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1.never go shopping w/o a list 2.save money by thinking like a monk 3.cut or eliminate recurring expenses 4.cut down on food waste 5.double batch your meals 6.look for free ways to have fun 7.become a secondhand shopper 8.sell clutter for extra cash 9.earn free rewards, perks & bonuses 10.do regular spending freezes
I hear your voice in my brain when I’m shopping. “Just because you love it doesn’t mean you need to own it”. Then I admire the item’s beauty, set it down, and walk away with a smile. Thanks! 😊
I agree on selling stuff to declutter. I recently sold my wedding dress and it was a beautiful experience. I had a great exchange with the future bride and was so happy that this special dress would make someone happy again.
I love my local library. I needed some new jeans as my dog ruined all but one pair I can wear for work. I went to a thrift store and found a pair of Levi's in almost new condition for $15 which was crazy. I love them.
Utilizing the library is one of my best ways to be frugal. The library has books, audiobooks, cookbooks, magazines, music cds, movies, tv shows, workout dvds, etc......all for FREE.
I volunteer in a charity shop. Every now and then, my boss lets us take an item for free that isn’t selling or something we love to thank us for our time. I am grateful as money is very tight for me and with these gifts I have perfected my home and wardrobe (don’t worry, I have donated way more than I have been given!) but I do feel the pull every time we get a delivery of new things that I suddenly really want to buy it like I never knew I needed it until I saw it. I don’t feel that pull in a normal shop as you can easily find it again but in a charity shop every item is a one off and when it’s gone, it’s gone. For that reason I have a rule that if I buy one, I must donate 3. That really helps me know if I really wanted it.
Not my idea but don’t remember where I saw it but when you cook extra serve up the extra meal/s first into your portioned containers that way it stops you from going back for seconds just because it was so delicious but really you are already full and don’t really need it.
I have four Pyrex baking dishes that I reuse. Half a recipe is enough for the two of us seniors so I double it to get four meals. I line three of the Pyrex with plastic wrap, assemble them and bake one and freeze the other three. Once they are frozen I pop them out, wrap, label and stack my Pyrex shaped meals in my freezer. When I want a meal I take one out in the morning, unwrap it, put it back in the Pyrex and thaw it in the refrigerator. I usually have about 20 meals in my freezer and don't have to buy foil pans. I am a retired hospital dietitian and I can in season produce and strive for zero waste in my kitchen. I do not usu grocery lists as I like to shop and see what looks good and is a good price and buy in bulk when I find a bargain.
That’s a great idea to line the glass dish before freezing and then you can remove the portion and reuse the dish. I also cook twice, eat once and freeze the extra portion but my freezer is filled with glass Pyrex dishes. I could be using those dishes now instead of having them frozen in the freezer.
@@lindabourcet1349Your method is better for the environment than continually using plastic wrap though. Although tin foil can be recycled. I’ve seen food safe cloth that can be used as a substitute to plastic wrap though.
Shopping second hand is one of the most clever thing you can do in your lifetime. People make impulse buys all the time (i am not innocent of that), and then decide to sell without even using it or using 2-3 times at most. Whats the point buying something as brand new for thrice the price? I regret almost all my brand new purchases lol. Also shopowners sell their brand new stuff with just a tiny bit of fault for a fraccctttion of price. The stuff we buy get faults as soon as we start using them anyways, so its really a smart way to shop . This frugal kind of shopping is also very good for nature, too. We just cant produce and consume brand new stuff endlessly without huge negative impacts on environment. So I feel so much better and responsible when i meet my needs in this way. Only rule i have for second hand is: dont buy if it cannot be sanitized or the product is for very personal usage. And also i dont buy second hand phones. The rest is all good. By the way, most of the time its much better to shop online directly from the users. They arent after trading, just wanna get rid of the stuff they dont need. So its a total win-win situation.
I took a class by Victoria Moran about 15 yrs ago. She taught us the cloud meditation technique. When a thought (or cloud) entered the scene, we looked at it, said “thank you very much, goodbye”, and mentally waved it away.
If you have a library card, there's also a free online service of movies and TV shows called Kanopy. One of my favorite frugal successes was a thrift store find: a 3/4 length sleeve cotton sweater, all stripey with lots of pretty colors. I love it because it can be worn with black or gray pants/skirts, and it's good for much of the year where I live. After a couple of years, I noticed I wore it a lot, and seemed none the worse for wear, so after I discovered minimalism, I looked online for the brand and size, and found another secondhand one exactly like it the first try! It took a few more searches to find a third one, and now I have a "uniform" that fits perfectly and is totally "me"!
@@pnwflipper2089 Talbot's brand, cotton. If you find sweaters that were made over 10 years ago, they last longer than newer ones. It's because the thread was spun more tightly, so much more durable. To save money on power to run the spinning machines, cotton nowadays is not as durable. That's why everything wears out, even pricier brands. There are classic basic sweaters that never go out of style, so you don' t have to look dated, either. Same with cotton sheets. If you find old ones they won't wear out or pill, but new ones don't last.
My husband had about 120k in student debt when we started dating, so we lived extremely frugal for 14months (no car, no eating out, no vacation, no new clothes), but managed to pay it all off using some of the methods mentioned here (using credit cards that offer cash back incentives, meal planning, shopping with a list etc). I guess it depends on what your debt is/ your goals are, but my husband felt very overwhelmed with that much debt, but we felt so amazing when we had paid it all off. We have also started to double all of our recipes, so that we have leftovers for lunch and only shop with a list. These small habits really do make a difference.
What a great income you guys had to be able to pay off such a huge amount of debt! Proud of you two for making really frugal decisions for those 14 months ♡
I have a list on my phone where I write down things that I might need or want. Most of the time when I put something on my list, I completely forget about it and when I come back to the list I think like "what a weird thing to spend money on". 🤨
Tip 11: Do not get suckered into the endless scrolling on ebay or other like websites - better yet, if you do not know the specific item you want, then AVOID it at all costs. I definitely have spent more on ebay then intended because I aimlessly scrolled through it out of curiosity. It is basically the equivalent of window shopping if you are not careful.
Our library started a seed library this year. Packets of seeds are free (2 a day) and organized alphabetically in one of those old wood library cabinets with drawers. People are encouraged to save their seeds and donate them back to the seed library. Since I love to garden I am thrilled that I get to try growing different veggies and flowers without spending $. And I like paying it forward by sharing my seeds. 🌱
I had the same two items in my Amazon cart for almost 2 years. I finally found them in physical stores a week ago, and bought them. Since they are older versions of something, I would have had to pay shipping fees as well. I was so excited, and they were cheaper than they were online! I guess a two year cooling off period was worth it!
I love the way you speak! You're not speaking too quickly or too slowly. You don't have a monotoned voice that is easy to tune out. You've got serious skills in being informative and easy to watch. Thank you for this informative and entertaining video. I hope all is well with you and that you're having a great weekend.
I love local libraries! My library even has a tool lending section. I recently checked out a soldering iron for free. Otherwise I might have considered buying one, even though I only needed it for one thing. Some libraries also give out free museum tickets. Definitely worth looking into what your offers.
Libraries are gearing up to do libraries of things. These can include tools, speciality baking pans, fishing poles, bikes, snowshoes. Programs are often free and can provide fun craft, cooking or gardening ideas and supplies. Using the library also has you utilizing money you pay in taxes.
Yes! Many libraries have physical and digital resources that people would never expect. It’s always a good idea to chat with library staff and deep dive their websites :) and in some regions getting a library card with one system allows you to get cards from neighboring systems too, so you can borrow downloadable books from several different libraries. It’s can be worth getting a membership even if you have to pay for it (rural friends who live outside their MidWest town have to pay $50-100 a year for their family but it’s totally worth it).
You are so right about the thrifting! You can easily get carried away so be careful. No impulse buys just because it's cheap! Before you know it you've spent just as much, if not more than if you were shopping full price items in store! And yes, sell items you are not using! You will be surprised what people will buy! Good luck peeps x
I’m literally laugh because I’m about to make a list . Even if I have to wake up earlier in my day to create the most of my day ,I wake up meditate (set a intent , plan and Do) luv the reminder of list !
I try to double every recipe at dinner and package into glass containers for lunch for my hubby and I for the next day. Save money. Saves a decision. Almost guaranteed a healthier meal too.
Another tip or learning myself, unless you are really into cooking, for so so people like me, cook simple food. I stopped buying tons of ingredients just to make a special recipe. It has saved a lot of money and time for me.
Omg!! Those mermaid toys!! I had those! One lives on my bathroom shelf ❤ I sold most of my childhood toys a few years ago but kept a few of my favorites. It was so fun to go through them and make some money.
I frequent thrift stores. I no longer by coffee mugs in regular stores. I purchase vinyl records at thrift store for 1.00. they have a discount wheel 2 days a week. Discounts are pretty hefty. I have spun 75% off so my 2.00 Hawaiian shirt was 50 cents. I don't have clothes line per HOA rules but use wooden racks to dry clothes on my porch. All my organic refuse I process in a blender and use liquid in my garden. Totally safe fertilizer. Less garbage.
Our library also has a free cart with discarded books which is well used. I know because I fill up the cart weekly as a Friend of the Library. The Friends also have regular sales where you can buy books for a dollar or fill a bag for $10. A great way to get books and you can always donate them back when you are done. Libraries are great resources and ours has puzzles and games for loan.
Back at uni the library for the German department always sold used books and you could get a lot of them for a few Euros. Granted, they weren't always in the best shape, but I got a lot of good books that way and didn't have to spend too much money.
We had mint mobile but we changed because I don't have a good signal and it didn't work when we traveled to Mexico. Now we changed to the Google cellphone plan and now we pay $88 for four lines, unlimited internet and calls to Mexico.
I always learn something in your videos. The Cloud Meditation is something I could also apply to negative thoughts when they threaten to derail my progress. BTW, our library also lets you borrow passes to go to local museums, zoos, and other attractions for free or at a deep discount.
Take the time to really check out what your library offers. Many offer tickets to local attractions, movie streaming services, fun classes for all ages, and more.
One of my favorite money- and time--saving hacks learned this year is to save watermelon rinds - but not for pickles! You can cut up the rinds (still removing the dark green part) and cook them on the stove the next day just like a squash! You get a surprising amount of food. I love them even cooked just on their own, but you can add seasonings or incorporate them into something else as well. A sweet treat and a savory dish in one purchase!
I’ve recently realized that people go to the store without a list?! Whaaaat, that’s crazy to me. When I’ve done it it’s like those TikToks you showed in the beginning 😂 a full cart but nothing to make meals of… We always cook extra food for lunch the next days. I love the library 📚❤
My local library gives codes for services with audiobooks and ebooks - free pass for a month. That's how I learned last year that I love listening to audiobooks and podcasts! 😊
Our library has a small bookstore with cards, books, and more. I've bought gorgeous Christmas and birthday cards with matching envelopes and songs and the history of those songs in them, for .25 cents each. They have been a big hit with my besties at the holidays as the card becomes a gift within itself. I've bought some local author's books for .50 cents as well. I have a nice library at home so I'm not tempted to ever pay full price for books, unless I'm supporting friends who publish them.
Just paused your video to place a library hold on a book I was thinking of buying. I love that our library also let's you borrow magazines. Whenever I see an interesting title at the checkout, I get it for free from the library later (if I even remember it later)
What I do to avoid impulsive shopping is to do it later. If I like a product I see I leave it there. If one week (or whatever time set) later I still think about said product, then it means that I really want it and then I buy. Most of the time I forget about the product so I end not buying it. On fairs I look around and buy the stuff I still remember and I have hours later, and it still works.
I have tried that. When it is a great deal, it goes away if you don't act on it. I have had to pay hundreds of dollars more for items when they were on a crazy low price on Amazon and I should have jumped on them at the moment. He who hesitates, loses.
My best tip. I don't buy on credit anymore (minus the mortgage or big home projects). If you don't have it in your bank account to spend, wait until you do. This also limits impulse buying. Thrift or freecycle websites/facebook are awesome. We all have something to share. Our town allows you to ask for what you need: ISO (in search of).
Food waste is one of the problem brake my heart deeply, for many reasons: -Seeing my money thrown into trashbin. If only can spent half of the cost, buying half of the size of those food to avoid waste. -Seeing the effort spent by all the farmers, fishermen, logistic team, factory operators, to grow, catch, prepare those food from scratch to packed I bought. - The thought of if only all those people in starvation can also enjoy the food instead of becoming waste going to trash. So many homeless and poor people can have meal. -Guilty feeling of throwing food into trashbin, while people in Sudan, Palestine/gaza, and other warzone-trapped civilians, all need food.😢
Once again, another video providing practical and sound suggestions. My wife and I practice the majority of the suggestions in this video which is reassuring that we're on the right path as practicing minimalists. Thank you for sharing them with us. 🙏
Over 10 years ago, I got rid of my credit card and now use a debit card only. One of the best things I have done. Much easier to keep track of my spending and only spend money that I actually have.
Nope, totally disagree. Been getting cash back on my purchases for years with a credit card with no annual fees or charges. Easy to track all purchases when the statement comes and just pay it off every month.
I leverage my procrastination and indecision to cut back on shopping. I used to save things to a Pinterest board I never looked at - it felt like online shopping, but the thing never arrived and 90% of the time I forgot about it. Wishlists work as long as I don’t look at them much. I sometimes journal or write detailed notes about what I want, features I need, dealbreakers (eg. velcro = death to my knitwear and crochet projects), so when I do go shopping I can easily focus on what I’m actually searching for instead of thinking that it “could be useful.” Often I realize that the problem is an existing item that isn’t working for me and decluttering it would avoid needing to buy another thing as a solution!
The Pinterest idea works well. I thought I was the only one who did that!😅 I have a "buy this" board and put all my whim things on it. I almost never look at it. It scratches the itch just being able to click on something!!
I found the solution to the accidental Target haul. Bring your kids! They suck the fun out of browsing at Target so you get what you NEED and you leave. True story...
I have a friend that would say “Take what is freely given.” They come to our house for dinner once a week. They say it is the best restaurant in town with the best prices.
If your order is over $35 then Walmart pick up has no fees. The items they have on their website are priced the same as in store. If you can help it, dont go inside a grocery store. Then you wont be tempted by the unnecessary stuff. Im pretty sure I've saved money and avoided bringing items home that will just become clutter later.
I have been 0 food waste for years. I even put my banana skins in a curry. I don’t overbuy, cook all the ingredients and freeze the extra meals. Meals that require less ingredients than come in the packet I make sure I’m cooking something else using that ingredient too that week so none is wasted.
I agree about shopping with a list. I only get the things on my list, but I also plan out my meals and am very particular about what I get anyway. Sending my husband to shop for me is a no-no as he comes home with snacks for himself haha. Your cloud thoughts are so cute. I have double batched a few times. Sometimes it only leaves only a little extra since I am feeding teen boys. They eat a lot. You'll see soon, as it hits the most when they are about 15!!! Yey libraries! I don't know why people don't go to them more often. I sold SOOOO much when I became a minimalist. I am so glad I made a couple thousand dollars off of it or more. $600-800 was on selling vinyl records. Thankfully, back then people were still buying CDs too, since I sold a few hundred! I love that you are constantly teaching your kids about wise money handling. My oldest has a job and has way more money than I ever had at his age, because of being raised a minimalist and about proper money handling.
I have chickens as well but we’re always joking about how eggs never have been this expensive, honestly. It’s worth because they get to live their best life, but it’s not cheap getting started. It can be though, but that also takes time and effort 🐔🐔
@@catharinabra Yup, we have livestock auctions here in New England, plus I bought my last group online from Iowa. They were around $4 each, 2 day old. Lost around 20% of them but rest are good layers except when it’s below freezing - which it has been here recently. They are good for entertainment value also.
My best friend tends to buy the newest kitchen appliances and gadgets (high end ones, too). If I’m with him, I’ll ask him “Where are you going to put it?” I’m a minimalist; he’s obviously not. Think I’ll go over there today and clean out his pantry…
We eat an almost completely carnivore diet so we have very little food waste. But it bothered me that the “less palatable” parts of steaks/roasts/etc. like gristle, fat, edge bits were being cut off and thrown away. So now I put those parts into a bag in the freezer to go to a friend that has several dogs.
Such great ideas. Especially the first one. Hard to implement the second one when you're at Costco and their fudge mini bites 24+ container in a container for .97cents. Or, their 6-8 bagged persimmons for $2.00. One at most stores cost $1.00. Or a huge vegetable party tray for .97cents. I can not imagine a cloud and these deals like the aforementioned floating away. 😅 Just keepin it real. I usually shop the reduced items rack . I usually get all I can and can all I get.🎉 Happy holidays!
Good food is something we like spending money on, so I hear you! Our philosophy is to spend less on things that aren’t so important to us so we can save it spend on the things we love and enjoy!
Think ten times, and research reviews thoroughly, before buying anything advertised before or during TH-cam videos. That may include things sponsored by the content creators themselves. I’ve spent hundreds of dollars on items I had to return or throw out for various reasons. (Make sure you get a call tag or return shipping label from the vendor.)
Being frugal involves avoiding unnecessary expenses, such as courses, printable, journals, tee shirts, basically all the merch, given the wealth of free resources on TH-cam. Some TH-camrs profit from sponsorships, making paid courses questionable, especially when they lack formal teaching roles. Unfortunately, followers may miss the frugality message amid these profit-driven ventures, which is disheartening, especially considering the current economic challenges many people face.
I find that one of the hardest things about selling off my clutter is TIME! I’m always working, and away from home most of the time. I stopped buying new things a few years ago (completely stopped! ) but I’m still looking for extra time to sell off the things I don’t need. even getting to the post office before they close can be a challenge when selling stuff on EBay etc.
I swear my mom has an ebay shopping problem. She's already a hoarder, and she keeps spending money on shit we don't need (or want!) on ebay! It's not a lot of money, it's very little, but still! It's SO annoying and infuriating! Drives the rest of my family and me NUTS! We just wish she would STOP, but she says 'it's my money/it's my house, I can do what I want!' Which, yeah, but...JESUS, mom! I'm the one who's gonna have to deal with this shit when she dies! UGH! X'D
Maybe it's not simple, but I have a set monthly budget I monitor through an Excel spreadsheet with a burndown chart. I log EVERY expense - a minor punishment for spending money. I can see instantly on the burndown if I am above the line (better than budgeted) or below the line (worse than budgeted). I agree with buying second-hand - I needed to buy business shirts since my old ones approached the 10-year mark and were donated. I got 4 perfectly good, nearly new business shirts on eBay for less than buying one branded one in a store. Once they are washed and ironed, no one would know the difference between a second-hand shirt and a new one I have worn a few times. Yes, I make a decent income, but second-hand buying is both sustainable and easy on your wallet.
You know you’re a minimalist or of that mind when you see the beginning of this video and think to yourself “that place looks cluttered.” I think the pant’s messing with my mental feng shui. Food waste is honestly why I enjoy dining out (lunchtime) because yeah, ain’t gonna waste food at a place I know makes a great fish taco etc.
Public libraries are awesome! Mine lets people borrow games, sewing machines, digital cameras, etc. They also do seed exchanges and now have a new cooking spice to sample each month.
In my region we have several "open book shelfs". You just can go there and grab a book which sounds interesting. after reading you just bring it back to another open bookshelf. Keeps clutter out and you get interesting reads which you might not have considered for yourself. Also saves money. My cooking habit also is to make bigger meals and freeze leftovers away for lunch on another day instead of going to the canteen. Sometimes I just cook something (soups or stir fries are great for that) to use up items which do not look totally fresh anymore but still are good. I sould definitely spend some time to cut down on monthly costs. But that's a really unpleasent way to spend my time. But most likely worth the time...
Thanks for the video. I was blown away by your apple prices. $0.99/lb! In AUD that would be $1.88. We pay here on ave $3.50-4.50 per kg of apples, and we grow them here. We are so ripped off here in Aus!
Where we live $200k is dirt cheap for any type of home. Unfortunately, one cannot get a mortgage without homeowner's insurance. Maybe a possibility if you own your home outright. Our "new to me" car cost $200, was about to be crushed ( 30 yo Lincoln Towncar). We put about $1500 in repairs and it will be fairly reliable now. Previously paid $10k for a Ford Focus. It's a turd. Cost and value are not the same things!
Sorry Bernadette, sometimes links just randomly don't work on TH-cam. Here it is again - you can always copy + paste or just go to the website and sign up yourself: www.rakuten.com/r/MARISS23077?eeid=28187
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I've been told mint mobile ends in January 2024.
I have mint mobile and it is good through my renewal in June/July at least. And I love it. Saves me so much on my cell phone bill!
My favorite shopping hack is "when in doubt, leave it out". Cuts down the buyers remorse and keeps money in your pocket
“Just because I like something, doesn’t mean I need to own it!” 🙏🏼
1.never go shopping w/o a list
2.save money by thinking like a monk
3.cut or eliminate recurring expenses
4.cut down on food waste
5.double batch your meals
6.look for free ways to have fun
7.become a secondhand shopper
8.sell clutter for extra cash
9.earn free rewards, perks & bonuses
10.do regular spending freezes
Thank you!
Thank you. I was looking for this summary. 🤭
I hear your voice in my brain when I’m shopping. “Just because you love it doesn’t mean you need to own it”. Then I admire the item’s beauty, set it down, and walk away with a smile. Thanks! 😊
Switching from Target to Walmart, I noticed that I stopped the impulse buying because Target is great for their display marketing. Temptation.
Agreed. Wal Mart you are In and Out!
Yup! I never overspend at Walmart. Don’t like anything there! The decor, clothes, food, everything is awful at Walmart! Great deterrent!
Yessss
And I am guessing you save money too
I don’t know about that it’s easy to over spend at Walmart too they’re stepping up their stores .
I agree on selling stuff to declutter. I recently sold my wedding dress and it was a beautiful experience. I had a great exchange with the future bride and was so happy that this special dress would make someone happy again.
I love my local library. I needed some new jeans as my dog ruined all but one pair I can wear for work. I went to a thrift store and found a pair of Levi's in almost new condition for $15 which was crazy. I love them.
Utilizing the library is one of my best ways to be frugal. The library has books, audiobooks, cookbooks, magazines, music cds, movies, tv shows, workout dvds, etc......all for FREE.
I volunteer in a charity shop. Every now and then, my boss lets us take an item for free that isn’t selling or something we love to thank us for our time. I am grateful as money is very tight for me and with these gifts I have perfected my home and wardrobe (don’t worry, I have donated way more than I have been given!) but I do feel the pull every time we get a delivery of new things that I suddenly really want to buy it like I never knew I needed it until I saw it. I don’t feel that pull in a normal shop as you can easily find it again but in a charity shop every item is a one off and when it’s gone, it’s gone. For that reason I have a rule that if I buy one, I must donate 3. That really helps me know if I really wanted it.
Not my idea but don’t remember where I saw it but when you cook extra serve up the extra meal/s first into your portioned containers that way it stops you from going back for seconds just because it was so delicious but really you are already full and don’t really need it.
I have four Pyrex baking dishes that I reuse. Half a recipe is enough for the two of us seniors so I double it to get four meals. I line three of the Pyrex with plastic wrap, assemble them and bake one and freeze the other three. Once they are frozen I pop them out, wrap, label and stack my Pyrex shaped meals in my freezer. When I want a meal I take one out in the morning, unwrap it, put it back in the Pyrex and thaw it in the refrigerator. I usually have about 20 meals in my freezer and don't have to buy foil pans. I am a retired hospital dietitian and I can in season produce and strive for zero waste in my kitchen. I do not usu grocery lists as I like to shop and see what looks good and is a good price and buy in bulk when I find a bargain.
That’s a great idea to line the glass dish before freezing and then you can remove the portion and reuse the dish. I also cook twice, eat once and freeze the extra portion but my freezer is filled with glass Pyrex dishes. I could be using those dishes now instead of having them frozen in the freezer.
I love this! That’s such a great method. I took a screenshot to try it
Wow! 🎉 congratulations
Such a clever solution, gonna definetely give it a try! Thanks for sharing ❤
@@lindabourcet1349Your method is better for the environment than continually using plastic wrap though. Although tin foil can be recycled. I’ve seen food safe cloth that can be used as a substitute to plastic wrap though.
Shopping second hand is one of the most clever thing you can do in your lifetime. People make impulse buys all the time (i am not innocent of that), and then decide to sell without even using it or using 2-3 times at most. Whats the point buying something as brand new for thrice the price? I regret almost all my brand new purchases lol. Also shopowners sell their brand new stuff with just a tiny bit of fault for a fraccctttion of price. The stuff we buy get faults as soon as we start using them anyways, so its really a smart way to shop . This frugal kind of shopping is also very good for nature, too. We just cant produce and consume brand new stuff endlessly without huge negative impacts on environment. So I feel so much better and responsible when i meet my needs in this way. Only rule i have for second hand is: dont buy if it cannot be sanitized or the product is for very personal usage. And also i dont buy second hand phones. The rest is all good. By the way, most of the time its much better to shop online directly from the users. They arent after trading, just wanna get rid of the stuff they dont need. So its a total win-win situation.
I took a class by Victoria Moran about 15 yrs ago. She taught us the cloud meditation technique. When a thought (or cloud) entered the scene, we looked at it, said “thank you very much, goodbye”, and mentally waved it away.
If you have a library card, there's also a free online service of movies and TV shows called Kanopy. One of my favorite frugal successes was a thrift store find: a 3/4 length sleeve cotton sweater, all stripey with lots of pretty colors. I love it because it can be worn with black or gray pants/skirts, and it's good for much of the year where I live. After a couple of years, I noticed I wore it a lot, and seemed none the worse for wear, so after I discovered minimalism, I looked online for the brand and size, and found another secondhand one exactly like it the first try! It took a few more searches to find a third one, and now I have a "uniform" that fits perfectly and is totally "me"!
What brand? What material?
@@pnwflipper2089 Talbot's brand, cotton. If you find sweaters that were made over 10 years ago, they last longer than newer ones. It's because the thread was spun more tightly, so much more durable. To save money on power to run the spinning machines, cotton nowadays is not as durable. That's why everything wears out, even pricier brands. There are classic basic sweaters that never go out of style, so you don' t have to look dated, either. Same with cotton sheets. If you find old ones they won't wear out or pill, but new ones don't last.
Good information, thank you! I have noticed that about sheets! @@shaynaformity1384
My husband had about 120k in student debt when we started dating, so we lived extremely frugal for 14months (no car, no eating out, no vacation, no new clothes), but managed to pay it all off using some of the methods mentioned here (using credit cards that offer cash back incentives, meal planning, shopping with a list etc). I guess it depends on what your debt is/ your goals are, but my husband felt very overwhelmed with that much debt, but we felt so amazing when we had paid it all off.
We have also started to double all of our recipes, so that we have leftovers for lunch and only shop with a list. These small habits really do make a difference.
What a great income you guys had to be able to pay off such a huge amount of debt! Proud of you two for making really frugal decisions for those 14 months ♡
It adds up big time.
I have a list on my phone where I write down things that I might need or want. Most of the time when I put something on my list, I completely forget about it and when I come back to the list I think like "what a weird thing to spend money on". 🤨
lol. I do the same thing with my Bookmarks on my laptop! 99.99% of the time, I NEVER actually get it, so I save ALL the money! X'D
Tip 11: Do not get suckered into the endless scrolling on ebay or other like websites - better yet, if you do not know the specific item you want, then AVOID it at all costs.
I definitely have spent more on ebay then intended because I aimlessly scrolled through it out of curiosity. It is basically the equivalent of window shopping if you are not careful.
Our library started a seed library this year. Packets of seeds are free (2 a day) and organized alphabetically in one of those old wood library cabinets with drawers. People are encouraged to save their seeds and donate them back to the seed library. Since I love to garden I am thrilled that I get to try growing different veggies and flowers without spending $. And I like paying it forward by sharing my seeds. 🌱
Oh that’s such a fun idea 🌱
I had the same two items in my Amazon cart for almost 2 years. I finally found them in physical stores a week ago, and bought them. Since they are older versions of something, I would have had to pay shipping fees as well. I was so excited, and they were cheaper than they were online! I guess a two year cooling off period was worth it!
My math teacher husband reminds me that you save 100% if you don't buy the thing at all!
Smart man 👏
Majority of women do not like frugal men. Today, for most women this is a red flag.
I love the way you speak! You're not speaking too quickly or too slowly. You don't have a monotoned voice that is easy to tune out. You've got serious skills in being informative and easy to watch. Thank you for this informative and entertaining video. I hope all is well with you and that you're having a great weekend.
I have used a grocery list for years. I buy what I need, not what I want. Need versus want saves cash.
I love local libraries! My library even has a tool lending section. I recently checked out a soldering iron for free. Otherwise I might have considered buying one, even though I only needed it for one thing. Some libraries also give out free museum tickets. Definitely worth looking into what your offers.
Libraries are gearing up to do libraries of things. These can include tools, speciality baking pans, fishing poles, bikes, snowshoes. Programs are often free and can provide fun craft, cooking or gardening ideas and supplies. Using the library also has you utilizing money you pay in taxes.
Yes! Many libraries have physical and digital resources that people would never expect. It’s always a good idea to chat with library staff and deep dive their websites :) and in some regions getting a library card with one system allows you to get cards from neighboring systems too, so you can borrow downloadable books from several different libraries. It’s can be worth getting a membership even if you have to pay for it (rural friends who live outside their MidWest town have to pay $50-100 a year for their family but it’s totally worth it).
You are so right about the thrifting! You can easily get carried away so be careful. No impulse buys just because it's cheap! Before you know it you've spent just as much, if not more than if you were shopping full price items in store! And yes, sell items you are not using! You will be surprised what people will buy! Good luck peeps x
The freezer is an invaluable way to save and have convenience.
I’m literally laugh because I’m about to make a list . Even if I have to wake up earlier in my day to create the most of my day ,I wake up meditate (set a intent , plan and Do) luv the reminder of list !
I try to double every recipe at dinner and package into glass containers for lunch for my hubby and I for the next day. Save money. Saves a decision. Almost guaranteed a healthier meal too.
That’s a great habit 👏
This is the same thing I do! Cooking three meals is very time consuming but two is so much more doable
Love the comment re saving on another decision to make
Our children live going to the library and ours has online audiobooks as well.
Love this, just because I like it doesn't mean I need to own it. Yes.
Another tip or learning myself, unless you are really into cooking, for so so people like me, cook simple food. I stopped buying tons of ingredients just to make a special recipe. It has saved a lot of money and time for me.
I love the way you jumped right into the vid!!!
Omg!! Those mermaid toys!! I had those! One lives on my bathroom shelf ❤
I sold most of my childhood toys a few years ago but kept a few of my favorites. It was so fun to go through them and make some money.
Never go shopping hungry 😂😂
And not just grocery shopping. We buy more of anything when we're hungry!!
Yes I agree. 😂
Dear Marissa, thank you for your advice. I love you and our family 🥰 Greetings from Bologna (Italy).
I do already the to-do list, but I didn't heard about the clouds before, that''s useful 👍 The last tip about spend freeze is also awesome
I frequent thrift stores. I no longer by coffee mugs in regular stores. I purchase vinyl records at thrift store for 1.00. they have a discount wheel 2 days a week. Discounts are pretty hefty. I have spun 75% off so my 2.00 Hawaiian shirt was 50 cents. I don't have clothes line per HOA rules but use wooden racks to dry clothes on my porch. All my organic refuse I process in a blender and use liquid in my garden. Totally safe fertilizer. Less garbage.
Prayer to God is the only meditation I use. Merry Christmas!
Our library also has a free cart with discarded books which is well used. I know because I fill up the cart weekly as a Friend of the Library. The Friends also have regular sales where you can buy books for a dollar or fill a bag for $10. A great way to get books and you can always donate them back when you are done. Libraries are great resources and ours has puzzles and games for loan.
Back at uni the library for the German department always sold used books and you could get a lot of them for a few Euros. Granted, they weren't always in the best shape, but I got a lot of good books that way and didn't have to spend too much money.
We had mint mobile but we changed because I don't have a good signal and it didn't work when we traveled to Mexico. Now we changed to the Google cellphone plan and now we pay $88 for four lines, unlimited internet and calls to Mexico.
I always learn something in your videos. The Cloud Meditation is something I could also apply to negative thoughts when they threaten to derail my progress.
BTW, our library also lets you borrow passes to go to local museums, zoos, and other attractions for free or at a deep discount.
I’m glad that you always learned something from my videos, thanks for sharing that tip about the library!
Love our library! My daughter and I are going to the Nutcracker today for free through our library
that's my mantra too! just bc I like it, doesn't mean I need to own it!
When I cook red meat, chicken or open a can of fish I portion out a small serve for my cat. This can save me up to $1.50 not using canned cat food.
Take the time to really check out what your library offers. Many offer tickets to local attractions, movie streaming services, fun classes for all ages, and more.
One of my favorite money- and time--saving hacks learned this year is to save watermelon rinds - but not for pickles! You can cut up the rinds (still removing the dark green part) and cook them on the stove the next day just like a squash! You get a surprising amount of food. I love them even cooked just on their own, but you can add seasonings or incorporate them into something else as well. A sweet treat and a savory dish in one purchase!
Interesting! I’ve pickled the rind before, but never heard of this. Thanks for sharing 🙏
I’ve recently realized that people go to the store without a list?! Whaaaat, that’s crazy to me. When I’ve done it it’s like those TikToks you showed in the beginning 😂 a full cart but nothing to make meals of… We always cook extra food for lunch the next days. I love the library 📚❤
My local library gives codes for services with audiobooks and ebooks - free pass for a month. That's how I learned last year that I love listening to audiobooks and podcasts! 😊
Our library has a small bookstore with cards, books, and more. I've bought gorgeous Christmas and birthday cards with matching envelopes and songs and the history of those songs in them, for .25 cents each. They have been a big hit with my besties at the holidays as the card becomes a gift within itself. I've bought some local author's books for .50 cents as well. I have a nice library at home so I'm not tempted to ever pay full price for books, unless I'm supporting friends who publish them.
Just paused your video to place a library hold on a book I was thinking of buying. I love that our library also let's you borrow magazines. Whenever I see an interesting title at the checkout, I get it for free from the library later (if I even remember it later)
I never go inside. Do pickup always.
What I do to avoid impulsive shopping is to do it later. If I like a product I see I leave it there. If one week (or whatever time set) later I still think about said product, then it means that I really want it and then I buy. Most of the time I forget about the product so I end not buying it.
On fairs I look around and buy the stuff I still remember and I have hours later, and it still works.
Yes, a lot of minimalists do the same 👏
I have tried that. When it is a great deal, it goes away if you don't act on it. I have had to pay hundreds of dollars more for items when they were on a crazy low price on Amazon and I should have jumped on them at the moment. He who hesitates, loses.
My best tip. I don't buy on credit anymore (minus the mortgage or big home projects). If you don't have it in your bank account to spend, wait until you do. This also limits impulse buying. Thrift or freecycle websites/facebook are awesome. We all have something to share. Our town allows you to ask for what you need: ISO (in search of).
I just wanna say, bless your swim coach. They really loved what they did, and it made an impact.
Food waste is one of the problem brake my heart deeply, for many reasons:
-Seeing my money thrown into trashbin. If only can spent half of the cost, buying half of the size of those food to avoid waste.
-Seeing the effort spent by all the farmers, fishermen, logistic team, factory operators, to grow, catch, prepare those food from scratch to packed I bought.
- The thought of if only all those people in starvation can also enjoy the food instead of becoming waste going to trash. So many homeless and poor people can have meal.
-Guilty feeling of throwing food into trashbin, while people in Sudan, Palestine/gaza, and other warzone-trapped civilians, all need food.😢
Yes, there can be a ton of those feelings wrapped up in food waste!
In my opinion the worst is meat: An animal had to live and die for THIS? :-o
I've had mint mobile for over a year! Love it 😁
Keep same phone? Same strong signals? Use internationally? ... Considering switching
My money saving mantra when I find a good deal that I don't need, "I can't afford to save money on that."
I tell myself I can save 100%!
Once again, another video providing practical and sound suggestions. My wife and I practice the majority of the suggestions in this video which is reassuring that we're on the right path as practicing minimalists. Thank you for sharing them with us. 🙏
Over 10 years ago, I got rid of my credit card and now use a debit card only. One of the best things I have done. Much easier to keep track of my spending and only spend money that I actually have.
Nope, totally disagree. Been getting cash back on my purchases for years with a credit card with no annual fees or charges. Easy to track all purchases when the statement comes and just pay it off every month.
@paulwade4322 same! As long as you pay it off regularly it's insane not taking advantage of cash back
I leverage my procrastination and indecision to cut back on shopping. I used to save things to a Pinterest board I never looked at - it felt like online shopping, but the thing never arrived and 90% of the time I forgot about it. Wishlists work as long as I don’t look at them much. I sometimes journal or write detailed notes about what I want, features I need, dealbreakers (eg. velcro = death to my knitwear and crochet projects), so when I do go shopping I can easily focus on what I’m actually searching for instead of thinking that it “could be useful.” Often I realize that the problem is an existing item that isn’t working for me and decluttering it would avoid needing to buy another thing as a solution!
The Pinterest idea works well. I thought I was the only one who did that!😅 I have a "buy this" board and put all my whim things on it. I almost never look at it. It scratches the itch just being able to click on something!!
Soooo true about the velcro dealbreaker! I wish I'd been aware beforehand of the velcro (jacket flaps) damage on my lovely scarves!😢
I found the solution to the accidental Target haul. Bring your kids! They suck the fun out of browsing at Target so you get what you NEED and you leave.
True story...
I have a friend that would say “Take what is freely given.” They come to our house for dinner once a week. They say it is the best restaurant in town with the best prices.
I'm going to try that cloud meditation for all kinds of situations.
I love the comparison of shopping to the Cloud Meditation - so effective! brilliant.
Just made vegetable broth from peelings etc. Yummy. ❤
Each to their own.
Have you heard this one---"Just because there's a sale doesn't mean to have to participate"!
If your order is over $35 then Walmart pick up has no fees. The items they have on their website are priced the same as in store. If you can help it, dont go inside a grocery store. Then you wont be tempted by the unnecessary stuff. Im pretty sure I've saved money and avoided bringing items home that will just become clutter later.
BTW, some libraries lend out tools, fancy baking pans, and musical instruments -- check what your library might offer ...
I have been 0 food waste for years. I even put my banana skins in a curry. I don’t overbuy, cook all the ingredients and freeze the extra meals. Meals that require less ingredients than come in the packet I make sure I’m cooking something else using that ingredient too that week so none is wasted.
I love your tips! I have saved so much money now that i am more minimalist. Having less stuff, gives more freedom! Good Luck with your channel ❤❤
I agree about shopping with a list. I only get the things on my list, but I also plan out my meals and am very particular about what I get anyway. Sending my husband to shop for me is a no-no as he comes home with snacks for himself haha.
Your cloud thoughts are so cute.
I have double batched a few times. Sometimes it only leaves only a little extra since I am feeding teen boys. They eat a lot. You'll see soon, as it hits the most when they are about 15!!!
Yey libraries! I don't know why people don't go to them more often.
I sold SOOOO much when I became a minimalist. I am so glad I made a couple thousand dollars off of it or more. $600-800 was on selling vinyl records. Thankfully, back then people were still buying CDs too, since I sold a few hundred!
I love that you are constantly teaching your kids about wise money handling. My oldest has a job and has way more money than I ever had at his age, because of being raised a minimalist and about proper money handling.
That’s so amazing to hear ❤️
I also try to never send my husband to the store. He always buy too much and doesn’t look at prices!
I have chickens who produce yummy eggs. They eat all edible leftovers so I save money on chicken feed
My husband was dreaming about this recently 😂👍
I have chickens as well but we’re always joking about how eggs never have been this expensive, honestly. It’s worth because they get to live their best life, but it’s not cheap getting started. It can be though, but that also takes time and effort 🐔🐔
@@catharinabra
Yup, we have livestock auctions here in New England, plus I bought my last group online from Iowa. They were around $4 each, 2 day old. Lost around 20% of them but rest are good layers except when it’s below freezing - which it has been here recently. They are good for entertainment value also.
@@AtoZenLife
It’s a great hobby, plus u get eggs
My best friend tends to buy the newest kitchen appliances and gadgets (high end ones, too). If I’m with him, I’ll ask him “Where are you going to put it?” I’m a minimalist; he’s obviously not.
Think I’ll go over there today and clean out his pantry…
You are a gem.
We eat an almost completely carnivore diet so we have very little food waste. But it bothered me that the “less palatable” parts of steaks/roasts/etc. like gristle, fat, edge bits were being cut off and thrown away. So now I put those parts into a bag in the freezer to go to a friend that has several dogs.
Those scrap bits can also be simmered into a broth.
oh the barnes & nobles in downtown evanston!!! what great memories 💛
Such great ideas. Especially the first one. Hard to implement the second one when you're at Costco and their fudge mini bites 24+ container in a container for .97cents. Or, their 6-8 bagged persimmons for $2.00. One at most stores cost $1.00. Or a huge vegetable party tray for .97cents. I can not imagine a cloud and these deals like the aforementioned floating away. 😅 Just keepin it real. I usually shop the reduced items rack . I usually get all I can and can all I get.🎉 Happy holidays!
Good food is something we like spending money on, so I hear you! Our philosophy is to spend less on things that aren’t so important to us so we can save it spend on the things we love and enjoy!
I too have Mint Mobile.
Think ten times, and research reviews thoroughly, before buying anything advertised before or during TH-cam videos. That may include things sponsored by the content creators themselves. I’ve spent hundreds of dollars on items I had to return or throw out for various reasons. (Make sure you get a call tag or return shipping label from the vendor.)
I love these frugal tips! Thank you so much!
Great video, gave me some ideas
Observation: The frugal videos are often a repeat of the same suggestions. 😂
Being frugal involves avoiding unnecessary expenses, such as courses, printable, journals, tee shirts, basically all the merch, given the wealth of free resources on TH-cam. Some TH-camrs profit from sponsorships, making paid courses questionable, especially when they lack formal teaching roles. Unfortunately, followers may miss the frugality message amid these profit-driven ventures, which is disheartening, especially considering the current economic challenges many people face.
This was a super helpful video! Thank you for sharing your tips!
I find that one of the hardest things about selling off my clutter is TIME! I’m always working, and away from home most of the time. I stopped buying new things a few years ago (completely stopped! ) but I’m still looking for extra time to sell off the things I don’t need. even getting to the post office before they close can be a challenge when selling stuff on EBay etc.
It does take time! One trick is to sell stuff in bulk when you can to get a lot off your hands with less effort 👍
I swear my mom has an ebay shopping problem. She's already a hoarder, and she keeps spending money on shit we don't need (or want!) on ebay! It's not a lot of money, it's very little, but still! It's SO annoying and infuriating! Drives the rest of my family and me NUTS! We just wish she would STOP, but she says 'it's my money/it's my house, I can do what I want!' Which, yeah, but...JESUS, mom! I'm the one who's gonna have to deal with this shit when she dies! UGH! X'D
Maybe it's not simple, but I have a set monthly budget I monitor through an Excel spreadsheet with a burndown chart. I log EVERY expense - a minor punishment for spending money. I can see instantly on the burndown if I am above the line (better than budgeted) or below the line (worse than budgeted). I agree with buying second-hand - I needed to buy business shirts since my old ones approached the 10-year mark and were donated. I got 4 perfectly good, nearly new business shirts on eBay for less than buying one branded one in a store. Once they are washed and ironed, no one would know the difference between a second-hand shirt and a new one I have worn a few times. Yes, I make a decent income, but second-hand buying is both sustainable and easy on your wallet.
You know you’re a minimalist or of that mind when you see the beginning of this video and think to yourself “that place looks cluttered.” I think the pant’s messing with my mental feng shui.
Food waste is honestly why I enjoy dining out (lunchtime) because yeah, ain’t gonna waste food at a place I know makes a great fish taco etc.
Public libraries are awesome! Mine lets people borrow games, sewing machines, digital cameras, etc. They also do seed exchanges and now have a new cooking spice to sample each month.
❤ thanks again
In my region we have several "open book shelfs". You just can go there and grab a book which sounds interesting. after reading you just bring it back to another open bookshelf. Keeps clutter out and you get interesting reads which you might not have considered for yourself. Also saves money.
My cooking habit also is to make bigger meals and freeze leftovers away for lunch on another day instead of going to the canteen. Sometimes I just cook something (soups or stir fries are great for that) to use up items which do not look totally fresh anymore but still are good.
I sould definitely spend some time to cut down on monthly costs. But that's a really unpleasent way to spend my time. But most likely worth the time...
Thanks for the video. I was blown away by your apple prices. $0.99/lb! In AUD that would be $1.88. We pay here on ave $3.50-4.50 per kg of apples, and we grow them here. We are so ripped off here in Aus!
I hear you, from a fellow Canadian ♡♡
I've never seen 99 cents a pound apples in New York City or in New Jersey suburbs.
Thank you 🦋
Thank s for sharing
I have that onesie too... in two colors
I have reduced tremendously!
Clutter is always clutter..even if it finds another home 😂
Where we live $200k is dirt cheap for any type of home. Unfortunately, one cannot get a mortgage without homeowner's insurance. Maybe a possibility if you own your home outright. Our "new to me" car cost $200, was about to be crushed ( 30 yo Lincoln Towncar). We put about $1500 in repairs and it will be fairly reliable now. Previously paid $10k for a Ford Focus. It's a turd. Cost and value are not the same things!
All of these are great tips. Thank you for sharing 🙂
Marissa, the Rakuten link doesn't work!
Sorry Bernadette, sometimes links just randomly don't work on TH-cam. Here it is again - you can always copy + paste or just go to the website and sign up yourself: www.rakuten.com/r/MARISS23077?eeid=28187
Clever❤