My mom used to do “cafeteria night” to use leftovers. She would heat up all the small amounts, put them on the table in dishes, and we would all walk around the table picking up what we wanted. We would even pretend pay. It was fun, felt like going out, and we had no idea we were being frugal.
The kids dad -way back in the day- would throw a tea towel over his arm, grab a pad and pencil and let them order from “the menu” (the list of leftovers) . Then we’d fix each a plate of what they ordered. I usually ended up finishing off the less popular items. Planning now to do my own freezer clean out.
I want to share a funny backpack story. My dad used to by us Jansport backpacks and when I was in high school they were $60. They would last about 6 months and the zipper would break. My dad finally got irritated and said that if the backpack was just going to break he would just buy a cheap one. He went to Kmart and got me a $15 Eastpak. Well. I am almost 40 and I still use it!!! Hahaha!
When I was a kid, we always got to go down the cake mix isle and pick out the cake mix for our birthday. I remember that being my favorite part of "planning" my party. We'd also go to the dollar store, and I could pick out the paper plates and napkins we used. I always had a sleepover with five or six friends, rented a movie, had cheap pizza and the boxed cake mix. I think it ended up being a $30 or $40. I always had a good time. I cared more about the experience than anything else.
My mom let us pick out a boxed cake too! Then she would make a bunny cake with two cake rounds or make cat cupcakes with pretzels for whiskers, Graham crackers for ears and M&Ms for eyes and i got to help decorate them. I had a couple birthday parties at the bowling alley with pizza and also at home with a campfire and hotdogs. The best memories was definitely helping decorate the cake with my mom though.
I once wrapped my toddler nephew’s Xmas present in a cereal box because it was an awkward shape - as soon as he unwrapped it he went to the kitchen to get a cereal bowl thinking I had given him crunchy nut cornflakes as a gift! Just shows young kids just like opening pressies no matter what’s in it and appreciate it! 🤣
I got a pay out at work and I got my daughter everything she wanted for her bday/xmas (they are close together). I spent like £300+ in the Disney store. She LOVED the £2:50p BOX! Never again have I spent that kind of money on just one person lol
Do your own nails. Manicures/pedicures are a fairly recent 'requirement'. Buy inexpensive soaps and haircare products. You pay for ads and packaging on the expensive brands. Don't pay for fitness - walk, do yoga, paint your house, mow your lawn, play with your kids. I could list another 50!
Last year a friend introduced me to the local Buy Nothing group. I have been gifted bookcases, fruit & veggie starts, 3 bags of nice clothes (after losing 30 lbs), a nice lamp, and a painting that I really enjoy. And a whole lot of other things! It’s been such a blessing. Also I appreciate the friendly conversations between neighbors.
I do the same thing! As an added bonus, if you're thinking of something on Amazon, put it in your cart and then click to "save for later". When you go into your cart Amazon will alert you to any price changes for anything in your cart or saved for later, and if something dropped a bunch in price, pull the trigger and buy it!
1. Eat leftovers 0:43 2. Cut your own hair 1:11 3. Cut cable 1:18 4. Rotate streaming services 1:23 5. Use a budget 1:42 6. Live within your means 1:47 7. Use cash 2:01 8. Save or invest your raises 2:17 9. Buy generic 2:57 10. Don’t eat out 3:11 11. Do a “no spend” week 3:36 12. Pantry clean out cooking 3:53 13. Stop shopping for fun 4:01 14. Don’t pay high interest rates 4:16 Upstart ad 4:36 15. Grocery shop once a week 5:38 16. Use the library 5:43 17. Take a walk 6:06 18. Pack snacks 6:10 19. Stop buying junk food 6:44 20. Use cleaning rags instead of paper towels 7:07 21. Don’t use fabric softener 7:35 22. Ignore everyone else 8:01 23. The Hedonic principle 8:22 24. Use printers with generic ink refills 9:18 25. Cut back on birthday parties 10:00 26. Pick and choose your tech 11:37 27. Reuse backpack 12:13 28. Meal plan 12:48 29. Discount store shopping 12:54 30. Don’t buy bottled water 13:13 31. Shop around for car and homeowner’s insurance 13:28 32. Use cash back apps 13:47 33. Allow yourself SOMETHING 14:27
I bought a Berkey water filtration system, which is amazing!! I have replaced store bought water bottles with water I filter myself. It taste great, better for my budget and the environment!
My husband and I just purchased a Big Burkey, we've had it about 6 months, some of the best $$ we've ever spent! It has more than paid for itself in that time. I think buying bottled water is such a waste of $$!
I shop second hand stores, salvation army usually, for clothes for my daughter and I both. Each season we go through our clothes and donate what no longer fits to a local charity and then we see what pieces need replaced. Our local salvation army has a 5 for $5 sale every week and we find brand new with tags tops, sweaters, jeans, workout wear, sweatshirts, leggings etc. We just did this a couple weeks ago and I spent $15 + tax for 15 new items of clothing! #savethosedollarbills
We have a few goodwill ones by me and I agree: can't beat the prices (and sometimes they still have the tags on them!). I also got a great working like new lamp for only a dollar.
When I was raising my two sons alone, I used brown paper bags cut open and flattened out with red ribbons one Christmas and the funny papers another Christmas. These both also work year-round for gifts. I was also that mom who recycled any half-decent wrap. My boys knew to carefully unwrap their presents unless I gave them the okay to tear away, if the wrap was really thin or on its second or third life. It goes without saying, all bows were recycled many times. They were so excited when they could rip away! They still laugh about their “cheap” mom, but I really had to economize.
I scavenge brown packing paper from deliveries at work, iron it, stencil or stamp designs to customize, and make my own bows. I use reusable gift bags or boxes and save ribbon. After holiday clearance at the dollar store for sources of ribbon, stamps and paint. ALDI Carrie’s inexpensive Brie and the little wooden boxes are great to repaint and use for small gifts.
Young Millennials and GenZ don't use fabric softener in general. It's a scam. So are those laundry scent beads. You're just coating your clothes in wax. 😂
@@cynthiabromback8854 Nope! Not those either. A lot of us use those multi-use dryer balls, but most of our generation now avoids dryer sheets. Not only are they adding things to your clothes, but they're also one time use and bad for the environment. So we use the dryer balls instead to remove static. 👍😊
Yupp! Dryer sheets I only buy for my fuzzy blankets because no matter how many dryer balls I put in they are still staticky lol. A box lasts us a long time though.
I agree absolutely! Ignoring advertising and fashion trends can save a packet, yet so many people are regularly conned into replacing stuff that doesn't need to be, from clothes to electronics, and they can't see that it's all a scam!
We have always used rags as I was growing up. My mom even used to make rags out of old t-shirts, sheets and whatever she could find, which would save even more money!
Here’s a tip when you get the urge to shop or spend money on things you don’t need find something to clean or organize. There is Always something you could clean or organize or go through and I feel like I’ve accomplished something and it kicks the urge to go shop.
For 20 years I have declared January as "Shopped My Stores" i.e. my pantry, freezer, and fridge. Sometimes I'd carry it over to February. More recently, I do the same sort of thing as we head into a new season. This makes sense because there are recipes that I only make at a particular time of year.
We so something similar, only we call it Larder Month! We have a good old clear out of the pantry and use up all the bits that have got pushed to the back. I also check that my herbs and spices still have some potency, and try to use up any that are getting stale before replacing.
Love you channel, Christine. I do a lot of second hand shopping for my son. We are lucky enough to have a children’s clothing and toy consignment store near where we live. It has saved me so much money and I get compliments all the time how well dressed my kid is. It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money to look nice. Buying most of his toys second hand has saved us HUNDREDS of dollars too. The toys get a second life and there is a little less waste in the world.
I've got pretty fabric that i sewed onto my old towels, and those are my pot holders. You could do that for coasters too. Otherwise yah, cleaning and shop rags.
My sister has five kids, mostly teens now, and once or twice a week she tells them it's "fifi" night, fifi meaning "find it, fix it." It gives her a much needed break, and they can have anything they want, cereal or sandwich, whatever, so they like it. And they save "going out to eat" for birthdays, etc. They (a family of 7) have lived well on one income for years, by being wise with money. When the oldest got a job they bought her a used car. When she could afford one she wanted instead, the next kid to start working got the old car, and so on, right down the line. As you said, the library, parks, State Parks, local lakes, creeks, etc were a lot of their "entertainment and outings." I think they've done really well, been wise with their money.
Weird tip, but we always used a piece of bread to clean up glass shards. Something about the glass sticking in the bread and it was a good use of a crust piece. My Dad was an engineer, so that may have been the origin.
I love using the library! I can go onto my local library's website, and put books or movies on hold from any branch within the library system, and have them held at my closest branch! I wait for them to tell me my items are available, and then go pick them up. It has saved me a TON of money over the years (especially when we were homeschooling). And you can even do Interlibrary Loan - If my library doesn't have a specific title, but it's at another library somewhere else in the state, my librarian can get it for me!!
My McDonald's in San Diego, CA also has zero healthy options now. For me it's a good thing. One less place for me to spend my money at and one more reason to eat at home.
We always took drinks and snacks for our family. This saves time of travel and money. Now that we are retired and no kids, we still pack our lunch for the day of travel. 1. Better food 2. Saves time 3. Saves money. Last yr. we were out West camping for over 2 wks. Only bought food out 6 times.
There were some sweet memories as a kid, if there was a movie we wanted to see (before streaming), my mom would take my brother and I to the public library and look for it there. Ever since, that's where we look, theater's can be so expensive, especially snacks! 1,000% recommend public library for cookbooks, activities and movies for kids ☺️
Dryer sheets make your towels, wash cloths, rags less absorbent. I used to work at a high-end bed and bath store and we would always tell customers not to use dryer sheets or fabric softener on their towels. Vinegar or dryer balls are suggested to soften and prevent static cling.
I will forever appreciate this channel, you've helped my family alot, your videos, advice, lessons and funny words are inspirational and helpful to us. My wife and I have been able to be minimal, conscious in spending, saving and investing wisely, I now earn every week. You're such a blessing to this generation. we all love you
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Funny, born in Europe we never had a “pantry” we only ever bought things you eat:) didn’t have the coffee culture to buy a coffee. Moving here I have learned not to do that anymore:) Leftovers were and are life. Thank you for all your tips:)
mcdonalds cut the all day breakfast, salads, grilled chicken, and parfaits to cut costs for masks and social distance signage and gloves. its bs in my opinion but now i have no reason to go there 😂
Brother printers are the best! We had an hp before and it never liked the Costco refills. Had to replace the printer every couple years, but our brother printer just keeps on going and it is so much cheaper to buy the cartridge for it
One thing that falls under the eating out category but I think deserves a special mention is brew and bring your coffee from home! In Toronto, Canada it is part of the culture to pick up your Tim Horton's, McDonald's or Starbucks coffee in the morning and throughout the day, but the cost of coffee alone added up can be astronomical! I started making my coffee at home and bringing it with me and the savings are huge! (this may have been mentioned but I haven't read all the comments yet).
Also, I'm printing the list out with the "Comparison is the thief of joy" quote at the top and posting it in a couple of strategic places in our home for my kids (older teenagers) to help them to get into the mindset.
I literally do not understand this. People spend an INCREDIBLE amount of money on coffee. It’s crazy to me. Anyway, I want my coffee before I get dressed and go out.
I went so far as to purchase a small Keurig machine I keep at work and bring reusable pods filled at home! My last Keurig lasted 6 years and was used at least 4x/week! Way cheaper than buying coffee at the coffee shop and tastes much better😉
I am from Canada and used to love Timmies, however, it is awful and now I just brew my own coffee at home and if I am going somewhere a good travel mug comese in handy. I spend 20 dollars a month on the cream and the coffee and have enough to have several coffee's a day at home.
Great recommendation on the Brother printer. I not only buy generic cartridges but I have researched it enough to learn how to refill the generic cartridges. My cost of printing is now so low that it beats the bulk cost of my company printing at work. I also buy the cheapest, multi-purpose paper I can find in bulk. Sure, it's not the fanciest, but it does the job.
Came back to say it works well but my clean dishes smelled really weird at first. 30+ days later I can confirm it helps keep the DW clean and fresh... I'll stick to Finish as rinse agent and use vinegar to disinfect / clean the DW regularly.
CLEAN used (can also be unused) aluminum foil loosely (not tightly) crumpled into a ball thrown into the dryer makes the clothes soft without an overpowering scent. It can also be used multiple times
I switched to using washable towels for everything except pet accidents or something I wouldn't want to wash that's super gross. Cut out paper plates as well. Do have napkins but they last forever. Paper products are super expensive!
Something my parents always ingrained in us was, live below your means. The rest of my family sort of brushed it off, until my parents retired... And they're living just fine! So, as early as you can start saving, do so, and try to put some money in a savings account if you don't have the 401K plan ☺️ it really helps in the long run for retirement or even just for emergencies and investments
No cable, no fabric softener, no bottled water, and very little paper towels. We use rags for most clean up and old socks for the gross clean up like glass or around the toilet that you can stick your hand in and clean up and throw straight in the trash. We have so many socks with holes in them in an extra trash can. Every birthday party is a challenge to make it happen under $100 and we don't have the places that rent that cheaply for birthdays but I do it every year with homemade cookies to decorate and pizza from Pizza Hut which is my son's choice and I make all the activities for the kids. Love the meal plan and can't live without it!! We love our library and it was the hardest thing to do without when it was closed during the pandemic. So happy to have books again!!
Agree with all of your tips. Always, always telling my kids we have food at home, also packing your lunch/snacks, and drinks is usually 1/4 the cost or cheaper (a 25 cent bag of chips vs $1 or more at the snack bar, a 50 cent Gatorade/bottled drink vs a $3 drink - you see my point). My family is a cereal for breakfast and comfort food family, so we drink/eat a lot of milk, when I do a "no spend week" or a "cutting back on milk week" I will use the powdered milk and the children are able to taste the difference and lay off it real quick and eat the other food we have. I have espoused the "love it or leave it" principle, all you ask yourself is "why don't I use/wear this more often?" It's wrinkled every time I want to wear it... the fabric feels or lays wrong... it's broken.... or it's uncomfortable (usually a pair of shoes). If it's expensive, newer or worn once, I'm inclined to attempt to sell via marketplace or other group, if it's from Kohls and certain other stores they will take it back within their return policy (60 or 90 days?). I like to go to thrift stores with quality stock and I have found some of my most favorite (high quality name brand) clothes there. Actual leather shoes will last much longer than tennis/athletic shoes, and they can be repaired. And sometimes you can just say to yourself/your spouse or children "We're fine without XYZ" Last thing is don't be a gluttonous person/family, buying things in bulk (for better pricing) is not a reason to binge consume on those items.
Something that has saved me a lot of money is to make my own laundry soap. It costs about $25-35 (depending if you buy when items are on sale) and lasts around 9 months for a family of 5. Love it! Thanks for the tips!
@@jimbetty3731 So there are several recipes online and it can be modified to your own preference but here is what I use and I try to pick up items in advance when they are on sale. All items can be found at Walmart down the laundry isle. 1-65 oz 20 Mule Team Borax 1-55 oz Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 2- 14.01 oz Zote Soap (I prefer smell of the Pink one) 1- 3lb tub of Oxi Clean (optional) 2-26.5 oz Downy Unstoppable the beads (optional) I shred the zote soap in my food processor (dedicated to this only purpose) and place on a banking sheet, into the oven on warm for a couple of hours. It needs to be dry before mixing. I like mine small so I run it through the food processor again once its dry. You can also shred it and leave it out to air dry for a couple of days and use your hands to break it up. Once the zote soap is fully dry mix all ingredients together in a well ventilated area-borax will make you cough if you dont. I use 1 tablespoon per load of laundry. 1.5 tablespoons if I'm doing blankets and sheets. I have found this to be much better than any store bought laundry soap out there. Let me know if you try it!
@@margaretpare8206 it’s makes quite a bit. I store it in a plastic container with a lid. Roughly 4 quart container and extras in about 4 oxi clean containers. But really anything with a lid would do. The recipe lasts about 9 months for my family of 5. Approx 3-4 loads a week.
Left over box broth, freeze it I sometimes put in glass jars or I will measure it and freeze it in ziplock sandwich bags, Freeze in ice cube trays then pop out and store in a freezer bag the freezer. 🥳 Saves so much money.
The each-year-a-new-backpack-thing is funny. In Germany it´s totaly common to use the bagpacks for years (until they become too small or break). I make my own bread for several month now. It tastes better, it lasts longer (goes not bad), it´s cheaper and healthier. In Germany there are some semi-healthy options at Mc Donalds - but I never eat there. It´s way to expensive and the taste is not good at all. And I don´t know about the healthy-label =) Love from Germany ♥
I needed this today. We’re building a house and are trying to save really hard between now and November so we can put down as much as possible. Yesterday I deleted doorsash 😭 it’s my biggest splurge but it needed to go. Turned off all notifications on my phone too. No more “50% off! Buy now!!” I love these tips. Thanks so much for the inspiration!
If you are building a house, pay cash for your appliances. If you finance them with your mortgage you will be paying for them maybe 30 years and you had to replace them after about 10 years. When my youngest son was about 3 or4 he went to the grocery store with me. He asked for some fruit cocktail. I said no because it wasn't on sale. He looked up at me and said "is it against the law to buy something that is not on sale?" I said yes and he never forgot it.
My mom hates leftovers - she’ll eat a bowl of cereal before she reheats a piece of meat. I, on the other hand, will intentionally cook too much food so that 1) I have lunch the next day 2) I don’t have to cook again the next night 🤣
I know a couple of people who refuse to eat leftovers. I find most foods like casseroles and or sauces always taste better the next day. I cook twice a week and we eat leftover for the rest. Make a lasagne and there is meals for 2 days.
My husband hated leftovers . Until one time I made a stew out of leftovers and I told him after he ate two bowls . It’s a mind thing . Since then he doesn’t mind leftovers 🤣
So crazy, I visited my brother and his wife threw away all the leftovers from dinner. I about died! She said her kids refused to eat anything that was leftover. I laughed and told her I would let my kids starve. My family loves leftovers!
Ok sorry guys n gals, I just keeping adding comments...I started a veganism lifestyle a couple years ago. Once a week, I make a batch of vegan chili and every couple days use our rice maker to make new batches of flawless rice. This has saved hours of cooking and meant my online classes (during the pandemic) college daughter can eat at any time she chooses and has said she could eat it every day for the rest of her life. (I found several vegan recipes online and vary the chili slightly each week). It's very inexpensive, hearty and satisfying.
I also make vegan chili often and agree it's very inexpensive and rather versatile, can have it on rice, mashed potatoes, pasta, frozen french fries, with nacho chips, or use soft tortilla shells and make a casserole. Use dry beans to save even more, costs pennies. Get your veggies from a farmer's market near the end of the day and usually can get peppers and onions for very cheap.
Your tips are so awesome. My family shares all our streaming services with each other so each one of us pays for one and it’s definitely a money saver. All together we have Netflix, Hulu, Disney plus, TH-cam tv and prime and only pay for one service ourselves. I highly recommend doing this with your friends/family as well.
These were awesome tips. One that I was able to take advantage of was getting a discount on my mobile cell phone just because I worked for a certain company. It doesn't hurt to ask. I am saving 18%.
I love using my local library, when my last Kindle died, I got a regular tablet and I switched to the Libby app and it was so much easier to use. I always try to find a cookbook there to see if I would use it before I commit to buying it. I have one of the High Sierra backpacks for a carry-on (back in the old days and we flew places lol) Costco carries them every year in the back to school season. We did upgrade our couch. lol It was time. It was a splurge and we agonized over it and finally decided to go with a better quality one. But ultimately we have zero remorse. We don't do a lot of big ticket items very often. We ditched cable but upgraded our internet speed, only have a few streaming options, do not miss cable one tiny bit.
Omg I haven't been to McDonalds in years but I had no idea they got rid of their healthy options! That's too bad. I love the motto "if you can't pay cash don't buy it" :) I have never used fabric softener or paper towels.
Yes to the backpack thing! Get one your kids really like that will last and they can use it for years. I used the $70 Swiss gear backpack my mom got me in middle school all the way through college. It was more expensive, but definitely cheaper than buying a $30 backpack every year because it fell apart.
Also the LL Bean backpacks are everlasting. My 12 year old has used the same one all through elementary, he’s getting ready for middle school. But in college I had a large one and is still in A1 shape other than needing cleaned. I’m in my 40s btw, but he can use that one.
I love watching your shows. I am having such a hard time trying to get out of debt. And you are so correct about instant gratification when shopping. And buying food once weekly is so difficult because I work at Shaws which is part of Albertsons and it’s super expensive here in Stowe Vermont. I give mega kudos for accomplishing all of this !!😊
Never used dryer sheets or fabric softener, dry clothes on line, love windex, spot money on overseas trips, buy all clothes at kmart or thrift shops, same cardigan for 20 years! Just learnt to freeze avocado.
Good morning, Christine. Very timely video as most people prepare to have kiddos home on summer break. It is so easy to break your budget over the summer on fun stuff or trying to keep the kids entertained. Love all these tips. I am also super frugal. We did a no spend with a pantry/freezer challenge for 3 months from Nov 2020 to Jan 2021 and then paid off our truck! Such a great feeling to not have that monthly payment.
I like your current hairstyle. You are never afraid to change it up. This one is the best one yet! Thank you for today's video, always useful information to save money.
All great tips. I do all of these and more. It's pretty easy to shop once a week for me, since our store has a discount for 60 plus years folks on Tuesdays. I want that 5% off, so I stay out of the store on other days.
This might be similar to your last tip...my husband and I always allowed ourselves each $10 each month as our "spend free" money. Which means it's our fun spending money that we can use to get something special so we didn't feel so restricted. I would always use mine strategically on my starbucks app to get as many drinks throughout the month as I could. 🙃 It just helps us to feel like we are "allowed" to treat ourselves a little throughout the month free of guilt.
I also have never used it. I don’t remember if my mom used it or not growing up. But when I was on my own I was too poor and cheap to buy it. 20 years later and I still don’t buy it.
My car! Was the dumbest decision I’ve ever made! I’ve been paying interest on it basically since 2017! Ugh I hate it and not sure how I’m ever going to get out from under this!
1.) Delete ALL shopping apps off your phone, computer and iPad. 2.) Skip the college loan, only take as many classes as you can afford ( it may take you longer but you’ll get out debt free. I did it, my sister did it and my daughter did it). 3.) Stop using paper towels use coffee filters and napkins instead. 4.) if you’re on metered water like we are in CA, catch the water in the shower while you’re waiting for it to warm up and use it to water your yard. That’s 5 gallons of water per person in my household of three. 5.) Get a vacuum sealer and seal your leftovers and freeze them if you’re not going to eat right away.
I recently called my cell phone company and asked them if I was getting the best rate. I ended up upgrading my family plan and I will save $50 per month.
We did this as well and both our phone plans went down 30 dollars. My other daughter knowing what we were paying for our plans decided to go with a different carrier and spends 120 dollars per month for the exact same plan we get for 60 dollars.
Oh. I completely misread. Sure, you could call every, like, year or two and ask for a better deal or you're leaving. I've seen that work, but it's a hassle. Or you could shop around like you would for car and home insurance. I'd say odds are good that you can find a decent independent or smaller provider for about half the price, or at least 1/3 lower. That's what I did. Was approaching $100+/m just for internet. Switched to another company and, after initial outlay for equipment, currently paying about $60/m taxes in. This is here in Canada, your mileage may vary depending on where you are.
To add onto this... Don't be scared of getting old phones! If you can get a phone for a discounted price just because it's 2 years old, you'll save A LOT more money than paying hundreds of dollars of extra fees for a contract plan. They get the job done, work just as fine, and if it's ever slow you can reset your phone and have it super fast again!
Another laundry tip: Once every 2 or 3 weeks you can do a load of laundry without adding any detergent. Some of it does remain in washing machines, and unless your clothes are really filthy you can get away without using detergent once in a while.
We made the budget plan that each of our paychecks has to meet a minimum number to pay for bills, pay off credit card debt and put into our spending funds; and anything over that number is kept in our own accounts for spending money of our choosing! We also Just learned the hack where you buy a gift card at your first grocery shopping trip of the month that has the remainder of your grocery budget on it and you only use that card to go grocery shopping. And anything left over at the end of the month is used to take us out to eat.
Thank you for sharing❤️ A couple of things I e done in the past is clothing swap with a few friends who had children close in age/size and pantry trade. Think of a can for a can etc. If I have items in my pantry I don’t really plan on using we just meet up and trade. Also buying meat in bulk and splitting it with family
I love love love your channel. I've been binge watching and taking detailed notes! Thank you so much! **Btw you can use vinager for fabric softener and cleaning and a million other things. Amazing money saver!
I put vinegar instead of fabric softener in the washing machine. Helps clean the machine due to hard water as well. And the clothes don't smell like vinegar afterwards.
I haven't used fabric softer in a decade. Get a downy ball and fill it with white vinegar instead of softener. I also use wool dryer balls. Works wonderfully
Wow! I’m commenting a lot today. So I’m constantly comparing myself to my brother. Then yesterday he told me (not bragging) he and his wife went on vacation to the outer-banks last week and they ended up buying the air BnB they stayed in. It was a million dollars and just an investment. They can afford it because he owns a very well known produce company but my husband is a plain old nuclear engineer and I homeschool the kids. Anyway, we need more videos on not comparing with others!!!! Help!!
My hubs has had huge issues with comparing himself to his older brother . His brother and his wife are both Drs in Santa Monica Ca and own his practice. My hubs is a manager of a Michael's craft store and he makes a good wage but obviously nothing like his brother, it goes way back to choices made in college etc (brother worked his butt off hubs was a laid back career college student that partied for several years)so obviously differences. He has come to grips with it now but it has always bugged him. It also doesnt help that their 92 yr old mom constantly mentions that she doesnt understand why we dont do the same things his brother does because "I'm sure you make as much money"...🙄🤣🤣 she doesnt mean anything by it just is somewhat unaware..lol but it's a gut punch for him.😄 his brother has always felt bad when she makes the comparisons and is super generous with all the family. But sometimes it still gets to him.
It really is challenging. I have friends who make several times over what I make and travel all over and have a vacation home etc. I find it very helpful to focus on gratitude for what I do have and how much more I have than probably 95% of people in the world and the intangibles like my wonderful marriage etc. I really don’t feel that much envy any more.
Since I've been decluttering everything under the sun watching @TheMinimalMom and yourself, others... I have been selling on Mercari. Anything like new, brand new unused etc... since I started hard core beginning of this year, I have sold over $3,000! Yep... that much. I'm still decluttering and either selling or donating. Being on a fixed income as a disabled Veteran and my differently abled teen with autism, the extra money helps us save.
my slightly bizarre tip: if all I need is a half gallon of milk, I go into the convienence store and buy it. I come out with an extra small candy bar so it totals $4. If I go to the grocery for cheaper milk w/o needing other stuff, I walk out with $40 worth of unneeded stuff! This works for me!
Budget tip that works for my family is to Meal plan and eat out of the pantry. Food waste in the US is shockingly high. 15 year mortgage. The home payments are not that much more. Cars: buy used. We buy 1-2 year old cars and save thousands. Also, buy with cash not credit. Basically, buy what you can afford.
We like to plan our eating out days at the beginning of the month. 😀This helps us stay on budget and gets us excited for the days we get to eat out. For example, if we know we are going out to dinner on a Friday, we are less likely to pick up fast food during the week, bc we know we already have plans to eat out and we’d rather spend the money on a nice restaurant and not fast food! 😬Great video! Thanks for sharing the tips!
Have not been out since the pandemic. Plus even good restaurants get most of there prepared food from outside companies. All the salads come in huge bags and the just assemble as needed. Plus all there soups come from huge plastic bags that are warmed up in steam ovens. I used to work in a restaurant where everything was home made from soups to salads but to save money it’s all prepared in some warehouse. If you wanted to have everything really good by a chef you could not afford it.
1) True bill (app) will negotiate for a lower rate on your behalf. Their service charge if successful in lowering your bill is 40% of what your savings would have been for one year, but it saves time. I don't have to wait on hold. 2) Plan your meals around what's on sale, what your have coupons for, what you need to use up, etc. 3) Consider shopping at multiple stores for your groceries. 4) Combine discounts - sales, coupons, cash back apps, credit card rewards.
Libraries a r e amazing I worked for 30 years at the library and still use it. Our library offers many things besides books. The library offers online learning, free access to Acorn TV, ebooks, audiobooks, music cd's, movies DVD s, they take requests for purchase, and a few branches (the bigger ones) have 3D printers, a room to access greenscreens to use when making videos music programs for videos making among other computer programs, access to the internet and Im not sure if they still, offer it but you could borrow bicycles (Im retired now so, I don't know all the things the library offers) stoytimes, adult programming, chair exercises for seniors not now because of Covid *** check out your library, (you pay for it with your taxes) and you'll be SURPRISED what the library offers!
Our HP printer has a subscription option. We love it! Your price depends on how much you expect to print each month. They track it through your wifi and mail you ink when you are getting low. I have never ran out before new ink arrived. No extra charge unless you go over you page limit per a month.
By containers of household cleaners like Fabuloso, that you mix with water so they last much longer. You can buy that at dollar tree and then come home and mix it in a spray bottle it saves us tons of money
I don't realize I'm frugal until I saw your video,I had been doing most all those things over the years, and also my kids are the same way, they have learned just by watching me doing those things, I always sayed don't expend in unnecessary stuff, of course I have my tentations once and a while, but I feel like I savory more, we enjoyed more when we eat out once a week then doing it every day.
Christine, thanks for all the tips! There are some things I like to splurge on like gifts for my grandchildren but I have had my phone and purse forever and I don’t splurge on shoes, makeup or other pricey items. 🥰
I've never used fabric softener in my life, and haven't used dryer sheets in over a decade. Maybe 15 years? Our whites still get dingy because our water, even softened, is super, super hard with iron. Over time a white tshirt will lose its brightness unless you bleach it. I also don't use bleach. lol. I have super sensitive skin and most of that kind of stuff bothers me.
Dang it Christine! I decided to grab lunch today (alone) but I’m going to listen to you and eat some leftovers. Guess I saved about $7 today. Thanks for the reminder that I have some financial goals right now and eating out doesn’t fit it right now.
Christine, the App Overdrive is a FREE App that many libraries are hooked into. Download the App, Select the county library system you belong to, put in your card number and you are open for business! You can download or read online ebooks or you can listen to books on CD all on your smart phone. If a new book comes out that isn't accessible yet, you can request that your library purchases it and notifies you when they do. It's so fantastic!!!! Can you tell I'm a book nerd!? Love learning, love bios, love 'docudramas'...read so much during these past isolated months and during which time my Dad passed from cancer. Felt less alone reading/listening to books...all the voices of the readers let me feel I wasn't alone.
I'm all about ignoring what others have - except art supplies, they are my weakness lol However, I've saved $ in so many other places (& have recently started cutting my own hair which I love doing) so I don't feel so guilty when I restock my supplies.
One thing that has helped us is we don't buy our daughter a lot of toys. We instead go out of the house a lot and do free things. She is more creative with the toys she has and when we go to the store she knows I don't buy her things.
Since my (11) kids were little, they each got $100 for their birthday and they got to pick the dinner and dessert. They got total control. They could plan a party within their budget, or choose what to buy, but that was it. My oldest son usually used his to take everyone out for Chinese buffet (when they were younger and it was more affordable), or for pizza, now that there are fewer of them at home. I also buy them a few Christmas presents and give them cash, which goes a lot further during the after-holiday sales, and they get what they want.
Really really good tips. I know a couple that's $30,000 in debt and they eat out every night and they don't eat leftovers! It's one of the most basic but effective ways to start saving money. So much of our budget goes to food and it's much better spent when we cook from home and enjoy our leftovers.
when my kids were small i used to even recycle gifts. if they are younger than 6 most of the time people overdo the gifts at Christmas and birthdays...let them play with all they want, when they begin to abandon some of the gifts, put them away in a rarely used closet and give them those toys or leftover gifts on the next special occasion or even use for toys for tots donation for the school.
My mom used to do “cafeteria night” to use leftovers. She would heat up all the small amounts, put them on the table in dishes, and we would all walk around the table picking up what we wanted. We would even pretend pay. It was fun, felt like going out, and we had no idea we were being frugal.
Love this.
Genius! & Fun!
Your mom sounded so sweet.
The kids dad -way back in the day- would throw a tea towel over his arm, grab a pad and pencil and let them order from “the menu” (the list of leftovers) . Then we’d fix each a plate of what they ordered. I usually ended up finishing off the less popular items. Planning now to do my own freezer clean out.
Awesome idea!
I want to share a funny backpack story. My dad used to by us Jansport backpacks and when I was in high school they were $60. They would last about 6 months and the zipper would break. My dad finally got irritated and said that if the backpack was just going to break he would just buy a cheap one. He went to Kmart and got me a $15 Eastpak. Well. I am almost 40 and I still use it!!! Hahaha!
Yes!! Eastpak!! I still have mine🤣😱 its now my diaper bag now 😁😁 very strong!!
Jansport will take them back and give you a refund!
I'm laughing.
@Maddy Anderson they don’t guarantee the zipper (lifetime x the zipper 🙄). At least they didn’t when I was in school and I’m the same age as the OP
Eastpak in Germany is about 120 Euros! Not cheap
When I was a kid, we always got to go down the cake mix isle and pick out the cake mix for our birthday. I remember that being my favorite part of "planning" my party. We'd also go to the dollar store, and I could pick out the paper plates and napkins we used. I always had a sleepover with five or six friends, rented a movie, had cheap pizza and the boxed cake mix. I think it ended up being a $30 or $40. I always had a good time. I cared more about the experience than anything else.
Wooow! Thats sound such a good idea! I might need to do that with my kids
Sounds like so much fun!
My mom let us pick out a boxed cake too! Then she would make a bunny cake with two cake rounds or make cat cupcakes with pretzels for whiskers, Graham crackers for ears and M&Ms for eyes and i got to help decorate them. I had a couple birthday parties at the bowling alley with pizza and also at home with a campfire and hotdogs. The best memories was definitely helping decorate the cake with my mom though.
M a
Yes! Me too! That was the best part - getting to pick the cake flavor and frosting! I had no idea bakery cakes even existed until I was at least 10.
I once wrapped my toddler nephew’s Xmas present in a cereal box because it was an awkward shape - as soon as he unwrapped it he went to the kitchen to get a cereal bowl thinking I had given him crunchy nut cornflakes as a gift! Just shows young kids just like opening pressies no matter what’s in it and appreciate it! 🤣
I got a pay out at work and I got my daughter everything she wanted for her bday/xmas (they are close together). I spent like £300+ in the Disney store. She LOVED the £2:50p BOX! Never again have I spent that kind of money on just one person lol
Aw.
That’s so cute
Do your own nails. Manicures/pedicures are a fairly recent 'requirement'. Buy inexpensive soaps and haircare products. You pay for ads and packaging on the expensive brands. Don't pay for fitness - walk, do yoga, paint your house, mow your lawn, play with your kids. I could list another 50!
Thanks for this. Please share more.
You can sue
Great list. Gardening is great exercise and if you grow food, you get to eat the fruits of your labor. ~ Lisa
Last year a friend introduced me to the local Buy Nothing group. I have been gifted bookcases, fruit & veggie starts, 3 bags of nice clothes (after losing 30 lbs), a nice lamp, and a painting that I really enjoy. And a whole lot of other things! It’s been such a blessing.
Also I appreciate the friendly conversations between neighbors.
I shop online - add my stuff to the cart 🛒 and then don’t buy it. I feel like I’ve saved so much money not buying. 😅😂😂😂
Hah! I thought I was the only one who did this! By the next day, you know you don’t need it!
Ohmygoodness, I do that, too!
I do the same thing! As an added bonus, if you're thinking of something on Amazon, put it in your cart and then click to "save for later". When you go into your cart Amazon will alert you to any price changes for anything in your cart or saved for later, and if something dropped a bunch in price, pull the trigger and buy it!
I do the same thing!🤣🤣🤣
I do that also instead of buy I need 5 things from my basket i only end up buying one and saving the rest for later. It helps me soo much
1. Eat leftovers 0:43
2. Cut your own hair 1:11
3. Cut cable 1:18
4. Rotate streaming services 1:23
5. Use a budget 1:42
6. Live within your means 1:47
7. Use cash 2:01
8. Save or invest your raises 2:17
9. Buy generic 2:57
10. Don’t eat out 3:11
11. Do a “no spend” week 3:36
12. Pantry clean out cooking 3:53
13. Stop shopping for fun 4:01
14. Don’t pay high interest rates 4:16
Upstart ad 4:36
15. Grocery shop once a week 5:38
16. Use the library 5:43
17. Take a walk 6:06
18. Pack snacks 6:10
19. Stop buying junk food 6:44
20. Use cleaning rags instead of paper towels 7:07
21. Don’t use fabric softener 7:35
22. Ignore everyone else 8:01
23. The Hedonic principle 8:22
24. Use printers with generic ink refills 9:18
25. Cut back on birthday parties 10:00
26. Pick and choose your tech 11:37
27. Reuse backpack 12:13
28. Meal plan 12:48
29. Discount store shopping 12:54
30. Don’t buy bottled water 13:13
31. Shop around for car and homeowner’s insurance 13:28
32. Use cash back apps 13:47
33. Allow yourself SOMETHING 14:27
Thank you!!
Thank you!!!
Thank you for listing them out, I would have watched the video for nothing. You saved me time.
Thanks!
I'm
I bought a Berkey water filtration system, which is amazing!! I have replaced store bought water bottles with water I filter myself. It taste great, better for my budget and the environment!
weve had a Big Berkey for years - couldn't agree more!
My husband and I just purchased a Big Burkey, we've had it about 6 months, some of the best $$ we've ever spent! It has more than paid for itself in that time. I think buying bottled water is such a waste of $$!
I shop second hand stores, salvation army usually, for clothes for my daughter and I both. Each season we go through our clothes and donate what no longer fits to a local charity and then we see what pieces need replaced. Our local salvation army has a 5 for $5 sale every week and we find brand new with tags tops, sweaters, jeans, workout wear, sweatshirts, leggings etc. We just did this a couple weeks ago and I spent $15 + tax for 15 new items of clothing! #savethosedollarbills
We have a few goodwill ones by me and I agree: can't beat the prices (and sometimes they still have the tags on them!). I also got a great working like new lamp for only a dollar.
@@littlesongbird1 awesome! I always shop thrift places first since it saves the dollar dollar bills / doll hairs as Christine says.
When I was raising my two sons alone, I used brown paper bags cut open and flattened out with red ribbons one Christmas and the funny papers another Christmas. These both also work year-round for gifts. I was also that mom who recycled any half-decent wrap. My boys knew to carefully unwrap their presents unless I gave them the okay to tear away, if the wrap was really thin or on its second or third life. It goes without saying, all bows were recycled many times. They were so excited when they could rip away! They still laugh about their “cheap” mom, but I really had to economize.
I scavenge brown packing paper from deliveries at work, iron it, stencil or stamp designs to customize, and make my own bows. I use reusable gift bags or boxes and save ribbon. After holiday clearance at the dollar store for sources of ribbon, stamps and paint. ALDI Carrie’s inexpensive Brie and the little wooden boxes are great to repaint and use for small gifts.
Young Millennials and GenZ don't use fabric softener in general. It's a scam. So are those laundry scent beads. You're just coating your clothes in wax. 😂
And, chemicals !
What about dryer sheets?
@@cynthiabromback8854 Nope! Not those either. A lot of us use those multi-use dryer balls, but most of our generation now avoids dryer sheets. Not only are they adding things to your clothes, but they're also one time use and bad for the environment. So we use the dryer balls instead to remove static. 👍😊
True story!
Yupp! Dryer sheets I only buy for my fuzzy blankets because no matter how many dryer balls I put in they are still staticky lol. A box lasts us a long time though.
As a college kid that pays for his classes out of his pocket this is something I need to learn because saving is very important and crucial for me
I think that living below your means is one of the most important principles to live by: always.
I agree absolutely! Ignoring advertising and fashion trends can save a packet, yet so many people are regularly conned into replacing stuff that doesn't need to be, from clothes to electronics, and they can't see that it's all a scam!
We have always used rags as I was growing up. My mom even used to make rags out of old t-shirts, sheets and whatever she could find, which would save even more money!
Here’s a tip when you get the urge to shop or spend money on things you don’t need find something to clean or organize. There is Always something you could clean or organize or go through and I feel like I’ve accomplished something and it kicks the urge to go shop.
For 20 years I have declared January as "Shopped My Stores" i.e. my pantry, freezer, and fridge. Sometimes I'd carry it over to February. More recently, I do the same sort of thing as we head into a new season. This makes sense because there are recipes that I only make at a particular time of year.
We so something similar, only we call it Larder Month! We have a good old clear out of the pantry and use up all the bits that have got pushed to the back. I also check that my herbs and spices still have some potency, and try to use up any that are getting stale before replacing.
Great idea.
Love you channel, Christine. I do a lot of second hand shopping for my son. We are lucky enough to have a children’s clothing and toy consignment store near where we live. It has saved me so much money and I get compliments all the time how well dressed my kid is. It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money to look nice. Buying most of his toys second hand has saved us HUNDREDS of dollars too. The toys get a second life and there is a little less waste in the world.
When my towels get old and stringy I cut them and turn them into cleaning rags.
I've got pretty fabric that i sewed onto my old towels, and those are my pot holders. You could do that for coasters too. Otherwise yah, cleaning and shop rags.
I do to. Best cleaning rags. Even took my kids' well used flannel swaddle blankets and turned them into cleaning rags. They work great for windows.
I do this.
My sister has five kids, mostly teens now, and once or twice a week she tells them it's "fifi" night, fifi meaning "find it, fix it." It gives her a much needed break, and they can have anything they want, cereal or sandwich, whatever, so they like it. And they save "going out to eat" for birthdays, etc. They (a family of 7) have lived well on one income for years, by being wise with money. When the oldest got a job they bought her a used car. When she could afford one she wanted instead, the next kid to start working got the old car, and so on, right down the line. As you said, the library, parks, State Parks, local lakes, creeks, etc were a lot of their "entertainment and outings." I think they've done really well, been wise with their money.
Weird tip, but we always used a piece of bread to clean up glass shards. Something about the glass sticking in the bread and it was a good use of a crust piece. My Dad was an engineer, so that may have been the origin.
A piece of modeling clay works well too
Great idea, I freak out about broken glass also. We sweep it up.
I love using the library! I can go onto my local library's website, and put books or movies on hold from any branch within the library system, and have them held at my closest branch! I wait for them to tell me my items are available, and then go pick them up. It has saved me a TON of money over the years (especially when we were homeschooling). And you can even do Interlibrary Loan - If my library doesn't have a specific title, but it's at another library somewhere else in the state, my librarian can get it for me!!
My McDonald's in San Diego, CA also has zero healthy options now. For me it's a good thing. One less place for me to spend my money at and one more reason to eat at home.
We always took drinks and snacks for our family. This saves time of travel and money. Now that we are retired and no kids, we still pack our lunch for the day of travel. 1. Better food 2. Saves time 3. Saves money. Last yr. we were out West camping for over 2 wks. Only bought food out 6 times.
There were some sweet memories as a kid, if there was a movie we wanted to see (before streaming), my mom would take my brother and I to the public library and look for it there. Ever since, that's where we look, theater's can be so expensive, especially snacks! 1,000% recommend public library for cookbooks, activities and movies for kids ☺️
Dryer sheets make your towels, wash cloths, rags less absorbent. I used to work at a high-end bed and bath store and we would always tell customers not to use dryer sheets or fabric softener on their towels. Vinegar or dryer balls are suggested to soften and prevent static cling.
I will forever appreciate this channel, you've helped my family alot, your videos, advice, lessons and funny words are inspirational and helpful to us. My wife and I have been able to be minimal, conscious in spending, saving and investing wisely, I now earn every week. You're such a blessing to this generation. we all love you
Money is an issue that everyone has for a better and luxurious life, life was hard for me until I started trading Bitcoin and now earning $22,000 per week
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Funny, born in Europe we never had a “pantry” we only ever bought things you eat:) didn’t have the coffee culture to buy a coffee. Moving here I have learned not to do that anymore:)
Leftovers were and are life. Thank you for all your tips:)
mcdonalds cut the all day breakfast, salads, grilled chicken, and parfaits to cut costs for masks and social distance signage and gloves. its bs in my opinion but now i have no reason to go there 😂
I agree on almost everything except the birthday parties. I'm Mexican, we can't do a 2 hour party with just cake.
I invite myself to Mexican birthday parties! So much fun!!!
Tracy same here lol!
Facts!!! 😂
So excited to hear you say “you love the library”. So do I. I would prefer to hold a book in my hands instead of reading one electronically any day!
I actually can borrow electronic books from my library and download them onto my Kindle for 21 days. It saves so much money not buying books!
We have a Brother printer. It has told us that the ink is low for 3 years. We shake it and it keeps on printing.....
This is hilarious 😂
Brother printers are the best! We had an hp before and it never liked the Costco refills. Had to replace the printer every couple years, but our brother printer just keeps on going and it is so much cheaper to buy the cartridge for it
One thing that falls under the eating out category but I think deserves a special mention is brew and bring your coffee from home! In Toronto, Canada it is part of the culture to pick up your Tim Horton's, McDonald's or Starbucks coffee in the morning and throughout the day, but the cost of coffee alone added up can be astronomical! I started making my coffee at home and bringing it with me and the savings are huge! (this may have been mentioned but I haven't read all the comments yet).
Also, I'm printing the list out with the "Comparison is the thief of joy" quote at the top and posting it in a couple of strategic places in our home for my kids (older teenagers) to help them to get into the mindset.
I literally do not understand this. People spend an INCREDIBLE amount of money on coffee. It’s crazy to me. Anyway, I want my coffee before I get dressed and go out.
I actually like my home brewed coffee with french vanilla creamer better than buying coffee out.
I went so far as to purchase a small Keurig machine I keep at work and bring reusable pods filled at home! My last Keurig lasted 6 years and was used at least 4x/week! Way cheaper than buying coffee at the coffee shop and tastes much better😉
I am from Canada and used to love Timmies, however, it is awful and now I just brew my own coffee at home and if I am going somewhere a good travel mug comese in handy. I spend 20 dollars a month on the cream and the coffee and have enough to have several coffee's a day at home.
Great recommendation on the Brother printer. I not only buy generic cartridges but I have researched it enough to learn how to refill the generic cartridges. My cost of printing is now so low that it beats the bulk cost of my company printing at work. I also buy the cheapest, multi-purpose paper I can find in bulk. Sure, it's not the fanciest, but it does the job.
I've used vinegar as my softener in the washer and rinse agent in the dishwasher FOR YEARS.
Cant wait to try it as a dishwasher rinsing agent. Thanks for sharing!
Vinegar is amazing!! It's cheap and incredibly versatile as a cleaner.
Came back to say it works well but my clean dishes smelled really weird at first. 30+ days later I can confirm it helps keep the DW clean and fresh... I'll stick to Finish as rinse agent and use vinegar to disinfect / clean the DW regularly.
CLEAN used (can also be unused) aluminum foil loosely (not tightly) crumpled into a ball thrown into the dryer makes the clothes soft without an overpowering scent. It can also be used multiple times
I switched to using washable towels for everything except pet accidents or something I wouldn't want to wash that's super gross. Cut out paper plates as well. Do have napkins but they last forever. Paper products are super expensive!
Something my parents always ingrained in us was, live below your means. The rest of my family sort of brushed it off, until my parents retired... And they're living just fine! So, as early as you can start saving, do so, and try to put some money in a savings account if you don't have the 401K plan ☺️ it really helps in the long run for retirement or even just for emergencies and investments
Also opening a Roth IRA and invest in SP 500 mutual funds. You will never have to pay taxes on the money. Great way to put aside for retirement!
No cable, no fabric softener, no bottled water, and very little paper towels. We use rags for most clean up and old socks for the gross clean up like glass or around the toilet that you can stick your hand in and clean up and throw straight in the trash. We have so many socks with holes in them in an extra trash can. Every birthday party is a challenge to make it happen under $100 and we don't have the places that rent that cheaply for birthdays but I do it every year with homemade cookies to decorate and pizza from Pizza Hut which is my son's choice and I make all the activities for the kids. Love the meal plan and can't live without it!! We love our library and it was the hardest thing to do without when it was closed during the pandemic. So happy to have books again!!
Our library are still closed here in Canada.
You could mend those socks with the holes in them!
@Allison Phillips thank you for mentioning socks! I have so many socks that have lost their match. Now I have a use for them!
Agree with all of your tips. Always, always telling my kids we have food at home, also packing your lunch/snacks, and drinks is usually 1/4 the cost or cheaper (a 25 cent bag of chips vs $1 or more at the snack bar, a 50 cent Gatorade/bottled drink vs a $3 drink - you see my point). My family is a cereal for breakfast and comfort food family, so we drink/eat a lot of milk, when I do a "no spend week" or a "cutting back on milk week" I will use the powdered milk and the children are able to taste the difference and lay off it real quick and eat the other food we have. I have espoused the "love it or leave it" principle, all you ask yourself is "why don't I use/wear this more often?" It's wrinkled every time I want to wear it... the fabric feels or lays wrong... it's broken.... or it's uncomfortable (usually a pair of shoes). If it's expensive, newer or worn once, I'm inclined to attempt to sell via marketplace or other group, if it's from Kohls and certain other stores they will take it back within their return policy (60 or 90 days?). I like to go to thrift stores with quality stock and I have found some of my most favorite (high quality name brand) clothes there. Actual leather shoes will last much longer than tennis/athletic shoes, and they can be repaired. And sometimes you can just say to yourself/your spouse or children "We're fine without XYZ" Last thing is don't be a gluttonous person/family, buying things in bulk (for better pricing) is not a reason to binge consume on those items.
Something that has saved me a lot of money is to make my own laundry soap. It costs about $25-35 (depending if you buy when items are on sale) and lasts around 9 months for a family of 5. Love it! Thanks for the tips!
How! That would be interesting, what do you use?
@@jimbetty3731 So there are several recipes online and it can be modified to your own preference but here is what I use and I try to pick up items in advance when they are on sale. All items can be found at Walmart down the laundry isle.
1-65 oz 20 Mule Team Borax
1-55 oz Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
2- 14.01 oz Zote Soap (I prefer smell of the Pink one)
1- 3lb tub of Oxi Clean (optional)
2-26.5 oz Downy Unstoppable the beads (optional)
I shred the zote soap in my food processor (dedicated to this only purpose) and place on a banking sheet, into the oven on warm for a couple of hours. It needs to be dry before mixing. I like mine small so I run it through the food processor again once its dry. You can also shred it and leave it out to air dry for a couple of days and use your hands to break it up.
Once the zote soap is fully dry mix all ingredients together in a well ventilated area-borax will make you cough if you dont. I use 1 tablespoon per load of laundry. 1.5 tablespoons if I'm doing blankets and sheets. I have found this to be much better than any store bought laundry soap out there. Let me know if you try it!
@@courtneywhitt9971 how much does it make? Where/how do you store it?
@@margaretpare8206 it’s makes quite a bit. I store it in a plastic container with a lid. Roughly 4 quart container and extras in about 4 oxi clean containers. But really anything with a lid would do. The recipe lasts about 9 months for my family of 5. Approx 3-4 loads a week.
Left over box broth, freeze it I sometimes put in glass jars or I will measure it and freeze it in ziplock sandwich bags, Freeze in ice cube trays then pop out and store in a freezer bag the freezer. 🥳 Saves so much money.
The each-year-a-new-backpack-thing is funny. In Germany it´s totaly common to use the bagpacks for years (until they become too small or break). I make my own bread for several month now. It tastes better, it lasts longer (goes not bad), it´s cheaper and healthier. In Germany there are some semi-healthy options at Mc Donalds - but I never eat there. It´s way to expensive and the taste is not good at all. And I don´t know about the healthy-label =) Love from Germany ♥
I needed this today. We’re building a house and are trying to save really hard between now and November so we can put down as much as possible. Yesterday I deleted doorsash 😭 it’s my biggest splurge but it needed to go. Turned off all notifications on my phone too. No more “50% off! Buy now!!” I love these tips. Thanks so much for the inspiration!
Congratulations on your upcoming new home! Totally worth the sacrifice. You're modeling winning behavior. 👍❤️
Congratulations! You can do it!
If you are building a house, pay cash for your appliances. If you finance them with your mortgage you will be paying for them maybe 30 years and you had to replace them after about 10 years. When my youngest son was about 3 or4 he went to the grocery store with me. He asked for some fruit cocktail. I said no because it wasn't on sale. He looked up at me and said "is it against the law to buy something that is not on sale?" I said yes and he never forgot it.
Seeing "eat your leftovers" is the oddest tip to me. I didn't realize that people didn't eat their leftovers.
My mom hates leftovers - she’ll eat a bowl of cereal before she reheats a piece of meat. I, on the other hand, will intentionally cook too much food so that 1) I have lunch the next day 2) I don’t have to cook again the next night 🤣
I know a couple of people who refuse to eat leftovers. I find most foods like casseroles and or sauces always taste better the next day. I cook twice a week and we eat leftover for the rest. Make a lasagne and there is meals for 2 days.
My husband hated leftovers . Until one time I made a stew out of leftovers and I told him after he ate two bowls . It’s a mind thing . Since then he doesn’t mind leftovers 🤣
So crazy, I visited my brother and his wife threw away all the leftovers from dinner. I about died! She said her kids refused to eat anything that was leftover. I laughed and told her I would let my kids starve. My family loves leftovers!
@@shannonbrice8012 Soups also taste better the second DAY! Especially chili and ham and bean!
Ok sorry guys n gals, I just keeping adding comments...I started a veganism lifestyle a couple years ago. Once a week, I make a batch of vegan chili and every couple days use our rice maker to make new batches of flawless rice. This has saved hours of cooking and meant my online classes (during the pandemic) college daughter can eat at any time she chooses and has said she could eat it every day for the rest of her life. (I found several vegan recipes online and vary the chili slightly each week). It's very inexpensive, hearty and satisfying.
I also make vegan chili often and agree it's very inexpensive and rather versatile, can have it on rice, mashed potatoes, pasta, frozen french fries, with nacho chips, or use soft tortilla shells and make a casserole. Use dry beans to save even more, costs pennies. Get your veggies from a farmer's market near the end of the day and usually can get peppers and onions for very cheap.
Your tips are so awesome. My family shares all our streaming services with each other so each one of us pays for one and it’s definitely a money saver. All together we have Netflix, Hulu, Disney plus, TH-cam tv and prime and only pay for one service ourselves. I highly recommend doing this with your friends/family as well.
These were awesome tips. One that I was able to take advantage of was getting a discount on my mobile cell phone just because I worked for a certain company. It doesn't hurt to ask. I am saving 18%.
I love using my local library, when my last Kindle died, I got a regular tablet and I switched to the Libby app and it was so much easier to use. I always try to find a cookbook there to see if I would use it before I commit to buying it. I have one of the High Sierra backpacks for a carry-on (back in the old days and we flew places lol) Costco carries them every year in the back to school season. We did upgrade our couch. lol It was time. It was a splurge and we agonized over it and finally decided to go with a better quality one. But ultimately we have zero remorse. We don't do a lot of big ticket items very often. We ditched cable but upgraded our internet speed, only have a few streaming options, do not miss cable one tiny bit.
Omg I haven't been to McDonalds in years but I had no idea they got rid of their healthy options! That's too bad. I love the motto "if you can't pay cash don't buy it" :) I have never used fabric softener or paper towels.
Yes to the backpack thing! Get one your kids really like that will last and they can use it for years. I used the $70 Swiss gear backpack my mom got me in middle school all the way through college. It was more expensive, but definitely cheaper than buying a $30 backpack every year because it fell apart.
Also the LL Bean backpacks are everlasting. My 12 year old has used the same one all through elementary, he’s getting ready for middle school. But in college I had a large one and is still in A1 shape other than needing cleaned. I’m in my 40s btw, but he can use that one.
I love watching your shows. I am having such a hard time trying to get out of debt. And you are so correct about instant gratification when shopping. And buying food once weekly is so difficult because I work at Shaws which is part of Albertsons and it’s super expensive here in Stowe Vermont. I give mega kudos for accomplishing all of this !!😊
May I suggest following Dave Ramsey? (!!!!!)
Never used dryer sheets or fabric softener, dry clothes on line, love windex, spot money on overseas trips, buy all clothes at kmart or thrift shops, same cardigan for 20 years! Just learnt to freeze avocado.
Good morning, Christine. Very timely video as most people prepare to have kiddos home on summer break. It is so easy to break your budget over the summer on fun stuff or trying to keep the kids entertained. Love all these tips. I am also super frugal. We did a no spend with a pantry/freezer challenge for 3 months from Nov 2020 to Jan 2021 and then paid off our truck! Such a great feeling to not have that monthly payment.
I like your current hairstyle. You are never afraid to change it up. This one is the best one yet! Thank you for today's video, always useful information to save money.
All great tips. I do all of these and more. It's pretty easy to shop once a week for me, since our store has a discount for 60 plus years folks on Tuesdays. I want that 5% off, so I stay out of the store on other days.
These are some great tips! Always important to remember what you value most when spending :)
I like that you mentioned using rags instead of paper towels.
This might be similar to your last tip...my husband and I always allowed ourselves each $10 each month as our "spend free" money. Which means it's our fun spending money that we can use to get something special so we didn't feel so restricted. I would always use mine strategically on my starbucks app to get as many drinks throughout the month as I could. 🙃 It just helps us to feel like we are "allowed" to treat ourselves a little throughout the month free of guilt.
You can use white vinegar in your downy ball! Add baking soda to deodorize.
I haven't used fabric softener in 20 years and I'm still here
11 years ago I stopped using them. Never saw a difference.
I don't think I've ever used fabric softener. My mom didn't use it growing up, so it was never a thought a had, lol.
I laughed out loud
I also have never used it. I don’t remember if my mom used it or not growing up. But when I was on my own I was too poor and cheap to buy it. 20 years later and I still don’t buy it.
As a college student, fabric softener is just another container to lug around
My car! Was the dumbest decision I’ve ever made! I’ve been paying interest on it basically since 2017! Ugh I hate it and not sure how I’m ever going to get out from under this!
1.) Delete ALL shopping apps off your phone, computer and iPad. 2.) Skip the college loan, only take as many classes as you can afford ( it may take you longer but you’ll get out debt free. I did it, my sister did it and my daughter did it). 3.) Stop using paper towels use coffee filters and napkins instead. 4.) if you’re on metered water like we are in CA, catch the water in the shower while you’re waiting for it to warm up and use it to water your yard. That’s 5 gallons of water per person in my household of three. 5.) Get a vacuum sealer and seal your leftovers and freeze them if you’re not going to eat right away.
I recently called my cell phone company and asked them if I was getting the best rate. I ended up upgrading my family plan and I will save $50 per month.
This works well with ISPs too.
We did this as well and both our phone plans went down 30 dollars. My other daughter knowing what we were paying for our plans decided to go with a different carrier and spends 120 dollars per month for the exact same plan we get for 60 dollars.
I did the same and all they did was lower my bill by 30 for one month 🙄
Oh. I completely misread. Sure, you could call every, like, year or two and ask for a better deal or you're leaving. I've seen that work, but it's a hassle.
Or you could shop around like you would for car and home insurance.
I'd say odds are good that you can find a decent independent or smaller provider for about half the price, or at least 1/3 lower.
That's what I did. Was approaching $100+/m just for internet. Switched to another company and, after initial outlay for equipment, currently paying about $60/m taxes in. This is here in Canada, your mileage may vary depending on where you are.
To add onto this... Don't be scared of getting old phones! If you can get a phone for a discounted price just because it's 2 years old, you'll save A LOT more money than paying hundreds of dollars of extra fees for a contract plan. They get the job done, work just as fine, and if it's ever slow you can reset your phone and have it super fast again!
I really like your ideas..
You are frugal but not so extreme that life is dreary...thanks for the advice an you seem so cheery!
Amen to getting rid of fabric softener! White vinegar for the win!!!
Another laundry tip: Once every 2 or 3 weeks you can do a load of laundry without adding any detergent. Some of it does remain in washing machines, and unless your clothes are really filthy you can get away without using detergent once in a while.
We made the budget plan that each of our paychecks has to meet a minimum number to pay for bills, pay off credit card debt and put into our spending funds; and anything over that number is kept in our own accounts for spending money of our choosing! We also Just learned the hack where you buy a gift card at your first grocery shopping trip of the month that has the remainder of your grocery budget on it and you only use that card to go grocery shopping. And anything left over at the end of the month is used to take us out to eat.
Thank you for sharing❤️ A couple of things I e done in the past is clothing swap with a few friends who had children close in age/size and pantry trade. Think of a can for a can etc. If I have items in my pantry I don’t really plan on using we just meet up and trade. Also buying meat in bulk and splitting it with family
I love love love your channel. I've been binge watching and taking detailed notes! Thank you so much! **Btw you can use vinager for fabric softener and cleaning and a million other things. Amazing money saver!
I put vinegar instead of fabric softener in the washing machine. Helps clean the machine due to hard water as well. And the clothes don't smell like vinegar afterwards.
Thanks I was wondering about the smell.
I haven't used fabric softer in a decade. Get a downy ball and fill it with white vinegar instead of softener. I also use wool dryer balls. Works wonderfully
Wow! I’m commenting a lot today. So I’m constantly comparing myself to my brother. Then yesterday he told me (not bragging) he and his wife went on vacation to the outer-banks last week and they ended up buying the air BnB they stayed in. It was a million dollars and just an investment. They can afford it because he owns a very well known produce company but my husband is a plain old nuclear engineer and I homeschool the kids. Anyway, we need more videos on not comparing with others!!!! Help!!
My hubs has had huge issues with comparing himself to his older brother . His brother and his wife are both Drs in Santa Monica Ca and own his practice. My hubs is a manager of a Michael's craft store and he makes a good wage but obviously nothing like his brother, it goes way back to choices made in college etc (brother worked his butt off hubs was a laid back career college student that partied for several years)so obviously differences. He has come to grips with it now but it has always bugged him. It also doesnt help that their 92 yr old mom constantly mentions that she doesnt understand why we dont do the same things his brother does because "I'm sure you make as much money"...🙄🤣🤣 she doesnt mean anything by it just is somewhat unaware..lol but it's a gut punch for him.😄 his brother has always felt bad when she makes the comparisons and is super generous with all the family. But sometimes it still gets to him.
It really is challenging. I have friends who make several times over what I make and travel all over and have a vacation home etc. I find it very helpful to focus on gratitude for what I do have and how much more I have than probably 95% of people in the world and the intangibles like my wonderful marriage etc. I really don’t feel that much envy any more.
I buy a jansport back pack for my kids in a solid color. We get anywhere from 3 to 4 years of use out of them.
Since I've been decluttering everything under the sun watching @TheMinimalMom and yourself, others... I have been selling on Mercari. Anything like new, brand new unused etc... since I started hard core beginning of this year, I have sold over $3,000! Yep... that much. I'm still decluttering and either selling or donating. Being on a fixed income as a disabled Veteran and my differently abled teen with autism, the extra money helps us save.
Great tips! Everything you said is reasonable and makes sense. The ideal video to watch to take control of your spending
my slightly bizarre tip: if all I need is a half gallon of milk, I go into the convienence store and buy it. I come out with an extra small candy bar so it totals $4. If I go to the grocery for cheaper milk w/o needing other stuff, I walk out with $40 worth of unneeded stuff! This works for me!
I use vinegar for my fabric softener
I used too. But my next door next neighbour who is plumber and my son works in appliances say it will ruin the rubber over time.
Budget tip that works for my family is to Meal plan and eat out of the pantry. Food waste in the US is shockingly high.
15 year mortgage. The home payments are not that much more.
Cars: buy used. We buy 1-2 year old cars and save thousands. Also, buy with cash not credit. Basically, buy what you can afford.
Or you could go for the 30 year but pay it as if it’s a 15, just in case you need to make a smaller payment every now and then 🤗
We like to plan our eating out days at the beginning of the month. 😀This helps us stay on budget and gets us excited for the days we get to eat out. For example, if we know we are going out to dinner on a Friday, we are less likely to pick up fast food during the week, bc we know we already have plans to eat out and we’d rather spend the money on a nice restaurant and not fast food! 😬Great video! Thanks for sharing the tips!
Have not been out since the pandemic. Plus even good restaurants get most of there prepared food from outside companies.
All the salads come in huge bags and the just assemble as needed.
Plus all there soups come from huge plastic bags that are warmed up in steam ovens.
I used to work in a restaurant where everything was home made from soups to salads but to save money it’s all prepared in some warehouse.
If you wanted to have everything really good by a chef you could not afford it.
1) True bill (app) will negotiate for a lower rate on your behalf. Their service charge if successful in lowering your bill is 40% of what your savings would have been for one year, but it saves time. I don't have to wait on hold. 2) Plan your meals around what's on sale, what your have coupons for, what you need to use up, etc. 3) Consider shopping at multiple stores for your groceries. 4) Combine discounts - sales, coupons, cash back apps, credit card rewards.
Doing store pick up for places like Target has saved me so much because I'm not tempted to shop the entire store- and it saves so much time!
That is my favorite version of sense and sensibility. Emma Thompson is amazing
I love the library. My 75+ books per year are free plus I almost never rent a movie. That's at least $1000 worth of entertainment.
My husband is a librarian for our local city library and would totally agree with all your awesome library comments!
Your husband is awesome 📖
Libraries a r e amazing I worked for 30 years at the library and still use it. Our library offers many things besides books. The library offers online learning, free access to Acorn TV, ebooks, audiobooks, music cd's, movies DVD s, they take requests for purchase, and a few branches (the bigger ones) have 3D printers, a room to access greenscreens to use when making videos music programs for videos making among other computer programs, access to the internet and Im not sure if they still, offer it but you could borrow bicycles (Im retired now so, I don't know all the things the library offers) stoytimes, adult programming, chair exercises for seniors not now because of Covid *** check out your library, (you pay for it with your taxes) and you'll be SURPRISED what the library offers!
Our HP printer has a subscription option. We love it! Your price depends on how much you expect to print each month. They track it through your wifi and mail you ink when you are getting low. I have never ran out before new ink arrived. No extra charge unless you go over you page limit per a month.
By containers of household cleaners like Fabuloso, that you mix with water so they last much longer. You can buy that at dollar tree and then come home and mix it in a spray bottle it saves us tons of money
I don't realize I'm frugal until I saw your video,I had been doing most all those things over the years, and also my kids are the same way, they have learned just by watching me doing those things, I always sayed don't expend in unnecessary stuff, of course I have my tentations once and a while, but I feel like I savory more, we enjoyed more when we eat out once a week then doing it every day.
Christine, thanks for all the tips! There are some things I like to splurge on like gifts for my grandchildren but I have had my phone and purse forever and I don’t splurge on shoes, makeup or other pricey items. 🥰
Great tips! We started using the public library and it's been life changing. SO much money saved!
Another good one is Up Keep!! Cleaning and maintaining appliances.
I've never used fabric softener in my life, and haven't used dryer sheets in over a decade. Maybe 15 years? Our whites still get dingy because our water, even softened, is super, super hard with iron. Over time a white tshirt will lose its brightness unless you bleach it. I also don't use bleach. lol. I have super sensitive skin and most of that kind of stuff bothers me.
Yes Albertsons bakery! Amen!! Your birthday party advice is SPOT ON! 👏🏽
Dang it Christine! I decided to grab lunch today (alone) but I’m going to listen to you and eat some leftovers. Guess I saved about $7 today. Thanks for the reminder that I have some financial goals right now and eating out doesn’t fit it right now.
Christine, the App Overdrive is a FREE App that many libraries are hooked into. Download the App, Select the county library system you belong to, put in your card number and you are open for business! You can download or read online ebooks or you can listen to books on CD all on your smart phone. If a new book comes out that isn't accessible yet, you can request that your library purchases it and notifies you when they do. It's so fantastic!!!! Can you tell I'm a book nerd!? Love learning, love bios, love 'docudramas'...read so much during these past isolated months and during which time my Dad passed from cancer. Felt less alone reading/listening to books...all the voices of the readers let me feel I wasn't alone.
Great ideas. Thanks so much, Christine. You have such energy. It’s so entertaining. 🙂
I'm all about ignoring what others have - except art supplies, they are my weakness lol However, I've saved $ in so many other places (& have recently started cutting my own hair which I love doing) so I don't feel so guilty when I restock my supplies.
One thing that has helped us is we don't buy our daughter a lot of toys. We instead go out of the house a lot and do free things. She is more creative with the toys she has and when we go to the store she knows I don't buy her things.
Since my (11) kids were little, they each got $100 for their birthday and they got to pick the dinner and dessert. They got total control. They could plan a party within their budget, or choose what to buy, but that was it. My oldest son usually used his to take everyone out for Chinese buffet (when they were younger and it was more affordable), or for pizza, now that there are fewer of them at home.
I also buy them a few Christmas presents and give them cash, which goes a lot further during the after-holiday sales, and they get what they want.
Really really good tips. I know a couple that's $30,000 in debt and they eat out every night and they don't eat leftovers! It's one of the most basic but effective ways to start saving money. So much of our budget goes to food and it's much better spent when we cook from home and enjoy our leftovers.
when my kids were small i used to even recycle gifts. if they are younger than 6 most of the time people overdo the gifts at Christmas and birthdays...let them play with all they want, when they begin to abandon some of the gifts, put them away in a rarely used closet and give them those toys or leftover gifts on the next special occasion or even use for toys for tots donation for the school.