That is so exciting! I could owned 2 homes by now renting for last going on 20 years. I wish I thought smarter when I was younger but give me a couple years. 🙏 I think I'll get there better late then never. I just pray I at least own my own home before I'm to old and that will be great.
I’m retired now, but raised my family as a single working mom with no child support, frugal was just a way of life. I sewed and made our clothes when the kids were younger, not cool when teenagers. I meal planned and made leftovers into another meal. I did not buy ‘junk food’, my kids thought a box of frozen chopped spinach was an after school snack! No lie… they did. Today, I love soup, I make it, put it into freezer bags, and feel like I get my veggies, protein and carbs. I make different soups, so there is always variety. My secret thing is that I wash most of my clothes by hand and hang them on a rack to dry. My apartment building has a coin op laundry, so except for big things like towels and bedding, I can save quite a lot. I don’t have the desire to go out to socialize, that’s a savings itself, I batch my errands and appointments, and treat myself to a stop at McDonald’s ($3.05). I read audio books for free. My life is happy and full. I don’t have a lot of debt, but would like to have none…. That’s my goal. Your channel inspires me. I look forward to all your videos.
Linda, I LOVED reading this! Thank you so so much for sharing and I'm so glad you're here. Raising a family as a single MAMA...YOU ROCK!!!! And you made it all happen and lived joyously! You inspire me:) :)
You sound satisfied! I'm retired now, too. I don't wash my clothes by hand but I do dry them either outside or on racks. Your clothes sure last longer without getting beat up in the dryer. I dry towels on the racks, too, and just snap them to get them a bit less stiff. I like a rougher towel anyway so it doesn't bother me.
I have not gone to a fast food place in all of 2022 and I have not missed it I make sure that I have cashew nuts and crackers in my car with maybe a small bottle of homemade lemonade make sure that I'm not tempted
I'm choosing to not pay off my house because what I do is I give my offspring money now that would otherwise go to a nursing home should I need to go to a nursing home when I am older and that way I'm avoiding the problem of the 5-year look back and a nursing home taking all of my assets
Our washing machine recently broke. We bought a new one online. So meantime, we did a laundromat trip then dried clothes in our home dryer. As we wait for our new washer to arrive, I’ve learned a NEW frugal habit. For each week I plan what clothing pieces to wear, and different combinations. I wear only those clothing pieces at least 3x each. I will continue this habit, which works very well. Also reduces stress and energy usage. It helps if you determine a clothing color palette that works for you. I must add that I recently decluttered my closet and bought myself a sewing machine. I’ve repaired many clothing pieces and donated misfits. I have less in my closet but I wear everything! Hope these tips help save others $. ❤ ❤ ❤
Oh man I drive 20k a year at least. I commute 30 minutes each way to a job I love. I did however pay off my house in July at 37yrs old on a social workers salary!!!!
I am totally debt-free! I suggest for anyone who is debt-free, get in the habit of saving $$ for your next big purchase .... like to pay cash for your next car, or house, whatever. Also, (especially if you're retired/older like me) put money aside for funeral expenses, grave plot, etc.... yeah, really... if you don't have life insurance. Also, get legal documents done, like a will, living will, power of attorney, health-care power of attorney.... you and your family will be SO glad that's done! And buy a fire-proof safe to put important papers and cash into! I love your channel, Kate! And your kitties!
Kate, your not alone on the number of flushes per use. -I do intermittent fasting for both health and budget reasons. -I prepare smaller meals daily; no longer eat til full. -quit buying disposable plates, etc. -Each month I’ll stock up on something different like laundry and dish soaps or paper products such as bath tissue, etc. Especially if on sale. - I use digital couponing at Dollar general stores. So far this year I’ve saved $371. -gradually changed out my light bulbs to more energy efficient ones. -Make use of oven time by baking multiple dishes at same time -gradually invested in food storage keepers so food in fridge stays edible longer.
So many good ideas here - but I wanted to comment on one of them especially. I track my spending but it has never crossed my mind to track my savings because of buying things on promotion or special offer! And yet how motivating that could be! Thank you for this excellent tip, it will take me very little time to do and yet seeing the numbers build up over the year could be so motivating because it's also savings - just not the kind of you can dig into. Thanks again! PS. I don't have an oven. I've recently moved and decided not to buy a conventional cooker with a 4-ring hob on the top of a double oven, one of which acts as a grill also. Instead I bought an air fryer (I'm baking some cinnamon rolls later) and a 2 ring electric hob for those occasions when I want to stir-fry something. For the rest of the time I'm using a microwave, slow cooker and electric pressure cooker. It's so expensive to use an oven now that I thought when my microwave dies I'll replace it with a microwave/combi oven and then I will have everything I could possibly need in terms of cooking methods - at least for the (plant-based) life I am living. I am hoping to try IF in the next few months, but have some minor issues that need sorting out first. So many good ideas here, thank you again.
We took toilet flush savings to another level... A few years ago we installed (*finagled) 2 250-gallon IBC totes under a down spout from our house roof. We catch rainwater there, then pipe it downhill where it empties into 3 other 250-gallon totes in our garage. My husband installed an RV/Camper style water pump and ran water pipes to our toilets. Now, we use rainwater versus city water to flush toilets. The city water line still exists so if we're in drought, we can switch back to city water--only happens occasionally for a few days. This cut our water bill in half and we like that we're not calling for chlorinated water for toilet use. The water pump paid for itself in the savings from about 2 water bills.
Great ideas. I use my shower warm up water and vegetable washing water to water patio plants. I also cut open tubes of creams and toothpaste to get every drop. Every day, I open my shutters to let in the sun's rays to warm up the house and close them early afternoon to keep the heat in. Meal planning is also a great time and money saver. I also buy the "loss leaders" at the store each week to keep a working pantry.
OMG I was just thinking about Debt Free Dana and how I enjoyed her videos in the past. In my mind, I hoped that she and her family are all doing well. Whoa...it must have been one of those psychic moments we all get from time to time.
Thanks for remembering Debt Free Dana. I have missed her. I hope all is going well for her and her family. * I totally agree with you about the layering helping us avoid turning up the heat.
Hi Kate, I live alone and only flush when necessary as well. Different when I have company. Save water in bucket while the shower is heating up. I use one reading light with adjustable stand which sends light into other rooms at night when needed. Have shower while its daylight to save using a light. I get my lawn mowed which is $30 but do not bother about edging. I can pull the out the overgrowth myself when necessary.
I'm currently paying off a credit card debt for my cats surgery. She since died but I couldn't get pet insurance for her later in life to cover any existing health issues! I would really like another cat but tell myself not until I pay this off. Cats are the best but they are a big financial commitment once they get older & need teeth out, medication, surgery, have health issues etc. Because we love them we spend all this. It's sucks really that she is gone but I'm still paying for this op. The lesson learned here is get pet insurance when they are young & never cancel it no matter what. I even had an account for vets bills which I put money into each month. This was not enough when it came to the big stuff you need insurance.
Average car mileage for USA is 10K per year, so 2,000/year is really good. Love your channel and great info, I live by many of your money saving tips and love being debt free.
I loved Debt Free Dana too! I wonder what happened to her? I hope she and her family are well. Thanks for sparking that memory ... I'm going to go back and watch that video again
I work in an upscale resale shop. (Women’s clothing). If you can find one in your area, I recommend shopping there. I buy very little new clothes anymore. You will be shocked at the nice things people throw out! I do get a little discount from working there, but watch for sales! Obviously, you may not always find exactly what you want, but then buy new. For me, it’s fun!
Hi Kate. I'm not sure if I ever commented on your channel before, but I want to thank you for your motivating positive content. One way that I like to save money is by getting up very early and using the morning dew on my car to wipe it down for a quick clean. Car washes are expensive, and I don't have a drive way or a house to easily clean my car, so I found that this method helps keep my exterior of the car clean... or clean enough until I can do a more thorough cleaning.
Just a little thing -- I collect rainwater from off my side deck awning - in kitty litter jugs - to use for toilet flushing & plant watering. >>But buy filtered water gallon refills at WM for cooking & drinking. The town water sucks - too much rust & silt to use.
Growing up, my parents taught us the flush/no flush rule, and I still live by it! 😂 Also, I clean the toilet bowel after I flush (if it needs it), and I don’t flush after I clean it (some people do and that’s another way to waste a flush!). I have one tip to add onto your tip of rewearing your clothing as much as you can before you wash it- Buy a good quality clothing steamer (it will quickly pay for itself) and use it to refresh your clothes and get rid of wrinkles after each time you wear them! It will save you from being tempted to throw them in a pile, which will tempt you to throw them in the laundry after a single wear because the wrinkles will be out of control and feel overwhelming! I have a steamer pad that hangs on the door, and it has a hook for your clothes hanger. Steaming is way easier than ironing IMO because you don’t need to smooth out the garment on the ironing board and risk scorching the fabric, melting a button, etc. And if you do need a crisp press, most steamers can also be used like an iron (and you still won’t need an ironing board because you can iron it on the steamer pad while it’s hanging!).
I love your effective and frugal rules! I have learned so much. (I now track my spending, save money, I’ve stopped using a credit card, and am three months away from paying off my card debt!) You are so positive about living while saving - encouraging. Real. Thanks Kate.
I’ve done the yellow mellow thing for years😆. Water is the most precious resource on the planet. Plus our city charges a small fortune on our bill once it passes a certain gallon usage amount.
One thing I do right now with the insane food prices in my country I only meal plan and Cook for my four kids and I eat whatever is left when they are done eating. I am not starving myself only eating and spending less. 😅
It gets dark earlier now, so close the curtains or blinds when it gets dark. That adds a layer of insulation. Set your thermostat at 69 and remember you also have sweaters, as well as a bathrobe, heavy socks and slippers. Take all of your credit cards OUT of your wallet. Cash/debit only!!! It's getting known now that we really need less than half of the laundry detergent than we usually use. Don't keep running your water as you brush your teeth. Turn it off while brushing and back on when you actually need it to rinse your mouth or take a drink. Cut down on the use of paper and plastic items. Plastic can be reused - just wash it by hand. Look at everything you do and use and see them with new eyes.
Two-story house. Thermostat gets turned down by 7:30 pm. Wear wool/wool blend socks, etc. Vests (thrifted $4!) are gotos. And undershirts. Soups are so smart in all ways!
We have a propane tank and have found that using our gas fireplace in the morning and evening has saved on heating. We keep the electric heat set at 65 so it only goes on rarely. We’ve also installed a little fan that moves heat from the living room back to the bedrooms at night when we turn the gas fireplace off. And we use lots of blankets!
I recently had a big financial setback which totally rocked my world. So I am stepping up my budgeting. Meatless Monday, etc. I also turned my thermostat to 68 during the day and 62 at night. I live in a northeastern city. It will take time to show up on my utility bill. But it will at some point
I don’t shower but every 3 days even with working out. Just wash my face and naughty bits. I do my hair kind of 60’s style. First day blow out 2nd day curling iron when roots start to look separated(messy look) with hair spray, 3rd day with a pony tail but still has some curls to it. This is how most people managed in the 50s 60s and even into the 80s when I was a teen. Saves a lot of time too.
I will add that as soon as I paid my house off my 2011 prius engine blew up. In today's reverse car market where pickings are slim it was cheaper to buy a new car. I bought a brand new suburu with a car loan but at 3%. I still have 1500$ to invest every month due to my frugality and paid for house so for the first time ever I am not going to pay off the debt and I'm going to go forward with my investing plan to retire early. By paying off the debt I would only save $1,000 in interest and I can afford everything at this point. I've worked so hard to pay my mortgage off over the last 9 years that at this point I get to have it all :-)
I do several things to save: use every drop lotion, toothpaste, ketchup etc.. I have so many lotions I asked to not receive for Christmas. Was taught growing up to let it mellow. I'm so Thankful I found your channel a few yrs ago. I miss Dana.
Another way to save on food is buy produce seasonally. You CAN buy fresh berries in January, but you’ll pay a premium for the privilege. In the colder months, I buy winter veggies - carrots, squash, potatoes, broccoli, etc. - rather than salad vegetables. Alternately, there are times of year when frozen fruits and veggies are cheaper than fresh.
1. “Grabs prop for dramatic effect” = hilarious!! 2. We are the same in: -bladder size -water consumption -flushing response 3. Great questions. 4. I’d like to see a video about all the people who were your frugal inspirations. Thanks for another great video.
Brought it in July with 10k on the speedometer and just got my oil changed yesterday with 500 under 25k. I work in another state where I drive over 100 miles per day.
I would not like your mellow/yellow system bc of bacteria build up. Also, if there was any splash up, i definitely couldn't handle the thought of sitting pee splashing up. Plus, the chance of too much toilet paper in bowl for clogging. I've heard that you can put bottles of water in tank for less water fill, to save on water if this is needed.
I agree about feet being cold!! And I usually am wrapped in an afghan! My thermostat is set at one temperature during the day then I lower it four degrees at night. Have done that for years.
Love the energy! My favorite money tips channel ❤ and i drove almost 12k miles in one year. Registration is $290 this year. 1 thing i do to save money , press on nails!!!! $10 on Amazon , $5 for strong glue and I’m set. I used to spend $45 + on nails every pay check .
I’m very mindful of electricity and water too. Only do laundry and run dishwasher once a week. Do not go shopping unless is necessary. Unplug all or most appliances you’re not using and in my case includes washer machine and dryer. Cooking one day for the whole week or sometimes whole month not only saves me money but energy too. Was complaining about having to pay $20 for registration and $15 for emission for our cars but after hearing how much you paid feel better now. WOW! Thanks for sharing.
To save money I.... 1 Use solar lights in the house as night lights . 2 carry my mini cooler bag and ice packs with water and snacks everywhere we go . 3 we let it mellow too but we put the blue dye in the toilet first so we don't see it !
To save on clothes, I always were the colour blue. Everthing matches everthing. And even better: People won't notice, if I wear the same sweater all week long, as they are so similiar in style and colour.
My car registration is about $46 each for 2 cars. Our car insurance is about $1200/year for 2 cars. I am a retired sahm who drives maybe 1500 miles a year if that. Now that it's colder out if it's a sunny day I open my living room curtains to have the sun warm up the house. In summer when the sun is beating down on the house I keep the curtains closed. Hubs and I always wear a fleece in the house when it'd cold out.
Me, too. I just found some new ones at Walmart. Very fluffy inside and out with a quarter zip, a pouch pocket, a zippered chest pocket, and a bungy cord type of bottom. Lots of colors. $12. It is making me extremely cozy and I've been able to lower the thermostat a couple of degrees. Very good price and fine for inside and outside wear. Heck, I even wear them to bed. My only complaint (and it is minor) is that if they wanted to make them perfect they would have done a lining against the zipper so it didn't touch the skin but it's still great. Without these I'd be wearing long underwear under everything like usual.
I put my thermostat 1 degree lower at night since the temps drop might not seem much but it turns on less. I live 1 mile away from the grocery store which is so nice to save in gas. We do register our vehicles every year. We have 6 kids so we meal plan do freezer meals batch cook because your using the stove once to cook 3 or 4 diners at once . We buy groceries that are on sale in season or clearance. We buy end of season clothing sale for our children I bough a pair of winter boots for my daughter for 7dollars over the summer. Now kids boots are out of stock or hard to find. Our seasons of spending are higher in the wintertime it seems. We have no debt exept mortgage and wanting to pay it off early. I like the weight off the shoulder analogy you shared.
I also, do not flush ever during the middle of the night, of course when it is yellow but I never have the other in the middle of the night. lol anyway
About frugal things others may not do: We veggie pit our produce scraps, top dress plants with our coffee grounds, and don't flush as often as others. We have accessible, free recycling and avidly recycle everything we can. We can even metal recycle anything which is metal and has a cord. We transport our own landfill and recycling for at least a $500 savings per year with all costs considered and pro-rated; closer to $1000 - $1100 savings per year just considering transfer station landfill fees vs curbside costs.
To get out of debt - My advice is to work the money and spending patterns so that you don't add debt. For many, especially in these inflationary times, this requires a budget, reduced spending, maybe some life style changes, and getting caught up. There are assorted approaches to this and then also climbing up out of debt; plenty out on the internet. I do caution folks against spending money you don't own and will mention that unused return envelopes from creditors aren't near as pretty as some out there but they are free and all too often plentiful. I advise folks to look at the personal attitudes and world views of those who have climbed out of debt and they generally don't include "I deserve ..." in one form or another.
I keep an expense log book and on the outside of it I put a sheet with a quote by Thomas Sowell that reads "What exactly is your fair share of what "someone else" has worked for?" Isn't that a great quote?
We are yellow mellower too. Except when guests are visiting. We are living on a mock retirement budget for the next year to see if retirement is feasible. This Thanksgiving no paper plates bowls or napkins. There will be 10 of us, my grown kids are going to be suprised on lack of paper products. Love your videos and honestly.
I use my paper towels a couple of times and just lay them out to dry a little reusing them till they fall apart or till I wipe something other than water.
Great video. The concept of a faux budget is ingenious. I did it without even thinking years ago when I socked money away every month to apply to our mortgage principle and pay it off early. We did. We are mortgage free (for six years) and debt free. The key, though, is to continue your self-discipline and not go crazy with the extra cash after paying off debts. Live beneath your means.
I don't use a blow dryer and air dry my hair (saves electricity and no heat damage). Use the plastic baggies that online clothes/grocery store produce comes in and use them to bag up cat litter scoops (otherwise they go in the trash and its such a waste). Save tissue paper and packaging from purchases to reuse again for gift wrapping. Gift plant propagations as presents if recipient likes plants. Always bring my own lunch to work. Am on the local Buy Nothing Group and use the To Good To Go app for food discounts. I also like if its yellow let it mellow but my husband hates it so if he's home no mellowing lol
Thanks Kate for keeping me motivated! Finally was able to save up emergency fund and plan to save more in order to move. It’s so nice not having car and credit card payments now. But I still have awhile for student loans.
truly miss dana and hope that she and her family are doing well. she was an inspiration and that is who led me to your channel. i am a constant planner, to avoid hot mess, but there are times when i dont do so well with it. hahhaa
Hey Kate, you're definitely not alone on reducing the toilet flushes, although i have never told anyone i do this and have to be super mindful if people are visiting 🤔🤣 I try and do this to save water as it helps the environment too - Hope you, Kaden and the kitties have a great weekend 😊
I wash my clothes when they get dirty but in between, I put them in a rinse only cycle adding a cup of white vinegar to the water. They do NOT smell like vinegar when they come out but they do smell refreshed. Saves on the soap and saves on the extra cycles of water.
I’m currently trying to “use up” everything we have before I buy more. I have been working through my lotions and will probably make it through Spring on what I have at home. I’m in Texas and it costs us $79ish a year to register each vehicle BUT before you can get your car registered with the state, it must be inspected in your county. It’s about $30ish for that. So right out the gate before you drive one mile or pay for insurance, gas, oil changes or maintenance, it’s $100 a year. We have two vehicles (live rural) so $200 a year for registration and inspection. Hopefully when husband and I are older and he retires, we will go down to 1 vehicle. By then, they may have raised the price on it though. 😕 I miss Debt Free Dana’s videos so much too! Thanks for linking her.
Hi Kate! I have just recently discovered you (trying to learn frugal living and get debt free) and i'm enjoying going through your videos. One thing though...I notice in a lot of your videos that you forget to post the links to other videos that you say you are linking! LOL. You point your finger up as if it will be there, but then it isn't. I'd really love to be able to see some of those videos you talk about! Thanks for the content! I'm learning a lot.
Hey there! Sorry about that! I usually put them in the description box if you don't see the eye in the sky! (I don't think the eyes pop up if you're watching on a tv either?) But I will try to do better:) :) Thanks for letting me know:)
Regarding "let it mello," I use wash cloths in place of tp ONLY if it's "mello." All the wash cloths go in the dirty clothes bin. I do however flush every time, whether it's a #1 or #2. lol
We live in a condo with a set HOA which includes our water.. thus.. we can flush til our hearts content! 🤣Shopping without my daughter helps me save money. Bringing children along can be hard as they may want items not in the budget. Wonderful video Kate!
Love this video! We also let it mellow, and wear the same clothes a few times. We also don't shower more than 2-3 times a week, buy store brands, use old kitchen towels instead of paper towels... I belong to a local Buy Nothing group. We offer and receive items on our Facebook page with no money or trading involved. Saves a ton!
@@countryfrau8328 it's like freecycle but I like it better. I got frustrated with freecycle bc so many people were not showing up. Buy Nothing is just your area. My town even has it divided by neighborhoods, so less gas used. You can do a Facebook search to see if it's in your area.
@@barbaratolker4366 I'm going to. I really appreciate the tip. I'm in a big evaluation phase and have plenty that I've been hauling to Goodwill. I have a husband who truly wants nothing--to the point of pathology almost--and the poor guy is burdened with a maximalist wife. Oh well!
For large credit card balance: don't pay one month. You will get a call from the issuer regarding payoff options. Often, they will close the account and put you on a payment plan at a much lower interest rate.
HI Kate !!! Love your video. I'm also a big fan of Debt Free Dana and I miss her coming on. She always had good advice and such a sweet person. She was the first one that I started watching about debt and you were my second. I still go back and watch both of your old ones. I do hope she's ok.
I am loving these videos! I am working on my car loan (paid off soon), one credit card and five personal loans (I hate being in debt and not having money for any fun stuff)!
My clothing is almost all thrifted. I plan a capsule wardrobe, where everything mixes & matches, and then thrift for items that have worn out. I work in a professional setting & all my work suits & dresses are thrifted. I commute to work (no public transit) so last year I put 20,000 km on my car. Our registration/insurance is combined and through the government (no other options). My vehicle is 16 years old and my cost is $106 per month.
I’m off work for 8 weeks for surgery. I’m doing what I can but getting behind again . I don’t get enough to cover my needs. Any suggestions? I’m following some of these steps!!
New Subbie! I am currently trying to avoid “hot mess mode” but it’s a process. LOL I need to get better on my mileage. I average 30k but most is in summer. Meal planning is a total game changer both mentally and financially.
Best thing I did was buy the book called 100 Day Pantry by Jan Jackson. It is simple meals so makes meal planning easy. Very few dinners feed less than 6 so I’m able to have several day’s worth of food fixed at the same time. Saves time and energy.
Being retired saves on mileage, under 1500 for me. Registration in MA is $60.00 for two years, but we pay a yearly excise tax to the city based on cars age, mine is under $40.00/yr. My car is 17 years old and still under 100K miles.
If your goal is to always be on your own then keep working. IF you retire EARLY your leaving money on the table. If you have a job, making a good income, with benefits don’t retire early! Paying medical insurance alone after 55 is outrageous. You can’t get Medicare until 65. PLAN out your retirement and factor in yearly inflation.
Listen I do the same thing. I live by my self. 3 times and flush.if I do number 2 off course I flush. I collect all the clean water from the shower before it gets hot. I use it to clean and plants. There's time I even turn off my Ac if it's not too hot. Im never home during the day since im working. I'm Frugal. How do you think I've gotten all I have.
I cut everything open, everything, to use ALL of the product. I know lots of frugal minded people do this, but I can imagine the looks I would get from family/friends if they knew I did it
