We had a lovely free treat on Friday. We walked round our local country park and took a simple picnic. The sunshine on our shoulders and the birds, grass snake and deer along with all the wild plants really made it a beautiful experience. So relaxing and calming too.
I wish I could agree more than 100% about the decrease of stress after downsizing. Decreased maintenance, decreased 'organizing', decreased buying of organizing boxes/bins, decreased cleaning. Increased sense of well-being, increased time to do things I want to do, increased bank accounts.
Lovely insights! My husband and I bought a very small house in the countryside. I could not afford a house on the city and I did not want to pay mortgage for 30 years. My aunt asked me, where the living room is. Well, the entrance room is the living room. My mother was disappointed, we only have two bedrooms. Well, one for our son and one for us. Since Covid hit, I am even more glad about owning a small house. The mortgage is paid off. What a relief at times of shortterm work! And we can enjoy time in the garden, when there is the next shutdown.
Hello Jane, I agree totally with you about wearing a uniform for work etc. It is also easier for your children to have a school uniform. When my daughter was a teenager the school she attended decided to do away with uniforms so the pupils within reason could wear what they liked. Of course to start with the kids thought it was terrific, not being told what to wear but it caused so many issues. My daughter took ages each day deciding what to put on, she needed more clothes so she didn't wear the same outfits. Pupils with parents who had more income started to make comments about the clothes others wore. You can imagine what that lead to, name calling, bullying. I was so relieved when uniforms came back as was my daughter. I could not afford endless new outfits and she realised how pupils were being judged by what they wore, not what kind of person they were. I wear a uniform to work and never have to think about what to put on. So liberating. Sorry for the lengthy response Jane. I really look forward to your videos each week. Best wishes to you both.
Recently down sized my apartment from a huge 2 bedroom to a small 1 bedroom. Donated 40 green garbage bags of clothes and footwear. Also donated approximately 400 books (rarely reread). Love my tiny apartment and it's much easier to keep tidy. My local library has ebooks to borrow, so rarely buy books (unless it's one I really want to keep). Not good on frugal food - I love to cook and only eat out about once a month. As I'm retired, my wardrobe is very casual & love it.
I always lived in tiny homes until I married. When i got married i was renting a 100 sq ft pool house in someone's backyard 😂 it was the best! Then we did the whole 4 bedroom, 2 car garage, 2 kids and a dog. When we divorced i downsized to 2 bedroom apartment. When i got sick i bought the Campervan. Full circle. Everything was either sold, donated or trashed. I keep a small storage to hold my memorabilia, and i have the front of it staged as living room with my desk, rocking chair, books and a table for puzzles. It's just too tiny for puzzles in the Campervan. And my cat steals the pieces😂 people drive by and think "what in the world?" I've got curtains hung to hide the ugly metal walls.❤ I miss gardening but that's about the only downside. Thanks for all your content, I'm enjoying it immensely. 😊
The important thing in life is togetherness and sharing a life together. In the ‘rat race’ you are rarely together, too busy working to pay for said house, car, wardrobe etc. I’m with you 100% Jane & Mike. We are Not quite there yet, but on our way and we cannot wait!
Today is Thanksgiving Day here in the USA. I am reminded of one of the best Thanksgivings for me. There was a huge turkey, way too big to even be thawed enough to bake in time. So my partner and I ate homemade bread with cheese, and pumpkin pie ! A perfect meal---and no stress :-)
Just put our 3 bedroom house on the market to downsize to a small 2 bedroom bungalow. Can't move far away as I have a older child in a care home to consider but am moving from London to Essex. Can't wait to move into our cozy new home
This is my favorite of your midweek money chats! My husband and I are always mindful of not bringing in items we may think we need. We cull our possessions regularly and love taking boxes to the charity shop. We’ve both gotten past the “but I paid X for this” stage and are more focused on the life we want for our family! Thank you for your transparency and encouragement.
Such a fun channel! I follow a lot of your tips here in Arizona USA while I dream of doing this in France. But I'm safe in retirement and I think that's all we can ask for!
Bravo, Jane! Again, another inspirational video. One of the things I loved about my brief stint as a nurse was the uniform. They were cheap, easy to clean, you got a tax break, and I never spent time wondering what to wear to work.
I enjoyed your Wednesday chat this week, I am in the process of doing a lot of what you have shared with us, but I do things a little differently in the supermarkets and teaching my daughter my little money saving trick too. In Australia we get the price of the items on the ticket as well as the price per 100g, price per litre, price of each individual item (in multipacks). So, most of the time we can get brand name items for cheaper than the home brand items. Yes, it means spending a little longer in the shops but our purses are getting fatter with every shop. If you aren't given the breakdown of the price into units so you can compare, take a calculator to the shops and work it out, it really does make a difference at the checkout and also in your pantry.
A good chat.. we decided to do the same/similar 7 years ago.. moving from the city to a mud brick cottage on 3 acres growing our own veg and chicken etc.. then the cost of living in the town we chose was too high(rates and taxes etc) so we moved to a seaside town into a modest miners cottage... cost of living has been sliced by over 50per cent.still grow veg and chickens ..it is very freeing and the joy of simple things is wonderful xx
Great video Jane. I too have downsized my life style. 2 years ago I decided to sell my large 4 bedroom Ed house with the garage, garden, drive and of course the big car to sit on the drive to a 1 bed apartment. I downsized my possessions including the big car which is now also half the size and much more economical to run and maintain and am pleased to say there is very little I miss. I live in the same semi rural market town. I visit the same places enjoy the same countryside and have the same friends. My outgoings have halved and my savings have doubled. My workload has halved and my free time has doubled. I recently decided to retire and am enjoying myself. Getting out for lovely walks with like minded friends who have the same mindset as I do. I wish I had done this years ago. I was late to see the light but I am glad I did.
I live in a city with a lower cost of living, but the arrival of tech companies, etc. has caused the housing market to explode. We are seeing older people "stuck" in houses that are too large (heating, cleaning, etc.) because what they'd fetch for selling a house that isn't updated wouldn't cover the cost of a smaller house. Sadly, this city is one in which smaller houses are hard to find. A friend suggested your channel to me, and I am really enjoying it.
Jane, such an interesting topic today. I hope it inspires all of the stressed out and in-debt people to look at things differently. A small life can be just as joyful as a bigger one!
I love the video! I'm trying to declutter my life. I'm retired and I know that more "stuff" feels like a millstone around my neck. Less "stuff" is very freeing. I don't need fancy cars, I drive a second hand 2003 Honda Element. I can get 4 bales of hay for my horse in it. Go to the feed store in it, shopping, haul what ever I need to and it gets decent gas mileage and best of all it's payed for! As always I will look forward to your next video 🤠
I worked at a transfer station. There was a lady that would check out the recycling shed. If she found something she liked she would take it and replace it with something from home, that she was ready to part with. Her moto was one- in-one-out.
I think it's a blessing to be happy and comfortable living a simpler lifestyle and not worrying about what the 'Joneses' are doing. I know many people up to their eyeballs in debt trying to keep up with the competition. What a miserable way to live.
I am still using the polo's they give me in the job I quit in 2019. Good quality, all the same color. All my clothes are synthetic then can be laundry together and save money in launderette. Work trousers 24x7. My shoes are expensive (£150.00)but have been using them for the last 4 years. Thank to this attitude I paid my bank debts in March and now saving to move to Northern Europe next year. I will have to reactivate my car but only because my working hours are insane, other wise walking all the time. In my case is the way to go. Less is more.
Downsizing was the best thing we ever did! We were drowning in possessions! Social status certainly drove me in my younger days and I freely admit it, but soon realized it was not really me! Thank you for sharing your experiences. It’s always lovely to see you and hear about your journey. I know we could still make cuts in our budget and still live extremely well! Thank you for sharing.
You described our life almost completely. We went through the same processes of downsizing and have never looked back. Nobody around us seems to agree though with what we have done, they find it too weird. We are content and happy with our life, our goals and the extra money in the bank. Love how you explain it all.
You carry on being wierd!!!! I find folk are either concerned about my welfare or think I'm being ridiculous. I find frugality goes hand in hand with being 'green' as well. So, for example, I have been able to go back to getting milk in a bottle. Yes, it is 20p per litre ( uk) more than the supermarket but it is local - so less food miles and provides local employment, less plastic waste, and it tastes better!
Of all your videos, I appreciate the mid week chats the most. Such a great look into your successful journey. It was so interesting to me that your friends recognized that you had become your “authentic” self and got off the consumerism roller coaster. Bravo!
I made Tea to drink while watching UR Video, had to do a cheers toast to U2 for another great share today! Thank U both. Then At the market with my small food shop list, wondering if prices would be higher, I found all I needed, 7 out of the 10 items were on sale, some 1/2 price savings, so my total cost was 40% under budget, a perfect way to give Thanks. We never know when a saving perk will bless our day! You two are a delight.
We’ve just made the decision to stay in our modest 3 bed semi when we become early retirees in 12 months time to save money rather than incur the costs of moving. I do plan to make the space work even better for us and renovate but plan to do a lot of the work ourselves. I arrived late to frugal thinking but I am enjoying the journey immensely.
I followed your blog When I was 19, so I never was tempted to go big and extravagant. Now 33, own a chalet rurally with my husband, never had a New car. Some of your teachings are sticking!
Great chat Jane….downsizing was the best thing we ever did, it freed us from a large house that was somewhat of a millstone around our necks after our grown family left home. The clearing out was cathartic beyonds words and we’ve never looked back. Still much to work on and things to save for but life is good.
Hi Jane, thank you for sharing. I can so relate about “what shall I wear to work today “ and putting the make up on every morning, even when my face didn’t want it! 😂 I’ve been thinking about decluttering etc, you do encourage me to do more than just thinking. Thank you and stay safe xx
We are in a 800 sf ranch style house. We're very happy here. Yes you're right, easier to maintain, lower utility bills, less taxes. Plus when we get into our senior years, there's no need to move. We have a house rule, "something new comes in, then something old must go out."
Thoroughly enjoyed the video this week. You have both done amazing with your frugal journey and hats off to you. I'm at the start of mine, baby steps and big plans for big changes next year. As always thank you 😊 🙏
Thank you for this video. I am quite new to your channel but I am really enjoying watching your guidance. This video in particular has given me the courage to move forward with the plans I have in my head realising that the people I know will not be bothered or for that matter interested in my reasons for doing what I what to do. I realise people are just caught up with what they themselves are trying to do to survive. Again many thanks.
I remember reading about your wedding in your old blog where you downsized the celebration - it always struck me as being rather lovely. You shared a picture of you with your flowers which was the epitome of money can't buy this happiness.
We had a small wedding (some 36 years ago). My dress was s/h - a tenner out of our local paper, reception was at my parents home, hubby's sister did amazing food, a friend made the cake. The only thing we spent on was the photographer (memory investment) which turned out to be a waste of money. The photographer we should have had, redeployed himself to cover a footballer's wedding...the latter long since divorced. IMHO the investment should be in the marriage not the wedding.
Totally agree that marriage should be about your life together not the one day. I cringe when I hear the cost of weddings these days. Our wedding day cost us less than £100 in 1999 we has 2 witnesses and ourselves. We then had a meal out together to celebrate. We used our money to set up our future not on feeding other people who get in to debt to buy the big hat and new dress they countdown afford just to try and impress the other guests who were doing the same.
I could relate to much of what you shared in this video. When everyone around us were buying newer and fancier houses, we remained in our little one until selling it off at (early) retirement and moving to France. I had to buy “teacher clothes” for work and am happy not to have all that taking up space in my armoire. Our recently purchased house here in France is a bit larger than yours but only cost €120,000 and affords me the luxury of having a guest room and an atelier for my crafting (our only luxury, btw). We bought a used Opel Meriva that could also be classified as a small people carrier. It’s amazing the things we have been able to fit into it after a visit to the brico store! Cheers!
Jane, I’ve subscribed and have watched most of your videos so far. Your transparency, particularly when your share your euro numbers, is very helpful. I appreciate your willingness to be honest. Most RU-vidrs discuss concepts but do not share their numbers. But we are all curious to know the exact numbers-how much money is being talked about. So, I will happily continue to view. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Brian. We were reluctant in the beginning but just like you, I don’t work well with hypothetical numbers, although I used one this week in our video where I used the example of a worst month.
I choose simple and have reaped the many rewards. I have more disposable income and savings. I have a travel fund I really enjoy. Thank you for all your ecouragement! 💖🤗💖
Before we downsized our lifestyle we downsized our wardrobes. I own three pair of shoes and less than 20 articles of clothing. I once took an Alaska cruise with one carry-on bag that contained my entire wardrobe, including accessories. It took a little longer to downsize everything else but that will always be a work in process as we adjust all of our goals in a minimalist direction. Currently minimalism in the kitchen is my hobby and a big part of my charity goals.
@@jbo5915 You'll get there! It's more of a daily train trip with many stops than an ultimate destination. Pick one small project that is most in your way and tackle that. It can give you the motivation to deal with other small projects over time. And seek inspiration from the journeys of others. That's why I like this channel. Goal setting plus minimalism equals peace of mind.
I am glad I found people on same mind. My family and friends are very pushy, why such a small hause?, why don’t u dress elegant?, you will see how bad you will feel when ur son doesn’t have that kind of diploma… and although I am on this path for a while, they keep insisting… so, I simply fallow u people to reassure myself… this is my life, I like it a lot… just to say thank you.
Great video Jane, we downsized from 2 cars to 1 car since working from home. We have saved £200 per month which is now topping up our house deposit fund. :)
Thank you both .Another truly honest and authentic chat . Incredible . You are such a good communicator Jane . You are destined for TV .I believe you would help many ,many more people . Can you tell us why you actually decided to move to France and what the benefits are for you and the negatives ? Love your channel xxx
Thanks Lorna. We moved for quality of life. However, that’s an opinion based statement based on our preferences so giving you positives and negatives would be opinion based and we have friends here so would never offend them by sharing any negatives. The positives are the peace and quiet f rural life. Another however, you can get peace and quiet anywhere rural.
You really spoke to me about the t shirts. I must have about 30 tops due to buying them on multi offers. I probably should wait 5 years before getting new ones.
Hello Jane, Can one live in France without speaking French? My husband and I are considering moving to Europe from the US upon our retirement in a few years. What a lovely video! You absolutely radiate joy so your decisions most certainly suit you.
I really enjoyed this video Jane, me and my partner have been on a decluttering and more minimal and intentional living journey for 4+ years now. We're hoping to move back to Wales from the South East of England next year and down size from a 3 bedroom semi to a bungalow where we'll have a smaller garden, less to decorate and maintain and more time and money to concentrate on saving and the important things in life. We're also going to invest in another second hand Berlingo as we had to let ours go a couple of years ago when the head gasket went but we still miss it so much and our newer car just isn't the same & it's just not really us 😉
We did the same thing in 2010 and I wouldn’t go back to a larger home even if I could afford it. Living small is so much easier. I think a lot of people watching this will realize they could do this too.
We’ve downsized financially here in France but our home is significantly bigger than our UK home. We could have bought something three times the size on our budget but didn’t,
Lov it lov.watching good.ideas. down sizing less bills less rooms to clean and tidy. Less bills .less room to fill of clutter .lov u frugal 👸 voice of a angle heart of gold 👸 ♥ 💛 ❤ 💖 ✨ 👸 🎉great way to live debt free the best 👌 gift 🎁 ❤ in life😊
We bought our current, modest 3 br house 31 years ago, have done some renovations and love living in our small suburb with great, long-term neighbours. Living a simple, debt free life which we love ( but I do have a small overdraft I am wrestling with!).
I just did a bedroom and closet declutter and managed to fill six garbage bags. I was appalled - I generally stay on top of the accumulated stuff so I can’t believe how much garbage I _still_ end up with. I love this video so much and do most of these things too!
This is not a real comparison, but Warren Buffet still lives in a modest home - the first one he and his wife bought in 1958 - even with all his billions of dollars. He never felt the need to upsize with his growth in wealth. I live in what is equivalent to a two bedroom terraced house in the U.S. However, the area I live in is very expensive but I cannot move because I am still working and my job is here. I am working on paying off the mortgage - though I was set back during 2020 and 2021 due to Covid. My income has been affected negatively by Covid. But I am managing and utilizing many of the frugal tips you so generously share. Thanks!
