Hi. Hello. Welcome to The Frugal Hedonist.
Fair warning: I don’t have it figured out yet, probably never will, but still giving it my best.
I’m 53, single, working a day job in finance, managing a side business in writing, living in New England with two rescue cats who have strong opinions about my life choices and never shy from sharing them.
This publication is for anyone 45 or older who’s quietly carrying some version of “I wish I’d started saving earlier” or “I am gonna have to work until I die” and is done being talked to like a 29-year-old about it. The conventional money math doesn’t work for us. The hustle-culture math doesn’t work for us. So I’m writing about the retirement math that does — and about the life that happens around it.
Four things I cover: Earned income - day jobs, side income, what happens when the paycheck stops being reliable. Saved money - cash buffers and emergency funds, sane frugal ideas (no dumpster diving here…mostly), the small behavioral moves that keep budgets realistic. Invested money - retirement accounts, High-yield savings, and what the industry isn’t telling you. And Invoiced income - services, freelancing, and the skills you already have that are worth more than your company pays you for.
New posts planned for Sundays and Wednesdays.
I’m glad you’re here. Don’t be shy, say hello, and tell me about your cats and your money woes because I have ideas about dealing with both!
— Karen
(Decidedly, not THAT kind of Karen…)
Why not subscribe? All the cool kids are doing it…srsly.
Get full access to the newsletter and publication archives.
Stay up-to-date
Never miss an update, a note, a chat, a snark, a brilliant idea, a half day takeover by one of my cats —every new post is sent directly to your email inbox. For a spam-free, ad-free reading experience, plus audio and community features, get the Substack app.
Join the crew
Be part of a community of people who share your interests. Participate in the comments section, or support this work with a subscription.
To learn more about the tech platform that powers this publication, visit Substack.com.
