Another new name

**Shoshana** · 06-13-2008, 06:37 AM

Hello!

I've made a few posts already, but not an introduction, so here goes...

I'm here because I want to learn how to be frugal. It's about time. I want to change my relationship with money, and with things. I'm trying to simplify my life. It's difficult to change a lifetime of patterns and behaviors but I need to if I want my behavior to be consistent with my evolving philosophy of life.

I'm a college professor, single mom by choice to a nearly 5-yr old whom I adopted, Jewish, and conflict avoidant (yeah, and I'm still choosing to introduce myself

. In the past, I've been uninsured, uninsurable, and underinsured and have crawled out from underneath $100K in medical debt. These days, I find my salary not keeping up with my expenses.

Some of my steps towards frugality/simplicity are giving up the cell phone, and cutting magazine subscriptions, visiting the library, taking the bus. I'd like to give up the TV but need it for when my elderly parents visit. The most exciting thing I've learned here so far is how to make laundry soap. It's on my to-do list for the weekend! I'm in the process of "downsizing" and will have a garage sale, which I've named, "The Pack Rat's Cure"! I've quit shopping for new clothes (and toys) but still find myself at thrift stores and yard sales (yeah, it's cheaper but it's still a part of the old pattern).

I think it's time to join a couple of the "no spend" challenges.

Thanks for listening...