Interesting Article

**Wendy99** · 05-26-2011, 10:53 PM

An article by Donna Freedman on Surviving on $12,000.00 per year. Some really good ideas and I love the part where she says "every dollar I don't spend is a dollar I have earned"

Surviving (and thriving) on $12,000 a year - MSN Money

another interesting one ..

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com...vingIt%20.aspx

**NikoSan999** · 05-26-2011, 11:06 PM

Interesting...but the first article was written in 2007. 3 years ago. I'd like to have those grocery prices back and if I remember right gas prices too.

Second one I didn't notice. Probably same year.

But interesting especially her attitude. Spunky and upbeat to say the least.

**pollypurebred39** · 05-26-2011, 11:13 PM

Yes, I also saw it was 3 years ago. I wonder how she is doing now? If she's done school? Has she been able to find a job?

She certainly has a good attitude about the whole thing, which is marvelous.

**SandNOceanGirl** · 05-27-2011, 09:03 AM

Here is her blog site. www.donnafreedman.com
She has some very interesting articles.

**frugalwarrior2** · 05-27-2011, 09:30 AM

well
first off she isn't actually living on that as she states she got a grant and goes to the food pantry. But I do a lot of the same things she does and have to give her kudos. Nothing like the last 1/2 hr. of a Sat. church sale or bag day at the library!

**Ramona** · 05-27-2011, 05:21 PM

Thank you, I've bookmarked her blog.

**DonnaFreedman** · 05-27-2011, 07:31 PM

Thank you for the link and the kind words.
@Frugalwarrior2: Actually, the grant was factored in to the $12k a year. It wasn't extra. I stopped going to the food bank when things got a little better; can't remember exactly when but I know it was by autumn of that year.
I finished my degree in December 2009 (B.A., magna cum laude) and since that time have continued to write for a living vs. look for a full-time job. I write a personal finance column for MSN Money, am a staff writer at Get Rich Slowly and have my own site, Surviving and Thriving.
Still living much the same way, except that now I'm debt-free and traveling (frugally) a lot more.

**frugalwarrior2** · 05-27-2011, 08:04 PM

Would be very interested in finding out more. How do i access the thriving and surviving site?
And congrats on getting that degree.

**frugalfriend** · 05-27-2011, 08:48 PM

to the village, Donna! I think you have much to contribute here, and I look forward to reading more of your posts and articles!

**Debbie-cat** · 05-27-2011, 09:44 PM

Thanks for the links!! Very interesting.

**BlissMommy** · 05-27-2011, 10:28 PM

I really liked that article, thank you for sharing!

**DonnaFreedman** · 05-28-2011, 12:47 AM

@Frugalwarrior2: I can't yet post URLs because I'm such a newbie. But someone else was kind enough to post it for me. Hint: It's my name and a dot-com.
Thanks for the congrats. It was a very, um, interesting four years. OK, it was four years on a dead run. But I'm sure glad that I did it.

**beks37** · 05-28-2011, 01:48 AM

@Donna - I really like your attitude and you're very inspiring. Although I don't have to live on less, sometimes I wish I did so I could save more.

**Imarachne** · 05-28-2011, 09:19 AM

You point out that being creative in the approach to frugality is key.

**DonnaFreedman** · 05-28-2011, 01:50 PM

I think creativity does have a lot to do with managing on a tight budget. Instead of throwing money at a problem (if you have any to throw, that is), you figure out how to cope. Or you get creative about meeting your everyday needs without undue spending.
Understand: I'm not against ever paying for things. I just don't see the need to OVERpay for things.