Great advice today ...as always. I was lucky enough to retire at 60 and was told I would have to live on beans on toast. Then, I discovered what Frugal living was all about and found I'm better off financially than when I was working after twelve years.
Hi Jackie. We're better off now that we were when we earned double what we earn now simply because we're mortgage free. We've also got the time it takes to live a thrifty life and we don't need stuff. I'm glad you were able to retire when you did.
We are thrilled to be retired early, my husband gets to tinker with many projects, besides the required ones of property owners, but also a self designed stand alone solar and wind powered system.(We power 25-35% of our energy use with it ,depending upon the time of year). I get to fuss over starting plants indoors and getting a jump start on a garden. I scratch cook everything and have the time to experiment more with recipes and more preservation techniques. But we now have the time to detail plan our bucket list of travel wishes. We can do them on a budget by planning it ourselves. 😊 When we decided to spruce up our wardrobe, just a bit, I gave my sister in law a budget of $100 for each of us to do her favorite thing. Which is clearance rack shopping. She has great taste, and we are not fussy, so easy to shop for. She had 6-9 months to do it. We considered it our birthday, and Christmas gift combined. That was 2019 and we are now good for probably a decade. We don't wear those daily, because we work around our house and property, so we wear older clothes for that. We wear the newer clothes when we go out....which isn't often. We have those few health care appointments, and we shop only on days that we are already out for another reason. So it's usually once every 6-8 weeks. So with little wear, they will continue to look spanking new for many years to come.
Excellent video! I retired at 57 and my husband is still working at 60. We live frugally but I have never been happier and more at peace. Great ideas for all. Valerie in SC
Thanks for sharing Valerie. As I said, I really believe that people who budget and have good thrifty habits can retire on a shoestring budget. Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment.
Hi, new to your channel. Found you through Under the Median. I retired 2 years ago at the age of 65, and now I work 20 hours a week. Love the part time hours, and have more time to do the things I enjoy. Also learning to be more frugal. It is freeing. Love your content I have seen so far. PS I live in Indiana USA.
This is the best money chat you have given so far! I am a long time retired, happy and comfortable, believe me, it has been worth living carefully and frugally to not have to worry in retirement about day to day living, let alone the unexpected! My husband had to retire at 61 because of illness, but we just re-adjusted and did not do without. That was harder on us more mentally than financially, but made more tolerable by not having to worry about paying utilities and food.
I like the way you do your videos. I like it when you show us clips of the beautiful flowers or you mowing your yard. Good tips for retirement. Have a good Sunday and God Bless!
Once retired, we sold up, paid off the mortgage, moved to France and bought a property outright. The quality of life is so much better in France and being state retired our health cover is paid for by the NHS.
I am a 3day per week worker but now have to work from home so def our utilities have increased over last winter. However no travel costs is an offset and peace of mind not having to be in an office with sealed windows and air conditioning!
Another great video I retired 2 years ago at 57 having spent 40 years in retail the hours and stress got to much. Living debt free on my private pensions and Part time one day week job. Wouldn't change for the world good financial planning and disciplined budget but the upside is quality of life with the family keep up the good work Ian
Fabulous video one of your best. Very clearly setting out how to prepare for retirement. Also felt very reassured after hearing your views on expenses in retirement and financal gains of not working. I downsized at the end of last year from a 4 bed detached to a 2 bed cottage and my monthly outgoings are halved. I have reduced my hours at work this last year and I am looking to retire in the next year so decided last year to live on the amount I will receive in pension from the state pension and from my government pension and put the rest of my wage into savings for the future. Love your down to earth common sense attitude to money, as you have said previously you can only spend what you have coming in and it’s pointless looking at things you know you can’t afford. In the developed world we have all got into the habit of thinking we are entitled to everything NOW. This is why so many people end up in debt they can not afford to pay. I give myself £100 a month to spend on anything I want be that a meal out, a new outfit or a ton of bubble gum but apart from that everything has to fit into the budget and if it doesn’t it has to be saved for even if it’s only a steak for dinner or a bottle of wine. I so look forward to your videos it makes my day when I see a new one appear, I am now also reading your blog. Keep the videos coming I am sure many many others feel the same as me.
Finally on the last leg to my retirement, I finally retire at the end of March. Having lived on my retirement income I now know that financially I am well prepared and have everything I need in my budget.
Being retired is lovely ,the only downside is you can't top the pot if you don't do a part time job , or have a little side line. You have covered this very well,it will be a great help to a lot of your viewers!
Well said Jeanne. It’s why it’s so important that whilst people are working that they totally focus on getting as big a pension as they can. I have no intention of stopping part time work until I’m 67.
Great advice - thank you. I don't think that I'll be able to retire for at least another 3 years (but that will still be early retirement). In the meantime, we've just "downsized" our jobs in terms of pay and responsibility, and so are living on a shoestring budget in preparation. I'm going to think of it as semi-retirement as stress levels are definitely going to go down!
We started preparing 8 years early, did some overseas trips, then diy work we replaced our roof and gutters, installed solar panel system, new bathroom and kitchen, painted outside and in, bought a cheap camper and did it up, planted citrus, Avocado and Macadamia nut trees then got our first brand new car 2 years before retirement. On retirement at 62 we paid off the mortgage, started volunteer work and continued camping and fishing! Great video Jane and Mike!
I retired at 52 after having taught elementary school for 30 years due to breast cancer. But I have had part time jobs for the past 20 years teaching reading to K-5 and at a community college. I turned 72 and this will be my last year. I still enjoyed working with the kids and worked 10 to 19 hours a week for 5 to 9 months depending on the situation. I have been able to do many things including: raising a teenager, helping raise my grandchild, traveling, eat with friends, garden, read, watch videos, volunteering at various places, getting another degree, visiting with family and friends. My husband just stopped one part time job at a golf course but works 4 hours a week driving for an auto auction. He enjoys this and uses his money for his hobby. Do what makes you happy.❤❤❤❤❤
I know many brits who move to France that are either part retired or one of the two partners is retired. My youngest son and his wife have bought a house in SW France and only one of them is retiring. I think that in rural France a bigger percentage of the population is not so motivated by ownership of the latest fancy kitchen, car, clothes etc. Btw, I have lived in SWFrance for more than twenty years.
Hi Susan, thanks for sharing and SW France is beautiful. I certainly agree that rural France has people who are not motivated by fance anything. Thanks for watching.
Hi Jane I love listening to your chats My husband retired early with no pension until he was 65 but we spent 3 years putting everything in place We had put aside money to see us through until his retirement and it worked well He will be 70 on the 28th of June and all worked out well Have a good week xx💟💟💟💟
At 75 I can attested that we followed all of your list. What surprised me about retirement was all the social opportunities. With raising a family and working I was so busy. Many friends were found at work. I pictured a retirement with less to do. New friends came my way with joining new groups. I still am less busy, but it is fun. One thing that is expensive is our US health care. Since I was a state employee the state helps with the health care cost. We are grateful for our federal Medicare program. What we would have paid on a mortgage we now pay in supplemental health care. As I have said it is 17 percent of our yearly budget.
Great retirement advice! Thank you! My husband has been retired for 8 years and I am mostly retired but working part-time! I am annually adjusting our budget because of price increases, looking for the best prices to fit our budget! I just signed with a different fuel company for a $100. savings a month! You’ve brought up lots of important aspects of retirement to consider! Thanks again for a lovely vlog!
Fantastic advice! I am in a lucky position to think retirement in my early 40s 😊 It is a bit scary though as I haven’t worked out what I’ll do (although I have plenty of ideas!)
I'm new to this channel Jane .Just discovered you today ! Thank you for all your wisdom and love your style ... wonderful ...I e not seen anything like it on this subject xxx
Very imformative video im 58 this xmas time i was retireing soon but they moved it to.66 but i.reslise now if had money saved could of retired earlyer so lesson learned there thank you for the video.x
Hi @mariejustmarie Your comment pops up, but I can't find it. I don't live in the UK. So, my tips on what I feel people need to do before they retire could be useful where ever you live. Pay off debt, your mortgage, downsize if you can and have a fully paid up pension. Then make sure you are living off a written budget. I hope that helps. Thanks for watching and sorry I couldn't reply directly. You might have replied to a reply hence I couldn't find your comment. Thanks again for watching.
Lots of great advice. What I’m finding is it’s just really expensive to live in the US. I’m not quite ready yet but thinking about moving to France in the near future.
Thank you. Great advise. I retired 3 years ago from teaching 40 years. Now I have time like you mentioned to do other things. I love my retirement life and I’m totally grateful to have what I have, a piece of mind.
Thank you Jane. I have been planning and I'm thrifty. Moving from California to Texas end of September that alone makes a big difference in food, gasoline & housing. Although moving from apt. to a house is not downsizing. My son & I purchased together and our expenses will be shared. I've worked more than most but will have full social security & a pension. I'll be 72 this year in December-heathly and active. But definitely looking forward to focusing on my home, myself, volunteering and my Tea Party business which is seasonal, but also have skill in accounting and organizating. Will be more active with my Temple.
I do! I do! I want to retire! I’ve been a teacher for 24 years after 14 years as a social worker. I’m tired. I want to putter around in my sewing room with a cup of coffee and go for a bike ride in the park in the middle of the day. There are so many things I want to do. I can substitute teach when I want to earn a little extra money. One thing that costs more here in the US when you retire is-health insurance. Employer subsidized health insurance is a lot cheaper than pre-Medicare insurance. You don’t know how lucky you are to be from the UK.
Very good advice! We are able to be retired right now but my husband doesn’t want to. We own our own business so we are able to take time off or take trips if we want. It sure is comforting knowing that we could retire if we wanted to.
Hi Jane, another great video thank you. I wouldn't say we are especially frugal but we are more mindful and less wasteful now we are semi retired,( we did have a plan for that and we have created our own retirement income in preparation for that) but we certainly don't have a bottomless purse! I get some great tips from your vlogs and some are extremely relevant to us, living in France especially, shopping tips and low cost recipes, ideas for low cost days out etc. etc.
I would suggest that these are all areas to examine, your situation may be different. For example my transportation costs went up because I drive to the park by the lake so I can roller-blade, where before on sunny days I would do a 40 minute walk to work. Worth it? Oh yeah. But it was something I was aware of and expecting.
I envy your lifestyle. Maybe one day I’ll be able to achieve it too. Interesting video.. good to hear the process behind achieving it. I’m trying to get sorted debt wise but every time I think I’m getting there something happens that moves the goal post☹️ … still I keep focused and one day I’ll get there xx
Hi Penny. Debt payments need to be minimum payment only until you build up an emergency fund. Without that fund, each time something breaks down, you’ll not have the money to pay for it. Then, when the emergency fund is full again, then you start the debt snowball again. A written budget which needs sticking to with the first line after essentials for living should be debt repayments. My email is FrugalqueeninFrance@gmail.com if you want to contact me personally for any debt help and advice. I never disclose or charge. You’re very welcome.
Loved this, Jane. We have started practising living on a smaller budget already. What great advice. I often suggest this to couples who want to have a baby. One thing we have thought about is the cost of having pets. I've had two dogs and a cat for most of my adult life but we will probably stick with just one pet once these darlings pass away. We have made sure we will have a budget for our pet's health too.
Moved to France over 30 yrs ago. Continued paying voluntary contributions for my English pension. Had the possibility to buy property to rent which I sold when I retired. Now 70yrs old receiving my NHS pension, my teacher's pension, a small private pension, my French state pension and my private French pension. Own my flat and have approximately half a millions euros in savings. So no frugal life for me and thankfully still able to profit from all the sacrifices I made earlier in my life.
All of it earned and saved, very well done to you. Pensions are not a lucky dip or lottery, they’re earned. You could have blown the money but you paid for pensions instead, thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
There are a number of costs that I feel I could trim if I moved from UK to say Spain or Portugal. Council Tax £2000, Heating Oil £1200. Grow 30% - 50% of my food, forage, heating from my own trees. Keeping my pension income below £12570, UK threshold for income tax, no tax abroad under double tax treaty. Interesting that you have kept a part-time income coming in whilst (semi) retired in France and many of your commenters here the same, something for me think about. Eating once a day has been big change for me in food costs. I am walking several miles every day, my weight has come down considerably and I feel healthier. I eat in the evening after my work and walks, I enjoy prepping my meals much more and I eat as much as I want of good food till I am full so I do not feel deprived and I look forward to my evening meal all day. If I can keep the habit up, I would like it to become more my food and eating lifestyle in retirement as being healthy is makes good economic sense.
Noddy, we work to meet the visa income requirements. Plus, we can’t live off our occupational pensions alone. Take a look at any of our budgeting videos to see all the costs we have.
Beware also anyone who has been ‘contracted out’ when paying into your pension, I’ve worked over 40 years and still won’t get full pension, the work pension is supposed to cover it but it is not shown separately so you never really know.
@@FrugalQueeninFrance I worked at BT and wasn't given the option - we had to do it - even people who didn't want to and wouldnt sign were put into the scheme!
Jane, I’m wondering what is a reasonable price for a character home that would have a renovated kitchen and bathroom? And in a safe area? To rent…. Did you buy your place or renting?
Hi Jane, Thank you for the great videos. Do you think 2000 euros in monthly retirement income would be enough for 1 person to live in a medium size town such as Rennes, Nantes, Angers, etc in a 90 square meter house, assuming there is no mortgage? Thank you.
Great advice today ...as always. I was lucky enough to retire at 60 and was told I would have to live on beans on toast. Then, I discovered what Frugal living was all about and found I'm better off financially than when I was working after twelve years.
Hi Jackie. We're better off now that we were when we earned double what we earn now simply because we're mortgage free. We've also got the time it takes to live a thrifty life and we don't need stuff. I'm glad you were able to retire when you did.
We are thrilled to be retired early, my husband gets to tinker with many projects, besides the required ones of property owners, but also a self designed stand alone solar and wind powered system.(We power 25-35% of our energy use with it ,depending upon the time of year). I get to fuss over starting plants indoors and getting a jump start on a garden. I scratch cook everything and have the time to experiment more with recipes and more preservation techniques. But we now have the time to detail plan our bucket list of travel wishes. We can do them on a budget by planning it ourselves. 😊 When we decided to spruce up our wardrobe, just a bit, I gave my sister in law a budget of $100 for each of us to do her favorite thing. Which is clearance rack shopping. She has great taste, and we are not fussy, so easy to shop for. She had 6-9 months to do it. We considered it our birthday, and Christmas gift combined. That was 2019 and we are now good for probably a decade. We don't wear those daily, because we work around our house and property, so we wear older clothes for that. We wear the newer clothes when we go out....which isn't often. We have those few health care appointments, and we shop only on days that we are already out for another reason. So it's usually once every 6-8 weeks. So with little wear, they will continue to look spanking new for many years to come.
Thanks very much
Excellent video! I retired at 57 and my husband is still working at 60. We live frugally but I have never been happier and more at peace. Great ideas for all.
Valerie in SC
Thanks for sharing Valerie. As I said, I really believe that people who budget and have good thrifty habits can retire on a shoestring budget. Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment.
Hi, new to your channel. Found you through Under the Median. I retired 2 years ago at the age of 65, and now I work 20 hours a week. Love the part time hours, and have more time to do the things I enjoy. Also learning to be more frugal. It is freeing. Love your content I have seen so far. PS I live in Indiana USA.
Thanks for sharing
This is the best money chat you have given so far! I am a long time retired, happy and comfortable, believe me, it has been worth living carefully and frugally to not have to worry in retirement about day to day living, let alone the unexpected! My husband had to retire at 61 because of illness, but we just re-adjusted and did not do without. That was harder on us more mentally than financially, but made more tolerable by not having to worry about paying utilities and food.
Thanks Jeanne. I’m a huge believer in living beneath our means so we have savings to pay cash for what we need, when we need it.
I like the way you do your videos. I like it when you show us clips of the beautiful flowers or you mowing your yard. Good tips for retirement. Have a good Sunday and God Bless!
You’re very welcome and thanks for commenting.
Once retired, we sold up, paid off the mortgage, moved to France and bought a property outright. The quality of life is so much better in France and being state retired our health cover is paid for by the NHS.
Thanks for sharing. I certainly agree about the quality of life.
I am a 3day per week worker but now have to work from home so def our utilities have increased over last winter. However no travel costs is an offset and peace of mind not having to be in an office with sealed windows and air conditioning!
We work from home too. The savings out weigh the costs. Thanks very much for watching and taking the time to comment.
Another great video I retired 2 years ago at 57 having spent 40 years in retail the hours and stress got to much. Living debt free on my private pensions and
Part time one day week job. Wouldn't change for the world good financial planning and disciplined budget but the upside is quality of life with the family keep up the good work
Ian
Well done on taking retirement Ian. As private pensions are voluntary, you made the right decision to pay into the works pension.
I’m so happy I have found your channel. Thank you Jane and Michae❤️
Thanks very much
Fabulous video one of your best. Very clearly setting out how to prepare for retirement. Also felt very reassured after hearing your views on expenses in retirement and financal gains of not working. I downsized at the end of last year from a 4 bed detached to a 2 bed cottage and my monthly outgoings are halved. I have reduced my hours at work this last year and I am looking to retire in the next year so decided last year to live on the amount I will receive in pension from the state pension and from my government pension and put the rest of my wage into savings for the future.
Love your down to earth common sense attitude to money, as you have said previously you can only spend what you have coming in and it’s pointless looking at things you know you can’t afford. In the developed world we have all got into the habit of thinking we are entitled to everything NOW. This is why so many people end up in debt they can not afford to pay. I give myself £100 a month to spend on anything I want be that a meal out, a new outfit or a ton of bubble gum but apart from that everything has to fit into the budget and if it doesn’t it has to be saved for even if it’s only a steak for dinner or a bottle of wine.
I so look forward to your videos it makes my day when I see a new one appear, I am now also reading your blog.
Keep the videos coming I am sure many many others feel the same as me.
You got it all well organized Pat, good for you. Thanks for watching.
Finally on the last leg to my retirement, I finally retire at the end of March. Having lived on my retirement income I now know that financially I am well prepared and have everything I need in my budget.
Being retired is lovely ,the only downside is you can't top the pot if you don't do a part time job , or have a little side line. You have covered this very well,it will be a great help to a lot of your viewers!
Well said Jeanne. It’s why it’s so important that whilst people are working that they totally focus on getting as big a pension as they can. I have no intention of stopping part time work until I’m 67.
Great advice - thank you. I don't think that I'll be able to retire for at least another 3 years (but that will still be early retirement). In the meantime, we've just "downsized" our jobs in terms of pay and responsibility, and so are living on a shoestring budget in preparation. I'm going to think of it as semi-retirement as stress levels are definitely going to go down!
It’s great to practice, we overpaid our mortgage for year and saved so there was nothing to waste. It was good practice.
Great advice Jane!
We started preparing 8 years early, did some overseas trips, then diy work we replaced our roof and gutters, installed solar panel system, new bathroom and kitchen, painted outside and in, bought a cheap camper and did it up, planted citrus, Avocado and Macadamia nut trees then got our first brand new car 2 years before retirement. On retirement at 62 we paid off the mortgage, started volunteer work and continued camping and fishing! Great video Jane and Mike!
Well done Helen
Semi- retired and 70 in a few months. Great advice.
Good for you, there’s no need to give up work if that’s your choice.
I retired at 52 after having taught elementary school for 30 years due to breast cancer. But I have had part time jobs for the past 20 years teaching reading to K-5 and at a community college. I turned 72 and this will be my last year. I still enjoyed working with the kids and worked 10 to 19 hours a week for 5 to 9 months depending on the situation. I have been able to do many things including: raising a teenager, helping raise my grandchild, traveling, eat with friends, garden, read, watch videos, volunteering at various places, getting another degree, visiting with family and friends. My husband just stopped one part time job at a golf course but works 4 hours a week driving for an auto auction. He enjoys this and uses his money for his hobby. Do what makes you happy.❤❤❤❤❤
Thanks
I know many brits who move to France that are either part retired or one of the two partners is retired.
My youngest son and his wife have bought a house in SW France and only one of them is retiring. I think that in rural France a bigger percentage of the population is not so motivated by ownership of the latest fancy kitchen, car, clothes etc. Btw, I have lived in SWFrance for more than twenty years.
Hi Susan, thanks for sharing and SW France is beautiful. I certainly agree that rural France has people who are not motivated by fance anything. Thanks for watching.
Great information
Hi Jane
I love listening to your chats
My husband retired early with no pension until he was 65 but we spent 3 years putting everything in place
We had put aside money to see us through until his retirement and it worked well
He will be 70 on the 28th of June and all worked out well
Have a good week xx💟💟💟💟
Hello Paula, I’m so glad it all worked out well for you. Thanks for commenting.
Thanks Jane xx 💟💟💟💟
At 75 I can attested that we followed all of your list. What surprised me about retirement was all the social opportunities. With raising a family and working I was so busy. Many friends were found at work. I pictured a retirement with less to do. New friends came my way with joining new groups. I still am less busy, but it is fun.
One thing that is expensive is our US health care. Since I was a state employee the state helps with the health care cost. We are grateful for our federal Medicare program. What we would have paid on a mortgage we now pay in supplemental health care. As I have said it is 17 percent of our yearly budget.
Hi Sue, thanks for sharing, I now don’t know how I found time to work full time.
Great retirement advice! Thank you! My husband has been retired for 8 years and I am mostly retired but working part-time! I am annually adjusting our budget because of price increases, looking for the best prices to fit our budget! I just signed with a different fuel company for a $100. savings a month! You’ve brought up lots of important aspects of retirement to consider! Thanks again for a lovely vlog!
Thanks for sharing and well done on the fuel discount.
Fantastic advice! I am in a lucky position to think retirement in my early 40s 😊 It is a bit scary though as I haven’t worked out what I’ll do (although I have plenty of ideas!)
Good for you. Thanks for sharing.
I'm new to this channel Jane .Just discovered you today ! Thank you for all your wisdom and love your style ... wonderful ...I e not seen anything like it on this subject xxx
Thanks Lorna. You’re most welcome
Very imformative video im 58 this xmas time i was retireing soon but they moved it to.66 but i.reslise now if had money saved could of retired earlyer so lesson learned there thank you for the video.x
Thanks for watching and commenting
Thank you Jane, this was really helpful advice. Have a lovely evening. 😀
Thanks for watching. I hope it was helpful.
@@FrugalQueeninFrance it certainly was and I very much appreciate it.
Hi @mariejustmarie Your comment pops up, but I can't find it. I don't live in the UK. So, my tips on what I feel people need to do before they retire could be useful where ever you live. Pay off debt, your mortgage, downsize if you can and have a fully paid up pension. Then make sure you are living off a written budget. I hope that helps. Thanks for watching and sorry I couldn't reply directly. You might have replied to a reply hence I couldn't find your comment. Thanks again for watching.
Good thoughts
Thanks Shelia.
Really enjoyed this.....and those pink flowers! 👍
Thanks Irene
Agree biggest reduction can be food, I have the time to half my food budget with good shopping and home cooking
Thanks for sharing. We think so too.
Very good!
Thank you! Cheers!
Hi Jane, great advice! I look forward to your chats🏴
Thanks Rachel.
Lots of great advice. What I’m finding is it’s just really expensive to live in the US. I’m not quite ready yet but thinking about moving to France in the near future.
Plenty of Americans do retire to Europe. It’s much cheaper for healthcare.
Thank you. Great advise.
I retired 3 years ago from teaching 40 years. Now I have time like you mentioned to do other things. I love my retirement life and I’m totally grateful to have what I have, a piece of mind.
Congratulations on your retirement
Thank you Jane. I have been planning and I'm thrifty. Moving from California to Texas end of September that alone makes a big difference in food, gasoline & housing. Although moving from apt. to a house is not downsizing. My son & I purchased together and our expenses will be shared. I've worked more than most but will have full social security & a pension. I'll be 72 this year in December-heathly and active. But definitely looking forward to focusing on my home, myself, volunteering and my Tea Party business which is seasonal, but also have skill in accounting and organizating. Will be more active with my Temple.
I practiced my « retirement » budget for 6 months. Gave me confidence the day I retired!
I do! I do! I want to retire! I’ve been a teacher for 24 years after 14 years as a social worker. I’m tired. I want to putter around in my sewing room with a cup of coffee and go for a bike ride in the park in the middle of the day. There are so many things I want to do. I can substitute teach when I want to earn a little extra money. One thing that costs more here in the US when you retire is-health insurance. Employer subsidized health insurance is a lot cheaper than pre-Medicare insurance. You don’t know how lucky you are to be from the UK.
I know I’m lucky. I’m also lucky that France is next door.
Very good advice! We are able to be retired right now but my husband doesn’t want to. We own our own business so we are able to take time off or take trips if we want. It sure is comforting knowing that we could retire if we wanted to.
Thanks for sharing, watching and commenting.
I’m a serious fan! Keep up the good work, please xx
Thanks for your support.
Hi Jane, another great video thank you. I wouldn't say we are especially frugal but we are more mindful and less wasteful now we are semi retired,( we did have a plan for that and we have created our own retirement income in preparation for that) but we certainly don't have a bottomless purse! I get some great tips from your vlogs and some are extremely relevant to us, living in France especially, shopping tips and low cost recipes, ideas for low cost days out etc. etc.
The great thing about living in a new country is that there’s so much to see, I can wander round old towns for free and just enjoy the view.
I would suggest that these are all areas to examine, your situation may be different. For example my transportation costs went up because I drive to the park by the lake so I can roller-blade, where before on sunny days I would do a 40 minute walk to work. Worth it? Oh yeah. But it was something I was aware of and expecting.
Loved that video it has given me the urge to retire. Thank you so much I think i might just be able to do this, hurrah
Good luck with your choices, thanks for watching
Being g similar ages and stages off our lives I can really understand you your my kind of person to thank yiu
Thanks Kerry for your kind words
I’m 53 and recently checked my N.I. years, I contacted them and we now need 36 years because the retirement age has gone up.
That just sucks! Considering how low the pension is, it’s a lot of contributions.
@@FrugalQueeninFrancethis past tax year gave me 35 years, imagine how gutted I was that I need another year and my retirement age is now 67 ! 🤦🏻♀️
@@karenccs67 we have 36 years each, it’s a huge contribution for a tiny pension
@@FrugalQueeninFrance yes it is.
Thank you Jane
Love this one.
Thanks Lauri
I envy your lifestyle. Maybe one day I’ll be able to achieve it too. Interesting video.. good to hear the process behind achieving it.
I’m trying to get sorted debt wise but every time I think I’m getting there something happens that moves the goal post☹️ … still I keep focused and one day I’ll get there xx
Hi Penny. Debt payments need to be minimum payment only until you build up an emergency fund. Without that fund, each time something breaks down, you’ll not have the money to pay for it. Then, when the emergency fund is full again, then you start the debt snowball again. A written budget which needs sticking to with the first line after essentials for living should be debt repayments. My email is FrugalqueeninFrance@gmail.com if you want to contact me personally for any debt help and advice. I never disclose or charge. You’re very welcome.
@@FrugalQueeninFrance Thank you. That’s very kind of you xx
Loved this, Jane. We have started practising living on a smaller budget already. What great advice. I often suggest this to couples who want to have a baby.
One thing we have thought about is the cost of having pets. I've had two dogs and a cat for most of my adult life but we will probably stick with just one pet once these darlings pass away. We have made sure we will have a budget for our pet's health too.
Pets are expensive but ours are great companions, one of us is always working alone and the dogs check in to see if we’re ok.
Thank you
You're welcome
Moved to France over 30 yrs ago. Continued paying voluntary contributions for my English pension. Had the possibility to buy property to rent which I sold when I retired. Now 70yrs old receiving my NHS pension, my teacher's pension, a small private pension, my French state pension and my private French pension. Own my flat and have approximately half a millions euros in savings. So no frugal life for me and thankfully still able to profit from all the sacrifices I made earlier in my life.
All of it earned and saved, very well done to you. Pensions are not a lucky dip or lottery, they’re earned. You could have blown the money but you paid for pensions instead, thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
There are a number of costs that I feel I could trim if I moved from UK to say Spain or Portugal. Council Tax £2000, Heating Oil £1200. Grow 30% - 50% of my food, forage, heating from my own trees. Keeping my pension income below £12570, UK threshold for income tax, no tax abroad under double tax treaty.
Interesting that you have kept a part-time income coming in whilst (semi) retired in France and many of your commenters here the same, something for me think about.
Eating once a day has been big change for me in food costs. I am walking several miles every day, my weight has come down considerably and I feel healthier. I eat in the evening after my work and walks, I enjoy prepping my meals much more and I eat as much as I want of good food till I am full so I do not feel deprived and I look forward to my evening meal all day. If I can keep the habit up, I would like it to become more my food and eating lifestyle in retirement as being healthy is makes good economic sense.
Noddy, we work to meet the visa income requirements. Plus, we can’t live off our occupational pensions alone. Take a look at any of our budgeting videos to see all the costs we have.
Great advice.
Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment.
Great video ♥️
Glad you liked it!!
Council tax is that property tax
Yes,
Love your information. I’m in the USA, what is a council tax? Is it like our social security tax?
Council tax is the tax on the house. It can be thousands each year depending on location and house size.
So similar to our property tax.
Beware also anyone who has been ‘contracted out’ when paying into your pension, I’ve worked over 40 years and still won’t get full pension, the work pension is supposed to cover it but it is not shown separately so you never really know.
That’s a good warning. We certainly didn’t do that.
@@FrugalQueeninFrance I worked at BT and wasn't given the option - we had to do it - even people who didn't want to and wouldnt sign were put into the scheme!
I have asked welfare for assistance when in an emergency
Jane, I’m wondering what is a reasonable price for a character home that would have a renovated kitchen and bathroom? And in a safe area? To rent…. Did you buy your place or renting?
North or South? Near a major area or completely rural? Which department? What weather do you want?
Hi Jane, Thank you for the great videos. Do you think 2000 euros in monthly retirement income would be enough for 1 person to live in a medium size town such as Rennes, Nantes, Angers, etc in a 90 square meter house, assuming there is no mortgage? Thank you.
I actually do not see me retiring. I love working. I know that must sound weird
Good for you, everyone should follow their passion. However Dawn, I do hope you have time off to do the things that you enjoy with your family,
You have not seen a shoe string till you have seen what seniors live on in the USA
UK pensioners mostly have just £8000 a year to live off, many have no heating and have to choose to eat or heat their homes. It’s hard.
Lockdown. No gyms or libraries or traveling allowed.
All in good time. One day, we don’t know when, life will return.