to a daily email from a blog called "The Simple Dollar" (www.thesimpledollar.com) that is focused on personal finance. He discusses a wide variety of topics and what I read in those emails encourages me to think about frugality and how I can do more and more.

So, that's where I am. I'm trying to learn to be frugal, not only at the grocery store, but throughout all that I do. It has become much less about saving money, but rather more about how I can get by on less. It's become a game, and I'm VERY competitive.

Let the game begin!