What have YOU cut from your budget and not missed at all? Please like + comment to let me know! ►💰2--PAGE FREE BUDGET PLANNER PDF here: landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r9e9t6
As a new minimalist I've said farewell to makeup, manicures, duplicates, extra linen, magazines, reality tv and a lot more. I only buy underwear new and thrift for the rest. 1 in 1 out rule. My mum passed away a year ago and i took that opportunity to deal with emotional clutter. We cheat ourselves out of happiness when we hang on to dead stuff. If i can't use it i toss it. I also recently stop spending time on sensation news or anything that does not impact my joy. Huge mental declutter!!! Thank you for your channel.
I have had to use a credit card before for a doctor and medicine when I was really sick. Sometimes it cannot be avoided.Thankfully, I don't have to do that now.
Im so with you on make up! Id buy it for special events and then id never use it again and it would expire. When i went back to work a year after having my son I hadn't worn make up for a whole year so i figured I wouldn't bother at all. My skincare routine is just using Trilogy facewash in the shower at night and putting on sunscreen when im outdoors. So easy and frees up so much precious time! And i cant remember having had any breakouts in the last five years since i stopped wearing make up.
I do most of these, but not coffee, I don't "need" coffee I regularly do 30 ad 60 day coffee-free stints, but I enjoy it, so I have it fairly regularly. And the car is a no-go for me also. I live by the Canadian border in a rural area. No public transportation and walking the 16 miles to the grocery store in the middle of winter could actually kill me. Plus, my family is scattered all around the country from Wisconsin to Arizona to Alaska and my husband doesn't fly- severe fear of it- so we drive. And our car is paid off and 15 years old, so no payments and my husband can repair anything that goes wrong with it, so auto repair costs are very low. Really like your vids.
#6 was one of the first to go. I gave up coffee back in 2007 because one day I experienced a caffeine headache simply because I skipped one day. That was motivation enough to quit. I changed to drinking green tea which has so many health benefits. I gave up alcohol back in 2012 when I became vegan and didn't know what was safe for me to drink. I used to do the same thing at bookstores but now I just utilize the library. I also gave up my car and even though I live in the southwest US. I realized that I don't need one as much as I was conditioned to think. I can walk to a lot of places and the places that I can't are usually just places where I would waste a lot of money. Also thanks for inviting your husband to participate in the video.
I have cut out most of the things you mentioned as well, except for my car. However, I am retired and don’t go out much, so my expenses are minimized. I’ve also stopped buying paper towels and use kitchen towels and washable cloths for spills and messes. I cook almost all of my meals at home for both health and budget reasons. My approach is not as much about minimalism as it is about contributing to a less wasteful and more sustainable lifestyle. So I’m invested in growing food and avoiding single use items as much as possible. I enjoy your videos!
I am with you: I have zero credit card debt, gave my car away and only take public transportation or walk, never drink coffee, have no toxic friends, no alcohol, no TV, no diet stuff as I am already too thin, and buy a few used books, love to read. I donate my books and keep a few.
Same. I don't drink coffee or alcohol. I don't need any of that. Books I rarely get any. Once a year I get a few books. Like 5. I don't like credit. Unfortunately in some cases necessary but I don't like it or want it. If I don't have money, I just won't get whatever it is even if it's food or shampoo. I don't trust this process. I don't drive.
@@Nicole-zv7ee I only borrowed from library a few times. The reason I stopped doing that is that the books I borrowed looked dirty. Since I am a clean freak and didn't want to catch other people's germs, I chose to buy books that listed as 'almost new' condition. I spend about less than $100 a year.
@@bhsprinkle I am glad I am not alone on this and thank you for sharing.🙂I do use credit card because carrying cash is just not a very good thing in these days, but I pay my balance off within a week to 10 days. The contact-less feature is safer than the swipe method. I wish we had what people in China have where everyone pays via their phone. We are not there yet unfortunately.
@@Thomas-Chin10 I'm not sure where you live but in usa I just discovered Libby it works with your public library card, you put your card number in the app and you can borrow ebook and audiobook! It's amazing 😍 No dirty book and no late fees or risk of owing money if you accidentally damage/loose a book. They maybe have similar apps in other countries, worth looking into for anyone into reading and frugal/minimal living 🤓 *forgot to add that it also give you access to an app called Kanopy to watch movies/series that your Library as (I don't watch much tv but It's another free feature I thought could interest some)
I had a toxic friend for years that I would make excuses for. I finally stopped taking her calls when I realized she was really draining my energy! It was one of the best things I’ve ever done because now that I don’t bother with her, she rarely crosses my mind which shows me that she was just a habit I was hanging onto!
I found the pandemic gave me the opportunity to get rid of the negative people in my life. We just didn't reach out, and instead put our energy into the good people in our lives.
@@Marsolan Those that are not your friends after you stop giving so much were never your true friends! I realized I wanted QUALITY friendships over QUANTITY friendships.
There are multiple studies that show coffee also has beneficial properties in prevention of cardiovascular disease. It’s worth just cutting back as opposed to cutting it out for some people.
Hate autopay. It's better to just remember to pay your bills tbh. Our rental property management changed recently and the old company sent us an e-mail to cancel autopay but revoked account access. Luckily I never set up autopay so they couldn't "accidently" charge us. Have had it happen with streaming services too. You cancel and they ignore and take your money anyway.
I really enjoyed this video. I'm not aspiring to be a "true minimalist" but I do want to simply have less. Less things to stress about, less things to maintain, etc. I would love it if you could do a series of videos of minimalism in different aspects of our everyday lives, i.e.: Grooming (hair, body, nails, makeup, etc), House cleaning (I simply overbuy cleaning products 😵💫), Office (I'm always tempted to buy pretty stationary that I rarely use), Kitchen/cooking, etc. Just a suggestion that could help guide us to reduce the noise around us and focus on what we enjoy. Thanks for all the effort and wisdom you put in your videos.
I find it sooo hard to declutter books. I have a ton after my father passed away (he was a "booky" person and we used to read together, so much sentimental books saved), and also other books that have been gifted to me and I just have such a hard time of letting them go. I have managed to cut out buying more books myself, but boy do I need support to declutter what is already accumulated. Love your content Marissa!
I feel the same way with books! But after some water damage in our basement and a bunch of books were ruined and had to be throw away! ,I am slowly offering books to people I know would like and appreciate them. Good luck!
I used to binge on books because I couldn‘t get them in English, so when that opportunity arose, I would bring carloads home. It wss a miracle to me when Amazon started and I could get any book I wanted!! Meanwhile I have got rid of more than half my books and only buy physical books if it‘s something that is no longer in print or not available as an ebook, which has helped a lot. I still like reading books, though, and pass a lot on when I‘m done, which I would have struggled with before.
As someone with ADHD, I was definitely guilty of swiping my credit card anytime I thought something was cute and building up debt. Now after massive decluttering, I know I can admire something from afar and not also take it home. Adding up all the interest paid on debt is so scary and eye opening 😱
As an ADHD'er myself, I understand this whole-heartedly. I'm nearly 3 years into my self-talk, decluttering and debt repayment journey. At first it was very difficult because I was basically fighting against my own instincts.
Thanks for your message, I never really thought ADHD had anything to do with my spending habits, but it makes sense now, in my 20's I would spend hours a week shopping for stuff I didn't need. Now I shop only when something is needed and even then I'll get it 2nd hand. 😊
The top 3 is what I relate too. Coffee will remain in the house and we eat at home to add more money to reducing debt. Gotta have a car but ours are older and in good shape. I live more frugal than i realized
I've stopped buying books, and I am cutting down to only 1 cup of coffee in the afternoon. I have cut out nail polish, and working on using less eye makeup since I have to wear glasses again though not all the time.
Great list. Makes total sense. Almost bought a book last week but thought I would check out my tiny rural library: and there it was! Available! Thanks!🐇
Besides the financial items you mentioned there is one other unexpected thing….Toxic people. That is something I am struggling with right now. I befriended a neighbor several years ago, since then she seems to dictate my life. You are right the stress that comes with it causes me to eat badly, feel depressed, criticized, insulted, etc. I am a ‘people pleaser’, I just continued to cater to her, including setting my alarm to wake up to call her to get up for whatever reason! I finally decided that enough was enough, but it wasn’t easy. It’s been 3 months and she still lives in my head! I constantly am reminded of some of the unkind things she would say, and what I SHOULD have said in reply but didn’t…. Because I am nice. I will get through this, like breaking a bad habit. Others in our apartment building have distanced themselves from her neediness, but I am having guilt feelings over it. I even consider not going to social events just to avoid being drawn back into that vortex.
i had a neighbor who would inevitably complain about anything and everything. Her sisters distance from her and I feel sorry for her. I put up with her complaints year in and year out. I finally wised up and cut her out of my life. I don't even acknowledge her presence and I've never been happier.
Another thing about toxic friends--I had a friend who was always making snide remarks about my frugality (amongst other things). I finally had enough of it and decided to let the friendship go. I know a lot of it was rooted in jealousy--she's up to her eyeballs in debt, at one point filed bankruptcy, while I am debt free and have been for quite some time. No one needs that kind of negativity.
Don’t forget those friends that never pay their way…loose them. My girlfriend can afford cigarettes and bottled Starbucks Frapachinos …hasn’t picked up a lunch tab or bought me a present, or brought a covered dish to a meal…well I cut her out! Off or what ever you say. Grifters have no place in my life!
Watching this video turned into a healing time for me, because I found I’m not the only one who at this day and age binge buys things. I know you don’t do this any more so now I know that even though I did those binges I too can let go of that urgent need to do them. Thank you!!
well, only thing on the list I have is a car. Since living in a rural region of Germany I prefer having one (when living and working in the city I had also no car). I also do not eat lunch at the cantine at work. The dishes have a reasonable price but are still more expensive than homemade meals and often portions are too big for me. With a microwave in our office kitchen I normally take leftovers to work and enjoy these meals.
We recently moved to Singapore and sold our car before we left. It’s not too bad as public transport here is excellent and we are getting lots of exercise walking. So feel like this has been a win although I do miss being able to just jump in and go wherever I want. I don’t miss the expense and stressing over finding parking 😊
Oh no! The people in my life who drain my budget are my sweet little granddaughters! I bought a package of sculpting clay and a pair of roller skates just last week. I definitely would miss out on a lot of fun if I cut this type of spending out of my budget.
I am also frugal long before I knew the meaning of this word 😅. I am now 26 and bought my own car second hand, renovated my mother house and this year I bought also my own flat with a 50% down payment. I have no debt and also a portfolio for investments. I will have though a small mortgage soon.
Interesting about the coffee study. I started drinking coffee after reading many studies about its role in reducing risk for diabetes (which I'm genetically at risk for) Parkinsons.
Yep, we do all, with the exception of coffee, and my husband likes his vehicles (his choice, and he can easily afford it). Most of my adult life, I've lived without a car, and always purchased used. The most I've ever paid for one was $2,400. No debt and no unnecessary spending is liberation!
I like your list, and we already follow a lot of these. The one thing I don’t think we will realistically be able to cut is our car. We live in a more rural area where public transportation doesn’t really exist and I honestly have no idea how using something like Uber works with larger families, car seats, or dogs. We also drive to see family that lives a few hours away pretty frequently, so I imagine the cost would really add up on trips like that 😅 We do however only pay cash for the last few cars we’ve bought (which we bought used), so if you have to get a car, that’s 💯 the way to go!
I've been frugal my entire life (once lived in my '73 VW for a few months while in technical school) No magazines, no cable, drink hot tea or water, no fast food (except Chick Fil A ) window shopping only, minimal makeup, manual transmission economy cars (mini cooper currently) and/or motorcycle, Library card & look for free "little libraries" when I RV across the US. I delcuttered, then I did Swedish death cleaning. Living on my Airstream has kept me frugal & minimal. (my hubby still has a homebase , too many vehicles & too much clutter, but slowly reeling him in ) The only thing I miss are my books and shoes. Shoes were tough to let go of.
but I also live in remote area and my job requires a car and I LOVE road trips- no desire to live in Europe and my car was my one and only really spendy purchase. Am happy but no debt. a tiny mortgage but barely any.
I agree with you 100% . It makes no financial sense to purchase a new car. So much money is saved even if you just purchase one a year old. Your husband seems like such a great man still. I’m sure he’ll come around and listen to reason.
Coffee! 😭 That said, I recent cut back to 2 cups a day lol and in the past when I did give it up completely, I also found that I didn't need it to get by. And 100% yes to no more bookstore binges, including used book sales at the library. I always walked out with way more than I would ever read, having spent way more than I needed to, and feeling so guilty for not reading them all. Now I frequent the library to borrow a book or two that I am interested in, and only buy a book if the entire library system doesn't have it. And then it will be a used copy. Now if I could get back all the money I spent on makeup at Sephora in college... 😭
I cut out alcohol in 1995 when I was pregnant and never started drinking again. I didn't drink much anyway. It makes me laugh when I hear people say they aren't going to drink for a month. Just don't ask me to give up sugar for an entire month. I've only been able to do that for 11 days!
I stopped buying paper towels 15 years ago. You can find lovely, practically new cloth napkins at thrift stores that you can use at mealtimes, to wipe up spills, etc. you don't have to use paper towels for these things - you simply launder them yourself and re-use.
We cut alcohol, and cable as well. Wr only have Netflix, Prime and Disney, and are considering cutting Netflix now! I am SO guilty though for bookstore binges 😬
Аs for late payments. I live in Belarus, and here late payments bring you a panalty fee. It motivates people to pay their bill on time. And another tip for saving money is creating a standard budget. And the rest of the money can be saved.
I think I have cut most of those...except coffee. I am just coming off a no-spend month, where I used all my 'spare' money to pay for a new tumble drier. In the past I would have just put that on a credit card, but I am trying to get rid of my existing credit card debt, so didn't want to do that.
Great video!! I love all ideas! I also would like to offer a thought that high coffee consumption (as per the article) is mostly defined as 4-6 cups per day. Below that amount coffee has many health benefits. So if someone wants to save on coffee it’s totally cool, but low to moderate coffee intake should be ok for most people (unless specifically advised against by their doctors).
Thanks for clarifying the effects of the actual amount of coffee. It was hard for me to believe that two or three cups would break my health, after reading so many articles about the benefits of drinking coffee.
These are totally reasonable and doable. I grew up not using credit so if I can't afford something I don't buy it, not even on laybye which is still popular in Africa. I feel like depending on where you live some stuff may be more challenging to relinquish but we are in the bush so have little need for anything except food and shelter 🤣 I love your practical content as always 💜
Most of my wall space storage is being used for my many books. I love to read, so having access to my books is valuable to me. I only have a few stacks of books around, but they are placed in an attractive way. I still visit the library as well. I haven't had a tv service for over a decade. I have used my kindle fire to download some things that look interesting, from my sons' subscriptions, and also audiobooks for when I'm doing chores or on the go. I search the web, stream YT videos and visit FB on my phone service. I won't give up my VHS nor my DVD/BRs. I prefer physical ownership to subscriptions. It takes up more space, but is not a constant drain on my finances and won't disappear from non-payment. For anyone who says, "What if you have to move to a smaller space?" I would build my furniture out of books! :)
Austria has that TV tax as well but they have to prove you have a television. My wife and I live separately rn and she got locked out of the apartment last year in her pajamas because the man wouldn't stop arguing with her (she literally doesn't own a TV and never has), the cat was trying to "help" so he got out, bumped the door and it locked her out.💀
Coffee is a favorite joy in my life but I have given it up personally temporarily in the past just to make sure I could 😂. The Kindle Unlimited subscription has been a lifesaver as I can check out 10 books a month and never pay late fees, just go around reading until I finish. Great tips overall!
For me taking a bus reminds me when I was poor because I took bus all the time during that period. It makes me feel depressed and I dont like people seeing me wait at the bus stop either especially in the rain. Its just sad, I rather walk or take the car
My boyfriend and I still have a lot of student debt, but we have within the last few years become better and better at only buying things that we need and have a purpose in our home. Before, we would look to buy things from new, but have now switched to second-hand instead
When shopping for good furniture, see if its possible to re-paint. Years down the line you could love the design of the piece of furniture but not the colour. So keep an eye out for things that you can mod in the future.
OUT OF THESE 10 THING ..we already DONT HAVE 8 and we did not know that its called MINIMALISM😊😊😁😁 ...and the rest 2 ...COFFEE AND CABLE ..I DONT THINK ONE HAS TO LIVE LIKE A SAGE IN HIMALAYA ..u can very well have them in moderation
Thank you for this video! I would love to hear more about your complete coffee reduction. How did you feel in the first days/week and what did you do when you felt tired/not motivated to do work?
My friends aren’t toxic, but they have bad spending habits. I’ve slightly started rubbing off on them with cooking at home now and using coupon apps 🤣 and when they come over now, I offer to cook a meal instead of going out. Makes it way easier than taking kids out to eat as well.
Great advice. I've been a frugal person all my life, mostly because I never bought into 'trends' and preferred to live simply. Just a word of caution tho..here in Australia, the phone company I was with, charged me a mysterious 'miscellaneous ' fee of $200 on one of my monthly bills. When I rang them ( 45mins on hold), they couldn't explain it. They took the amount off my bill, but I vowed Never to set up a direct debit with anyone thereafter. I want to see what I'm being charged for.
Yep. Autopay opens you up to charges you didn't ask for. It's happened to me many times. It's better to just keep track of your bills and pay when due if you care about your money.
Hi Marissa love the video those are amazing things, I want to said that I also cut coffe 5 months ago, I used to spend like 40 euros a month in nespresso and now that money is being save coffee can be a huge expense, also I want to add something to that lists that myself I have trouble with that skin care and hair products I used to think buy all that skin care line would give me the best skin and the only thing I got from that was very bad acne now I keep my routine very simple and I don't have more than 3 products that is my cleanser, my moisturizer and my sunblock that's it, I'm still making some mistakes regarding the hair products but I'm working very hard to avoid unnecessary products thar I don't need
Not putting much make-up on the face is actually good for the skin, it allows it to "breathe". Make-ups have too much chemical in them and I personally feel the minimalist way with make up is good enough to stay healthy and still look good.
Re weight loss, I always stick to a low carbohydrate diet, so don't need any additional products to help to reduce weight. You can cook really delicious meals, just leaving out processed foods, potatoes, flour, & sugars. Having said that, it's not working very well at the moment... 😞 I don't drink any alcohol, but unfortunately I can't easily cut out coffee!
i’m 25 years old and my brother is 33 and he constantly asks me for money and i am so sick of it. i tend to cave in and just let him have the $20 because it doesn’t seem like much but it all adds up. i’ve been wanting to cut him out of my life but it’s hard when he’s family.
I read a book that helped me a lot on that exact thing: Make Boundaries, Find Peace. I liked listening to it on Libby (free library app) because Hearing how it sounds to say a boundary out loud was super helpful for me. It was so hard for me to "confront" someone by stating a boundary, but just like decluttering it actually is getting easier the more I do it. I also invite the difficult person for dinner now and then so I am contributing to their wellbeing, but on my terms, in a way that works for me. Then the ball is in their court to end or keep the relationship. BTW, I just turned 60. If you can get comfortable figuring out and setting boundaries at 25 I think that can make life more peaceful and content. I hope this might be helpful with your brother❤
I gave my brother and his wife money for years to help them out because they are always broke. I stopped doing it when Christmas came around and the two of them thought it was no big deal to not even give me a Xmas card, even though I had been helping them out for years…Don’t feel guilty, quit giving him money. He will find someone else to mooch from; people like that always do!
@@cherylT321 it’s very disappointing. my mom is also this way with me. i’m second to youngest in my family and the weight is too much to carry when both my oldest brother and mom need help from me emotionally and financially. whenever i go on a streak of saying no because i’m genuinely tight on money, they disappear from my life and it’s like i don’t even exist!
@@umvmi That just shows you how selfish they are; it’s all about them, so what if you have to go without so long as they get what they want. I stay away from people like that, even if they are family…I don’t have much to do with my brother or his wife. That’s their problem if they want to continue to live above their means!
I finally had to cut off my sister. She never once could call me without asking for money too. She has a good job. It was crazy. It’s sad because now I’m not getting to know my nephew but I’m not a walking atm machine
that coffee study you mentioned didn't take into account what was being added to the coffee...for example sugar, which in several studies has been shown to reduce grey matter. And type 2 diabetics also have a drastic reduction in grey matter and an increased risk of dementia and alzheimers...which would seem to indicate sugar is the problem, and not the coffee
Thanks for a great list! Do you mind posting the study about coffee? I still make daily at home or sometimes buy coffee when I travel. I tried to eliminate coffee a few times before but I would get excruciating headache so I just go back to it! Maybe I should just try to lessen the strength (my fave is espresso and dark roast without cream or sugar). Thanks again! I hope you are all enjoying Spring time!!!
I second the car thoughts! The newest we buy is 5 years old. I’ve came across several posts/videos about loss of car value. The car loses the most value those first 5 years.
Without using some credit card debt, I wouldn’t be able to afford my out of pocket medical expenses. I’m in the U.S., and even with health insurance this is unavoidable. When you have something serious it is easy to rack up debt very quickly. My credit cards are for the expenses that fall outside of my budget. I’ve been a single father for a long time, and no one is around to hand me cash whenever I need it. I would love to avoid debt, credit card usage, and get rid of my vehicle, especially with the overpriced, astronomical insurance rates in the state of Florida. But, this is an impossibility, and not reality.
Great video❤. Yes, Rundfunkbeitrag always hurts a Little. Bit you get a good quality programme on non private channels with less commercials and even commercial free and well curated Kids tv.
Yes! We pay an annual fee that works out to 1franc/day in Switzerland for radio/tv and that goes towards good quality programmes and other cultural activities. We don‘t actually have a tv but listen to radio in the car and use our devices to stream if we want to watch anything.
I enjoy your videos. As far as a car, that is only really possible if you live somewhere with good public transportation. I bought my last car new, and that was 17 years ago, and it's still going strong, so I think I got my moneys worth. I live pretty frugally naturally which means I am able to splurge when I really want something.
Agree, buying new isn't awful if you A. Can afford it B. Maintain it and C. Keep it for a long time. Another great option is certified pre-owned, I bought my current car that way. Saved a ton of money-it was only a year old with just over 7000 miles on it and actually came with a better warranty than a brand new one of the same model! I'm approaching 6 years of having it and plan on driving it another 6 or more.
My friends who are mechanics say buying a used car is just taking on another's problem. They told me to purchase a new car and be very meticulous with the maintenance. It will cost me less in the long run.
I agree with this sentiment. A used car worth buying is not much less than a new car. Why buy an old beater if it’s going to cost you as much in repairs as it would to buy a new car, with a manufactures warranty. Avoid the hassles and random problems of a used car.
Debt is ok if it’s an appreciating asset - education, house, health. For everything else pay upfront unless you are earning 3%+ more than the mortgage (for example if the mortgage rate for your car is 8% but you can earn 11% or more you can buy the car on mortgage as you will still have positive cash flow).
I love your content and the way you present it so much. I drink a lot of coffee and changed over to decaf which helped my anxiety. But I’m so curious about the gray matter research you mentioned! Off to research!
Recently I sold most of the books I'd already read, only keeping a few favourites and the unread books. Now they fit in my shelves again 😊 My next goal is to read all the unread ones so I can get rid of most of these too. I'm not allowing myself to buy any new books until I'm done (unless I need them for research etc.)
I had to cut out my coworkers out of my life completely (left the job) because that job would always have monthly pot lucks on top of celebrating birthdays. 🥴 it got to a point where when I couldn’t bring anything in, they’d talk about me behind my back. 😢
Welcome to Germany, the GEZ is nothing to mess with😂Also, i too recently found that coffee might be something i merely consume out of habit, and not because i enjoy it so much. Cutting back on that surely is good for your health, and your wallet, too 😊
What have YOU cut from your budget and not missed at all? Please like + comment to let me know! ►💰2--PAGE FREE BUDGET PLANNER PDF here: landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r9e9t6
paper towels, tampons/pads, and probably a bunch of other things not coming to mind immediately.
Your husband is a lucky guy. You are a beautiful woman.
T shirts from old rock bands you never actually listened to????
Debt no house credit card or car payment
Tried a few times to get these PDF's. Didn't receive them
and you are in my mailing list.
As a new minimalist I've said farewell to makeup, manicures, duplicates, extra linen, magazines, reality tv and a lot more. I only buy underwear new and thrift for the rest. 1 in 1 out rule. My mum passed away a year ago and i took that opportunity to deal with emotional clutter. We cheat ourselves out of happiness when we hang on to dead stuff. If i can't use it i toss it. I also recently stop spending time on sensation news or anything that does not impact my joy. Huge mental declutter!!! Thank you for your channel.
Dad always said that if you cannot pay cash you cannot afford it. Excellent advice.It is nice not to owe anybody.
I have had to use a credit card before for a doctor and medicine when I was really sick. Sometimes it cannot be avoided.Thankfully, I don't have to do that now.
I was referring to shopping and non-emergency situations!
Im so with you on make up! Id buy it for special events and then id never use it again and it would expire. When i went back to work a year after having my son I hadn't worn make up for a whole year so i figured I wouldn't bother at all. My skincare routine is just using Trilogy facewash in the shower at night and putting on sunscreen when im outdoors. So easy and frees up so much precious time! And i cant remember having had any breakouts in the last five years since i stopped wearing make up.
I do most of these, but not coffee, I don't "need" coffee I regularly do 30 ad 60 day coffee-free stints, but I enjoy it, so I have it fairly regularly. And the car is a no-go for me also. I live by the Canadian border in a rural area. No public transportation and walking the 16 miles to the grocery store in the middle of winter could actually kill me. Plus, my family is scattered all around the country from Wisconsin to Arizona to Alaska and my husband doesn't fly- severe fear of it- so we drive. And our car is paid off and 15 years old, so no payments and my husband can repair anything that goes wrong with it, so auto repair costs are very low. Really like your vids.
#6 was one of the first to go. I gave up coffee back in 2007 because one day I experienced a caffeine headache simply because I skipped one day. That was motivation enough to quit. I changed to drinking green tea which has so many health benefits. I gave up alcohol back in 2012 when I became vegan and didn't know what was safe for me to drink. I used to do the same thing at bookstores but now I just utilize the library. I also gave up my car and even though I live in the southwest US. I realized that I don't need one as much as I was conditioned to think. I can walk to a lot of places and the places that I can't are usually just places where I would waste a lot of money. Also thanks for inviting your husband to participate in the video.
I have cut out most of the things you mentioned as well, except for my car. However, I am retired and don’t go out much, so my expenses are minimized. I’ve also stopped buying paper towels and use kitchen towels and washable cloths for spills and messes. I cook almost all of my meals at home for both health and budget reasons. My approach is not as much about minimalism as it is about contributing to a less wasteful and more sustainable lifestyle. So I’m invested in growing food and avoiding single use items as much as possible. I enjoy your videos!
Isn't it wonderful to be able to eat food you've grown plus the benefit of having more plants to look at.
Stopping drinking is a great thing for many people. I feel great after not drinking for over 7 years now.
Thank you for sharing
I am with you: I have zero credit card debt, gave my car away and only take public transportation or walk, never drink coffee, have no toxic friends, no alcohol, no TV, no diet stuff as I am already too thin, and buy a few used books, love to read. I donate my books and keep a few.
I get all of my books, for free, from the library.
Same. I don't drink coffee or alcohol. I don't need any of that. Books I rarely get any. Once a year I get a few books. Like 5. I don't like credit. Unfortunately in some cases necessary but I don't like it or want it. If I don't have money, I just won't get whatever it is even if it's food or shampoo. I don't trust this process.
I don't drive.
@@Nicole-zv7ee I only borrowed from library a few times. The reason I stopped doing that is that the books I borrowed looked dirty. Since I am a clean freak and didn't want to catch other people's germs, I chose to buy books that listed as 'almost new' condition. I spend about less than $100 a year.
@@bhsprinkle I am glad I am not alone on this and thank you for sharing.🙂I do use credit card because carrying cash is just not a very good thing in these days, but I pay my balance off within a week to 10 days. The contact-less feature is safer than the swipe method. I wish we had what people in China have where everyone pays via their phone. We are not there yet unfortunately.
@@Thomas-Chin10 I'm not sure where you live but in usa I just discovered Libby it works with your public library card, you put your card number in the app and you can borrow ebook and audiobook! It's amazing 😍 No dirty book and no late fees or risk of owing money if you accidentally damage/loose a book. They maybe have similar apps in other countries, worth looking into for anyone into reading and frugal/minimal living 🤓 *forgot to add that it also give you access to an app called Kanopy to watch movies/series that your Library as (I don't watch much tv but It's another free feature I thought could interest some)
Omg… “Bookstore binges.” This is EXACTLY what I was doing and didn’t have a word for it. Wow, really puts it in perspective.
Cutting out the toxic people is probably the best piece of advice, but also the hardest to follow...
I had a toxic friend for years that I would make excuses for. I finally stopped taking her calls when I realized she was really draining my energy! It was one of the best things I’ve ever done because now that I don’t bother with her, she rarely crosses my mind which shows me that she was just a habit I was hanging onto!
I found the pandemic gave me the opportunity to get rid of the negative people in my life. We just didn't reach out, and instead put our energy into the good people in our lives.
As a people pleaser - I've been guilty of being overly generous to friends beyond what I could afford. I was my own toxic person 😬
Sometimes I feel like we’re so similar it’s scary 🥹❤️
Oh goodness.....this was me for many years.
@@AtoZenLife We have a lot in common ❤️
Still am …😕
@@Marsolan Those that are not your friends after you stop giving so much were never your true friends! I realized I wanted QUALITY friendships over QUANTITY friendships.
There are multiple studies that show coffee also has beneficial properties in prevention of cardiovascular disease. It’s worth just cutting back as opposed to cutting it out for some people.
Love this
Hate autopay. It's better to just remember to pay your bills tbh. Our rental property management changed recently and the old company sent us an e-mail to cancel autopay but revoked account access. Luckily I never set up autopay so they couldn't "accidently" charge us. Have had it happen with streaming services too. You cancel and they ignore and take your money anyway.
We gave up cable about 2 years ago. It was almost $200 a month! I was kinda upset about it at first, but now I don't miss it at all!
I really enjoyed this video. I'm not aspiring to be a "true minimalist" but I do want to simply have less. Less things to stress about, less things to maintain, etc. I would love it if you could do a series of videos of minimalism in different aspects of our everyday lives, i.e.: Grooming (hair, body, nails, makeup, etc), House cleaning (I simply overbuy cleaning products 😵💫), Office (I'm always tempted to buy pretty stationary that I rarely use), Kitchen/cooking, etc. Just a suggestion that could help guide us to reduce the noise around us and focus on what we enjoy. Thanks for all the effort and wisdom you put in your videos.
I find it sooo hard to declutter books. I have a ton after my father passed away (he was a "booky" person and we used to read together, so much sentimental books saved), and also other books that have been gifted to me and I just have such a hard time of letting them go. I have managed to cut out buying more books myself, but boy do I need support to declutter what is already accumulated.
Love your content Marissa!
You’ll find plenty of that support here, you’re in good company, Mira! 🙏
@@AtoZenLife Thank you, it means the world to me 🙏❤
I feel the same way with books! But after some water damage in our basement and a bunch of books were ruined and had to be throw away! ,I am slowly offering books to people I know would like and appreciate them. Good luck!
I used to binge on books because I couldn‘t get them in English, so when that opportunity arose, I would bring carloads home. It wss a miracle to me when Amazon started and I could get any book I wanted!! Meanwhile I have got rid of more than half my books and only buy physical books if it‘s something that is no longer in print or not available as an ebook, which has helped a lot. I still like reading books, though, and pass a lot on when I‘m done, which I would have struggled with before.
Sushi is my favorite but I end up spending over $30 for lunch! Yes, would love a tutorial on how to make my own sushi
As someone with ADHD, I was definitely guilty of swiping my credit card anytime I thought something was cute and building up debt. Now after massive decluttering, I know I can admire something from afar and not also take it home. Adding up all the interest paid on debt is so scary and eye opening 😱
Yes! “ I can like something without needing to own it” is one of my mantras. ❤️
@@AtoZenLife Yes, I'm glad I finally ingrained that ❤️💸
As an ADHD'er myself, I understand this whole-heartedly. I'm nearly 3 years into my self-talk, decluttering and debt repayment journey. At first it was very difficult because I was basically fighting against my own instincts.
@@ColleenJoudrey Yep! I can relate to everything you're saying!
Thanks for your message, I never really thought ADHD had anything to do with my spending habits, but it makes sense now, in my 20's I would spend hours a week shopping for stuff I didn't need. Now I shop only when something is needed and even then I'll get it 2nd hand. 😊
The top 3 is what I relate too. Coffee will remain in the house and we eat at home to add more money to reducing debt. Gotta have a car but ours are older and in good shape. I live more frugal than i realized
I don't know what's harder to overcome. Binge eating or binge book buying.
Libraries and not eating out? Who knew that I was a minimalist all along.....I just called it being poor! ❤
I've stopped buying books, and I am cutting down to only 1 cup of coffee in the afternoon. I have cut out nail polish, and working on using less eye makeup since I have to wear glasses again though not all the time.
Great list. Makes total sense. Almost bought a book last week but thought I would check out my tiny rural library: and there it was! Available! Thanks!🐇
Besides the financial items you mentioned there is one other unexpected thing….Toxic people. That is something I am struggling with right now. I befriended a neighbor several years ago, since then she seems to dictate my life. You are right the stress that comes with it causes me to eat badly, feel depressed, criticized, insulted, etc. I am a ‘people pleaser’, I just continued to cater to her, including setting my alarm to wake up to call her to get up for whatever reason! I finally decided that enough was enough, but it wasn’t easy. It’s been 3 months and she still lives in my head! I constantly am reminded of some of the unkind things she would say, and what I SHOULD have said in reply but didn’t…. Because I am nice. I will get through this, like breaking a bad habit. Others in our apartment building have distanced themselves from her neediness, but I am having guilt feelings over it. I even consider not going to social events just to avoid being drawn back into that vortex.
i had a neighbor who would inevitably complain about anything and everything. Her sisters distance from her and I feel sorry for her. I put up with her complaints year in and year out. I finally wised up and cut her out of my life. I don't even acknowledge her presence and I've never been happier.
Another thing about toxic friends--I had a friend who was always making snide remarks about my frugality (amongst other things). I finally had enough of it and decided to let the friendship go. I know a lot of it was rooted in jealousy--she's up to her eyeballs in debt, at one point filed bankruptcy, while I am debt free and have been for quite some time. No one needs that kind of negativity.
👏👏👏
Don’t forget those friends that never pay their way…loose them. My girlfriend can afford cigarettes and bottled Starbucks Frapachinos …hasn’t picked up a lunch tab or bought me a present, or brought a covered dish to a meal…well I cut her out! Off or what ever you say. Grifters have no place in my life!
Watching this video turned into a healing time for me, because I found I’m not the only one who at this day and age binge buys things. I know you don’t do this any more so now I know that even though I did those binges I too can let go of that urgent need to do them. Thank you!!
Car: rent when you need it (not lease). Less stressful, more flexible (you can rent vans / truck / people carrier / micro car) when you need it.
well, only thing on the list I have is a car. Since living in a rural region of Germany I prefer having one (when living and working in the city I had also no car).
I also do not eat lunch at the cantine at work. The dishes have a reasonable price but are still more expensive than homemade meals and often portions are too big for me. With a microwave in our office kitchen I normally take leftovers to work and enjoy these meals.
We call it TV licence in UK, in Norway the Tv license is now collected through taxes, it changed a few years ago.
We recently moved to Singapore and sold our car before we left. It’s not too bad as public transport here is excellent and we are getting lots of exercise walking. So feel like this has been a win although I do miss being able to just jump in and go wherever I want. I don’t miss the expense and stressing over finding parking 😊
Oh no! The people in my life who drain my budget are my sweet little granddaughters! I bought a package of sculpting clay and a pair of roller skates just last week. I definitely would miss out on a lot of fun if I cut this type of spending out of my budget.
😆Aww, that's not spending, it's an investment in fun and happiness! 💗
And your granddaughters aren't toxic people!
I am also frugal long before I knew the meaning of this word 😅. I am now 26 and bought my own car second hand, renovated my mother house and this year I bought also my own flat with a 50% down payment. I have no debt and also a portfolio for investments. I will have though a small mortgage soon.
Interesting about the coffee study. I started drinking coffee after reading many studies about its role in reducing risk for diabetes (which I'm genetically at risk for) Parkinsons.
Yep, we do all, with the exception of coffee, and my husband likes his vehicles (his choice, and he can easily afford it). Most of my adult life, I've lived without a car, and always purchased used. The most I've ever paid for one was $2,400. No debt and no unnecessary spending is liberation!
I like your list, and we already follow a lot of these. The one thing I don’t think we will realistically be able to cut is our car. We live in a more rural area where public transportation doesn’t really exist and I honestly have no idea how using something like Uber works with larger families, car seats, or dogs. We also drive to see family that lives a few hours away pretty frequently, so I imagine the cost would really add up on trips like that 😅 We do however only pay cash for the last few cars we’ve bought (which we bought used), so if you have to get a car, that’s 💯 the way to go!
I've been frugal my entire life (once lived in my '73 VW for a few months while in technical school) No magazines, no cable, drink hot tea or water, no fast food (except Chick Fil A ) window shopping only, minimal makeup, manual transmission economy cars (mini cooper currently) and/or motorcycle, Library card & look for free "little libraries" when I RV across the US. I delcuttered, then I did Swedish death cleaning. Living on my Airstream has kept me frugal & minimal. (my hubby still has a homebase , too many vehicles & too much clutter, but slowly reeling him in ) The only thing I miss are my books and shoes. Shoes were tough to let go of.
I"m a minimalist (my def) but won't give up my car nor my coffee- life is too short
but I also live in remote area and my job requires a car and I LOVE road trips- no desire to live in Europe and my car was my one and only really spendy purchase. Am happy but no debt. a tiny mortgage but barely any.
I agree with you 100% . It makes no financial sense to purchase a new car. So much money is saved even if you just purchase one a year old. Your husband seems like such a great man still. I’m sure he’ll come around and listen to reason.
Great content! I. did have one question, how are you able to have internet without cable?
Coffee! 😭 That said, I recent cut back to 2 cups a day lol and in the past when I did give it up completely, I also found that I didn't need it to get by. And 100% yes to no more bookstore binges, including used book sales at the library. I always walked out with way more than I would ever read, having spent way more than I needed to, and feeling so guilty for not reading them all. Now I frequent the library to borrow a book or two that I am interested in, and only buy a book if the entire library system doesn't have it. And then it will be a used copy. Now if I could get back all the money I spent on makeup at Sephora in college... 😭
I cut out alcohol in 1995 when I was pregnant and never started drinking again. I didn't drink much anyway. It makes me laugh when I hear people say they aren't going to drink for a month.
Just don't ask me to give up sugar for an entire month. I've only been able to do that for 11 days!
I stopped buying paper towels 15 years ago. You can find lovely, practically new cloth napkins at thrift stores that you can use at mealtimes, to wipe up spills, etc. you don't have to use paper towels for these things - you simply launder them yourself and re-use.
We cut alcohol, and cable as well. Wr only have Netflix, Prime and Disney, and are considering cutting Netflix now! I am SO guilty though for bookstore binges 😬
My husband and I too! Seems like there’s rarely good stuff on 🫤
The Missha BB #21 is my favorite light coverage product. This was a great list.
Аs for late payments. I live in Belarus, and here late payments bring you a panalty fee. It motivates people to pay their bill on time. And another tip for saving money is creating a standard budget. And the rest of the money can be saved.
I think I have cut most of those...except coffee. I am just coming off a no-spend month, where I used all my 'spare' money to pay for a new tumble drier. In the past I would have just put that on a credit card, but I am trying to get rid of my existing credit card debt, so didn't want to do that.
Hello, Marissa and Mr Zen, it´s so nice seeing you both. 😊😊
Great video!! I love all ideas!
I also would like to offer a thought that high coffee consumption (as per the article) is mostly defined as 4-6 cups per day. Below that amount coffee has many health benefits. So if someone wants to save on coffee it’s totally cool, but low to moderate coffee intake should be ok for most people (unless specifically advised against by their doctors).
and some people actually don‘t like coffee!! To me, it stinks (sorry to coffee lovers, but there we are!).
@@Woeschhuesli lol, thats right😀
Thanks for clarifying the effects of the actual amount of coffee. It was hard for me to believe that two or three cups would break my health, after reading so many articles about the benefits of drinking coffee.
These are totally reasonable and doable. I grew up not using credit so if I can't afford something I don't buy it, not even on laybye which is still popular in Africa.
I feel like depending on where you live some stuff may be more challenging to relinquish but we are in the bush so have little need for anything except food and shelter 🤣
I love your practical content as always 💜
Most of my wall space storage is being used for my many books. I love to read, so having access to my books is valuable to me. I only have a few stacks of books around, but they are placed in an attractive way. I still visit the library as well. I haven't had a tv service for over a decade. I have used my kindle fire to download some things that look interesting, from my sons' subscriptions, and also audiobooks for when I'm doing chores or on the go. I search the web, stream YT videos and visit FB on my phone service. I won't give up my VHS nor my DVD/BRs. I prefer physical ownership to subscriptions. It takes up more space, but is not a constant drain on my finances and won't disappear from non-payment. For anyone who says, "What if you have to move to a smaller space?" I would build my furniture out of books! :)
I'm trying so hard to keep debt at bay but I always find myself getting into it.
His pronunciation is perfect ❤
Austria has that TV tax as well but they have to prove you have a television. My wife and I live separately rn and she got locked out of the apartment last year in her pajamas because the man wouldn't stop arguing with her (she literally doesn't own a TV and never has), the cat was trying to "help" so he got out, bumped the door and it locked her out.💀
Coffee is a favorite joy in my life but I have given it up personally temporarily in the past just to make sure I could 😂. The Kindle Unlimited subscription has been a lifesaver as I can check out 10 books a month and never pay late fees, just go around reading until I finish. Great tips overall!
smart angle of looking into spending 👍
For me taking a bus reminds me when I was poor because I took bus all the time during that period. It makes me feel depressed and I dont like people seeing me wait at the bus stop either especially in the rain. Its just sad, I rather walk or take the car
My boyfriend and I still have a lot of student debt, but we have within the last few years become better and better at only buying things that we need and have a purpose in our home. Before, we would look to buy things from new, but have now switched to second-hand instead
When shopping for good furniture, see if its possible to re-paint. Years down the line you could love the design of the piece of furniture but not the colour. So keep an eye out for things that you can mod in the future.
I love all the suggestions, however, my new 4Runner and my smooth cup of morning Java are non-negotiable 🤙🏾
1. Debt
2. Car
3. Coffee
4. Alcohol
5. Cable
6. Toxic People
7. Late fees
8. Diet / weight loss products
9. Book store binges
10. Makeup
Thanks for the summary!
OUT OF THESE 10 THING ..we already DONT HAVE 8 and we did not know that its called MINIMALISM😊😊😁😁 ...and the rest 2 ...COFFEE AND CABLE ..I DONT THINK ONE HAS TO LIVE LIKE A SAGE IN HIMALAYA ..u can very well have them in moderation
💕💕💕🌴
I also stopped drinking coffee recently. Haha how funny. Ot was so hard for me.
Try decaf
As for transportation renting a car once in a while is still far cheaper than annual costs
Same for taxis
Thanks, remembered me to pay the rest amount for Greece Holiday which was Not directly due at the time of the booking :)😊
Thank You for Amazing Content. You have helped me to make my life so much better. Kind and Best Wishes to You, Your Family, and Friends.
I loved this video as always! Hugs to you & yours it was sweet to see your husband! Tell him thank you for the pronunciation and translation❤
I no longer buy dishwasher soap. I have found that the dishes clean just as well with just the water that the dishwasher uses.
I love your t-shirts!!! Your videos r wonderful too, thank you.
Thank you for this video! I would love to hear more about your complete coffee reduction. How did you feel in the first days/week and what did you do when you felt tired/not motivated to do work?
My friends aren’t toxic, but they have bad spending habits. I’ve slightly started rubbing off on them with cooking at home now and using coupon apps 🤣 and when they come over now, I offer to cook a meal instead of going out. Makes it way easier than taking kids out to eat as well.
I also have cut coffee, cable and do not miss either!
I’m also caffeine and alcohol free 😊 I pay off credit card debt as well and follow the other advice
Definitely need to pay off student loans and work on book binges that is my only thing. Great list Thanks.
ahhhh to be debt free and live in Europe ...its amazing you are able to - I barely can pay a small mortgage.
Dear Marissa, I highly recommend you the public library in Germany, I've been using it for 10 years and I couldn't be happier.
Great advice. I've been a frugal person all my life, mostly because I never bought into 'trends' and preferred to live simply. Just a word of caution tho..here in Australia, the phone company I was with, charged me a mysterious 'miscellaneous ' fee of $200 on one of my monthly bills. When I rang them ( 45mins on hold), they couldn't explain it. They took the amount off my bill, but I vowed Never to set up a direct debit with anyone thereafter. I want to see what I'm being charged for.
Yep. Autopay opens you up to charges you didn't ask for. It's happened to me many times. It's better to just keep track of your bills and pay when due if you care about your money.
Hi Marissa love the video those are amazing things, I want to said that I also cut coffe 5 months ago, I used to spend like 40 euros a month in nespresso and now that money is being save coffee can be a huge expense, also I want to add something to that lists that myself I have trouble with that skin care and hair products I used to think buy all that skin care line would give me the best skin and the only thing I got from that was very bad acne now I keep my routine very simple and I don't have more than 3 products that is my cleanser, my moisturizer and my sunblock that's it, I'm still making some mistakes regarding the hair products but I'm working very hard to avoid unnecessary products thar I don't need
Not putting much make-up on the face is actually good for the skin, it allows it to "breathe". Make-ups have too much chemical in them and I personally feel the minimalist way with make up is good enough to stay healthy and still look good.
Re weight loss, I always stick to a low carbohydrate diet, so don't need any additional products to help to reduce weight. You can cook really delicious meals, just leaving out processed foods, potatoes, flour, & sugars. Having said that, it's not working very well at the moment... 😞 I don't drink any alcohol, but unfortunately I can't easily cut out coffee!
i’m 25 years old and my brother is 33 and he constantly asks me for money and i am so sick of it. i tend to cave in and just let him have the $20 because it doesn’t seem like much but it all adds up. i’ve been wanting to cut him out of my life but it’s hard when he’s family.
I read a book that helped me a lot on that exact thing: Make Boundaries, Find Peace. I liked listening to it on Libby (free library app) because Hearing how it sounds to say a boundary out loud was super helpful for me. It was so hard for me to "confront" someone by stating a boundary, but just like decluttering it actually is getting easier the more I do it. I also invite the difficult person for dinner now and then so I am contributing to their wellbeing, but on my terms, in a way that works for me. Then the ball is in their court to end or keep the relationship.
BTW, I just turned 60. If you can get comfortable figuring out and setting boundaries at 25 I think that can make life more peaceful and content.
I hope this might be helpful with your brother❤
I gave my brother and his wife money for years to help them out because they are always broke. I stopped doing it when Christmas came around and the two of them thought it was no big deal to not even give me a Xmas card, even though I had been helping them out for years…Don’t feel guilty, quit giving him money. He will find someone else to mooch from; people like that always do!
@@cherylT321 it’s very disappointing. my mom is also this way with me. i’m second to youngest in my family and the weight is too much to carry when both my oldest brother and mom need help from me emotionally and financially. whenever i go on a streak of saying no because i’m genuinely tight on money, they disappear from my life and it’s like i don’t even exist!
@@umvmi That just shows you how selfish they are; it’s all about them, so what if you have to go without so long as they get what they want. I stay away from people like that, even if they are family…I don’t have much to do with my brother or his wife. That’s their problem if they want to continue to live above their means!
I finally had to cut off my sister. She never once could call me without asking for money too. She has a good job. It was crazy. It’s sad because now I’m not getting to know my nephew but I’m not a walking atm machine
that coffee study you mentioned didn't take into account what was being added to the coffee...for example sugar, which in several studies has been shown to reduce grey matter. And type 2 diabetics also have a drastic reduction in grey matter and an increased risk of dementia and alzheimers...which would seem to indicate sugar is the problem, and not the coffee
Thanks for a great list! Do you mind posting the study about coffee? I still make daily at home or sometimes buy coffee when I travel. I tried to eliminate coffee a few times before but I would get excruciating headache so I just go back to it! Maybe I should just try to lessen the strength (my fave is espresso and dark roast without cream or sugar). Thanks again! I hope you are all enjoying Spring time!!!
Me too. Could not give up black coffee one cup brewed at home. Dull headache, couldn't function!
I fast a few days a week. It saves A LOT of money 💰🙃
I second the car thoughts! The newest we buy is 5 years old. I’ve came across several posts/videos about loss of car value. The car loses the most value those first 5 years.
Love the list, especially toxic people. So smart. And as the Brain Over Binge coach - I'm so happy you have given up dieting!! :)
I don’t drive because I have anxiety. However living in LA it is such a struggle not being able to make it to things on time when riding the bus.
😢
Without using some credit card debt, I wouldn’t be able to afford my out of pocket medical expenses. I’m in the U.S., and even with health insurance this is unavoidable. When you have something serious it is easy to rack up debt very quickly. My credit cards are for the expenses that fall outside of my budget. I’ve been a single father for a long time, and no one is around to hand me cash whenever I need it.
I would love to avoid debt, credit card usage, and get rid of my vehicle, especially with the overpriced, astronomical insurance rates in the state of Florida. But, this is an impossibility, and not reality.
😢
🇬🇧 in the UK we have a TV licence to watch live TV, sound similar to the tv tax !
Great video❤. Yes, Rundfunkbeitrag always hurts a Little. Bit you get a good quality programme on non private channels with less commercials and even commercial free and well curated Kids tv.
Yes! We pay an annual fee that works out to 1franc/day in Switzerland for radio/tv and that goes towards good quality programmes and other cultural activities. We don‘t actually have a tv but listen to radio in the car and use our devices to stream if we want to watch anything.
I enjoy your videos. As far as a car, that is only really possible if you live somewhere with good public transportation. I bought my last car new, and that was 17 years ago, and it's still going strong, so I think I got my moneys worth. I live pretty frugally naturally which means I am able to splurge when I really want something.
Agree, buying new isn't awful if you A. Can afford it B. Maintain it and C. Keep it for a long time. Another great option is certified pre-owned, I bought my current car that way. Saved a ton of money-it was only a year old with just over 7000 miles on it and actually came with a better warranty than a brand new one of the same model! I'm approaching 6 years of having it and plan on driving it another 6 or more.
My friends who are mechanics say buying a used car is just taking on another's problem. They told me to purchase a new car and be very meticulous with the maintenance. It will cost me less in the long run.
I agree with this sentiment. A used car worth buying is not much less than a new car. Why buy an old beater if it’s going to cost you as much in repairs as it would to buy a new car, with a manufactures warranty. Avoid the hassles and random problems of a used car.
Well done. Keep it up. 👏👏👏👏👏👏
The TV tax is obligatory for everyone or just for those who have a TV?
Everyone!
Debt is ok if it’s an appreciating asset - education, house, health. For everything else pay upfront unless you are earning 3%+ more than the mortgage (for example if the mortgage rate for your car is 8% but you can earn 11% or more you can buy the car on mortgage as you will still have positive cash flow).
I love your content and the way you present it so much. I drink a lot of coffee and changed over to decaf which helped my anxiety. But I’m so curious about the gray matter research you mentioned! Off to research!
I'd love to know which books you kept 😊
Recently I sold most of the books I'd already read, only keeping a few favourites and the unread books. Now they fit in my shelves again 😊 My next goal is to read all the unread ones so I can get rid of most of these too. I'm not allowing myself to buy any new books until I'm done (unless I need them for research etc.)
I had to cut out my coworkers out of my life completely (left the job) because that job would always have monthly pot lucks on top of celebrating birthdays. 🥴 it got to a point where when I couldn’t bring anything in, they’d talk about me behind my back. 😢
Welcome to Germany, the GEZ is nothing to mess with😂Also, i too recently found that coffee might be something i merely consume out of habit, and not because i enjoy it so much. Cutting back on that surely is good for your health, and your wallet, too 😊
😂