30: Living a Full and Frugal Life (with Amiyrah Martin)

Amiyrah Martin shares her story of attempting to leave for work one morning, only to find that her car had been reposessed. With $36,000 of debt, Amiyrah and her husband took a hard look at their lifestyle, made massive changes and paid off their debt in 2 years. Now, years later, they are paying CASH for their first home. Listen as Amiyrah shares some tips about having a frugal but love-centered lifestyle, all while being a service-minded, generous woman.

Amiyrah is the owner of 4 Hats and Frugal, a website dedicated to teaching families how to have fun on a dime, be a “baller” on a budget, and live a full life on less. She's a wife, mother of 3, member of the Air National Guard, New Jersey native, and self-proclaimed Nutella addict.

Nuggets of Wisdom from Amiyrah:

“If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go farther, go together.”

“I do feel that most people learn a lot when they are able to learn it with someone else or to experience it with someone else even in tragedies. It is more of a lesson in life when it is shared with someone else.”

“We just did not see debt the way that it was. Debt is a shackle. That is what we have learned as a family. That is kind of our family motto. We do not do debt.”

“First, was finding someone to help us. Second step was working on our grocery budget, which is really shocking to me. Tackling that grocery budget. Stopping eating out and learning how to cook. That brought in so much money to our home. It still does to this day.”

“Couponing really did help us get out of debt. It helped me to really concentrate on paying attention to what we were buying. Saving while you can and stretching a buck even more by couponing.”

“It was a routine to pay a bill. We just made that bill our savings instead. So, the routine of actually putting your money towards something every single month. It was kind of an easy transition to put it towards our savings for retirement or savings for our children and things like that. The debt part helped us because otherwise probably would not know where to start but we are already in that train of putting your money somewhere every single month so now we knew that we could be in the black from now on by continuing to put it into savings.”

“Have a Spend, Save and Give envelope.”

“You do not need too much space in order to actually feel like you are living such a big life.”

Some of Amiyrah‘s Favorite Things:

Personal habit: “Follow-up. It is not just reaching your hand the one time. It is reaching your other hand as well. In case they may need a hug instead.”

Easy meal: “Home made hamburger helper. Stroganoff style. Mexican style. Classic.”

Possession: “Vegetable peeler.”

Amiyrah's Favorite Book: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Best advice received: “You two came first. Remember that your relationship came first. So, always keep that in the center.”

Amiyrah's Happiness Formula:

“I am happiest when I am centered, when I am diligent, and when I am of service. Once I am in the midst of having all three of those happen at the same time, I just feel that life is just so great that I am in a happy place. ”

A Challenge from Amiyrah:

“For everyone, just for the next week, think of at least one thing a day where you can be of service to someone else (not inside your family). Every single day for the next week, see how you can be of service to someone.”

Resources

4hatsandfrugal.com

bemorewithless.com/project-333

un-fancy.com

Big Magic Book by Elizabeth Gilbert

Meal Plan Rockstar (freebie from Amiyrah)

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