Press & Media
For press inquiries please contact [email protected]
Liz’s Bio
Elizabeth Willard Thames is the creator of the award-winning personal finance blog, Frugalwoods.com, author of the book, Meet The Frugalwoods: Achieving Financial Independence Through Simple Living and a financial consultant. Thames works with clients to assess their holistic financial picture, establish clear next steps and enfranchise them to manage their money for the long-term. Thames has been featured on The Today Show, PBS, NPR, in the New York Times, Forbes, Parents Magazine and more. Prior to following her calling as a financial writer and consultant, she worked for ten years in the non-profit sector as a fundraiser and communications manager. Thames received a BA from the University of Kansas and an MA from American University. You can hire her here and follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. She lives in rural Vermont with her husband, their two young children and nine recalcitrant chickens.
As Featured In
Ways to Collaborate
Podcast Guest
Liz has appeared on over 50 different podcasts and would be delighted to serve as a guest on yours.
Speaking Engagements
Liz is available for formal speaking engagements, both in person and online. For speaking examples, please see below for her television, radio and podcast appearances.
Author Events
Liz is available for book clubs, library/bookstore events and discussion groups about her book, Meet the Frugalwoods: Achieving Financial Independence Through Simple Living, which was published by HarperCollins in 2018.
Liz Has Been Featured On
2022
Wisconsin Public Radio (NPR): Financial Fitness: How to cut costs and save
Bigger Pockets: When to Buy New vs. Used and is That Car Repair Worth the Cash?
Real Wealth Media: Find Your Baseline
Frugalmatic: Interview with Elizabeth Thames, of Frugalwoods
2021
The New Yorker: The Great Cubicle Escape: What happens when daydreams about moving to the country suddenly become possible? By Cal Newport
Acreage Life Magazine: May 2021 print issue, “Goin’ Up The Country”
Real Simple Magazine, January 2021 print issue, “It Feels Good to be Frugal”
Minimalist Moms Podcast: Achieving Financial Independence Through Simple Living with Liz Frugalwoods
Optimal Living Daily: Frugality Is A Compounding Game by Liz of Frugalwoods on Ways of Banishing Repeated Expenses
2020
Wisconsin Public Radio (NPR): Achieving A Frugal, And Creative, Holiday Season
Wisconsin Public Radio (NPR): How To Live Frugally During A Recession
Hiking Thru Life: Liz Thames of Frugalwoods
The Mental Health and Wealth Show: On Postpartum Depression and Frugality: An Interview with Mrs. Frugalwoods
Wildly Wealthy Life Podcast: The Power of Frugal Living with Liz Thames
The Earn and Invest Podcast: How Postpartum Depression Taught Her About Vulnerability
Smart Money Mamas Podcast: How to Decide What Financial Independence Looks Like for You
2019
The Boston Globe: Meet the extreme savers, on a mission to retire early
MarketWatch: Millennials are now haggling in job interviews, hotels and airports
MarketWatch: How to raise frugal kids as you save for early retirement
Sage Parenting Podcast: Intentional Spending with Elizabeth Willard Thames
Ultimate Health Podcast:Elizabeth Willard Thames aka Mrs. Frugalwoods – Financial Independence Through Simple Living
How To Money Podcast: Extreme Frugality in a Culture of Excess with Liz Thames
What’s Up Next Podcast: Should You Pursue Fat FIRE?
Beautifully Equipped Podcast: Step Off The Consumer Carousel with Elizabeth Willard Thames
Frugal Friends Podcast: Frugal Pregnancy & Parenting with THE Mrs. Frugalwoods | Saving Money on Baby The Smart Way
Millionaires Unveiled Podcast: Guest Interview with Mrs. Frugalwoods
Motherhood Unstressed Podcast: Achieving Financial Independence Through Simple Living with Meet The Frugalwoods Author + Blogger Elizabeth Willard Thames
House Of FI Podcast: Finding a Balance Between Frugality and Happiness with Liz from the Frugalwoods
2018
Meet the Frugalwoods: Achieving Financial Independence Through Simple Living (HarperCollins; March 6, 2018)
Sage Parenting Podcast: Intentional Spending with Elizabeth Willard Thames
NPR’s Wisconsin Public Radio Morning Show: Gift-Giving That Won’t Break The Bank: A Guide
PBS NewsHour: What a well-off couple learned from cutting consumer habits
Cheddar TV: Meet the “Frugalwoods”: A Story Of Achieving Financial Independence
GoBankingRates: How One Couple Ditched the Daily Grind to Live Their Dream Life
The List TV: 3 Ways to Save Money & Live a Luxuriously Frugal Life
The New York Times: Retire Sooner and Travel More, for Less
The New York Times: Writing About Leaving City for Simpler Life? Join the Club
The New York Times: How to Retire in Your 30s With $1 Million in the Bank
Forbes: Yes, LGBT People Can Overcome Heterosexual Privilege
Parents Magazine June 2018 print issue
The Guardian: Extreme frugality allowed me to retire at 32 – and regain control of my life
Business Insider: A 34-year-old woman says spending 20% of her income has changed her life for the better — here’s how she drastically cut costs
You Need A Budget Podcast: How to Retire and Move to the Woods Full-time
Farnoosh Torabi’s So Money Podcast: Mrs. Frugalwoods, author of “Meet The Frugalwoods”
Debt Free Guys’ Queer Money Podcast: Heterosexual Privilege and Money with Mrs. Frugalwoods
Emma Johnson’s Like A Mother Podcast: Minimalist Living for Real Moms (with Liz Frugalwoods)
FIRE Drill Podcast: Mrs. Frugalwoods on DIY, buying a rural property, the myth of used things, and simple living
MadFientist Podcast: Elizabeth Willard Thames–Meet The Frugalwoods
ChooseFI Podcast: Meet The Frugalwoods: Achieving FI Through Simple Living
Stacking Benjamins Podcast: Rethinking Consumerism (with Elizabeth Willard Thames, AKA Mrs. Frugalwoods)
BiggerPockets Money Podcast: Designing a Frugal But Luxurious FI Life by Age 32 with Liz Thames
Journey To Launch Podcast: The Power of Frugality & Simple Living To Reach Financial Independence w/Mrs. Frugalwoods
The Happy Lawyer Project Podcast: On Creating an Inspirational Vision for Your Life with Elizabeth Willard Thames (aka. Mrs. Frugalwoods)
Mo’ Money Podcast: Living Your Best Life Through Sustainable Frugality with Elizabeth Willard Thames
Couple Money Podcast: How to Retire Early Together
Martinis And Your Money Podcast: Achieving Financial Independence with Liz Thames
Next Gen Personal Finance Podcast: Tim Talks To Liz Thames, Author of ‘Meet the Frugalwoods’
Paula Pant’s Afford Anything Podcast: How I Retired at Age 32 – with Liz Thames from Frugalwoods
REI’s Wild Ideas Worth Living Podcast: Liz Frugalwoods
Real Wealth Podcast: Elizabeth Willard Thames, Author of Meet the Frugalwoods
Financial Grownup with Bobbi Rebell Podcast: Elizabeth Thames, “Mrs. Frugalwoods”
2017
Glamour Magazine, October 2017 print issue
Publishers Weekly: The Zen of Frugality: PW Talks with Elizabeth Willard Thames
NBC News: How Taking a ‘Frugal Month’ Can Help You Save Big This Holiday Season
GOBankingRates: Stop Buying These 17 Things and Make Them Yourself
Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Got money problems? The frugal movement might be for you
CNBC: 5 things I learned from going 3 years without shopping
Lifehacker: The Basics of FIRE (Financial Independence and Early Retirement)
The London Times: The bloggers who told us not to spend (and made money from it)
US News & World Report: 5 Strategies for Sticking With Your Financial Resolutions
Market Watch: The best piece of money advice you’ve never heard
Clark Howard: Why you should consider making January a ‘no buy’ month
The Billfold: Austerity Month: How little can I spend in January? Let’s find out!
Money-ish: How this mom raises her child on just $75 per month
Rockstar Finance: Best Financial Blogs
Wall Street Journal MarketWatch Money, Markets & More: How to Raise Your Child on $75 Dollars a Month
The Fairer Cents: De-weaponizing Privilege
Choose FI Experiments In Financial Independence: Epic Frugality with the Frugalwoods
Two Frugal Dudes: Taking The Frugal Leap With The Frugalwoods
2016
ABC News WCVB 5 Boston: Extreme frugality helps couple retire in their 30s
CNBC: Don’t let the cold stop you: How to get the right gear and get going
The Guardian: Living on a budget? How trendy! Frugal bloggers live on the cheap, by choice
Boston.com: The ‘Frugalwoods’ couple had a baby, and still plan to retire by 33
Business Insider: 13 strategies to save a fortune, from real people who retired before 40
Investment Zen: This Couple Shows You How Extreme Frugality Allowed Them To Become Financially Independent
Invibed: Outside the Box: Extreme Frugality with The Frugalwoods
XRAY FM: Mrs. Frugalwoods–Financial Blogger live on XRAY in the Morning
The Couple Money Podcast: Early Retirement in Your 30s with Frugalwoods
Mo’ Money Podcast: This Is What Extreme Frugality Looks Like With Mrs. Frugalwoods
2015
The Today Show: See how this couple plans to retire in their 30s
Money.com: The Super-Frugal Alternative to the $100 Haircut
Money.com: One Couple’s Plan for Retiring by Age 33
Forbes: How A Couple Of ‘Frugal Weirdos’ Are Saving 71% Of Their Income So They Can Retire At Age 33
Business Insider: A couple planning to retire at age 33 explain how much money they have to save
Boston.com: Meet the ‘Frugalwoods’: The Cambridge couple planning to retire by 33
U.S. News & World Report: How To Live On $13,000 A Year
Yahoo! Finance: A couple planning to retire at age 33 explain how much money they have to save
U.S. News & World Report: The Best Frugal Household Hacks
The Billfold: How Mrs. Frugalwoods Does Pregnancy, Pet Care, & Other Could-Be-Costly Things
Time: How This Couple Is Able to Retire at Age 33
6th Annual Plutus Awards Finalist: “Blog Of The Year” and“Best Frugality-Focused Personal Finance Blog”
Lifehacker: Keep Weekday Meals Simple to Encourage Cooking at Home
Forbes Czech Republic: Pár „skromných bláznů“ šetří, aby mohl odejít do důchodu v 33 letech
Le Figaro Madame: Cadres, ils se privent à l’extrême pour partir à la retraite à 33 ans
Forbes Mexico: Éste es el plan de la pareja que planea jubilarse a los 33
Planet.Fr: Partir en retraite à 33 ans : le pari osé d’un jeune couple
Lifehacker: Practice Frugality to Boost Creativity, Not Just to Save Money
Terrafemina: Comment partir en retraite à 33 ans ? Ce couple a trouvé la solution
PlayGroundNoticias: Esta pareja ha diseñado el plan perfecto para jubilarse a los 33
MDZ Online: El plan perfecto para jubilarse a los 33 años
Lifehacker: Improve Your Budget Instantly by Accepting Imperfection
Vox.com: How to retire in your 30s: save most of your money and rethink your core values
Globe and Mail: Carrick On Money
How Money Walks: On a Quest for Financial Independence: One Couple’s Plan to Retire by Age 33
Lifehacker: Try a Lifestyle Change for a Month to Determine If It Works For You
Cute Overload: Can’t Keep This ‘Til Nosevember
Debt.com: 11 Habits Of The Most Frugal People I Know
Rockstar Finance
Farnoosh Torabi’s So Money Podcast: Mrs. Frugalwoods
The Mad Fientist Podcast: Frugalwoods – Making Frugality Fun
Girl Gone Frugal Podcast: Interview with Mrs. Frugalwoods
Martinis And Your Money Podcast: Frugal and Fabulous–An Interview With The Frugalwoods
Martinis And Your Money Podcast: Monthly Happy Hour
2014
Clark Howard: How Frugal Folks Can Save Even More
FrugalRules: Should You Go To The Best College Regardless Of Cost?
Lifehacker: Nothing Will Save as Much Money As Simply Not Buying Anything
5th Annual Plutus Awards Finalist: “Most Humorous Personal Finance Blog”
1500 Days To Freedom: 10 Questions and a Pizza Place with The Frugalwoods! (and Frugal Hound)
Even Steven Money: Interview of Sorts: FrugalWoods more like FrugalWeirdos
Rockstar Finance