So true i have met people with degree and careers lawyers , Doctors who happen to make alot of money and yet they're loosing their home and are in debt.
Having a low income doesn't stop one from becoming a well read, educated person e.g. libraries offer free access to books, computers, movies and documentaries, there are art galleries, museums, observatories, parks and gardens, lectures, book clubs, on and on it goes!
@@marionopisso212 Almost every museum and gallery over here have an entrance fee. They are also mostly located in cities/ towns and to go to one takes a lot of time and money.
Tessie, I worked in office jobs for many years, retirement has now made me very happy. Getting up early every morning, dressing up nicely for work, then getting in morning traffic, it all took the joy out of me. All I wanted to do was stay at home with my children. You have the best life, and I’m happy for you.
I chose to live frugally so I can travel. It’s the one thing that I love doing. Been to Paris, London, Iceland, Ireland to name a few. I also took my two adopted children to South Korea so they could learn more about their culture. It’s all about personal choice and what works best for you
I think that buying frugally gives you a better "high" than using "retail therapy" and spending more than you have because the latter usually involves "buyer's remorse" when you come down off that type of high. You always inspire me Tessie, and sometimes it's just to remind me to maintain an attitude of gratitude. You're always wealthy in a healthy way when you appreciate all the things that you already have.
Not been on vacation in 8 years, no hair salons, I shop mostly at thrift stores . I admire you! My husband also colors my hair. Most of the time it is pulled up anyway. We can still be pretty without spending alot!
I also color my own hair, I have never had a manicure, I had two pedicures in my life ( I'm 70) and those were gifts from my daughters. You can look nice without spending a lot of money.
@@juliehurst3846 people are talking about NOT having enough money to retire. Don’t worry about other people and worry about yourself and your family. Do you think generational wealth is something we’re entitled to? No, you have to scrimp and save for decades. Do you (anyone reading this, not you specifically) get any kind of government assistance? Then you don’t “deserve “ anything. You need to get a job or two (like my husband and I both did). Those at the top worked hard to get there mostly. I’m not at the top but I’m now comfortably retired and can afford to do the nails, hair, and tats but let me tell you, there’s nothing better than peace of mind having a nest egg. Remember: You don’t deserve anything! Beyoncé and Taylor worked their asses off for what they have, do you?
I genuinely enjoy staycations and love being as minimalist as possible (the less things I need to be accountable for, the better I feel). I don’t like to travel. I’d really much rather do day trips instead and sleep in my own bed at night. People like to criticize me about how little vacations I go on, but I say to each their own. I’d rather save and invest in a wonderful home I throughly enjoy while others would rather save up for travel. 🤷🏻♀️
You know something? I envy your ability to have a beautiful home filled with love and the knowledge you accumulated. Wish I had the same knowledge when I was young like you.
There used to be an old fashioned term called "genteel poverty." A home where there might not have been a lot of money, but there was kindness, courtesy, cleanliness and sobriety. I think I'm beginning to appreciate that term more and more every day! 🙂 I also love the lyrics to your opening theme music, Tessie! The beautiful Shaker Hymn, "Simple Gifts" "'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free 'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be, And when we find ourselves in the place just right, 'Twill be in the valley of love and delight. When true simplicity is gain'd, To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd, To turn, turn will be our delight, Till by turning, turning we come 'round right." Just perfect for this conversation! Blessings to you and Kenny!
Kes I Think That This Is One Of Your Most Beautiful Comments Ever! Tessie And Kenny Certainly Do Have All The Attributes Of " Genteel Poverty " And What A Wonderful Term That Is " May GOD Bless You Kes, Andrea❤️
@@pr9764 You are so sweet, Andrea! These days, virtually all of my moments are Senior, so it never surprises me when I lose things, fail to hit the right buttons or do other "creative" variations of daily life!
@@pr9764 I wish I'd invented it, Andrea! I've always loved that term -- mostly because it removes the negative connotations of the word: poverty. And really -- when you think about it -- that word really shouldn't be a negative term. 🙂 Blessings to you, dear Sister.
I live this way also, but I,m not on youtube. I live on 14,000 a year. I agree this is the way to go. I pay cash for everything. I have no debt. I haven't been to a movie in probably over a decade. I shop the markdowns and cook from scratch for most meals. I take care of my grown son who has Autism. My husband died 6 years ago, it's just the two of us. We don't have cable, but I do have Roku. and internet. That is our luxuries.
Tessie, please know what a treasure you are. You are so inspiring. Thank you for this wonderful video. Getting out of debt and living below our means is so very wise to do. 😊
Since Covid I don’t go to a salon for haircuts, I learned how to do it myself from watching RU-vid videos. I also buy clothing from thrift stores or the clearance rack at Walmart. We do visit relatives as a vacation of sorts. I am fortunate to have worked for a health care facility that paid well and had a pension plan and retirement plan that they matched. I’m comfortable but I like living frugally. Seems like I’m in good company here.❤️
Living below poverty level here for the past 5 years. Once every 3 months I go to the five dollar movie night. Once a week, there is a free concert at the park near me. When I want a special dinner, I look at restaurant menus and then I copy it and make it at home. I enjoy the time in my garden, and nothing goes to waste! I mean nothing today I made black beans, and I saved the juice from them to use in the future. After I grew celery, I use the stalks to munch on - the skinny pieces, get chopped up for stews, and the leaves get dehydrated as a seasoning. I enjoy the way I live and I’m happy that you do it to.❤️
What you said about the menu, is GOLD. Food is my biggest vice, but I hate, paying the premium (especially if I'm disappointed after) for almost a year I've been learning to cook my favorite meals from restaurants, I tell myself I'm saving "x" amount of dollars and I feel great, sometimes I leave out expensive ingredients to keep it cost effective but I'm always happy with the results because I did it for myself and learned something new, and usually have enough ingredients left to retry and do it better next time.
thank you so much my dear sweet friend after making this video we were saving up a lot of money for some major projects that we need to do because we lived so frugal and were saving our money now we're an extended time we are able to have some upgrades in our home which I'm sharing in current videos it's always been my goal to stay out of debt and never get back into debt and I can say that is holding true we still are saving our money to create cash so we can do some upgrades
Your lifestyle and budgeting is so similar to mine! I live in a 1989 double wide that we bought last year. I was shocked to get our tax bill of $4,000 for the year. I’m still trying to bounce back from that unexpected expense. Sometimes I watch videos on being frugal and I get disappointed because their idea of frugal is my idea of splurging.
@@LillyAnnHouston I have no idea. It is on 3 acres but my parents own a 4,000 square foot regular house on 5 acres and their tax bill was like half of mine
It is June 16, 2024 and I have been glued to your RU-vid channel! What an amazing, beautifully authentic living breath of fresh air you are ❤ I plan on catching up by starting with your earlier videos my only wish being that I had found your channel sooner. Thank you
I'm totally jealous! My home is total electric. My last bill was $500.00 for the month. I live in Florida and it has been SOOOO hot. I'm trying to save by raising our thermostat a LOT and using 2 industrial fans to keep the air moving. It will be interesting to see if it helps lower that bill.
can you cook outdoors. Like put a crock pot to help with not overheating home/apt. Weather stripping around doors, windows. Electrical insulation behind outside walls. I bought from hardware store. God bless from Jill 🇨🇦
We have blackout curtains but I also put Refectix from Home Depot on the inside of the windows that the sun shines directly in all afternoon. It has made a big difference with our power bill
Also in Florida- the heat is nuts and you have to run the ac to avoid mold; but I have increased my set temperature during the day and am also relying on fans to keep the air moving. I keep the curtains closed when the windows are in the sun to help reflect the heat away. It does help! My bill decreased after I started doing this
Turn unused appliances off at the power point & unplug them so they don't use "phantom power". Cover your windows with multiple layers of blinds/curtains or even blankets to block out incoming heat. These have helped me lots. Blessings ❤
you are absolutely so right about getting high on saving money. i get the biggest kick out of thrift store shopping and picking up stuff at food pantries. i love your home btw and how you have it decorated. it looks so cozy and sweet.
Hi, Tessie. The last two years have brought a lot of financial change to my family since we went from two incomes to one. We've had to make a lot of adjustments to our spending and budget, and I find I don't miss the things we've cut out since I make everything myself now and enjoy doing it myself. I so appreciate you sharing your tips and insight; they're needed now more than ever. I loved what you said about finding and doing what brings joy even when living a frugal or low income lifestyle; I couldn't agree more. You're such a blessing!
Great video Tessie. I always look to downsize in anyway I can and as a single person my main and only major expense is rent and am really leaning toward living more off grid and I believe I could get my expenses as low as a few hundred a month.
My lifestyle is very different from you Tessie, doesn’t mean my life is better. I think you have a beautiful home. I actually love being at home myself. Just like you my husband and I invest a lot of time into our homes to make it an enjoyable place to be. Keep doing what your doing.
"I don't spend money when I make money"...here, here, Tessie! That's our philosophy, too! While everyone around us goes on a cruise every year, has a big house, etc...we put every penny [after paying bills] straight into the bank!!
Hi Tessie! Great video. I enjoy these budgeting videos! Last week when I did my housecleaning I wore a bandanna. Thanks to you. They’re great. Now I see why our moms and grandmas wore them during cleaning. They really keep the hair out of my face and keep me cooker too.
I've not been on vacation since 1994, I do my own hair, I don't like going out to eat. I am very frugal. I live on a budget for 17 years from Dave Ramsey. It's so easy when a bill comes due I just take out of an envelope. I really enjoy budgeting. I can and raise raised gardens. I learn a lot from you and others. Keep up the good work Sis
I'm in the process of re-watching all of your Christmas Home Tour videos. They give me such a cozy feeling that I'm trying to recapture in my own home. Your videos remind me (I'm 71) of my childhood summers on my Grandparents' farm (probably not very far from you - they lived in a "Hollow" too). Your videos bring back fond memories for me and I've also been watching some of your old meal videos. I too wound up with financial issues in '08 and would like to move out of my HOA community (too many restrictions) and am looking back in PA. I also became a widow 6 years ago, so that's also been a drain on me. Your videos give me inspiration, so thanks to you (and Chevy man) for all you do.
Once again Tessie, very timely advice for situations we live in, and being successful at it. Extreme budgeting does not equal poverty - as you explain here there are many ways to deal with it. Thanks for this happy video! 🐾🥰
Tessie I enjoy hearing how others live on a budget. I live most frugally and do enjoy it, I have no choice but am thankful for what I have, God bless you both.
I love tessie time. My expensive thing this year was my new underground water line. It cost me 2,100.00 dollars an tomorrow I have to also pay my plumber for hooking up my mobile home to the new line. I’ll let you know how much that bill is as well. But it will be done an we will have water again! Bubble bath hear I come!
I just discovered this channel! Very interesting and inspiring. My main question is, what is meant by finding used food? I have never heard of anything like that? What is that and where do you find it? Thank you.
I love thrift stores!! Really enjoyed your video and your channel. You talked about going out to eat for a special occasion , eating a cupcake, treat seldom, when you have some of these all the time it ceases to be special, doesn’t mean as much, love your video!
I am a new subscriber. Single mom about to buy a modest home on an acre. Love seeing videos like this, definitely will be doing ALL the things, and on a tight budget. ❤
Money helps a great deal but it certainly doesn’t buy happiness. There is a lot of ways to have fun without money. Good family and friends help when it comes to happiness. Being a good friend to people is very satisfying. Have a great evening everyone!
Hi 👋 Tessie! New subscriber 🎉🎉, I was looking for a channel in English with information about frugal lifestyle, ideas 💡 etc etc but where I can learn and practice my Basic English 😂😂😂, and suddenly! I found you 🎉🎉🎉, I love ❤️ your sweet personality, you are living your life in the way you wants, No comparing with others… great 👍! Thank you 🙏 for share with us….
Hard work and not spending is the key. To be out of debt feels way better than the high you get going on a spending spree. We are also out of all debt and live a much simpler life than anyone we know. But, I love it.
Hi Tessie. I also live a very frugal lifestyle and do very well with it. I pinch pennies so that I have money for things like unexpected expenses or holiday gifts that are nice. I wanted to mention one thing. I also get a lot of things at the dollar store, and used to buy lipstick and a few other items like that. I also like makeup and wear a minimal amount. Recently I watched a documentary about how the makeup industry in China makes many knock offs of other makeup brands. They showed with undercover cameras that the makeup there is concocted in really nasty, dirty conditions, using unhealthy additives to make the colors, etc.... So its something to think about with the makeup. I don't want to get sick from their products, and I wouldn't want you or anyone else here to get sick either. God bless.
Thanks for sharing Tessie! I know how save money as I have from a young age! People would be amazed at how much you save when you cut junk food out of you grocery bill just 1 time! If you even cut back on it! I did 1 month when we were in the Army & it was a big saving! We weren’t eating junk food or drinking cokes everyday but it still added up! Also taught our kids to limit their snacking & drinks. And no wasting of food. Everything helps when you need to save. Blessings my friend❣️❣️
I clicked the link to your viral video from 3 years ago. Talk a bout “extreme”… Your weight loss transformation! Amazing! You look so much healthier and happier now! I’ve watched your videos for the past few years, so I know you have lost weight, but didn’t realize the extent until I saw the older video! Congrats 🎉 And praise God for all His blessings on you!
Martha thank you!!! I do look a little different now :) I have a playlist on my healing journey! Thank you for encouraging me with such beautiful words
Everything you said is so true. I too get a high from saving money. Finding a good deal at the grocery store, having something given to me that I had been wanting but never mentioned to any one. Some people may say my life is boring but I am very happy. To me, that’s all that matters.
Whenever there is a "we" and someone or people who contribute and work in the same goal and there is love things work out so much smoother. But when there is a just me or others in the family not working towards the same goal it's chaos and a downward spiral. I wish I had a "we" where "we" loved and supported each other .
Good Morning Tessie, Sisters, Brothers, and Friends, Wish you all a wonderful blessed Tuesday filled with Gods joy and Happiness :-) Remember to pray for one another and for all around the world :-) God Bless You ! Love you all :-) Keep smiling be safe :-)
I'm the oldest and our spending life style was certainly much leaner than what the youngest grew up with. My mother worked probably pretty hard to keep our general living life style higher than our finances. Between what simply was, the tales from multiple generations, and the tales of some others we knew - I got a reasonable world view of what can be done in terms of frugality without complete deprivation.
Morning sister ! Please keep the frugal tips coming !!! Anything you can think of is much needed !!! I too, cut & color my own hair , buy dollar tree blush , cook/ bake mostly from scratch & we haven’t been on an over-nite vacation in very long time . We try to do fun , cheap or free stay-cation type things . Please give any ideas on free / cheap , fun ways to spend family time together . I have recently discovered how EASY it is to make homemade flour tortillas . They are way cheaper & don’t have the long list of bad ingredients like store bought . I went WAY outside my baking comfort zone & made homemade pop tarts !!! I made homemade bread for the first time too ! I try to have plenty to put in oven at once , to save on electric costs . All the new baking I’ve done , has turned out surprisingly great ! When I’m in the grocery store & see a pizza on sale for $5 , I think , why would I buy that , when I can make that for $1 at home ! 😆 love you so much , sis in Christ !!! God bless y’all ! ❤
Got you beat Tessie, I have not had a holiday in more than forty years. However, I do enjoy Days Out, monthly would be great, but lately they have been few and far between. I shop at Grocery Outlet, but am now using my Preps instead. Almost everything else is of good quality, but bought used, to help pay for petrol and things like my vet and dental bills. Your garden looks wonderful. I also like Salvage Food.
I always love the music you use. We lived at below the poverty level for many years, I truly appreciate where you are now. It can be done, but there has to be many sacrifices...but the same sacrifices can also bring blessings as you prove to us.
you have a beautiful home and piece of land. Plus people think that low income means you are not living as nicely. That is not true. I have realized when we have made more income we still look for bargins and when we make less we still do . When we were younger we spent to much on things and even though we looked for our bargins we were not savers. Now I try to make sure to tithe pay the things I need to and then have a little for savings. I am not out of debt yet but I am working on getting things paid off. Your doing a good job Tessie and You have a lovely place. I think it is neat that you do not have a strong desire to shop so much. If you can order your clothes for a good price or you can get them free because of being a influencer awesome. Who would not want to do that. Makes complete sense. I like to shop at discount grocery stores also. I like to thrift. I feel that it teaches a person many times how much we truly waste buying something full price and brand new when you can get many nice things used.
Hi Tessie, Wow girl you really told it how it is! Good info. I’ve never been a high maintenance person,couldn’t be even if I tried. Lol But I do like to eat out with my family once a week or every other. It’s been a tradition since I’ve been married for many yrs. Yes there’s been times we couldn’t afford it and that’s ok too. But I look forward to that. If we can’t afford something, we just do without, I don’t want anything free. We’ve worked hard for everything we have, cash in hand for us also when we buy anything. No offense but I think you should treat yourself at least once a month to eat out. That won’t make you or break you. God Bless ❤
Great video, I'm challenging myself for 1 year. Living off my garden and making things homemade I am only buying the things I have to have, and no going out to eat.
What would you recommend for folks that can’t garden (I live in a condo and can’t garden) but want to live frugal like you do grocery wise? I don’t have a truck that comes like you have either.
Good for you. I love going to thrift stores also. I sell on eBay as my job so most of the items I buy are to resell, but sometimes I get some nice things for our home. This is my first video of yours but I love it and have subscribed. Good for you on your way of life!
I love travel, like many people, but am frugal in other ways. I don’t want to leave this earth without seeing some of it. This is a great video and I love that you seem happy.
