I've just been poking around in some very old posts, and saw a reference to usave, and it got me thinking about the history of Frugal Village.

Anyone want to share a brief synopsis for those of us who've only just stumbled in recently? I'm interested in the history and evolution of FV, just out of curiousity.

I would love to hear too!

Yes, I would definately love to hear!

I'd like to hear also.

Bueller?



Bueller?



Bueller?





:curtain: (Me taking a bow after my fabulous performance of the teacher from Ferris Bueller's Day Off )

It's a long story and those that have heard it...bear with me. lol

I left my job after miscarrying and conceiving again back to back. We decided my work schedule wasn't very well suited for family.

It was a sudden decision and I wasn't prepared for how I was going to feel once home full time. Prior to being married, I had rarely cooked my own meals and wasn't much of a homemaker. I usually got home around 10pm at night and just watched tv and zonked out.

Anyway, once home I felt almost desperate to do something. I wasn't a blissful mom. I felt a major loss to my identity and almost resentful that I had a new role. I know that probably sounds incredibly selfish, but I'm just sharing where I was at back then. I think my negative feelings were mostly based on the fact that my career was so much a part of my life and to exchange it for being an at home mom felt like I was suddenly thrown off the planet. I was still a newlywed and a new mom and the extreme difference was a very difficult transition.

Also, during this time, I had also chosen to sell my house and we moved into my family's summer cottage. We were going through the immigration process for Gabe and in retrospect, quitting my job was insane. lol

I had considerable debt because prior to marriage, I treated credit cards like just a fun thing to use. Sometimes I'd pay them off in full and sometimes I wouldn't. I used them whenever I felt like it and never really thought about it. I didn't have tons of credit card debt. (not into the thousands) It was high enough though to cause some troubles once I wasn't working though. I also had a ton of student loans I needed to pay and a car payment. Sooo, I sold my house back to my exbf and also swapped my new mustang for the cougar. My exbf and I both drove new cars and the cougar had a lower car payment and since our finances were combined, we both decided it was best. The cougar's payments were about $50 less per month.

Still with me? I know I'm rambling and sharing more than is needed, but oh well. I just had coffee and am feeling chatty. lol

Ok, so one day as I'm feeling all pitiful and pathetic, I decided to try creating a website on geocities. I found it pretty easy and started looking into free message forums because I wanted a place to trade coupons. I was really into trading coupons because we were really into guerilla frugality because we had to be. At the time, Gabe's work schedule was working (3) 14 hour days, so he was home for 4 days. We worked together learning how to web design. Gabe knew much more than I did, so he was able to teach me things and I had time to learn a lot on my own too.

Initially, I was going to create a website that was just like my career. But with each day that passed, I started wanting something new and different and was pushed more in the direction of saving money and trading coupons.

My first message forum was an "Inside the web" forum. Then next it was an ezboard forum, then a free phpbb forum, and then vbulletin. I still remember my first webpage online as usave2day.com It was hideous. I was so proud of that one single page and looking back on it now, man it was ugly. lol

I started building additional pages and starting learning what I needed to learn to get the pages to look the way I wanted them to.

I traded a lot of coupons and started using my website to post my wishlists and coupons I had for trade. I also started trading coupons for free if the other trader would register on my forums and just say a hello. That's how I got my forums started. Let's just say the forums were pretty darn quiet for a while. lol

That's when I decided to put the site on search engines to draw in more people. I started asking for link exchanges which was difficult because my site was so cheesy, who would want to trade links? lol I finally got a few link exchanges and a few more people joined.

I celebrated each person that joined and would announce over dinner whnever someone new registered. Just getting the first 100 people was a big deal.

Then Gabe got a new job that would have us relocating. I didn't want to move at all. I spent months sulking and pouting over leaving everything and everyone I had ever known. Moving here sucked. It was the most boring place in comparison to where I was used to living. Add to the fact that we had limited money and I was thrown into working on the site more than ever.

I changed the site design and started to slowly add additional pages of content. Meanwhile, switching to better forums. I spent most of my days posting my brains out until I couldn't think of even one more thing to talk about. lol I felt like I was talking to myself forever and every once in a while I'd finally get a reply. lol

Then I started to select moderators and had a small group of regulars. It wasn't much, but it was a nice group.

Time passed and I decided that there was more to what I was experiencing than just clipping coupons and when I moved, I had started clipping and trading much less because our little city didn't really have many coupon inserts. Since I was becoming even more frugal, I thought that a frugal community seemed to be a more accurate description of where the site was heading. The name usave2day started to not only be difficult to remember, but obsolete. We set out to find a new name and Frugal Village was actually Gabe's idea for the name and it was ok with me. We lost a lot of members with the switch of names and lost some whenever we made a server move or a forum change.

I didn't have an email contact list to alert people and so when people tried to access, they couldn't and many probably just gave up.

Once on vbulletin, things were stabilized again and I set to work on optimizing search engine positioning and learning about that.

FV has always peaked and valleyed. Sometimes it's super busy and tons of registrations and sometimes it's very quiet and barely anyone new joins. There were many times, I felt that I should just give up because it was costing me a fortune and I wasn't seeing any results. But the site meant so much to me that I couldn't let it go. I wasn't sure what I'd do if I didn't have it to work on.

FV reached a point where other sites were piggybacking and copying so much of it that I knew we were doing well. :) That's what has always driven me harder to be the best I can be and the leading trendsetter. Other sites will continue to be 2 steps behind. **edited to add** When other sites starting copying content word for word is when I became a paid subscription site. I did that for a year, but then decided that it was hindering my overall vision for the site. I just feel in my heart of hearts that any person that profits from the hardship of others has to take a deeper look into themselves. I decided that if I want to make money, there are other avenues like my writing. It's an ethical decision. Membership boomed after that decision and although the costs involved are steep, I feel closer to my goals.

Once FV was established and doing well, I felt the need to create Homestead Garden. Some may think it's similar and for a while it may continue to seem that way, but in time it will prove to be much different. It draws in different people. Mostly those that are avid gardeners. I had tried to close the garden section here on FV and get people to participate over there, but that didn't seem to work very well, so I reopened the garden section here and decided that HG would just be on it's own and some members would cross over and post at both sites and some wouldn't. Both sites have very different types of members.

FV remained my main focus and I started to write more. This brought in more people as my articles were published on different sites.

I recently opened Homekeeping101.com and much like HG, it doesn't have much added to it yet, but FV started much the same and in time they will grow to be as large as or larger than FV.

I felt a strong desire to create a place that didn't discuss budgeting or money. I can't tell you how often I don't want to talk about frugal topics. Sometimes it just gets frustrating if I'm experiencing a frustrating time and I wanted a new place to focus on positive things. HK101 will have content more drawn from my professional experiences whereas HG and FV are more personal experiences.

Phew..ok I think that's the story behind it all. I know I'm skipping lots of things like times when the roof was leaking into buckets or the times we didn't even have an oven. Or relatives stealing 90% of what I owned that was in storage. Things like living with 3 plates and 4 glasses and not even owning a couch.

Gabe and I experienced some very tough financial times, but came through on the other side. I think women have a unique position during tough times. Our role in our family can often make or break the situation. I never thought I'd be able to experience the hardship that I have and work back to a lifestyle that's more comfortable, but we did.

I continue to want to empower women. There are so many things we experience in our lifetime that are similar. I'm amazed by the common threads amongst us. Sharing, support, and encouragement can make a difference in the life of others. I know it has for me.

I never run out of new ideas I want to implement. It takes time and resources and I just baby step my way to doing them when I can.

If you've read this far, I just wanted to say thank you for being a part of things here. Your participation supports my vision for the communities. The forums are a crucial part of the success of FV and I couldn't have done it alone. The outpouring support and inspiration is what makes this place special.

The difference between being a lurker and a poster is vast. I encourage anyone that just reads to try posting and experience how much more the community has to offer when it's interactive. If you're shy, here's your opportunity to be more bold.

I just can't say thank you enough. I've got so many plans for the communities over the upcoming years. I'm so excited to see so many of you that have been here for so long. It means the world to me. Hoping you'll continue to enjoy the communities and I'm looking forward to future. For anyone that has monetarily supported FV, I can only say thank you. I'm appreciative of any donations and all participatory support.

I always love hearing Sara's story. Its a testament to a very determined young lady and one who cares about her communities more than anyone really knows.

When I came, 3 years ago July 31st, there were just over a 1,000 members and only two members had more than a 1,000 posts - Sara and Michelle. Now, 3 years later look at what fv has done and very few have under 1,000 posts.

From day one, this was my home and will continue to be my home. Coming from a very bad experience, it was heart warming to find a place to come too that didn't have all the "internet bickering" that I had experienced elsewhere. Right from the start, Sara's deep concern for her members impressed me and still does.

I thank Sara and Gabe for the changes they've made and for making this such a great place to come each day, make friends and encourage each other.

Sara, thank you for sharing your story with us. You are such an inspiration to all of us here. You and Gabe have built a community that has brought so much to each of us. I have learned so much here. It has brought me such amazing revalations in frugality, it has motivated me, and it has brought me amazing friends that I value so much.

Thank you for all you do Sara!!!! :hugz:

aww you're welcome. I didn't really touch on a lot of my own personal struggles and my own path to where I'm at now, but can only say that this community has supported me through many difficult times. I consider myself much more into simple living than frugality now, although I'm always pretty thrifty.

I don't post my own trials and tribulations and rarely share the nitty gritty, but this community has helped keep me grounded through many personal struggles and I will always be eternally grateful.

Thanks, Sara! That was actually much more detailed than I had hoped for- thank you so much for taking time to share so much of the history with us!

:) :D

:clap: Thanks for all you have done here, Sara and Gabe. My RL village is pretty small, and it is hard to find too many like-minded people nearby. My best friend now lives an hour away, and without a car, it is even harder to make contact with people like me. I can do it on a daily basis here, anytime I want (around my life and the times I DO get to go visit with friends and family) and this is more like a community than any other online community I have visited over the last 10+ years. (And the other day I was wondering over the fact that I don't think I've ever seen a snarky post here, which is great! Either people are just nicer here or...well, the mods are quick, but I'd like to think it is the former.)

:D

Thank you for sharing the story of the site, Sara, and thanks to you and Gabe for everything you do here.

As you well know, this site has changed my way of thinking and is a constant inpiration to me. Like Kimber, I have few people close by who relate to all this so FV is like a sounding board to me. It's where I come to learn new things, to share my beliefs and ways of being and to renew the knowledge that being a part of a commmunity is good for the soul.

Thank you Sara for your wonderful story and thank you to you and Gabe for this wonderful site!!!!

I feel like this is my second home. Some days I'm able to post often and other days when I can't I feel like I'm away from all the good friends I've met here. To me, FV has always been my extra emotional support. We get what we can from spouses/SO and friends and family that are close to us, but I find more emotional support here at certain times and that means so very much to me! No matter what my mood is I come here.

I love being frugal and living more simply as well. That's how I was initially drawn here. Trying to find ways of doing things better and saving money. Finding a Quilting and Sewing thread to satisfy that part of my life as well. Then I found that others like to do canning, prepare Chirstmas projects in the Summer and make all their meals from scratch. I found others like me! I am so thrilled about it still! :D

Thank you! :hugz:

I liked 'Usave2day', but the FrugalVillage is even better. :D Thanks so much, Sara and Gabe! :smball:

Thanks Sara for letting us in on the history of FV. This village has been a real lifesaver for me and I count the people here among my friends. I've gone from being a contributer to a "slacker" right now but I know that when things are less hectic here, the village will be waiting for me and I am very grateful for that.

Thanks for all the hard work you and Gabe put in to make this site such a great place!

Thanks as well to the mods and regulars, as without your contributions FV would not be what it is.

Thank you for sharing your story with us all Sara. I love what you have given all of us; a wonderful, fun-loving place to call "home".

Thanks, Sara! I had only heard parts of the story before... putting it all in perspective like that makes me even more thankful for what you've created here.

When I was a new mom, suddenly at home with much less income, I learned so much here-- stockpiling and coupon trading were some of the first, and best, tips I've learned here! I had a vague idea that using coupons was a good idea.... and then I came here and learned about swapping, using them with sales, loss leaders, etc. It was a whole new world for me... and it really saved our budget at home!

What a wonderful and inspiring story! Thanks for all your hard work and for FV!

Thanks for posting the history of Frugal Village. I've never taken the time to post on other sites. This is a great site; perfect for learning and sharing, and of course. . .venting.

Thank you Sara for all you do to give so many of us a "place" and a "voice." Some of us can't share our frugal/simple musings anywhere else for fear of being misunderstood or judged so this community is important. I had no idea how much went in to creating an online community like this. Thank you for all your hard work. :grwave:
Emily

That is such a wonderful story, Sara! I really appreciate all the hard work you have put into this site. It has been a life saver for me. :Hurray:

Wow I remember usave2day. I joined when there were only 500 members and not much activity. This is the best site on the net and carried me through many rough financial times while I stayed home with the kids. I have been pretty inactive during the last year while I was getting used to working full time. But I hope to get back on track here.

We are buying a new house and I plan on using the great info on this site to get me through our new venture.

Thanks Sara!

Thanks Sara and Gabe for everything you do here. I dont know what I would do without this site :hugz:

I remember usave2day as well.I joined in 2002 and cant believe its been that long! I sometimes slack off posting,but I always come back :) I've joined other sites since joining here,but this is home.I rarely visit or post on the others....

Ahhh the memories..............Thanks!:D

Thanks for the history!

As you all know, Im fairly new to FV, but felt welcome since day one. I have learned so much from all of you. You give great advice, support and friendship. Im proud to call this my "frugal family!"

(((((((((((((BIG HUGS))))))))))))))))
and thanks to Sara & Gabe !!

Thank you Sara!v What a wonderful; story!!!

I had totally forgotten usave2day! But, that's how I found you! Great story, Sara!

im always looking for ways to save-id rather use my money on the things i enjoy most and scrimp on other stuff. this is the best site i have found (and the warmest community) in all my websurfing. i love coming to this site and actually drop in before going to work everyday--my newfound habit. thanks to sara and gabe --and also to everyone else who throws out their ideas and ways of doing things...its so neat to be able to use someone else's tips and even neater when you can throw in ur own ideas.
this site gets a flashing neon five stars from me:hurray:

I remember sara from inside the web and babynet.... (trading coupons) god that was so long ago.

:bump: :bump: :bump: :bump: :bump: :bump:

I love reading Sara's story :D

What a beautiful story. I'm presently frustrated with my lot in life and praying that some new career idea will come to me. Thanks for developing the site. I'm new here but feel right at home.

Stacey

Thanks Sarah and Gabe for this site and all your hard work. It just feels homey and warm to me- full of people who REALLY want the best for each other I think. It's a true treasure and I'm so glad I found this place !

Sara,
Thank you for sharing, I've been wondering how this board began.
This place feels like home, a safe place, with support, encouragement in so many areas.
I've ran across scary places that we're suppose to be frugal and simple everything but.. sadly
Thank you for all your work to make this an outstanding community...your members are the best of the best!!
With appreciation, Happymommy and member:smball:

Thank you for sharing your wonderful story and for starting this great site. I cannot even begin to tell you how many other sites I have read and never felt comfortable enough to post.

Thanks from the bottom of my heart.

Take Care,

Thank you Sara. I am new here I have only about 100 posts. I feel very welcome here and enjoy logging in a few time a day to see whats going on. I love looking at the pictures that people post. We have just finished (almost) putting 3 kids through college. We paid for thier education, now its time for DH and I to build our savings back up. I find that there is so much good info and advise here. Thanks for what you do!

THank you Sara for sharing your story. I haven't been a member long but I log on everyday maybe even 2 or 3 times in a day. This site gives me alot of inspiration, people here understand what its like to be frugal or being financially strapped.

Thank You and God Bless.

wow. i had often wondered about how FV was started.
thank you for taking the time to write it all out like this :)

What a great story, Sara! We're all so grateful for all your hard work and perseverance!! I love Frugal Village and have "withdrawals" if I have to go more than a day or two without it! (giggle) A while ago I started calling you all my "frugal family" whenever I'm talking to my Dh or others. :D

:cheergrl: Frugal Village Rocks!! :cheergrl:

I'll be updating this again soon. :)

Thank you for sharing that story. I have found this site while on bedrest and will be having the baby soon. Although I will be busier I plan on checking back a few times a week to stay on track.

Katy

THanks sara! This site has gotten me thru many rough times!!!