Friday’s Child is loving and giving.

Today’s Friday’s Child nod goes out to Jenn Fowler, the dynamo at the heart of Frugal Upstate. Spend awhile with her Frugal Upstate blog posts and watching her Twitter stream as @JennFowler (or go back and read her updates) and you’ll get a sense of her kind and caring nature,  as she brings support and gentle guidance to those of us pursuing a frugal lifestyle.  She packs her blog with tips and recipes, gathers frugal tips from her followers (including me), and encourages each reader to select what works for their individual situation. She’s also one of Walmart’s original Eleven Moms and is included in Alltop’s Top Frugality News section!

In Her Own Words

I’m New York mama Jenn Fowler. Since 2006, I’ve been writing about simple ways to save money doing simple things you’ve never even considered. One hint: it’s not all about clipping coupons and buying on sale!

My motto is use what you’ve got, get creative and save. I started by stretching what I had for longer, reusing stuff and making do without all the little needless extras. Along the way, I figured out that frugality is fun—like the way you feel when you find a designer dress at a yard sale for $5.

Frugality isn’t scary, it’s a gradual process that I’m still learning myself. I try different frugal skills, some of which stick, and some that don’t. I have fabulous successes and ridiculous failures. I possess no special skills except tenacity and the belief that I can figure it out. And my favorite part is sharing and learning from my readers.

My kids inspired me to take up the frugal cause. I was a career Army officer working with guns and tanks, about a world away from my blissfully domestic life today. After the birth of my first child, I decided to stay home full time. A typical New Yorker, I wanted it all: a good life, happy kiddos and a fat wallet on one less paycheck. I was determined to prove to the world that we don’t need more money to keep up our quality of life.

I’m also a suburban subversive, plotting to reinvent the way we stay-at-home-moms think about keeping up with the Joneses. Here’s an example: last year I instituted a $10 gift limit at my daughter’s birthday party. No one complained, and gift limits started popping up on Christmas parties and friends’ invites. Quietly, we frugalites will take over the world!

Recommended Reading:
100 Things About Me Meme
and
Holiday Recipes! Frugal Holiday Series

Friday’s Child is loving and giving.

Today’s Friday’s Child nod goes out to Merlene Paynter, @Merlene to Twitter users, author of Frugalous and now one of Walmart’s Eleven Moms. Back when Friday’s Child started, I tagged Marlene as a definite IT for inclusion. That it has taken us until now to connect speaks volumes about her whirlwind schedule. But, trust me, she’s well worth waiting for, especially in these days when our belts are tightening rapidly.  Her frugalous (frugal + fabulous) blog is packed with ideas that many of us can apply immediately and painlessly.  Following her on Twitter is a joy, and I always look forward to listening in as she comments on life.  

Merlene Paynter

In Her Own Words:
I always feel awkward writing “about” pages and mini-bios. I ponder… should I write it in first person or third person? Should I make it sound formal and businesslike or more informal and in my own “voice”? Should I include education, career background, etc? Or maybe hobbies? See what I mean? Awkward.

Why Frugalous?
I wanted to write a blog about living a frugal lifestyle but I wanted it to reflect my own experiences. As I’m about to begin an entirely new life – I recently moved from house of approximately 2100 square feet of living space (plus garage, 2 patios, garden shed, back yard) to an apartment that’s not quite 1000 square feet I’m hoping to create a new, fabulous lifestyle while staying out of debt.

I’m no Frugal Zealot.
Why the frugal living changes? After 19 years of marriage, and being a stay-home mother to two kids, I’m ready to make some changes in my life. I’m tired of carrying debt. I’m tired of worrying about bills. I’m tired of living a big life. So I’ve ended my marriage and sold the house – a hard choice. I really loved my house, my neighbours, etc. – paid off all of the debts and moved into a 3 bedroom apartment which will neatly cut my living expenses in half.

More changes.
I’ve decided to focus my time and energy on building an income online. I’m planning to earn a living blogging, writing articles, designing web sites, and a few other ideas along the way. More on that as I go along. Currently my income is 100% based on my alimony and child support for my teenage kids. It’s not a lot but with frugal living and the choice to move to an apartment I can make ends meet while I build up my income through online sources over the next year or two.

Recommended Reading:
Frugal Kids – Host a Used Skate Exchange
and
8 Ways to Stick to a Frugal Holiday Gift Budget

Friday's Child is loving and giving

Friday’s Child is loving and giving.

http://dailyblonde.blogspot.com/

Today’s Friday’s Child nod goes out to Cheryl Phillips, author of The Daily Blonde, a face-forward eyes-open look at life. Be forewarned: Don’t start reading her posts right after swigging a mouthful of hot coffee – it will get shot across the room, onto your computer screen, all over your desk. I learned after the first visit or so not to go read while my husband was asleep; shrieks of hysterical laughter tend to disturb him and scare the cat. But, trust me, it’s well worth waiting for the right time to go peruse. You will be rewarded by a frank and irreverent, highly humorous look into the life of The Daily Blonde. She’s my Friday’s Child pick for brightening up so many days (and because I’ve been listening in on her Tweeter conversations for quite some time and sense the caring, sharing, supportive Cheryl).

In Her Own Words:

The Daily Blonde Herself: Cheryl Phillips

I am a 45 year young single mother of five. I have worked hard, without an instruction book, raising my children over the past seven years since my divorce. Each hurdle I have faced has been tempered with humor. I have lots to say, a big sense of humor, and low tolerance for people who don’t know how to laugh! I am far from a feminist. In fact, I really, really love being a woman. It is possible to have truly old-fashioned values while remaining a hip, modern woman. I live life without a filter on my mouth and say it like it is but never with the intent to hurt. I love to laugh about this crazy thing called life.

Born in New Jersey, I was the third child of two fantastically funny and intelligent parents. We moved to Seekonk, Massachusetts when I was three and I lived in there until I went to school in Boston. I continued to live in Boston until I moved to the tiny state of Rhode Island in 1992. I’ve made this state our home since then.

An auto accident in 2007 brought me back to the basics. I was forced to leave the rat race and I have spent the last eighteen months recovering from three surgeries on my knee. Not being able to walk without assistance, I spent many an evening going back to my first love: writing. I created The Daily Blonde as a sort of self-therapy. I wanted to share my off beat sense of humor with others in an effort to distract myself from being ticked off that I couldn’t move around…much less wear my signature high heels.

Life is slower now. However, it is so full of great things I didn’t see when I was moving about so quickly. I was so focused on getting ahead instead of enjoying the moment. Currently I enjoy freelance writing, blogging (and creating some new features to The Daily Blonde that will be unveiled in early 2009), Twittering til the wee hours of the night and writing two books that I hope to publish in late 2009.
 

Recommended Reading:

http://dailyblonde.blogspot.com/2008/11/moment-in-history.html

and

http://dailyblonde.blogspot.com/2008/11/i-am-last-american-coffee-virgin.html