From the Archives: Dear Friends and Family,

The following is a post I wrote a little over a year ago. I thought a little walk down memory lane would be fun…

It’s official.

I’ve been labeled ‘Frugal’.

I wasn’t sure it was so until my brother admitted to me the other day that he was afraid to eat anything at my house while watching my children.  He thought it might throw off my whole frugal eating plan.

I’m not sure how I feel about this.  I suppose it’s a bit of a compliment in a strange sort of way.  Apparently he’s so impressed with my money-saving savviness, that he’s willing to starve to support it.

Hearing him say this has made me realize that maybe I need to clear a few things up with those I hold dear.  Here goes:

Dear Friends and Family,

I realize that in the past year, some of you may think that I have gone off the deep end with this whole saving money thing.  Don’t think I haven’t noticed your eyes glazing over as soon as the words ‘extrabucks‘  and  ‘swagbucks‘  escape my lips.  Indeed, I recognize that my enthusiasm over my latest free tube of toothpaste may be more irritating than contagious.  I’m pretty sure that some of you still haven’t forgiven me for that wild goose chase I sent you on with Oprah’s Free KFC.

I just want to say one thing.  I understand.  Frugality can be annoying.

In an effort to make it up to you, I want to clear a few things up:

• If you are ever at my house babysitting my children, you may eat whatever you can find.  My ‘frugal eating plan’ is not as strict as you may think.  (And besides, I probably have a coupon for whatever you ate anyway.)

• If you are ever at my house babysitting my children, feel free to make any long distance phone calls that you need to.  (We’ve got onesuite, so it’s only $.03 a minute!)

• If you are ever at my house babysitting my children, help yourself to toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo, mouthwash, dish soap, and pretty much anything you can find in my closet. (PLEASE…we need space to get more free stuff!)

• If you are ever at my house babysitting my children, it probably means Wes and I are out spending a little moolah on ourselves.  Yep.  We do that occasionally.  In fact, we kind of like it.  Gasp, huh?

• If you are ever at my house babysitting my children, THANK YOU!  (I may pay you in coupons and Johnson’s Buddies Soaps, but THANK YOU!)

With much love,

Kaley