I really, really hope the anti-consumerism trend takes over. Along with an anti-waste trend. Plus a trend of using, caring and repairing what we already have. People bandy around the term "The Great Reset", I think we need "The Great Reduction".
How very interesting! What your generation deals. At 71 I’ve lived a very low carbon footprint most of my life. Use cash as often as possible my cards are monitored closely (I’ve been poor and not going back there), no TV (the phones replaced that luxury), cook from scratch tho eating out is a joy. I’m a shocked at “tipflation”. ! And the recycling of plastic is outrageous. The comments warm my heart tho. No spend💕 Investments❤️ etc. they’re giving me hope.
@@Michelle_EmmHow about low consumerism and low waste? Because it’s not really possible to eradicate all of the things we buy or the trash you create if you live in the modern world.
I have toddler grandchildren and we're hooked on Disney+. Knowing the cost of the subscription will keep going up, I'm in the process of creating a Disney DVD collection. They're $1 at my local thriftstore and they have tons. Their father who is a millenial is doing the same. Have also fully stopped eating out because of the tipping ridiculousness. Pack snacks and drinks always.
I don’t have space to keep a library of DVDs. Subscription based services aren’t all that bad. Pick & and choose what is important to you. Most services allow for a pause or options to unsubscribe.
Of all the things on your list, the experience economy is the only thing I am looking forward to. The key to a frugal life within the experience economy is to make your own experiences - potlucks with friends, hiking local trails with a meetup group, book clubs, etc. If we've learned anything from the pandemic, it's that life is short and spending time with people we care & and enjoy being around is the foundation of happiness.
I NEVER SUBSCRIBED TO ANY OF THOSE COMPANIES EVEN NETFLIX, GYM MEMBERSHIP, ETC. I ONLY GO TO THE GYM PER SESSION (SINGLE PASS) NOT BY MEMBERSHIP. EVEN I CAN AFFORD BECAUSE I LOVE AND VERY HAPPY SEE MY SAVINGS AND INVESTMENTS GROWING EXPONENTIALLY. AND THAT MAKES ME HAPPY THAN BUYING "DEPRECIATING" STUFFS (LIABILITIES)
I don't buy ANYTHING that requires a subscription. The only thing I pay for monthly is rent (mine includes utilities) and my cellphone (I own the phone...just paying for data package) I do spend CASH each month for gas and groceries...that's it.
Also…my husband insisted we “go and do” in our 40s and 50s, instead of waiting for retirement. We’re now in our 70s and are much less mobile, so I’m so thankful I listened to him! We have all those lovely memories, no regrets, and a peaceful retirement! (And of course no debt.)
Here's a tip that doesn't cost me a penny and may save someone some money. When I sign up for a free trial of a streaming service (and I suppose it works for other free trials), I cancel the very next day while it's fresh on my mind. I still get the full benefit of the free trial because it doesn't cut off when I cancel but rather when the deadline is reached.
Yep, I cancel right away. You still get the full trial like you mentioned and you don’t have to worry about forgetting. Worse case, just set a reminder on your phone if you can’t figure out how to cancel right away. I am truly astonished that more people don’t do this. I watch all the content I want within the free trial time frame and never get charged….unless they really hook me with a show that has several seasons 😂😂 but that’s incredibly rare!
I *DO* think not having the ability to use cash is a bad thing. It is a VERY bad thing. People who prefer to use plastic over cash are ignorant and fail to see the future doom of this endeavor. Why is it so difficult to understand that when our cash is taken away from us we lose the ability to have private commerce? That is, private monetary transactions between individuals will not be available. We are giving up the right to use cash discretely and we are giving up control of our finances to corporations who will benefit by controlling every aspect of our spending. If we do not have cash, we lose so much more than discretionary spending...we lose control of every aspect of our lives. Why is that notion not frightening to all of us? Why is there not a push back? Why can't people see we are losing our freedoms, one by one? Not having cash for discretionary spending will be an unmeasurable loss of freedom. Wake up, people!!!
I completely agree with you CASH is FREEDOM and yes people better wake up because all our freedoms are being stripped away and people just do not get what is happening to them it so frightening!!!
Thanks for this comment. I agree with you. People are so caught up in the convenience of using a credit/debit card that they don't see the plan to take cash away and with that all of our privacy. I agree...wake up people! I use cash all of the time and when businesses don't accept it, I tell them that I will not be shopping there anymore.
There is pushback: It's a bill called "The Payment Choice Act" which has been introduced a few times in the House and Senate to make it illegal for businesses to refuse cash at a national level, not just a state level as it is now in certain states. There was pushback from some republicans in Congress who think it infringes on a retailer's right to choose how to do business. I don't know if the bill has passed yet, but it gets reintroduced every year.
I'm 70+ and for most of my life I used cash, I always was aware of how much I was spending. Over the past several years I have moved (subconsciously) to using my debit card, what I have found is I don't even check to see how much my purchase is before tapping. Having this total shift is concerning, how many more things in my life have become irrelevant? As for tipping, it's just out of hand. My barber's debit machine starts at 20%.
The more this tipping stuff grows, the more I just avoid patronising these establishments. I socialise at family/ friends homes and do activities outside. On the rare occasion that I do go to a bar/ restaurant, it’s part of a group ( prepaid event) yes, I’m so a tightwad. And got money saved
Me too and I was in the restaurant business for 20 years a complete advocate for tipping well and it's at the point I can't justify the crazy inflated expense of the meal and drinks and then to be expected to leave a hefty tip when service isn't even decent anymore. I just don't see going out as an enjoyable experience any longer : (
What a great "heads-up" to warn and protect ourselves from overspending as a result of these 12 aspects of Consumerism. Thanks for shedding light on all of this, especially as we usher in the new year!
I was born in the 90s and growing up a 10-15% tip used to be completely normal at a restaurant. Now on every bill you see the recommended tip as 18-22%. Tipping 20% is ridiculous.
@@paulfitness5157 BASED. but seems like immigration issues in Ireland. My area has lot of Indian and Chinese immigrants but they are chill and earn good money in tech/finance, so no problems as in Europe.
I only tip where I have always tipped and only if I get the service I should and only to the person that provided direct service. I start at 15% and go or down based on the service. For me growing up tipping was a courtesy not an obligation and I refuse to change. You can imagine, I hit that "No Tip" button a lot.
About item 8, if you pay cash, neither the bank or the companies know what you buy, who you are as a customer and other informations about you. Banks, companies and government furiously want you to use credit card instead of cash.
This is my favorite video of yours so far. It gave me a lot to think about. You condensed so many of the ways we're being screwed and just get used to it into one video.
I am a fan of cash and use it whenever possible. I find it easier to track my spending with cash. If my wallet is empty I can't spend. I take out cash once a month, if the cash runs out before the month then that's just too bad.
I stopped feeling shame for not tipping. I only tip at restaurants of course. The first tipping option is no longer 10-15% anymore (it is at the bottom). It has become 20% or higher, so that if someone is too distracted to look they can easily select the highest option by accident. I do not like this practice.
Muchas Gracias Agustin, this made me remember about a certain subscription I wasn't using and was about to auto renew 😬! paused the video, took a bit of time to find out how, but was just able to cancel it 😅😊
I saw “Peace up and Atown down” and knew exactly what that meant! I love how you keep it allllll the way real. What you said about Duckorations was not lost on me ☺️. Let me say this, when you first came on the scene. I really wasn’t interested in getting to know another TH-camr talking about minimalism and money. BUT I stuck with you anyway and I’m so glad I did! Your content has its own twist. I think you’re so smart, funny, and really enjoy your content. I watch EVERYTHING you put out. Keep doing great things and don’t even address those trolls. Thank you from your Atlanta peeps. A-town forever!
haha, when you leave Atlanta to live somewhere else you realize how big of a thing rap is in Atlanta. I grew up hearing so much of it thinking it was big everywhere, but now in Colorado I rarely hear it unless I seek it out. Certain songs remind me of being in middle school! Thanks for your kind words too!!
7:28 Oh man, I can totally relate. I went to a fast casual joint with a very similar self service kiosk. The only difference is that I was forced to pay a "Kiosk Fee" of $3.00, even though it was the only way I could order my food. This was in addition to the tip I also had to pay. Even though no one was waiting on me AT ALL. I'm getting to the point where cooking my own meals at home is my go-to option. I'm happy to pay tips to people that are actually serving me. But being expected to tip a stupid kiosk? Forget it.
No don't settle to being happy to paying tips at all, what employers are asking us to do through tipping is to supplement their restaurant/Cafe staff instead of the employers paying them a decent wage in the first place like so many other countries.
Wow. I couldn’t agree more about your first point-subscriptions! I just wasted $200 last month for services I don’t even use anymore. I’m increasingly enjoying your content.
Your videos are 🔥. I saw one of Dave Ramsay's video and boom. Mentality changed. Then I came across your channel and automatically subscribed to keep myself in the good zone. I refuse to spend money on stuff. My family can't understand what happened as I was addicted to Amazon. I told my husband that we are on the budget now and do grocery shop only once a week Online! I noticed that I spend more going to the shops throughout the week. I am just about to pass my driving test and get a car (hopefully) and I refuse to take the finances for the car. I want to buy some used car for cash and although I really want to drive I decided to be patient and save for the car. Thank you so much for your videos and showing us how those big men are controlling us
A tip I use for Free subscriptions is I set a reminder on my phone for 2-3 days BEFORE it expires. Yes, tipping culture is getting out of hand. I don't get the mimicking of billionaire. I will spend more on an item if I know its coming from a small business owner or even an individual.
Has anyone else notice that items purchased are just not coming? I bought a book off of Amazon, the tracking kept changing the delivery date, I finally sat down and it never shipped. My mother bought puzzles, over a 3 week period, they slowly tracked. They finally stayed stuck in an “attempted to deliver” state. Finally, my dad bought a stove. After waiting 6 weeks, it never made it on the delivery truck and then the vendor “could not find it in the warehouse”. All three items were cancelled and eventually refunded. I feel like they are banking on a person forgetting or just hoping it shows or just does is too lazy to ask for the refund.
Yes, I've noticed that the delivery dates have been changing. And I was waiting for a product from eBay recently and I remember getting a notification that it was going to be here in a few days, but it never happened. So I contacted the eBay contact who sold the product and she looked it up and found out that it was never delivered and requested refund for herself so she could give me another of the same item that finally came in.
It is scary to see the rapid rise of these insidious trends. Recently a big bank in Australia went cashless and many bank branches have closed which forces people to use cards or other electronic funds transfers. Some shops and cafes are also following the trend, perhaps because it is harder to bank the money. The problem with this is that card use of involves service charges that you don't realise, and banks can also charge lots of extra charges such as fees every time you move money in an out. I really love the convenience, but have had to move away from using the VISA cards provided by the bank. I especially love having my cards on my phone so that I don't need a wallet. As someone who aspires to live more minimally, I welcome the move away from consuming goods to consuming experiences, especially those involving nature and which are free or minimal cost. Thanks again Austin.
Cashless systems are just bound to fail. We only need the payment systems to be out of service for a few days in order to really wreak havoc. Technology is never 100% perfect, and so it will eventually happen. Redundancy is a requirement to make a system reliable.
Great video. I experienced a variation on these sales tactics recently. Last year I cancelled my AAA membership. A few months later they sent me a new card and advised they were giving me a year of free AAA, which I did not request, did not want, and apparently could not refuse. I never used it. At the end of this year an envelope arrived in my mailbox from AAA with “this is a bill” on the outside. Inside, it advised it was time to renew the membership I never applied for, hadn’t used and didn’t want. I bet a % of people who go through this will just automatically pay it as a normal bill without even remembering they cancelled. Living a frugal life requires constant vigilance and attention. Your videos to that point are great.
that is taking it to a next level! Having said that I"m currently doing a half price 3 months of audible, offered to me when I cancelled my subscription. I have the date to cancel in my diary for this one too though
I can absolutely get behind the 'experiences' rather than the 'things'. I think it creates far more memories and positive emotional ....experiences (for lack of a better word - look its 2 am, i just got up and my brain isn't quite functioning lol) than 'stuff'. I took my daughter on her first cruise for her 25th birthday back in october. she LOVED it. I am taking my son on his 2nd cruise in April for his 18th birthday (my daughter and her fiance are also coming, but mama isn't footing the bill for this one LOL). It gives us great time as a family away from the routine of every day life, where we can relax and enjoy each others company!
100% tipflation. At my place of previous work, tipflation was a way to hand off getting raises to the responsibility of the consumer, not the corporation. I actually had to sign away my rights to getting any pay increases and having it capped at a certain amount(if i wanted to continue working there) by accepting that we would start getting the ability to receive tips.
Thanks for that insight, I'm not surprised, just disgusted. Employers in US expect regular people to supplement the restaurant/cafes staff wages instead of paying them decent wages like the rest of the world where tipping isn't much of a thing. This whole battle has turned regular people and restaurant/cafe staff against each other while it's the owners/employers that are the only ones responsible for the mess.
Tipping has become an unspoken pervasive, shameless and brazen financial molestation that you're supposed to submit to doing and be too embarrassed to lose some imagined social standing for recognizing it for the social and financial molestation that it has become.
I agree, owners have placed the responsibility of their staff being paid a decent wage on customers instead of the owners paying a decent wage like so many other countries. The whole battle has turned customers against staff and away from the responsible party - the owners/employers.
@Michelle_Emm nope I'm moving in the Philippines I had a agribusiness farm resort passive income then vegetables garden solar power deepweel small fish pond fruit trees.. I invest for retirement.
This is an excellent video. We need a subscription review app and it wont be long before resturants are advertising themselves a "no tip". Its getting harder and harder to avoid advertising and nudges, thats true. The bext way to lower your carbon footprint is to buy as little as possible, and secondhand if you can.
This is such a well put together video, consumerism will keep on thriving with these tricks, but people do have control over some of their spending if they're willing to admit it. Regarding tipping in general - the rest of the world pays restaurant staff decent wages but in US regular folks are expected to supplement employee wages through tip extortion when it's their employers that should be paying them a better wage. The employers stay in the shadows while they let regular folk and restaurant staff to battle it out...
In Canada. The wait staff and hair dressers get minimum wage like the rest of the industries yet they expect tip. If that’s the case then any worker on minimum wage should be tipped, retail, janitors, factory workers etc. one chooses where they want to work. We are supplementing their wages by tipping. I don’t get a tip at the end of the day after a hard day’s work by my employer. Or for that matter a yearly bonus. Tipping has gone bonkers. Some high end restaurants have mandatory tip added to the bill.
In the US, employers only have to pay their tipped employees $2.13 PER HOUR. Tips are expected to get them up to the federal minimum wage which is only $7.25/hour.
@@RickMartinTH-cam Right on! Amazon became a money drain. Way too easy to buy things you don't need. And I took the move to cancel HBO and other subscriptions I don't need.
Goodwill now asks to round up to the nearest dollar for their cause. So, if I make a purchase that is 12.02, they expect me to give them another .98? No, thank you. I just donated to their cause by making a purchase.
Great insight as always. Seeing the rise of cashless payments can be a challenge in how much is being spent, especially when there no receipts being given.
Probably the least nefarious is the experience pushing. At least its helping you live life and mix it up, subscriptions diminish what was already there and trick you into things you may not even need.
This economy sucks with increasing prices on everything. I would love to hear you talk about games to keep on track. I play games to try to save more than I spend at the grocery store with coupons and sales. It works! I started a list in 2024 of how much I am saving everywhere in free birthday gifts, freebie sandwiches or savings in different things I buy. Making saving money games are fun and you can really see how the money adds up. Thanks, El Augustin! Your videos are entertaining.
a. I have a subscription to Spotify for $11.99/month here in Michigan (it started at $9.99). I admit it is SO much easier to utilize Spotify than purchasing multiple CDs and having to house those (in the house or in the car) and carry those around. (Actually, my 2016 Rav4 doesn't even have a CD player!) b. I totally agree that tipflation is out of control! c. I would live greener if organic and green living weren't so expensive.
I hate it when people see it as a binary choice "streaming vs. piles of CDs". I NEED to OWN my music, and thus have it on my hard drive. I cannot imagine paying for a service and being as restricted as on Spotify: no being permanently offline, no listening on it on an MP3 player (only a computer or smartphone!)...
@@juliem.3936 Sorry if negativity bothered you. You just said that you were upset with managing CDs and said it's why you pay for Spotify, all while you can have best of both worlds and have a local digital collection.
I really enjoy all of your videos Austin. Thank you for all of your efforts into these videos. Duckorations Decorations - Tomato Tomato. Please keep up with your awesome work! Sai.
Vehicles should be purchased as cheaply as possible to provide basic, easy to maintain, cheap transportation. Same with housing. You can live on less than $1,000-$1,500 a month in 2024 in America.
@@sierrarmcclain YOU HAVE TO SAVE MONEY AND PAY OFF DEBT. I have bought my house with cash, no debt. I have a savings account. You fucking putz, you think magically just $1,500 happens overnight!? NO I worked my ASS off for years to get here.
In 2024 I am trying to avoid going places where they expect a tip. That should keep me away from a lot more spending then I could have expected. Duckorations 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
living in the States is getting more and more ridiculous as tipping is everywhere that makes me so uncomfortable. Also, ppl chase after u to sell their products in the malls and on the streets. Also the staff follow u and “constantly “ ask if they can help which annoys me to hell. I used to experience this in east Asia where they used to practice this thinking it was part of good service but customers hated it. I cannot believe it’s happening here. Almost every store I go into, I get asked if they can help again and again by different staff.
Thank you for this outstanding information. Although I was aware of some of these trends, you have expressed them as a whole, aloud in a succinct way in one video. Great job You are on my watch list & I will be sharing your TH-cams with my family & friends, which I have not done with other finance related TH-cams.
About number 12. Selling experience instead of goods is a bonanza for companies. They don't have to produces goods. They just have to maintain the experience environment. This lower the costs of the intrants.
I just took my whole family to tour an eccentric millionaires house. That was their Christmas present. Cost me ten dollars.a.person and we had a blast with the secret passageways and bizarre collections he left behind. Bayernhof Museum in Pittsburgh. Tell your friends. LOL
The only social media platform I watch is TH-cam nothing else and am happy to pay NZ$17.99 a month for Premium TH-cam to avoid those horrible ads. I watch ad free YT videos and can never go back.
Cough cough, free ad blockers exist and could save you all of that money and even though TH-cam is supposedly cracking down on them it still seems to work fine, cough cough!
Thank you for the ideas. At least, I am now more prepared to even be more intentional with my purchases. Jokes on the subscription services, I don't do subscriptions. I find ways which are free. I say, you do you, please say decorations how you say it. It makes you, you. I find it beautiful and unique. You made it yours. You not only have a beautiful voice, but also your way of speaking is so soothing. please don't let those people get you down.
right on El Augustin! keep us thinking about all these marketing ploys. I review my spending every month and that means reviewing subscriptions too. If I sign up for a yearly one I always put the date to cancel in my diary. Tipping doesnt really exist in New Zealand, where I live.
refuse, reduce, reuse, repair should all be prioritized when it comes to wastes (especially plastics !). glass, metals, and paper consumption should still be mindful but are all likely to be recycled properly ♻️
Its truly amazing how much the Pandemic has changed everything. Even dating. I saw something the other day that said no one meets anyone anymore unless its on a dating app. And so unless you "swipe right" and you are the right height and age, you will probably stay single! And yes, I have not used cash since the pandemic. No paper trail and most of my purchases are online. And during Covid, they had to be!
Also, when you swipe a card the transaction is recorded and linked to your name. Companies then, can learn your purchasing habits and make more money, off you.
Biggest ad campaign I've been seeing the past few months is that darn iPhone with Titanium! Wth is that? So now they have nothing else to offer so they add the word Titanium backed by major celebrities pushing it. Crazy. Im an Android guy anyway but those ads are annoying.
Merci Austin ! I am following you from France and most of american consumerism trends apply to my country! Thank you for your advices, and for your common sense.
I have an independent mechanic, I tip him well because he is honest. He once showed up on a Sunday his day off to diagnose a bad starter. An honest mechanic who is knowledgeable is worth treating like a great relative.
At our Starbucks on one of the military bases I paid 9.98 for a 16oz caramel crunch frappe. I was charged for the 20oz price because that’s what I ordered… however, this Starbucks doesn’t carry (or isn’t allowed too, never got the straight answer) the actual 20oz cup. My drink is made for the amount of a 20oz cup and as they pour it into a 16oz cup I see SO MUCH left over in the blender and I say to the barista “I’d like the rest of that in a separate cup please.” I get looked at like I’m crazy for my request. But I walk away with a 16oz and a 12oz. Then I try it and it’s terrible. Let me say, I’ve drank some crap coffee and smiled through it, but this was $10 drink! I return and very nicely say, because I’m not about to have someone call me a Karen, that the frappe is very watery, and can you please remake it. I return BOTH 16oz and 12oz because I don’t want to be a jerk. They remake it… and it’s still crap. I haven’t ordered coffee again in a year. Not only because it was $10 freaking dollars but the mental gymnastics to get an overpriced drink that tastes good and not come off as a poo, was just too much. 😅
We had a Honda Jazz, and now own a Honda Civic. But if I had the cash I'd certainly buy a Tesla. Not because of the CEO but because they're the leaders in Evs and know what they're doing.
I would like to see the rise of the experience economy. Unfortunately, in the UK I am finding too much shrinkflation occurring. Going out for a meal is no longer a worthwhile experience. For example, two starters, two main meals, and two drinks can often cost £70. That could easily cover one weeks food shopping for one person and most of the time you have to come home after a meal out and make yourself a sandwich because of the lack and quality of the ingredients on your plate!
A good frugal friend of mine bought a used Tesla at the price of a Toyota , they have zero interest in the ceo, but the model bought has free charging for life at a Tesla charging station. This will save on his fuel costs. New Diesel cars will not be sold here in Ireland after 2030, there are so many EVs and Hybrids around here now.
I think a return to buying dvds , CDs . As I find subscription costs or the general cost of living gets higher. Just to elaborate on your buying with " cash " ! I was in queue of 10 people to buy a loaf of bread in my local store ( which is part of a huge shopping chain ) there are 2 shopping tills, one crashed , the young girl behind the till offered cash only payment to try and speed things up . Nobody had that option ( I include myself ) I also find You tube the best and most useful subscription I pay into . Music , ad free , useful information .
Yep, I put the day before a free trial expires in my phone calendar, boom 😊 not gonna get me! Lol the decorations part was funny. Keep up the great work!
What's another consumerism trend that is coming in 2024??
also the world of porn site has changed the way to use that kind of contents . Greetings from Italy.
@@lucab5652 Yeah it's insane how much money people spend on it.
I really, really hope the anti-consumerism trend takes over.
Along with an anti-waste trend.
Plus a trend of using, caring and repairing what we already have.
People bandy around the term "The Great Reset", I think we need "The Great Reduction".
How very interesting! What your generation deals. At 71 I’ve lived a very low carbon footprint most of my life. Use cash as often as possible my cards are monitored closely (I’ve been poor and not going back there), no TV (the phones replaced that luxury), cook from scratch tho eating out is a joy.
I’m a shocked at “tipflation”. ! And the recycling of plastic is outrageous.
The comments warm my heart tho. No spend💕 Investments❤️ etc. they’re giving me hope.
@@Michelle_EmmHow about low consumerism and low waste? Because it’s not really possible to eradicate all of the things we buy or the trash you create if you live in the modern world.
2024 will be the year I buy Nothing!!
Me too! Only thing in my planned spending is car repairs.
....Food?
I’ll be investing ❤
Me too!
You need to mention Low buying.. nothing means..it includes food and daily needs.
Tipflation and the decline of cash are the worst!!
I have toddler grandchildren and we're hooked on Disney+. Knowing the cost of the subscription will keep going up, I'm in the process of creating a Disney DVD collection. They're $1 at my local thriftstore and they have tons. Their father who is a millenial is doing the same. Have also fully stopped eating out because of the tipping ridiculousness. Pack snacks and drinks always.
I have been buying DVDs too!
I don’t have space to keep a library of DVDs. Subscription based services aren’t all that bad. Pick & and choose what is important to you. Most services allow for a pause or options to unsubscribe.
@@riyadmoe8718Do you live in a shoebox
But where do you find a DVD player ? 😂
@@MyLifeInTheDesert You can find devices that play DVDs almost anywhere for practically nothing.
Of all the things on your list, the experience economy is the only thing I am looking forward to. The key to a frugal life within the experience economy is to make your own experiences - potlucks with friends, hiking local trails with a meetup group, book clubs, etc. If we've learned anything from the pandemic, it's that life is short and spending time with people we care & and enjoy being around is the foundation of happiness.
It'll be interesting!!
YES to it all!
Yes, I agree
"You will own nothing and you will be happy"
Let's have a challenge! Spend nothing in 2024 unless it is a necessity.
Or only spend one day a week.
I'm only spending on necessities only no bars no clothes not eating out either.
Tipping workers for the services they provide is unsustainable... We customers are paying them more in tips than their employers pay them in wages!!!!
I canceled ALL my subscription services in 2023.
I cancelled my subscriptions at the beginning from COVID. Best decision ever.
I cancelled my Netflix after they raised the subscription cost… again.
I NEVER SUBSCRIBED TO ANY OF THOSE COMPANIES EVEN NETFLIX, GYM MEMBERSHIP, ETC. I ONLY GO TO THE GYM PER SESSION (SINGLE PASS) NOT BY MEMBERSHIP. EVEN I CAN AFFORD BECAUSE I LOVE AND VERY HAPPY SEE MY SAVINGS AND INVESTMENTS GROWING EXPONENTIALLY. AND THAT MAKES ME HAPPY THAN BUYING "DEPRECIATING" STUFFS (LIABILITIES)
Awesome!
I didn't have any to cancel, I cancelled Netflix about 8 year's ago. Never had any other subs.
I don't even have internet connected at home.
I don't buy ANYTHING that requires a subscription. The only thing I pay for monthly is rent (mine includes utilities) and my cellphone (I own the phone...just paying for data package) I do spend CASH each month for gas and groceries...that's it.
I understand I am the zame. But slowly they are forcing us. It wull come to a point where there will be no choise
I am doing a 2024 no buy year….BUT I will be contributing to the experience economy…life is short… the bucket list is long…🤣.
Also…my husband insisted we “go and do” in our 40s and 50s, instead of waiting for retirement. We’re now in our 70s and are much less mobile, so I’m so thankful I listened to him! We have all those lovely memories, no regrets, and a peaceful retirement! (And of course no debt.)
Same here!! I'm doing a very low-buy year for 2024 with the exception of experiences.
Here's a tip that doesn't cost me a penny and may save someone some money. When I sign up for a free trial of a streaming service (and I suppose it works for other free trials), I cancel the very next day while it's fresh on my mind. I still get the full benefit of the free trial because it doesn't cut off when I cancel but rather when the deadline is reached.
I cancel write away because I might forget tomorrow or in 6 days 😂
SAME!
Yep, I cancel right away. You still get the full trial like you mentioned and you don’t have to worry about forgetting. Worse case, just set a reminder on your phone if you can’t figure out how to cancel right away. I am truly astonished that more people don’t do this. I watch all the content I want within the free trial time frame and never get charged….unless they really hook me with a show that has several seasons 😂😂 but that’s incredibly rare!
Yes, I do this.
Do it yearly with /\m/\z0|\|. They have a free streaming app too that most of their shows end up on.
I *DO* think not having the ability to use cash is a bad thing. It is a VERY bad thing. People who prefer to use plastic over cash are ignorant and fail to see the future doom of this endeavor. Why is it so difficult to understand that when our cash is taken away from us we lose the ability to have private commerce? That is, private monetary transactions between individuals will not be available. We are giving up the right to use cash discretely and we are giving up control of our finances to corporations who will benefit by controlling every aspect of our spending. If we do not have cash, we lose so much more than discretionary spending...we lose control of every aspect of our lives. Why is that notion not frightening to all of us? Why is there not a push back? Why can't people see we are losing our freedoms, one by one? Not having cash for discretionary spending will be an unmeasurable loss of freedom. Wake up, people!!!
I completely agree with you CASH is FREEDOM and yes people better wake up because all our freedoms are being stripped away and people just do not get what is happening to them it so frightening!!!
Hear! Hear!
Thanks for this comment. I agree with you. People are so caught up in the convenience of using a credit/debit card that they don't see the plan to take cash away and with that all of our privacy. I agree...wake up people! I use cash all of the time and when businesses don't accept it, I tell them that I will not be shopping there anymore.
No one is making it illegal to use cash, for any purpose
There is pushback: It's a bill called "The Payment Choice Act" which has been introduced a few times in the House and Senate to make it illegal for businesses to refuse cash at a national level, not just a state level as it is now in certain states.
There was pushback from some republicans in Congress who think it infringes on a retailer's right to choose how to do business.
I don't know if the bill has passed yet, but it gets reintroduced every year.
I'm 70+ and for most of my life I used cash, I always was aware of how much I was spending. Over the past several years I have moved (subconsciously) to using my debit card, what I have found is I don't even check to see how much my purchase is before tapping. Having this total shift is concerning, how many more things in my life have become irrelevant?
As for tipping, it's just out of hand. My barber's debit machine starts at 20%.
The more this tipping stuff grows, the more I just avoid patronising these establishments. I socialise at family/ friends homes and do activities outside. On the rare occasion that I do go to a bar/ restaurant, it’s part of a group ( prepaid event) yes, I’m so a tightwad. And got money saved
Me too and I was in the restaurant business for 20 years a complete advocate for tipping well and it's at the point I can't justify the crazy inflated expense of the meal and drinks and then to be expected to leave a hefty tip when service isn't even decent anymore. I just don't see going out as an enjoyable experience any longer : (
It’s a total turn off and it’s saved us money by avoiding going out so much
What a great "heads-up" to warn and protect ourselves from overspending as a result of these 12 aspects of Consumerism. Thanks for shedding light on all of this, especially as we usher in the new year!
Always look forward to your videos thank you 😊
I was born in the 90s and growing up a 10-15% tip used to be completely normal at a restaurant. Now on every bill you see the recommended tip as 18-22%. Tipping 20% is ridiculous.
We don't tip in Ireland lol
@@paulfitness5157 BASED. but seems like immigration issues in Ireland. My area has lot of Indian and Chinese immigrants but they are chill and earn good money in tech/finance, so no problems as in Europe.
That's USA for you. In Asia we don't normally tip.
I only tip where I have always tipped and only if I get the service I should and only to the person that provided direct service. I start at 15% and go or down based on the service. For me growing up tipping was a courtesy not an obligation and I refuse to change. You can imagine, I hit that "No Tip" button a lot.
We are fortunate that we don’t tip in Australia
I was the one that commented you pronounced decorations “duckorations” and THAT my dear El Augustine is what makes you so endearing!! ❤️❤️❤️
About item 8, if you pay cash, neither the bank or the companies know what you buy, who you are as a customer and other informations about you. Banks, companies and government furiously want you to use credit card instead of cash.
Yep. You can’t even get reloadable debit cards over the counter that don’t require you to have a SSN or VIN.
This is my favorite video of yours so far. It gave me a lot to think about. You condensed so many of the ways we're being screwed and just get used to it into one video.
If a store doesn’t take cash, I won’t buy from that store
I disagree with you Austin: It is a bad thing that cash is being used less.
YES! And WHY can't people see this, understand this, and fight against this????
I am a fan of cash and use it whenever possible.
I find it easier to track my spending with cash. If my wallet is empty I can't spend. I take out cash once a month, if the cash runs out before the month then that's just too bad.
I stopped feeling shame for not tipping. I only tip at restaurants of course.
The first tipping option is no longer 10-15% anymore (it is at the bottom). It has become 20% or higher, so that if someone is too distracted to look they can easily select the highest option by accident. I do not like this practice.
Muchas Gracias Agustin, this made me remember about a certain subscription I wasn't using and was about to auto renew 😬! paused the video, took a bit of time to find out how, but was just able to cancel it 😅😊
I saw “Peace up and Atown down” and knew exactly what that meant! I love how you keep it allllll the way real. What you said about Duckorations was not lost on me ☺️. Let me say this, when you first came on the scene. I really wasn’t interested in getting to know another TH-camr talking about minimalism and money. BUT I stuck with you anyway and I’m so glad I did! Your content has its own twist. I think you’re so smart, funny, and really enjoy your content. I watch EVERYTHING you put out. Keep doing great things and don’t even address those trolls. Thank you from your Atlanta peeps. A-town forever!
What does "peace up and Atown down" mean?
Great comment!👏👏👏
haha, when you leave Atlanta to live somewhere else you realize how big of a thing rap is in Atlanta. I grew up hearing so much of it thinking it was big everywhere, but now in Colorado I rarely hear it unless I seek it out. Certain songs remind me of being in middle school! Thanks for your kind words too!!
@@rhondalyn100 when you put two fingers up that’s the peace ✌️ sign. Flip it down and it makes the letter A which stands for Atlanta
@@pdwoods70 Thank you. 🙂
7:28 Oh man, I can totally relate. I went to a fast casual joint with a very similar self service kiosk. The only difference is that I was forced to pay a "Kiosk Fee" of $3.00, even though it was the only way I could order my food.
This was in addition to the tip I also had to pay. Even though no one was waiting on me AT ALL.
I'm getting to the point where cooking my own meals at home is my go-to option. I'm happy to pay tips to people that are actually serving me. But being expected to tip a stupid kiosk? Forget it.
No don't settle to being happy to paying tips at all, what employers are asking us to do through tipping is to supplement their restaurant/Cafe staff instead of the employers paying them a decent wage in the first place like so many other countries.
I was asked to tip when I got an oil change last week. Wth?
Wow. I couldn’t agree more about your first point-subscriptions! I just wasted $200 last month for services I don’t even use anymore. I’m increasingly enjoying your content.
😊
canceled ALL my subscriptions last month. and I hate the yearly subscription thing!
I did it a few years ago and haven’t looked back.
Your videos are 🔥. I saw one of Dave Ramsay's video and boom. Mentality changed. Then I came across your channel and automatically subscribed to keep myself in the good zone. I refuse to spend money on stuff. My family can't understand what happened as I was addicted to Amazon. I told my husband that we are on the budget now and do grocery shop only once a week Online! I noticed that I spend more going to the shops throughout the week. I am just about to pass my driving test and get a car (hopefully) and I refuse to take the finances for the car. I want to buy some used car for cash and although I really want to drive I decided to be patient and save for the car. Thank you so much for your videos and showing us how those big men are controlling us
A tip I use for Free subscriptions is I set a reminder on my phone for 2-3 days BEFORE it expires. Yes, tipping culture is getting out of hand. I don't get the mimicking of billionaire. I will spend more on an item if I know its coming from a small business owner or even an individual.
Has anyone else notice that items purchased are just not coming? I bought a book off of Amazon, the tracking kept changing the delivery date, I finally sat down and it never shipped. My mother bought puzzles, over a 3 week period, they slowly tracked. They finally stayed stuck in an “attempted to deliver” state. Finally, my dad bought a stove. After waiting 6 weeks, it never made it on the delivery truck and then the vendor “could not find it in the warehouse”. All three items were cancelled and eventually refunded. I feel like they are banking on a person forgetting or just hoping it shows or just does is too lazy to ask for the refund.
Yes, I've noticed that the delivery dates have been changing. And I was waiting for a product from eBay recently and I remember getting a notification that it was going to be here in a few days, but it never happened. So I contacted the eBay contact who sold the product and she looked it up and found out that it was never delivered and requested refund for herself so she could give me another of the same item that finally came in.
I think you‘re right.
Yup!
This happened to me just now. I only buy stuff from Amazon if I can’t find it anywhere else. This reminded me how much I hate Amazon.
@@ihaveadreamformykids4400 🤣🤣me too!!
It is scary to see the rapid rise of these insidious trends. Recently a big bank in Australia went cashless and many bank branches have closed which forces people to use cards or other electronic funds transfers. Some shops and cafes are also following the trend, perhaps because it is harder to bank the money. The problem with this is that card use of involves service charges that you don't realise, and banks can also charge lots of extra charges such as fees every time you move money in an out. I really love the convenience, but have had to move away from using the VISA cards provided by the bank. I especially love having my cards on my phone so that I don't need a wallet. As someone who aspires to live more minimally, I welcome the move away from consuming goods to consuming experiences, especially those involving nature and which are free or minimal cost. Thanks again Austin.
Which bank in Australia went cashless?🇦🇺
Cashless = totalitarianism
Cashless systems are just bound to fail.
We only need the payment systems to be out of service for a few days in order to really wreak havoc.
Technology is never 100% perfect, and so it will eventually happen.
Redundancy is a requirement to make a system reliable.
Some businesses in NYC tried to go cashless but since many poor people don’t have bank accounts, they made a law against it bc it’s discriminatory.
@@smrk2452 how do they receive their welfare payments if they don't have a bank account?
Great video. I experienced a variation on these sales tactics recently. Last year I cancelled my AAA membership. A few months later they sent me a new card and advised they were giving me a year of free AAA, which I did not request, did not want, and apparently could not refuse. I never used it. At the end of this year an envelope arrived in my mailbox from AAA with “this is a bill” on the outside. Inside, it advised it was time to renew the membership I never applied for, hadn’t used and didn’t want. I bet a % of people who go through this will just automatically pay it as a normal bill without even remembering they cancelled. Living a frugal life requires constant vigilance and attention. Your videos to that point are great.
that is taking it to a next level! Having said that I"m currently doing a half price 3 months of audible, offered to me when I cancelled my subscription. I have the date to cancel in my diary for this one too though
"Living a frugal life requires constant vigilance and attention." This is so true! It did not used to be this way but here we are.
I can absolutely get behind the 'experiences' rather than the 'things'. I think it creates far more memories and positive emotional ....experiences (for lack of a better word - look its 2 am, i just got up and my brain isn't quite functioning lol) than 'stuff'. I took my daughter on her first cruise for her 25th birthday back in october. she LOVED it. I am taking my son on his 2nd cruise in April for his 18th birthday (my daughter and her fiance are also coming, but mama isn't footing the bill for this one LOL). It gives us great time as a family away from the routine of every day life, where we can relax and enjoy each others company!
WELL-RESEARCHED AND WELL-DELIVERED-- REFRESHING!!
I appreciate it! Always trying to find new things to talk about!!
This was eye opening and a good reminder to pay attention to what is happening around me!
100% tipflation. At my place of previous work, tipflation was a way to hand off getting raises to the responsibility of the consumer, not the corporation. I actually had to sign away my rights to getting any pay increases and having it capped at a certain amount(if i wanted to continue working there) by accepting that we would start getting the ability to receive tips.
Yeah, it's a crazy system.
Thanks for that insight, I'm not surprised, just disgusted. Employers in US expect regular people to supplement the restaurant/cafes staff wages instead of paying them decent wages like the rest of the world where tipping isn't much of a thing. This whole battle has turned regular people and restaurant/cafe staff against each other while it's the owners/employers that are the only ones responsible for the mess.
This is a way to rob money from consumers/citizens even more. They are squeezing everyone until they have nothing else to give.
I live in Germany. You can find a tip piggy bank almost everywhere! Many carry a little note "for frienddly service"
Tipping has become an unspoken pervasive, shameless and brazen financial molestation that you're supposed to submit to doing and be too embarrassed to lose some imagined social standing for recognizing it for the social and financial molestation that it has become.
YES!!! THIS!!!
I agree, owners have placed the responsibility of their staff being paid a decent wage on customers instead of the owners paying a decent wage like so many other countries. The whole battle has turned customers against staff and away from the responsible party - the owners/employers.
Everyone who doesn’t want to tip should band together and lobby Congress to change the law that allows tipped employees to be paid $2.13/hour!
In 2024 I live off grid. I use what I have and buy nothing..
Are you building your own cabin? What a great adventure! Good luck, I hope 2024 is a great year for you.
@Michelle_Emm nope I'm moving in the Philippines I had a agribusiness farm resort passive income then vegetables garden solar power deepweel small fish pond fruit trees.. I invest for retirement.
@@jerrysan7338 sounds like a great life. Enjoy!
I pay yearly for mint mobile, but I love it.
That one is worth it!
just cancelled grocery store membership and will close amazon prime in two weeks
interesting on green washing
This is an excellent video. We need a subscription review app and it wont be long before resturants are advertising themselves a "no tip". Its getting harder and harder to avoid advertising and nudges, thats true. The bext way to lower your carbon footprint is to buy as little as possible, and secondhand if you can.
This is such a well put together video, consumerism will keep on thriving with these tricks, but people do have control over some of their spending if they're willing to admit it.
Regarding tipping in general - the rest of the world pays restaurant staff decent wages but in US regular folks are expected to supplement employee wages through tip extortion when it's their employers that should be paying them a better wage. The employers stay in the shadows while they let regular folk and restaurant staff to battle it out...
In Canada. The wait staff and hair dressers get minimum wage like the rest of the industries yet they expect tip. If that’s the case then any worker on minimum wage should be tipped, retail, janitors, factory workers etc. one chooses where they want to work. We are supplementing their wages by tipping. I don’t get a tip at the end of the day after a hard day’s work by my employer. Or for that matter a yearly bonus. Tipping has gone bonkers. Some high end restaurants have mandatory tip added to the bill.
In the US, employers only have to pay their tipped employees $2.13 PER HOUR. Tips are expected to get them up to the federal minimum wage which is only $7.25/hour.
Subscriptions are the synonymous for FIXED COST. Fixed costs are your MAJOR enemy. You don't notice them but they will eat your finances.
@@RickMartinTH-cam Right on! Amazon became a money drain. Way too easy to buy things you don't need. And I took the move to cancel HBO and other subscriptions I don't need.
Muchas gracias Agustín, no uso tarjetas de crédito, todas mis compras en efectivo only.
Goodwill now asks to round up to the nearest dollar for their cause. So, if I make a purchase that is 12.02, they expect me to give them another .98? No, thank you. I just donated to their cause by making a purchase.
Goodwill makes big bucks on items they get for free! Let them donate!
Great insight as always. Seeing the rise of cashless payments can be a challenge in how much is being spent, especially when there no receipts being given.
Probably the least nefarious is the experience pushing. At least its helping you live life and mix it up, subscriptions diminish what was already there and trick you into things you may not even need.
refuse, reduce, reuse, repair and be mindful of the products you consume
This economy sucks with increasing prices on everything. I would love to hear you talk about games to keep on track. I play games to try to save more than I spend at the grocery store with coupons and sales. It works! I started a list in 2024 of how much I am saving everywhere in free birthday gifts, freebie sandwiches or savings in different things I buy. Making saving money games are fun and you can really see how the money adds up. Thanks, El Augustin! Your videos are entertaining.
a. I have a subscription to Spotify for $11.99/month here in Michigan (it started at $9.99). I admit it is SO much easier to utilize Spotify than purchasing multiple CDs and having to house those (in the house or in the car) and carry those around. (Actually, my 2016 Rav4 doesn't even have a CD player!) b. I totally agree that tipflation is out of control! c. I would live greener if organic and green living weren't so expensive.
I don't pay for Spotify. Why do you pay?
@@danicegewiss862 So I don't have to listen to ads.
I hate it when people see it as a binary choice "streaming vs. piles of CDs". I NEED to OWN my music, and thus have it on my hard drive. I cannot imagine paying for a service and being as restricted as on Spotify: no being permanently offline, no listening on it on an MP3 player (only a computer or smartphone!)...
@@Sasha-zw9ss Dang, yo! Feeling the negative emotion there! Glad what you have works for you.
@@juliem.3936 Sorry if negativity bothered you. You just said that you were upset with managing CDs and said it's why you pay for Spotify, all while you can have best of both worlds and have a local digital collection.
I really enjoy all of your videos Austin. Thank you for all of your efforts into these videos. Duckorations Decorations - Tomato Tomato. Please keep up with your awesome work! Sai.
I prefer stuff rather than experiences. I guess I have had plenty of experiences already.
Sometimes you need the stuff to have the experience, ie mountain biking.
@@Barbara-te7xz good point
How hard is it to put a reminder in your phone to cancel the free trial, like a week in advance
Vehicles should be purchased as cheaply as possible to provide basic, easy to maintain, cheap transportation. Same with housing. You can live on less than $1,000-$1,500 a month in 2024 in America.
You are correct. My husband and I live well on about 2800 a month. We have everything we need and are incredibly blessed!
Can you save money and pay for unexpected medical expenses on $1000-1500 per month?
@@sierrarmcclain YOU HAVE TO SAVE MONEY AND PAY OFF DEBT. I have bought my house with cash, no debt. I have a savings account. You fucking putz, you think magically just $1,500 happens overnight!? NO I worked my ASS off for years to get here.
are YOU "saving" for medical expenses? I guarantee you aren't. @@sierrarmcclain
I wouldn't have those expenses because we have insurance. And yes, the cost of insurance is included in our monthly budget.
If you're paying for internet and if you're paying a mortgage or you're paying rent, those are subscriptions
In 2024 I am trying to avoid going places where they expect a tip. That should keep me away from a lot more spending then I could have expected.
Duckorations 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Same, but the number of places that don't have it is lowering.
Great video! Those trends are disgusting. Thank you for hard work.
Thanks for watching!
I drive a Toyota and can confirm I have never thought about the CEO 😂
living in the States is getting more and more ridiculous as tipping is everywhere that makes me so uncomfortable. Also, ppl chase after u to sell their products in the malls and on the streets. Also the staff follow u and “constantly “ ask if they can help which annoys me to hell. I used to experience this in east Asia where they used to practice this thinking it was part of good service but customers hated it. I cannot believe it’s happening here. Almost every store I go into, I get asked if they can help again and again by different staff.
Right, except when you really need help or have a question. Then, there's not an employee to be found.
Hey algustin!!!Ive been watching your videos and wonder what habits do you do daily?
Write, drink coffee, exercise!
has anyone ever told you! "you are heLLA smart!" well now you have been told ! thank you! keep up the great work you keep me going !
haha, thanks! I just think about things at home while everyone else is working! I'm a professional thinker!!
Thank you for this outstanding information. Although I was aware of some of these trends, you have expressed them as a whole, aloud in a succinct way in one video. Great job You are on my watch list & I will be sharing your TH-cams with my family & friends, which I have not done with other finance related TH-cams.
About number 12. Selling experience instead of goods is a bonanza for companies. They don't have to produces goods. They just have to maintain the experience environment. This lower the costs of the intrants.
I like the experience economy. I'd rather spend on an experience than a thing
I just took my whole family to tour an eccentric millionaires house. That was their Christmas present. Cost me ten dollars.a.person and we had a blast with the secret passageways and bizarre collections he left behind. Bayernhof Museum in Pittsburgh. Tell your friends. LOL
I cannot imagine identifying with any CEO
Your videos are great!
Glad you like them!
The only social media platform I watch is TH-cam nothing else and am happy to pay NZ$17.99 a month for Premium TH-cam to avoid those horrible ads. I watch ad free YT videos and can never go back.
Same!
Cough cough, free ad blockers exist and could save you all of that money and even though TH-cam is supposedly cracking down on them it still seems to work fine, cough cough!
@@trashhat.9264And frontends like Invidious/Piped.
Well i dont pay to avoid ads. Those ads dont influence me a bit
I have one subscription, and thats youtube.
Free trials i avoid like the plague
“A Toyota is a car and a Tesla is a personality.”
This. So much this.
very interesting, as usual. Keep going! 😀
Appreciate it!
Thank you for the ideas. At least, I am now more prepared to even be more intentional with my purchases.
Jokes on the subscription services, I don't do subscriptions. I find ways which are free.
I say, you do you, please say decorations how you say it. It makes you, you. I find it beautiful and unique. You made it yours. You not only have a beautiful voice, but also your way of speaking is so soothing. please don't let those people get you down.
Subscriptions are out of control.
right on El Augustin! keep us thinking about all these marketing ploys. I review my spending every month and that means reviewing subscriptions too. If I sign up for a yearly one I always put the date to cancel in my diary. Tipping doesnt really exist in New Zealand, where I live.
im not eating at no restaurant if the food is bad with nice ambiance
You have a very soothing voice. I think it would be great for you to do voice overs of books.
refuse, reduce, reuse, repair should all be prioritized when it comes to wastes (especially plastics !). glass, metals, and paper consumption should still be mindful but are all likely to be recycled properly ♻️
What an accurate perception. Wow!
Its truly amazing how much the Pandemic has changed everything. Even dating. I saw something the other day that said no one meets anyone anymore unless its on a dating app. And so unless you "swipe right" and you are the right height and age, you will probably stay single! And yes, I have not used cash since the pandemic. No paper trail and most of my purchases are online. And during Covid, they had to be!
Daygame is better than dating apps
“No paper trail”…lol…you really don’t understand how non-cash works, do you?
Your debit and credit card purchases are tracked. That’s the very definition of “paper trail.”
Thank you for your content this year, Austin ⭐️
Also, when you swipe a card the transaction is recorded and linked to your name. Companies then, can learn your purchasing habits and make more money, off you.
Biggest ad campaign I've been seeing the past few months is that darn iPhone with Titanium! Wth is that? So now they have nothing else to offer so they add the word Titanium backed by major celebrities pushing it. Crazy. Im an Android guy anyway but those ads are annoying.
I’m an iPhone user ( not the 15 tho, still old X model ) and even that 15 pro titanium ad is annoying 😂
Merci Austin ! I am following you from France and most of american consumerism trends apply to my country! Thank you for your advices, and for your common sense.
I think I might seeing less than 100 ads a day but that is being very conscious to get rid of them.
I’ll give you a tip…”Don’t drink & drive.” 🇺🇸
I have an independent mechanic, I tip him well because he is honest. He once showed up on a Sunday his day off to diagnose a bad starter. An honest mechanic who is knowledgeable is worth treating like a great relative.
At our Starbucks on one of the military bases I paid 9.98 for a 16oz caramel crunch frappe. I was charged for the 20oz price because that’s what I ordered… however, this Starbucks doesn’t carry (or isn’t allowed too, never got the straight answer) the actual 20oz cup. My drink is made for the amount of a 20oz cup and as they pour it into a 16oz cup I see SO MUCH left over in the blender and I say to the barista “I’d like the rest of that in a separate cup please.” I get looked at like I’m crazy for my request. But I walk away with a 16oz and a 12oz. Then I try it and it’s terrible. Let me say, I’ve drank some crap coffee and smiled through it, but this was $10 drink! I return and very nicely say, because I’m not about to have someone call me a Karen, that the frappe is very watery, and can you please remake it. I return BOTH 16oz and 12oz because I don’t want to be a jerk. They remake it… and it’s still crap. I haven’t ordered coffee again in a year. Not only because it was $10 freaking dollars but the mental gymnastics to get an overpriced drink that tastes good and not come off as a poo, was just too much. 😅
You are in another level in this video. Love from India
We had a Honda Jazz, and now own a Honda Civic. But if I had the cash I'd certainly buy a Tesla. Not because of the CEO but because they're the leaders in Evs and know what they're doing.
TH-cam too. I hate having to deal with ads on YT 🙅🏾♂️
I would like to see the rise of the experience economy. Unfortunately, in the UK I am finding too much shrinkflation occurring. Going out for a meal is no longer a worthwhile experience. For example, two starters, two main meals, and two drinks can often cost £70. That could easily cover one weeks food shopping for one person and most of the time you have to come home after a meal out and make yourself a sandwich because of the lack and quality of the ingredients on your plate!
A good frugal friend of mine bought a used Tesla at the price of a Toyota
, they have zero interest in the ceo, but the model bought has free charging for life at a Tesla charging station. This will save on his fuel costs. New Diesel cars will not be sold here in Ireland after 2030, there are so many EVs and Hybrids around here now.
I think a return to buying dvds , CDs . As I find subscription costs or the general cost of living gets higher.
Just to elaborate on your buying with " cash " ! I was in queue of 10 people to buy a loaf of bread in my local store ( which is part of a huge shopping chain ) there are 2 shopping tills, one crashed , the young girl behind the till offered cash only payment to try and speed things up . Nobody had that option ( I include myself )
I also find You tube the best and most useful subscription I pay into . Music , ad free , useful information .
Yep, I put the day before a free trial expires in my phone calendar, boom 😊 not gonna get me! Lol the decorations part was funny. Keep up the great work!
I’m checking my subscriptions regularly just to make sure I’m not missing anything that I no longer need
Tip here, tip there, tip EVERYWHERE!!! Too much tipping will make us broke!
I like your sense of humor Austin!
I only tip my restaurant server. No one else gets a tip.
Hate subscriptions