5 things we can no longer afford to buy! And, what we're doing instead!  

Years ago, I was very low on funds. However, I wanted a hedge around my small back yard to keep my small dogs contained. I went to a greenhouse in our vicinity. The hedge bushes were $14 for a 1 gal pot. I purchased one, brought it home, and cut off branches to start my own nursery of hedge. I managed to get close to 50 branches. About 30 made it to root. The next spring I planted them. They took off. It took three years to realise my dream of a thick healthy hedge. It takes patience. I saved $420 dollars, and learned a lot about wants vs needs. Thank you for your wisdom. It's much appreciated.

I am vegetarian and have been finding the rising prices of fresh produce challenging, to say the least. Today, I went to the store just to buy 1 red onion that I wanted for a specific recipe. I always check the "reduced produce" rack first, and today, I got a mixed bag of produce for $2 Cdn. The bag contained 2 red onions, 2 apples, 1 orange, and 1 small eggplant! I live alone, and the eggplant is big enough for 2 meals for me. The apples are going into my oatmeal tomorrow for breakfast, and I already ate the orange! None of the produce was bad at all. The onions are quite fresh and will last quite a while.

I borrow all my books from the library, but went into a book shop with my daughter last week to buy a book as a gift for someone. We found the book we wanted, but my daughter said dont buy it here and walked me to kmart where the same book was exactly 1/2 the price. It really pays to shop around. I was proud of her.

Was going to go for a day trip to a resort town, but figured that the gas alone was too expensive. Instead ,took my dog to the local state park that I can go into using a senior pass, packed a lunch, and went for a 2 hour hike with my dog. The weather was wonderful and a perfect day.

My kitchen curtains fell apart in the washing machine. I remembered I had a blue linen tablecloth from a charity shop that matches my decor nicely.. I made new curtains out of the tablecloth. I hemmed my daughters bedroom curtains and saved the pieces I cut off the bottom. I turned them into patio cushions and used old pillows to fill them. I saved and dried the flower seed heads for this years garden. I've given jars of seeds as a gift for house warming present.

We no longer go out for drinks or dinner with friends, but instead entertain at home. When the weather is nice we have "happy hour" on our patio and have all the guests bring their own drinks and an appetizer to share! It is so much fun!

I do my grocery shopping online due to being disabled. I shop sales and keep a stock of meat in my freezer. Weather permitting, two of my neighbors and a couple other friends will join together for a pot luck, where we each contribute what we have to the dinner. I only go out to eat when a friend takes me to doctors appointments. I buy their lunch as it costs less to buy 2 lunches than it would to take an Uber or other ride share round trip.

We have never subscribed to streaming services. We just get DVDs out of our local library.

Jane, the way you present lovely alternatives to things and activities that have become unaffordable to so many people is heartwarming. Thank you!

We recently went to a fundraiser that had a silent auction. I got a dvd player, charger, and 4- dvd’s. I gave my autistic great nephew everything but a dvd that was not appropriate for him. He loved it, my sister said he was so excited that he was laughing and jumping up and down! Loved it!❤️❤️ oh I paid $15 usd. Eating less meat is actually a healthy option.

Thank you for making this a positive video about finding alternatives. I love the challenge of "beating the system" by finding ways, that are still enjoyable, to make do with less and/or less expensive alternatives. We have an amazing library system where we live, and that is where the majority of our entertainment - books, DVDs, so many free video streams per month, jigsaw puzzles, online e-books and audio books, reference sources and more are gotten. Library usage is paid for in our property taxes, so I make sure we take full advantage of it. Looking forward to seeing what everyone else is doing to make do and find alternatives.

We no longer go out to eat and pack our own food for day trips/overnights as well. I have completed changed how and where I buy our food (canned to dried beans, making own broths, meal planning and selective shopping). Buy only meat on sale or yellow tag. We also had to cut out single use cleaning products like paper towels and disinfectant wipes. Turns out microfiber cloths are just fine! Frugality makes us adaptable and creative.😊

I am old enough to remember the late 1960s and 70s, when my parents entertained friends from work or church. My mother served coffee or tea, a nice cake, and often a dinner. My wife is very social, so we continue that tradition at our home. And it gives me an excuse to trot out the china and silverware that my mother left!

I buy whatever meat or fish is reduced on that day or it has to be on a really good offer. I haven't bought or eaten steak for a few years now as it's just too expensive. I tend to buy frozen veggies except for carrots, onions and potatoes. I rarely buy fresh fruit, using tinned or frozen. BUT I do grow fruit and veg on my allotment and preserve it lots of ways to use throughout the year. My current supermarket budget is £25 per week for just me (includes cleaning stuff, TP, toiletries etc) and I've stuck to it since the start of the year. I cook from scratch all the time and I do eat very well 🙂

I enjoyed the format - what you cut and what you do instead! I've made a lot of cuts and not too much alternatives put in place. I mostly entertain by having friends or family over for a meal. This way I can manage my costs, have tasty food, and keep some social life going. I take long transit rides to work to cut down on gas on weekdays. I shop mostly foods that are on sale and buy a little extra if I can so next time when not on sale I don't have to buy it. Occasionally I have a friend shop for me as sale items get depleted while I work. I watch You Tube and write comments to be part of the communities I enjoy rather than paying for streaming. I pay extra on mortgage principal when I can to save a bit on interest to keep overall long term costs down while some prices really escalate that I can't change. I rarely shop for nonessential items, so I come to want less. I plan to declutter and sell items rather than buy stuff I don't need. I do have one hobby to DIY build out my minivan for fun and future travel, using funds from selling my newer car to get an older one (and pay for any repairs). One must find acceptance and contentment upon adjusting.

We got creative last night when Ron came home with two pork tenderloin for $9.70 CAD ($7.20 USD, $6.58 Euro). We sliced half of it up thin, sautéed onion, mushroom, red bell pepper and served up on hoagie buns for 5 mock Philly cheesesteak sandwiches. 3 for dinner and 2 for leftover lunch. The other half was made into medallions, divided up and put into the freezer. We rarely buy beef now.

Gardening is my therapy, it is my meditation and is simply a source of joy for me. However, like you, the price of nursery plants are exceeding my budget. I have started plants from seeds this year and have been working on propagating from plants I already have, and potting up volunteers from my garden and my sister-in-law's garden. Just today, a co-worker had thinned out her flower bulbs and brought me a whole sack to plant out. Honestly, it's even more satisfying than planting on the garden center purchases.

Hi Jane and Mike, it's all about making ends meet isn't it. Meat and fish are very expensive now and I always look for reduced before I shop for what's on my list. I will look at the reduced and if beef mince is on my list but there is minced pork that is reduced I will buy the reduced pork instead of the beef. On mother's day my boys did a surprise Sunday lunch for me at my eldest son's house. My youngest who is my carer helped to set it all up and my eldest paid and cooked it. My youngest hasn't a lot of money but his effort was his payment in his brother's eyes. My son bought and cooked roast pork and a half leg of lamb, along with all the trimmings. Oh my goodness it was amazing, my youngest and I can't afford lamb so it was such a treat. It's the first time I've had lamb in nearly a year and that was on my birthday last march. When I asked how much all this food cost he said £60, I nearly fell off my chair 😮. He said mum stop worrying, knowing you have enjoyed it so much it's worth every penny. He then gave me a bottle of my very favourite gin, Whitley Neal, rhubarb and ginger with an amazing card, my youngest gave me another stunning card from him and a beautiful heart shaped plate breakfast set and a new set of kitchen scales he knew I wanted. I am so lucky to have two loving and caring sons. To be honest I cried. I haven't had the best of times over the last month and a half so they really made me feel special. What concerns me is that everything is so commercialised these days. I am extremely grateful for what my boys did for me but I do worry about the financial impact things have on them. My birthday is on the 25th of march and they are determined to take me out for the day. My eldest has booked a day's holiday. He said I'm taking you shopping and you are not spending a penny, I said no you can't afford it and he said I've been doing overtime so yes I can mother. He calls me mother when he is being bossy. A homemade afternoon tea would be much cheaper and just as special. It's the thought that counts and knowing they love me but unfortunately they follow their mother for being stubborn 😅. We try to draw in on spending because everything is so much higher in price than before COVID. It's so difficult to try and put a little money aside these days. I really worry about the younger generation and how they will survive. Great video as always and thank you both so much for sharing. Kind regards Angeline ❤️ xx 🇬🇧

You should do a follow up video on how you find joy in life despite not buying things.

Times are really tough but you are managing exceptionally well. Thank you so much for all of your helpful tips - you are both such an inspiration!

Your socialising is like going back fifty years and more this is how we did years ago.. In the UK in the 1950’s this is how my parents lived they would never have thought of meeting in a restaurant or tearoom.

You're to be commended for being so mindful in your finances; it's a rare quality these days. No streaming-phone-internet deals like that in the States, I'm sure. My neighbors and I share streaming accounts to save money on home entertainment. When I was a young gardener I shared clippings with all my neighbors, and they shared with me -- saved us all a fortune. I buy clothing, household items, and gifts at a local upscale thrift store, which saves an enormous amount. I make all my cleaning solutions and use no disposables. And there's hardly ever a time when I'll buy groceries without a sale price or a discount coupon; there is nothing I need so much that I'll pay full price. I do take at least one vacation trip a year with my leftover cash, and I never take on any debt.

Nowadays I buy meat and fish on yellow sticker from the supermarket. I also sometimes buy in bulk and then sort it all into individual portion size before I freeze it. If I’m having a celebration day (birthday, Xmas and yesterday it was signed off from cancer!) then I’ll buy some lamb without the yellow sticker if I’ve nothing left in the freezer. I’m really careful for the rest of the year but sometimes it’s time to celebrate!

I love listening to you talk and love all your frugal tips.

I received a coupon in the mail yesterday (12th) for a free dozen eggs, the coupon expired on the 9th. Happily they honored it.

Thank you for supporting the small farmers. We sold sourdough rye bread (baked in an outdoor oven, no added fats or sugars) and my home baked pies and squares, challah and bedding plants at the local farmer's market and in the fall when that was done, we added sausages and eggs to the inventory and delivered throughout the winter months. I know that some vendors would charge what the market would bear, but I set my prices to reflect what I would choose to pay if I wanted to buy the stuff. There were complaints from vendors, saying that I was undercutting them, but I told them that their products were certified organic, and obviously much better than mine, so how could I charge the same as them for an inferior product? May I suggest that you look for a short season cucumber and plant directly outside once the frost has passed? I grow most of mine outside, and I suspect that our climates are similar. It is the long english types that need the greenhouse, but many other cucumbers are fine if you peel the skin. And finally, to answer your question....there is nothing that I can't afford that I want right now. As things deteriorate, who knows? I have read about the Weimar Republic, my mother was there during those times, so I am preparing for times like that, learning substitutions and stretching the food dollar just like you do. Made Lorne sausage and ate it today, so we won't be buying sausages any more.

Like you, we have cut back bare bones on cable tv, no longer have a land line, no longer buy potted flowers. I use seeds instead and wait forever for them to bloom before the growing season is over. Don't eat out. Cut our meat consumption in half and doubled up on veggies. Don't buy any clothes. I've canc magazines and just read books which I buy second hand and I have a little library in my yard so I get free books from there as well. All this sounds so depressing but I don't miss any of it! Happy weekend.

I love strolling through garden centers but I don’t buy anything, I love to go to town (by bus) and just window shopping without buying anything that I don’t really need and can afford (which isn’t much), I don’t have streaming services so I watch RU-vid, I hardly ever eat meat or fish and take an egg instead, I don’t go out to eat unless I’m out of town and than I just eat some fries from a cafeteria, drinks I always take with me, I love reading so I re-read the books that I own, I don’t go on vacation but stay at home on the balcony or go for a walk in the neighborhood, I love cats but I can’t afford to take proper care of them so I gave up that dream and I can go on like this for some time. Times are very hard unfortunately 😢.

You actually dodged a bullet with the bamboo. Its very invasive with a massively strong root system. If you do decide to grow it, keep it in a large pot.

Every three month we cross the borther to Portugal. We enjoy different villages. All of them are beautiful. We go for coffe and cake, its delicious and much cheaper than in Spain. We do the bulk shopping pasta, rice, beef, chicken, cod... It's much cheaper than in my country. Also the markets offer very good quality shoes and clothes fraction of the price.

I used to really love magazines. Now they give me sticker shock. Most of the things that used to be in magazines can now be found on the internet--ideas on decorating, new recipes, travel tips, financial advice, etc. Also, most of the magazines I used to get were just from the perspective of the country I live in. Now I can find information from a lot of different countries, which gives me a broader worldview.

Pork and chicken are ok here in the UK lamb and beef not so much. In fact I don't buy lamb anymore,it's priced itself out of my shopping trolley

We use the library regularly. We share a delicious tasty soup, at our Vietnamese local cafe. Have picked up items walking and driving that people are throwing out for us to take home and use..

I have, for many years, shopped the marked down shelves in every store I go into. The problem is, so many others are discovering those bargain corners. I also shop the bargain shelves at garden centers, grow from seed or cuttings, and overwinter plants. Haven't bought a geranium in 30 years! We can live a beautiful, healthy life on a budget. Our friends and us started doing picnic lunches in a quiet park during the pandemic. We have continued with lunches, usually sandwiches and dessert, and spend the afternoons on our lovey porches overlooking the woods.

I just love your videos and all the tips and how creative you can be when it comes to frugal living❤ I think this is my first comment on a video but I wanted to share that in my country,Romania,people grow seedlings inside on the windowsill,my mother-in-law grows everything from her own seeds,maybe you could try that ifyou wanted. 😊

My family loves the sourdough boule, but its $5. a loaf here in WA state. So now i have a sourdough starter and make my own. We love it. We love going to the farmers market, but we bring our own lunch, and just enjoy walking around and seeing all the fun stuff. We might buy an apple or cookie to go with it.

Fancy shops, window shop, slowly walk throughand glean ideas on how to arrange what you already have in a new fresh way!

This video is worth watching twice. Great suggestions.

Yes we are eating less meat also here. The prices are astronomical. One thing I have given up is soda. It is a good thing because I was addicted to it. I refuse to pay $7.18 for a six pack so I just came to the conclusion that I could no longer afford to buy it. I had the habit of drinking 2 diet pepsi everyday. So that has been a good thing inflation has done for me. Going to the grocery store is just shocking everytime I go. Jane and Mike I so enjoy your input and have put it to good use. Love the puppies!

Hi Jane and Mike. Yes I too have been doing a lot of swapping and changing of late. After a lifetime of visiting various hairdressers, I now cut my own hair. Over time, with practice and after watching the various online tutorials, I've now got the hang of it. Also, I've now let my natural grey come through, so it's been a moneysaver all round. In fact, people have asked me if I have had it coloured. 😆 As for the garden, I planted a lot of evergreens and shrubs many years ago which have now matured and are easily maintained. For the summer months I just buy a few bedding plants from the local fruit shop, which as you know, are much cheaper than the garden centres. I no longer have broadband. When I decided to get rid of my landline phone, I decided to use my mobile phone instead. A couple of years ago I bought a brand new phone from ebay, with a large screen, which is ideal for online viewing. I now have a SIM only deal which on renewal last week, gives me 3 months half price and 150 gb of data. I do have Netflix, but on calculation, here in the UK, I am saving around £14 a month by doing it this way. I still watch mainstream TV, which includes Freeview, so this setup does for me right now. Foodwise, for certain items, it's back to the supermarket basic ranges for me. Eating out has become a luxury, which I have reduced considerably. When I do go out, it's budgeted for in advance and covered for by my other reductions. Thanks again to you both for sharing this video, which as usual, makes complete sense. 🤗

We always take a flask of coffee and a picnic if we go out I used to be a chef and I know how much things cost. Also on the subject of garden centres I used to buy a few choice plants not anymore they are too expensive we regularly have a plant swap day about 6 of us. I am not being mean but we have to take care of our finances I’ve always budgeted and love a bargain!

We've cut out so much ! I don't know what we miss most. Probably eating out. And going to the movies. Haven't done that in YEARS lol. And I'm fine with that. We've got our home, family , a job that doesn't pay a lot but is very flexible. Thanks for your videos!!

I am a member of my local library and borrow DVDs and books fortnightly, I planted a small salad and herb garden, I love markdowns- freezer is full of them. I went plant based, that helps as well. Learning to do my own breakfast breads from scratch, banana, apple and cinnamon etc learning to do my own sauces, pickles and jams

Seed starting is a worthwhile skill to develop. A bakers rack indoors with grow lights will provide needed light. You can start seeds when the weather is still too cold to plant. By the time the weather is amicable, you have plant starts. If you germinate too many, you can share with friends. Actually you can set up grow lights without a bakers rack. It is worth researching that skill to make gardening more affordable. Best to grow plants that are the highest cost in the grocery, like herbs. Depends on your tastes. Another advantage is you can grow things that are not available in the stores. It is quite empowering. Carry on and keep the faith. Bon Apetit

We are like you Jane always cutting back but really eating well Making food do 3 days not 1 I’ve only spent £20 a week on food this year and last week it was £10 I buy everything half price I’m lucky here in the uk we have bus passes so no fuel involved etc Have a good frugal week xx❤❤❤❤

A decent loaf of bread is about $5 here in the US. I go to the bakery outlet ($2.50) or, usually I make my own!

Wonderful idea to still enjoy gardening and liberate those flowers and shrubs from the roadside.

For those who bought sodas just cut a lemon into large glass of water and refill during day; put it fridge during night and the lemon will last several days.

For entertainment, we make the most of our local library. Access to books, magazines, newspapers, dvds, video games, CDs, internet, all for free. They even have classes, social activities and passes to museums and conservation areas for no charge. This has saved us thousands of dollars over the years.

Often, if some ladies want to grab lunch after a meeting or something, I try to just order an appetizer instead of a meal. Other people must be doing that, as prices of appetizers have gone up! I'm trying to ditch Directv, but my husband wants to watch sports, so I'm trying to work around that. thank you for your advice, and keep up the good work!

We love beet greens sautéed with a little bacon. We go to the farmers market and get the greens for free..... everyone apparently wants the beets but not the greens.... so the farmer is glad to give them to us. We also go to the bakery booth and buy day-old pastries that are 1/4 of the price.... taste just as well as the newly baked. We've also gone more veggie, eating meat once a week. Use the library weekly.... Uncle Amazon gets very little $ from us..... Great video Jane.

There are so many things that are unaffordable here in Australia now. I can’t afford blocks of chocolate the price has gone up so much. I have replaced them with the occasional packet of generic chocolate biscuits. Dog grooming we are now doing functional but definitely not professional grooming at home (we have 3 dogs). Postage on online shopping is also something I can’t afford anymore and making a free postage minimum purchase threshold is not happening anymore. I used to fill my cart with items that I would use but things I don’t need to restock at present. Not anymore, I just have to do without.

We love to support local museums, our aquarium, and some outdoor historical parks by buying yearly memberships. It's an expense upfront, but we get to visit as many times as we want for the entire year. Plus, my 2 kids love making picnic baskets of food from home each time! We usually get our memberships as Christmas gifts for the kids, and then we get free fun and entertainment all year long❤

Started seeds in a pot for my garden

Jane - Thank for sharing -as always, you continue to inspire. I can no longer afford eating out - even the drive thru at McDonald's is insanely expensive! I am in the US, Washington State (coastal town) and a Big Mac hamburger meal (which includes french fries and a fountain soda) is over $18 USD. Its not worth the money (quality has gone down too). I also no longer buy as much meat and have limited my fresh veggies - sad to say, its just too much money for the poor quality (the fresh vegetables turn entirely too quickly - a head of leaf lettuce prices at $2.49 to 3.49 USD; tomatoes in the grocery store last minutes and are $4.99 per US pound). I have swapped to frozen and canned veggies. Meats - I buy sales and just supplement with lentils or beans (I also keep an eye on the canned and frozen meats - although they are off the charts too). Crazy times indeed. Take care all.

Don't have a television at all, or Netflix etc. prefer music and books. Vegan household so no meat, fish or dairy has been purchased for years! Do eat out sometimes, we enjoy that and don't mind the spend.

I seldom buy many of the things you described...soft drinks, formal dining, expensive entetainment venues etc. But another thing I don't buy are any baked goods and desserts (other than an occasional loaf of bread). I'm a very good baker and prefer home baked goods because I use healthier, tastier ingredients and they're so much cheaper. Besides, I can do the baking at my leisure because such desserts are now for special occasions and not an everyday necessity! And I portion out and freeze what doesn't get eaten at that meal. 😌👍 🍪🍰🍮

Thanks for sharing this Jane and Mike. We are all looking to save money, and make our money stretch further. We no longer have streaming services. No more takeaways, or coffees out. We pack a picnic and a flask, and realise just how much we can save now by doing that. I haven’t bought a magazine for years. They were nearly £5 a time! Have joined our local library, and also download free books too. We don’t feel deprived at all, and enjoy our life, which some may find boring. Being debt free is definitely not boring❤️

I live in the western portion of the Island of Montreal, Canada. We used to visit the nice garden centers in our area. Now, we cannot do that anymore for 2 reasons. First, they got just too pricey. And second, the two within a short drive of our house have both gone out of business,probably for lack of sales, leaving the trade to the Costcos and such in our area! And now, Costco isn't too reasonable either! Thanks for your down to earth and excellent reality check today. We will go nowehere by sticking our heads in the sand and hoping the problems in our economies will simply go away. We need to transform our approach to "home economics" in a way we never dreamt we would need to do. Things will change, but we will need to be wide awake to cope with those changes or the situation will become simply untenable. Thanks again for your frank and refreshing presentations!

You are so right about all of this. I haven't bought flowers or plants in a Garden Center for years. I have been mostly dividing up my perineal plants. I'm using seeds for annuals because the prices for plants are crazy.

I have an inexpensive grow light set up where i start my seeds. Set it up 10 years ago and saves $$ every year. Also allows me to start plants for late season planting. I only purchase seeds and soil and use old food containers and/or resue old pots. Also i think they are generally healthier. They often start off looking weaker and smaller than garden store starts but do far better over time.

Even in 2014 when we lived near Concarneau, we noticed that the market was way more expensive than LeClerc or Lidl. In one market we gave way to temptation and bought some cherries in season and when we got to the beach to have them with our picnic, most of them were rotten. The stall holder had given us bad ones with a few good ones on top. We don't eat out. Pot luck meals with friends. Vegan for many years, so no stress for meat or fish. We don't buy the faux meats or cheeses. We have a wild woodland garden with five apple trees and as we are usually off travelling in our old camper in the summer, we don't grow veg. The garden is a haven for birds, squirrels and hedgehogs. For entertainment, we go folk dancing, £3 each for an evening of Scottish country dancing. Ceilidhs are a bit more expensive, but it's worth it as we meet our "dancing friends" and have a great time and keep fit.

I started a garden during the pandemic and every year we have expanded the areas. We bought grow lights last fall, game changer. I have started seeds two months before every season, we eat fresh produce at every meal. Once you start you can save your seeds, reuse your seedling pots, make your own compost and fertilizer. The savings is substantial. We use that saving to buy meat and eggs. I do live in a sub tropical climate so we can grow year round. Food is seriously out of control.

Eating out has become too expensive in Australia 🇦🇺instead I just catch up with friends for shopping followed by a coffee, wonderful for socialising😊 I purchase my fresh produce loose from a local shop and eggs from a farm, much cheaper than the supermarket. Also I get just the amount that is required and wonky fruit and vegetables are usually good value. Swapping cuttings from neighbours and friend’s, great money saver😊 Thank you Mike and Jane for another good video

Oh I completely agree with these but especially garden centres. We visited one yesterday and I was shocked that even in the reduced section... where I used to get things for Pounds or pennies... nothing was under £5. The prices are completely out for us. We are having another no spend year, I've been busy making gifts and using up all the things I get free to create things. I've made cards, blankets, jewellery holders, Puppets, Jumpers... allsorts... just trying to get by. I wish we could do it and save money, but it's the only way we can get by at the moment. I always enjoy your videos ❤

As I live in a coastal fishing area, we have good fish markets. My fish market sells "chowder fish" for $3.99/lb. It is small fillets of white fish ( haddock & cod mostly). Most pieces are large enough for baking or frying. That works out to $1/serving. The same market offers "fish medley" ( salmon, swordfish, tuna, halibut chunks) for $5.99/lb. Pieces usually big enough to bake or make fish kebabs for grill. Works out to $1.50/serving. I would advice others to check out some unconventional options for meat of fish.

I love shopping in zero waste shops and local farms but can't longer afford it, especially as a family and 2 growing boys. Last time I went I spent over £50 just for a couple of products 😮

We also buy/check local thrift shop and then donate back items whenever possible! Win-win 😊

I have never paid for TV or streaming services, I find most of the "entertainment" isn't worth paying for. I do buy some plants as gardening is one of my favorite past times but I put money aside every month for it so come gardening season I have a stash. I do go out to eat about once a week but never pay for it, I fix dinner for my sister every weekend and in return when we go out to eat she pays for my meal. I do find many of the local farmers markets or farm stands, during our short summer season, are less expensive than the grocery store plus very fresh.

Jane and Mike, I shop for things like you do. When I find some reduced produce, meats, breads and other assorted groceries, I make the menu using what I found and using what I already have. No more buying what I want when I want it. We use our library a lot and check out DVDs all the time. No cost but the gas to get there, and in the summer my husband rides his bike there so there's no gas spent. We don't pay for any streaming services either. I love the ideas you share for alternatives to what you can't afford. It sounds so much like our household. Great video.

I belong to online groups for my neighborhood and many of us freely ask and give of cuttings or things we are happy to thin out in our gardens. I have gotten lovely strawberry plants, raspberry canes, rhubarb plants , herbs and many flowering plants that others were needing to get rid of anyway.

I have always grown extra tomato, pepper and cucumber plants to give away to friends, family and neighbours. I can't afford to do it this year as the price of seeds and compost has risen so dramatically.

You gave numerous alternatives to the garden centers. Love that.

MIN 6:37 same goes for me. Hubby and I used to enjoy going out to a local bar for a cocktail or beer + listen to a local band. Its too expensive today.

I have a DVD player and a large collection of old school series like As Time goes by, All Creatures Great & Small (original one), To the Manor Born and many others. No Netflix etc needed!

Beautiful video, Jane! The food at most restaurants is certainty average. We have been eating at home for years with very few exceptions and have saved hundreds of dollars AND eaten higher quality food (made from scratch). It is brilliant to bring your coffee with you on the go. I have learned to bring my water along always. Between audiobooks and RU-vid, there is endless entertainment. 😊 We have never been interested in streaming services. 🤷‍♀️ I am retraining myself to purchase food when it is on sale. The savings certainly adds up. I started some tomatoes indoors and am enjoying watching them grow. Watching your videos always inspires me to be a better steward of our finances. Thank you 🌷 ❤

Oh my goodness the prices in those garden centers are ridiculous. I keep trying to winter over rosemary, but no luck yet. I had bought one from a garden center when we first moved here for $6, for a tiny start, and it died over the winter, in the house. Last year I bought a pitiful one at clearance at a hardware store for $1.75, and I hope that the pile of leaves that I buried it under, will have kept it safe under the snow. We don't eat out anymore, we pack a thermos and a lunch for our outings. We never buy meats or fish unless deeply discounted. We shop vegetables in season and discounted then preserve them for the rest of the year. We grow a garden and use every inch to grow as much as possible to offset our groceries. We combine our errands to limit our trips to save on gasoline. We do numerous no spend months, including little or no grocery shopping to pad our savings. We then can use it for stocking up on certain meat seasonal sales.😊

My friends and me exchange plants and clippings all the time. Great fun. The best is they grow! Those plants from the garden centres really enjoy dieing! I also try to stick that grow easily in my area. No point in planting beautiful rose bushes in the drought and then I cant keep them alive😂

We use to go to a local ice cream house and get milkshakes and cones . Never spent less then 7.50 sometimes much more up to 15.00. Now we feel we just can't afford to splurge like that. But we buy ice cream on sale for 2.00 a cartoon and enjoy it even more knowing were stretching our money but still having a treat! Great video!

We’re in the same situation as you: eating out is not affordable for us anymore. We also meet friends for coffee at our homes or in a park or at the beach and we bring our picnics or coffee or homemade cake etc. I stay home a lot more to save money. I garden and sew and knit and mend more. No tv so I’m reading or listening to plays and dramas on RU-vid. I’ve been dividing my perennials and trading pots of them for plants/cuttings I want. Last week I traded a piece of beautiful goldenrod for a couple of pots of marshmallow. Great video! Thanks.🐇🧡

We grow up tomatoe plants in the house from seed

Jane thank you. I am allergic to so many foods. My choices are very limited. And expensive. I’ve changed my mindset to eat for nutrition. I don’t enjoy food at all. But I get my needs met. Boring but necessary. And frugal.

Jane, there is a cheap product you can get on many web- sights and places like farm supply stores. It's called Flash tape. You get literally hundreds of feet of it for a couple dollars. Deer, rabbits, squirrels, and neighborhood dogs are terrified of it. If you tie a bit of it on posts in your garden or saplings they will leave them alone.

It is really odd however, we got priced out of having container gardening. We have very invasive grasses, there like crab grasses that just pop up at every root section. We put down the cardboard very thick, fill the container with dirt soil we had to purchase and within two years we have to end up moving the container's and doing it all over again. The grass grows right up through the rotted cardboard and takes over, no matter how much you pull it up it just keeps coming back and stealing all the nutrients and water your plants need to grow. This year is a really crunch money time for us. We don't have the money to buy the soil to fill the container's, and with the amount of food we get out of the containers it's simply not worth it. Six bags of soil at 2.99 each is 18.00 but, we barely get enough green beans to get two pots out of. It would just be cheaper to buy the green beans rather than by the soil. So, I have our container's up for sale this year on facebook marketplace. With the sale of those, I'm planning on buying some can goods for the year. The containers were quite expensive, We are keeping one container, even though it's full of weeds and planting cucumber's they are so prolific and we eat a lot of them so, it would be worth it. Money is a worry now, it's why I'm up working on my business all night and only taking naps these days. i don't see things getting any better soon, even Walmart has raised the price of there cheaper brand of can veggies.

I am from Srilankan....I no longer go to the barrister for hot chocolate and cheese cake as everything in here has jacked up there rates...instead I bought a pack of imported coffee with 5 sachets which cost me rupees six hundred and make it at home ...if I go to the barrister coffee shop I spend over one thousand five hundred rupees...so that is one thing I can no longer afford.. but if I take to take my little granddaughter out I go to a place here called the grand and treat her and I have a pot of milk tea for rs.450/= 😂.....that is one major change I have made in my budget....Jane I love your style of living...I am frugal..but after my wonderful husband passed 3yrs back I have learnt a whole lot....thanks for your kindness in bringing these very interesting videos....keep up the good work Appreciate it much.....❤

I really miss your blog 💗 It was the first thing that put me on my path of frugal living.

I dont shop in tesco or sainsburys as more expensive but price check and buy some items in asda. Tho we mainly shop aldi and lidl and places where the food is on a deal. Olio food waste app good to find food for free. We dont have tv or sports packages we have freeview box. I get books from the library if at all possible or on amazon used. Were all on 1p mobile as the other networks put their prices up and i refused to pay 25p per min. Again changed energy and internet suppliers and as i found a cheaper deals. We travel on public transport and i search for good deals to cut travel costs on days out otherwise its very expensive. We also had a water meter as we were being charged nearly £700 a yr and wanted to reduce the bill. Doing that halved our bill. Sometimes its thinking outside the box or finding a way round things can make a big difference. Thanks for the tips and ideas jane, a few i can include in my budget

Also help my son with his new flat and both of us are short on money. So we’ve done the charity shop got him some really nice furniture and really. Been getting abit each week. Coz neither my son or me could afford to furnish his flat. But we’re haven’t done bad on a very tight budget.

Wow! Great video. I appreciate your transparency, and that makes you very relatable! For me, I am improving in the grocery area. I am trying to be more frugal and only shop once a week. I’ve been used to going to the market every few days which somehow leads to spending more. Trying to change my habits! One thing I do to save money is I make my own sourdough and regular loaves of bread. I even grind my own flours. Kind of a hobby, really. Now I am so grateful to have those skills. Bread 🍞 is between $6 - $10 here.

When you were talking about your piece of smoked haddock it was making me think of kedgeree. Love your tips.

That is how I buy meat too. A freezer for steeply discounted meat is a lifesaver. I love the way you save the baby trees and bushes.

I have pondered your question, “Of what have we been priced out?” I discussed this with my sister and with my husband. We are all retired. We are not millionaires but we are getting our full pensions. We know we are blessed. We have not stopped getting anything that we need, but we are limiting wants. I have actually increased savings because everything has gone up a little bit and I don’t know where it will end! So I buy less stuff and put it in savings, but if I really want something; and it fits my values, the money is in the sinking fund…I get it. I still have impulsive buys, about once a month. For example, I didn’t have a green blouse nice enough for church so I bought one for St Patrick’s Day. I see no occasion to buy clothes the rest of the year.

Love supporting local small businesses. ❤

On a Friday we used to do a marks & sparks meal deal as a treat to celebrate the end of the working week. We don’t do that anymore I just can’t justify the price

I just ditched all the streaming services too. I buy all my favorite DVDs at the Friends of the Library bookshop for buy 1 get 1. So 2 for $3. I also cant afford the lovely glossy magazines to flip through with a cup of tea. I read them on my library ap or at the library. I cant afford Sip and Paint classes, but tomorrow the library is hosting a paint night. So, i guess you can tell i rely heavily on the opportunities the library provides. I can even charge my power stations if its been overcast. Most of my protein is from beans and lentils, but if I find meat under 3$ a pound I will divide up packages into 3 oz portions. Wine I buy in a box with a vacuumed spot 😂 A picnic on the lawn sounds lovely.❤

I enjoyed this very much! Thank you!!!

Hi Jane and Mike💖💙in February I thought it would be a change to go out for a meal, well it was Valentine’s Day. I priced it up that is driving there, food, drink for two persons. Well it priced up to over 100€ , Will setting up a good meal ( I choice duck) with my own home made fried rice and some shop bought Chinese roll ect was well under 50€ and that’s with a small bottle of wine half price 😀

great ideas

I recently discoverd your blog and really enjoy it. We live on a limited budget here in Spain and prices have shot up here too.

Thank you great video 😊