My sister lived in a vacation town, what we call in Michigan “up north”. After each weekend she would walk around the beaches and along the edge of the woods picking up cans and bottles casually tossed out by lazy tourists. At Michigan’s ten cents a can return rate, she made quite a bit of change, and helped out the environment.
We grew up doing can walks. At the time it was by the pound so we smashed the cans. Moved to another state now it's by deposit. It's now a sin to smash cans as they are rendered useless. 10 cents adds up.
I'm at the very start of my journey from hoarding to frugality. My initial focus is just getting used to spending less/ not buying anything unnecessary. I've always stocked up as I'm disabled and was house bound for 6 years, I'm slowly gaining a little more independence, but breaking that mentality is difficult. I was always so worried about running out of something and not having anyone available to help me get it. It's very stressful. I hope to become more frugal but I'm starting with baby steps. Videos like this are very helpful x
Nene, welcome. We are so happy to have you as part of the Under the Median family. If you get stuck in your frugal journey, feel free to reach out in the comments. Our tribe is very helpful and encouraging - with a lot of great advice.
One of my favorite memories of my Parents is when after they retired they got themselves a fun night job working together at a local movie theater. They would clean the whole theater after the last movie was over. They found lots of lost money every single night, weekends were the best finds. If they found $5 or more they would turn it in to the management and if no one claimed the money it was theirs to keep. I don't think anyone ever came back and said they lost money. My parents saved all thier findings in a big tin can. They were both always excited when they found money. They always had a story. They grew up during the depression and knew what a penny & nickel meant back then. It all adds up and it sure did. Another bonus was they each received 2 free popcorn & movie passes each week. We sure seen alot of great movies back in the day. Thank You Mom & Dad. 💕
Maybe I'm wrong but my dad was a single father of 5 little girls for almost 3 years before he married my step mother. I saw him work hard for the city of Los Angeles as a tree surgeon and later become their supervisor. He would work a few weekends doing side jobs to provide for us. I saw him paying the Bill's and buying the bare necessities , never living lavishly, never bill collectors calling. Later as an adult I came to appreciate that he paid his bills but did not get himself into debt and was careful to take care of responsibilities and not spend what he didn't have. My sisters and I say we never felt deprived. For myself I think it was I learned his behavior and as an adult chose to be frugal, take care of my financial responsibilities and not live beyond our means. At 59 my husband and I are debt-free except for a small mortgage I really feel it was the example my father set.
One habit I would add is practice contentment. Maybe more of a philosophy but regularly reflecting on your life and seeing the blessings (many of which money can't buy) provides a satisfaction that few purchases can. Beyond the basics of food, shelter and adequate clothing for the season (and, I should add some funds for health care), most expenses are voluntary. If not voluntary, there is an enormous range of what would suffice and what is available. If your needs are met in a reasonable way and your wants are few, you can have a great life with a lot of autonomy and freedom. Thanks for another great video!
Each day I block out time for what I am going to do for the day, and I incorporate in those time blocks to relax, have time with family and work on my hobbies. All work and no play can wear you out.
Yes, I have a change jar!! And I also pick up change! My husband thought I was crazy! I also put any leftover “spending money” at the end of the month in an envelope and use it for purchasing Christmas gifts.
Pick up change. Collect cans for 10 cent deposit each, and any money found in the laundry or squirreled away is a bonus! (Much better than finding shredded kleenex in the wash).😅😅
I pick up change all the time. " A penny saved is a penny earned " always goes through my mind when I am bending down to pick up the coin. Last year, just for the fun of it, I saved all the change I found. Found $5.91 total.
You are a good example for one more frugal rule: work as a team to achieve your goals. My husband Supports and inspires me to reduce and find sustainable and frugal solutions. And he is happy to eat what I Cook, finding something to praise in a simple soup or bread.
Replaced my hot water heater this past year. A)old one not broken but over 20 years old and coils replaced in 2008. B) unit was in closet in bedroom C) was able to get one in stock before prices went up too much, but this has a 9 year warranty. Also replaced my a/c unit that died. Did not get top of line and signed the contract before the next increase And yes, pick up any coins, and Thank God for my blessing
Arrrghhh! I hit a week where my bad attitude took over. It was rainy and cold and I didn't feel well. So I totally derailed for a couple of days and blew my budget big time during that last week in February. Now the sun is back out and I feel normal and frugal again! My take is that it happens to us all from time to time when we are feeling low energy. It had been over a year since I'd gone off like that. Self-forgiveness and dust myself off! 😚
Hello! Below poverty level income here, and being willing to wait, cutting unnecessary costs including bad transportation in order to find reliable at the beginning of the pandemic, trying to fix a 97 ford, 90 day supplies of meds, monthly ( yup!) shopping for food, what cable? Netflix? Never. C-Span. Public Radio. Necessity is the Mother of Invention. (Obv, not my line- lolz). Thank you for validating my decision making processes. I quite enjoy your content. Thanks very much.
My husband and I have always been frugal, and thus managed to raise three kids plus own multiple properties outright. But we've never budgeted, analysed, counted dimes, or spent very much time at all thinking about it. We've just always said "no" to more things than other people. We don't eat out, buy new cars, take vacations, engage in activities which cost money (sports, fitness, yoga, etc), pay for hair cuts, pay for labour or services we can do ourselves (like home maintenance, car maintenance, home renovations, etc etc). It's all automatic, and we don't really think about it. As a result of having that broad approach (say no to everything with a price tag unless it's essential), we're able to operate without a budget for the stuff we WANT to spend on. We like high quality food, and we love buying land. We do all the other stuff so those two are easy.
I am a time-blocker and a list maker! Even the smallest task is written down and when I mark something as "completed" I feel eager to make my next move and mark another task off!
I like learning ideas from frugal people like you two, but my best friends have lots of money but don't have expectations on me to keep up. It still makes it hard to be satisfied. I'm learning to embrace my own uniqueness and style within my budget. Example: we need to update our bathrooms in our house we had built 35 yrs ago. I got a quote on new countertops which would break my budget. So I've been watching videos on how to restore and update what we already have with paint and epoxy for a fraction of the price. I'm having my husband create a board and batten wall with wood from our wood scrap pile. The same with framing the mirror. It's actually really fun!
You are just so loveable! It's so lovely the way that you can share this knowledge without ever making anyone feel stupid. Finances are such an emotive subject for most people and it's so easy to feel like a failure for the smallest mistake. But this community makes me feel so positive about taking control of my finances. Much love from the UK ❤
I love your channel and all the great ideas you share. I have been learning some great frugal habits that I never thought about before. I've been running into an issue where I just don't want to have to think so hard about every single penny though. I want to be a good steward of the blessing I have been given, but at the same time I don't want to focus all my energy on money. I've been working on being more aware of the money I spend and learning some really simple changes that are making a big difference. I guess I'm just letting someone new to the channel know that you don't have to do everything 100% of the time to make a difference in your overall financial health. One step at a time!!! Thanks guys!!!
Something that helps me is to remember that they have been doing this for a while, some of the tips they mention are probably just 2nd nature at this point and it takes less effort You might also like I Will Teach You to be Rich by Ramit Sethi and looking into a value spending budget. The book is more focused on bigger picture finance and less on frugality in every area.
We bought a front load washer that used low kwh and water usage. Man, it has saved us on water and electricity. Also, an energy star frig with freezer on the top are the most energy efficient and really helped us too. We waited for them to go on sale too. Both were on the cheaper side before sales.
I remember one time, I offered the contents of my change jar, (actually a huge old whisky bottle and no I didn't drink it 🙂) to my son, for doing some chores. He took it to our local supermarket to change it to notes. They have a machine. Taught me a lesson to count it 1st. Was around £75. Never made that mistake again.😅
20 yrs ago we purchased a refrigerator, when it was delivered there was a golf ball size dent on the side. I called the store and they took $50 off the bill so they wouldn't have to take it back. The cupboard covered the dent and I got a discount.
That happened to me with a stainless steel frying pan I bought. It arrived with a dent. I was thinking of ignoring it but I knew I would probably obsess about it. So, I contacted the store and they sent me another one a day or so later! So, I now have two. It pays to complain!
My husband watches the rural farm channel on Dish. He grew up on a farm. He follows the futures on crops and animals to see if prices farmers are getting are trending up or down. Also follows crop issues from all over the world to see what is happening with crop failures, weather patterns, etc. Kind of a 3 to 6 month heads up on where food prices may be going.
I live in and around the Philadelphia metropolitan area since 1987. I used to wake up at 05:30 AM to watch the farm report on Saturday. My husband from the Chicago suburbs woke up one morning and ask me what I was doing knowing I grew up in a rural East Texas town but not on a farm. He never realized that the news on the local news station in the big town where I grew up started of the early news with cattle and hog prices. So I can totally relate to your husband. Now, I watch the business news and get similar but not as detailed information. Thanks for giving me a heads up that Dish Network has this channel. I don't think most people think to check business and farm news to help them save money on and prep groceries. Many of the sources have websites that are available even if you don't have cable or satellite.
Found your channel recently and you are both absolutely delightful 😊 I would love to have Larry share with us his vehicle research process! That would be incredibly high value content!
I have 2 severely disabled children and although only 4 in our household I wash at least 4 times a day and if one of the kids are ill this can go up to 7/8 times aday . I always work out cost of washing powder ( saw your video on this ) and also do full loads but the main expense is the machine. I paid £1000 for my machine 11 years ago but this was well worth it as no costs on repairs and a large drum so I can do more on each wash so less energy and water.
I went to culinary school. I have always wanted a fancy stand mixer (Hobart) and a Vitamix (high powered blender). Well, after realizing the Hobart was over 1000 dollars, my KitchenAid I already had gotten as a present became A ok. I researched used Vitamixes and saved 300 bucks and it has a terrific warranty on it. Learning to save where I can.
We have never bought brand new furniture. Over the years, people have offered us their furniture while cleaning up parents’ estate or decluttering themselves. My husband is famous for picking up broken furniture and repairing it for us. With a bit of creativity, some refinishing skills, and some painter’s canvas for coverslips, it’s just the right price!
Hi Hope and Larry. I'm from England and my husband and I are both disabled. We are not working and find it so hard to save for up coming events ( birthdays, meals out) and have to say no a lot. What do you suggest we should do to start being Frugal on a low budget. You are such fun people and I love watching you both.
Great video, it made me laugh because I could relate to all of these things. Your point on the VCR issue, as to why we waited (beside the cost) was that we didn't know if the market was going Beta or VCR (remember that-ok I am aging myself here lol). I am still playing Sims2 that came out in 2004. and now have released Sims5. I bought the game and add ons from thrift store and made sure they had the access codes in the boxes before purchasing. My adult granddaughter plays Sims 4 and gets advice from me lol. Also I could relate to buy quality & rarely pay full price and frugality isn't about deprivation. I have problem with my feet so shoes are important to me. I bought a pair of Puma on sale and they have lasted me over 5 years and even though I have other shoes, the Pumas allow for my foot problems, the others don't. I saw a nice pair before Christmas but thought I should wait until I looked around further. I waited and those shoes were further reduced so I purchased them (back up). Regular cost @ $100. On sale $64, I had store reward points that I cashed in and paid only $29 ($22.72 USD +free shipping). I certainly don't feel deprived. I also check, analyze and keep receipts. I have change jar, that I roll & put into investment fund and save all $5 bills for vacation fund.
Yes I pick up change, and my 17 yr old son would too. We have a change jar. I hope I have passed the frugality gene on. Thank you so much for your channel & the last tip. Gratification "delayed" is so satisfying.
I have a quarter change charge and a small change jar. I save all year and use it for vacation spending money. I plan like crazy too. I buy most of my clothes second hand because I live to wear Jill, Talbots, and loft but can’t afford new prices. However, have you noticed how high the prices are going in Thift stores???
I remember back in the 1970s my mother doing all the families laundry by hand in the kitchen sink and using a mangle to wring out the laundry before hanging to dry on the washing line. This was when everyone who lived in our street had a twin tub washing machine. Then when everyone in our street got a front loader, we got a twin tub. It was the same with other household appliances as well. From old mechanical carpet sweepers to vaccuum cleaners. When I left home and moved into my first home in the 1990s I got the old carpet sweeper as a house warming gift from my parents which lasted a couple of years before it broke and then I got a second hand vaccuum cleaner. I rarely buy anything brand new. My father used to go by the principle of "If it's the latest gadget to come on the market wait for a couple of years before getting one because once the novelty has worn off for most people and the price will come down." I've lived by this principle for years and gradually my daughter is realising it makes sense. She's not upgrading her phone this year on a contract as a sim only works out cheaper. I've been trying to tell her this for years that if her phone works then why bother with an upgrade and a contract as it costs more in the long run.
I love that carpet sweeper mention. I lived in a cabin with no electricity in the old, old hippie days and swept the rug with a broom. It was a big day when I was gifted a carpet sweeper. This brought me a smile.
I have really started to love your channel! Your content is always on point and interesting, and both of you are very pleasant to listen to! Thank you for sharing! I look forward to your new videos🙂 Oh...I love change as well. I got one of those counting change jars for my birthday! Its pretty awesome🙂
It is so recognizable. My Parents were Like this.And it's bringing back a Lot of memorys. I' m Like this too. I choose the clothes That I Like,for the price that I Like. I' m learning a Lot from you,and from Other frugal people👍Love the Exchange of information.
Yes we have change jar and have always have , i have been frugal all our life when we found your Chanel we could not believe we were not the only people that live like this Bx uk
My wife has an iPhone. This is only the 2nd one she has ever had since they first came out ! For a while her phone was giving her problems and she was upset because she didn’t want to get a new one. I bought her phone a $30 battery, put it in myself while watching a You Tube video on how to do it and viola, phone works like new again. We purchased our house 4 yrs. ago and it took her 3 yrs. to buy curtains for our dining room. We had a certain style in mind and she refused to pay a small fortune for them. I’d say she’s really good with delaying gratification.
I saw a beautiful pure wool sweater at Bloomingdale's. $200. Of course, I was just walking around. Later, I found the same sweater at a thrift shop for $1. Of course, I bought it. I believe in quality and delayed gratification. I know people who rent storage units. Tina, Al's wife
We had a dog named Shelby when I was a kid. The dog was a Shetland sheep dog. The dog loved to herd us nine kids. I have really been thinking about living below your means. The more of our income we don’t spend the more of it can go into savings for a house. I love counting change. I love saving change. I have a current goal to save $300 before mid July so I can use it for baby stuff for my next baby due early August.
PIcking up coins from the ground is collecting "angel hugs". I've taught my 6yo that the coins mean our loved ones in heaven are thinking about us and sending us love.
I love this! My Grammy taught me to pick up coins and look for them on walks. The last one I found was outside my car door. I thought I really wish I could go see her and tell her what luck I had. I really miss her. Now I can think of it as a hug. I’ll probably cry next time I find anything lol
I'm definitely a time blocker . Even when I have nothing planned , it's planned! I plan even the littlest tasks . I can't help it . I've been that way my entire adult life
Cell phones!! I can't believe folks are paying a $1000 or more for phones. This should be considered over the life of how long you will keep and use it.
I only just upgraded to an iPhone after years of using a flip phone. I bought a refurbished one which cost me under two hundred dollars! That amount seemed extreme to me, but I know I will be using this phone for years!
Of course I pick up change. I don't know how anyone can walk past money..... For clothing, I sew my clothes and get the styles I want for so much cheaper. My sewing machine is over 40 years old and works great.
Vehicles I found I like is the Chevy venture/Oldsmobile silhouette and Pontiac Montana. All 3 are sister vans and parts are interchangeable from one van to another. I personally seek out 2001 models and newer.
Loved this video thanks you guys. I have had to live below our means. I’m a stay at home mom now and I have learned to make a lot of stuff from scratch. Take out is almost never. I cook all our meals.
Tip number 11:- Don't be afraid to ask for discount for cash. Example:- Some years ago I went to a carpet store with my measurements for carpet (with underlay and fitting)for my lounge, hall and staircase and upper landing. The salesman worked out the price (which was £625) and I said "Oh, I only have £500 CASH on me and I don't buy on credit". He looked stunned that I wouldn't buy on their credit scheme at first, then said, "Hold on a moment, I'll just go see the manager". When he came back he said "OK, the manager said he would accept the £500 cash". I actually had the full price in cash on me but wasn't going to tell them that. So don't be afraid to do that, it often works and if it doesn't, look sad and go to walk away, sometimes that might work, too.😜 P.S. Have the amount of cash you intend to spend in a separate wallet so they see you empty it in front of them.
Yep! I pick up change and will say, “ Pennies from heaven.” I may say I want something but I will wait the majority of the time because I will see I truly did not or would not use that item to warrant the buying. You have wonderful tips and ideas!
8:30 great rope toy for dogs which last long time are two used pair of holey socks you'd normally throw away.. tied togetehr in a iknot :) Great for fetch and playing tug of war with dog.
I also wanted to share. I was in the market for a small freezer. I already watched your video in looking at long term quality items. There were several brands to choose from. I researched them like suggested. And also looked iron repair of the brand. We chose the well known brand, well built, slightly more expensive, second hand freezer based on our research. We feel confident it will serve our purpose.
We have made 3 short term goals, we now have our envelopes filled for new carpet, new toilet and new bathroom sink. We could not have Completed this if we weren't Frugal ❤ when these are on sale that's when they will be bought and installed 😉
I just had to replace my phone. I got an unlocked phone from Amazon, brand new but 2019 model, for about $60. I have issues with paying hundreds for the latest and greatest.
I would love to find frugal people around me that I could associate with. I spoke at work about my “no spend January “ and very few people had any interest in it.
I don’t mention it at work anymore either. No one wants to know, they either think I’m weird or they’re just “happy” being miserable in debt...not willing to do the work to get themselves out of it!
I view basically all of my purchases as assets to my life. That can be business related, personal, well-being etc. The majority of my things are used or discounted items, but they are always high quality with lots of life left, at a fraction of the cost. I’ve had to buy a lot of new stuff, mostly bedding and construction supplies, for a couple small vacation rentals I’m doing on our family land. I’m trying to buy them now ASAP because with inflation and supply shortages it’s cheaper to buy now then to wait later.
BTW my first raise in 2 years was 16 cents an hour. It was an insult in the years of Covid. That’s why so much of our staff is leaving to travel. After 35 years as a nurse I can’t pick up and leave. I need to keep my head down and keep on working for the next 7 years.
Just found your channel - great advice😊 Something we bought in retirement that is costly to maintain is our ATV - Polaris Razor side by side. When they brake down- very spendy to repair!
I thought Saab used to be made in Sweden. Citroën and Peugeot is the French ones ;) I had a Peugeot once, and I will never buy a French car again 🙈 I got a Toyota now, and I’m quite happy with it.
The most important frugal tip is use TH-cam. You can learn more frugal tips, learn how to cut hair, how to fix things, how to cook tasty frugal food, learn a new language, etc. Endless possibilities.
Another good trick for buying reliable products is use "Consumer Reports" or a consumer rating system that can't be hacked by a corporation,(for seeing the lifespan of a new purchase) just like you might do when buying a car. What I mean by "hacked" is that they get people to write positive reviews regardless of the quality of the product. Many libraries carry "Consumer Reports" and there are websites out there that can also help. I use these guides when buying a refrigerator or washer or any high priced product. I'm even willing to pay a little more if it will last and prevent me from calling a service man/woman.
I put rocks in peanut butter jars and raised the water in the tank of the toilet and saved on my water bill. My showers on only 3 min. Water bill down 40 dollars a quarterly bill.
My daughter has the habbit of taking home cats!!!! A few years ago she came home with a kitten ( very sweet afcourse), but we already had 2 cats she brought home. So we said you can keep it but hte costs are for yourself, She let the cat sterilize, pays the fleaproduct and other bigger bills (in fact she has a special jar for cat expenses) from the ved etcetera. We pay the food. And if she leaves the house to live by herself she has to take the cat with her. This way she learned what it means to have an animal, that it comes with resposibilitys.
I am greatful for finding your channel and love you as a couple. I'm working threw your videos but would love one that goes alittle deeper into the "how" you track things . This is the only part of my financial journey I struggle with .❤️
Picked up a bill on the floor at a Dollar General one time. When I looked at at it it was 100.00. It paid most or all of the bill at the optometrist that day!
My sister lived in a vacation town, what we call in Michigan “up north”. After each weekend she would walk around the beaches and along the edge of the woods picking up cans and bottles casually tossed out by lazy tourists. At Michigan’s ten cents a can return rate, she made quite a bit of change, and helped out the environment.
Wow! Ten cents per can was a great pay back. I remember when scrap metal was much higher than it is now.
Here if Fort Worth, we call people in Dallas Yankees or Easterners. You heard of Near Beer, there Near Texans.
That’s so clever!!
We grew up doing can walks. At the time it was by the pound so we smashed the cans.
Moved to another state now it's by deposit. It's now a sin to smash cans as they are rendered useless. 10 cents adds up.
I'm at the very start of my journey from hoarding to frugality. My initial focus is just getting used to spending less/ not buying anything unnecessary. I've always stocked up as I'm disabled and was house bound for 6 years, I'm slowly gaining a little more independence, but breaking that mentality is difficult. I was always so worried about running out of something and not having anyone available to help me get it. It's very stressful. I hope to become more frugal but I'm starting with baby steps. Videos like this are very helpful x
Nene, welcome. We are so happy to have you as part of the Under the Median family. If you get stuck in your frugal journey, feel free to reach out in the comments. Our tribe is very helpful and encouraging - with a lot of great advice.
One of my favorite memories of my Parents is when after they retired they got themselves a fun night job working together at a local movie theater. They would clean the whole theater after the last movie was over. They found lots of lost money every single night, weekends were the best finds. If they found $5 or more they would turn it in to the management and if no one claimed the money it was theirs to keep. I don't think anyone ever came back and said they lost money. My parents saved all thier findings in a big tin can. They were both always excited when they found money. They always had a story. They grew up during the depression and knew what a penny & nickel meant back then. It all adds up and it sure did. Another bonus was they each received 2 free popcorn & movie passes each week. We sure seen alot of great movies back in the day.
Thank You Mom & Dad. 💕
Great memories
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Maybe I'm wrong but my dad was a single father of 5 little girls for almost 3 years before he married my step mother.
I saw him work hard for the city of Los Angeles as a tree surgeon and later become their supervisor. He would work a few weekends doing side jobs to provide for us.
I saw him paying the Bill's and buying the bare necessities , never living lavishly, never bill collectors calling.
Later as an adult I came to appreciate that he paid his bills but did not get himself into debt and was careful to take care of responsibilities and not spend what he didn't have.
My sisters and I say we never felt deprived. For myself I think it was I learned his behavior and as an adult chose to be frugal, take care of my financial responsibilities and not live beyond our means. At 59 my husband and I are debt-free except for a small mortgage I really feel it was the example my father set.
One habit I would add is practice contentment. Maybe more of a philosophy but regularly reflecting on your life and seeing the blessings (many of which money can't buy) provides a satisfaction that few purchases can. Beyond the basics of food, shelter and adequate clothing for the season (and, I should add some funds for health care), most expenses are voluntary. If not voluntary, there is an enormous range of what would suffice and what is available. If your needs are met in a reasonable way and your wants are few, you can have a great life with a lot of autonomy and freedom. Thanks for another great video!
Each day I block out time for what I am going to do for the day, and I incorporate in those time blocks to relax, have time with family and work on my hobbies. All work and no play can wear you out.
Yes, I have a change jar!! And I also pick up change! My husband thought I was crazy! I also put any leftover “spending money” at the end of the month in an envelope and use it for purchasing Christmas gifts.
We had several people who said they use the change they collect toward Christmas gifts. What a great idea.
We do a change jar to put in our vacation fund so we can do short weekend trips or go camping in the summer.
Yes I pick up coins as I walk
Pick up change. Collect cans for 10 cent deposit each, and any money found in the laundry or squirreled away is a bonus! (Much better than finding shredded kleenex in the wash).😅😅
I save change, and it has saved me in tough times! Yes, I pick up change!!
Me too! I was told they were pennies from heaven.
I also pick up change in the street. I save my £2 coins all year and then use it as my spending money for my holiday
@@sandrabryan9106 yes they are! 💜🇦🇺
I pick up change all the time. " A penny saved is a penny earned " always goes through my mind when I am bending down to pick up the coin. Last year, just for the fun of it, I saved all the change I found. Found $5.91 total.
Pennies from heaven 💜🇦🇺a few times iv found coins twice in 1 day!❤️
You are a good example for one more frugal rule: work as a team to achieve your goals. My husband Supports and inspires me to reduce and find sustainable and frugal solutions. And he is happy to eat what I Cook, finding something to praise in a simple soup or bread.
Replaced my hot water heater this past year. A)old one not broken but over 20 years old and coils replaced in 2008.
B) unit was in closet in bedroom C) was able to get one in stock before prices went up too much, but this has a 9 year warranty.
Also replaced my a/c unit that died. Did not get top of line and signed the contract before the next increase
And yes, pick up any coins, and Thank God for my blessing
Gosh -- I make my own laundry detergent, all-purpose cleaners, pasta, all meals, sew, knit, etc. Save and pay cash for cars, my last home, etc.
Arrrghhh! I hit a week where my bad attitude took over. It was rainy and cold and I didn't feel well. So I totally derailed for a couple of days and blew my budget big time during that last week in February. Now the sun is back out and I feel normal and frugal again! My take is that it happens to us all from time to time when we are feeling low energy. It had been over a year since I'd gone off like that. Self-forgiveness and dust myself off! 😚
Hello! Below poverty level income here, and being willing to wait, cutting unnecessary costs including bad transportation in order to find reliable at the beginning of the pandemic, trying to fix a 97 ford, 90 day supplies of meds, monthly ( yup!) shopping for food, what cable? Netflix? Never. C-Span. Public Radio.
Necessity is the Mother of Invention. (Obv, not my line- lolz).
Thank you for validating my decision making processes.
I quite enjoy your content.
Thanks very much.
Bless you both for great and caring content.
My husband and I have always been frugal, and thus managed to raise three kids plus own multiple properties outright. But we've never budgeted, analysed, counted dimes, or spent very much time at all thinking about it. We've just always said "no" to more things than other people. We don't eat out, buy new cars, take vacations, engage in activities which cost money (sports, fitness, yoga, etc), pay for hair cuts, pay for labour or services we can do ourselves (like home maintenance, car maintenance, home renovations, etc etc). It's all automatic, and we don't really think about it. As a result of having that broad approach (say no to everything with a price tag unless it's essential), we're able to operate without a budget for the stuff we WANT to spend on. We like high quality food, and we love buying land. We do all the other stuff so those two are easy.
I am a time-blocker and a list maker! Even the smallest task is written down and when I mark something as "completed" I feel eager to make my next move and mark another task off!
I like learning ideas from frugal people like you two, but my best friends have lots of money but don't have expectations on me to keep up. It still makes it hard to be satisfied. I'm learning to embrace my own uniqueness and style within my budget. Example: we need to update our bathrooms in our house we had built 35 yrs ago. I got a quote on new countertops which would break my budget. So I've been watching videos on how to restore and update what we already have with paint and epoxy for a fraction of the price. I'm having my husband create a board and batten wall with wood from our wood scrap pile. The same with framing the mirror. It's actually really fun!
I DO NOT buy extended warranties. 9 times out of 10, they are not needed.
You are just so loveable! It's so lovely the way that you can share this knowledge without ever making anyone feel stupid. Finances are such an emotive subject for most people and it's so easy to feel like a failure for the smallest mistake. But this community makes me feel so positive about taking control of my finances. Much love from the UK ❤
I paid $400.00 for a convection microwave oven for mom that lasted decades & she used daily, one of our greatest values.
I love your channel and all the great ideas you share. I have been learning some great frugal habits that I never thought about before. I've been running into an issue where I just don't want to have to think so hard about every single penny though. I want to be a good steward of the blessing I have been given, but at the same time I don't want to focus all my energy on money. I've been working on being more aware of the money I spend and learning some really simple changes that are making a big difference. I guess I'm just letting someone new to the channel know that you don't have to do everything 100% of the time to make a difference in your overall financial health. One step at a time!!! Thanks guys!!!
Something that helps me is to remember that they have been doing this for a while, some of the tips they mention are probably just 2nd nature at this point and it takes less effort
You might also like I Will Teach You to be Rich by Ramit Sethi and looking into a value spending budget. The book is more focused on bigger picture finance and less on frugality in every area.
@@Manu-pw1rv Thanks for the input and suggestions!
We bought a front load washer that used low kwh and water usage. Man, it has saved us on water and electricity. Also,
an energy star frig with freezer on the top are the most energy efficient and really helped us too. We waited for them to go on sale too. Both were on the cheaper side before sales.
I recently made a big purchase. However, I had been researching it for months so I felt prepared.
I remember one time, I offered the contents of my change jar, (actually a huge old whisky bottle and no I didn't drink it 🙂) to my son, for doing some chores.
He took it to our local supermarket to change it to notes. They have a machine.
Taught me a lesson to count it 1st. Was around £75.
Never made that mistake again.😅
20 yrs ago we purchased a refrigerator, when it was delivered there was a golf ball size dent on the side. I called the store and they took $50 off the bill so they wouldn't have to take it back. The cupboard covered the dent and I got a discount.
That happened to me with a stainless steel frying pan I bought. It arrived with a dent. I was thinking of ignoring it but I knew I would probably obsess about it. So, I contacted the store and they sent me another one a day or so later! So, I now have two. It pays to complain!
My husband watches the rural farm channel on Dish. He grew up on a farm. He follows the futures on crops and animals to see if prices farmers are getting are trending up or down. Also follows crop issues from all over the world to see what is happening with crop failures, weather patterns, etc. Kind of a 3 to 6 month heads up on where food prices may be going.
I live in and around the Philadelphia metropolitan area since 1987. I used to wake up at 05:30 AM to watch the farm report on Saturday. My husband from the Chicago suburbs woke up one morning and ask me what I was doing knowing I grew up in a rural East Texas town but not on a farm. He never realized that the news on the local news station in the big town where I grew up started of the early news with cattle and hog prices. So I can totally relate to your husband. Now, I watch the business news and get similar but not as detailed information. Thanks for giving me a heads up that Dish Network has this channel. I don't think most people think to check business and farm news to help them save money on and prep groceries. Many of the sources have websites that are available even if you don't have cable or satellite.
Found your channel recently and you are both absolutely delightful 😊
I would love to have Larry share with us his vehicle research process! That would be incredibly high value content!
I have 2 severely disabled children and although only 4 in our household I wash at least 4 times a day and if one of the kids are ill this can go up to 7/8 times aday . I always work out cost of washing powder ( saw your video on this ) and also do full loads but the main expense is the machine. I paid £1000 for my machine 11 years ago but this was well worth it as no costs on repairs and a large drum so I can do more on each wash so less energy and water.
I went to culinary school. I have always wanted a fancy stand mixer (Hobart) and a Vitamix (high powered blender). Well, after realizing the Hobart was over 1000 dollars, my KitchenAid I already had gotten as a present became A ok. I researched used Vitamixes and saved 300 bucks and it has a terrific warranty on it. Learning to save where I can.
We have never bought brand new furniture. Over the years, people have offered us their furniture while cleaning up parents’ estate or decluttering themselves. My husband is famous for picking up broken furniture and repairing it for us. With a bit of creativity, some refinishing skills, and some painter’s canvas for coverslips, it’s just the right price!
Hi Hope and Larry.
I'm from England and my husband and I are both disabled. We are not working and find it so hard to save for up coming events ( birthdays, meals out) and have to say no a lot. What do you suggest we should do to start being Frugal on a low budget.
You are such fun people and I love watching you both.
Look forward to these videos and always makes notes. I am starting to save time as well as money which is win win. Thank you from the UK
Great video, it made me laugh because I could relate to all of these things. Your point on the VCR issue, as to why we waited (beside the cost) was that we didn't know if the market was going Beta or VCR (remember that-ok I am aging myself here lol). I am still playing Sims2 that came out in 2004. and now have released Sims5. I bought the game and add ons from thrift store and made sure they had the access codes in the boxes before purchasing. My adult granddaughter plays Sims 4 and gets advice from me lol. Also I could relate to buy quality & rarely pay full price and frugality isn't about deprivation. I have problem with my feet so shoes are important to me. I bought a pair of Puma on sale and they have lasted me over 5 years and even though I have other shoes, the Pumas allow for my foot problems, the others don't. I saw a nice pair before Christmas but thought I should wait until I looked around further. I waited and those shoes were further reduced so I purchased them (back up). Regular cost @ $100. On sale $64, I had store reward points that I cashed in and paid only $29 ($22.72 USD +free shipping). I certainly don't feel deprived. I also check, analyze and keep receipts. I have change jar, that I roll & put into investment fund and save all $5 bills for vacation fund.
Have they released Sims 5, I thought we were on Sims 4! 😆
@@kat_ie_9984 Sorry my mistake they haven't released it yet. I saw an announcement they thought it would be released sometime this year.
@@sandrabryan9106 haha Sims fans have been waiting a long time with multiple expected release dates, I thought I missed something then 😆
Yes I pick up change, and my 17 yr old son would too. We have a change jar. I hope I have passed the frugality gene on. Thank you so much for your channel & the last tip. Gratification "delayed" is so satisfying.
Love your video content positive energy and smiles. Thankyou
I have a quarter change charge and a small change jar. I save all year and use it for vacation spending money. I plan like crazy too. I buy most of my clothes second hand because I live to wear Jill, Talbots, and loft but can’t afford new prices. However, have you noticed how high the prices are going in Thift stores???
Hey friends!
Hi @katekaden 👋
Hi Kate!
I remember back in the 1970s my mother doing all the families laundry by hand in the kitchen sink and using a mangle to wring out the laundry before hanging to dry on the washing line. This was when everyone who lived in our street had a twin tub washing machine. Then when everyone in our street got a front loader, we got a twin tub. It was the same with other household appliances as well. From old mechanical carpet sweepers to vaccuum cleaners. When I left home and moved into my first home in the 1990s I got the old carpet sweeper as a house warming gift from my parents which lasted a couple of years before it broke and then I got a second hand vaccuum cleaner. I rarely buy anything brand new. My father used to go by the principle of "If it's the latest gadget to come on the market wait for a couple of years before getting one because once the novelty has worn off for most people and the price will come down." I've lived by this principle for years and gradually my daughter is realising it makes sense. She's not upgrading her phone this year on a contract as a sim only works out cheaper. I've been trying to tell her this for years that if her phone works then why bother with an upgrade and a contract as it costs more in the long run.
I love that carpet sweeper mention. I lived in a cabin with no electricity in the old, old hippie days and swept the rug with a broom. It was a big day when I was gifted a carpet sweeper. This brought me a smile.
I love you both, and always enjoy watching. I’ve learned a lot from watching you both, thanks for sharing!!
I have really started to love your channel! Your content is always on point and interesting, and both of you are very pleasant to listen to! Thank you for sharing! I look forward to your new videos🙂
Oh...I love change as well. I got one of those counting change jars for my birthday! Its pretty awesome🙂
Hello 👋 I never thought I had frugal habits!!!! It is just our way of living and we do all these 10 habits lol 😆 love your honesty ♥
Anna.
I watch your chat videos al the time. And is helping me. I write down on my phone notes what I do each day if I don't I will forget alot of things
Yes, delayed gratification is key. Thank you for sharing.
It is so recognizable. My Parents were Like this.And it's bringing back a Lot of memorys. I' m Like this too.
I choose the clothes That I Like,for the price that I Like.
I' m learning a Lot from you,and from Other frugal people👍Love the Exchange of information.
My son cashed in our our change jar when he started college. This was his spending money first year of college.
Yes we have change jar and have always have , i have been frugal all our life when we found your Chanel we could not believe we were not the only people that live like this Bx uk
My wife has an iPhone. This is only the 2nd one she has ever had since they first came out ! For a while her phone was giving her problems and she was upset because she didn’t want to get a new one. I bought her phone a $30 battery, put it in myself while watching a You Tube video on how to do it and viola, phone works like new again. We purchased our house 4 yrs. ago and it took her 3 yrs. to buy curtains for our dining room. We had a certain style in mind and she refused to pay a small fortune for them. I’d say she’s really good with delaying gratification.
Great video...always watch for new ideas
I saw a beautiful pure wool sweater at Bloomingdale's. $200. Of course, I was just walking around. Later, I found the same sweater at a thrift shop for $1. Of
course, I bought it. I believe in quality and delayed gratification. I know people who rent storage units. Tina, Al's wife
We had a dog named Shelby when I was a kid. The dog was a Shetland sheep dog. The dog loved to herd us nine kids. I have really been thinking about living below your means. The more of our income we don’t spend the more of it can go into savings for a house. I love counting change. I love saving change. I have a current goal to save $300 before mid July so I can use it for baby stuff for my next baby due early August.
Congratulations on your upcoming arrival. We love counting change, too.
I have had shelties over the years, this is my last one, due to my age.
PIcking up coins from the ground is collecting "angel hugs". I've taught my 6yo that the coins mean our loved ones in heaven are thinking about us and sending us love.
That’s so sweet!
Luv that 🥰
I love this! My Grammy taught me to pick up coins and look for them on walks. The last one I found was outside my car door. I thought I really wish I could go see her and tell her what luck I had. I really miss her. Now I can think of it as a hug. I’ll probably cry next time I find anything lol
@@christineforrest1434 I'm so glad my sharing this helps. I think of it as hugs from my daughter in heaven, and that's why I taught it to my youngest.
I always find coins on the ground.
🙏🙏🙏
I am biding my time until I see all those air fryers come to the thrift store! They are coming, I am sure!
I'm definitely a time blocker . Even when I have nothing planned , it's planned! I plan even the littlest tasks . I can't help it . I've been that way my entire adult life
Cell phones!! I can't believe folks are paying a $1000 or more for phones. This should be considered over the life of how long you will keep and use it.
Agreed.
I only just upgraded to an iPhone after years of using a flip phone. I bought a refurbished one which cost me under two hundred dollars! That amount seemed extreme to me, but I know I will be using this phone for years!
Of course I pick up change. I don't know how anyone can walk past money..... For clothing, I sew my clothes and get the styles I want for so much cheaper. My sewing machine is over 40 years old and works great.
That’s great!
Great video!
I also pick up coins and started late in life on my savings and fugal journey 👍🏽 love your videos ❤️
Yes there is a change jar in our home.
Vehicles I found I like is the Chevy venture/Oldsmobile silhouette and Pontiac Montana. All 3 are sister vans and parts are interchangeable from one van to another. I personally seek out 2001 models and newer.
Loved this video thanks you guys. I have had to live below our means. I’m a stay at home mom now and I have learned to make a lot of stuff from scratch. Take out is almost never. I cook all our meals.
Your children will be healthier Janice! And they will learn to cook watching you
Cooking all the meals will save you so much!
Great list, I am very frugal and recognize myself in all these tips!
Yes to a change jar and yes to picking up change
Im just getting to watching TH-cam, have been busy making our March Budget 🙃 ❤🙋♀️
Hope & Larry another fabulous 👌 video, thanks so much 🙏
I have a notebook for my monthly bills& spending for the month.
I love to count my change. It’s so fun.
Well done! See you next time!
Hi love ❤ love watching frugal queen 👸 voice of a angle heart of gold voice 💛 💖 ❤ ♥ love from 🇬🇧 💷 🇬🇧
Tip number 11:- Don't be afraid to ask for discount for cash.
Example:- Some years ago I went to a carpet store with my measurements for carpet (with underlay and fitting)for my lounge, hall and staircase and upper landing. The salesman worked out the price (which was £625) and I said "Oh, I only have £500 CASH on me and I don't buy on credit". He looked stunned that I wouldn't buy on their credit scheme at first, then said, "Hold on a moment, I'll just go see the manager". When he came back he said "OK, the manager said he would accept the £500 cash".
I actually had the full price in cash on me but wasn't going to tell them that. So don't be afraid to do that, it often works and if it doesn't, look sad and go to walk away, sometimes that might work, too.😜
P.S. Have the amount of cash you intend to spend in a separate wallet so they see you empty it in front of them.
Yep! I pick up change and will say, “ Pennies from heaven.” I may say I want something but I will wait the majority of the time because I will see I truly did not or would not use that item to warrant the buying. You have wonderful tips and ideas!
Missed live but watching replay. Hello from my Wisconsin Farm 👋
You two make a really good team!
Muy buenos hábitos! 👌 Nuevo suscriptor!
8:30 great rope toy for dogs which last long time are two used pair of holey socks you'd normally throw away.. tied togetehr in a iknot :) Great for fetch and playing tug of war with dog.
Every time I watch this channel I have to pause at least a handful of time to add something to my notes! Goals, tips, grocery items haha
Love that! You are so kind. We are delighted that you are finding them so helpful.
I do have change jars, one for silver and one for pennies. Yes, I pick up change, every penny adds up.
I do that, separate the silver from the pennies!
I also wanted to share. I was in the market for a small freezer. I already watched your video in looking at long term quality items. There were several brands to choose from. I researched them like suggested. And also looked iron repair of the brand. We chose the well known brand, well built, slightly more expensive, second hand freezer based on our research. We feel confident it will serve our purpose.
We have made 3 short term goals, we now have our envelopes filled for new carpet, new toilet and new bathroom sink. We could not have Completed this if we weren't Frugal ❤ when these are on sale that's when they will be bought and installed 😉
Great goals. I'd love to redo our upstairs bathroom. We did our downstairs bathroom a few years ago and I love it.
@@UndertheMedian how awesome 👌 👏 👍
Absolutely 💯 a time blocker, 4 paper calendars lol got to be organized every single day
I just had to replace my phone. I got an unlocked phone from Amazon, brand new but 2019 model, for about $60. I have issues with paying hundreds for the latest and greatest.
I would love to find frugal people around me that I could associate with. I spoke at work about my “no spend January “ and very few people had any interest in it.
I don’t mention it at work anymore either. No one wants to know, they either think I’m weird or they’re just “happy” being miserable in debt...not willing to do the work to get themselves out of it!
I pick up all change. Each time I do that I say out loud but softly, "Find a penny, pick it up, the rest of the day have good luck."
I pick up change!
I view basically all of my purchases as assets to my life. That can be business related, personal, well-being etc. The majority of my things are used or discounted items, but they are always high quality with lots of life left, at a fraction of the cost. I’ve had to buy a lot of new stuff, mostly bedding and construction supplies, for a couple small vacation rentals I’m doing on our family land. I’m trying to buy them now ASAP because with inflation and supply shortages it’s cheaper to buy now then to wait later.
BTW my first raise in 2 years was 16 cents an hour. It was an insult in the years of Covid. That’s why so much of our staff is leaving to travel. After 35 years as a nurse I can’t pick up and leave. I need to keep my head down and keep on working for the next 7 years.
I think as an experienced nurse you should be able to renegotiate or find other places of employment.
Just found your channel - great advice😊 Something we bought in retirement that is costly to maintain is our ATV - Polaris Razor side by side. When they brake down-
very spendy to repair!
Great content 👍
I thought Saab used to be made in Sweden. Citroën and Peugeot is the French ones ;) I had a Peugeot once, and I will never buy a French car again 🙈 I got a Toyota now, and I’m quite happy with it.
The most important frugal tip is use TH-cam. You can learn more frugal tips, learn how to cut hair, how to fix things, how to cook tasty frugal food, learn a new language, etc. Endless possibilities.
Warranties speak volumes to how much the company believes in their own product.
Another good trick for buying reliable products is use "Consumer Reports" or a consumer rating system that can't be hacked by a corporation,(for seeing the lifespan of a new purchase) just like you might do when buying a car. What I mean by "hacked" is that they get people to write positive reviews regardless of the quality of the product. Many libraries carry "Consumer Reports" and there are websites out there that can also help. I use these guides when buying a refrigerator or washer or any high priced product. I'm even willing to pay a little more if it will last and prevent me from calling a service man/woman.
Always have picked up change in the streets
Even with OCD---I pick up change on the ground--you betta' believe it!
I put rocks in peanut butter jars and raised the water in the tank of the toilet and saved on my water bill. My showers on only 3 min. Water bill down 40 dollars a quarterly bill.
i built a rainwater system 8 years ago . its saved me over 3 k .
My daughter has the habbit of taking home cats!!!! A few years ago she came home with a kitten ( very sweet afcourse), but we already had 2 cats she brought home. So we said you can keep it but hte costs are for yourself, She let the cat sterilize, pays the fleaproduct and other bigger bills (in fact she has a special jar for cat expenses) from the ved etcetera. We pay the food. And if she leaves the house to live by herself she has to take the cat with her. This way she learned what it means to have an animal, that it comes with resposibilitys.
Wonder where she finds all of those cats?
I am greatful for finding your channel and love you as a couple. I'm working threw your videos but would love one that goes alittle deeper into the "how" you track things . This is the only part of my financial journey I struggle with .❤️
I check clothing labels to see if they say Dry Clean. Dry cleaning can add up eventually and quickly to the cost of the item.
Picked up a bill on the floor at a Dollar General one time. When I looked at at it it was 100.00. It paid most or all of the bill at the optometrist that day!
We bought a new CRV Honda before the price’s went up N we love it and got another Honda 2006 with about 80,000 miles on it now, great 👍 cars !!!
I always find money in parking lots. Started when my son was in a stroller. We would go for a walk and pick up change in the local shopping center.