I bought a used Honda CR-Z fresh outta college. It was cheap, and got me from A to B,. But a few years on, now that I surf, my girlfriend and I go road-tripping, and we like to get together with family and friends now and again, my tiny Honda wasn't cutting it anymore (too small to fit anyone or anything) and it was getting very frustrating. Finally decided to pull the trigger on a used Toyota 4Runner and I'm in love. Checks all the boxes, affordable (compared to other SUVs at this size and capability), and Toyota's proven reliability.
Part of being happy with not spending money on eating out is learning to cook food that you love and enjoy at home. With the vast amount of good easy-to-follow-recipes in print and video format, there is hardly no excuse for not cooking at home. When I do eat out with friends or family, I tend to look at the menu and and ask myself, "what would be too time consuming or too hard or too costly to cook at home but a food that I also love to eat?" Cooking your own food can also be healthier than eating out. Remember health is wealth because bad health is costly and being in poor health is a miserable way to live.
It's even easier now with grocery delivery. If you're really not creative or just don't have the bandwidth to come up with meals to cook, even a Hello Fresh subscription is cheaper than ordering take out all the time.
I bought a sweatpants/hoodie set for $80 dollars when I first move back to the north. I thought it was a ridiculous amount of money, but it was the most affordable option that met my needs/requirements; that was 13 years ago and I still have/wear -that and the jacket I bought- are the only articles of clothing I still have from that time.
Nice! It's great to be reminded that being frugal doesn't have to mean sacrificing fun or living a dull life. In fact, being mindful with your money can actually bring a whole new level of excitement and joy to your day-to-day! When you're not constantly splurging on things you don't really need, you'll find yourself with more room to do what you love and spend time with the people who matter most.
Another frugal vs. miserable tip I learned personally, don't put off home/car/health maintenance! I waited a couple months to replace the spark plugs on my car, and it ended up causing more damage. The final repair cost was double than if I had listened to the shop's recommendations and done it right away.
As usual, very sound and reassuring advice. The guilty feeling is also my wife's struggle, while the spending on quality vs. cheap and frequent purchases gets me.
I always thought that the time is something that money can't buy until you explain how you bought the time by less work at the lesser pay. And I concurred! Therefore, I reckon the only thing that money can't buy is love but that's subjective at best and not quantitative like time. Time is the only commodity that most people have equivalent amount. Almost all wealthy people value time and experience while most people who live from hand to mouth only value materialistic things.
It’s okay to say “ Don’t Be so Cheap” which I am, frugal/cheap = sacrificing. 61 years young, $925,000 saved - Absolutely Zero Debt, That took 12 long years of Sacrifice…. 9 months to go …… 🎉🎉🎉. Enjoy the Day. 😊
I think of it like this: if it’s something I’m going to use a lot or will last a long time, I don’t mind spending a little more for quality. I try to save on the more temporary things.
Good video! I’m all for quality, or rather “Cost over time.” My favorite hobby is video games, so I go all out on a near top of the line PC, which is quite a bit. But I make sure the specs will last at least 5+ years, so even if it’s a 2k PC, I end up spending only $400 a year on the hardware. Given the hours I see of enjoyment, it’s much more cost efficient than a lot of hobbies.
Yep -- I have made all these mistakes before... xD Thanks Tae! And I loved the quote from Ramit and "I Will Teach You To Be Rich" -- it was a good book!
Yes! I'm still buying crappy clothes on Shein but that's because Im FAT and trying to lose weight and don't want to invest 🤣 however all of our families winter gear etc is all Eddie Bauer, and good quality kids winter boots are usually second hand SO true the big 3 matter most.
What if I really value a luxury car more than expensive vacations 😂 And by luxury, I mean Volvo level, not Jaguar. Same with a home, I think a lot of people look for a more up-to-date home, not necessarily a home with 2+ more bedrooms than they need. I'm all for frugality. But I don't think most people get into financial trouble by not properly planning for buying Jaguars and mini-mansions. It's more about those small lifestyle upgrades.
A lot of luxuries are very overrated. For a while I wanted a sauna for my home, and I finally got a nice infrared one last year. It's pretty neat, but I've found that I'd rather spend my time on a treadmill instead, which is better in every way and the cost was an order of magnitude less. (less than $500 vs more than $5000). The real luxuries don't have to be expensive and it's easy to waste money on supposed luxuries that aren't very satisfying.
@@ordinaryhuman5645 Yes, but there are some luxuries that are satisfying to people, that are more like life upgrades. I'm in a region where the winters are very snowy and icy, with some uneven terrain. If someone told me an AWD car that sits higher off the ground than a Camry with remote start was overrated, I'd think they really don't know what I'm talking about 😂 Yes, even with winter tires, there is a difference. But, I would of course plan for the purchase. It's weird to subscribe to Ramit Sethi's philosophy of spending on value, but then act like there's _no_ marginal benefit to living anywhere past a lifestyle of a 20-something just starting out. Like I would have rather joined a gym with a sauna because I would rather spend that money on a vacation in South America. That's a luxury too, but not overrated by any means.
I'm definitely not "frugal" and I do like designer clothes. However, I do wait for sales, etc. I'll wait to get 2 pairs of jeans for $100 instead of one for $110, etc. With cars, that's a different story. 🤣
Big houses...and I mean larger than 2500 sq. feet for a family of four are the #1 reason people are drowning in debt. How many of us know somebody who has a large house and utilize 50% of it at most? The ego is a fragile thing.
I like them all. Frugality. Minimalism. Simplicity. Essensialism. Being mindful of our choices. Good for our well being, finances and environment.
I bought a used Honda CR-Z fresh outta college. It was cheap, and got me from A to B,. But a few years on, now that I surf, my girlfriend and I go road-tripping, and we like to get together with family and friends now and again, my tiny Honda wasn't cutting it anymore (too small to fit anyone or anything) and it was getting very frustrating. Finally decided to pull the trigger on a used Toyota 4Runner and I'm in love. Checks all the boxes, affordable (compared to other SUVs at this size and capability), and Toyota's proven reliability.
Part of being happy with not spending money on eating out is learning to cook food that you love and enjoy at home.
With the vast amount of good easy-to-follow-recipes in print and video format, there is hardly no excuse for not cooking at home.
When I do eat out with friends or family, I tend to look at the menu and and ask myself, "what would be too time consuming or too hard or too costly to cook at home but a food that I also love to eat?"
Cooking your own food can also be healthier than eating out. Remember health is wealth because bad health is costly and being in poor health is a miserable way to live.
It's even easier now with grocery delivery. If you're really not creative or just don't have the bandwidth to come up with meals to cook, even a Hello Fresh subscription is cheaper than ordering take out all the time.
I bought a sweatpants/hoodie set for $80 dollars when I first move back to the north. I thought it was a ridiculous amount of money, but it was the most affordable option that met my needs/requirements; that was 13 years ago and I still have/wear -that and the jacket I bought- are the only articles of clothing I still have from that time.
That’s like $220 just from Nike fleece now too lol
Nice! It's great to be reminded that being frugal doesn't have to mean sacrificing fun or living a dull life. In fact, being mindful with your money can actually bring a whole new level of excitement and joy to your day-to-day! When you're not constantly splurging on things you don't really need, you'll find yourself with more room to do what you love and spend time with the people who matter most.
Another frugal vs. miserable tip I learned personally, don't put off home/car/health maintenance! I waited a couple months to replace the spark plugs on my car, and it ended up causing more damage. The final repair cost was double than if I had listened to the shop's recommendations and done it right away.
This is so true. We have to out our health first. ❤
Being cheap on the things you need is like paying high interest on an overdue payment.
As usual, very sound and reassuring advice. The guilty feeling is also my wife's struggle, while the spending on quality vs. cheap and frequent purchases gets me.
I always thought that the time is something that money can't buy until you explain how you bought the time by less work at the lesser pay. And I concurred! Therefore, I reckon the only thing that money can't buy is love but that's subjective at best and not quantitative like time. Time is the only commodity that most people have equivalent amount. Almost all wealthy people value time and experience while most people who live from hand to mouth only value materialistic things.
It’s okay to say “ Don’t Be so Cheap” which I am, frugal/cheap = sacrificing. 61 years young, $925,000 saved - Absolutely Zero Debt, That took 12 long years of Sacrifice…. 9 months to go …… 🎉🎉🎉. Enjoy the Day. 😊
Tae!!! How did I not know you were doing a TH-cam channel (this just showed up in my recommendations)?! Great job man!!
Good things are coming for you, Tae the value I find here is life changing
My new favorite channel!
Thanks Tae, your content is great and well put together. You are quickly becoming one of my favorite financial TH-camrs
Who else can you recommend?
@@DmitriyKl I wouldn't recommend anyone else personally. A lot of the other guys out there overcomplicate stuff.
Thanks for sharing this information
Figure what the cost per use for what ever you’re buying. Ex. Jacket costs $500 you wear it 120x a year for 10 years = 41 cents per wear.
Thanks Tae Kim and others for all the efforts.
sure, no problem
I think of it like this: if it’s something I’m going to use a lot or will last a long time, I don’t mind spending a little more for quality. I try to save on the more temporary things.
Good video! I’m all for quality, or rather “Cost over time.” My favorite hobby is video games, so I go all out on a near top of the line PC, which is quite a bit. But I make sure the specs will last at least 5+ years, so even if it’s a 2k PC, I end up spending only $400 a year on the hardware. Given the hours I see of enjoyment, it’s much more cost efficient than a lot of hobbies.
North Face as your top brand! Proof you are a Millenial from Korea 😄
I remember that brand being huge over here (I live in Korea) in the 2010s.
Thanks
This one I needed to hear. Awesome job, Tae I'm looking forward to the next one 🔥
Yep -- I have made all these mistakes before... xD Thanks Tae!
And I loved the quote from Ramit and "I Will Teach You To Be Rich" -- it was a good book!
That Old navy and Ross drip drip 💧
Consider the quality first if it would last a long time before buying it.
Gotta give it up for North Face! I am so lucky to live near one of their outlets.
I bought a North Face coat when I was in college in 2001. That coat lasted almost 20 years lol
Yes! I'm still buying crappy clothes on Shein but that's because Im FAT and trying to lose weight and don't want to invest 🤣 however all of our families winter gear etc is all Eddie Bauer, and good quality kids winter boots are usually second hand
SO true the big 3 matter most.
Great info 👍 👌 👏
I can relate to your wife so much!
What if I really value a luxury car more than expensive vacations 😂 And by luxury, I mean Volvo level, not Jaguar. Same with a home, I think a lot of people look for a more up-to-date home, not necessarily a home with 2+ more bedrooms than they need. I'm all for frugality. But I don't think most people get into financial trouble by not properly planning for buying Jaguars and mini-mansions. It's more about those small lifestyle upgrades.
A lot of luxuries are very overrated. For a while I wanted a sauna for my home, and I finally got a nice infrared one last year. It's pretty neat, but I've found that I'd rather spend my time on a treadmill instead, which is better in every way and the cost was an order of magnitude less. (less than $500 vs more than $5000).
The real luxuries don't have to be expensive and it's easy to waste money on supposed luxuries that aren't very satisfying.
@@ordinaryhuman5645 Yes, but there are some luxuries that are satisfying to people, that are more like life upgrades. I'm in a region where the winters are very snowy and icy, with some uneven terrain. If someone told me an AWD car that sits higher off the ground than a Camry with remote start was overrated, I'd think they really don't know what I'm talking about 😂 Yes, even with winter tires, there is a difference. But, I would of course plan for the purchase.
It's weird to subscribe to Ramit Sethi's philosophy of spending on value, but then act like there's _no_ marginal benefit to living anywhere past a lifestyle of a 20-something just starting out. Like I would have rather joined a gym with a sauna because I would rather spend that money on a vacation in South America. That's a luxury too, but not overrated by any means.
I buy a lot of my Northface from Poshmark
Ok ok ok, I subscribed…Stop Yelling at Me 😂
I'm definitely not "frugal" and I do like designer clothes. However, I do wait for sales, etc. I'll wait to get 2 pairs of jeans for $100 instead of one for $110, etc. With cars, that's a different story. 🤣
Is frugal the same as being a cheap ass? That’s what my last 3 exes said to me before breaking up ☹️☹️☹️
Brand of that Polo you wear in every video? It has lasted you a lifetime 🥹
Buy nice or buy twice
Frugal ≠ miser
Big houses...and I mean larger than 2500 sq. feet for a family of four are the #1 reason people are drowning in debt. How many of us know somebody who has a large house and utilize 50% of it at most? The ego is a fragile thing.
I need to be frugal......
Columbia is a more affordable alternative to Northface
Eating out it's just stupid and lazy.
Stop smoking weed if you smoke weed....stop buying red meat and stick to chicken