About Julia
A little bit about Julia…
I am homeschooling mom of 4 little ones, wife to an amazing man of God, and the blogger behind The Frugal Find. Our children (3 boys and 1 girl) are ages 3, 5, 7, and 9. They keep us very busy!
I started The Frugal Find simply as a creative outlet and a means to share with my friends and family a peek into how and why we are living such a frugal lifestyle. Little did I know it would catapult us into full-fledged ministry just 2 years later. Our family of 6 now stands full time behind The Frugal Find helping our readers to make the most of the every dollar they earn.
Through some crazy requests only God could make, my husband and I now blog for an audience of 75,000 readers here in California and beyond. We share ideas and concepts that will help you to transform the way you view finances. The motto of The Frugal Find is simple: Save more, Give more, and Live more.
Why I personally chose a frugal lifestyle…
My passion for frugality goes back to my childhood. I grew up very poor and I was aware of it. My mom often went without meals so I could eat. We lived on the streets and in shelters off and on until I was about 8 years old. I knew what it was to be without. A series of events that makes up my story brought me to live with my grandparents who weren’t hurting financially in the least. I’d often find myself in the mall with my grandma shopping for an outfit feeling totally disgusted by the prices. I clearly remember thinking “for $50 I could but an entire wardrobe at the thrift store!” With my allowance I was always bargain shopping, I didn’t learn to save until later in life, but I got a lot for my money! My passion carried over into my new family. We are on a tight budget as you can imagine with 4 kids, so every dollar saved is incredibly helpful and free products are the best!
How did The Frugal Find become what it is today…
I shared recently in a 2 part series How The Frugal Find Started and then Where We Are at Today a deeper look into why we’re here and why we keep on going here at TFF. We’re passionate about what we’re doing here to help you (and ourselves) navigate the waters of finances – which are sometimes stormy and sometimes it’s a day at the beach. I know that my readers come from every walk of life and you are here for a myriad of reasons, and I love that. I’m so thankful that you are here. We will continue to always keep our motto, Save more. Give more. Live more., at the forefront of our minds as we bring you deals and personal finance tips here at The Frugal Find.
Now I’ll share a few quirky things about me…for the full list go here.
- When I’m drinking a cup of coffee at home, I have to have a teaspoon in it. Gripping the cup without a teaspoon under my thumb feels strange.
- I hate reading instructions, typically it goes like this… “Honey can you read this and tell me what I need to know?”
- I look for coupons and catalinas on the ground in parking lots.
I hope to see you around The Frugal Find!
If you’re new, take a minute to watch our FREE video based coupon class.
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
I am blessed by your testimony. I too am a Christian and feel convicted to do the best with what Gos has given me to work with. Then I have more to share! God bless you! Thank you for your efforts with this site and in His Kingdom!
I read that you are a children’s pastor and a homeschooling mom. Would you care to share with me your experience and how you balance the two “jobs”? I am pursing to be a children’s pastor but friends of mine have expressed some concerns about me doing that while homeschooling. Any thoughts would be much appreciated!
It’s definitely not easy to balance everything, but it is possible. Feel free to email me and we can chat more thefrugalfind@gmail.com
I love the video. You did such a great job. I am also a dealpro with Savings.com. Good job with homeschooling too!
I just wanted to say thank you for all the money you have saved me this year! I had started a “How To” blog this and couponing was my first topic. I honesty have had much time to do much with only two post…the second was How to get the most from your baby registry. Anyways, my friend turned me on to your site and I absoutely love it! Thank you for all your hard work!
Melinda Szegedi
Atlanta, GA
I am new to reading your blog and new to blogs altogether. I started reading The Simple Dollar just a couple of months ago and started branching out to other sites that would help me save money on food, personal items, etc. The one problem I discovered is most of the blogs that offer grocery coupons or tell you where to shop to save aren’t in my area. Sure I have Target, Wal-Mart, CVS and Walgreens but here in Baton Rouge our major grocery stores are Winn-Dixie, Albertsons and Whole Foods. Do you or any of your readers know of a blog similar to yours that services the South?
I just came across your blog and LOVE it! Have you heard of “Just Between Friends” — if not, you have to check it out! Every mom that wants to make money and then spend it wisely needs to know about Just Between Friends. It is children and maternity consignment sales event that will allow you to basically clothe your child for an entire season (spring/summer) for $100! Now if you now how to work the system, you would sell the cloths and toys your don’t fit into or play with anymore, so basically from the money you earn and the money you spend by new stuff — you haven’t touched your pocket book. How great is that!?! Check it out!
http://www.jbfsale.com/default.cfm
This is the link for the sale spoken of in the comments (Just Between Friends)
Hi! Just came across your site – Love it! I’ve been couponing for the last couple years and have mastered CVS pretty well. I’m in Indiana and Peggy (Jan 13) if you haven’t checked out SouthernSavers.com you should! I don’t have anything to do with them, but just love the good deals that she comes up with. And as you can guess by her blog title she is in the south. I don’t have a lot of the stores that she blogs about but it sounds like you might find WinDixie on her list of stores! I use her blog for great CVS deals.
Thanks Julia for another great way for me to save money!!
Love your blog and your testimony…and can I say, I don’t like the term “young mother” either. I was a young mother too and I didn’t like being clumped with the young mothers of my day!!! Be blessed!!!
Hi Julia,
A friend sent me a pdf of some coupons for free Doritos. How can I tell if these are real or fake?
Thanks!
Julie
So nice to find Lucky/Savemart deals on a site! Been doing the Q thing for a couple of years but never found help putting together deals for our local norcal chains.
Thanks for inspiring testimony and sharing your joy in serving our Lord.
I’m glad you found The Frugal Find!
FoodMaxx on Clayton Rd. has stopped taking internet coupons. They recieved a notice from the Corporate Office.
I am so sorry to hear this – I’ll be contacting Food Maxx on Tuesday to see what the latest coupon policy is.
Hi Julia!
So great to meet you today at Sheila’s house-it was quite a long trip for you guys to make over to our neck of the woods, so thank you!
Excited but intimidated by this whole new world of couponing, meal planning and frugality. Boy, I’ve always thought of myself as frugal and “wise” as far as spending, giving and saving…generally being a good steward of what the Lord has blessed us with, but after seeing how well you do and how much you save and actually get for FREE, I’ve got such a lot to learn!
Just wanted to thank and encourage you!
Have a great day!
Hi Julia!! First I wanted to tell you how much I love your site and your emails!! I have only recently gotten into couponing, but have easily become addicted!! I would love to get into blogging like you – only in my area. I am in the Philadelphia area. What I would love to know is how you got started with the blog and what steps you did to get started! I am clueless as to where to even begin!! I also would love to know how you balance your time with the blog, your ministry, the children, homeschooling (which is something I am also thinking about doing) and your day to day chores around the house. If you have a spare moment (no, really! LOL) drop me an email, I would love to hear from you!! Thanks in advance!
Hello Julia,
How exciting to see that you are a Christian! It’s good to know that there are so many Christians in CA. We are Believers in Virginia. Where do you go to church?
Thanks for all you are doing here. Every bit of money I can save is a help. My daughter-in-law told me about your site. EI have always been a couponer, but even an old dog can learn new tricks.
Joy Jackson
Staunton, VA
Hello Julia,
I just started reading your blog and I must say, thank you soo… much. I am a jobless *moneyless* 25 year old student currently living with my mom and really wanted to stretch my dollar so began couponing. I bought my first “batch” today and my mom was impressed. We are a family of 8 *with a 2 year old!* and living on 1000-1200 a month with a $800 mortgage. We also have 6 dogs *rescued from abusive owners* so budget is key. Your blog, along with hip2save, totallytarget and iheartriteaid helps me so very much but I believe you are the only one in CA.
I just wanted to add that the RP and SS inserts found in the Sunday paper are also delivered to my mailbox for free. Not sure if this is something that happens in CA entirely or just Sacramento, but this helps because I just ask all my neighbors for them! I hope this helps anyone out there!
Thank you again and God Bless!
Hi Julie! I am from Stockton, CA. Thank you so much for keeping us up-to-date on all the deals for Northen Cali, I LOVE that! Igo to your site daily and look for the latest.
My church is now offering a “coupon class” and they are putting your site as the BIGGEST reference! Thank you again. God bless you and your family indeed. 
PS. I too am a “young” mom…6 kids and I’m 29!
Hi Julia, I just found your website through Twitter and start following you. You have a wonderful site and offer valuable information – keep up the great work!
I am also a blessed homeschooling mom of 4 (all girls!) and I am always looking for new ways to save money. Your website is a fantastic resource. God bless you and your family.
Enjoyed your story. When I was little money was tight and when I’d visit my grandparents they were much more comfortable but when we went shopping my grandma would shop sales and use coupons and I’d protest saying “Why do this grandma, you’re rich!” and she’d reply “How do you think I got that way?”
Enjoyed your story. When I was little money was tight and when I’d visit my grandparents they were much more comfortable but when we went shopping my grandma would shop sales and use coupons and I’d protest saying “Why do this grandma, you’re rich!” and she’d reply “How do you think I got that way?”
Nice to meet the amazing woman who is brining amazing saivngs to our lives. thanks so much!!
So glad my cousing referred me to your site. I had been here before, but didn’t realize it was a CA site. I’m in Central Ca (modesto), and have been looking for a more local site. Can’t wait to get more familiar with your site & find some great deals. I also love that this is a Christian based site, always good to be in the company of believers.
Hi Julia – I just found your website a few weeks ago and read your story. THANK YOU for sharing your heart so honestly. My husband and I have been challenged to trust in our God too as our income has gone down and God has also called us to international adoption in the very midst of this time!! He has been faithful to meet our needs as we also are trying to be diligent to cut back on expenses… we are committed to adopting without getting into debt. I appreciate your journey- thank you again for sharing!! – Anna
Hi,
I was just reading some of the comments about how rude some people can be to couponers. As a guy who has been couponing almost a year, I have never had this problem. On the contrary, I get people constantly asking me where I get my coupons and I always mention your site. I wonder if there is somewhat of a double standard between men and women couponers. What’s your take. love your site. Thank-you
Hello:
I was referred to your site from a Dave Ramsey Financial Roundtable class. What a surprise. I’d rather subscribe to your site than Groupon. God has really used your ministry in a great way. I hope you go public, raise millions of dollars and take your same model on a higher scale..if that’s His will. Meantime. thanks for your testimony.
Ron, thank you for your encouraging words! I’m so glad you’re here and even happier that you’re on the Dave Ramsey program. Way to go!
Hi Julia,
I live in Watsonville California near Santa Cruz and Monterey. I was wondering if your blog inlcudes deals in my area?
Thanks,
Hi,
Thank you for sharing your testimony. It’s very inspiring! I’ve been blessed by your site as I’m learning to be a frugal mother to four young boys. Keep up the great work!
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