I always feel like when people say they are "frugal" others instantly think of "cheapskate" When in reality it's just being highly aware of the value of a dollar!
I grew up in a house where I was constantly worried about my family's financial well being. I decided I didn't want to live that way. I recently became debt free after paying off over $70,000 in student loans, credit cards, car loan, and medical bills. It took a few years to do it, but if you live intentionally with your money, then later on you can enjoy the fruits of your labor even more! EDIT: Thanks so much for the kind words! You guys are awesome!
You are so right! Frugal doesn't mean the family need to miss out on anything. Yes we can treat ourselves once in a while but making food and have the kids pitching in is just so much fun.
i’m 23 (unmarried/no kids) - for some reason youtube recommended me a vid of yours and i just kept watching. (i think it was the $30 challenge week). i’m here to stay!!! keep up the good work :D
In a culture where cars, watches, shoes, purses, etc are so "valued" it's refreshing and encouraging to see a video like this. So much financial advice is drastic and/or unreasonable. It's nice to have a voice among all that "noise" that is reasonable discussing attainable goals. You're a breath of fresh air, Christine. Thank you
She IS vivacious and those huge brown eyes gosh, she reminds me of someone from my past I am straining my elephant memory to recall? I don't know she was someone I knew personally or from stupid lol Hollywood? Good God, her husband's name is David like moi! Catch you later Speedy Gonzales bow wow !
Love what you said about priorities- if you want to spend 500 on a purse or go out to eat you can do that you just can't do EVERYTHING. This is so true and I don't think I've ever heard anyone talking about frugal lifestyle make this point and I think it is so important! I used to think I didn't have the money to travel but when I looked at all my frivolous spending I realized I could travel if I cut out the fluff.
Hey! I'm a stay home mom and I feel exactly the same way...my job with regards to finances is to make his pay stretch as far as possible!! I get some really weird looks when I say that, even at church! We live in a high cost of living area (GTA--greater Toronto area) and many families are two income families...so, I guess it's that. I'm cool making sacrifices to stay home even though my kids are now teenagers and so is the hubs. We got ourselves out of $10,000 worth of credit card debt a decade ago, after I quit to stay home with my kiddos, even though my mother in law said..."you are always going to be in debt, why bother?" LOL Joke's on her...we got out of debt in two years and have stayed out. Meanwhile, she's 70 and...surprise, surprise...still in debt! Frugality for the win, baby!!
This comment really opened my eyes. "Why bother you'll always be in debt" nothing changed becuase she had no vision that it could....that's so sad....but I'm happy for you! You broke that chain of debt and are passing down great money habits to your kiddos.
Pancake mix from kneady homesteader 12 c flour 1 1/2 c sugar 2 c powder milk 2 Tbsp baking soda 5 Tbsp baking powder 1 Tbsp salt Mix together store in glass jar Once you try never buy any from store Equal parts water and mix PLEASE TRY THIS
I grew up in a household where we struggled with some financial things. I’m 22 years old and I started becoming frugal during college. I started couponing and watching channels just like yours so I can learn to save even more!
I go to Walmart early in the morning..... that’s when they have the best deals on meat. Also I shop my children name brand clothes at Goodwill, Plato and Once Upon a Child. We will always look nice , neat and clean when we leave our home..... while still being frugal🤗
We are in the same place you guys were as a family of three. It’s tough sometimes, but we always figure it out. Our bills are paid, we own our home, and there’s always food on the table. We are blessed Christine, you have great content and you really deserve this growth! You are an awesome person with a lot of amazing knowledge to share. ❤️
Here's how my kids learned... I was making about 25c an hour above minimum wage. My teens wanted all top of the line designer gear... Bongo jeans, or Guess, at $100-$110 apiece. I'd give her $40 to go to the mall. Son wanted Air Jordans. I'd give him $40 for shoes. They both got after school jobs real quick. Once it was their own money bridging that gap ($100-$40), they learned to shop sales and modify their purchases. They also suddenly became big fans of Value Village and other resale shops.
My son learned real quick to buy Walmart sneakers as they lasted only a little less than the Vans he had to have, that he had to buy himself at a huge price. He bought ONE, one pair. He was a hard worker and wore out sneaks in 6 mos tops. Now hes grown and learned along the way to make LOTS of money so he can buy designer waste of money things lol oh well lol (Yes, its his money, but I taught him to “live simply so others may simply live”. Philanthropy, funding projects, etc and outright charity being worldchangers. It didn’t stick obviously)
@@YeshuaKingMessiah We have narrow feet, high arches. Can still get the best fit for us ..Nikes for around $50. Back then, maybe $35. They last forever, too. We LOVED Value Village...great quality clothes for prices often cheaper than Walmart. Better fabrics (cotton) last for decades...Walmart clothes usually don't.
I grew up in a household that struggled with money. It was tough. I think that is where my frugality has stemmed from. I pride myself with the fact that I can be frugal not cheap and still have things but be able to do it wisely. I share a lot on my channel just like you do! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for your honesty and keeping it real. Young adults today struggle with the idea of being frugal - it's all about instant gratification and keeping up with the Jones -- largely because many parents have overindulged them, and some are guilty of living above their means, while giving their kids more than they can truly afford -- one of my good friends did this for years -- and it all came tumbling down right as her kids were reaching the end of high school. Seeing vids like this, and that there are more worthwhile goals in life than having the latest iPhone or a new car is important.
Good advice, too bad they didn’t teach this to kids in school. There are a lot of young people who don’t understand the value of a dollar and how hard it is to earn.
I agree however I really think it is the parents job to teach the children. My dad taught me to always tithe and put money into savings. I live very frugal. When my son was in middle school and his friends were talking about credit cards my son said 'my mom won't use them'. Even if he decides to not live wise with his money at least he was given the wisdom while he was young.
I totally agree that it is firstly the parents job to teach them, however sadly, in too many cases they don’t. We certainly taught our children and they are both married and VERY frugal as we are. Thanks for sharing this because however/wherever people learn it, it is valuable advice.
I remember being taught how to balance a checkbook and taxes in high school I asked my kids and was glad to find out it's still being taught in our school district
While schools could do a better job of teaching financial education, it should start at home. When I was growing up my parents felt it was none of our business what the family finances were. My parents taught us nothing about money. I had to learn about personal finances on my own with lots of stress and hard knocks. I made it a point to take responsibility and teach my children myself about banks, credit cards, saving, paying off debt, retirement, and the consequences (and benfits) associated with it. I can say that while they still make their own booboos occasionaly, they know how the mechanics work and how to handle and figure it out on thier own.
Parents' job! Some schools do teach economics like the one I went to; my middle school taught us how to balance a checkbook. I do believe it is a parent's job to show their children those things.
My husband and I grew up in large families too with one income. I've enjoyed your videos and have gotten a lot of great ideas to declutter, streamline, and organize our home. Thank you and I am extremely grateful to have found your channel.
I attempted to help my credit score by taking out a few credit lines. This was in January. I kinda splurged with them because I thought hey I can totally afford these monthly payments. Coronavirus hit and I lost my job and my credit is much worse off now because I can't pay them off. It was a slap in the face that the way to live is to be frugal and save money to pay for things in full. Instead of living on credit like a lot of Americans. I'm still youngish (around 30) and although this experience depressed me I realized this past couple months that this was a godsend lesson to learn at an age where I need to grow up anyway 🤔
My fiancé and I are moving into his grandparents older home. Your channel was recommended and this is amazing. Im on weight watchers and most of your meals are weight watchers friendly and cheap! We are working to save all our pennies for renovation. Thank you for doing this!
Super smart mom and great parenting ensuring you learn and grow from your mistakes. And kudos to you and your husband, you guys are an amazing team. Lucky kids!
I’m a new subbie who’s been binge watching your channel over the last few days! Appreciate all your tips and tricks as I am “getting smart” with my money right now!!
Only been watching you for awhile, but I have to say I admire your life goals & integrity. Good stuff. It's good hearing others from different backgrounds & situations. You are no exception. I think the sacrifice is worth the goal & it's up to each person to figure out what they want and how much they are willing to do to get there
I am pretty new to your channel and I have love love loved your videos! I really appreciate how real you are about budgeting, cooking, and just being a normal mom and wife. Thanks for being genuine, it’s what makes me want to watch!!
I made the same mistake when I was a teenager. I'm grateful I made my mistakes young and with a small amount. I wish I was smart from the beginning, but I'm thankful for the lesson. Frugality for the win.
I am so excited that your channel is booming! Finally people got it! I have been watching you for a couple years now and I love watching your videos!!!! Congrats!
First - love your outfit, hair, etc. My daughter with her first checkbook (and job) thought if you had checks then you had money 🙄 - bless her heart. She was a tough one. We brought her up in a very frugal home (out of necessity for several years) so not sure why she thought money grew on trees. Great story and video. Have a wonderful week.
I have always tried to be frugal and teach my kids to be frugal as well. They have learned to save for things they want instead of going into debt, my youngest just turned 21 and wanted the new iPad pro but when looking at the cost she went with the next model down at only half the cost so she could get the case and ipencil with it. She then came to me saying she felt sick to her stomach because of guilt for getting it. I reminded her that she worked hard and saved so she could do that and it made her feel a little better.
You make so much good sense!!! It's the way I have always been and still am. It's not a popular culture for many, but I think every high schooler might benefit from these ideas.
My kids, especially my oldest who is 30 now is really good with money because we were a low pay grade Navy family and then struggled when the hubs got out. We worked on it together and the kids were always part of the planning when appropriate and he says he remembers to this day leaning how to live frugally. He says he remembers getting something for Christmas one year he really really wanted and as he got older he now sees how we did it. He pays cash for vehicles, bought a house last year. I feel like if that's all we taught him we did well. 😊
I really love this ! After having a child and going back to work part time I've had to really tighten the belt as well. When my phone contract ran out I haggled with my provider and now paying £8 a month, shopped around with car insurance and saved almost £800 pound for the year! I meal prep and budget my food bill and bring my lunches to work. I love watching your channel you are an inspiration and keep me going when I think I cant be bothered to meal prep on a Sunday but I put a video of yours on and get to it !!
AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!!! Great video, great summary and great explanation of what frugal is all about. You prioritize what you do want to spend on and minimize the rest. Keep up the good work!
How do you teach your kids to be frugal as well as how young do you start teaching your kids about money? Along with how to manage it without them feeling the stress that can come with managing your money at different "chapters" of your life.
We don’t go to the movies either. For the 3 of us it costs at least $80 or more depending on snacks🤦♀️ it’s so expensive. I can usually spend about $125-150 a week on our food bill, but that’s laundry stuff and any other household items we need or personal care. We all 3 eat completely different so that adds onto our bill just a tad bit. My husband takes his breakfast and lunch for the week to work so that helps with saving money. We eat out rarely too anymore. We use to go to all the sit down restaurants, but it becomes so expensive just for 1 meal for 3 people. I finally talked to my husband about it and we’ve cut it out completely.
Wow...been a fan for awhile but never saw this video. Christine and her mom remind me SO much of how Haley and Christine interact. So cute, their mother/daughter relationships!!! Haley seems so mature, as it sounds like you got to be at her age, Christine. Love your family. Thanks for sharing, I've learned so much and you all cheer me up ❤
I’m a frugal mom but I buy quality over price. I make my own cleaning products. I buy good quality nutritional food. We use soap bars for shampoo, which is cheap. We’re also now 100% debt free thanks to Dave Ramsey’s plan the last few yrs. we’re in your early 30s with two kids. staying positive and not giving a poo what others think is key to financial freedom. My sisters were always like your not poor, you can afford it, just buy this or come do this with us. My answer was no most of the time. Hell one of my sisters is on welfare and she spends more money without a job then me with a job. Stay positive, don’t care what others think of you if your packing your lunch, staying positive is key!!
I’m obsessed with your channel I’m a mom of 4 kids on a fixed income..... you have really helped me budget more & meal planning for the month it’s so amazing that I can keep my family fed for under $400 a month including home supplies shampoo, cleaning, & pet food!!! I thought it was impossible but it really is & the money I am saving is going to go towards a nice family summer trip 💚
I did the same things with my kids when they were young also. McDonalds play place was a big one to meet up with friends. It was so important to me to stay home I didn't care if we were broke. Friends didn't understand why we were so frugal or couldn't afford to go out to dinner. We now have our home paid for and most of them lost their home in the recession because they borrowed so much equity.
My parents struggled a lot when I was little. But I was to little to understand this, so by the time I got old enough to understand, the things were already better. But this didn’t stop my parents from working as hard as if they didn’t have enough. They bought a house which was their dream forever, upgraded a car. So knowing that they give me money for college, I took the best out of it. I started working early so I could have my own money for extra things (because parents provided me with enough for living). I started by cleaning houses, babysitting, teaching English. Thanks to that I became a master of my own time. I’m super well organized and I managed to have two faculties at university and work full time. At the age of 27 with full five years of college education, I have 5 years of professional experience and I earn a lot of money. I’m married with no children so I can afford anything I want. But observing my parents working hard and myself for all these college years have taught me how to respect my and other people’s money. I live frugal not because I have to, but because I want to :) You’re right - you can have anything you want, but you have to work hard for this :)
Thank you so much! This was so inspirational and motivational! Really helped me see what i need to work on and prioritize. For years i've just tried to have all the things, but i see now that an approach like this would be better. Especially if i want to go back to school.
Love this! So honest and true and slot of frugal people have their ah ha moment and pull up their socks and get going! Love this. Thanks for the encouragement!😍😍😍
I had one financial goal last yeat amd that was to pay off my bank loan and it's done but that £100 a month that i didn't have has been redirected to my cash ISA for my mortgage balance payment,my cable deal runs out in June which is $86 all in and that will be going there as well.i just switched over to a 10 year fixed rate and i plan to have my mortgage payed off in 7-9 years and that depends on when is the best time can make my 10% balance payment...most mortgages will allow you to do this,it should be in the overpayments section of the contract,if you can make 3 or 4 of those in that 10 years that's a lot of interest you are not paying..i prefer doing it this way as i have the extra money in my account and not tied up in my property just in case of shtf in life...loss of job,need a new boiler for home,new car etc etc
I didn’t even know what was frugal until today. And realized I am a frugal person myself 😊. I love this channel. I came across a potato recipe video because I’m getting a box of free food every week from my church and it always comes with potatoes so I needed new ways to cook them and now I’m a fan of this channel. Seeing all the cool videos and a great personality. Some youtubers voice can be a irritating 😅 but I love this lady.
Thank you for sharing your learning moment when you were young that shaped your relationship with your money. I stumbled on your channel looking for ways to "shop" my pantry and use recipies intentially without having to always go to the grocery store in this pandemic. I have been hooked ever since and appreciate all your teaching moments that you show passionately in your videos. Keep up the challenges and I'd love to see your take on traveling or planning for a trip for vacation frugally because when pandemic is over me and my bf are trying to treat ourselves to a well deserved vacation. Thanks for all you do and I have enjoyed meeting your family :)
I just found your channel and immediately subscribed. Keep striving to become completely debt free. My family was able to achieve this by being frugal too and learning to say no to things we didn't need. House paid off March 3 2020! All I have to do is keep watching you to figure out how to get my grocery bill down and get better at planning my family meals. I want to retire too. Thank you so much for the information you provide. I will be telling friends and family to watch you.
Thank you for sharing this! I absolutely love this channel as I am so inspired by your content and live within my means. You have a wonderful mum and family 💖
I love your videos :) I am frugal too and proud of it :) thank you for sharing your recipes and family stories !!! Inspires me to cook when I am lazy....you have fast, tasty and easy recipes!
This reminds me of all of our earlier years and money struggles as we trying to work and buy a house. Seemed to take forever but of course it didn’t. Now we look towards retiring in a few years and enjoying grandkids and our lives. Great video!
Love hearing about what is important to you. You are so right. You can't have everything at one time. You have to choose and pick what is most important to you. We don't go to the movies either. We have been married 37 years and I would say we haven't been to the movie theater over 10 times in 37 years. Just don't want to waste that kind of money. I would rather go out to eat than to waste money at the movies. I try to be frugal and save as much as possible. Certain things I wont give up and it's worth the extra cost to me. For example: Fabric softener detergent hair spray lotion and so on. I have really saved alot of money buying great value products that I feel taste just as good or better than name brand.. But not everything though. Picky about my bread so it has to be name brand that we like. You just have to juggle if you want to get the most of your money. I will not buy cereal or chips for regular price. They have to be on sale or just don't get. Doritos I refuse to pay 4.29 for a bag. I get them when they are bogo or Walgreens put them on sale 2.00 a bag maybe once a month. You and I think alike on being frugal. Have a great day. Can't wait til your next video.
White vinegar is cheap in the gallon containers. I use a small amount as fabric softener. It does a wonderful job for keeping static at bay and still has a neutral odor!
I bounced checks once when I was younger; l said never again after being hit with all the additional fees. I now do money orders so l know what’s left in my account is actually my money!
What are your baskets in bins online and then you can get however many you want in any size that you want from target Walmart I think you can even do it at dollar tree
When I was 10 yrs old, my local news channel ran a story about this older woman who was buying cat food for herself because she didn't make enough money to pay her bills and buy food. That scared me. I couldn't imagine having to eat cat food. Here it is 40 years later and I still remember how frightened that story made me feel. Although I got a late start saving, I've managed to become debt free and save a little nest egg. I'm frugal because I choose to be. I'm not cheap and I don't deprive myself. I just prioritize my wants from my needs. Money doesn't make you happy but it does give you choices.
I had a check that bounced but I was fortunate that my bank pulled the money from my savings. But it never happened again. So I downloaded the app from both banks I use an check them constantly.
Love the multigenerational wisdom/reflection aspect of this video! Any and all videos with furgalfit grandma are so incredibly valuable! ❤ Just wondering if you are still following the dave ramsey "method" going forward. Thanks so much for sharing your story!
It’s hard to let kids make mistakes. Must have been hard for mom. I hope I can let go as my kids start to make mistakes bcs it does help shape their characters!! Good job mama/frugal fit grandma. We lived on like $100/month when we had one kid too (17 years ago). Not sure we are any meat. Mac ‘n cheese, spaghetti, etc. Thanks for telling your story. You are inspiring!
Your early experience more than half your lifetime ago has stayed with you. You are fortunate to have learnt your Lesson early, many blunder in through their Twenties, then suffer through their 30s and wake up at 40. But some never learn so you were smart to learn fast.
I love this video! Thank you for the story/inspiration. WOuld you consider doing a Q&A video soon? I would be curious to know if your family has a college savings plan/how that is budgeted if you do have one
I have a similar story except mine was being sent to a collection agency at 16 for library books. Yup my credit was ruined from the beginning from that. I don't even know how it was legal to send someone so young to collections.
Unfortunately, I did this exact same thing with my previous husband;. 20 years of NO NOTHING. Now I am 58 years old, struggling with 2 blown out knees , neck and back. Now I have the money, but not the health. Do today what you might not be able to tomorrow.
Great video and lessons. I would like to hear more about how you are saving/investing for retirement since you are playing a little catch up. I feel like my husband and I also started a bit later than we should have (me in my late 20’s and he in his early 30’s - so not great but not terrible). P.S. you look lovely, totally camera ready! 😄
I just discovered your channel, did you have a video about cheap date ideas? (You have a ton of vids, I didn’t see one). My husband and I are loosely following Dave Ramsey’s plan to pay off debt, but I get “bored” and make my husband take me places. It always ends up being out to dinner or shopping. I like your idea about the library, I just checked the one in my town and they actually have events and stuff.
look up your local things to do page and tourism board page and search for the free things. Like, in my area, not a ton of stuff in the winter, but there are always free concerts, art fairs, craft fair, really cheap outdoor movie thing. Our art museum is free on saturday mornings. our zoo has a yearly family pass that is like$150 a year, but it is for 2 adults (one has to be named, but you can leave the other blank) and up to 6 kids. and it includes IMAX on the property. and, if you travel, it includes discounts to tons of other zoos. use groupon, especially when they sell vouchers for restaurants for like, $2 for a $20 voucher. yeah, you have to match the amount, but a dinner out usually gets up to $40 anyway. So, instead of $40, you pay $22 plus tax and tip. or, use coupons. My valpack always has a few restaurant coupons and they are usually for a free entree with other entree and 2 drinks. go to matinee movies and dinner after instead of the usual dinner then movie. or don't go to dinner at all, grab a frozen pizza or something. See if your town has a discount theater-they are so cheap. invite friends over and play penny ante poker and everyone brings something to eat or drink. Ditto other card games or board games. if you all or some have kids, set up a room or space for the kids and give them a game or movie and some munchies (you decide based on their ages). in the summer, picnics are great with kids.
Libraries are awesome!!! you can even get fairly new movies for free instead of renting from a movie store. Not sure how yours works but sometimes you can order from other libraries if yours doesn't have it in stock. wala! a free movie night!
Thank you. I grew up where my parent said spend what you had and enjoy anyways we are going to die one day . Well I’m 55 and not dead or planning on dieing yet lol. The last 5 years or so I’ve changed my spending but still see I waste to much thank you for the insight, I will be tighten my jeans to make better decisions each day. But I have 2 teen boy who are very frugal as to my change and we a very minimal in stuff or clothing, so I thing we are on the right path.
We had a period of time in the 90’s when my husband made $700 a month. We had to budget very carefully for groceries. I need to go back to that because of medical and other debt. I’ve had 3 surgeries in 10 months, plus other debt. Going to watch all your videos!
I always feel like when people say they are "frugal" others instantly think of "cheapskate" When in reality it's just being highly aware of the value of a dollar!
Yeah and the sad part is most of society is not frugal
When I hear “frugal” I think “mindful” and “savvy”
I grew up in a house where I was constantly worried about my family's financial well being. I decided I didn't want to live that way. I recently became debt free after paying off over $70,000 in student loans, credit cards, car loan, and medical bills. It took a few years to do it, but if you live intentionally with your money, then later on you can enjoy the fruits of your labor even more!
EDIT: Thanks so much for the kind words! You guys are awesome!
Harasezza congrats! 🎈🎉
Congratulations!
Congratulations! That is very inspiring, good for you! 😀
You are so right! Frugal doesn't mean the family need to miss out on anything. Yes we can treat ourselves once in a while but making food and have the kids pitching in is just so much fun.
Well done!
i’m 23 (unmarried/no kids) - for some reason youtube recommended me a vid of yours and i just kept watching. (i think it was the $30 challenge week). i’m here to stay!!! keep up the good work :D
Me but I’m 17
Good information for all!
Same but I'm 14
@@laneyperkins840 You’re never too young to start learning!
In a culture where cars, watches, shoes, purses, etc are so "valued" it's refreshing and encouraging to see a video like this. So much financial advice is drastic and/or unreasonable. It's nice to have a voice among all that "noise" that is reasonable discussing attainable goals. You're a breath of fresh air, Christine. Thank you
She IS vivacious and those huge brown eyes gosh, she reminds me of someone from my past I am straining my elephant memory to recall? I don't know she was someone I knew personally or from stupid lol Hollywood? Good God, her husband's name is David like moi! Catch you later Speedy Gonzales bow wow !
Love what you said about priorities- if you want to spend 500 on a purse or go out to eat you can do that you just can't do EVERYTHING. This is so true and I don't think I've ever heard anyone talking about frugal lifestyle make this point and I think it is so important!
I used to think I didn't have the money to travel but when I looked at all my frivolous spending I realized I could travel if I cut out the fluff.
Hey! I'm a stay home mom and I feel exactly the same way...my job with regards to finances is to make his pay stretch as far as possible!! I get some really weird looks when I say that, even at church! We live in a high cost of living area (GTA--greater Toronto area) and many families are two income families...so, I guess it's that. I'm cool making sacrifices to stay home even though my kids are now teenagers and so is the hubs. We got ourselves out of $10,000 worth of credit card debt a decade ago, after I quit to stay home with my kiddos, even though my mother in law said..."you are always going to be in debt, why bother?" LOL Joke's on her...we got out of debt in two years and have stayed out. Meanwhile, she's 70 and...surprise, surprise...still in debt! Frugality for the win, baby!!
This comment really opened my eyes. "Why bother you'll always be in debt" nothing changed becuase she had no vision that it could....that's so sad....but I'm happy for you! You broke that chain of debt and are passing down great money habits to your kiddos.
Pancake mix from kneady homesteader
12 c flour
1 1/2 c sugar
2 c powder milk
2 Tbsp baking soda
5 Tbsp baking powder
1 Tbsp salt
Mix together store in glass jar
Once you try never buy any from store
Equal parts water and mix
PLEASE TRY THIS
I grew up in a household where we struggled with some financial things. I’m 22 years old and I started becoming frugal during college. I started couponing and watching channels just like yours so I can learn to save even more!
God bless you. You are going to go far. Trust your INSTINCS PLEASE when meeting new people.
That’s great!
I go to Walmart early in the morning..... that’s when they have the best deals on meat. Also I shop my children name brand clothes at Goodwill, Plato and Once Upon a Child. We will always look nice , neat and clean when we leave our home..... while still being frugal🤗
Go 2 Price Chopper, they have poultry and beef as a sale starting every Sunday
We are in the same place you guys were as a family of three. It’s tough sometimes, but we always figure it out. Our bills are paid, we own our home, and there’s always food on the table. We are blessed
Christine, you have great content and you really deserve this growth! You are an awesome person with a lot of amazing knowledge to share. ❤️
Thankyou Almighty Merciful God for blessing us.
Here's how my kids learned... I was making about 25c an hour above minimum wage. My teens wanted all top of the line designer gear... Bongo jeans, or Guess, at $100-$110 apiece. I'd give her $40 to go to the mall. Son wanted Air Jordans. I'd give him $40 for shoes. They both got after school jobs real quick. Once it was their own money bridging that gap ($100-$40), they learned to shop sales and modify their purchases. They also suddenly became big fans of Value Village and other resale shops.
My son learned real quick to buy Walmart sneakers as they lasted only a little less than the Vans he had to have, that he had to buy himself at a huge price. He bought ONE, one pair. He was a hard worker and wore out sneaks in 6 mos tops.
Now hes grown and learned along the way to make LOTS of money so he can buy designer waste of money things lol oh well lol
(Yes, its his money, but I taught him to “live simply so others may simply live”. Philanthropy, funding projects, etc and outright charity being worldchangers. It didn’t stick obviously)
@@YeshuaKingMessiah We have narrow feet, high arches. Can still get the best fit for us ..Nikes for around $50. Back then, maybe $35. They last forever, too. We LOVED Value Village...great quality clothes for prices often cheaper than Walmart. Better fabrics (cotton) last for decades...Walmart clothes usually don't.
Christine: why be frugal
Covid, peeking around the corner: don’t say I didn’t warn you
Yup! ive lived below my means, saved up... and now I’ve been able to enjoy a season of being without work and not breaking a sweat😎
I grew up in a household that struggled with money. It was tough. I think that is where my frugality has stemmed from. I pride myself with the fact that I can be frugal not cheap and still have things but be able to do it wisely. I share a lot on my channel just like you do! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for your honesty and keeping it real. Young adults today struggle with the idea of being frugal - it's all about instant gratification and keeping up with the Jones -- largely because many parents have overindulged them, and some are guilty of living above their means, while giving their kids more than they can truly afford -- one of my good friends did this for years -- and it all came tumbling down right as her kids were reaching the end of high school. Seeing vids like this, and that there are more worthwhile goals in life than having the latest iPhone or a new car is important.
Exactly thankyou.
Good advice, too bad they didn’t teach this to kids in school. There are a lot of young people who don’t understand the value of a dollar and how hard it is to earn.
I agree however I really think it is the parents job to teach the children. My dad taught me to always tithe and put money into savings. I live very frugal. When my son was in middle school and his friends were talking about credit cards my son said 'my mom won't use them'. Even if he decides to not live wise with his money at least he was given the wisdom while he was young.
I totally agree that it is firstly the parents job to teach them, however sadly, in too many cases they don’t. We certainly taught our children and they are both married and VERY frugal as we are. Thanks for sharing this because however/wherever people learn it, it is valuable advice.
I remember being taught how to balance a checkbook and taxes in high school I asked my kids and was glad to find out it's still being taught in our school district
While schools could do a better job of teaching financial education, it should start at home. When I was growing up my parents felt it was none of our business what the family finances were. My parents taught us nothing about money. I had to learn about personal finances on my own with lots of stress and hard knocks. I made it a point to take responsibility and teach my children myself about banks, credit cards, saving, paying off debt, retirement, and the consequences (and benfits) associated with it. I can say that while they still make their own booboos occasionaly, they know how the mechanics work and how to handle and figure it out on thier own.
Parents' job! Some schools do teach economics like the one I went to; my middle school taught us how to balance a checkbook. I do believe it is a parent's job to show their children those things.
My husband and I grew up in large families too with one income. I've enjoyed your videos and have gotten a lot of great ideas to declutter, streamline, and organize our home. Thank you and I am extremely grateful to have found your channel.
I attempted to help my credit score by taking out a few credit lines. This was in January. I kinda splurged with them because I thought hey I can totally afford these monthly payments. Coronavirus hit and I lost my job and my credit is much worse off now because I can't pay them off. It was a slap in the face that the way to live is to be frugal and save money to pay for things in full. Instead of living on credit like a lot of Americans. I'm still youngish (around 30) and although this experience depressed me I realized this past couple months that this was a godsend lesson to learn at an age where I need to grow up anyway 🤔
To learn that lesson for $300, was probably the best way that money could ever be "spent".
Im inspired and hooked on your channel. Would you be willing to do a vegetarian food budget. I loved the 50lb bag of potatoes video.
Pp
My fiancé and I are moving into his grandparents older home. Your channel was recommended and this is amazing. Im on weight watchers and most of your meals are weight watchers friendly and cheap! We are working to save all our pennies for renovation. Thank you for doing this!
ahhh the algorithm is doing its thing for you! congrats on your rise, soon you'll be getting your 100k plaque
I heard dishes clanking in the background of rhe video and I just spent five minutes looking for my cat thinking he was getting into something 😂
I have 4 cats and that’s a mood 😂😂😂
Lol I heard a timer or something in the video and thought it was mine when I went to turn it off it said I still have 20 min lol
😂
Super smart mom and great parenting ensuring you learn and grow from your mistakes. And kudos to you and your husband, you guys are an amazing team. Lucky kids!
I’m a new subbie who’s been binge watching your channel over the last few days! Appreciate all your tips and tricks as I am “getting smart” with my money right now!!
Yes!! Me too!!
What have you learned??
Only been watching you for awhile, but I have to say I admire your life goals & integrity. Good stuff. It's good hearing others from different backgrounds & situations. You are no exception. I think the sacrifice is worth the goal & it's up to each person to figure out what they want and how much they are willing to do to get there
I am pretty new to your channel and I have love love loved your videos! I really appreciate how real you are about budgeting, cooking, and just being a normal mom and wife. Thanks for being genuine, it’s what makes me want to watch!!
Going through your videos which help me work and be productive as well! Thank you for doing these because it's so encouraging to be frugal!
I made the same mistake when I was a teenager. I'm grateful I made my mistakes young and with a small amount. I wish I was smart from the beginning, but I'm thankful for the lesson. Frugality for the win.
How fun to have your mom there❤️. It’s nice seeing family. Your reaction at your mom talking about you 🤣.
I am so excited that your channel is booming! Finally people got it! I have been watching you for a couple years now and I love watching your videos!!!! Congrats!
Thank you!
First - love your outfit, hair, etc. My daughter with her first checkbook (and job) thought if you had checks then you had money 🙄 - bless her heart. She was a tough one. We brought her up in a very frugal home (out of necessity for several years) so not sure why she thought money grew on trees. Great story and video. Have a wonderful week.
I have always tried to be frugal and teach my kids to be frugal as well. They have learned to save for things they want instead of going into debt, my youngest just turned 21 and wanted the new iPad pro but when looking at the cost she went with the next model down at only half the cost so she could get the case and ipencil with it. She then came to me saying she felt sick to her stomach because of guilt for getting it. I reminded her that she worked hard and saved so she could do that and it made her feel a little better.
Love your ideas!! Love that puppy taking a snooze!
You really seam down to earth and chill. Love your videos Christine!
You make so much good sense!!! It's the way I have always been and still am. It's not a popular culture for many, but I think every high schooler might benefit from these ideas.
My kids, especially my oldest who is 30 now is really good with money because we were a low pay grade Navy family and then struggled when the hubs got out. We worked on it together and the kids were always part of the planning when appropriate and he says he remembers to this day leaning how to live frugally. He says he remembers getting something for Christmas one year he really really wanted and as he got older he now sees how we did it. He pays cash for vehicles, bought a house last year. I feel like if that's all we taught him we did well. 😊
OMG, that story! How precious! I can relate from my teenage money handling too.
I really love this ! After having a child and going back to work part time I've had to really tighten the belt as well. When my phone contract ran out I haggled with my provider and now paying £8 a month, shopped around with car insurance and saved almost £800 pound for the year! I meal prep and budget my food bill and bring my lunches to work. I love watching your channel you are an inspiration and keep me going when I think I cant be bothered to meal prep on a Sunday but I put a video of yours on and get to it !!
AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!!!
Great video, great summary and great explanation of what frugal is all about. You prioritize what you do want to spend on and minimize the rest.
Keep up the good work!
I’m heading out this morning to see what kind of grocery deals I can find! You are very inspiring.
How do you teach your kids to be frugal as well as how young do you start teaching your kids about money? Along with how to manage it without them feeling the stress that can come with managing your money at different "chapters" of your life.
We don’t go to the movies either. For the 3 of us it costs at least $80 or more depending on snacks🤦♀️ it’s so expensive. I can usually spend about $125-150 a week on our food bill, but that’s laundry stuff and any other household items we need or personal care. We all 3 eat completely different so that adds onto our bill just a tad bit. My husband takes his breakfast and lunch for the week to work so that helps with saving money. We eat out rarely too anymore. We use to go to all the sit down restaurants, but it becomes so expensive just for 1 meal for 3 people. I finally talked to my husband about it and we’ve cut it out completely.
YOUR DOG IS A FREAKING ANGEL!!!!!
Wow...been a fan for awhile but never saw this video. Christine and her mom remind me SO much of how Haley and Christine interact. So cute, their mother/daughter relationships!!! Haley seems so mature, as it sounds like you got to be at her age, Christine. Love your family. Thanks for sharing, I've learned so much and you all cheer me up ❤
I’m a frugal mom but I buy quality over price. I make my own cleaning products. I buy good quality nutritional food. We use soap bars for shampoo, which is cheap. We’re also now 100% debt free thanks to Dave Ramsey’s plan the last few yrs. we’re in your early 30s with two kids. staying positive and not giving a poo what others think is key to financial freedom. My sisters were always like your not poor, you can afford it, just buy this or come do this with us. My answer was no most of the time. Hell one of my sisters is on welfare and she spends more money without a job then me with a job. Stay positive, don’t care what others think of you if your packing your lunch, staying positive is key!!
So glad I found your channel! You and your mom are so sweet ♡
My mom is my frugal inspo. Discipline is the key and good eye on more important goals for you.
I’m obsessed with your channel I’m a mom of 4 kids on a fixed income..... you have really helped me budget more & meal planning for the month it’s so amazing that I can keep my family fed for under $400 a month including home supplies shampoo, cleaning, & pet food!!! I thought it was impossible but it really is & the money I am saving is going to go towards a nice family summer trip 💚
I did the same things with my kids when they were young also. McDonalds play place was a big one to meet up with friends. It was so important to me to stay home I didn't care if we were broke. Friends didn't understand why we were so frugal or couldn't afford to go out to dinner. We now have our home paid for and most of them lost their home in the recession because they borrowed so much equity.
Thank you for sharing your story. Very inspirational 😍
We also used to spend $100 a month for a family of 3 when my oldest was a baby.
That’s $100 for groceries
My parents struggled a lot when I was little. But I was to little to understand this, so by the time I got old enough to understand, the things were already better. But this didn’t stop my parents from working as hard as if they didn’t have enough. They bought a house which was their dream forever, upgraded a car. So knowing that they give me money for college, I took the best out of it. I started working early so I could have my own money for extra things (because parents provided me with enough for living). I started by cleaning houses, babysitting, teaching English. Thanks to that I became a master of my own time. I’m super well organized and I managed to have two faculties at university and work full time. At the age of 27 with full five years of college education, I have 5 years of professional experience and I earn a lot of money. I’m married with no children so I can afford anything I want. But observing my parents working hard and myself for all these college years have taught me how to respect my and other people’s money. I live frugal not because I have to, but because I want to :) You’re right - you can have anything you want, but you have to work hard for this :)
Thank you so much! This was so inspirational and motivational! Really helped me see what i need to work on and prioritize. For years i've just tried to have all the things, but i see now that an approach like this would be better. Especially if i want to go back to school.
I love the idea of priorities! First things to think when budgeting and making plans. What are your priorities. Love your approach!
Love this! So honest and true and slot of frugal people have their ah ha moment and pull up their socks and get going! Love this. Thanks for the encouragement!😍😍😍
I had one financial goal last yeat amd that was to pay off my bank loan and it's done but that £100 a month that i didn't have has been redirected to my cash ISA for my mortgage balance payment,my cable deal runs out in June which is $86 all in and that will be going there as well.i just switched over to a 10 year fixed rate and i plan to have my mortgage payed off in 7-9 years and that depends on when is the best time can make my 10% balance payment...most mortgages will allow you to do this,it should be in the overpayments section of the contract,if you can make 3 or 4 of those in that 10 years that's a lot of interest you are not paying..i prefer doing it this way as i have the extra money in my account and not tied up in my property just in case of shtf in life...loss of job,need a new boiler for home,new car etc etc
I didn’t even know what was frugal until today. And realized I am a frugal person myself 😊. I love this channel. I came across a potato recipe video because I’m getting a box of free food every week from my church and it always comes with potatoes so I needed new ways to cook them and now I’m a fan of this channel. Seeing all the cool videos and a great personality. Some youtubers voice can be a irritating 😅 but I love this lady.
Thank you for sharing your learning moment when you were young that shaped your relationship with your money. I stumbled on your channel looking for ways to "shop" my pantry and use recipies intentially without having to always go to the grocery store in this pandemic. I have been hooked ever since and appreciate all your teaching moments that you show passionately in your videos. Keep up the challenges and I'd love to see your take on traveling or planning for a trip for vacation frugally because when pandemic is over me and my bf are trying to treat ourselves to a well deserved vacation. Thanks for all you do and I have enjoyed meeting your family :)
I just found your channel and immediately subscribed. Keep striving to become completely debt free. My family was able to achieve this by being frugal too and learning to say no to things we didn't need. House paid off March 3 2020! All I have to do is keep watching you to figure out how to get my grocery bill down and get better at planning my family meals. I want to retire too. Thank you so much for the information you provide. I will be telling friends and family to watch you.
Thank you for sharing this! I absolutely love this channel as I am so inspired by your content and live within my means. You have a wonderful mum and family 💖
I think you're very motivated and your reasons for wanting to be frugal are very logical
Thank you for being honest! We have made changes and will continue to live a better life.
I love your videos :) I am frugal too and proud of it :) thank you for sharing your recipes and family stories !!! Inspires me to cook when I am lazy....you have fast, tasty and easy recipes!
Your story is so inspiring!! Thanks so much for putting out such great content. ❤️
Like your flower pillows! I have the same ones and a matching chair that looks like tbe pillows, in my living-room! good tasted. ☺
I love your perspective on money. I am really looking forward to watching more videos.
Omg! Amazing inspirational video! Please make more. Really helps me to remember to stay focused and get back on track.
Have you done a video covering how you did on your $200 per month grocery budget for all of 2019?
This reminds me of all of our earlier years and money struggles as we trying to work and buy a house. Seemed to take forever but of course it didn’t.
Now we look towards retiring in a few years and enjoying grandkids and our lives.
Great video!
Love hearing about what is important to you. You are so right. You can't have everything at one time. You have to choose and pick what is most important to you. We don't go to the movies either. We have been married 37 years and I would say we haven't been to the movie theater over 10 times in 37 years. Just don't want to waste that kind of money. I would rather go out to eat than to waste money at the movies. I try to be frugal and save as much as possible. Certain things I wont give up and it's worth the extra cost to me. For example:
Fabric softener
detergent
hair spray
lotion
and so on.
I have really saved alot of money buying great value products that I feel taste just as good or better than name brand.. But not everything though. Picky about my bread so it has to be name brand that we like. You just have to juggle if you want to get the most of your money. I will not buy cereal or chips for regular price. They have to be on sale or just don't get. Doritos I refuse to pay 4.29 for a bag. I get them when they are bogo or Walgreens put them on sale 2.00 a bag maybe once a month. You and I think alike on being frugal. Have a great day. Can't wait til your next video.
White vinegar is cheap in the gallon containers. I use a small amount as fabric softener. It does a wonderful job for keeping static at bay and still has a neutral odor!
Man these stories would be completely different if we had single-payer health care or something like it in the US. Medical debt is vicious.
No folks would still be horrible w money. Single payor system in us is about control, not about healthcare imho.
@@AtlantaHospiceRN at the moment, your insurance company has complete control over your life
There is a cure for most illnesses. Fibromyalgia, Lupus, DIEBETES. Cavaties,
Glad I found your channel. I like your content. I look forward to watching more!!!
💓💓💓 That story about bouncing checks was PRECIOUS!!! 💓💓💓
I bounced checks once when I was younger; l said never again after being hit with all the additional fees. I now do money orders so l know what’s left in my account is actually my money!
What are your baskets in bins online and then you can get however many you want in any size that you want from target Walmart I think you can even do it at dollar tree
When I was 10 yrs old, my local news channel ran a story about this older woman who was buying cat food for herself because she didn't make enough money to pay her bills and buy food. That scared me. I couldn't imagine having to eat cat food. Here it is 40 years later and I still remember how frightened that story made me feel. Although I got a late start saving, I've managed to become debt free and save a little nest egg. I'm frugal because I choose to be. I'm not cheap and I don't deprive myself. I just prioritize my wants from my needs. Money doesn't make you happy but it does give you choices.
I had a check that bounced but I was fortunate that my bank pulled the money from my savings. But it never happened again. So I downloaded the app from both banks I use an check them constantly.
Love the multigenerational wisdom/reflection aspect of this video! Any and all videos with furgalfit grandma are so incredibly valuable! ❤ Just wondering if you are still following the dave ramsey "method" going forward. Thanks so much for sharing your story!
We loosely follow it now. We are on steps 4, 5, and 6 a the moment but put more in retirement than he recommends.
Great video. Frugal Grandma is awesome and Love Speedy's blue handkerchief. Have a great day. ☕
It’s hard to let kids make mistakes. Must have been hard for mom. I hope I can let go as my kids start to make mistakes bcs it does help shape their characters!! Good job mama/frugal fit grandma.
We lived on like $100/month when we had one kid too (17 years ago). Not sure we are any meat. Mac ‘n cheese, spaghetti, etc.
Thanks for telling your story. You are inspiring!
Im just like you. I'm only 22 but I totally agree with your way of looking at things. I think I could be considered frugal, definitely.
Your early experience more than half your lifetime ago has stayed with you. You are fortunate to have learnt your Lesson early, many blunder in through their Twenties, then suffer through their 30s and wake up at 40. But some never learn so you were smart to learn fast.
I love this video! Thank you for the story/inspiration. WOuld you consider doing a Q&A video soon? I would be curious to know if your family has a college savings plan/how that is budgeted if you do have one
I have a similar story except mine was being sent to a collection agency at 16 for library books. Yup my credit was ruined from the beginning from that. I don't even know how it was legal to send someone so young to collections.
ugh mine too.
I went through the same thing. Idk how or why they can do that. Lol. But, libraries are government run. So that has a lot to do with it.
That's lame. I know parents have ruined their underage children's credit scores by opening cards in their name and stuff though.
I'm a first timer on your channel. Love it!
Love you! You’re exactly how I want to be!
This is outstanding. Super job.
Unfortunately, I did this exact same thing with my previous husband;. 20 years of NO NOTHING. Now I am 58 years old, struggling with 2 blown out knees , neck and back. Now I have the money, but not the health. Do today what you might not be able to tomorrow.
I so appreciate your candor thank you so much God Bless you.
Great video and lessons. I would like to hear more about how you are saving/investing for retirement since you are playing a little catch up. I feel like my husband and I also started a bit later than we should have (me in my late 20’s and he in his early 30’s - so not great but not terrible).
P.S. you look lovely, totally camera ready! 😄
I just discovered your channel, did you have a video about cheap date ideas? (You have a ton of vids, I didn’t see one).
My husband and I are loosely following Dave Ramsey’s plan to pay off debt, but I get “bored” and make my husband take me places. It always ends up being out to dinner or shopping. I like your idea about the library, I just checked the one in my town and they actually have events and stuff.
Use the grocery rebates! Giftcards!
look up your local things to do page and tourism board page and search for the free things. Like, in my area, not a ton of stuff in the winter, but there are always free concerts, art fairs, craft fair, really cheap outdoor movie thing. Our art museum is free on saturday mornings. our zoo has a yearly family pass that is like$150 a year, but it is for 2 adults (one has to be named, but you can leave the other blank) and up to 6 kids. and it includes IMAX on the property. and, if you travel, it includes discounts to tons of other zoos. use groupon, especially when they sell vouchers for restaurants for like, $2 for a $20 voucher. yeah, you have to match the amount, but a dinner out usually gets up to $40 anyway. So, instead of $40, you pay $22 plus tax and tip. or, use coupons. My valpack always has a few restaurant coupons and they are usually for a free entree with other entree and 2 drinks. go to matinee movies and dinner after instead of the usual dinner then movie. or don't go to dinner at all, grab a frozen pizza or something. See if your town has a discount theater-they are so cheap. invite friends over and play penny ante poker and everyone brings something to eat or drink. Ditto other card games or board games. if you all or some have kids, set up a room or space for the kids and give them a game or movie and some munchies (you decide based on their ages). in the summer, picnics are great with kids.
Libraries are awesome!!! you can even get fairly new movies for free instead of renting from a movie store. Not sure how yours works but sometimes you can order from other libraries if yours doesn't have it in stock. wala! a free movie night!
Frugal is being smart with money. Have a credit card but pay it off every month. Thanks for sharing.
It is always good to have more money coming into the home! They should teach basic business classes like Home Management in school!
Is there a video where you show tips on how to become frugal?
Thank you. I grew up where my parent said spend what you had and enjoy anyways we are going to die one day . Well I’m 55 and not dead or planning on dieing yet lol. The last 5 years or so I’ve changed my spending but still see I waste to much thank you for the insight, I will be tighten my jeans to make better decisions each day. But I have 2 teen boy who are very frugal as to my change and we a very minimal in stuff or clothing, so I thing we are on the right path.
Do you have any hearty soup recipes? I’m ready for some fall soups and winter meals.
We had a period of time in the 90’s when my husband made $700 a month. We had to budget very carefully for groceries. I need to go back to that because of medical and other debt. I’ve had 3 surgeries in 10 months, plus other debt. Going to watch all your videos!
Your hair looks nice!
What are some ways you’ve directly taught money lessons to your kids? Do you rely on their observation alone, or do teach them budgeting, saving, etc?
Saving for the down payment for a house. Nearly there with your tips! Your no knead bread is awesome!
It’s refreshing to hear couples can be equally yoked!!!! #couplegoals ✌🏾💜