I'll be 77 next month and I can say I really appreciate my mom in how she taught me to be frugal, so I have been doing this for years. I even wash and reuse my zip lock bags until they are no longer useable. I save and reuse aluminium foil. I can't remember the last time I bought new clothes. I always buy from thrift stores and that also goes for anything else I might need. To me, it's new. My water heater died on me 2 years ago, so I just heat water on my stove to do dishes, wash my hair and take a shower. I heat with one space heater and have done this for years. Yes, it gets cold at times, but I make do with what I have and no complaints.
I am glad to see the younger generations embracing frugality. I was born in the 60's and I think I had a much better childhood than a lot of kids today. We did not have carpet in the house, no tumble dryer, no microwave, and a 13 inch black and white TV with 5 channels. We played with other kids during the day and did board games at night. Went camping for vacation. No cell phones or texting in those days. We talked to people. We were not wealthy, but we had a lot of fun.
Hello, I was born in the 60s too, and everything you said resonated with me. We may not have had much stuff, but we had lots of fun playing outside with our friends, our bicycles and roller skates, and just exploring and making up adventures. Inside we played all the different board games everyone had, listened to records and swopped Enid Blyton paperbacks with friends. Pocket money, sweets and ice-lollies were a weekend treat. They were simpler times.
Just got in from work and I am exhausted. Having a good hot coffee, and then I will re-invent 3 slices of ham into a dinner for my husband and I. I always tell my children that being frugal is like a game. How can you stretch, reuse, or substitute when you do not have a particular item
I was a teenager in the 60s. I'm from a family of nine. We were solidly middle class and lived in the suburbs, but both of my parents had been through the depression. My parents planted a garden in the back yard (and we kids complained about the weeding). My mom had a washer and dryer but hung the laundry on clotheslines in the back yard (and I moaned about having to hang clothes and bring them inside after school). We did the "I Pick Em" fields in the summer and complained about being used as slave labor until all the kids in the neighborhood started asking to come along. We had beans, tomatoes, strawberries and other fresh goodies all summer and ate the bounty my mom had frozen all winter. My mom cooked from scratch every day, and when my dad called us to supper there were ALWAYS other kids in the neighborhood lining up to be invited to our table for a meal. I learned to sew and wore hand me downs until I grew taller than my big sister. (and boy did I lord that one over her!) I got married in college and moved into married housing where my husband and I joined the other families in guerilla gardening, with tomatoes and kale growing along every outside wall, and international students sharing their money saving tips. We never felt poor and never felt rich growing up. Turns out we were the envy of many in the neighborhood and now, years later, I find that frugal ways come naturally because my upwardly mobile parents refused to take their conveniences for granted.
I grew up the same way. Like you said we never felt poor because all of our friends were living the same way. Mt sister used to complain that we were the slave labor in the fields, etc. But it was a good way to grow up and I learned so much from my mom and grandmothers.
I was raised by my grandmother who survived, but never recovered from the Depression. The ONE thing, that she did that I absolutely will not do is "save it for good." Now, my grandmother retired with a union pension from working as a sewer and upholsterer, had Social Security and a 5 acre farm that she made pay year after year, but she saved things "for good." These things included beautiful Irish linen table cloths and amazing post-war Japanese china with beautiful sterling silver flatware... and the list goes on. When she died, these things were perfectly preserved in a beautiful cedar chest, and I thought, "What a waste! She should have used these things every Sunday." Thus, today, I use my "good" dishes and my "good" linen and my "good" things every Sunday. Sure, they may eventually wear out, but that will be years from now. In the meantime with no additional cash outflow, I am using these things and enjoying these things and thanking any listening deity that I have them, inherited or not. I am in the "wear it out" phrase of Buy it new, make it do, wear it out or do without. And it is pure joy to use these beautiful things.
Just had my dryer fixed. Was broken for several months. Told repairman that i had been hanging the clothes. He said that’s a lot of work. I said that was a lot of money saved!
As to doing without, I'm the lady who commented earlier in the month that I had goofed up my food budget due to sloppy book keeping! And was already over by the end of the first week! Reporting back that I have kept my promise NOT to buy anything further. I was $10 over but I'll just deduct that from my April's budget. And learned a valuable lesson! 😅 I've enjoyed the challenge so much that I think I'll do low buy for the next 3 months as well. Who is with me?
Two of my children are still in their 20’s. I am so proud of them. They both have gardens and are canning and freezing what they can. They cook almost all of their meals, eating out sporadically. My son and son-in-law take lunches to work. My daughter hangs most of her & her husband’s clothes to dry, but uses the dryer for the two kid’s clothes and other stuff. They all do the majority of the house repairs, or ask parents or friends for help before even thinking of hiring help. My 30 year old child is slowly learning the more frugal lifestyle. For her it just doesn’t come as easy. She isn’t married, so has no one to be accountable to, which I think is part of the problem. But she has made great strides in the last few years, so I am very proud of her for that.
You're very correct regarding people wearing outdoor clothing indoors..I know a home delivery man. He told me the elderly are meeting him at their door for their food delivery..with coats, scarves, and woolly hats on. By the way, acsmall tip for anyone who spends all day at home ( for whatever reason).. buy wool socks..100% wool..you'll never look back..
I can come up with one better! I got a 9 tog socks when I visited my sister in Shetland! No kidding, 9 togs! My mum is diabetic and has problem with circulation! She thinks I got her moon on a stick! They are brilliant for winter!
As a child in the 1950s, my Mom had a "suds saver" washing machine. She would fill the washing machine with water & soap and do the whites. The soapy water would pump out. Then the rinse water would fill. But then after the load, that rinse water was pumped into the laundry tub and saved for the next load to be washed. My job was to monitor the hose to make sure it sucked up every available drop of that water. Such memories!
Now that you've mentioned this about cleaning out the last bit of stuff out of a jar, tube, containers. I thought I was just being a penny pincher as we've done this all our lives and never thought much about it. I even drain the last drop of motor oil into a collection container leaving it up side down for a couple days. I'm pushing into my 70's and practice this all the time. I was just a little embarrassed about it. I'm not gonna be anymore. Thanks Soooo much for your channel it really Great 😃👍..
My husband and I always cut the bottom out of “empty” tubes of toothpaste, etc. and use a small $.48 spatula to scrape the last out of every jar. We also have chickens and grow a big garden. Silly stuff, but it is why we don’t have to worry about money.
@@joycef8443 OH YEssss 😁 We're the same. We too raise chickens and have us a large garden. I enjoy tremendously doing both as several have questioned why I go through all that work for a few egg's and vegetables. One thing is we're not at all worried over money and able to live just fine.
I’m in my 40’s my parents were spenders. I learned how to be frugal when I became a single mum. The responsibility of a life straighten me out fast 💨 love your videos keeps me encouraged
Hubby has started saying that I'm getting into homesteading. But it's really just new skills to me (canning, fermenting, bread making...) that our parent's generation just did as a way of survival. I think it's great to see people become more self-sufficient.
Full fat milk & semi skimmed milk is the same price here in Northern Ireland. Instead of buying semi skimmed buy full fat milk & water it down to your taste. It will last longer & saves money stretching it further.
My colleagues have their a/c running 24/7 in the entire house, we're in the Caribbean. Their bills are between $600-875 a month. Our bill is about $90 a month. A/c only in the hot months for a few hours every day. Ceiling fans everywhere. I prefer to spend my money on better things than my electricity bill, like saving for an early retirement
Expats in Tanzania also paid high electric bills. I learned at the local Chinese store that sleeping on bamboo mats on top of the mattress let the air circulate under your body so seemed very cool even with fan only. Just don't slide across the mats as they can splinter. Plastic mats aren't as cool.
I wasn’t brought up frugally. In 2004 as a young bride I bought my first house with my then husband. What a shocker! From living comfortably with my parents to then being jointly responsible for a whopping huge mortgage, council tax, insurance, utility bills, shopping bill etc was definitely a wake up call! Myself and husband both worked full time with fairly decent salaries but it was still tight. I became frugal pretty much instantly and it’s stayed with me ever since. I wouldn’t live any other way now even if I was financially able to. Thank you for the video, Amanda in Cheshire, UK 🇬🇧
Oh Jane every bottle is rinsed ,every tub and bottle turned upside down and every tube cut off for the last bit .watched mum and dad do it in the 70s . I agree about charity shops some here sadly are charging too much for me . I scour the £1 rails for bargains 👍
I remember my mum scraping the last bit of butter on the butter wrapping, leaving the oven door open when she was done to use the heat it still was emitting and warm up the kitchen, using pastry scraps to make whole new desserts usually involving sugar and cinnamon, etc... I find myself doing the same things now and absolutely not ashamed to talk about it. Thank God for her showing me all these things.
We do most of these things. I am surprised about how much lotion, toothpaste, etc is left in the tube. Most times I can get an extra weeks worth of product out. We had to buy new jeans for my husband this week. The last ones were bought about 7 years ago and were becoming unpatchable. Today he said he wanted to hang them to dry so that they would last longer. I already hang most of our clothes but was drying his jeans. He is slowly coming around to things. We've kept our heat at 64F this winter. Yes, it is cold but we wear socks, sweaters, sweatshirts, etc and stay fairly comfortable. I use rice packs at night to warm the bed. They make it warm and cozy. I will have to invest in a new clothes drying rack this summer as the current one is almost beyond repair now. I hope to find a good sturdy one.
Oh this did make me chuckle. Even though I was born in the 80s, we had very little spare money and both my husband and I were brought up by extremely frugal families. But that was just the norm. Passing things down through family members and friends. Sharing the bath water . I’m the eldest and only girl so got first dibs in the bath. My husband was the youngest of 4 boys and apparently often had a cold wash! 😅 I’m in my early 40s and as I was watching the video, I was darning a sweater, which is on its 3rd owner! A hand-me-down from an older cousin, via my elder son and now onto my younger son. I’m wearing a woollen vest under a shirt and 2 jumpers, I have tights and wool socks on under my jeans and cosy slippers on my feet. There is a load of washing hanging on an airer to dry and a small collection of bits to be washed up with the dinner plates later. Dinner is ‘use it up pasta’ with Womble crumble for pudding. (No Wombles are involved-it’s just a bag of frozen mixed fruit and some left over crumble topping, wombled from the freezer!) Every bed has at least one extra blanket on the end and a hottie is tucked into the sheets every night to warm the beds before they are slept in. Make do & mend, waste not, want not, grow your own, home cooking etc it’s just how our parents & grandparents were taught, so how we lived as kids and now it’s been passed on to us and onto our children too. Although, now they’re teenagers, they do draw the line at sharing bath/shower water! 😂
It sounds like I grew up very much like you did although I just turned 60. I grew up with five sisters and although we shared alot I'm thankful we never had to share bath water.🙃
I’m the same age and have the same memories but my family gave up the frugal ways as soon as they could afford to. I remember the bath being shared with half the street, water being turned off and next door neighbours stealing money from the gas metre.
I am chuckling at that "a hottie is tucked into every bed." In American English a hottie is a young, attractive woman. Perhaps your beds have hot water bottles? 😂
I still shop at charity thrift shops some. But volunteer twice a month at one in our small village. I sort and clean the donated items to ready them to be put on display. The managers have a really strict policy of setting valuable items aside for on line sales at a much higher asking price that what they could get from our local store customers. So virtually no vintage items hit the shelves here! It's sad in a way but the charity is for dogs and cats that need a good home and they do a wonderful job caring for these creatures. So all the money that can be possibly be raised is needed.
So true Jane. I just caught up with a UK friend (I'm in New Zealand) and she said over this past winter they only had the heat on 5 times! They wrap up warm and have hot water bottles and blankets instead, and they have two teenagers who are totally onboard.
Busiest clothes shop in my town is the charity shop..mobbed..I also sell my unused items at carboot sales..youd be very surprised what people will buy second hand..
Well said - I have always banged on about responsible living to my young-uns and it has paid off. I am proud of my girls and their frugal and saving skills at 21 yrs. These are vital skills for our young to learn
We are in our 30s and wear multiple layers of clothing at home, line dry clothes, wash dishes by hand, cook from scratch, eat at home, stay at home and read books, shop second hand, and are careful of our use of water (can do better in that area). Thank you for an inspiring video!
By the way, I gave my husband a haircut before I watched your video. I have done that for years! Some friends gave us boxes of daffodils and crocus for our garden we will be planting tomorrow morning. We are taking those friends to a local funeral tomorrow morning. I would imagine there will be more bartering as well in the future. …Deb
You should be over 100,000 by now! Always interesting things happening around your home and property. Not to forget the many frugal suggestions! Maybe by the end of 23👍
totally agree prices are rising in charity shop - it's " IN" to charity shop - bit like when Jamie and James started using mince and stew meat in their programmes - prices shot up !
Funny how many memories are brought to mind while listening to you. Today's memory was of myself and two close friends. We all had 4 children and mostly between us, there was a new child every year. So we just passed on and circulated. Pyjamas, wellington boots, swimming costumes, toys, books and clothes. We were all in a financial position to buy new, but it never occurred to us to spend money that we didn't have to.
Yes I regularly wear a hat to bed, and have gone to bed fully clothed, when I come in from work I will go nearly an hour before I notice I still have My Primaloft filled jacket on. The airfryer has been God sent!! It gives heat and such a smaller space to heat!!
I come from a family of 12. My dear mother was frugal because she had to be. I learned early how to use everything until it was truly done. Canning, preserving, hanging laundry on the line, this has all always been a part of my life. My husband always maintained mechanical items, built raised beds. We had solar installed to assist with electrical costs. We have chickens both for eggs and meat, thinking about getting rabbits. I love your channel. Where exactly is Brittany. I am located in Grayslake Illinois USA, think Chicago but further north. I have had the opportunity to travel to both the UK and France and loved. Keep sharing.
@That 70s Colonial That was also my life. I didn’t learn anything from my parents; they didn’t talk to us kids about saving, credit cards or anything. I learned the hard way by getting into debt, eventually paying it all off and now, in my later years, I’m enjoying being debt free and finding that I really don’t need much to make me happy!
@That 70s Colonial Exactly I just wish my older brother and his wife would wise up; they are up to their eyes in debt… I constantly send them videos on frugality hoping it will open their eyes…It never does!
Prices in our second hand charity shops have skyrocketed. People who traditionally bought only new with higher incomes are shopping there so many of the normal clientele have been priced out of even these charity shops! I rarely shop there anymore! We see many shopping here in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania from the cities and nearby states where there prices are even higher! … Deb
The light on my Timex watch burned out years ago. The watch still keeps good time, so I continue using it. I have a problem with bladder control and I buy the long length pads. I make two stitch lines across the pad and then cut between the lines...making two pads that work just fine. Homemade pads don't work well for me. I use a toothpick to remove the absolute last bit of a chapstick. I can easily get another week or more of chapstick use by doing this. I haven't bought clothes in years and when I do, they come from Goodwill. I pride myself in being able to mend my old jeans and I darn my socks. I even save old bras and use them to repair newer ones. I replaced the insoles of my favorite pair of shoes with pieces of thin foam rubber from the craft store. Bread pudding from stale bread is delicious. Just a few examples of my make do, use it up, do without attitude. Diane in NC
Lots of great ideas there Diane, we oldies know how to look after the pennies. I say to people I worked hard for my money and it needs to work hard for me.
Hi Jane and Michael, love watching your videos from Australia. Our power bills have gone up but not as much as other countries have. During our hot summer I turn the thermostat on our Storage hot water heat down. We usually only take cool showers in summer. Our house is old and was built with hot summers in mind , the windows and doors of most rooms are level with each other , so when the windows are open we get a lovely cross draft. We heat, dry our clothes and mainly cook on our wood stove in winter .our temperature range is from -degrees to 40 degrees (C) during the year. My other favourite things are my solar power movement sensor lights placed around the house (saves turning lights on and off).I have found a way to get cheap fabric here for quilting our department stores drastically reduce end of season clothes. I bought 2 green gingham dress (in a large size) and 3 beautiful print skirts today - all for $2 each that's about 1.25euros- 6.25 for all five (5.45british pounds). You can't buy fabric for those prices. Keep up the good work .
Brilliant video Jane. I’m 72 and was raised by parents whose lives were just what you describe…very frugal. I picked up most of it. I wash and reuse Ziplock bags, bake my own bread and always cook from scratch. Your channel reminds me to look for ways to save resources every day.
I do the same with my plastic bags and foil. I finally had to throw out a bag I had frozen ham in because even with washing it with soap and hot water I couldn't get the greasy feel out of it.
Recently, I scored a ton of gently used kitchen items for a dollar each. The only thing that was more was the food network set of 3 plates, 4 small plates, and bowls for 5 dollars. I got a set of plastic nesting bowls, 2 pyrex mixing bowls, 2 coffee makers ( one of which was a kurige) just needed a new water reservoir, a coffe grinder, set of kitchen tools such as spaculas, ladles ect with the holder. A cutting board, 3 large skillets, a small skillet, a food network bobby flay strainer, and 2 food network silicone pot holders. I scored a lot of stuff! In total, for all the kitchen items and appliances, plus extra decore items and things, it was about 40 dollars. Plus, we recently scored vintage cookbooks for 25 cents a piece. So we have everything we need to bake and cook. While it was not a full set of plates and dishes, the full one retails for over 65 dollars. So I am pretty pleased with our finds. And yes, the two coffee makers and the coffee grinder worked perfectly fine. We also bought a stainless steel kettle for a dollar, hardly used. Last year, during the town yard sale that they host every year, I scored a small vintage blender for smoothies and a 2 dollar Cuisinart popcorn machine. People get rid of perfectly good items for no reason. Other than it's old and they want something new.
You are so right about charity shops getting more expensive these days! I buy most of my books in charity shops and the three for a pound has long gone! Also noticed the shelves are more empty these days as I guess people are selling their items rather than donating. A real sign of the times!
The same things are happening in the US. The second hand markets is very popular. Charity shops have bare shelves because so many are buying second hand and selling items themselves leaving less items to donate. Prices are getting very high in second hand and thrift shops. Some more than retail!
Married in the early 70s. Things were cheap but we were pretty broke. To heat the house we had a woodstove for heat and even to cook. Massachusetts USA. Even now, when I see a stack of pallets on a roadside ?? I get excited. Lol😅❤
I agree about the charity and recycling shops. I have been using these for years and have definitely seen an increase in the number of younger people using them here in NZ and it is getting harder to find good stuff for a good price. My stepmum lives in Sydney and she managed to furnish her whole house for free from stuff people had put out on the side of the road to be collected by the council, including a fridge and a washing machine! I had to laugh when you mentioned about adding water to get the last bit out of the bottom of the sauce container as when I was growing up, we only ever had homemade tomato sauce and my mum did just that and I still do it now.
A few years ago I had a coworker making fun of frugality. Someone reused tea bags and she ridiculed it acting like it was poison. I reuse teabags and so did my grandfather. A month later they repossessed her vehicle.
My parents were born in the Depression era here in the US. I'm grateful for what I learned from them. I very much enjoy watching your channel. I am fairly frugal when my friends and coworkers are not. It makes me feel good to see this lifestyle normalized.
I sell on Ebay to make extra money, I've been doing it for over 8 years. There are more people selling than there are buying right now. It is getting harder to find things to resell. Prices are going up at the thrift stores, and there are more people their. This is the first winter where I had on three sets of clothing, to stay warm. Things are going to get worse, I'm afraid. I watch depression era documentaries and so many of the men and women had on their good "sunday" suits due to the depression lasting so long. My grandmother told me that during the depression it was so hot one summer the women did not put on bra's they put tape over their nipples to cover them up. She thought that was a great idea, save the bra's became a thing. Cracker's which you wouldn't think as expensive has gotten up to 4 dollars a box, cheaper ones are just nasty, now I'm a baker. Well, I try to be at least, and certainly not a good one. Thanks for the video Remember to wash the cap of the dishwashing liquid, there is enough dried on it for one more wash.
For Christmas gifts I llove the little rhyme. Something you want something you need. Something to wear and something to read. And some of this can be used. Wish I knew this when my kids were little.
I love watching your videos. We do so many things ourselves or make do with what we have. When organizing my craft room I found all odds and ends cotton yarn. I gathered it together and made 3 dishcloths of it. I love how you name your containers in the garden using old doors. Recently I saw that someone had bought strawberries, they were a good price, cut off the skin, dried it on paper towel and a couple of days later she gently rubbed off the seeds. Yesterday she showed us the little plants that sprouted. The channel is Tony of her homestead in Canada.
I am so glad I passed on all my frugality to my 2 children they do every frugal habit you mentioned and a few more. Great vlog Jane and Mike thank you 😊.
I'm seeing less at our local thrift store. What is there is poor quality and picked over quickly. I have a couple specific items I'm looking for. I'm trying to not bring in any extra as we are retired and trying to downsize.
To me it sounded like you were describing my parents. They were born after WW2 and were brought up frugally like the majority of people those days. But they were the 1st ones of the family to study and get good jobs. Against the wishes of my grandfather because he wanted his daughters to be housewifes. Anyway, my parents quickly were able to afford a house, install double glazing and central heating. They bought a car and a tumble dryer. My sister and I are from the late 70'ies and we grew up seeing our parents spending money and throwing good food away, we never ate leftovers. Although my sister and I would sometimes ask for it. Only on holiday (camping) and daytrips they were frugal, the coolerbox with packed lunches went everywhere with us. And we always ate leftovers on holidays. I hated the 2 day old baguettes with no oven to make them crispy again 😂 But because our parents both worked, we spend a lot of time at our grandparents, who were still living their frugal ways as they had always lived it. Basically just normal life for them. Such a big contast, but I think my parents were just very happy to be able to buy everything they wanted after growing up with so little. But since last year with the ongoing economical crisis they have started implementing some frugality into their life again.
Being raised by my grandmother, I was very fortunate to learn her frugal ways. I am helping my children learn them as well, but you are so right as it seems the "in" thing to do right now!
Im 33 & loving doing all the things you just said. Especially repurposing my glass jars! I love upcycling. Any project that keeps me from scrolling fb or whatever social. Thanks for the great content!❤
It is nice to know that what you described in this video, I have always done. I had frugal parents & my husband & I never had a big income. I always wear my clothes till they are worn out & am sorry to se them go ! And I knit. Wool is what you have to wear for warmth. After the initial outlay you wear the garment for 10+ years. I have knitted a thick shawl to wear over my clothes in the coming winter. [ I live in the Southern hemisphere ]. And yes, opening tubes to get the last bit is very worthwhile.
Bygone frugality never left for those of us who ignore society’s silly ways. We’re in our 70’s and even though we run a successful mom and pop business and have plenty of money we still don’t spend. Our children have learned by our example and they’re all frugal. Years ago relatives looked down their noses at us because we appeared unsuccessful. They’re all struggling now because keeping up appearances was more important than financial independence. Pathetic how they all have their hands out now. Rock on you two.
You've described my life pretty much! I've lived a frugal way of life for a long time now but frugal life skills are definitely making a comeback including for younger people. My daughter has become very good at zero food waste.
My 30 year old son is much better at being frugal than I ever was and I've learned a lot from him. He has also inspired me to enjoy cooking more and now I rarely eat out. They are much more environmentally conscious in terms of reusing, recycling and keeping food waste minimal. They live in the city but grow herbs and some veggies on their deck and walk, bike, or take public transit most of the time even though they have a car.
Today I wanted to buy dishwasher cubes from Walmart! They were $15.95 to 17.95 for a small tub of them! I am not paying that! I stopped at the dollar tree for rubber gloves and some friends gave me an extra drying rack for dishes! I will be washing dishes by hand!
$5.75 for the box of automatic dishwashing machine powder. It is on the bottom shelf at my Walmart. Just pour it into the dispenser. For laundry buy powder but dissolve it in a little warm water first. You get the performance of a liquid at a cheaper powder price.
I've never had a dishwasher as i actually enjoy washing up, i find it quite relaxing. Also thanks for your tip using cotton buds to get the remaining bits of lipstick and make up. I will definitely be using that tip..just show's it's never to late to learn new tricks.
I’m the opposite with dishwashing. I absolutely detest it. I won’t hand wash dishes. That’s one thing I will happily pay electricity and water for. I just can’t do that hand washing dishes. Ughhh.
In the country I'm living in, we have many facilities for a comfortable life, yet people are seeking for more materials and becoming aimless about their lives. Hats off for our European friends who are quick to adapt to the new environment. I hope it gets better soon.
My days. I know people who have their heating on all day. I was brought up to wear a jumper if I'm cold. I have raynauds now but I just put the heating on if I can't stand it anymore. I've learnt one more layer on actually keeps me warm 😅
My parents were fairly frugal while I was growing up, but there is so much I've had to learn slowly throughout my life. Having access to all this information would have been invaluable to my 18 yr old starving college student self. I appreciate you sharing.
I remember my great aunt talking about heating bricks in the fireplace then wrapping them in newspaper and putting them in a home made quilted bag. They put them at the foot of the bed and it kept them toasty all night. Electricity was not available way out in the country and they had to make do. I love your insights into returning to what used to be done.
So many of these things are simply common sense to me. I was raised to wear slippers, heat with wood, use it up and reuse. I learned to knit and mend. We always had a garden, cooked and preserved. This year my goal has been to down size my yarn stash. Mostly….
I'm 30 when I was younger I use to go to emmus with my parents and grandparents and have bag fulls of miscellaneous items also clothing and antique furniture at a very low price. I recently visited and what I found was the prices are sky high as if there are antique dealers. You don't get much things cheap anymore. I use to love going to charity shops getting cloths from the £ rail and the cheap bins.
Jane I just found your channel and love it!!! We are seeing much of the same things here in the States. I agree about the thrift stores and second hand shops but usually I can find good quality item if I go to shops in the wealthier parts of the city. Estate sales are also great for finding deals. Take care and I look forward to watching many more of your videos!!!!
DITTO I was listening to her and thinking, I've done that and that one.. Nice to know I'm not the only one. With the exception of, do not get in-between me and my dishwasher. Its on half wash and rapud and take 20 mins. I detest washing up and it's always filled to the brim and usually every other day.
Good Morning Jane, Mike You are so right, my husband use to be able to pick up free skids and bring them home. We would use them for projects around the yard or cut them up in small pieces for the fireplace. Our Recycle Center use to allow us to get free top soil and free compost. Now you have to buy both from the center. At our Goodwill the prices have increased so much where I live and we live out of the city. We now make it a special trip to go further up North to the smaller towns charity shops. Pack a lunch and make it a day trip. Grace ❤️🇨🇦🇨🇦
Before there was online sources to list freebies, unwanted but usable items were put along the road several days before garbage day. All the children in my neighborhood and several in the neighboring town used a plastic pedal-cart that the original owners put out in the Aughts. Bags of clothes also traded hands regularly.
A fast meal in my house is nachos. My son loved them. I kept minced beef, hamburger as we call it, broke up, cooked and drained in the freezer. I would warm it with my homemade taco seasoning. Serve with desired sides: tortilla chips, cheese, sour cream lettuce, tomato, black olives,and onion. I would open a can of pinto beans, heat and mash with potato mashed for refried beans as a side. Refried beans and cheese, sour cream and onions optional, rolled up in a tortilla are tasty.
Iam chose to dry my clothes air dry always. It save money the clothe doesn't fade. I wash dishes too. I still have full house my 👪 are 5 people and plus dog. So I cook at home.
Here in the US estate sales are better than thrift shops for household items like kitchenware, plant pots, tools, vintage clothing etc. Resellers throng the sales for collectibles but usually leave the useful boring stuff. Great channel!
You are right about the prices in charity shops going up. It used to be maybe 4-5 people in the shop at one time, and now the parking lot is full and they are parking on the street. It's even busier around Christmas.
I agree. I love thrifting. I went for my birthday to one of my favorite shops. I was so shocked at how expensive it was. I hadn’t been in two years. My son said the prices are now like the “real” stores.
We've been using blankets, hot water bottles and a nice cupa tea to keep warm at night when we sit down to watch TV. That way we don¡t have to put the heating on. We're lucky we live in a country that's not too cold but it does get quite chilly when the sun goes down ! It's worse for us trying to keep cool in summer - but the air conditioning is definitely staying off this year after last year's electric bill !
In deepest winter i do all my washing in an evening and use a dehumidifier in the bathroom overnight. Its about 50p each time ans supports my health as im asthmatic. That said we changed our hot water timer to heat water on alternate daysand the water lasts!
I've shopped charity shops for decades. I totally agree that prices are much higher and a bargain is few and far between. I've always bought second hand sofas, the one I've got now was £20 from a lady's best room that she hardly used. The lady payed a thousand pounds 😮 to have the brand new cushion fillers replaced. It's an M&S sofa that cost her nearly two thousand pounds 😮. I had such a bargain and it's immaculate. All what you say about wrapping up in the house is something myself and my children have always had to do. We use a flask to save electricity with the kettle. When it's my birthday or Christmas I ask for face creams ect so I don't have to buy them. For my birthday my cousin bought me a Nivea set for £10 and it's lovely. We set a limit on gifts. Some great tips again Jane. Many thanks to you both, kind regards Angeline ❤️
I check clothes first if the dont smell and only have a few stains i just use vanish soap and rub rinse the bits treated then hang out or on the clothes horse and no ones any the wiser. Idont even iron if they are not too bad apart from my husbands work gear and wont have to do that next year as he is retiring. Thanks again Jane x
Great video Jane. I’m thankful for my parents always teaching us not to waste anything at all. I have always raised a garden and have 2 full grown orchards with all types of fruits, berries, grapes, nut trees and have always preserved a vast amount of our food. We also raise and breed our own chickens for layer replacements and meat birds and we butcher and freeze and pressure can them a plenty of bone broth. We also heat and cook with our wood stove. I don’t buy any premade mixes because I was taught that cooking and baking everything from scratch was much more cost efficient. I don’t buy quilts,curtains, potholders, pillowcases etc because I sew them. I don’t have a fancy quilting machine just a singer sewing machine. We do all of our own repairs to house, plumbing, electrical, etc and automobiles. We fell our own trees, cut up and split also. Being raised the way I was on a farm by older parents gave me the knowledge to save, while having plenty without buying everything.
I love your videos, you talk such good common sense! In this group I don't feel at odds with the world. Maybe we should be lobbying for frugality to become normal in our society again, and helping people to learn the skills that prolong the life of clothes, like darning and mending, as well as cooking from first principles and learning to fix things. Keep going Jane!
I started hanging my clothes to dry a few months ago to save on energy costs. I'm definitely trying to make some other changes. ❤ I've shopped at the thrift store for quite some time now and have noticed the prices are so high now here in America too. Occasionally, I can still find deals. I found a brand new pair of Ralph Lauren jeans for $8. But typically, when I come across something like that, they're charging over $20. 😣
Returning to my natural instinct and how my parents lived. Got spoiled. Thank four your common sense advice and encouragement. I have always done a lot of thrift shopping however and watching sales.
Eggs were "only" 2.50 a dozen at the market this weekend, in a 3 pack. $3.00 a dozen for a single dozen. Any guesses what's on the menu this week? I do mean ALL this week! (and next!) I could not get away with that when hubby was alive. Bacon was on sale too, but it's in the freezer for Easter week! (which will probably will also feature a whole lot of eggs!)
I use a heating pad in my bed ,,and on my couch ,,just enough heat to keep me comfortable ,,,cheaper then a electric blanket ,,I have a inventory list of items in my freezer, so I don,t have to open freezer every time ,A clothes line outside and I dry clothes in my spare room in winter ,,a warmer room due to the fact that it is next to the furnace ,, It is very sad that especially older people ,,who tend to get cold faster ,,,are struggling with heating bills ,,,😞
A frugal beverage....Years ago we planted apple mint right outside the door. All summer long I make brewed tea from it. Just cool and add ice. I also dry bunches of it by hanging them on hooks. If we want mint tea in the winter, we just use the dried.
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I'll be 77 next month and I can say I really appreciate my mom in how she taught me to be frugal, so I have been doing this for years. I even wash and reuse my zip lock bags until they are no longer useable. I save and reuse aluminium foil. I can't remember the last time I bought new clothes. I always buy from thrift stores and that also goes for anything else I might need. To me, it's new. My water heater died on me 2 years ago, so I just heat water on my stove to do dishes, wash my hair and take a shower. I heat with one space heater and have done this for years. Yes, it gets cold at times, but I make do with what I have and no complaints.
Thanks
Good for you!
And I thought I was one of the few to clean up zip lock bags and reuse aluminum foil! Kids think I am crazy
@cdelaney5047 Haha..no I do that too!
@@cdelaney5047I also do both of those things, always have
I am glad to see the younger generations embracing frugality. I was born in the 60's and I think I had a much better childhood than a lot of kids today. We did not have carpet in the house, no tumble dryer, no microwave, and a 13 inch black and white TV with 5 channels. We played with other kids during the day and did board games at night. Went camping for vacation. No cell phones or texting in those days. We talked to people. We were not wealthy, but we had a lot of fun.
Thanks for watching
Hello, I was born in the 60s too, and everything you said resonated with me. We may not have had much stuff, but we had lots of fun playing outside with our friends, our bicycles and roller skates, and just exploring and making up adventures. Inside we played all the different board games everyone had, listened to records and swopped Enid Blyton paperbacks with friends. Pocket money, sweets and ice-lollies were a weekend treat. They were simpler times.
Just got in from work and I am exhausted. Having a good hot coffee, and then I will re-invent 3 slices of ham into a dinner for my husband and I. I always tell my children that being frugal is like a game. How can you stretch, reuse, or substitute when you do not have a particular item
Sounds great!
I was a teenager in the 60s. I'm from a family of nine. We were solidly middle class and lived in the suburbs, but both of my parents had been through the depression. My parents planted a garden in the back yard (and we kids complained about the weeding). My mom had a washer and dryer but hung the laundry on clotheslines in the back yard (and I moaned about having to hang clothes and bring them inside after school). We did the "I Pick Em" fields in the summer and complained about being used as slave labor until all the kids in the neighborhood started asking to come along. We had beans, tomatoes, strawberries and other fresh goodies all summer and ate the bounty my mom had frozen all winter. My mom cooked from scratch every day, and when my dad called us to supper there were ALWAYS other kids in the neighborhood lining up to be invited to our table for a meal. I learned to sew and wore hand me downs until I grew taller than my big sister. (and boy did I lord that one over her!) I got married in college and moved into married housing where my husband and I joined the other families in guerilla gardening, with tomatoes and kale growing along every outside wall, and international students sharing their money saving tips. We never felt poor and never felt rich growing up. Turns out we were the envy of many in the neighborhood and now, years later, I find that frugal ways come naturally because my upwardly mobile parents refused to take their conveniences for granted.
Thanks for watching
I grew up the same way. Like you said we never felt poor because all of our friends were living the same way. Mt sister used to complain that we were the slave labor in the fields, etc. But it was a good way to grow up and I learned so much from my mom and grandmothers.
Thank you for sharing!
I was raised by my grandmother who survived, but never recovered from the Depression. The ONE thing, that she did that I absolutely will not do is "save it for good." Now, my grandmother retired with a union pension from working as a sewer and upholsterer, had Social Security and a 5 acre farm that she made pay year after year, but she saved things "for good." These things included beautiful Irish linen table cloths and amazing post-war Japanese china with beautiful sterling silver flatware... and the list goes on. When she died, these things were perfectly preserved in a beautiful cedar chest, and I thought, "What a waste! She should have used these things every Sunday." Thus, today, I use my "good" dishes and my "good" linen and my "good" things every Sunday. Sure, they may eventually wear out, but that will be years from now. In the meantime with no additional cash outflow, I am using these things and enjoying these things and thanking any listening deity that I have them, inherited or not.
I am in the "wear it out" phrase of Buy it new, make it do, wear it out or do without. And it is pure joy to use these beautiful things.
When my grandma died at 92 there was a dresser drawer full of never worn underclothes, half slips, etc. most of it yellow from age. Sad
My Grandmother told me NOT to save for good. I’ve taken her at her word. The best advice!
Thanks for watching
Just had my dryer fixed. Was broken for several months. Told repairman that i had been hanging the clothes. He said that’s a lot of work. I said that was a lot of money saved!
As to doing without, I'm the lady who commented earlier in the month that I had goofed up my food budget due to sloppy book keeping! And was already over by the end of the first week! Reporting back that I have kept my promise NOT to buy anything further. I was $10 over but I'll just deduct that from my April's budget. And learned a valuable lesson! 😅 I've enjoyed the challenge so much that I think I'll do low buy for the next 3 months as well. Who is with me?
You're doing great
I am
Let's do it. I'm in. Let's keep in touch.
Two of my children are still in their 20’s. I am so proud of them. They both have gardens and are canning and freezing what they can. They cook almost all of their meals, eating out sporadically. My son and son-in-law take lunches to work. My daughter hangs most of her & her husband’s clothes to dry, but uses the dryer for the two kid’s clothes and other stuff. They all do the majority of the house repairs, or ask parents or friends for help before even thinking of hiring help.
My 30 year old child is slowly learning the more frugal lifestyle. For her it just doesn’t come as easy. She isn’t married, so has no one to be accountable to, which I think is part of the problem. But she has made great strides in the last few years, so I am very proud of her for that.
You're very correct regarding people wearing outdoor clothing indoors..I know a home delivery man. He told me the elderly are meeting him at their door for their food delivery..with coats, scarves, and woolly hats on. By the way, acsmall tip for anyone who spends all day at home ( for whatever reason).. buy wool socks..100% wool..you'll never look back..
Thanks for watching
I can come up with one better! I got a 9 tog socks when I visited my sister in Shetland! No kidding, 9 togs! My mum is diabetic and has problem with circulation! She thinks I got her moon on a stick! They are brilliant for winter!
As a child in the 1950s, my Mom had a "suds saver" washing machine. She would fill the washing machine with water & soap and do the whites. The soapy water would pump out. Then the rinse water would fill. But then after the load, that rinse water was pumped into the laundry tub and saved for the next load to be washed. My job was to monitor the hose to make sure it sucked up every available drop of that water. Such memories!
Thanks for watching
Now that you've mentioned this about cleaning out the last bit of stuff out of a jar, tube, containers.
I thought I was just being a penny pincher as we've done this all our lives and never thought much about it.
I even drain the last drop of motor oil into a collection container leaving it up side down for a couple days.
I'm pushing into my 70's and practice this all the time.
I was just a little embarrassed about it. I'm not gonna be anymore.
Thanks Soooo much for your channel it really Great 😃👍..
My husband and I always cut the bottom out of “empty” tubes of toothpaste, etc. and use a small $.48 spatula to scrape the last out of every jar.
We also have chickens and grow a big garden.
Silly stuff, but it is why we don’t have to worry about money.
Thanks for watching
@@joycef8443 OH YEssss 😁
We're the same.
We too raise chickens and have us a large garden.
I enjoy tremendously doing both as several have questioned why I go through all that work for a few egg's and vegetables.
One thing is we're not at all worried over money and able to live just fine.
I’m in my 40’s my parents were spenders. I learned how to be frugal when I became a single mum. The responsibility of a life straighten me out fast 💨 love your videos keeps me encouraged
Thanks for sharing!!
Hubby has started saying that I'm getting into homesteading. But it's really just new skills to me (canning, fermenting, bread making...) that our parent's generation just did as a way of survival. I think it's great to see people become more self-sufficient.
That is awesome!
Full fat milk & semi skimmed milk is the same price here in Northern Ireland. Instead of buying semi skimmed buy full fat milk & water it down to your taste. It will last longer & saves money stretching it further.
My colleagues have their a/c running 24/7 in the entire house, we're in the Caribbean. Their bills are between $600-875 a month. Our bill is about $90 a month. A/c only in the hot months for a few hours every day. Ceiling fans everywhere. I prefer to spend my money on better things than my electricity bill, like saving for an early retirement
Thanks
Expats in Tanzania also paid high electric bills. I learned at the local Chinese store that sleeping on bamboo mats on top of the mattress let the air circulate under your body so seemed very cool even with fan only. Just don't slide across the mats as they can splinter. Plastic mats aren't as cool.
I wasn’t brought up frugally. In 2004 as a young bride I bought my first house with my then husband. What a shocker! From living comfortably with my parents to then being jointly responsible for a whopping huge mortgage, council tax, insurance, utility bills, shopping bill etc was definitely a wake up call! Myself and husband both worked full time with fairly decent salaries but it was still tight. I became frugal pretty much instantly and it’s stayed with me ever since. I wouldn’t live any other way now even if I was financially able to.
Thank you for the video, Amanda in Cheshire, UK 🇬🇧
Thanks for watching
I'm always more excited when I buy something I find at a thrift shop than at a retail store! Thank you for taking your time and sharing with us. 🇺🇸
You are so welcome!
Oh Jane every bottle is rinsed ,every tub and bottle turned upside down and every tube cut off for the last bit .watched mum and dad do it in the 70s .
I agree about charity shops some here sadly are charging too much for me .
I scour the £1 rails for bargains 👍
I remember my mum scraping the last bit of butter on the butter wrapping, leaving the oven door open when she was done to use the heat it still was emitting and warm up the kitchen, using pastry scraps to make whole new desserts usually involving sugar and cinnamon, etc... I find myself doing the same things now and absolutely not ashamed to talk about it. Thank God for her showing me all these things.
Thanks for sharing
All great suggestions Jane. The under 40 crowd has had it really good. This is a wakeup call for them indeed.
Sad isn't it that they're now poorer than the generations before
We do most of these things. I am surprised about how much lotion, toothpaste, etc is left in the tube. Most times I can get an extra weeks worth of product out. We had to buy new jeans for my husband this week. The last ones were bought about 7 years ago and were becoming unpatchable. Today he said he wanted to hang them to dry so that they would last longer. I already hang most of our clothes but was drying his jeans. He is slowly coming around to things. We've kept our heat at 64F this winter. Yes, it is cold but we wear socks, sweaters, sweatshirts, etc and stay fairly comfortable. I use rice packs at night to warm the bed. They make it warm and cozy.
I will have to invest in a new clothes drying rack this summer as the current one is almost beyond repair now. I hope to find a good sturdy one.
Thanks for watching
Oh this did make me chuckle. Even though I was born in the 80s, we had very little spare money and both my husband and I were brought up by extremely frugal families. But that was just the norm. Passing things down through family members and friends. Sharing the bath water . I’m the eldest and only girl so got first dibs in the bath. My husband was the youngest of 4 boys and apparently often had a cold wash! 😅
I’m in my early 40s and as I was watching the video, I was darning a sweater, which is on its 3rd owner! A hand-me-down from an older cousin, via my elder son and now onto my younger son. I’m wearing a woollen vest under a shirt and 2 jumpers, I have tights and wool socks on under my jeans and cosy slippers on my feet. There is a load of washing hanging on an airer to dry and a small collection of bits to be washed up with the dinner plates later. Dinner is ‘use it up pasta’ with Womble crumble for pudding. (No Wombles are involved-it’s just a bag of frozen mixed fruit and some left over crumble topping, wombled from the freezer!)
Every bed has at least one extra blanket on the end and a hottie is tucked into the sheets every night to warm the beds before they are slept in. Make do & mend, waste not, want not, grow your own, home cooking etc it’s just how our parents & grandparents were taught, so how we lived as kids and now it’s been passed on to us and onto our children too. Although, now they’re teenagers, they do draw the line at sharing bath/shower water! 😂
Thanks very much
It sounds like I grew up very much like you did although I just turned 60. I grew up with five sisters and although we shared alot I'm thankful we never had to share bath water.🙃
I’m the same age and have the same memories but my family gave up the frugal ways as soon as they could afford to.
I remember the bath being shared with half the street, water being turned off and next door neighbours stealing money from the gas metre.
I am chuckling at that "a hottie is tucked into every bed." In American English a hottie is a young, attractive woman. Perhaps your beds have hot water bottles? 😂
@@happycook6737 hahaha 👍🏻
I still shop at charity thrift shops some. But volunteer twice a month at one in our small village. I sort and clean the donated items to ready them to be put on display. The managers have a really strict policy of setting valuable items aside for on line sales at a much higher asking price that what they could get from our local store customers. So virtually no vintage items hit the shelves here! It's sad in a way but the charity is for dogs and cats that need a good home and they do a wonderful job caring for these creatures. So all the money that can be possibly be raised is needed.
Thanks for watching
So true Jane. I just caught up with a UK friend (I'm in New Zealand) and she said over this past winter they only had the heat on 5 times! They wrap up warm and have hot water bottles and blankets instead, and they have two teenagers who are totally onboard.
It's sad isn't it
Busiest clothes shop in my town is the charity shop..mobbed..I also sell my unused items at carboot sales..youd be very surprised what people will buy second hand..
Thanks
Thank you for being so optimist about the younger generations.
Thanks for watching
Well said - I have always banged on about responsible living to my young-uns and it has paid off. I am proud of my girls and their frugal and saving skills at 21 yrs. These are vital skills for our young to learn
We are in our 30s and wear multiple layers of clothing at home, line dry clothes, wash dishes by hand, cook from scratch, eat at home, stay at home and read books, shop second hand, and are careful of our use of water (can do better in that area). Thank you for an inspiring video!
Thanks very much for sharing
My mom was frugal. So I have good habits.
By the way, I gave my husband a haircut before I watched your video. I have done that for years! Some friends gave us boxes of daffodils and crocus for our garden we will be planting tomorrow morning. We are taking those friends to a local funeral tomorrow morning. I would imagine there will be more bartering as well in the future. …Deb
Thanks very much
I have cut my husband’s hair monthly for the past 34 years. He hasn’t lost an ear yet.
Use it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do
Or do without.
---My Grandmother
Mine also.
You should be over 100,000 by now! Always interesting things happening around your home and property. Not to forget the many frugal suggestions! Maybe by the end of 23👍
Thank you so much.
I do those things. Plus, use a lip brush to get the last of the lipstick.
totally agree prices are rising in charity shop - it's " IN" to charity shop - bit like when Jamie and James started using mince and stew meat in their programmes - prices shot up !
Thanks for watching
Funny how many memories are brought to mind while listening to you. Today's memory was of myself and two close friends. We all had 4 children and mostly between us, there was a new child every year. So we just passed on and circulated. Pyjamas, wellington boots, swimming costumes, toys, books and clothes. We were all in a financial position to buy new, but it never occurred to us to spend money that we didn't have to.
Thanks
Thank you dearly Jane and hubby. Really appreciate your time and wisdom
Thank you too!
Yes I regularly wear a hat to bed, and have gone to bed fully clothed, when I come in from work I will go nearly an hour before I notice I still have
My Primaloft filled jacket on. The airfryer has been God sent!! It gives heat and such a smaller space to heat!!
Thanks so much for sharing
I come from a family of 12. My dear mother was frugal because she had to be. I learned early how to use everything until it was truly done. Canning, preserving, hanging laundry on the line, this has all always been a part of my life. My husband always maintained mechanical items, built raised beds. We had solar installed to assist with electrical costs. We have chickens both for eggs and meat, thinking about getting rabbits.
I love your channel. Where exactly is Brittany. I am located in Grayslake Illinois USA, think Chicago but further north. I have had the opportunity to travel to both the UK and France and loved. Keep sharing.
Thanks for watching
@That 70s Colonial
That was also my life. I didn’t learn anything from my parents; they didn’t talk to us kids about saving, credit cards or anything. I learned the hard way by getting into debt, eventually paying it all off and now, in my later years, I’m enjoying being debt free and finding that I really don’t need much to make me happy!
@That 70s Colonial Exactly I just wish my older brother and his wife would wise up; they are up to their eyes in debt… I constantly send them videos on frugality hoping it will open their eyes…It never does!
@That 70s Colonial 👍
Prices in our second hand charity shops have skyrocketed. People who traditionally bought only new with higher incomes are shopping there so many of the normal clientele have been priced out of even these charity shops! I rarely shop there anymore! We see many shopping here in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania from the cities and nearby states where there prices are even higher! … Deb
Beyond me now
The light on my Timex watch burned out years ago. The watch still keeps good time, so I continue using it. I have a problem with bladder control and I buy the long length pads. I make two stitch lines across the pad and then cut between the lines...making two pads that work just fine. Homemade pads don't work well for me. I use a toothpick to remove the absolute last bit of a chapstick. I can easily get another week or more of chapstick use by doing this. I haven't bought clothes in years and when I do, they come from Goodwill. I pride myself in being able to mend my old jeans and I darn my socks. I even save old bras and use them to repair newer ones. I replaced the insoles of my favorite pair of shoes with pieces of thin foam rubber from the craft store. Bread pudding from stale bread is delicious. Just a few examples of my make do, use it up, do without attitude. Diane in NC
Thanks for watching
Lots of great ideas there Diane, we oldies know how to look after the pennies. I say to people I worked hard for my money and it needs to work hard for me.
Hi Jane and Michael, love watching your videos from Australia. Our power bills have gone up but not as much as other countries have. During our hot summer I turn the thermostat on our Storage hot water heat down. We usually only take cool showers in summer. Our house is old and was built with hot summers in mind , the windows and doors of most rooms are level with each other , so when the windows are open we get a lovely cross draft. We heat, dry our clothes and mainly cook on our wood stove in winter .our temperature range is from -degrees to 40 degrees (C) during the year. My other favourite things are my solar power movement sensor lights placed around the house (saves turning lights on and off).I have found a way to get cheap fabric here for quilting our department stores drastically reduce end of season clothes. I bought 2 green gingham dress (in a large size) and 3 beautiful print skirts today - all for $2 each that's about 1.25euros- 6.25 for all five (5.45british pounds). You can't buy fabric for those prices. Keep up the good work .
Thanks so much
Brilliant video Jane. I’m 72 and was raised by parents whose lives were just what you describe…very frugal. I picked up most of it. I wash and reuse Ziplock bags, bake my own bread and always cook from scratch. Your channel reminds me to look for ways to save resources every day.
Thanks for sharing!
I do the same with my plastic bags and foil. I finally had to throw out a bag I had frozen ham in because even with washing it with soap and hot water I couldn't get the greasy feel out of it.
I enjoyed this video. I'm in my 60s and retired. I have been doing these thigs my whole life. I'm glad to see younger people are embracing thrift.
Thanks for watching
Recently, I scored a ton of gently used kitchen items for a dollar each. The only thing that was more was the food network set of 3 plates, 4 small plates, and bowls for 5 dollars. I got a set of plastic nesting bowls, 2 pyrex mixing bowls, 2 coffee makers ( one of which was a kurige) just needed a new water reservoir, a coffe grinder, set of kitchen tools such as spaculas, ladles ect with the holder. A cutting board, 3 large skillets, a small skillet, a food network bobby flay strainer, and 2 food network silicone pot holders. I scored a lot of stuff! In total, for all the kitchen items and appliances, plus extra decore items and things, it was about 40 dollars. Plus, we recently scored vintage cookbooks for 25 cents a piece. So we have everything we need to bake and cook. While it was not a full set of plates and dishes, the full one retails for over 65 dollars. So I am pretty pleased with our finds. And yes, the two coffee makers and the coffee grinder worked perfectly fine. We also bought a stainless steel kettle for a dollar, hardly used.
Last year, during the town yard sale that they host every year, I scored a small vintage blender for smoothies and a 2 dollar Cuisinart popcorn machine. People get rid of perfectly good items for no reason. Other than it's old and they want something new.
Thanks for watching
You are so right about charity shops getting more expensive these days! I buy most of my books in charity shops and the three for a pound has long gone! Also noticed the shelves are more empty these days as I guess people are selling their items rather than donating. A real sign of the times!
It's a shame
The same things are happening in the US. The second hand markets is very popular. Charity shops have bare shelves because so many are buying second hand and selling items themselves leaving less items to donate. Prices are getting very high in second hand and thrift shops. Some more than retail!
Thanks
Married in the early 70s. Things were cheap but we were pretty broke.
To heat the house we had a woodstove for heat and even to cook. Massachusetts USA.
Even now, when I see a stack of pallets on a roadside ?? I get excited. Lol😅❤
Thanks for sharing!
I agree about the charity and recycling shops. I have been using these for years and have definitely seen an increase in the number of younger people using them here in NZ and it is getting harder to find good stuff for a good price. My stepmum lives in Sydney and she managed to furnish her whole house for free from stuff people had put out on the side of the road to be collected by the council, including a fridge and a washing machine! I had to laugh when you mentioned about adding water to get the last bit out of the bottom of the sauce container as when I was growing up, we only ever had homemade tomato sauce and my mum did just that and I still do it now.
Thanks very much
A few years ago I had a coworker making fun of frugality. Someone reused tea bags and she ridiculed it acting like it was poison. I reuse teabags and so did my grandfather. A month later they repossessed her vehicle.
Thanks for watching
I was taught by my parents and grandparents not to waste anything.
My parents were born in the Depression era here in the US. I'm grateful for what I learned from them. I very much enjoy watching your channel. I am fairly frugal when my friends and coworkers are not. It makes me feel good to see this lifestyle normalized.
Thanks
I sell on Ebay to make extra money, I've been doing it for over 8 years. There are more people selling than there are buying right now. It is getting harder to find things to resell. Prices are going up at the thrift stores, and there are more people their. This is the first winter where I had on three sets of clothing, to stay warm. Things are going to get worse, I'm afraid. I watch depression era documentaries and so many of the men and women had on their good "sunday" suits due to the depression lasting so long. My grandmother told me that during the depression it was so hot one summer the women did not put on bra's they put tape over their nipples to cover them up. She thought that was a great idea, save the bra's became a thing. Cracker's which you wouldn't think as expensive has gotten up to 4 dollars a box, cheaper ones are just nasty, now I'm a baker. Well, I try to be at least, and certainly not a good one. Thanks for the video Remember to wash the cap of the dishwashing liquid, there is enough dried on it for one more wash.
Thanks for watching
Yes the cap holds loads 🙂
For Christmas gifts I llove the little rhyme. Something you want something you need. Something to wear and something to read. And some of this can be used. Wish I knew this when my kids were little.
I love watching your videos. We do so many things ourselves or make do with what we have. When organizing my craft room I found all odds and ends cotton yarn. I gathered it together and made 3 dishcloths of it. I love how you name your containers in the garden using old doors. Recently I saw that someone had bought strawberries, they were a good price, cut off the skin, dried it on paper towel and a couple of days later she gently rubbed off the seeds. Yesterday she showed us the little plants that sprouted. The channel is Tony of her homestead in Canada.
Thanks very much
I am so glad I passed on all my frugality to my 2 children they do every frugal habit you mentioned and a few more. Great vlog Jane and Mike thank you 😊.
Thanks for sharing!!
I'm seeing less at our local thrift store. What is there is poor quality and picked over quickly. I have a couple specific items I'm looking for. I'm trying to not bring in any extra as we are retired and trying to downsize.
We're seeing the same
Definitely seeing higher prices for secondhand items.
Definitely!
100 %...
Huge increase in price of things in thrift stores!
Another great video, thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it
Does a body good to see the younger generations turning to and enjoying thrifty ways!😁
I agrée.
To me it sounded like you were describing my parents. They were born after WW2 and were brought up frugally like the majority of people those days. But they were the 1st ones of the family to study and get good jobs. Against the wishes of my grandfather because he wanted his daughters to be housewifes.
Anyway, my parents quickly were able to afford a house, install double glazing and central heating. They bought a car and a tumble dryer.
My sister and I are from the late 70'ies and we grew up seeing our parents spending money and throwing good food away, we never ate leftovers. Although my sister and I would sometimes ask for it.
Only on holiday (camping) and daytrips they were frugal, the coolerbox with packed lunches went everywhere with us. And we always ate leftovers on holidays. I hated the 2 day old baguettes with no oven to make them crispy again 😂
But because our parents both worked, we spend a lot of time at our grandparents, who were still living their frugal ways as they had always lived it. Basically just normal life for them.
Such a big contast, but I think my parents were just very happy to be able to buy everything they wanted after growing up with so little.
But since last year with the ongoing economical crisis they have started implementing some frugality into their life again.
Thanks
It’s funny that I’m the one urging my parents to be more frugal. They were born after WWII in a time of plenty and rapid economic growth.
Being raised by my grandmother, I was very fortunate to learn her frugal ways. I am helping my children learn them as well, but you are so right as it seems the "in" thing to do right now!
Thanks for sharing!!
Im 33 & loving doing all the things you just said. Especially repurposing my glass jars! I love upcycling. Any project that keeps me from scrolling fb or whatever social. Thanks for the great content!❤
Thanks very much
The lady on You tube talking the most sense!!!
Thanks very much
It is nice to know that what you described in this video, I have always done. I had frugal parents & my husband & I never had a big income. I always wear my clothes till
they are worn out & am sorry to se them go ! And I knit. Wool is what you have to wear for warmth. After the initial outlay you wear the garment for 10+ years. I have knitted a thick
shawl to wear over my clothes in the coming winter. [ I live in the Southern hemisphere ]. And yes, opening tubes to get the last bit is very worthwhile.
Thanks for sharing!!
Bygone frugality never left for those of us who ignore society’s silly ways. We’re in our 70’s and even though we run a successful mom and pop business and have plenty of money we still don’t spend. Our children have learned by our example and they’re all frugal. Years ago relatives looked down their noses at us because we appeared unsuccessful. They’re all struggling now because keeping up appearances was more important than financial independence. Pathetic how they all have their hands out now. Rock on you two.
Thanks 😊
Another great video, thank you! 😊
You are so welcome!
You've described my life pretty much! I've lived a frugal way of life for a long time now but frugal life skills are definitely making a comeback including for younger people. My daughter has become very good at zero food waste.
Thanks
My 30 year old son is much better at being frugal than I ever was and I've learned a lot from him. He has also inspired me to enjoy cooking more and now I rarely eat out. They are much more environmentally conscious in terms of reusing, recycling and keeping food waste minimal. They live in the city but grow herbs and some veggies on their deck and walk, bike, or take public transit most of the time even though they have a car.
They are our brighter better future
Today I wanted to buy dishwasher cubes from Walmart! They were $15.95 to 17.95 for a small tub of them! I am not paying that! I stopped at the dollar tree for rubber gloves and some friends gave me an extra drying rack for dishes! I will be washing dishes by hand!
Thanks
$5.75 for the box of automatic dishwashing machine powder. It is on the bottom shelf at my Walmart. Just pour it into the dispenser. For laundry buy powder but dissolve it in a little warm water first. You get the performance of a liquid at a cheaper powder price.
I've never had a dishwasher as i actually enjoy washing up, i find it quite relaxing. Also thanks for your tip using cotton buds to get the remaining bits of lipstick and make up. I will definitely be using that tip..just show's it's never to late to learn new tricks.
You’re welcome 😊
Same here. Dishwashing by hand is actually relaxing. Never had a dishwasher.
I love handwashing my dishes, with just the two of us it takes 10 minutes or less. I let them air dry so that saves too.
I’m the opposite with dishwashing.
I absolutely detest it.
I won’t hand wash dishes.
That’s one thing I will happily pay electricity and water for.
I just can’t do that hand washing dishes. Ughhh.
In the country I'm living in, we have many facilities for a comfortable life, yet people are seeking for more materials and becoming aimless about their lives. Hats off for our European friends who are quick to adapt to the new environment. I hope it gets better soon.
Thanks very much
My days. I know people who have their heating on all day. I was brought up to wear a jumper if I'm cold. I have raynauds now but I just put the heating on if I can't stand it anymore. I've learnt one more layer on actually keeps me warm 😅
Thanks for watching and commenting
My mum used off cuts of things for my dollshouse - including reusing carpet sample squares for the floors.
My parents were fairly frugal while I was growing up, but there is so much I've had to learn slowly throughout my life.
Having access to all this information would have been invaluable to my 18 yr old starving college student self. I appreciate you sharing.
Thanks for watching
I remember my great aunt talking about heating bricks in the fireplace then wrapping them in newspaper and putting them in a home made quilted bag. They put them at the foot of the bed and it kept them toasty all night. Electricity was not available way out in the country and they had to make do. I love your insights into returning to what used to be done.
Thanks for watching
So many of these things are simply common sense to me. I was raised to wear slippers, heat with wood, use it up and reuse. I learned to knit and mend. We always had a garden, cooked and preserved. This year my goal has been to down size my yarn stash. Mostly….
I'm 30 when I was younger I use to go to emmus with my parents and grandparents and have bag fulls of miscellaneous items also clothing and antique furniture at a very low price.
I recently visited and what I found was the prices are sky high as if there are antique dealers.
You don't get much things cheap anymore.
I use to love going to charity shops getting cloths from the £ rail and the cheap bins.
Agreed, high prices for rubbish
Jane I just found your channel and love it!!! We are seeing much of the same things here in the States. I agree about the thrift stores and second hand shops but usually I can find good quality item if I go to shops in the wealthier parts of the city. Estate sales are also great for finding deals. Take care and I look forward to watching many more of your videos!!!!
Thanks very much
Wonderful video Jane. Alot of valuable info for folks. Mary's so cute. Blessings to all ❤
Glad you enjoyed it
So true! Although I have done many of those things already because that's how my parents did things. Great video !
Thanks
DITTO I was listening to her and thinking, I've done that and that one.. Nice to know I'm not the only one. With the exception of, do not get in-between me and my dishwasher. Its on half wash and rapud and take 20 mins. I detest washing up and it's always filled to the brim and usually every other day.
@@misslanapaulford her? I'm called Jane.
@@FrugalQueeninFrance
😁 Yes Jane.
Me too
Good Morning Jane, Mike
You are so right, my husband use to be able to pick up free skids and bring them home. We would use them for projects around the yard or cut them up in small pieces for the fireplace. Our Recycle Center use to allow us to get free top soil and free compost. Now you have to buy both from the center. At our Goodwill the prices have increased so much where I live and we live out of the city. We now make it a special trip to go further up North to the smaller towns charity shops. Pack a lunch and make it a day trip. Grace ❤️🇨🇦🇨🇦
Thanks Grace
Before there was online sources to list freebies, unwanted but usable items were put along the road several days before garbage day. All the children in my neighborhood and several in the neighboring town used a plastic pedal-cart that the original owners put out in the Aughts. Bags of clothes also traded hands regularly.
Thanks
A fast meal in my house is nachos. My son loved them. I kept minced beef, hamburger as we call it, broke up, cooked and drained in the freezer. I would warm it with my homemade taco seasoning. Serve with desired sides: tortilla chips, cheese, sour cream lettuce, tomato, black olives,and onion. I would open a can of pinto beans, heat and mash with potato mashed for refried beans as a side. Refried beans and cheese, sour cream and onions optional, rolled up in a tortilla are tasty.
Iam chose to dry my clothes air dry always. It save money the clothe doesn't fade. I wash dishes too. I still have full house my 👪 are 5 people and plus dog. So I cook at home.
You're doing great
Here in the US estate sales are better than thrift shops for household items like kitchenware, plant pots, tools, vintage clothing etc. Resellers throng the sales for collectibles but usually leave the useful boring stuff. Great channel!
Thanks for sharing!!
You are right about the prices in charity shops going up. It used to be maybe 4-5 people in the shop at one time, and now the parking lot is full and they are parking on the street. It's even busier around Christmas.
Thanks
I agree. I love thrifting. I went for my birthday to one of my favorite shops. I was so shocked at how expensive it was. I hadn’t been in two years. My son said the prices are now like the “real” stores.
I totally agree!
We've been using blankets, hot water bottles and a nice cupa tea to keep warm at night when we sit down to watch TV. That way we don¡t have to put the heating on.
We're lucky we live in a country that's not too cold but it does get quite chilly when the sun goes down !
It's worse for us trying to keep cool in summer - but the air conditioning is definitely staying off this year after last year's electric bill !
Thanks for watching
Thankyou. This morning our water went off due to a burst! Making me think!
Thanks for watching
In deepest winter i do all my washing in an evening and use a dehumidifier in the bathroom overnight. Its about 50p each time ans supports my health as im asthmatic. That said we changed our hot water timer to heat water on alternate daysand the water lasts!
I've shopped charity shops for decades. I totally agree that prices are much higher and a bargain is few and far between. I've always bought second hand sofas, the one I've got now was £20 from a lady's best room that she hardly used. The lady payed a thousand pounds 😮 to have the brand new cushion fillers replaced. It's an M&S sofa that cost her nearly two thousand pounds 😮. I had such a bargain and it's immaculate. All what you say about wrapping up in the house is something myself and my children have always had to do. We use a flask to save electricity with the kettle. When it's my birthday or Christmas I ask for face creams ect so I don't have to buy them. For my birthday my cousin bought me a Nivea set for £10 and it's lovely. We set a limit on gifts. Some great tips again Jane. Many thanks to you both, kind regards Angeline ❤️
Thanks so much for watching and commenting
I always appreciate your videos and inspiring ways. Thank you Jane ❤
Thanks very much
I check clothes first if the dont smell and only have a few stains i just use vanish soap and rub rinse the bits treated then hang out or on the clothes horse and no ones any the wiser. Idont even iron if they are not too bad apart from my husbands work gear and wont have to do that next year as he is retiring. Thanks again Jane x
Thanks
Great video Jane. I’m thankful for my parents always teaching us not to waste anything at all. I have always raised a garden and have 2 full grown orchards with all types of fruits, berries, grapes, nut trees and have always preserved a vast amount of our food. We also raise and breed our own chickens for layer replacements and meat birds and we butcher and freeze and pressure can them a plenty of bone broth. We also heat and cook with our wood stove. I don’t buy any premade mixes because I was taught that cooking and baking everything from scratch was much more cost efficient. I don’t buy quilts,curtains, potholders, pillowcases etc because I sew them. I don’t have a fancy quilting machine just a singer sewing machine. We do all of our own repairs to house, plumbing, electrical, etc and automobiles. We fell our own trees, cut up and split also. Being raised the way I was on a farm by older parents gave me the knowledge to save, while having plenty without buying everything.
Thanks for sharing
I found your channel last week and absolutely love it! You live a lot like you do. Some hard work and simpler life.
Thanks very much for your feedback
I love your videos, you talk such good common sense! In this group I don't feel at odds with the world.
Maybe we should be lobbying for frugality to become normal in our society again, and helping people to learn the skills that prolong the life of clothes, like darning and mending, as well as cooking from first principles and learning to fix things.
Keep going Jane!
Thanks for watching
I started hanging my clothes to dry a few months ago to save on energy costs. I'm definitely trying to make some other changes. ❤ I've shopped at the thrift store for quite some time now and have noticed the prices are so high now here in America too. Occasionally, I can still find deals. I found a brand new pair of Ralph Lauren jeans for $8. But typically, when I come across something like that, they're charging over $20. 😣
Thanks for watching
Returning to my natural instinct and how my parents lived. Got spoiled. Thank four your common sense advice and encouragement. I have always done a lot of thrift shopping however and watching sales.
Thanks for watching
There are a ton of videos on TH-cam about "Zero Waste" lifestyle. Nothing new under the sun. Love your channel.
Thanks for watching
Eggs were "only" 2.50 a dozen at the market this weekend, in a 3 pack. $3.00 a dozen for a single dozen. Any guesses what's on the menu this week? I do mean ALL this week! (and next!) I could not get away with that when hubby was alive. Bacon was on sale too, but it's in the freezer for Easter week! (which will probably will also feature a whole lot of eggs!)
I saw a TH-cam on how to freeze raw eggs. When they go on sale I'm going to freeze some.
I must learn that. I did buy a box of powdered eggs for emergency use though.
I use a heating pad in my bed ,,and on my couch ,,just enough heat to keep me comfortable ,,,cheaper then a electric blanket ,,I have a inventory list of items in my freezer, so I don,t have to open freezer every time ,A clothes line outside and I dry clothes in my spare room in winter ,,a warmer room due to the fact that it is next to the furnace ,,
It is very sad that especially older people ,,who tend to get cold faster ,,,are struggling with heating bills ,,,😞
It is sad
A frugal beverage....Years ago we planted apple mint right outside the door. All summer long I make brewed tea from it. Just cool and add ice. I also dry bunches of it by hanging them on hooks. If we want mint tea in the winter, we just use the dried.