Hi, I’m Leah and I love the challenge of living a rich life on a tight budget. I started this blog to share my strategies for saving time and money with my family and friends and it has grown to reach millions of readers.
I write about my efforts to save money on family travel and everyday expenses. I’m really interested in how living frugally can help my family have what we want in life – more time with each other, healthy and delicious food, a nice place to live, and a chance to travel.
We live in beautiful North Carolina and some of what I write about pertains to folks who also live in the South, but a lot of the tips and ideas apply wherever you live.
Another aspect of living frugally that is important to my family is reducing our impact on our planet’s resources. We try to be conscious of how our buying and lifestyle choices affect the environment. We try to do more with less stuff, limit waste, buy secondhand when possible and choose food that causes the least harm.
I have a BS in Biology and a Master in Education degree (MEd) from The Ohio State University. I was a public school teacher for almost a decade before I started blogging!
In addition to running this site, I also blog (and podcast) about doing Disney World on a budget at The Budget Mouse. And my newest site is The Practical Horsewoman, all about my life as a horse owner and aspiring Dressage rider.
Thanks for checking out this site and I hope you will get some ideas that can help your family live a rich life – that is, have time and money for what you really want. Of course, take what you like and leave the rest.
With love,
Leah Crocker Althiser
Courtney Roberts
Tuesday 20th of June 2023
Hi Leah.
I live in Savannah, GA and I just came across your blog about family vacation tips for a trip here. I was actually hoping to pick your brain about something. I have had the immense pleasure of serving on the Friends of Oatland Island Board of Directors for the last six years. We serve as the additional fundraising and promotional support arm for the Oatland Island Wildlife Center, an education center here in Savannah covering about 100 acres of maritime forest and marshes, home to over 100 animals, and operated by the Savannah Chatham County Public School System.
I’m embarrassed to say that while I use Pinterest for my own searches like “family friendly wilmington nc”, I had never done the same for Savannah. Now that I have, I’ve found that many if not most recent bloggers have either not visited Oatland, or have chosen not to include it in their recommended list. I’m partial to Oatland myself, of course, but I just can’t quite believe people would visit and then not recommend it. So it makes me wonder if it has just fallen off the tourist radar, and then a follow up wondering of how bloggers and influencers tend to research their trip. Are you in contact with the local chamber of commerce and/or visitors center? Do you use Pinterest and other bloggers information? We’re very interested in getting connected with bloggers and influencers to help spread the word about families visiting Oatland while on vacation. If you have any insight or advice to share, it would be very much appreciated. And we’d love to host a visit to the Center if y’all come back down this way on a future trip!
Thanks in advance, Courtney Roberts Friends of Oatland
Martha C Tigner
Thursday 29th of December 2022
What valuable information. Thank you so much. Happy New Year to You and Your Family.
Sarah
Wednesday 11th of May 2022
Hi Leah,
Thank you for your great blog on Puerto Rico. We are just in the process of booking there for 3n on the way to BVI. Question about the ferry. Is it 45min or 1.5hrs? I have read both. Also from the condo you stayed in, how far was the drive to ferry? Many thanks. Sarah (from Canada)
Leah
Thursday 19th of May 2022
Hi Sarah! The ferry from Ceiba to Culebra is about 45 minutes each way. Our place in Loiza was about 45 minutes to the ferry with no traffic. Hope that helps!
Jen kasper
Tuesday 8th of September 2020
Hi! Looking for a place with a view, can be for 4 or 5 but may be 2. I turn 50 on may 18, 2021. Want to be near contemporary or animal kingdom. Want one park a day x 4 days, 5 days with 2 to travel. What can you do for us?
Jeanette Zeitler
Friday 1st of May 2020
Do you have any idea when Walt Disney World will reopen this year @ full hours? We would like to come to the park & Animal Kingdom & DisneySprings but don’t know when to plan. Can you give us some help?
Leah
Saturday 2nd of May 2020
Hi Jeanette! Unfortunately I have no idea when Disney will reopen and what it will look like there when they do. I expect limited capacity and masks will be involved but I have no idea about a timeline.