Sara Noel knows that being frugal doesnt mean you have to settle. Her Frugal Living column - available five times per week through United Medias Newspaper Enterprise Association - emphasizes simplicity, family values and eco-frugality, inspiring women to discover their passions and rekindle their inner spirit. From cutting down the food bill to finding alternative uses for everyday items, Frugal Living examines smart, easy ways to save money. Noel is frugal - not cheap - and applies common sense in cost-cutting endeavors. The primary focus is simplifying busy lives. Noels professional background includes special event planning, floriculture and buying and selling antiques and collectibles. Her degree in business and her entrepreneurial spirit led her to found, edit and publish a network of lifestyle and shelter Web sites more than seven years ago that serve as guides to achieving balanced and gracious living. Some of her web properties include: Frugal Village.com Homestead Garden.com Homekeeping101.com Budget Christmas.comNoel has served as a columnist for Midland Daily News and has been a contributor to DrLaura.com. She has been recognized in the media by such entities as ABCs Good Morning America, U.S. News and World Report, Slate, NY Daily News, The Wall Street Journal and Womans World to name a few.She has a special place in her heart for disadvantaged and abused children. She was raised in Rochester, New York and currently resides with her husband and four children in Michigan.Photo credit: Danielle Rappaport, Midland Daily News