Counting and handling money fires up the same areas of the brain as spending. I don't remember the study, It was years ago. When I get spendy, I handle my money. Then I put it away.
Growing up, going to the mall was a social activity. Malls aren't what they used to be, but I still enjoy "going shopping." I keep an ongoing list on my phone of things we want/need, and when I come across a good deal, I go for it and don't feel guilty. I go out to eat or get take out once or twice a week, but it is always intentional. I make sure to always have frozen or canned meals for when I am lazy or tired so I can enjoy when I do spend the extra for someone to cook for me. I don't deprive myself but I spread out my treats and indulgeces. If you treat yourself all the time, it's no longer a treat. These things make me happy.
Delayed gratification will always ALWAYS save you money! When VCRs first came out they were very expensive so, we saved for almost two years to buy one with cash and by then they were more than half the price of what they were when they first came out. We then enjoyed it for many years.
in 1857, a New Yorker named Joseph Gayetty introduced and first patented toilet paper. He called it “Medicated Paper for the Water-Closet” and Gayetty's name was printed on every sheet. His medicated paper contained aloe and was sold in packages of 500 sheets for 50 cents.
I believe another reason some people overspend is due to the insidious algorithms on social media that intoxicate our brains to swipe more and more, while the bots continually tailor the ads to stuff we really like. After learning about this practice behind social media, it’s made me much more aware of how I’m being manipulated. I love learning from RU-vid channels, but I’m finding I’m going to Facebook much less than I used to. Thanks for helping us to recognize some of our traits that are causing us to go off the financial rails.
Perfectly written. I think the bombardment of advertising and trying to sell products from algorithms makes us want to buy more. Once you realise it, it changes your perspective!
During the worst of the pandemic, our family never went without toilet paper. I didn't really have to do anything special, but I did branch out to visit stores I didn't normally shop at. Turns out that was the key to finding toilet paper -- vary your routine and try places you haven't thought of before. Turns out local drugstores and discount groceries had a lot of toilet paper at the beginning of the pandemic.
The best thing about buying on Amazon/ Target/ Walmart is the "save for later" feature. I add a bunch of stuff to the cart and save it for later. I then periodically clear it out or add the items to a list.... and each person in my house gets a list for birthday/ Christmas. A lot of the time by the time Christmas or that birthday comes around, my kids aren't even interested in that thing they thought they wanted lol. Also, seeing all the stuff in the cart can be shocking to what it adds up to (once had $700 of books in the amazon cart, didn't buy any, but i compiled a list and plan to borrow)
Huge challenge for me. I have emotional addiction to shopping. I am trying to be so careful now with money because I realize that the more a bad day at work makes me spend, the more bad days I will have to spend working because I will never be able to afford to retire. 😢. I am watching a lot of frugal living videos, going to shopping links and picking things out to put in the cart and then removing them and leaving the site. Tricks my head somehow 😂 but working for now most of the time.
So good that you recognize that, Lori. That's the first big step to overcoming it. Keep working on it. We all can easily succumb to shopping for emotional support. Sounds like you are on the right track with it!
Have to tell you, Hope and Larry - your tips helped us save what I thought was going to be a great deal of money toward paying off the mortgage. Thought so, but this week all that money turned out to be the payment to repair the rafters and a bedroom ceiling in our 125 year old house. Thank God - and you - that we had the money saved. Your videos were a lifesaver. God bless you both!
What is the most annoying about over spending his when you go to the actual physical store and they have the same exact items in-store but it is not on sale. You ask them to match the price and they refused. I simply say okay thank you very much and I order it online. Also have it shipped to the store for free and pick it up in the store.
LOL, I spent a while researching nail clippers when mine vanished, not to return. Toenails happy again. I've been focused 99% on needs to pay extra on the mortgage which is a high ratio of my budget as it is. Checked the weekly grocery ad today, hoping for produce and a few stock up items. Not one thing. Thanks for all the great videos!
I know Larry is a senior ... I'm 59 and my husband is 63, and I would love to hear which senior discounts he's found to be helpful and which have been just hype. (For instance, I'm super excited to be able to take free classes at our community college when I reach 60 (language classes, here I come!); otoh, AARP "discounts" have proven to be mostly flops.)
Hi Jorasparents. I haven't really been going after senior discounts. We just don't spend money on travel or eating out. Those seem to be the main sources for discounts. I should really take advantage of free college classes at our local community college. Haven't had time for that with all the work we do on this channel. Sorry I can't be of more help.
I’m grateful for reminders about being sure a replacement item is the one you need and want. The water heater on “sale” was indeed, NOT what we needed. Nor was it available to use on the energy savings rebates list for us. Thank you for speaking to it.
Went to 400 miles Away to Good Will and thrift stores, with a friend, she actually talked me out of things, we shop well together, our first time. Got things we couldn't in our small town.
I bought a wind generator three weeks ago. Pole, wire, wind turbine, watts meter, all together was $550. No one else in my town has one. The neighbors down the road did ask where they can get one though, lol. I bought it for cloudy, rainy, or stormy days when the 🌞 sun isn't on my solar panels. It's helping. The last two years in March, I've had to use my gasoline generator. This year it wasn't needed. I have around $5800 in my off grid system now, ( including the Winco Lil Dog gas generator) and I have one battery that went bad, so just figure it's $6000. But it works now. I have more power than I need. I don't have a bill, not subject to rate increases or outages. It will have paid for itself in a couple more years, and I'll still have power for a long time after that. So I saved money over renting power from the grid. Yeah, it's thousands of dollars. I have plenty to run the A/C this summer, and I don't have to worry about the freezer thawing out, and needing to run a generator is almost history, unless I need to weld something. Almost everything I bought has went up 30% in price since I bought mine. So I saved again. If the system lasts nine years, I will have saved $10,000 in electricity costs. I may need to replace a few of the oldest batteries during that time, but it's not a major cost. It was sort of slow to put it together, and stocking up at the same time, but I did it, and it was worth it. I know that my power will be good. And every time someone has to tell me that the grid had been off, I have to smile just a little. That being said, I did incur an unforeseen expense ; they sent me a 12 volts one and I had ordered a 24 volts model. So I'm going to need an expensive ( of course) charge controller to fix that issue. It's expensive to go off grid. But it's more expensive not to. I don't mind spending some money if it's for my energy Independence. I'm almost there. The good part will be years of no bill, or having to buy system parts. I ordered a set of five blades, and a hub for a second wind generator. Home made one. Backup, I guess. It's coming along. Oh, I bought another 18 pounds of powdered milk for forty dollars. I had twenty five already, I like that stuff. I planted eight 🍅 tomato plants, and three peppers. I'm going to can some this year. I'll be installing four solar panels on the West side of the barn tomorrow, to lengthen the charging time. I found some on closeout and restricted myself to two, by much effort. So I have 1400 watts of solar panels now. It's enough usually. The heavy clouds do affect them, but the wind always blows when it does. My goal is energy Independence by the 4th of July. Not even a worry about having power. I had a watts meter on the wind generator until the 🐈 jumped on it and caused a spark, and I had to get a different one. I'll put the new one on with bolts. A few more weeks, it'll all be over but the free power. Having a rock solid power system is worth more to me than a few gold bars...p.s., don't buy a $179 wind generator, it'll be junk.
What a nice system, David! I'm so impressed. I researched getting off the grid in 2012. For us living in town, it just wasn't practical. Would love to move more in that direction, however. Way to go with what you are doing!
I’m not sure if you mentioned this in the video (you made some excellent points btw), but one of the reasons might be boredom. You mentioned budget which is a great one. A purpose also helps. If there is no profound/deep seated purpose for you to not spend, you’ll probably still spend. I think a lot of spending is emotional. Many of us already have all the things we need. That’s my opinion after a lot of thought on this topic. Good video.
The more “bells and whistles” something has, the more likely one will break. I learned this at 14. I got a record player for my birthday. My friend had a combo record player/radio. Hers broke after a couple of years. I had mine until I was 32!!
Love your videos! Online shopping is something I want to make changes with. Your show was perfectly timely. Anyone out there buying from QVC? They use the same lines, hourly. Do I need it? Nope..Do I have a budget? Nope.. Did I buy it..yepp. Welp..😢 Can anyone relate? Keep hitting us over the head guys..we need it. Well, I do. Thanks!!❤
We haven't purchased anything from QVC... Of course, there's always other sources for temptation. Being accountable to each other really helps to keep us from unnecessary spending. Thanks for your comment, Lori!
@ 5:00 you are absolutely correct. I know better, but I must confess that I can feel a panic attack over social media fear of "they want us to starve - hoard now" clickbait titles. This year, we have a "no spend" policy except for doctor-prescribed things like new compression stockings. I do know what I have deep in the pantry - the cool thing is that I know that it is like "money in the bank" at the much cheaper price I paid a year ago.
I’m really bad for just buying what is needed without a lot of planning, for big ticket items, however I carefully manage and monitor the day to day budget. I’ve also been working very hard to break the habit of “retail therapy”. It’s a generational issue I learned from my mother and didn’t realize I had until I was in my 30’s. How to deal with your depression is *not* to go shopping and buy yet another set of dishes, bedroom linens, etc. I really think it’s a valid mental issue, much like hoarding. Do you need a half dozen salt and pepper shakers? No.
I panicked last fall because the old gas heater in my laundry room seemed sluggish and I ran out and bought a new one . I was afraid with winter coming on that it would conk out and I envisioned the water lines freezing and bursting etc. Well, the old heater is still chugging along and the new one is still sitting there in its box awaiting installment! Nothing froze up during the cold months and maybe I'll get the new one installed before next year.
That's a purchase I would not condemn. In colder climates having a Winter back up should be mandatory. The damage frozen pipes could cost could be catastrophic. The cold could even be life threatening. So many people in Texas found that out the hard way. Don't be 'Penny wise:" and pound foolish.
Your purchase will pay off in the long run. I think you did the right thing. I have a sump pump in the garage that I purchased almost 10 years ago to replace our old one. Well, the old one hasn't quit yet. But when it does - I'm ready!
Wet wash rags that can be immediately rinsed out work just as well, too. My parents used the Sears catalogs in their outhouses - growing up on farms in the 20s & 30s. They made it through just fine.
Hi there!! I'm a new subscriber!! I eat WFPB oil-free Vegan like you do and I want to help support my Vegan brothers and sisters!! Thank you for your channel!! I look forward to watching your videos!!
Thank you. Wish you didn't mention Goodwill. I realized I have a fabric buying problem there. I keep finding great prices on uncut fabric ($2.00 or less a yard). I have more fabric in bins (I had to purchase) in my garage than a professional could use in a year or two. Have a great day.
Yep, been there--done that! Having a working budget is the best way to be in control of your spending. After several years watching your program, my husband NOW calls me to come watch your show because he has seen how your suggestions have helped our finances. By the way, I love the new count down. Corn cobs??? Not my first line of defense on the bathroom issue. LOL Love out take. Keep up the good work.
Larry & Hope, the FOMO thing made me laugh. Hope and I see each other sometimes on vegan channel discussions, and I personally have gotten sick to death of people pushing a certain "appliance" that makes frozen desserts. The irony is that one of the people pushing the sales of this "one task appliance" the hardest is a woman with a serious weight problem. We really need to step back from adverts and think about the valuable things. I paid $20 for a Danish dough "whisk" for instance, that stirs & kneads bread and other heavy dough, and the idea of a bread machine makes me shake my head. The frozen dessert machine would sit idle, taking up space if I spent the hundreds of $$ on it too. Re: your bloopers on the end, I imagined walking in when the two of you were brainstorming about toilet paper substitutes and knowing I'd put down the bottle of wine, tell you, "you guys are sick - I'll be back in a while" and I'd go for a walk around the block, laughing the whole time.
Hi Sherry, I have a dough whisk AND a bread machine. My husband talked me into buying the bread machine, and not a cheap one. It was a great decision. It has saved us a ton of money. I think the key is actually using what you buy, and then it's worth it. BTW, this was after me using my dough whisk hundreds of times.
Another great video. I think so many people are multitasking these days that it creates a perfect storm for vendors to sell us things we simply do not need. How to get people to use tools now so available to help them rein in their spending and stop giving away their possibility to retire when they want and need to....THAT is the burning question! I hope many of youe listeners take the minutes necessary each week to track their spending and make sustainable decisions about what they want...and what they need. I challenge them to try the down to earth and effective tools you offer. They work if you use them consistently.
Love, love, love your videos! This one was especially timely and I have a few follow-up questions related to the emotional process. Have you ever regretted not buying something for many years to come? Or had a time when your budget didn't allow you to buy something and you felt you missed out? The emotional side of the spending process is such a big deal. Do you find there are certain areas of your budget where you are more prone to over-spending? For me, the categories that are potentially justified are the hardest -- such as groceries, health-forward items, and gifts for my loved ones. I'd love to know your thoughts on these if you haven't covered it before.
Thank you, Sydney. Yes to the questions of regretting a purchase years later. I regret buying a used station wagon back in the 90s. It was a major mistake - so many ignored red flags before making the purchase. I guess after a certain point in time you just have to tell yourself that you've learned from the mistake and not make it again. The most important part is the education process. Maybe we could do a more in-depth look at emotions & spending on a future video.
@@larryware1 I think the question was have you ever regretted NOT buying something for many years to come. I have something I'm thinking of buying right now, that is at a super good price, and I'm struggling with the decision. I do fear that I'll wish I had bought it when it was on sale, and when I had the money in hand to buy it. On the other hand, I'm trying to sock away as much money as I can. It's not always an easy decision!
I would be interested to know what you do after bringing home items purchased at Goodwill or other second hand stores..to protect yourself from bed bugs the item may be harboring without your knowledge?... Do u use disinfectant and then launder? Are there things u won't buy second hand? Do you look for almost new looking items with a good brand name? With prices inching up in second hand stores, do you really find, that after all the costs to make the item wearable, that it's worth all the effort, and that you are saving money.... especially when there may already have been some wear to the garment, and stains needing removal?
I guess we don't really buy a lot of items at thrift stores when it comes down to it. We've bought some furniture (some antique), books, CDs, DVDs, dishware, etc. Never really had an issue with bed bugs. As you pointed out, prices even at thrift stores are getting high. If I'm interested in used furniture I'll look it over closely - look at the undersides, etc. If it's clean and smells fresh then it's a go. Our oak studio table came from a thrift store. It's Amish furniture.
I don't have shopping addictions like other people. Clothes, electronics and fads are not what I spend money on. I make my own clothes and my own shoes/bags etc. But I am guilty of buying too many sheep fleeces (I am a spinner, dyer, weaver and knitter), leather (I work with leather as well) and tools. The thing is that each and every fleece is unique, just like each hide of leather- so the rule "you can get it anytime" is not applicable here. A beautiful fleece is truly one-of-a-kind. You may get something similar but the handle (and the final product) will be different. But I made a promise to myself that I will spin all my fleeces (35 full sheep fleeces..never mind the bags of alpaca, silk and linen) before purchasing any more.
@@lizadivine3785 We moved to a 20-year-old energy-efficient apartment. Our old apartment leaked - not efficient at all and was smaller with crappy old appliances.
What state do you live in? Alabama? I live in Wisconsin. In summer our energy bill is $89.00. Lights. Electricity. We use our air conditioner a few times in summer at nite.
I love holiday/ seasonal clearance sales! There are plenty of items that can be used year round that will be deeply discounted after they are out of season! As a junk food lover I frequently buy cookies, candy, and chips that are discounted because of holiday, pop culture, or sports themes. I also use some "holiday" items year round to identify them as mine. For example, a red and white candy cane themed power strip isn't likely to "disappear" at work or school because it's very distinctive and easily identified as "yours" if it does grow legs and walk out of your office drawer! Buy summer items in fall, buy winter items in spring, small kitchen appliances tend to go on sale around the start of college. In 2020 I wanted to get a bigger fridge for my DIY camper van. I found a 3.5 CU FT mini fridge for $109 in late August! Part of that was Walmart selling a massive overstock of refrigerators because most schooling was remote due to COVID but it still saved me almost $75! Another great tip is to use discounted Christmas lights for outdoor lights in spring and summer. White or clear Christmas lights strung up around a gazebo or between trees will give your yard a warm glow and create the perfect environment for outdoor gatherings. I keep a few sets of white LED Christmas lights in my camper van and my dad uses the old school glass C9 lights at his seasonal RV site in upstate NY. They work well to light up a campsite without disturbing your camping neighbors with light pollution!
Love your videos! I’ve always struggled with money and impulse control. These videos are helping me control my spending a bit better which I never thought I would be able to do!
Great video, guys. It’s funny, back in our newlywed days and we were totally broke, we would go to stores “just to look and dream.” We didn’t have any money so we didn’t buy anything anyway. Now that we are not broke anymore, we never “just go to look” around anymore. Mainly, because I feel like I won’t convince myself that I need something that I don’t know exists. 😂
It's difficult sometimes to distinguish between fear mongering, survivalist videos and sensible stocking up on supplies. I enjoy going back to old videos where someone was imminently predicting doomsday and telling people to buy their expensive survival rations etc. Well, it didn't happen even with Covid. Our stores never ran out of anything even though costs and selections might have been as issue.
I ask myself is it a "need" or a "want". My biggest weakness is Amazon and Dollar Type Stores. I haven't bought anything from Amazon unless it's free. Also "Overspending" is a need because they feel they have to keep up this "image" as a hot shot. My Cousin spends more than he makes and he doesn't see it that way.
great tips. my better half and I want to own as little as possible. also - we live between Australia and EU - so that punctuates our decision - we own very little and still want to own less. we spend our time gardening, making what we might need (furniture-wise, and otherwise)...still work some (architect and researcher). our homes in AU and Italy are modest, comfortable and we've all we need. We would both be happy if all we owned were in a backpack. I'd say travel/experiences are what we choose to spend $ on......but we are conservative in that as well. BTW great haircut Larry cheers from down under.
I looked at some of those when I was replacing the Nissan LEAF. I couldn't find a good one that we could afford so ended up with a Honda Fit instead. However, our other car is a standard Prius and we love it. Great gas mileage from both cars. I get around 40 mpg with the Honda Fit and 47-52 with the Prius.
What do you do about the guilt of buying something? I feel so guilty after I buy anything. It doesn't happen often though. Such as a redo of my socks. I had to buy new fresh socks and throw away the old ones. Now only did I feel guilty about the purchase I also felt bad for throwing out the old socks with wore out heels
Larry I SO NEEDED THIS. I showed this to my son. He went through the same thing with a used car that he saw and wanted to buy when it was only the first one. I was able to calm him down and this HELPED so much. Thank you.
Just read that Kevin O'Leary of Shark Tank is a phenomenal chef having been raised near the Mekong Delta where they use natural nutrients instead of salt and sugar.
1393 The first recognizable form of toilet paper was created for the Chinese imperial family in 1393. The imperial toilet tissue was rice-based and presented as a stack of individual, perfumed sheets. The first commercial roll of toilet paper was created by Joseph Gayetty in 1857. Before that, people used corncobs, newspapers, and magazines as alternatives. Gayetty's toilet paper was made of aloe-infused hemp and was sold in packages of 500 sheets for 50 cents this was all found on Google.
I now look at what I earn a hour and be like I don’t want to spend a hourly wages on things! Keeps Me from spending ! I just get groceries need or great buy on meats and freeze
My dad is in the business of restoring old Coleman stoves and lanterns.I keep telling him that he needs to open an ebay shop for the lanterns and stoves that he restores.
You mentioned “Salad Master” it was the biggest mistake I have ever done in my life! Everything you cook in those cookware comes out mushy, it disintegrates foods. What a waste of money!
I use to do this but I've grown got wiser I save more than I spend im concentrating on being debt free in 2025 if I use my credit card rule for me not spend no mire than a 100.00 then I pay it right of before Bill is due
I don't "find it funny that people panicked" on the lack of ability to buy toilet paper. I initially did- thinking people would calm down and it would be available again in short order. Stores put limits of 2... but it was Still unavailable for 2 years. Ships were sitting at sea unable to have their cargo unloaded. Truckers couldn't get their trucks full of products to stores. That Was Very Real. Something as basic as toilet paper not being available... along with Many other very basic staple items... we've never experienced this the Great Depression- which none of us currently alive ever lived through. And during the Great Depression, families lived together or close by. They worked together and shared amongst themselves and neighbors. This is a Completely different period in time.
Toilet paper was available where I live. There were limits but prior to the panic I would only have bought one. As for food there was nothing I needed that bad. I did have a friend who needed everyone to be buying what they dreamed of. Manhattan Clam Chowder was a very crucial food that they needed quantity of? Really.
When I found things during the 2020 panic, I would drop a bag of tp rolls, Lysol wipes and paper towel rolls at my few neighbor friends doorstep. I work from home so was able to get out early to search after my kids went to school. It was fun helping friends and seeing people so happy for such items :) and they shared things that I didn’t have. there are still good people in the world. Just gotta find them.
During WWII there was rationing, so people could not clean out the shelves and hoard, rendering others unable to buy what they needed. I have my family’s ration ticket books. Almost everyone in our government is too young to know how it was done, so they didn’t institute it and protect us. It also would have protected the store employees from the merciless onslaught of desperate customers and the risk of exposure.
@@genxx2724 where I lived the stores were only allowed to let in 20% of the capacity of the building. And Costco would have senior hour like from 9-10 every am or something. But I soon discovered going at 1 pm instead of senior hour was much less crowded.
Beware of the phrase; just want to go into this thrift store and take a look.....yep something will get purchased! Pressure sales because the person demonstrating the item is working on commission,and since it was a friend you may have though you were obligated to purchase!
Fun fact…modern toilet paper was invented in 1891 in Albany, NY. Albany is my home and this is just one of the many historic and current unique aspects of my city!
Will what I am wanting to buy be used, save me money and not be regretted. And lastly, do I have the CASH for it. If any are a no or maybe, then don't buy it!!
LOL! My brother, Dave, did a lot of backpacking. They would use leafs for TP. One time one of his friends accidently grabbed a thistle leaf. He never made that mistake again!!😁
what is need? It is just the state of mind. Everything is necessary relatively until you admit the truth of life. we truly need only food to eat, shelter to live. cloths to cover our shame. everything else are just luxury. GOD made us not to create mess but to live our life with purpose, but we created the greatest mess i.e. "money".
I love the channel, but her name often gets cut off. He comes in too early and intense right after the "and I'm Hope" line (@ the start). Take it from me 15 years professional acting. It's good to not leave dead space, but that line comes in a little too hot.
@@lavieestduresansconfiture4939 Thanks for the kind response. I really like both of them and didn't expect such a rude response from him. I was only trying to help.
I didn't expect such a rude response from him. I was only trying to help. I take advice from you guys every day..but you're too prideful to receive something beneficial from me in my specialty.
Seems like down to earth, professional, nice folks. Didn't expect so much ego and lack of professionalism in how they interact with fans and followers. 😟
Enjoy watching your videos and love your suggestions for being frugal, most especially Larry's product research hits home. I consult my brother, but am stepping out on faith doing my own and then confirming my choices with him. Thank you both for confirming much while giving solid sound advice.