Do you have any savings goals you're trying to reach? What are they and what steps are you taking to reach them? ✨ P.S. Whatever they are, know I'm cheering you on! 🎉
Ashlynne as someone who is going to start a new chapter these budgeting tips And your life experience is going to be soooo helpful thank you thank you so much ❤️
I don’t understand all the negative comments here. If you don’t find this helpful or inspiring, move on to videos about how to make a million dollars FAST! She is giving you her experience so you can be inspired and figure out how you might apply it to your life. She is putting herself out there. Nice job, Ashlynne. While you have, admittedly, had advantages others may not have had, you’ve made a lot of tough choices that others won’t make and will instead blame on this or that. I am 60 and while I did have student loans, I could have made a lot of better decisions that would have put me in a much better financial situation now. But, it’s never too late to implement a lot of your suggestions now. Great job! 🌷
Saying no to alcohol is such a huge tip for saving money! As someone who grew up surrounded by alcoholism, I saw the people I love spend $50-$80 a day on alcohol and I live in an area where that would be seen as normal. Hard to stray from the norm, but it is definitely necessary
That's exactly how it works! I was married and we had two full incomes. But we made debts instead of savings. After I got divorced and unfortunately became disabled, I really had to overthink my financial situation, because I owned two cats and five birds which had to be fed, too. And you know what? I developed the same techniques you did ( adapted to my personal needs) and now my depts are all payed off and I start building up savings, although I can't work full time anymore and I only have this small income plus some social money (I live in Germany, different social system than USA). My new minimalistic live is so much better than the life I had before. I never thought that! I love my tiny little apartment, a capsule wardrobe is sooo uncomplicated, simple, fresh, selfmade meals are so delicious and healthy and going by bus and train has many more advantages, than I thought!
I work as an illustrator and I'm specializing in art within the local car community. I find that my car is a huge staple for my business, and after crashing my old one, insurance made it possible for me to have my car completely paid off. I was previously stuck in a horrible car loan, so I think the biggest lesson I learned was never to finance a car. It seriously impacted my ability to rent an apartment, thankfully once I got out of the loan, life got so much easier in that regard. One thing I wanted to mention was that since cars are my passion (and an expensive hobby), I've been thinking for months on modifying my car. The modifications I want are around $7k+... This video really helped me reconsider, haha. I already do have my dream car... I don't think it'll benefit my business the amount of money it'll cost to grasp the attention to it with the car... Hm. My income isn't too great, but between me and my boyfriend, we definitely could use to work as a team more. I know he's going to keep modifying his car, and refinance his car loan too. I just wanted to say this really helped inspire me to maybe make savings more of a priority with my boyfriend, so we can work as a team to kinda meet in the middle. Maybe cut our car modifications down by half or something, idk. Thanks anyway, sorry this is so scattered
Love hearing your though process with this! I think to key is that you are weighing possibilities and alternatives. That will really help you as you make decisions!
We’re debt free too! Working on the mortgage- 1/2 way there! We’re only 33/34, but I wish we had started younger! Looking back, There is so much we could have gone without if we had a plan and we would had been just fine ! Great job!
@@AshlynneEaton We were married young too! I was 19 and he was 20 also working full time through college and a masters degree! One thing we wished we were prepared for was when you start having kids, taking time off and/or going down to one income for a time is something that needs to be planned for. That’s where we started racking on debt about 8 years ago and it took us a few years to climb back out of that hole and get on track. You guys are rocking it! Keep it up!
Focusing on the big 3 expenses such as housing, transportation and food in our survival/optional categories first was key to our success as well! Great insight and advice Ashlynne!
Living minimally since 2018 has helped me a lot to save. It became a habit to me to say no to things i don't need even if I can afford. Until now at 28, I don't use things to impress people.
My husband and I are hoping to pay off our mortgage early. These are spot-on tips for today's time that you listed! I find that over time, exercising the counter-culture muscle gets stronger.
By the time I was 25 I was a registered nurse, was married and had two small children. My life was going ok until I had a catastrophic accident when I was 38 and then I lost everything, job, savings and house - unfortunately somethings in life cannot be prepared for no matter how you save. It's good to save but live your life as well.
We did and do all of this. I think the biggest problem these days is that people just cant wait. They cant wrap their head around to save for something for months or even years - instead go out and buy the next shiny thing they can afford now and have that instant gratification. I know so many people who bought cars they cant afford to keep up and have less magical living situation than the car would suggest.
I definitely think you’re right! We live in a world that wants to have everything “right now” and that’s hard especially when that’s what you’re raised around. Delayed gratification is a lost art and something we could all benefit from practicing more 🤍
@@AshlynneEaton I absolutely do not disagree that people want things now. I think the timing of this video is what is bothering me. There are so many people who were/are fiscally reasonable, did all the right things, and then the pandemic hit and those same people have gone through there emergency funds, gone into debt and are about to get evicted. Personally I was doing fantastic financially...and then got hit with a disease and am now on disability. Disability can take years to get approved and I went through my savings, 401(k), sold my condo to move in with my parents and literally start over. I am absolutely blessed to have my parents, but no one gets rich on disability and will be with them forever as I cannot afford rent anywhere. I do absolutely love your videos on minimalism. Have learned a lot and have been inspired.
I know so many people who work at a series of dead-end gig economy jobs in order to cobble together a living income. They have no benefits, no safety net. They buy cars they can't afford basically because they can't afford any car but need one to get to work. They live in places that have substandard or non-existent public transportation.
@@joanmcmanus5320 Not arguing with you. I live in Europe so publkc transportation is very much a thing, but i know this is not the case for many people. Also when i said cars they cant afford i meant cars that are status symbols, not just any car.
You remind me of me , got married at age 19 and started off with 2k each total of 4K I am now turning 40 this year 3 kids later And I have to say it start early saving as early as you can . I now own a house over 1 million and two condos I’m trying to go more minimal now that’s how I saw your Chanel and it’s helped so much to simplify I wish I had learned this sooner but it’s never too late .
Watching this and being lower-middle-class lowkey makes me kinda sad lol. We don’t even make 40,000 in a year and we’re lucky if we can even save 100-200 a month. Who knows, maybe we’ll “get there” one day but even being debt free isn’t always possible when, say, you need a car now but would have to save a year or more in order to even get even just a beater car.
Annelise, you don't necessarily need to be debt free. The important thing is that your debt isn't at high interest rates, and you are able to comfortably make your payments. I work with wealthy clients and they all have debt (usually multiple mortgages and margin debt), but at low rates. A car loan or student loan at 6% is fine. Credit card debt at double digit rates is not.
Don't compare yourself to others. Maybe Ashlynne got a push from her parents and her husband too. Me and my husband had a rough life, bad relationships, a scam here and there. Parents who rented money from my husband and didn't wanted to give back. We work for every penny and feel so blessed if we can pay everything we need and save a little. What more do you need? Bless you.
Facts. Last year we finally made 40k as a couple and we just turned 27. When you have money you can invest it to make more. When your poor you can't buy in bulk, can't buy things that don't break down, etc etc
Honestly, listen to Dave Ramsey. He preaches debt-free, but he gives amazing advice and actionable steps to take. Starting is what matters. I am only just now making above $20k a year, but I've been grinding away, saving wherever I can, working my ass off, and saying "no". It's hard, REALLY hard, but nothing worth having is easy. If you guys are struggling that much, y'all should be getting another job, taking OT and/or raises, or different jobs. And like they said, don't compare yourself to others.
To anyone getting depressed watching this: its probably because you are comparing yourself to her and believing the myth that everyone begins at the same starting line in America. Economic inequality research has shown time and time again that this is not true. Socioeconomic factors which contribute to where your starting line is are varied and complex. You're not "behind" or lazy. You just can't control where you started - only where you are today. Just remember that there are always underlying social advantages and privileges that go unacknowledged in anecdotal and subjective perspectives given in these tone-deaf videos. All her concepts are repackaged Dave Ramsey ideas. Her ideas are not unique. You can't "bootstrap" your way to this ideal. So relax and remember: the middle class mindset fears debt and sees money as something to be saved. Wealthy people have a far more nuanced view of debt and see money as something to be invested - in opportunities that give return. Your weekend cocktail isn't the thing to blame - there are countless sociological factors that contribute to your financial picture today. You are more than your account balance.
So true, Lindsey. The Financial Diet did a video on the "Secrets That Successful People Rarely Own Up To." There is a lot of unacknowledged privilege: supportive and positive parents and teachers, educated parents who know how to guide their kids through the college and career process, good mental and physical health (plus access to healthcare), growing up in a non-toxic environment, not having heavy and undue responsibility as a child.
@@joanmcmanus5320 Definitely. Thanks for sharing your insights! I wish "influencers" were more honest about their advantages and gave credit where it's due instead of pumping out glossy TH-cam videos that lack so much self awareness.
My story is quite different than hers and this video is so inspiring! We had zippo to start, no savings. I was somewhat materialistic. As we had things given to us in our expensive apt I LEARNED how to be more frugal. Anyone can start off with any disadvantages and surround themselves with people who know how to do things better. The problem I have with the socio disadvantage is it is learned victimhood. We make choices everyday and if we want to help people we want a “can do “ attitude. Weather we come from money and have to learn to pull things in or come from poverty ( half of my family came from the projects and overcame a lot) we all struggle. This video is about taking what you have or where you are from and learning to apply some good principles. No comparison, just good old wisdom and great principles!
I have to admit that while your comment is insightful and well-intended, you could have gone without the name calling and passing blame on one small faction of society. The rich only make up about 5-10% of the American population, and they don't care if some random person on the Internet has a problem with how they're running things. It would be indigenous of me to say that Ashlynne is just one person out of a hundred other faces as I've been following her for quite some time. I don't know her well enough as a person nor have I met her in person, so my stance on this is not so much based on me being blind or naive as a follower. I'm in a similar position as her as I come from a position of well-off middle class; I'm currently taking classes and one of them happens to be in sociology as that's tied to my major in social work. Not everybody is as uneducated as you might think. 🙄
@@Melbas2024 yep, I'm very familiar with your kind of story and yet very empathetic and passionate about encouraging people out of victimhood to empowerment . Acknowledging the disadvantages and economic disparities in our country without falling into "victimhood" is possible. It's just that most people tend to skip over that emotional processing step because they're scared that if they acknowledge how hard it was they will stay stuck. Hence the common "bootstraps" argument.
This is a wonderful and probably ideal position for a lot of people, but for me and countless others I know, definitely not even possible. I hope people aren’t comparing themselves as I’ve found myself doing. I’m 44 and single, chose a career as a youth worker which is not well paid in the UK but I did it because that was where my heart was. With Uni dept and rental prices in London, I’ve never been able to save as a single person. It can be so discouraging sometimes. Moved to my parents due to Covid but only managed to save for a second hand car. I’ve also learnt that having parents that teach you about money and savings is so helpful as I made so many poor decisions in my twenties.
I am so glad you made your channel. At your age I was in the opposite direction and had to fix, fix and fix in my late twenties. A lot of people do not see the value in setting up your future. I see it as being a manager of the life God has blessed us with. I always believed it in faith but it takes a whole new meaning when you go from poverty and needing provision. Then to having your heart give to others so they won’t need. This is the first video I have ever seen on your channel and had to say, I am happy for two! 👍🏻😊
"Here's the philosophy of the rich and the poor. Poor people spend their money and invest what's left. The rich invest their money and spend what's left. Think like the rich--invest your money first, then spend what's left."
I want to invest in something this year because what opened my eyes was a 17 year old vending chilli Cheese dogs at the park the other day and I felt I wasn't doing enough.
Our job was essentially to build community at our apartment (kind of like an RA in college). And the events we put on would be like a brunch or dinner event. It essentially equated to a part time job but since we love hosting people and planning events it was perfect for us!
i am finished my car loan yesterday, feel relieved, now i'm debt free in 31 years old, luckily i have study loan and car loan only, thank you for great contents🙏🏻 saving more✅
Honestly I get them from all over! From nurseries, Trader Joe’s, etc. one online store I love though is Comfort Plants! 🌱 Here’s the link: comfortplants.com/?ref=ASHLYNNE
For me my goal was to get a vehicle. I didn't do it with cash and it is newer than I expected. However, it was the best option for me and is helping me with my credit and I did put down 25%. I was able to do this saving just for during the Summer and reducing my expenses. Pretty much everywhere that had nothing to do with my pets
I have one suggestion. I’d increase your personal savings. $25,000 sounds like a lot and it is however owning a home is expensive. About 4 years ago the water line had a root from a tree mess it up. That cost us several thousand to repair. Most people falsely assume the city will pay but they don’t. Then we needed a new roof. $9000. Then a new washer/dryer $2000. Bam!
I think people need to realize that its not just "saving" money, you need to invest it. I'm glad you mentioned the breakdown of where you keep your "savings". I think the better term would be savings and investments! Saving and investing are different things and I think a lot of people are scared of investing and only save. But you lose money with inflation if you only save it in a bank account. The money needs to be invested! A Roth IRA is a wonderful place to do it! Good advice and tips on how to make saving money a priority.
I agree… I know somebody who started a portfolio of investments when he was 21 and you wouldn’t believe how much money he has now… It’s really worthwhile!
Totally with you on this! Apart from our emergency fund, we really wanted to have our money invested in things that are going up in value (like iras + our home).
Thank you for sharing your journey! Honestly, I would love to meet your parents and Christophers. The people who raised you because they are phenomenal. It is incredibly difficult these days at least in the area I live to find young people this goal driven and mature as well as future minded at such a young age.
Wow great job!! Your house and your town are so nice. I am trying to save as much as possible, but life has become a financial burden lately with prices rising so high.
So it was essentially an additional part time job. But instead of getting paid we got discounted rent. Our job was essentially to build community at our apartment (kind of like an RA in college). And the events we put on would be like a brunch or dinner event. It essentially equated to a part time job but since we love hosting people and planning events it was perfect for us!
@@AshlynneEaton Thanks for answering my question! That's a pretty sweet gig and super smart way to save money. Appreciate the content you provide. Looking forward to your next video.
I mean this really isn’t hard to understand…they had no debt to income ratio. No debt, little overhead expense and making 40-80k over 3-5 years =dedicating all your extra money to savings and investments. The logic behind all of this is super great for younger people so kudos to them but for a lot of people this isn’t really a thing lol most people have debt and very stagnant income. Good on them though!
Doing the Ramsey way! I love to see it :) thank you, this video was really encouraging and helped me see that I am on the right track. I have about $4k in savings, some in a 401(k), and $3k in cash, I'm currently working on paying my debt down as fast as possible. Once I'm done there, my savings goal is $10k before I start actively investing and maxing out my retirement contributions. In order to do so I'm avoiding excessive spending as much as possible (but I do budget in some "fun money" and for pre-planned trips), reselling things on Mercari, and I have several income streams.
Grea tips thank you! Everyone your life is special and unique and you do the best you can. Don't compare your life is enough and you are more than enough and worth more than any debts or saving up enough money.❤️ I try not to buy things I think I need ita so accomplishing and reminds me the life God gave me is enough.🙏❤️😊👍 With God we lack no good thing. So good to save money and have wise habits and beginning these habits for sure . I'm thankful my husband and I were able to be married young too while still in school. We are working on hopefully having a down payment for house in 1 or 2 years and working on paying off student loans. With God anything is possible! 🙏❤️
That’s so awesome you were able to get such a good deal on rent in Charlotte!!🙌🏼 was that something that was advertised, or did you propose that deal to the apartment manager?
Save,give and live a fun life that God gave me .A lot of people save save save work work work but never had fun next thing they know they’re too old to do fun things anymore .Balance living is the key.
Lovely video, very inspiring :D when I saw the title of the video I felt jealous, but when I watched the video I was actually very inspired, because of your honesty and sincernes! And also I have a question, I know that you are a christian, do you pay tieth to the church? Cause it used to take a huge amount of money from me so I just wonder if you do it :)
@Cece E. But there were no tips on how to save money. We heard how they started with 10k, got a small cheap apt, then got better jobs, got a great deal on another apt, got another terrific job, and Boom! Oh, and buy used when possible.
Ashlynne and her husband made more per year at the beginning of their marriage than my husband and I make now. And we're 6-7 years older than they are, and we have 3 kids, lol.
Haha I feel like that’s a lot of people! My parents definitely encouraged me to get a job as soon as I could so I could start saving and I’m super grateful for that. Regardless of what age you are though, it’s never too late to start saving! 🤍
I know right? With college costs, room and board, and food. I worked 3 part time jobs my entire time in school and went to school full time and saved about $1000. I think one year I worked 2 jobs (about 35 hours a week) and only made $11,000 that year.
This is really nice to see such straightforward principles at work. I’m newlywed and we’re doing these things (found the lowest cost possible safe rent to cut the biggest costs first) and it’s exciting to see where they can go. You did a video earlier about saving your 60k for your house that was great too! Did you build your 25k savings fund first before saving for the downpayment or did you start growing the 60k alongside of building up to the 25k? How much was your savings account at when you shifted focus?
That's a very interesting video, although it-s really hard for me to grasp this... Living in Switzerland, sure, you may save money by i.e. not drinking alcohol, but the same amount of money or actully more, will go into i.e. buying train tickets to get to the mountains... How can you save money then, if you value nature surroundings, you love hiking etc? It would be great to hear about your hobbies and how you navigated this :)
My question is , did you or were your required to help out with bills when you were working when you were HS or College ? Because some people have a hard time saving because they need to help out at home. Sad reality. We live in the same ocean but not on the same boat. May this video encourage more people to save and may more people be inspired by this vid
I was fortunate not to need to help out with bills while I was in high school. I got married about a year and a half into college though and immediately Christopher and I started paying our own bills. Totally understand that everyone comes from a different situation and set of circumstances though. I think you said it well. 🤍
@@AshlynneEaton thank you for the reply! Highly appreciate it. And thank you for sharing your situation 🤍 makes people feel not alone in their financial journey :)
Very impressive!! You guys have done so amazingly well - wonderful accomplishment! So good to be money-conscious from a young age. Totally agree with the tip on not increasing lifestyle as income goes up - I've followed that philosophy for quite a few years now! Every time I got a raise, I'd just increase my 401k contribution % so I never saw any increase in take-home pay - pretty easy! (And I'm the same way as you guys when it comes to alcohol too - it's just not a big deal to me, and you save so much by abstaining! :-D)
It's funny, I've found that as my income went up, I've actually lowered my lifestyle expenses compared to when I made less. I think it has to do with starting to overcome that scarcety mindset due to having more money- I don't feel like I have to spend all my money right away now that I make more. I also discovered minimalism about a year ago which has helped my spending habits tremendously!
Thanks again, Ashlynne, for a pleasant and informative video! Your gentle demeanor makes viewing as soothing as a cup of tea, and your information is a key in the ignition for simple living. This video in particular I'll be sharing with my young adult children; maybe they'll follow in your footsteps! Christ's blessings to you and Christopher on your efforts to help others!
Very inspiring video! How did you pay for the master's degree? If I may suggest - finding a job with a company willing to pay for school worked well for me. I worked full time and went to school part time. Highly recommend for anyone seeking additional education without the expense. A surprising number of companies and educational institutions offer this benefit. Thanks for your content!
That’s such a great tip! I know quite a few people who’ve done just that! Personally though, the way I did it was doing my degree 100% remotely + I did have some scholarship help. 🤍
Wow that is great! Great tips so thankyou! Sadly I do live of a student loan (but it does allow me to live on my own and not be dependent on my parents) sadly dont have the time for a job either so Im just trying to save with what I get 😅😂
Hey there’s nothing wrong with having a student loan. I definitely encourage you to pay it off once you graduate, but focus on getting your degree first! You’ve got this! 😉🤍
I am rooting for you. FWIW, I am 31 and about to finish paying off over 95k in debt including what started out as nearly 60k in student loans. It's possible, but it required sacrifice, discipline, and several job/career changes. Through all that I lived life, went on vacations, and cash flowed a wedding. So don't let your debt make you think your whole life needs to be on hold until it's gone. Just do what you can until you can do more.
I love this, thanks for sharing! My husband and I are working on minimizing our life, which is hard with a toddler and a baby on the way (due on my birthday in October). This is our last baby though, then we plan on saving up for a down payment for a house! I love watching videos about how other people do it. Growing up we didn’t have much, and my dad is a big spender so my mom was never really able to save any money. I’m hoping to change that for my kids, because I definitely picked up habits from my dad with regards to spending money. 💕
We were doing well until children and maternity leave/childcare costs hit so you're very wise to be saving at this stage in case that's the plan for the future. Here in the UK, childcare costs are £50-60 a day ($70-80). That soon wiped out the savings although I don't regret taking the time off etc. Now my second is about to start school hopefully we are finished with those major costs. Best of luck to your - your channel is certainly helping me declutter and be happy with what we have ☺️
Wow that’s crazy! I can definitely see why saving would be difficult in that situation. That’s a lot to need to spend on childcare! Wishing you luck as your second starts school though. That’s so exciting!! 🤍
I would highly recommend you both get a variable whole life insurance policy. It's a great investment vehicle for retirement as well as a safety net if either of you were to pass away. It also compounds interest like an IRA. It may seem weird to start so young, but now that you are married and have a house, it is a good idea. Since you are both young, your investment "bang for your buck" would go a lot further now rather than later, and you would most likely be able to lock in a better rate because you probably don't have many health issues. It's something I wish I knew more about when I was younger. Time literally is money with investments.
Smelled like weed. 😂 My husband and I had a similar start, we’re just a little ahead of you just hitting our 30s. I LOVE your table! I use Marketplace all the time and the best part is that when life changes you can resell for basically what you paid!
Do you have any savings goals you're trying to reach? What are they and what steps are you taking to reach them? ✨
P.S. Whatever they are, know I'm cheering you on! 🎉
I’m a grand away from investing half of my savings in a diversified portfolio. I’m very excited for long term investments!
That’s awesome!!
Ashlynne as someone who is going to start a new chapter these budgeting tips And your life experience is going to be soooo helpful thank you thank you so much ❤️
That’s so exciting! Good luck as you go through college!! 🤍
@@AshlynneEaton thank you 😄
I don’t understand all the negative comments here. If you don’t find this helpful or inspiring, move on to videos about how to make a million dollars FAST! She is giving you her experience so you can be inspired and figure out how you might apply it to your life. She is putting herself out there. Nice job, Ashlynne. While you have, admittedly, had advantages others may not have had, you’ve made a lot of tough choices that others won’t make and will instead blame on this or that. I am 60 and while I did have student loans, I could have made a lot of better decisions that would have put me in a much better financial situation now. But, it’s never too late to implement a lot of your suggestions now. Great job! 🌷
Saying no to alcohol is such a huge tip for saving money! As someone who grew up surrounded by alcoholism, I saw the people I love spend $50-$80 a day on alcohol and I live in an area where that would be seen as normal. Hard to stray from the norm, but it is definitely necessary
I love this. I wish I saw this when I was 25. Also, a huge tip is to make sure you marry someone who has the same money mindset.
That's exactly how it works!
I was married and we had two full incomes. But we made debts instead of savings.
After I got divorced and unfortunately became disabled, I really had to overthink my financial situation, because I owned two cats and five birds which had to be fed, too. And you know what? I developed the same techniques you did ( adapted to my personal needs) and now my depts are all payed off and I start building up savings, although I can't work full time anymore and I only have this small income plus some social money (I live in Germany, different social system than USA).
My new minimalistic live is so much better than the life I had before. I never thought that! I love my tiny little apartment, a capsule wardrobe is sooo uncomplicated, simple, fresh, selfmade meals are so delicious and healthy and going by bus and train has many more advantages, than I thought!
I work as an illustrator and I'm specializing in art within the local car community. I find that my car is a huge staple for my business, and after crashing my old one, insurance made it possible for me to have my car completely paid off. I was previously stuck in a horrible car loan, so I think the biggest lesson I learned was never to finance a car. It seriously impacted my ability to rent an apartment, thankfully once I got out of the loan, life got so much easier in that regard. One thing I wanted to mention was that since cars are my passion (and an expensive hobby), I've been thinking for months on modifying my car. The modifications I want are around $7k+... This video really helped me reconsider, haha. I already do have my dream car... I don't think it'll benefit my business the amount of money it'll cost to grasp the attention to it with the car... Hm. My income isn't too great, but between me and my boyfriend, we definitely could use to work as a team more. I know he's going to keep modifying his car, and refinance his car loan too. I just wanted to say this really helped inspire me to maybe make savings more of a priority with my boyfriend, so we can work as a team to kinda meet in the middle. Maybe cut our car modifications down by half or something, idk. Thanks anyway, sorry this is so scattered
Love hearing your though process with this! I think to key is that you are weighing possibilities and alternatives. That will really help you as you make decisions!
We’re debt free too! Working on the mortgage- 1/2 way there! We’re only 33/34, but I wish we had started younger! Looking back, There is so much we could have gone without if we had a plan and we would had been just fine ! Great job!
Wow that’s so amazing!! Besides investing for retirement, paying off our mortgage early is definitely next on our priority list!! 🤍
@@AshlynneEaton We were married young too! I was 19 and he was 20 also working full time through college and a masters degree! One thing we wished we were prepared for was when you start having kids, taking time off and/or going down to one income for a time is something that needs to be planned for. That’s where we started racking on debt about 8 years ago and it took us a few years to climb back out of that hole and get on track. You guys are rocking it! Keep it up!
I am 26 and just started my career. You inspired me to save from the first paycheck itself. Love these money-related videos. Keep them coming. ❤
That’s so awesome!! 🤍
Focusing on the big 3 expenses such as housing, transportation and food in our survival/optional categories first was key to our success as well! Great insight and advice Ashlynne!
Living minimally since 2018 has helped me a lot to save. It became a habit to me to say no to things i don't need even if I can afford. Until now at 28, I don't use things to impress people.
My husband and I are hoping to pay off our mortgage early. These are spot-on tips for today's time that you listed! I find that over time, exercising the counter-culture muscle gets stronger.
That’s so awesome Kristen! That’s the next goal that Christopher and I are working towards too! 🤍
By the time I was 25 I was a registered nurse, was married and had two small children. My life was going ok until I had a catastrophic accident when I was 38 and then I lost everything, job, savings and house - unfortunately somethings in life cannot be prepared for no matter how you save. It's good to save but live your life as well.
We did and do all of this. I think the biggest problem these days is that people just cant wait. They cant wrap their head around to save for something for months or even years - instead go out and buy the next shiny thing they can afford now and have that instant gratification.
I know so many people who bought cars they cant afford to keep up and have less magical living situation than the car would suggest.
I definitely think you’re right! We live in a world that wants to have everything “right now” and that’s hard especially when that’s what you’re raised around. Delayed gratification is a lost art and something we could all benefit from practicing more 🤍
@@AshlynneEaton I absolutely do not disagree that people want things now. I think the timing of this video is what is bothering me. There are so many people who were/are fiscally reasonable, did all the right things, and then the pandemic hit and those same people have gone through there emergency funds, gone into debt and are about to get evicted.
Personally I was doing fantastic financially...and then got hit with a disease and am now on disability. Disability can take years to get approved and I went through my savings, 401(k), sold my condo to move in with my parents and literally start over. I am absolutely blessed to have my parents, but no one gets rich on disability and will be with them forever as I cannot afford rent anywhere.
I do absolutely love your videos on minimalism. Have learned a lot and have been inspired.
I know so many people who work at a series of dead-end gig economy jobs in order to cobble together a living income. They have no benefits, no safety net. They buy cars they can't afford basically because they can't afford any car but need one to get to work. They live in places that have substandard or non-existent public transportation.
@@joanmcmanus5320 Not arguing with you. I live in Europe so publkc transportation is very much a thing, but i know this is not the case for many people. Also when i said cars they cant afford i meant cars that are status symbols, not just any car.
@@bridzs333 Okay. Cheers.
You remind me of me , got married at age 19 and started off with 2k each total of 4K
I am now turning 40 this year 3 kids later
And I have to say it start early saving as early as you can . I now own a house over 1 million and two condos I’m trying to go more minimal now that’s how I saw your Chanel and it’s helped so much to simplify I wish I had learned this sooner but it’s never too late .
Wow that’s incredible! Thanks for sharing Ana 🥰🤍
Watching this and being lower-middle-class lowkey makes me kinda sad lol. We don’t even make 40,000 in a year and we’re lucky if we can even save 100-200 a month. Who knows, maybe we’ll “get there” one day but even being debt free isn’t always possible when, say, you need a car now but would have to save a year or more in order to even get even just a beater car.
Annelise, you don't necessarily need to be debt free. The important thing is that your debt isn't at high interest rates, and you are able to comfortably make your payments. I work with wealthy clients and they all have debt (usually multiple mortgages and margin debt), but at low rates. A car loan or student loan at 6% is fine. Credit card debt at double digit rates is not.
Don't compare yourself to others. Maybe Ashlynne got a push from her parents and her husband too. Me and my husband had a rough life, bad relationships, a scam here and there. Parents who rented money from my husband and didn't wanted to give back. We work for every penny and feel so blessed if we can pay everything we need and save a little. What more do you need? Bless you.
Facts. Last year we finally made 40k as a couple and we just turned 27. When you have money you can invest it to make more.
When your poor you can't buy in bulk, can't buy things that don't break down, etc etc
@@TylerAndToast What skills, technical degrees, education level do you both have?
Honestly, listen to Dave Ramsey. He preaches debt-free, but he gives amazing advice and actionable steps to take. Starting is what matters. I am only just now making above $20k a year, but I've been grinding away, saving wherever I can, working my ass off, and saying "no". It's hard, REALLY hard, but nothing worth having is easy. If you guys are struggling that much, y'all should be getting another job, taking OT and/or raises, or different jobs. And like they said, don't compare yourself to others.
To anyone getting depressed watching this: its probably because you are comparing yourself to her and believing the myth that everyone begins at the same starting line in America. Economic inequality research has shown time and time again that this is not true. Socioeconomic factors which contribute to where your starting line is are varied and complex. You're not "behind" or lazy. You just can't control where you started - only where you are today. Just remember that there are always underlying social advantages and privileges that go unacknowledged in anecdotal and subjective perspectives given in these tone-deaf videos. All her concepts are repackaged Dave Ramsey ideas. Her ideas are not unique. You can't "bootstrap" your way to this ideal. So relax and remember: the middle class mindset fears debt and sees money as something to be saved. Wealthy people have a far more nuanced view of debt and see money as something to be invested - in opportunities that give return. Your weekend cocktail isn't the thing to blame - there are countless sociological factors that contribute to your financial picture today. You are more than your account balance.
So true, Lindsey. The Financial Diet did a video on the "Secrets That Successful People Rarely Own Up To." There is a lot of unacknowledged privilege: supportive and positive parents and teachers, educated parents who know how to guide their kids through the college and career process, good mental and physical health (plus access to healthcare), growing up in a non-toxic environment, not having heavy and undue responsibility as a child.
@@joanmcmanus5320 Definitely. Thanks for sharing your insights! I wish "influencers" were more honest about their advantages and gave credit where it's due instead of pumping out glossy TH-cam videos that lack so much self awareness.
My story is quite different than hers and this video is so inspiring! We had zippo to start, no savings. I was somewhat materialistic. As we had things given to us in our expensive apt I LEARNED how to be more frugal. Anyone can start off with any disadvantages and surround themselves with people who know how to do things better.
The problem I have with the socio disadvantage is it is learned victimhood. We make choices everyday and if we want to help people we want a “can do “ attitude. Weather we come from money and have to learn to pull things in or come from poverty ( half of my family came from the projects and overcame a lot) we all struggle. This video is about taking what you have or where you are from and learning to apply some good principles. No comparison, just good old wisdom and great principles!
I have to admit that while your comment is insightful and well-intended, you could have gone without the name calling and passing blame on one small faction of society. The rich only make up about 5-10% of the American population, and they don't care if some random person on the Internet has a problem with how they're running things.
It would be indigenous of me to say that Ashlynne is just one person out of a hundred other faces as I've been following her for quite some time. I don't know her well enough as a person nor have I met her in person, so my stance on this is not so much based on me being blind or naive as a follower. I'm in a similar position as her as I come from a position of well-off middle class; I'm currently taking classes and one of them happens to be in sociology as that's tied to my major in social work. Not everybody is as uneducated as you might think. 🙄
@@Melbas2024 yep, I'm very familiar with your kind of story and yet very empathetic and passionate about encouraging people out of victimhood to empowerment . Acknowledging the disadvantages and economic disparities in our country without falling into "victimhood" is possible. It's just that most people tend to skip over that emotional processing step because they're scared that if they acknowledge how hard it was they will stay stuck. Hence the common "bootstraps" argument.
This is a wonderful and probably ideal position for a lot of people, but for me and countless others I know, definitely not even possible. I hope people aren’t comparing themselves as I’ve found myself doing. I’m 44 and single, chose a career as a youth worker which is not well paid in the UK but I did it because that was where my heart was. With Uni dept and rental prices in London, I’ve never been able to save as a single person. It can be so discouraging sometimes. Moved to my parents due to Covid but only managed to save for a second hand car. I’ve also learnt that having parents that teach you about money and savings is so helpful as I made so many poor decisions in my twenties.
I love watching my savings go up! I don't have any debt, either.
That’s so awesome!! 🥰🤍
I have a question but it may be too personal… How much of a down payment did you put on your house and how much do you pay every month
3:30 $60K down (20%)
I am so glad you made your channel. At your age I was in the opposite direction and had to fix, fix and fix in my late twenties.
A lot of people do not see the value in setting up your future.
I see it as being a manager of the life God has blessed us with.
I always believed it in faith but it takes a whole new meaning when you go from poverty and needing provision. Then to having your heart give to others so they won’t need.
This is the first video I have ever seen on your channel and had to say, I am happy for two! 👍🏻😊
Can't believe you are not 25 yet. Amazing job you guys done at this age!
Thank you so much!!
what about school debt??
In Greece, where the salary starts from approximately 500 euros per month and most people earn 500-800, you can bearly cover your basic needs...
Yes, that´s the case in most parts of the world! We are so rich in the West and don't realise it.
"Here's the philosophy of the rich and the poor. Poor people spend their money and invest what's left. The rich invest their money and spend what's left. Think like the rich--invest your money first, then spend what's left."
Exactly!
Most intelligent words I have heard today 🥂
I want to invest in something this year because what opened my eyes was a 17 year old vending chilli Cheese dogs at the park the other day and I felt I wasn't doing enough.
@@aleksander7451 why don't you try online trading like trading digital assets like ETH, Monero and other Cryptocurrency.
Trading Cryptocurrency is the future
Did I hear that correctly? How did you get a $2k apartment for $600? What events?
Our job was essentially to build community at our apartment (kind of like an RA in college). And the events we put on would be like a brunch or dinner event. It essentially equated to a part time job but since we love hosting people and planning events it was perfect for us!
Where did you get the bookshelves in the background!? They are so freaking cute!
The bookshelf is from World Market! 🤍
What a such helpful and necessary video, Ashlynne! Thanks for always giving such incredible tips! ❤️
i am finished my car loan yesterday, feel relieved, now i'm debt free in 31 years old, luckily i have study loan and car loan only, thank you for great contents🙏🏻
saving more✅
Oh wow that’s so awesome!! Congratulations!! 🤍
Thanks beautiful Ashlynne🌸 what a fantastic video. You're very clever and I hope that you save even more money. Well wishes and best of luck 💕😘
you're such an inspiration ashlynne
Where do you get your plants from
Honestly I get them from all over! From nurseries, Trader Joe’s, etc. one online store I love though is Comfort Plants! 🌱 Here’s the link: comfortplants.com/?ref=ASHLYNNE
For me my goal was to get a vehicle. I didn't do it with cash and it is newer than I expected. However, it was the best option for me and is helping me with my credit and I did put down 25%. I was able to do this saving just for during the Summer and reducing my expenses. Pretty much everywhere that had nothing to do with my pets
I have one suggestion. I’d increase your personal savings. $25,000 sounds like a lot and it is however owning a home is expensive. About 4 years ago the water line had a root from a tree mess it up. That cost us several thousand to repair. Most people falsely assume the city will pay but they don’t. Then we needed a new roof. $9000. Then a new washer/dryer $2000. Bam!
I think people need to realize that its not just "saving" money, you need to invest it. I'm glad you mentioned the breakdown of where you keep your "savings". I think the better term would be savings and investments! Saving and investing are different things and I think a lot of people are scared of investing and only save. But you lose money with inflation if you only save it in a bank account. The money needs to be invested! A Roth IRA is a wonderful place to do it! Good advice and tips on how to make saving money a priority.
I agree… I know somebody who started a portfolio of investments when he was 21 and you wouldn’t believe how much money he has now… It’s really worthwhile!
Totally with you on this! Apart from our emergency fund, we really wanted to have our money invested in things that are going up in value (like iras + our home).
Thank you for sharing your journey! Honestly, I would love to meet your parents and Christophers. The people who raised you because they are phenomenal. It is incredibly difficult these days at least in the area I live to find young people this goal driven and mature as well as future minded at such a young age.
Both sets of our parents are pretty awesome people! 😉🤍
Wow great job!! Your house and your town are so nice. I am trying to save as much as possible, but life has become a financial burden lately with prices rising so high.
i love walking out empty handed in a store i feel accomplished
Same same
Can you explain how you were able to get a $2k/mo apartment for only $600?
So it was essentially an additional part time job. But instead of getting paid we got discounted rent. Our job was essentially to build community at our apartment (kind of like an RA in college). And the events we put on would be like a brunch or dinner event. It essentially equated to a part time job but since we love hosting people and planning events it was perfect for us!
@@AshlynneEaton Thanks for answering my question! That's a pretty sweet gig and super smart way to save money.
Appreciate the content you provide. Looking forward to your next video.
great video!! super motivating video
I mean this really isn’t hard to understand…they had no debt to income ratio. No debt, little overhead expense and making 40-80k over 3-5 years =dedicating all your extra money to savings and investments. The logic behind all of this is super great for younger people so kudos to them but for a lot of people this isn’t really a thing lol most people have debt and very stagnant income. Good on them though!
Doing the Ramsey way! I love to see it :) thank you, this video was really encouraging and helped me see that I am on the right track.
I have about $4k in savings, some in a 401(k), and $3k in cash, I'm currently working on paying my debt down as fast as possible. Once I'm done there, my savings goal is $10k before I start actively investing and maxing out my retirement contributions. In order to do so I'm avoiding excessive spending as much as possible (but I do budget in some "fun money" and for pre-planned trips), reselling things on Mercari, and I have several income streams.
Yes yes yes to secondhand!
My favorite kind of videos on your channel!! ❤️❤️❤️
Really appreciate your honesty and openness in this video! This is impressive and inspiring with some good advice 👍
Grea tips thank you! Everyone your life is special and unique and you do the best you can. Don't compare your life is enough and you are more than enough and worth more than any debts or saving up enough money.❤️ I try not to buy things I think I need ita so accomplishing and reminds me the life God gave me is enough.🙏❤️😊👍 With God we lack no good thing. So good to save money and have wise habits and beginning these habits for sure . I'm thankful my husband and I were able to be married young too while still in school. We are working on hopefully having a down payment for house in 1 or 2 years and working on paying off student loans. With God anything is possible! 🙏❤️
Loved this! Thank you for sharing🙂
Of course! Glad you enjoyed it!! 🤍
That’s so awesome you were able to get such a good deal on rent in Charlotte!!🙌🏼 was that something that was advertised, or did you propose that deal to the apartment manager?
Good question I was wondering the same thing tbh.
Save,give and live a fun life that God gave me .A lot of people save save save work work work but never had fun next thing they know they’re too old to do fun things anymore .Balance living is the key.
Extremely relatable!
Lovely video, very inspiring :D when I saw the title of the video I felt jealous, but when I watched the video I was actually very inspired, because of your honesty and sincernes! And also I have a question, I know that you are a christian, do you pay tieth to the church? Cause it used to take a huge amount of money from me so I just wonder if you do it :)
Thank you so much Viktorija! That’s so sweet of you! And our church doesn’t ask for a tithe, but we do try to give generously to it. 🤍
You are really a great inspiration 😀
🤍🤍🤍
This just made me feel less than for not doing the same or having the same opportunities.
@Cece E. But there were no tips on how to save money. We heard how they started with 10k, got a small cheap apt, then got better jobs, got a great deal on another apt, got another terrific job, and Boom! Oh, and buy used when possible.
She gave several tips. It's more towards the end of the video. I hope you feel better about yourself someday.
I love you calming!
Thank you!! 🥰🥰🥰
Amazing story thanks for sharing the knowledge 😀
Oh course!! So glad he enjoyed hearing it! 🥰
Great video!
This is really realistic. Thank you for sharing.
Of course!!
Inspirational!
Ashlynne and her husband made more per year at the beginning of their marriage than my husband and I make now. And we're 6-7 years older than they are, and we have 3 kids, lol.
👌🏼
*I don't know who needs to hear this but stop saving all your money, invest some of it if you really want financial freedom*
I love that this is super practical 😁 I appreciate this as a married broke uni student
Haha yes!! I love it!
im trying to keep close eyes on my expenses bc i just got an amazing. paying. job n im scared of lifestyle inflation
That’s so wise! Way to go!! 🤍
Good job guys 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾.
Imagine having 5,000 usd in savings by 20 lmao. I barely had 20 usd at that age.
Haha I feel like that’s a lot of people! My parents definitely encouraged me to get a job as soon as I could so I could start saving and I’m super grateful for that. Regardless of what age you are though, it’s never too late to start saving! 🤍
I know right? With college costs, room and board, and food. I worked 3 part time jobs my entire time in school and went to school full time and saved about $1000. I think one year I worked 2 jobs (about 35 hours a week) and only made $11,000 that year.
I‘m only 20 myself, but I’m really grateful for this video, because I believe the earlier you‘re more conscious about your money the better. ^^
This is really nice to see such straightforward principles at work. I’m newlywed and we’re doing these things (found the lowest cost possible safe rent to cut the biggest costs first) and it’s exciting to see where they can go.
You did a video earlier about saving your 60k for your house that was great too! Did you build your 25k savings fund first before saving for the downpayment or did you start growing the 60k alongside of building up to the 25k? How much was your savings account at when you shifted focus?
Hi Ashlynne! I’m your subscriber from the Philippines 🇵🇭. I like videos like this. More on this please. 💕
PS. You are inspiring and lovely as well. 😊
Just curious was your internship at camino community center 😂
That's a very interesting video, although it-s really hard for me to grasp this... Living in Switzerland, sure, you may save money by i.e. not drinking alcohol, but the same amount of money or actully more, will go into i.e. buying train tickets to get to the mountains... How can you save money then, if you value nature surroundings, you love hiking etc? It would be great to hear about your hobbies and how you navigated this :)
24 & masters?
What🤯🤯
Your both very sensible ❤️
My question is , did you or were your required to help out with bills when you were working when you were HS or College ? Because some people have a hard time saving because they need to help out at home. Sad reality. We live in the same ocean but not on the same boat. May this video encourage more people to save and may more people be inspired by this vid
I was fortunate not to need to help out with bills while I was in high school. I got married about a year and a half into college though and immediately Christopher and I started paying our own bills.
Totally understand that everyone comes from a different situation and set of circumstances though. I think you said it well. 🤍
@@AshlynneEaton thank you for the reply! Highly appreciate it. And thank you for sharing your situation 🤍 makes people feel not alone in their financial journey :)
Good for you.
🤍🤍🤍
Wow we spell Coles like this in Australia and it’s mostly food!
In Canada, Coles is a book store! :)
Well done 👏🏻
Thank you!! 🤍
Very impressive!! You guys have done so amazingly well - wonderful accomplishment! So good to be money-conscious from a young age. Totally agree with the tip on not increasing lifestyle as income goes up - I've followed that philosophy for quite a few years now! Every time I got a raise, I'd just increase my 401k contribution % so I never saw any increase in take-home pay - pretty easy! (And I'm the same way as you guys when it comes to alcohol too - it's just not a big deal to me, and you save so much by abstaining! :-D)
Did you spend a significant amount on your wedding? That's a huge expense for most couples.
It's funny, I've found that as my income went up, I've actually lowered my lifestyle expenses compared to when I made less. I think it has to do with starting to overcome that scarcety mindset due to having more money- I don't feel like I have to spend all my money right away now that I make more. I also discovered minimalism about a year ago which has helped my spending habits tremendously!
I love that Julia! That’s really cool to hear! 🤍
I can totally-totally relate.
Very insightful about the scarcity mindset! Isn't it funny, but true, that having less crates an urgency to spend more? Congrats on your success!
Thanks again, Ashlynne, for a pleasant and informative video! Your gentle demeanor makes viewing as soothing as a cup of tea, and your information is a key in the ignition for simple living. This video in particular I'll be sharing with my young adult children; maybe they'll follow in your footsteps! Christ's blessings to you and Christopher on your efforts to help others!
Weird question, do influencers pay taxes on the products they are gifted?
Inspirational.
Very inspiring video! How did you pay for the master's degree? If I may suggest - finding a job with a company willing to pay for school worked well for me. I worked full time and went to school part time. Highly recommend for anyone seeking additional education without the expense. A surprising number of companies and educational institutions offer this benefit. Thanks for your content!
That’s such a great tip! I know quite a few people who’ve done just that! Personally though, the way I did it was doing my degree 100% remotely + I did have some scholarship help. 🤍
Wow that is great! Great tips so thankyou! Sadly I do live of a student loan (but it does allow me to live on my own and not be dependent on my parents) sadly dont have the time for a job either so Im just trying to save with what I get 😅😂
Hey there’s nothing wrong with having a student loan. I definitely encourage you to pay it off once you graduate, but focus on getting your degree first! You’ve got this! 😉🤍
@@AshlynneEaton Thankyou for your kind comment! Youre right! ❤
Next "how we saved a million"
Hahaha I’m here for it!
Lol I’m 23 and have 50000 dollars in student debt
I am rooting for you. FWIW, I am 31 and about to finish paying off over 95k in debt including what started out as nearly 60k in student loans. It's possible, but it required sacrifice, discipline, and several job/career changes. Through all that I lived life, went on vacations, and cash flowed a wedding. So don't let your debt make you think your whole life needs to be on hold until it's gone. Just do what you can until you can do more.
No student loan debt is a big one. That’s killed me.
Ditto. It's why my interests are high
This was a really helpful and insightful video, thank you! Never had savings before age 22, and now I'm planning a future I never thought I would :)
Wow that’s so awesome!! 🤍
Wow we had NO savings when married.
Happy Labor Day Long Weekend, Ashlynne!❤️
Happy long weekend!!
You too, Ashlynne!
Congrats and God bless 💗.
Can some one explain to me how she GOT A 2,000 APARTMENT DOWN TO 600?
Rewatch I saw the explanation. But gotta be more to it from 2000 to 600. But if not what a generous landlord.
I love this, thanks for sharing! My husband and I are working on minimizing our life, which is hard with a toddler and a baby on the way (due on my birthday in October). This is our last baby though, then we plan on saving up for a down payment for a house! I love watching videos about how other people do it. Growing up we didn’t have much, and my dad is a big spender so my mom was never really able to save any money. I’m hoping to change that for my kids, because I definitely picked up habits from my dad with regards to spending money. 💕
Congratulations on your new little one, that’s so exciting! Wishing you luck as you minimize and save for that downpayment. That’s awesome! 🤍
I mean I didn't even earn 100000 dollars before age 25 and that was with a job next to college jfc
Love this and very insightful!
P.S. I'm an October baby too
Oh that’s so exciting!! Definitely the best month 🍂😉
We were doing well until children and maternity leave/childcare costs hit so you're very wise to be saving at this stage in case that's the plan for the future. Here in the UK, childcare costs are £50-60 a day ($70-80). That soon wiped out the savings although I don't regret taking the time off etc. Now my second is about to start school hopefully we are finished with those major costs. Best of luck to your - your channel is certainly helping me declutter and be happy with what we have ☺️
Wow that’s crazy! I can definitely see why saving would be difficult in that situation. That’s a lot to need to spend on childcare! Wishing you luck as your second starts school though. That’s so exciting!! 🤍
@@AshlynneEaton Thank you - she is so excited and counting down the sleeps until Monday 🥰
I would highly recommend you both get a variable whole life insurance policy. It's a great investment vehicle for retirement as well as a safety net if either of you were to pass away. It also compounds interest like an IRA. It may seem weird to start so young, but now that you are married and have a house, it is a good idea. Since you are both young, your investment "bang for your buck" would go a lot further now rather than later, and you would most likely be able to lock in a better rate because you probably don't have many health issues. It's something I wish I knew more about when I was younger. Time literally is money with investments.
“I’m ѕυвѕ¢яιвιηg тσ єνєяуσηє ωнσ ѕυвѕ¢яιвєѕ тσ мє αη∂ ℓιкєѕ тнιѕ ¢σммєηт”🖤❤
Lets go
Wow. WOW.
🤍🤍🤍
Lots of love life and laughter for this kind of wisdom❤️
Smelled like weed. 😂 My husband and I had a similar start, we’re just a little ahead of you just hitting our 30s. I LOVE your table! I use Marketplace all the time and the best part is that when life changes you can resell for basically what you paid!
Yes!! We’ve actually been about to resell a couple items for MORE than we paid for them! 🤍
👍