The #1 Reason You're Struggling to Make Ends Meet! (And How To Fix It) 

I have to share with you a little about my story. I’m 67 recently widowed and retired. My husband passed away last May 30 and I retired that year to spend time at home with him. My daughter’s mother-in-law lives next door to me in a little rent house I own. She is 87. She moved in five years ago when her husband died. Well, here’s our story. She stocks a lot of useful things mostly from Walmart. She may be on the verge of hoarding but not yet. I keep my pantry stocked of food and household items. I mainly shop at HEB. Whenever our kids need something, they come to “EarlMart” name for Erlene, the mil or HEBrenda name for me. They laugh at us but we mamas always have what is needed from bolts, screws, nails to food. Thanks for your tips and encouragement.

So many people live beyond their means and think they have to have new all the time. My fridge is 23 years old and isn’t that wonderful that it’s still working? Praise God my husband knows how to fix the car and appliances. Our health is good, and isn’t that a gift right there?

People think they deserve everything, we deserve nothing, Christ gave everything for us. We have become a godless unthinkable nation. I grew up watching my grandparents and parents work hard and we worked hard a long side of them. We married young in 1977, we never purchased new cars or furniture etc. I was given a iron skillet from my grandmother and one from my mother ( still have them 46 years) we raised 6 children on one income. People want everything when they want it! I thank God for everything He has provided over our lifetime

I have learned so much from yall!! My husband and I just made our last car payment on a 25000 car loan. We worked hard to pay it off in 3 years. Yaay, no more car payments!

Boy you are so correct, Tawra. I’ve gotten in arguments with people who want to claim things are harder now. They say places like McDonalds should pay a living wage. I told them to look at the size of the houses that were built in the 50’s and 60’s compared to the huge houses that are built now. Then think about all the furniture that has to be bought to fill up the house. Look at the garages and basements filled with stuff, plus huge vehicles…SUV’s and four wheel drive trucks! Don’t forget the smart phones and computers, and iPads everyone has to have. Out of control spending is everywhere and the waste is ridiculous!

I think the debt crisis is primarily an entitlement issue. People feel like they deserve the new car, the pizza, the trip to the mall, the vacation regardless of if they can actually afford it or not. Yolo and treat yourself and all that. It takes a huge mindset shift to realize that what you actually deserve is the freedom that comes from a debt free life.

As a single mom when my daughter was young i told her she couldnt have all the stuff other kids had and she understood ...God always saw us thru never went hungry and always had work even if it was 10 dollars an hour as a nurses aide and it was hard work. Rest in the Lord pastor Stanley..

I pick up a big screen tv from the curb that said free it work I could not buy this and the new next week I made a flower arrangement and gave the house that put tv out to curb carol

It is cheaper to go to a community college for 2 years and then go to a university for the last 2 years. It would be wiser to consider getting a skill like becoming an electrician, mechanic, or plumber, or other practical skill that you know that you will get a job.

45 years ago we bought our first house. Bank would let us borrow 3 times our yearly income. We bought a much cheaper house , less than one year's income. Still a struggle. My hint, don't buy to much house.

We're living in an extremely spoiled society. Your pizza example was spot on. You can spend $20 or less on frozen pizza and cook it at home in less time than it takes to purchase pizza or other take out. I can remember the days my first husband and I were broke and I'd buy 2 chicken leg quarters for $1.25 to feed our family of 4. We live in a blameless society where it's everyone else's fault for our problems. Kids DO NOT have to have McDonald's or Chick FIL A. It's the parents caving in to their kids. I'm 59 and I just bought my first home two years ago and am debt free.

I agree with u !! People just don’t want to cut out un necessary items . I have no patience with people whom do nothing to cut back on expenses.

I have observed many mums who work fulltime spend their weekend buying toys outings etc for their children then have to much stuff get depressed with the hoard the children want time not stuff

I agree about the quality and quantity of used goods increasing in recent years. We had no thrift stores or garage sales when I was growing up. Of course, there was no eBay or Facebook Marketplace. People did keep things until they were worn out. I did get some toys and clothes from friends of my parents, and we passed them on to younger children. The interest rates on mortgages were at an all-time high in the early 1980s. The only mortgage we could get was an adjustable one that could only go up, not down, and started at 17%. It went up to 19%! We could only afford to buy a small apartment. We stayed there 5 1/2 years, and then purchased our home, where we are still living. People are nostalgic about the "low prices" of yesteryear. They don't think about the salaries at that time. The correct way to compare is to use a percentage. If you were making $20,000 in 1982, and you wanted to buy a $100,000 house, you were paying 5 times your salary. If the homes in your area are still 5 times your salary today, there is no difference. If a home you want is more than 5 times your salary today, then it was easier to buy a home in the past. If the home you want is less than 5 times your salary today, it is easier to buy a home today. I am now a grandparent, and still work full-time. I do babysit my grandchildren on some weekends for free. If I were retired, I might consider watching them 1-2 days for free, but not 5 days a week. I paid a babysitter for my children when they were younger. I would never have expected my parents to spend their retirement that way, and they would not have done so even if I had asked. Childcare is and always has been very expensive. If you choose to work, you have to cut down in other areas. We cut down on vacations and eating out. I did stay home when my children were little. Before I got pregnant with my first, we calculated how much it would cost me for childcare, commuting, work clothes, etc. I would have spent almost all my salary, and, since I had a long commute, would not have seen my children much. We decided that it was better for everyone if I stayed home. I still make almost 100% of all meals at home. I enjoy cooking and baking, and I know what goes into the food I am preparing. I avoid soda, juices, processed foods, and junk food because they are mostly empty calories. It was always the case that if you just stick to whole foods, your grocery bill will be at a minimum. I also enjoy gardening. It did cost money initially to set it up. At this point, I do save money since I grow from seeds that I harvested from the year before, and I swap with other people. I do have a dehydrator, and also freeze the surplus.

Always remember, no matter how much you save in different areas from time to time you will make a wrong decision, but the good decisions outweigh the bad decisions. i’m proud of the work you do chop up the bad decision. Enjoy what you have and move forward❤

I think it's basically a head set. As an example, hubby and I view it as entertainment to shop thrift stores and garage sales. (Yes, we do that even while on "vacation.") Some people feel defeated if they don't have the newest and most expensive. Others feel like winners *because* they don't have the newest and most expensive. 🙂

When I was 6 years old (1967) my parents moved us into the house that they were building. It was December in Idaho. We lived in the unfinished basement. We had an upstairs floor, but the roof was not on yet. We lived that way for 2 months before the house was finished

If you learn to live within your means, it is not that hard to make it today. My husband and I have been married 34 years and have never gotten a charge card, and the only thing we have gotten a loan for was a used car, because the car broke down unexpectedly and we didn't have the whole 2,500 dollars to buy one We paid it off in six months. We don't have cable, subscriptions to entertainment, we haven't had a vacation but twice in our married life. We are now on Social security disability for him and soc. Security for me, amounting to around $3,000 a month and we live quite easily on that, because we don't have a bunch of payments.

Technically, I was a stay a home mom when I raised my 3 kids. But I also made money. I cleaned houses from 9:30am after school drop off til 2pm. One house per day. Made $85 per day. I was booked 5 days a week. I also babysat in my home on weekend. I had 23 parents in my roster. They would book me months in advance for date nights. Their kids came to my house and played with my kids. Some even would spend the night. I always made at least $40 per night babysitting. I was booked Fri, Sat and Sun nights if Monday was a holiday. And I was booked every evening in the summertime when kids were out of school. Some months I made more than my husband who had a “real” job. The point is, you can totally make money and take care of your kids. I did it! All I did was make flyers and get a business license and bam…..making money.

I spend 0.00 a year eating out. We never go out to eat

You ladies are awesome sharing your stories. Just as you listened to the tales from your grandparents and it seeped into your soul then this is happening to your viewers. It may be years before they become really frugal but the information will come back to them when they really need it. You are a blessing from God for those of us who heed your advice.

Hello. My parents were very savvy with money. My mother wanted bay windows. My dad moved out the big window forward and placed two windows on each side. Filled in the top and bottom. She had great window shelf for flowers or decor.

I love you guys I've learned a lot I wish my husband would get on board about having money saved and pan our house off I pray about it thank you ladies

Regarding St. Jude's: It's a good place to donate to if you have spare change. My brother's youngest grandchild was treated there for months & months when he was an infant and then a toddler. He almost didn't make it a few times, but thanks to God, and St. Jude's, he's still alive and thriving. He's cancer free, but they were told it could come back again. They're trusting God & they never miss their appointments. Many children from our area have had to go to St. Jude's. St. Jude's accepts the parent's insurance, and will write off the rest of the bill. If they have no insurance, the parent still owes nothing. They provide the parents a free apartment while needed and free meals.

Hi people dont realize how much theyd save on clothes if they went to thrift stores.. Food is so much better at home.. i also drive a 20 year old car without payments i dont want a expensive car payment.. Even though im on disability i like being able to put money aside because i budget....

The only thing that was better years ago was the people’s mindset! People didn’t have to have everything or the best of everything!

I know a couple whose mobile home is being repossessed that got back $12,000 back on their taxes and left their sons 13 and 14 at home while they went on vacation and spent all their money on themselves. They also draw $700 a month in food stamps because the dad refuses to work. 😡

You have so much wisdom, Jill. Tawra, thanks for having the courage to speak the truth. Debt free for many years. In our 70’s and thankful.

I save with God's help. I am always tucking away funds for rainy days. Hubby not on board but happy when "it works".

You are both absolutely right. I agree 100%. Keep preaching the truth. ❤

Thanks for the encouragement to have a no spend rest of the month. Keep it up ladies, we appreciate you! You too Mike😊

Thank you for having a "bee in your bonnet ". The plethora of excuses must make you tired and frustrated! My husband and I are buying a house in Southern Oklahoma that will cut our monthly expenses by half. We looked for 2 yrs. We are moving from the Dallas area because it is too expensive for us. Friends and family think that we are WEIRD. We have saved and managed our money and are able to put 50% down!! we are

Most people do ask parents to babysit but there are some that ask parents to babysit to get new clothes for the kids or save money on daycare to have extra money to put food in the house

Love the color of your kitchen. Will be doing the painting ourselves. Love the content on your site!!!

Have 3 college degrees & worked between colleges to pay & never in debt. Worked 3 jobs at times .

Hi Tawra & Jill, I don't recall how I found you, but I have been following you for a year or two now. I listen to you to stay on track to pay off my mortgage and cash flow my expenses. Thank you, your advice is helping at least 1 person.

Great show! There was so much to comment on but I wait to the end and forget it all. :) I have learned a lot from you over the years and do so much of your frugal tips. I wash my baggies, I freeze left overs to repurpose. I am freezing pork right now to use in homemade Chinese food as I watched this. Thank you all for everything! I know how you feel about your windows, Tawra. I, too, love nature and we will be getting all new windows in Sept. I can't wait. Ours are original to the house, which was built in 1957. I can't see clearly out of many of them. When I walked in and saw all the windows and light from them, I knew I wanted this house. Thanks again and I am praying you get the perfect window for your space.

I was just having this conversation with someone earlier today after seeing an enraging video where a woman claimed it was impossible to survive today. Honestly I think it’s easier today than it was 20 years ago. And I have young adult children who work in restaurant and grocery store jobs who afford to live on their own.

Wow, we sure don’t hear this point of view much anymore. But you’re spot on! Keep spreading the word.

Tawra, I cannot express enough how much I admire your strength and courage to speak the truth. I have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for you. 👏🙏❤

We shared our finances with our children from the time they were old enough to understand. It helped with understanding why we were saying "no" to getting certain things.

I’m in Washington State and in my area it’s $1800.00 a month just to rent a one bedroom apartment.

I am a 62 year old woman and I pay with cash only if I do not have the cash I can't afford it. I drive a 25 year old van and I still work a full time job . Your family has been a blessing to me and waiting on volume 2 of your book . Volume 1 is fantastic thank you so much ❤

You guys are completely right! I totally agree

I don't understand constantly eating out. I was having horrible pain day this week and had hubby pick up dinner (2nd time since early Octl). Actually felt guilty about wasting the money because I'm so used to cooking every day after work

You keep us on track too!! So easy to want to give up

Since I have been watching you I have been paying my debt off and changing my habits. I use your recipes and I am sacrificing instead of living life comfortably until I get out of debt. It is just a moment in time. I know I made mistakes and I wasn't educated to the fact of the problems I was making until I started watching you. I hope I can be out of debt one day. Especially before the hard times really hit. I'm not using credit cards anymore and I pay cash for everything. I thank you for 2 years ago for waking me up to the truth. I did create debt due to unexpected situations but I also didn't understand how to save. I didn't understand how to spend my money wisely. I completely own my mistakes and I am working on my goals. I agree with you that when we have problems we should look in the mirror first and start working the numbers. Changing habitats is the most important step to start correcting debt and changing your mindset is the next. Thank you for giving me the kick and education I needed to move in the right direction.

Absolutely love your garage saling thrift store shopping episodes

I hear you and can identify with what your saying. My first home was an older mobile home in a court. 12'x44' and I fixed it up one room at a time. I rent the spare bedroom out to Christian women which we would split the utilities and basically and the rent would cover the small mortgage and court rent,allowing me to put money away so some day I could buy a condominium, which I did and and continued the same way when I bought my condo. I always drove 2nd hand cars worked 2 or three jobs. I only had cast off electronics and TVs . My hobbies were sewing and hand applique hand quilted quilts, lots of time and but cheep entertainment. Love your frugal tips. Love the one on which appliances are worth buying . My Amanda refrigerator turns 24yrs old with zero repairs bills on it. Frugal living with no credit cards = freedom, God Bless.

Happy to see Mike is recuperating at the beach, he was looking really pasty. LOL

You ladies Rock. Many Blessings.

I usually watch what pops up in my feed so not usualy based off of titles. 🙂 But i will jump around other times. Or videos will come on automatically to another one while i am doing chores. Any videos you all make are great.

you and your mother help alot i have learned so much

I really like your video on doing your laundry outside not that I plan on using that method but it did give me a few laughs.

Great points ! Most people don’t know you can shop for free with the new rebate apps. There are RU-vid videos search cvs couponing etc. worth the little bit of work. No clipping paper coupons either!

I have a gas station receipt from 1937 where my dad filled his gas tank in one of those cars from that era, got at least one quart of oil and bought a pack if cigarettes, all for the grand total of $4.00. He hadn't become my father yet😁 by sixteen years. It's all relative.

Just love the honesty give er’

i remember only going out to dinner once as a family when we were kids. Every start of the school Mom would take us each to get new shoes and we got a treat of stopping by McDs for a burger and pop. I remember those times with my Mom. As a rule we always ate at home.

That's what we did: took out a 30-year mortgage. We have paid extra every month, even if it was a few dollars. It will be paid soon.

Spotify is free.... But there are paid versions of apps that make it so you don't have to watch the ads.

My brother in law was in the navy married my sister got out got a job as a chemical engineer they oaid their house off in 15 years they have 2 cars paid off. And he said hed always have 6 months money saved in case he lost his job... He came from a family of 10 and they lived a frugal upbringing.....

That’s ridiculous about those school fundraisers!! Any parent that benefits from these fundraisers should be required to volunteer so many hours. I don’t blame you for refusing to volunteer.

We had that happen with our kitchen remodel to, when we had it done 2 yrs ago. I wanted a bay type window, and they end up putting 3 windows in a row, spaced out a bit. I nearly freaked out. They had to go find a huge window and take the others out. I was NOT happy. So I really understand your frustration. But don't settle, you will never be happy if you leave it like that. Your stories sound so much like many of our's, I really feel badly for you. Hope things start going better ASAP.

We live on a very wooded north facing property & get very little natural light I had to remove large close tree branches & paint all the rooms white. Maybe your kitchen needs to be painted white & get your "color" with decor. Good luck w/ the remodel. That's always stressful, even more so if you have to live in the house during the construction. Hope you end up loving it!

Watching now from Hershey Pa area

Bless you all😊

My mother was raised I guess like people talk about off grid. She was born 1930 you only bought flour ,sugar. One hiccups and they would have lost the farm.

Lol,I broke my leg MIKE BUT I DIDN'T GET TO SIT ON A WARM BEACH🤣🤣Thank you all for everything you do

Don't forget the ppl who show up at the monthly food bank for free food driving NEW cars !

You are so spot on. My husband and I believe your methods. I wish My mind could hold all of this infinite wisdom you dish out. Basically, we have been blessed to follow you for years but never been updated tech wise to communicate our appreciation and thankfulness. I just wish I had a mental transcript, even though I have an ecopy of your cookbook when I would follow you thru email. I just like having copies cuz I don't trust my memory. Health issues don't always help the memory unfortunately! But hoping these problems will improve.

WOW. I missed all of that. The Budwiser thing? No idea...etc. But I'm making a soup out of refrigerator leftovers etc. Wow it's good already. Make soup every week for fun! You can save $ with soup. LOVE IT.

I live in my daughters house not with them, next door to them. I paid 800 a month rent. When they went on vacation i cleaned their house,my son in law paid me 100.00 dollars. He said if you do this every week i will pay you 100.00. Now i only pay 400 a month rent! I have paid off one card and am paying extra on the others!!!

Put big picture window in front of my sink that does not open. No regrets. No cleaning dead bugs and spiderwebs in between screen and window.

You and Jill are on fire today. I do agree with you. I keep my cars for a long time because I don't like car payments. My problem was I liked to eat out and bought things I didn't need. I made a lot of money management mistakes. I wish I had been wiser when I was young but I am doing things different now. I really enjoy your videos.

We hate debt so badly that we drive a 30 year old truck that we had saved up and paid cash for when it was new. Now it's a classic!

Great show. I was raised with the same priorities as your family.

I always think about how crazy it is that we now are paying over 100 a month for cell phones and huge bills on TV services/internet , etc. I the 70s and 80s it would have been insane

Went to first thrift stores today,.....wow! Ill go before going to Marshall's again.

I agree with what you both are saying. My rent increased $125/MONTH. my youngest daughter is looking to buy a duplex. I can help her and she will be helping. I would rather help her pay off her mortgage than some other big company. Keep up the good work.

I will never ever be in debt again.

I love the idea Of the channel!!!!

Hello girls! Could you please add the sub-titles, in order to help the non-English native speakers to follow and then understand the whole content of the videos. Thanks a lot from France!

We got rid of cable 7 years ago. No regrets. Just got purflix tv. Nice clean family movies and shows.

oh my gosh, I was laughing so hard when you stood up and confronted them in the meeting. I used to do this when younger, but then I realized all it did was put a target on my back and changed nothing. I'm your age and I have learned to be quiet (not a good thing). Way to go my friend. Way. to. GO. (... now watch out:D )

Jill - Love the Mary Kay story. You came up with solutions instead of excuses!!!!

I could teach many parents how to rearrange their budgets and save money. USA Americans have way “ too much stuff”.

I would recommend pure Flix for anybody who wants getting Good quality family entertainment at a low price it’s like $11 a month and you have so many good movies and shows to watch and they’re also very wholesome and clean and not a bunch of feel that you have on cable

I went on Amazon with a gift card i earned from loading receits & bought dip gel powder to start doing my own nails...massive savings & i still get to have pretty nails

I was wanting to retire early. Hubby and I made a list of debts and I took small loan at credit union, paid everything off. A friend said you can send your 401k your loan a.ount and they will pay that off for you, with no penalty. So I called 401k on info. Yes it was used to manage household. So yes. I sent my loan info in and they se.t the credit union a check in 2 weeks. How cool. 5 years later I retired. 7 years later hubby retired. And we're wonderful. And we buy 4 extra items at a time to build food Up, next month it's extra paper products and shampoos, next breads and. Cereals the car things, oilfilters, brake shoes, etc. Rotate list to have on hand. Love thrift stores, they have. Clothes that last. Best wishes to all of you. I like your ideas.

Hello from Oregon

I've been trying to work out how frugal thinking from 50 years ago has now become thoughtless spending now!?! I'm guessing a lot of it is due to TV influencing, ads & glossy magazines!! When my parents were married 65 years ago, they only had a mattress on the floor, wooden crates for chairs & a folding table as their dining table!! They saved cash for the furniture bought that was 2nd hand as the next step & I don't remember any new furniture until my Dad was nearly retired! Somehow I went off track from being extremely frugal & think it was the glossy magazines that were my downfall! We've been back to being frugal for about 12 years now & nearly paid off our mortgage finally!!! Thanks to you we've been paying it off a lot faster! Thank YOU! 🥰 Blessings from South Australia💕🐨

I'm 77 and retired. Do I keep being frugal to leave money for grandkids and kids? Or relax a bit for vacations and treats? Such a quandary.

Yes I am here carol

I wanted to caution you about the every 2 week mortgage. We got a very bad offer from the bank on one of these. They charged for the service and only applied it once a month.

How many of the complainers are also buying tobacco products, beer, and prepared foods that I never put in my grocery cart?

Can't believe how much we have saved on laundry detergent. I bought a big box of powder laundry soap and have hardly used any. If that would have been liquid, it would have been gone by now. But finding boxes of powdered laundry soap isn't easy. Hardly anyone carries it anymore. Our Wal-Mart doesn't.

If you feel sorry for yourself….. read the book of Job! That will really put things in to perspective.

People buy too much prepackaged stuff in the grocery store and thats where most of the money goes. Soda also.......

Would love your thoughts on our administration to hike payments for good-credit homebuyers to subsidize high-risk mortgages. I thought it was it surely had to be false, but it isn’t. It’s effective on new mortgages on 5/1/2023. I heard about on Erik Erickson show and it was published in The Washington Times.

yes i can see you. how long can you keep wheat pasta