Meet the Frugalwoods

The deeply personal story of why award-winning personal finance blogger Elizabeth Willard Thames abandoned a successful career in the city and embraced extreme frugality to create a more meaningful, purpose-driven life and retire to a homestead in the woods at age thirty-two.

In 2014, Liz Thames and her husband, Nate, were conventional young urban professionals working nine-to-five jobs. But the rat race had worn them down, and they dreamed of becoming modern-day homesteaders in rural Vermont. Determined to achieve financial independence as early as possible, they enacted a plan to save as much money as they could.

In less than three years, Liz and Nate reached their goal. Today they are living out their dream with their young daughters on a sixty-six-acre homestead in the woods of Vermont. In this rural setting, they’ve discovered the deep joy of pursuing their passions, the fulfillment of a vibrant community, and a sense of peace they never expected. Thames learns frugality isn’t about what you’re giving up but what you stand to gain through the freedom of a financially secure lifestyle.

Meet the Frugalwoods is the inspiring story of how Liz and Nate realized that the mainstream path wasn’t for them, crafted a lifestyle of sustainable frugality, and reached financial independence. While not everyone wants to live in the woods or quit their jobs, many of us want to have more control over our time and our money, and lead more meaningful, fulfilling lives. By following Thames’s advice, you too can live your best life.