Saturday, February 16, 2013

Guest Interview: Frugal Living

I would like to introduce you to my dear friend, Kristi. Kristi is 22 and oh-so-happily engaged to the man of her dreams. As she prepares for married life, Kristi is finding many creative ways to use her money wisely. Get the inside scoop on some of her frugal tips!



Everyone loves a good bargain. Would you consider yourself a “bargain shopper”?
     I don’t usually shop UNLESS it’s a bargain! I love finding the best deal for my money and getting great quality at a great price. 

What are your favorite stores to shop at to get good deals? What have been some of your best deals?
     My favorite stores to shop at are thrift stores! I even work at a consignment shop part-time, so that shows a little of how much I love thrift shopping! I love finding name brand clothing for just a few dollars. One time I found a brand new Nike running jacket  with the $70 price tag still attached, unworn, and got it for around $9. My closet is full of secondhand finds from my favorite brands like Ann Taylor, Tommy Hilfiger, The Limited, and Abercrombie, and I’ve never paid even close to full price for any of it.


Do you take advantage of free samples that come in your mailbox? How do you make use of these items?
     I don’t get as many free samples as I used to, since I’ve been making changes toward more natural/organic things and those kinds of samples aren’t as readily available. But when I can find them, I definitely grab them! I always look for samples of food, too, as weird as it sounds…but they almost always come with good coupons. Actually, for Christmas I filled my Dad’s stocking with K-cups for his office Keurig and gave a friend another bag full of K-cups for theirs, all for free because I’d been collecting the sample packs! 

I know you have won a few blog giveaways/contests in the past. Do you always enter giveaways, and if so, do you believe it is worth it?
     I’ll let you in on a secret I found a little while ago. I found this website called Tight Wad in Utah, where the blogger posts low-entry giveaways ending within the week. I started entering as many as I was interested in, and so far I’ve won two books and some coupons. I’d definitely say it’s worth it! Especially if it’s a low-entry giveaway, because you have a better chance of winning. But I usually enter the ones from the bigger blogs I follow too, because you never know. My first win ever was from a big blog, and the prize was a $50 credit to an online store called Antique Farmhouse, and I got two cute artificial topiaries for free with it!


Is “frugal living” a priority for you and your fiancé’s future home? How has the Bible impacted you when it comes to frugality (if it has)?
     Frugal living is definitely a priority for us! My fiancé and I are firmly convinced that God requires us to be faithful and wise stewards of what He’s given. (Especially since we’ll be pinching pennies as newlyweds very soon!) As I prepare for our future home and becoming a homemaker, God’s been teaching me a lot about living simply and naturally to the best of our ability. There are a lot of Bible verses and principles that support this, but one passage that really stated it simply for me was Ecclesiastes 2:24-25: “Nothing is better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This, also, I saw, was from the hand of God, for apart from Him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?” It just really brings home the point that everything, even the simple things of life, is from God, and that we have the responsibility to live according to the means He gives us and honor Him with what we have. This looks different for everyone according to their resources and situation, but the concept is the same. I really believe it’s another way we as Christians can make an impact, by living in a way that is different from the materialistic, wasteful, artificial ways of the world. Both my fiancé and I want to be the best stewards possible and save money not just so we can be wise with what we have, but also so we can give generously to the Lord’s work and to others.

Thanks for sharing your tips and heart with us, Kristi! If you'd like to hear more about Kristi and her frugal journey, check out her blog Dreams on the Porch Swing

I hear Kristi is also a fabulous photographer... ;) 
Check out her photography blog here: KLT Photography.

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