About me

After surviving the horrors of WWII, my grandparents and parents came to the United States from Ukraine. They strived to make a better life for themselves in Chicago. Through hard work and frugal living, they made a comfortable life, though not without struggles.

As a child, I remember going dumpster diving with my father due to the financial hardships of the 1980's. We would regularly go to the grocery store behind our house to find food to supplement our household. These trips stopped once my father began his job with the State of Illinois; however, he would routinely bring home things he found on the side of the road. The most memorable item he brought home was a jewelry box full of junk jewelry with one exception. In this box of junk was a single Star Sapphire necklace that he gave to me. It was my most treasured possession and I named my company in memory of him.

While most people have a bad connotation when they think of frugal living, to me it simply means not spending money unnecessarily. Even though we had little money while I was growing up, we went on vacations every year. We would pack a cooler or two of food and cooking supplies and drive across the country. Our meals typically consisted of sandwiches and spam to allow us to save as much as possible while still creating unforgettable memories. These experiences are what pushed me to help others learn how to change their spending habits so more people can have these kinds of memorable moments in their own lives.