Response to New Member Questionnaire

**JHudson04** · 09-21-2007, 07:12 PM

How did you hear about frugal village? Google search on "frugal" and "forum". Ta da!

What interests you here? Everything! I especially enjoy hearing other people's stories about what they do/have done to make the most of their resources. There have been some great ideas posted and the folks here are far, far friendlier than I have seen on other forums. (Like the MSN Money community, for example.)

Do you know any other members here? Nope.

How many kids? Ages? Two daughters (22 and 20), one graduated from University of Delaware last May and the other in her sophomore year at Oakland University. All paid for by mom.

Tell us about yourself. I am 41, divorced, but in a long-term committed relationship with a man I love deeply. We've talked about marriage, but as both of us have been divorced twice, we're not so keen on the institution. Ironically, he's the one that it would work with as we are on the same page with everything!! We each maintain our own home and live together between the two places. It works for us, especially as my place is in the city and very near the train station (I commute to Philly) and his office. So we end up staying in the city during the week and at our "country place" on the weekends. We tried living just in his place for a while to save on expenses, but it didn't work so well...we're each a bit too independent I guess and until we buy something together, this is how it has to be. I work as a legal analyst for a national energy company in the environmental law department and am a year away from finishing law school. I should be done by now, but have had to take whole semesters off to travel for work (trials). A necessary evil both because of the type of work I used to do (litigation) and also for the extra funds to pay for tuition, both for my daughters and myself! Thankfully I changed jobs and don't have to travel the way I used to. Less pay, but also less stress and far less inconvenience. It was a worthwhile trade off.

Do you own any pets? I used to have the most handsome, loving, wonderful golden retriever on the planet, Oliver, but when I divorced my second husband, I had to leave him behind. The ex kept the big house and the big dog went with it as there was no way I could keep him in my tiny place. We tried the shared custody thing for a while (we didn't have kids together, thankfully, but it sure was hard to leave Oliver! I stayed far longer than I should because of how much I loved him!!!), but it didn't work and I swear it was hard on the dog. He was very confused about everything. I keep saying I'll get another golden one day, but I think he was the doggie love of my life and irreplacable.

SAHM or Working mom? Working, working and working. Always worked even when the girls were small. They seem to have turned out okay! Happy, well adjusted, funny, smart, beautiful, capable young women who are making their way in the world (with a little help from mom).

Married or single? See above.

Interests and hobbies? Yoga, reading, travel, cooking, spending time with my family and friends.

The girls and me: