Welcome Linda

Welcome Linda, I read your letter and just wanted to say how smart I
think you are, not just putting a trip to Florida on your credit
card and going. I think this goal will help you a lot in your quest
for frugality.
Frugality doesn’t happen overnight. It’s small things here and
there, that add up. The meal you don’t eat out, the leftovers you
don’t throw out, the “bargain” you pass up because it’s something
you don’t need, the bargain you wait for and do find, the coupons
you use, the nights you visit with friends and play games and have
homemade pizzainstead of going to an expensive restaurant, resisting
the urge to get a new car just because a friend does, bringing home
a second hand piece of furniture and having the satisfaction of
refinishing it.
These small lifestyle changes are what add up. It’s not some big
spectacular thing that you do. It’s kind of like going on a diet
where you lose a bit each week but steadily and keep at it and see
the results forever, rather than some diet where you lose 10 pounds
the first week and then quit the second week because it’s just
impossible.
Set yourself smaller goals and see what you can do. If possible get
someone to compare notes with so you realize you are not in this
alone. You probably have a frugal friend and don’t even realize it
who would love to compare notes and resources. If not there are a
lot of us “inter-net gals” who will be happy to point you to
resources. I bet you will be to Florida sooner than you think. I
have a daughter there and I am from New York, and yeah we do miss
each other very much.I am a lot happier after I see her to. I know
just where you are coming from as I have always had to be frugal.
It does pay off in the long run. Grandma D. (just for general
information been a “tight-wad” since my marriage 40 years ago before
being a “tight-wad” was popular. I know I would have been so
thrilled to have all the inter-net resources that there are today.)