Learning a Frugal Lifestyle in a RV

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Are you thinking about stretching your dollar? So is Jacob who writes passionately and intelligently on the subject. He often shows his genius by explaining the long term results mathematically of making smart choices now. If you are serious about changing your life I highly recommend his blog. It's worth the effort to dig through it.

Jacob's Blog
Early Retirement Extreme
Financial independence, frugality, self-sufficiency, ecology,
capitalism, and voluntary simplicity

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One of the challenges Phil and I experience as we learn to live frugally in an RV an emotional struggle between gratefulness for time / freedom benefits vs. feeling trapped in our 'poverty' by our so called wants and needs. It's clear in this time of economic chaos that consumerism (at any cost) is core to our culture. The ghost of consumerism often can be found whispering in my ear. It can even be sneaky and subtle confusing me in my needs vs wants.

Trapped or Blessed?
We have often talked / brainstormed / arm wrestled with these opposing frames of thought. My mind is my own worse enemy. Can I lean into change and own the choices I make as a key to my solution and the quality of my life?

Back to Jacob and his post Find a FREE Hobby from his series The Extreme Retirement 30 Day Make Over.

I found IT!
The frame/words I had been looking for!
"FREE HOBBIES" or frugal spare time recreational pursuits

I believe an enriched frugal lifestyle means a significantly shift from a monetary foundation to one that finds joy, peace, rejuvenation, cha cha cha etc in a very different cadences in life. If you are lucky it comes naturally but for others a conscious effort is required. The question becomes can I/we do it? Can I uncover 'free hobbies' and embrace a differenct cadence to my life?

Good News
We had a great time in February! We continue to discover the magic of southern Arizona. Madera Canyon, the Sanoran Desert, free art classes here at the park, bird watching in our back yard, morning exercise, reading... whittling away at my store thatwhichisgood.com and more. We were tempted to take 'a road trip' but decided on staying close to home.

Even with the need to implement a tighter budget we were able to find ways to enjoy our time off. Our expenses were $1141 (not including $276/mo for rent/insurance previously paid.) Our best month ever. That includes our health insurance too! Whoo whoo!

Our spirits are up as we begin to reap the reward for identifying and nurturing our FREE Hobbies. It's good to see the result of our efforts on our pocket books and spirit. How about you? What do you think of the idea of 'free hobbies'? Do you have some already? What free passions would you like to grow?

I would love you to add a comment below!

Now let us dance!


(gifts from the heart)