How it all began: Channel name & my journey into a wage-free life. 

My mantra for years has been “ how much is enough?” The more people make, the more they spend and want...I jumped ship, too. To stressed...no fun. Doing so much better on a lot less $$$.

Don’t ever change you channel name. We love it the way it is.

This is an amazing video, I’m watching back through your journey,while I’m at the very beginning of my journey to a self sufficient life and focusing on clearing me consumer debts asap, I’m under no illusion it’s a hard journey but one that will 100% be worth it in the end

Lovely... Utterly lovely... and I am so pleased you have found the delete button. 🤗 Love the name, of course... I am so long term I still remember you wanting to save seed from a bolted carrot!! ❤️

Vivi, I first 'met' you thru Sean's site. So, I guess I've been cheering you on from the beginning. All of your hard work, determination and beautiful veggies are an inspiration to this NE NY native. I am so proud of you and your journey. You are one gutsy broad!! Peace, blessing and hugs.

Your channel name is perfect,was so nice to learn more about you.You’re a very inspirational lady,thank you for brightening youtube land x

Such an inspiration you are Vivi.. 😊 I could listen to your life stories all day & everyday.. 😀 Loved it... Take good care lovely.. 😄

You got me feeling nostalgic so I went back to some of Sean's old vids and found Vivi's City Cottage, Ky, Geoff and Graham. I had subbed immediately when you started your own channel because I just enjoy whatever you do. If you said it, I missed when you said you got your allotment? How many years? Several years ago I also had to move from a 20 year residence (2 flights stairs). But I did find a one level apartment, with indoor laundry hookup, parking right outside my door and a south facing patio and garden. Everything suited to me! You will find the perfect place, I'm sure!

So glad I’ve found you,it’s like finding an old friend after a long absence 🤗

This has been a great video to watch. I love your honesty. I was a police officer for 15 years and it really started to affect my mental health. Once I realised how unwell the job was making me I sat down with my husband and we talked through our options. We decided that as our children were now adults we would like to foster. We went down that route and I was so relieved when the stress of policing ended. We took our first (and only) child over 7 years ago. She fitted in to our family immediately. I've gone back to being a happy, stay at home mum. The scared, unhappy 5 year old we brought home is now 13 and happy and full of confidence. She even had her name legally changed to our family name. She's our daughter and will be with us permanently. Life is so good now. Its a shame we have to face illness etc to realise that things have to change. It's also good to see that change isn't a bad thing and it can make us very happy x

Thank you for sharing your story! I loved getting the primer of how your adventure started. I’m blessed to be out of debt, too. It’s a wonderful legacy. I’d add one caveat to your “Anyone can do this.” Anyone can do this with your National Health Care. For many in the states, the job is the means to health insurance.

I found you, Vivi, from Kate at She's Drinking Coffee 💖 I admire you and am proud of what you have done. I am happy to let the ads run or to play some of your playlists to help you out. Great job, Vivi!

It really is amazing when you discover that money and happiness aren't linked. Leaving work was the best thing I ever did and although I didn't do it quite like you - I have a small pension to live on rather than being self-sufficient - I understand that feeling of relief. You're doing amazingly and are truly an inspiration.

I really love ur motto of not knowing what life will bring u next. Love ur channel name too. I didn’t know u were in a long term relat.. good for u taking this leap. Good luck with ur next more xoxo

Vivi you're an absolute gem! Loved hearing your story. I'd watched many recent films but not any telling the story of how it all started x

Peoples lives are always fascinating and yours is no exception. I first came across your warm banter and an enthusiasm that draws people to you when Sean introduced you on his channel, and the rest is history as they say. 💕👍

just discovered your channel. i love your story! and i love how you see life as an adventure :)

I love your channel name. Thank you for sharing your story. Love it!

Thanks Vivvi good luck in the future xxx

You are such a good storyteller 😇I enjoyed this so much. God bless you!

Hi Vivi. Love your philosophy 💖

It's such a joy watching your videos. I loved listening to your journey, you are so inspirational.

Just stumbled across your channel. So inspirational! You have a new subscriber. Thank you!

Thank you for sharing Vivi, you’re an inspiration and a joy.

I’m a new subscriber and just loving your content!

Discovering your channel has me happy dancing here in Canada! UROCK

Brilliant! Thanks so much for sharing this!

In a nutshell: You couldn't have done it better. Big hug, good girl!

Thank you so much for sharing your story so far, I found it really encouraging. Thank you also for the two books you sent on vegetable growing that I purchased from your shop. I’ll have another browse soon.

Very nice story, Vivi! It’s been nice to meet you!

Bravo - so well done. I am grateful to have found your channel and your inspiration. Still going strong here with out a wage and happy. Many 😊 thanks! Congrats on 10K + subscribers.

Lovely to hear your story love the name of your channel please keep it .so glad you love your life.I'm sure you will always get throu .enjoy x

Somehow I missed this one.. that's a treat!

I love this and have newly subscribed. It's so inspirational. The What Katy did books wete amongst my childhood favourites too, especially went she went to that funny school. Your flat looks nice, it looks like you have nice taste and it would be good to see more of it.

Thanks for your story. It's heartwarming 💕. I'm a new subscriber. Love your work.

I have had this on my list of videos to watch for weeks now, I finally turned up the volume and as I was puttering in the kitchen I listened. Thank you for sharing this story with us, seeing where you are now is just beautiful.

Thank you for sharing your life with us Vivi. You're so lovely ❤

Love your story. I found my way here by Kate’s last homely house. Keep the name , it’s perfect and thanks for the inspiration 💫🙏🏼❣️

Good to hear your story...you have a lot to share from your own life experience with frugality that would be helpful to most folks. Thank you for sharing!

hi vivi,,i really enjoy your vids,,thank you,,xx

I subscribed mainly due to your sweet, honest, style. It's refreshing.

What an amazing story. Discovered your channel by chance yesterday and enjoyed what I saw. Watching the backstory makes it all the more special. I hope you health is enjoying your new life as much as you are.

I just found your channel and love it. I’m a pediatric nurse too; I work home health in the US. I admire your pluck and look forward to listening to your channel. I’m a gardener and canner and reader and knitter and blessed to have a bunch of grandchildren.

Next equals Hope , your creativity is so refreshing. Thank you for the informative videos.

Amazing ..uplifting and inspiring video👍🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Thanks for sharing your life, your thoughts, your dreams! You are very special...

Oh what a lovely honest vlog. You’re amazing and an inspiration. You remind me of me in that my life’s been a bit of a roller coaster! X

I am one of your new subscribers. So glad I found your channel. You have such a lovely personality and very interesting content. Xx

Hi Vivi! I just subscribed and enjoyed hearing about your life! Came over from Jane Berry's My fit and frugal life!

New subscriber here! Think it was through one of the frugal channels i love to watch. Like you even more now that i know of your service as a paediatric oncology nurse ❤️❤️ Thank you and God bless you

You do inspire. :)

I found your channel from a shout out from Castle Hill Garden ages ago and am so happy I did! I'm always happy to find out 'what Vivi's doing next'! Hope someday to live as you do! Hope you're feeling better! 🙂

Oh Vivi.. i really love when you tell a story about you.. it is truly a beautiful journey of life.. and you're doing well as i see it.. i'm sipping my coffee as i watch.. and it's a blissfull feeling.. you became one of my inspiration in gardening my little patch. Keep inspiring us Vivi! We love you!

Wow Vivi, you are amazing!!!

Just found your channel from Frugal Jo. Love your videos.

Thanks for your story.💖When I did my RSCN in Edinburgh in the early 70’s: they paid us! I remember getting 7.50 Pounds every two weeks! and a room in the nurses home too. I wonder if that’s why there is a shortage of nurses now.....too expensive to take the training.

This was such a delightful catch up for us newbies! Thank you so much! It’s so nice to get to know you a bit more! You have a wonderful starting story. I’m tickled to join in the fun. 😃

New Subscriber. What an inspirational video! I was a Sick Children’s nurse trained at GOSH in the very hot summer of 1976! How cool to have had three careers. I once worked with a lovely anaesthetist who worked part time because he was also a barrister! I do love to be out in the garden but my foray into growing vegetables has always ended in disaster! 😂

Oh my goodness..such an interesting story. I am inspired.

Professor Pincushion is one of my favorite You Tube channels for sewing. I am new to your channel and just love your enthusiasm, good tips and knowledge!

Fabulous video Vivi. I have been following your journey since Sean's videos introduced you. A lot has happened in that time, and I feel like I'm catching up with a friend when I watch you, feeling your joy and pain. Keep doing what you're doing Vivi. 😊 and take care.

Well your video put a big smile on my face. Very impressed with you and your commitment to an intelligent lifestyle. I grow lots of things and it is a never ending source of joy and frustration! Bravo you!

Really enjoyed watching and listening to this.💕😘

Oh my gosh!! Just found you today and I am in similar situation. Bad knees, frugal living, garden fanatic, etc.. Just 💕 your channel.

Just popped over from Kate’s lime green sofa for a visit. How lovely you have found your way in making your life on your terms! I just recently have drastically changed my life also. Sending you wonderful thoughts from 🇨🇦 and I will be back for another visit soon. TTFN

Dear Vivi, thank you so very much for sharing your story with us. I applaud you, don't change a thing xxx

Hi Vivi you've just picked up a new subscriber. Love you ethos and approach to life. Hoping to do what you have done in the nearish future. Will catch up on the backstory too. 💓

And that explains why you are such an inspiration to so many of us. Thank you for sharing and giving us your background in one video, it has enabled me to put the pieces together.

Wonderful story! I am sooo glad you mentioned the stairs. I have been very worried about your ability in the future to contend with all those steps. I know you are not one to give up easily and would continue with them as long as possible but I was worried you would injure yourself so when you said you will have to move house one day I was so relieved!

Hello from one of your new subscribers. I’ve come over from Kates lime green sofa, and am so excited to learn from all of your videos. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge and experience.

Thankyou for sharing Vivi luv the wee chats ohh and the name of the channel is perfect don’t change lol take care my friend Ontario Canada 🐝

Love your channel. Within the past year i’ve been in the same boat as you. I am a retired teacher and then have been substituting for about 10 years. But this last year I have to stop subbing. But I want to keep busy doing something else. .This video was the best thing for me. I have thought of starting a you tube channel but have no idea where to begin and what’ can I do on the channel that people will want to watch. But I can’t work because I am waiting for a knee replacement and have a walker to help me get around the house. I live in Winnipeg , Manitoba, canada.

A caring woman thinking about the children and working looking after them

Enjoy your channel immensely, fairly new...I had a bit of an ahaa moment when I went back into the hospital kitchen after covid and being closed in serving on our aged care site. Have been a chef my whole life and I turned 50 this January and I'm really not up for the hard slog of the kitchens anymore. I have options and will continue in the aged care and will down size in the next 10 years. And while im still able to work I will, but it's exciting and less stressful knowing what I could do in the future. Hi from Melbourne 🇦🇺💚💛

Hey Vivi, I just found your channel, watched two videos, wondered how you got to where you are then found this one!! I live in Perth, Western Australia and only have 3 working days left, then retirement!!! My house is cluttered and I need to declutter. I am inspired by your achievements. I will have a "wage" but have had to live a somewhat frugal life for many years...not a shopper, don't drink coffee and my clothes/shoes last me years. I am looking forward to the coming months to sort my house and life out. Great videos. Cheers

Hi Vivi. As a newby who came to watch you via Kate I thoroughly enjoyed hearing your story. Good on you! I love your channel as I am very like minded to you though probably one of your furthest away watchers as I live in Australia. Looking forward to your next episodes. all the best and keep safe. Cheers Carol

This has been wonderful to watch and listen too. I have been with you since the start-ish, when you were a visitor on another channel and I always felt like I wanted to follow what you were doing. You are an inspiration to this old bird who struggles with osteoarthritis in both knees and is determined to keep her plot going. How I missed this episode is a mystery but I've got it now and the name is perfect as I regularly say 'What will Vivi do next?' and eagerly await another blog post, video or FB post. Keep it up girl, love it...Julie x

you done really great so proud of what you done

I think that it is so interesting that it almost started off like an "experiment", to see how far you could go without a regular salary. And you are doing it! Love it.

Great video Vivi, took me back a few years. I left my job the month after you and never looked back - I was a teacher, but now I garden xxx

I just discovered your channel, you were charming and interesting and optimistic. Inspired me. Thank you very much.

Wow Vivi. On my journey through your past videos I happened on how you began YOUR journey to where you are now. I found your story extremely inspiring , realistic, passionate, informative ; all to equal INTERESTING. You are a very strong and driven person , imaginative …very necessary qualities required to navigate the world. You have done so well for yourself especially considering your once dire circumstances. I love that you very eloquently described your life and feelings . I love that your story enables us to know your background and where you are coming from. The channel feels more personal. You are a very talented and hard working person and I respect you and will view future videos of yours differently , knowing what makes the woman “ tick” who brought us here! BTW .. I love how your channel got its name! Marilyn USA x PS …. It was cool to find out how much dedication and work go into having a channel and the possibilities of type income it generates. Huh. I did not realize.

Wish I could just roll up my sleeves and get on and do it! Love your attitude and personality. Just stumbled across your videos searching for gardening and I'm glad! Looking to watch from the start have watched half dozen or so now, love them! Keep them coming and best wishes xx

Thank you for sharing your story, and I love your Title as 'What Kate did books where my childhood favourite books and I read and reread them so many times, Tha my dad called me Kate lol , Best wishes for a fruitful garden and keep safe, keep well and keep smiling, Have a beautiful week Vivi

What an INSPIRING share. Thank you so much for doing this for all of us and I'm reinspired to pay down the mortgage and plant more blueberries and so on!!

Thank you for such a lovely inspiring video. I am a new subscriber and have taken your advice about sending a card (handmade) to a friend. A group of us used to meet up once a month to put the world to right. We all have a love of crafts and sewing, so I also made a small lavender hanging from vintage fabrics just to say ‘hi’.

Hello, brand new subscriber here and glad your channel just popped up, can see I'm going to enjoy your videos :)

I've been watching for a while thanks to Richard & Paul mentioning you, so I'm only slowly working my way through your videos. But I'm definitely already hooked. You're living my ultimate goal and I admire you so much for having the courage to take that step, even if there was a push due to your health! (I'm still quite a bit off because I have rent to pay, but a girl can dream, and save, and work on reaching that goal, right?)

🇨🇦 Good morning Vivi! I have discovered your channel from Richard and Paul! You are quite an inspiration and I look forward to catching up on your life and following along on your journey without a wage. Have a wonderful day!

You are delightful and I'm loving my new UK channels. Watching this brought tears to my eyes as I reminisced about my reason for leaving my nursing career. It sounds similar to your reasons. It's a fact for so many, of the pain we put our bodies through whether it's physical or emotional. Acknowledging the pain is difficult at best. I'm so happy you decided to do something for yourself. We find contentment in simple things. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. Blessings! 🙂

I have just found your channel, and I am beyond thrilled, honestly I have been looking for a channel exactly like yours for sooooo long. I am working to be wage free, and like you I sew and do crafts which I sell, and have been slowly building up my sales platform. I am also looking at growing food - hindered as I am by not being in the least green fingered, but this year I grew enough sweetcorn to eat fresh and freeze, as well as pumpkins, so it's start. I'm going to be watching all your videos from the beginning, as background to my crafting activities, really looking forward to it!

Hello Vivi...yes I came here thanks to Kate from Last Homely House but I've stayed and subscribed because of your lovely homey/folksy style. Loving your videos from the first moment I saw them.

Cannot wait to catch up on your story and follow along! Our daughter is under Alder Hey and the nurses are just incredible, hats off to all of you!! This journey sounds fascinating and I love that you're British. So many channels (that I love, no shade) are American so not everything is valid over here. We're trying to pay off our mortgage early and live a lot more sustainably on our 0.25 acre plot.

That was so interesting Vivi. Thanks for sharing. I haven't had a wage in over 4 years but I'm starting something new soon. Keep up great work.

You embrace tomorrow with enthusiasm.

I enjoyed listening to your story so much Vivi! Would you ever do a flat tour? I live in America and find your homes over there so quaint and interesting. Thank you for your joy and kindness.

You have lead a most interesting life. I’ve been a nurse for over 38 years and still working full time. I’m planning to go part-time by end of 2021. Can’t wait to enjoy my free time. I’m working on becoming more frugal to be able to have more money to spend it the way I want to.

Wow, I had no idea that this was how your journey started.💥

Vivi keep on your path,it is one that most have difficulty understanding given the Modern way of life has people believing that they have to buy things to be happy.It is amazing how liberating it is not to go shopping for the sake of shopping .The debt that people carry is such that they need to work often two jobs to keep their heads above water. We don’t realize how good it is for us and the earth if we all try to slow down ,grow something ,take some time each day to be outside enjoying nature and use our hands to make something. I am a retired oncology nurse and know exactly the toll our profession can have on our well being.I retired after 27 years ,loved my job but it was time for a change. Love your channel and hope you keep well and continue on your journey ❤️

Great video i have arthritis in my knee and wrists but i grow food and just started using a sewing machine that my neighbour kindly gave mexx