Beyond Frugal: 9 Habits of a Frugal Girl. 

A quote that's been around forever...when a very rich man was asked the secret to his success he replied "I buy my straw hats in winter!"

When I was growing up there was no fridge or washing machine,mum washed clothes by hand and put them on the wooden pulley.

The way I save money I don’t go to stores. I’m still not strong enough to say no all the time,I did get rid of my credit card bill last year so now I just need to save for things. Thank you for sharing this

Re: food waste. I was saying something very similar on Twitter recently. I suspect some people go round the supermarket putting anything they think looks nice into their trolley without considering when or if they'll have the chance to use it. Even in my rather spendthrift youth I'd have some kind of a menu plan in my mind. I just don't understand it. I think the statistic that triggered my tweet was that 60% of food waste comes from domestic households. That's an incredible proportion. It's so easy to address with the smallest of forethought.

OMG Maslow's hierarchy of need..... Schroedinger's cat..... Seligman's Learned helplessness..... There's a blast from the past.. Yes, same background, up North rented house, no Central heating ( coal fire in 1 room) outside toilet with last night newspaper as a bottom wiper!... Kids don't understand how cold it was ( especially needing the loo on a Winter's night). Not a lot of 'disposable' income in our house either. My mum instilled into me the 'needs' first ethos. Roof overhead, heat in the hearth, food in the cupboard. I keep a budget book so I know everything I spend. It's paid off over the years. Do I feel deprived ? No..... absolutely not. Do I feel unhappy ? absolutely not..... do I feel content and satisfied with my 'lot' .. certainly do.... How many people spend their time chasing money and see being rich as success.... 'stuff 'doesn't make one any happier...

Great tips Vivi, I could do most of it no problem. Always have had a problem with buying too much food. I don't waste any but always have tins and a freezer full!! All I need to do now is educate my teenager and early twenty's that bank of mum has just gone bust 😂😂

You are so right Vivi! I have so much stuff I don’t need or use anymore (mainly clothes as I’m too big for them or I don’t go places that require wearing them) I also have a lot of brick and brack that really frankly gets on my nerves now! I have a lot of “kitchen” equipment that I do use/need on occasion so I will keep those but I am planning a major fire sale! I plan to buy the things I want with whatever I sell them for, failing to sell them I shall give them to our charity shops/thrift shops

Jane at Frugal in France is excellent at actually showing the money they get in and spend....it’s good to see how someone actually budgets.

Such an inspiring vlog Vivi. I need the encouragement having just spent over 2k on vets fees (worth every penny) which was unexpected. Fingers crossed that my faithful friend Eric pulls through. As I’m newly retired this has come out of my emergency fund and so I will certainly be ‘shopping down’ and being my own accountant from now on! X

Budgeting is high on my priority lists this year! It’s not for fun it’s for necessity reasons… it’s also for my own mental health! I need too clear my space and cut my cloth to meet my needs 💚

Valid points, great ideas and I am all for keeping anything out of landfill!! Food waste? Like you Vivi, I can't understand it. Anything ready for using, goes in a pot altogether and a few spices and herbs thrown in, and we've got a few spare dinners lol.. Are you planning on taking us around the charity shops with you? After the hospital visit, I mean. *hint, hint*🤭 x

I have always been frugal, it was the way I was brought up, even though I can afford more now, I don't want or need it. Just a treat now and again is enough.

Also a tip to curb impulse grocery shopping is eat lunch before you shop. You wont be enticed if you’re full while you shop.

Thanks so much for doing this video Vivi. I do many of the 9 things to live a frugal life that you mentioned , although they are somewhat modified to suit my personal needs.Im so glad you mentioned mental health as a need . It is important for me to donate to charity too. Having some treats incorporated into my budget also helps to break the monotony . Instead of impulse buying to fill an emotional gap (also live alone) I go for a swim , helps boost the endorphins. Looking forward to your next frugal living video

Although debt free, as a senior I must pay taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance, health insurance with copays. Car maintenances, food , clothing. We stick to these costs. We garden in the summer and are very low spend. We no longer live off grid, or keep animals. We are focusing on foodscraping and pollinator, bird friendly. We wish to remain healthy and independent. You are so right about things turning up .

Sound advice as always Vivi. Food waste is my pet hate. If you thrown it in the bin because you did not use it you may as well flush the money down the toilet. If I have a few wrinkly looking vegetables in the fridge, I make a soup out of them and then freeze them. I can never understand how people never seem to know what their basic monthly expenses are. I have always been up to date with what is coming in and what goes out. Home economics should be compulsory in schools in my opinion then perhaps we would end up being a nation of savers instead of spenders!

Good tips there Viv. I'm the one at home who switch off lights, unplug things, hate using the oven for one thing so will bake a cake ,dry herbs and with the ever rising fuel bills I'm looking for ways to reduce my consumption. I remember having a cuppa once and the lady filled the kettle with two cups of water stating that it was a war thing . Only use what you need she would say.

2 should be Do I have something I could use instead. 3 could I borrow it, loan it or make it Look up the Buyerarchy of Needs !

I love these frugal videos. While I was the only adult in my household, most of these worked so well for me... 😉 So for example I have a running list of my actual needs (like those long sleeved tops you mentioned). And I buy them when the opportunity arises. Thank you so much for producing this type of content along with everything else. ETA: I have a wonderful app for my phone that I can plug all my fixed cost into, and any income, and then it calculates how much money I can spend each day (I was down to around .75€ daily at one point). And then I plug in what I spend to see how I'm doing. I had a hard time budgeting on paper, so this was very helpful.

Must add ..I have a coal fire but very really use it. If I do it's with gatherings. Yes I'm that lady who collects driftwood and coal from the beach or sticks and pine cones from the woods. Just been for a walk and the amount of Xmas trees that have taken years to grow, used for two weeks, now tossed out into the garden ...madness and they aren't cheap either. Coal fire or bonfire a few foil wrapped spuds go on too .

Great idea's. Thank you Vivi.

I can download books magazines and daily newspapers to my phone....using my library card. In the last few years I've saved lots of money not buying papers. It was so good being able to download books during lockdown too.

Ok…I used my credit card at Christmas…..grandchildren! I am the weakest link. (Honestly I shouldn’t even have one!) Thank you for this reminder! I’ve set a three-month goal of “no spend.” It will be fun, no? Also, I’ve gone through my storage area and have found things I don’t use or need and am going to sell or trade them. Thanks again for these wise ideas.

Such solid advice! Thank you, Vivi. 😊

I love your frugal vids! I’ve been doing the envelope budgeting method for years and it’s really helped me be more conscious of what I’m spending. ❤️

I come from a long line of frugal folk and agree your 9 suggestions are wonderful. It really is more of a mindset than anything and the longer you practice steps like these, the more second nature it will become. Another big philosophy for my family is to trade and barter and borrow. We can often borrow something from a neighbor if it is something we do not need regularly. My neighbors and I all trade food as one of us will produce or make something another doesn't. It is wonderful for our pantries and has deepened our friendships, too. Thanks for another great video!

You're preaching to the choir, Vivi. The only time I buy clothes is when the old ones are beyond repair. I do have to drive into town to pick up my Rx and kitty litter. If I go into the grocery store, even for a few items, I'll bring out a couple of bags. So, maybe I'll avoid it this trip. I have to go back in on the 26th. for my booster jab, anyway, and by then I probably will need a few groceries. I always write a list for food, even if I leave the piece of paper at home. Now that I have a "new to me" i-phone 6, I'll probably remember to bring it in from the car with the list on it. When my daughter first moved to Sweden to be with her boyfriend, he was pleasantly surprised when she dug to the back of some canned goods in the store because they might not have put the higher price back there. Apparently she saw me do that when she was very young, and it stuck with her. My son always asks for a list when he's going to do a Costco run for me. I'm glad they got more than a love for books and history from me. :) Laters, Lovely. ~ Jon in rural BC, Canada

A lot of good points here Vivi. Thanks for sharing.💗

Love this video. It's great. Thank you so much for posting.

Great tips as always, thank you for sharing 🙏🏼💫🙏🏼❣️

Just got to the bit about the library 🤣 In my country,you can borrow books from any library and ask them to purchase books you want to read

Hi ViVi! Can't wait for the low-spend/no spend year - with your encouragement and humour of course! I am very much enjoying your videos which I often listen to as I do my Wedding photo editing, whilst thinking of being in the garden...

Loved your 9 habits. They are the same I follow each month. I'm glad we have the same ideas! Great video!

Such good advice,,and I have taken it aboard 🥰Thankyou dear lady 🌸

Thankyou so very much Vivi. Rest well x

Hiya Vivi, thanx teach had my notebook out lol. Looking forward to watching more. Blessings luv Ontario Canada 🐝

We are really watching our funds so we can be mortgage free hopefully by the end of the year!

Wonderful video, as always!!!

Great video, thanks Vivi ☺️ Get well soon.

Thanks Vivi.

Hi Vivi, I live in the states and all these ideas you gave were excellent ideas. I plan on this being a no spend year. Thank you for taking us on your adventures to your lovely garden. I had a garden when I had my own home, and let me tell you I miss going in the yard and gleaning my own food. Keep up the wonderful stories you tell. God Bless and take care. Hope you feel better soon.your friend from St. Paul minnesota.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.....flashback to that psych text book way too many years ago! 😱🤣🤣 Glad to see you feeling better. Happy 2022 and looking forward to seeing your videos as the year rolls on.

As always lots of useful advice Vivi. Hope you feel better soon : -)

Excellent vid Vivi, mindset is half the battle I think. It does become second nature eventually. 😻🙏❤️

JUST what I needed to hear today..keep the encouragement coming 🥰 so practical and worthy to be heard. Thank You Sweet Girl🤩🥳

Hi vivi Such wise words Love your videos I cannot wait till the next instalment take care xx❤️❤️

Vivi is lovely, & refreshing. New to the channel, so catching up on these older videos......i will catch up !!! So far on my wavelength 😂😊❤

Hi Vivi,loved this vlog.Found it really enlightening.Thankyou.Hope you feel better soon.x

I definitely thinking starting out what you actually have makes you realise how little you need x

Great advice. 2022 is a low spend year as I'm working on getting rid of my debt.

Great advice on living simply and saving money Vivi. Good luck with your knee doctor visit. Hope it goes well. ⭐️

So enjoyed this viv now I need to sit down and work a few things out I’m a full time carer don’t have a lot of money but I’m wanting to take a small break this year hopefully so every penny counts Beautiful blessings 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💕💕

Thank you, thank you, thank you for frugal video, thank you, I love them :)

Excellent ideas that anyone can use for a more mindful, frugal life.

Thank you, Vivi! I think perhaps you could add another point which is something I need to work on - gratitude. You exemplify this trait so beautifully. I like to think I’m frugal, but you have given some good reminders and a goal to be as grateful for small pleasures as Vivi!

Books! Yes, Books......and please add to the mental wellness needs, Music! I cut my teeth on the Maslow Hierarchy, as the daughter of an educator/school counselor, and as an educator myself. Good stuff. Thank you for sharing!

Love the vid gal. So sad about your fabric shop. Like I felt when they closed out mine that was in the mall years ago. Still really miss that one :( Im the opposite of you as I have mostly winter tops and few for warm months. Looking to spend only half as much on non essential needs this year... like on my Amazon orders, grocery bill, hygiene and cleaning etc. Currently trying to figure out how to make a homemade vacuum sealing chamber for my jars by watching YT. Hoping I have everything I need already. I have seen your budget breakdown vids and girl you are on it!!! More power to ya. I also have my hubby who dips into the finances from time to time, so its a bit more difficult when that happens but he is usually very good about letting me know what he has been spending. Yesterday he actually sold his old chainsaw for 300 bucks!!! It was one his boss was getting rid of as it wasnt up to par. He gave it to my husband for free. The hubbs said he put in a new bar chain and carburetor and maybe all together it was 50$. So 250 dollars profit fo the win. WOOHOO. I hear your rant about food waste. And I raise you one. I hate it when people who are so health conscious as to buy organic produce then always proceed to peel their veggies and dump the peels. For heavens sake just scrub them well and eat the peels. Very healthy. Or use the peels for veggie broth. I stopped buying annual plants altogether unless I have seeds saved I dont grow them. Also I shy away for purely ornamental plants of any kind and stick to edible plants.Im an avid reader also but rarely buy books I solely read for love of reading. I use the local library or look for free kindles and other ebooks. I buy the occasional book on plants or crafts in 2nd hand shops. Have to sincerely commiserate with you on the closure of yours. We can even order ones from anywhere in the US. Big one... I have to constantly remember yes there will be another sale!!! Our TV bill was outrageous so I cut it down to just internet boght a 20 dollar firestick and we now have millions of programs available and are still paying less than half what we were. I been avidly trying to reduce waste plastics and we reuse grocery bags forever and recently I saw a video on making plastic cording with a simple jig made from a small block of wood and a box cutter blade. Cant wait to get the hubby on that one. At least it can keep it out of the landfill. Thanks for reminding me. Love all your tips. Have a great day. Namaste :)

Take a flash of hot water and some coffee saving buying any coffee I metioned that to Ernie today when go for day trips.

It's a pity that basic budget skills are not taught as part of the school curriculum, as so many people seem to struggle with this side of life. Plenty of good advice in this vid, and the timing is great as many people are short of money after Christmas.

I need my yarn! For crocheting. Love your videos. Thank you Vivi! Hi from SC!😊😍🏝

Thanks for the tips.

Hello Vivi, I was so excited to see you'd made a video on my requested topic - thank you! So many good reminders and inspirational tips. I do love the last one, it's all about thinking outside the box instead of doing things on autopilot as we may have in the past. One question we ask ourselves after 'do I need it?' is 'can we do this/fix this ourselves and do we have anything lying around which might serve the same purpose?' It is so easy to just throw money at a problem (we've done it for sure) and always doing that really dumbs us down and keeps us on the work to spend treadmill. As for food waste, a few years ago we did waste a bit and my conclusion was we were just too affluent! When you can't afford to do it (as in for most of my life) you simply don't do it. I'm pleased to say that we quickly got a grip on ourselves. Apparently amongst the young food waste is common because they do their weekly shop and then someone will message asking if they want to go out and eat/ head for the pub etc...and the food they'd planned to cook just goes to waste. Ah technology, it costs us in so many ways! Big hugs from Australia. xx

Hello Vivi, I’m pretty frugal but I’ll be tightening the belt tighter so to speak. I have to finish out a big home project that has taken more than double the time I was told and more $ too.😞 But I do believe if I live thru all this huge mess, it will be sweet at the other side of it. Thank you for sharing you tips, perfect timing. 😉💗💗💗

I would add to take care of your possessions, to keep them in good order and condition. Also to find another use for them once they are beyond their original use. For example old clothes used as cleaning rags.

I introduced my teenagers to Maslow's hierarchy of needs - they were not impressed teehee

I've discovered your channel recently and you make me want to visit the UK! I'm in US-Texas and it's so hot here now. I envy people who can walk for errands. I live in a large city but it's totally car-dependent. Thank you for the inspirations!

The library here has lots of ebooks and audiobooks I can get on my computer for free. If I read a book online and really love it. I watch for one at some used book shops

Needing something is a good word to think about

thx for Sharing🌻

I’m a fairly recent subbie and catching up on your content. I’m an ex teacher,gave up due to I’ll health. I now work part time as a TA, earning a fraction of what I used to, with none of the benefits. I’m trying to have a low spend year (avid crafter) and am implementing more of a “do I need it?” attitude and use what I have. I agree that books are good for our mental health and am glad you use charity shops. Do you use your local library too? I’m probably a decade older than you and dread to think how much money I’ve wasted over the years. I’m glad that I don’t have any debt now other than 5 years on the mortgage. Thank you for your no nonsense approach

Love the cow girl wash😀

This morning, before going to work, I divided a bag of grated cheese into portions. This way I will use up a reasonable amount for the meal, but not overly. No waste, keeps our portions reasonable, and is handy and on hand.

Lol! I refused to do any more development training at work as EVERY SINGLE course seemed to start with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs! It is actually taught in schools and should just be reinforced in later learning. It’s a very basic model and there are many others that are more up to date. Good video for anyone who is unaware of these basic principles. As an ageing population, healthcare, general economics etc will all be impacted and this model will be referred to more often. Unfortunately since the 1950’s the UK has become more and more driven by commercialisation and spending money unnecessarily. This has become a way of life for many people, especially the older generation for whom supermarkets etc were a welcome relief from the drudgery of slogging round different shops for meat, bread etc. People speak about sustainability, but few understand what it actually means. Keep educating people Vivi! Your frugal model of living is a very good example to others who wish to move towards a less damaging way of life for our planet. Life as we know it is changing very fast and people with the skills and knowledge that you have will be more able to survive and hopefully thrive! Happy 2022, x

Yeah.....Maslow! I qualified as a good old fashioned S.R.N. in 1971. Happy days...now retired

Great frugal tips! I hope to increase our garden production (Lord willing!) this summer as food prices are rising a bit and I feel it's more important now to consider the money that I can save by growing our own. Previously, I've grown a garden more with the idea of higher quality food and the pleasure and rewarding feeling of growing food....but I now feel that the money savings in it is becoming an important consideration as well. I am in the same boat as you with books. I need them. Also, our rural library is limited, so I buy used and either keep or donate to thrift stores. Thank you for the explanation about "charity shops'. I didn't know that your thrift stores raise money for various causes and I think that is GREAT!

These are very good tips. Frugality begins in the heart and mind, sometimes it takes a while to click. I appreciate your thoughts on this!

Thank you for your comments vivi♥️

I will add a caveat to the buying the no-brand tin, particularly here in the USA, don't know about in the UK, but would assume the same is going on. Open the tin up and drain the liquid off, then compare it with the house-brand and the name-brand of that veg. I have found that the no-brand tin is usually less than half a tin of whatever veg I was buying. The house-brand and the name-brand usually have the same volume of veg after draining. I suppose you could weight the contents of the different tins and do a price per ounce/gm to find out which are actually the most cost effective.

My husband always insisted own brands tasted worse. So I left a branded beans tin on the counter, decanted ketchup into a branded bottle. He didn't notice any difference when he ate them. Now we just buy own brands.

Useful 😊✅

Happy New Year Vivi!!! Sorry know it's a bit late haha. Hope your poorly throat heals up soon. I've got this breathlessness thing going on , wheezy woman that's me 😁 . Some great tips there. x

Great list. I would say about "swapping down/up"....watch out for fructose syrup. This is the reason a lot of cheaper foods are cheaper. HFCS is not food (Highly processed) and could contribute to weight gain and general unhealthiness.

Hi VIvi, do I need a tv licence to watch All 4 and My 5. I supposed they are repeats of programs. Ps spinning camel fibers. As usual, keep up the good work and thank you for keeping us inspired. Virtual 20 second hug.

Hi - No prescription charges in Scotland and Wales since 2011 - allotments are the way forward! Best Wishes from Perthshire

Great vlog

We always try the shops budget brand first and most of the time we like it and like you i don't understand food waste, if i have something that needs using up i make a chilli/stew with it so as not to waste itx

For me, being frugal is just common sense.. and being mindful of your limits.. Simple....

Loved this video, excellent information on cutting cost. I have a book you should check out if you find it. The book is called Dear Mad'm its a lovely book about an 80 year old woman who moved into a cabin in the mountains.

If people waste food, they earn to much money, that is my opinion. I am not religious, but I think it is a sin to waste food.

Teachers also study Maslow Vivi. I think it is such an important concept linked to education. The real issue is what happens to the children when their basic needs are not met. It is tragic.

I am lucky that I live in a small market town that has a limited amount of shops most of which are food shops and I rarely go into the larger towns around me. This means I don’t see things to tempt me.

Vivi if you have the HC2 low income exemption certificate it covers your prescriptions and eye tests, plus the cost of some glasses. Me and my husband have the HC2 exemption.

Good video

Just been shopping and successfully adopted your philosophy…. Do I need it? As I don’t go into our town centre very often I had made a mental list of things I need and purchased two items of clothing that I have needed, both at reduced prices as the sales are still on. Thank you for your advice.

I have got jumpers from our mum and my younger sister

I try not to look at what an item cost me when decluttering because if it cost my £1000 and I don’t wear/use it it’s still no good to me,in fact it is sat there taking up space and stressing me as I need the space it is taking up.

Up lifting chat thank you x

Solar panels and windmills are an expensive initial investment that I can’t afford! Sitting here in my old thrift shop clothes with record cold temps outside...two wood burners...( one was a gift). My family was not wealthy either...barely middle class...!

My autistic lad , David is not fooled by brands, he prefers own brand beans etc!!

good old frugal vivi