The truth is, the editors did Mrs. Frugalwoods a disservice in the book jacket.
First, when they said “[the Frugalwoods had] determined to retire as early as possible in order to start living each day,” that’s not really true by traditional standards. Mr. Frugalwoods is a successful software engineer, and Mrs. Frugalwoods is a now-published writer! Had the wording been something along the lines of “determined to achieve their homestead dreams and escape the corporate rat race,” it would have been a more understandable and relatable explanation of their situation. Financial independence doesn’t mean you need to retire, and in fact the freedom may open more doors to do even more work that you are passionate about. That’s what the book’s focus really is. When you wake up every day knowing today will be a good day, and when you are no longer living for the weekends or riding the endless consumer merry-go-round, that’s the secret to real and lasting happiness.
Second, there wasn’t much in the way of actionable advice in the story. Instead, it really was a memoir about their journey and how Mrs. Frugalwoods came to understand that there’s so much more to life than perfection and fulfilling society’s expectations. She walked us through her career, her successes and her failures, and her family life. The advice in the book was sporadic and short, and all things she has obviously mentioned before on her blog (and you’d have to read the blog for actual details to the methods). That was fine with me, because I would have been extremely disappointed had the book simply been recycled blog posts. I feel like I now know Liz personally, and I can better appreciate their trek from city life to the woods. Her stories were thought-provoking, her writing was witty and captivating, and I’m grateful that she shared her journey and her perspectives.
Huge kudos to Mrs. Frugalwoods (in both her book and through her website) for always encouraging everyone to solve problems with DIY and brain power instead of money, focus on the value of time, cut waste in both areas, and use money as a tool and a means rather than an end. Life and financial independence are both about more than just money. Sitting on a pile of money and stuff won’t provide lasting fulfillment. It’s all about how you manage your resources, how you spend your days, and how you give back to the rest of the world.
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Reviews with images
it was painful to get through
I checked out the audiobook from the library. To be honest, it was painful to get through. There was repetition, a sense of false humility (all of her insecurity with her perfectionism, forgetting her makeup bag and buying $50 worth of emergency make up at CVS, using a different floored bathroom at work to get all dolled up before going to her own floor and looking like she had it together), a snarky tone throughout the whole book (I felt bad for the audiobook narrator!), and just a feeling that her farm and rural life freed her. It's too bad that Elizabeth Thames couldn't be truer to herself wherever they lived. I think she would have found truer friends when she had her baby. Also, there was a complete absence of NUMBERS in all of it. What did they buy their Cambridge place for? How much did they pay? She gloats several times about it being the best price per square foot but WHAT WAS IT?! How much had they saved up and how much did they spend on their Vermont homestead? Missing crucial information. Maybe she was embarrassed by the high salaries they did earn while trying to seem like with-it, poor commonpeople. She harshly judges those who outsource tasks in their lives, those who don't have fertility issues or who have multiple children "the nerve," but it was honestly painful to get through. She isn't relatable and I wish I could have my time back!
Top reviews from other countries
Madre Green
An inspirational story about a family’s journey to financial independence
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 22, 2019
Anon
Meh. Poor communication and too much virtue signalling
Reviewed in Australia on March 17, 2018dennyK
Wonderful, inspirational and challenging book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 23, 2018