I used to have a blog, and it was called the Frugal Freelancer. It will not surprise you that I was a freelancer at the time.
I’ve always like managing my money pro-actively, but my journey into FI accelerated as I effectively went down the RE path after deciding not to return to work after having my first child. At the time, I seriously thought it was quite likely to be my only child, and I wanted the time at home. I was not going to live off of my husband, I was going to contribute just as much to the household – without holding down a full-time job. I did freelance a bit, doing work that I wanted, on my terms. My extended maternity leave came to an end when I was sweet-talked into a new job.
And then 5 years later, the story repeated itself. I had baby #2. I did return to my job, but now, with a nearly 2 year old and a 6 year old, I have decided to walk away from the workforce once again. Except this time, things are not as rosy as they were before.
We are in a cost of living crisis. Our household costs have grown substantially with two children, one of whom is in private school for various reasons. We enjoy an inflated lifestyle. And I have no job, and I do not intend to take one.
I am going to spend this year getting back to basics, stripping back our lives, forcefully turning away from the lure of capitalism and back to reality.
So I am not a Frugal Freelancer anymore. I’m not sure that I’m even Frugal anymore. I’m a wannabe Frugal Mum, except I despise being defined by my children. I could be a Frugal Indian but that feels so wrong to say when so many Indians in India (unlike me) are actually living in poverty in a way that I am so incredibly lucky not to be.
I am an operations director. I am a trustee. I am a logistician. I am an implementer. I get things done and I make things happen. Perhaps I am the Frugal Go-Getter.
I will keep thinking.
In the meantime, I will continue to use my old moniker. We shall see how this journey goes.
