Meet the Frugalwoods: the couple who retired in their 30s

Meet the Frugalwoods, conventional 9-5 professionals turned modern-day homesteaders in rural Vermont.

This is the story of how American personal finance blogger Elizabeth Willard Thames abandoned a successful career in the city and embraced frugality to create a more meaningful, purpose-driven life, and retire to a homestead in the Vermont woods at age 32 with her husband.

Determined to retire as early as possible, they set out to save more than 70% of their household income.

Dubbing themselves the Frugalwoods, Elizabeth began documenting their unconventional frugality and the resulting lifestyle transformation on their eponymous blog.

In less than three years, Elizabeth and Nate reached their goal.

Today, they are financially independent and living out their dream on a 66-acre homestead in the woods of rural Vermont with their two young children.

While frugality makes their lifestyle possible, it's also what brings them happiness. They don't stress out about impressing people with material possessions, buying the latest gadgets, or keeping up with any Joneses.

In the process, Elizabeth discovered the self-confidence and liberation that stems from disavowing our culture's promise that we can buy our way to "the good life."

Elizabeth unlocked the freedom of a life no longer beholden to the clarion call to consume ever-more products at ever-higher sums.

Meet the Frugalwoods (HarperCollins) is the intriguing story of how Elizabeth and Nate realized that the mainstream path wasn't for them, crafted a lifestyle of sustainable frugality, and reached financial independence in their 30s.

In honor of International Women's Day, I want to share the dedication of my book: "To women everywhere who don't think they can manage their money, who aren't confident in their skills, and who underestimate their own worth and intelligence. You are far smarter, far more capable, and far worthier than you realize." I wrote this for my daughters, for my friends, for my sisters; for every woman I know. #frugalwoods

A post shared by Mrs. Frugalwoods (@frugalwoods) on Mar 9, 2018 at 5:30am PST

Get stories like this in our newsletters.