You can buy a new bicycle every single month for the monthly *cost* of your car. (If it is a fancy car you'll get a fancy bike, if it is a very modest car, you can buy a modest bike.) It tells something about how much people spend on cars. Others are really surprised when I tell them this in short version! One can also look at how much some extra space in your home costs, f ex do you have a guest room? How many hours do you have to work to keep a guest room? How much does a decent B&B cost in your area, where your guest could stay over night in stead, on your expence?
"If you want, Marabou fudge and sea salt chocolate, then buy that and not something else!" It can save you more money by just getting that freaking item you are thinking of, instead of trying to talk yourself out of it or find a substitute. I get more enjoyment out of drinking one glass of my favorite expensive tropical juice, then buying a bad cheap juice no one wants to drink. The small stuff adds up. Sometimes even faster then the expensive ones.
Traveling from Sweden to Asia is less expensive than traveling from Helsinki. It's also fun to take a day as a tourist in your hometown or take a bus trip to a nearby city and get to know it. You don't have to travel halfway across the world to see things.
I lost husband at the beginning of the pandemic. I couldn’t afford our home by myself and couldn’t rent it out because of the government allowing people to not pay rent. So I had to sell. I bought a van, put solar on the roof and moved in to it to slow down the money drip as much as possible. After 4 years of not paying rent or mortgage or campground fees, I bought a big beautiful piece of land. I put a shed on it for storage. My only bills are cellphone, gas, groceries,propane. Land taxes and car insurance are once a year. I put gutters on the shed for water. I haven’t been to a beauty shop since my husband passed. I have been in a restaurant twice since the pandemic for obligatory reasons. The only place that I could cut more spending is on my pets because I cook for them. But I’m ok with that. My monthly expenses are about $600.
I'm shocked the government hasn't found a way to tax the air we breathe, and that no electric company has made legal claim to the suns light so they can start metering it.
@ The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) took unprecedented action by issuing a temporary national moratorium on most evictions for nonpayment of rent to help prevent the spread of coronavirus
if you always wanted to travel, do it soon or you will regret it when you get older. i am frugal on all aspects of life but am willing to spend on travel experiences.
It’s up to each person to decide if they’d rather spend money to travel as a young person or as an old person. Each person has their own set of priorities in conjunction with opportunities and limits. I love traveling young.
@@mstash164I'm 58 and have been suffering with chronic pain in my right leg and foot caused by a bulging disc in my back. I'm at the point where I find it very hard to enjoy walking anywhere. You never know what time is going to do to your body! I don't smoke, drink, or take drugs!
You are smart! I'm 74, still have to work because I was a spender, not a saver. I have to be frugal now, I have no choice. People need to remember that saving for old age is necessary
@press645 ..its so much fun to be young and do what you want and not worry, I understand. I think if I had planned better I would not be in such a painful situation now though. I should have made myself save as well as spend. Maybe put money away in investments, and spend only some for fun stuff, but make the fun times more about experiences than " things"
@@press645 When I'm tempted to buying something I think about my hourly wage and ask myself, this item costs $200, and say I earn $40/hr, do I want to put off my retirement by an additional 5 hours of work for this item? Or if you prefer think about it today. Would I rather have this item, or trip, or whatever it is, and have to work an additional however many hours the item is worth? In most cases when it comes to no essential items I will choose not to spend and decide that I would rather have my time than the item.
It's important to think of everything you spend as how many hours you had to work to afford that item. it puts everything into perspective and makes you more selective with your spending on only things you really enjoy and need.
I'm frugal and happy! I was In The Navy so I've traveled around the world for free. I don't own a car or TV. It's a peaceful quiet life and I love it. No drama or chaos. Blessings 😊
Love that. My dream is to build a cabin in the woods and live there. It would be such a drastic and needed change from the busy city area. I long for that type of peace
I respect your commitment to enlightening your readers. We all want to live better lives and be financially stable. Careful budgeting, thrifty living, and smart investing can help you achieve this. I'm glad I was taught early on how important it is to work hard in order to achieve financial independence.
In my opinion, making a smart investment is not only a technique for earning passive income, but also a profitable way of saving for future expenses. People who fail to make the proper judgments early in life often come to regret it later in life. Nonetheless, investing alone can be difficult and risky. As a result, I recommend obtaining an expert’s assistance. The challenge is not just watching videos and reading investing books; it is about implementing information effectively.
Smart investing, in my opinion, is not only a way to generate passive income, but also a profitable way to save for future expenses. Those who make poor decisions early in life often regret them later. However, investing on your own can be challenging and risky, so I advise getting professional help. The challenge is not just watching videos and reading investing books; it is about putting information into practice.
I wholeheartedly concur, which is why I opt to entrust the day-to-day decision-making to an investing coach. With their specialized knowledge and extensive research, it is highly unlikely for them to underperform. Their expertise is centered around harnessing the asymmetrical potential of risks while also employing measures to safeguard against unfavorable outcomes. I have been collaborating with an investment coach for more than two years
How can I participate in this? I sincerely aspire to establish a secure financial future and am eager to participate. Who is the driving force behind your success?
My biggest money savers 1. Build a set wardrobe. Only own the specific items on your list, and no more. 2. Stop buying liquids. Most liquids are expensive and unhealthy. Simply sticking to water and coffee is difficult at first but quickly becomes the baseline. 3. Stop buying paper products. A cheap bidet attachment and some decent towels can save hundreds each year. Plus, it's just more luxurious. 4. Minimize transportation costs. We spend a shocking amount on cars, gas, insurance, maintenance, parking, Ubers, etc. you may be better off spending a lot more to live in an area where you don't need to own a vehicle, or saving up for a nice electric bike for easy commuting. 5. Buy food in bulk, but only on sale. I quartered my monthly food bill by learning about my local store's discounting system. 6. Live in a smaller home than you are comfortable with. I moved from a 2br to a studio and thought it would be awful, but it ended up being great, and saved me a ton. 7. Stop upgrading. We trick ourselves into thinking we need better things, when what we have functions perfectly. 8. Avoid eating out like the plague. 9. Learn to do your own repairs and maintenance. 10. Learn to cut your own hair. It's surprisingly easy, and you save a ton.
I do pretty much all of these 😊 UA-cam is brilliant for how to do appliance maintenance: I type the make and model and find tutorials all the time. I also learned how to adjust my watch bracelet links and various other tips, all on here for free! 💗
That is great advice thanks. As a woman, I also stop buying shower gel (I use hard soap as it lasts longer), stopped using beauty wipes to take off my make-up (and use a flannel with water), and I also colour my own hair from the supermarket, saves me an absolute ton.
What a great video and such a lovely presence you have! Here's my take on being frugal: I don't smoke or drink. I like drinking water and never sodas or energy drinks. instead of buying water in bottles, I filter my tap water. I like eating the same dish two days in a row. I like making big portions of food and freeze in portion sizes for later use. Despite inflation I make it work, because I always look for sales and making your own food saves you quite a bit of money. I cut my own hair - I learned from UA-cam videos. I don't spend money on all that expensive skincare - I use natural oils mixed with non perfumed lotion. I make my own body scrubs. Also going to the sauna is a great way to get a beautiful teint and plump up you skin - I'm 51, and people tell me i look 10-15 years younger, so I guess expensive skinecare isn't necessary.. I never upgrade any electronics - I use it till it doesn't work anymore. I don't have my entire home lit up at night - just the room I'm in - also string lights or LED lights on battery. I like a clasisc style wardrobe, so a lot of my clothes, shoes, handbags, accessories I've had for many years. I've never had much money, so I just learned from my mom how to be frugal. It keeps evolving and it's kind of like a sport for me how to save more and figure out what I can live without or don't need at all😅 It's a journey and not something that happens over night. Love from Denmark
I sold my car a year ago and bought an electric bicycle with a big box in the front of the bicycle where u can pack stuff etc. Most of my trips are short and took alot of mental stress away aswell to sell the car. Im in Sweden tho with a very good bicycle roads and good local trafic :)
@@SunnyKindJourney yeah it's almost free, I've been charging it at work alot aswell for extra cheapness but even if you just charge at home its barely a noticeable cost
@@toothpaste_tm7323 True! To make electricty even cheaper we bought shares in windpower. Keep it up, Toothpaste!! Kudos to you! We still use electricity mindfully, because all forms of consumption have their negative aspects.
@@SunnyKindJourneyre "cheap?". Per kilometer, bicycles and e-scooters use less energy than your metabolism would use walking ovet that time, it's a great idea as long as it's 1) safe and 2) you have another form of exercise
@@SrdjanRosic for sure, but more as a complement to having a car rather than a form of excersise :) ofc it's also important to do some escerise in your life for well being 😊
I liked IF because of its simplicity. I quit years ago though. I did recently quit sugar again and I'm realize how much money it's saving because I'm not browsing the deserts at the grocery store and I'm certainly not going out to crumble cookies or for donuts or whatever.
@@Runner466 you don't understand how good the carnivore way of eating is because you have not tried it. You eat less and feel amazing. In the beginning you eat a lot as your body craves the nutrients animal based food provides for healing but once you pass that stage and achieve a healthy body it takes little to maintain you. I've been eating this way for 20mths and never changing. I 'hunt' for mark down meat and bulk buys to supplement home grown. I've even been able to give up coffee and only drink water, a huge saving and means I buy very little at the supermarket now.
I am in the states, and for years I thought buying a home by 30 was a goal. That didn't happen, but what did happen is that as I have gotten older and met and work alongside homeowners, the rose tint on the glasses started coming off. I heard of people using PTO just to do yardwork or spend hundreds of dollars to buy blinds or spending evenings after work at Home Depot. None of it really appealed to me. Now, I want a small (1200 sqft) low maintenance home with a small yard. I learned that my time and money matters more to me than the status of the "home(problem)owner" title.
That's a great story and gives good perspective for my own plans. I'd like to have my own place at some point but definitely need to be ready for everything that comes with it before making any decisions. Thanks for sharing 🌿
@@quaithom3138You are deluding yourself. You own NOTHING. Do you pay property taxes? Of course you do. Which means you will be RENTING your home from the government for the rest of your life. Try not paying the taxes. The government will come and TAKE your home away from you. Resist them and they will send men with GUNS to MURDER you. You don’t “own” the roof over your head. You’ve been conned.
100% agree. I've owned my home for 31 years now, and I can't begin to tell you how many tens of thousands of dollars have gone into upkeep for roof, windows, furnace, water heater, etc., not to mention when appliances break, plus property tax increases, insurance, and the day-to-day costs of maintaining a home ... and my home is just 1185 square feet. And, like you say, so much time spent working on maintenance. Plus literally tens of thousands of dollars -- really hundreds of thousands over 30 years -- in interest paid to a mortgage company. And if you want to move, it's SO much harder when you own your home than when you rent. As for rental money going to a landlord, your loan money pays interest that supports banks and construction companies. The whole "American dream" BS about owning a home is just that -- BS. The amount of peace of mind that comes from knowing ALL problems are someone ELSE'S is totally worth it. So much less stress. I'm always telling my (adult) kids to rent as long as they can. (Now, if you have kids and want to settle in a school system, maybe that's a different thing ... but otherwise, rent all the way!)
As a home owner I will definitely say it can feel like another job. If you haven't read Ramit Sethi, you might want to as he prefers renting and talks about other methods to build wealth.
Renting here in the U.K. is hell. Until my forties I lived in horrendous flats, black with damp, falling to pieces, and sometimes dangerous. In one flat, urine from the flat of the heroin addict upstairs trickled down my walls. And flats, even like this, are expensive and hard to get. Now I live in a beautiful little bungalow with my own garden. I’m safe and happy. The mortgage isn’t much more than the rent I used to pay. The buying/renting question depends where you live.
I especially like the mention of doing things yourself. I am a 62yo single woman with osteoporosis who cleans my own roof, gutters, cuts down many trees and cuts them up , paint inside and outside my house, all yard work, housework, etc, while still working seasonally. I have been told by some people that many men wouldn’t do what I do. I hang up my laundry to dry rather than using the dryer unless it rains, run my dishwasher and laundry machine on weekends, use water from my shower to and a whole host of other things to save money. I very rarely eat out. There is an online budget through Dave Ramsay that is much like what you showed and like I have started keeping since age 16 as I had a car note, insurance, gasoline, etc. Frugality brings peace of mind and freedom.
I been a spender and a saver through out my life. Don’t be frugal to die and only to see zero’s in your bank account, but balance yourself in life . Speaking as a financial analyst who see’s lots of money that goes to the government when there’s no beneficiaries with people who are frugal.
I’m completely with you on childcare, I have 4 grown up children now and chose to keep them at home with me until they had to go to school at 4 ( which is also far too young in my opinion) I wanted to bring my children up myself as someone who loved them and not someone who was doing it as a job,, also I didn’t want to miss a minute, I am in England and was lucky enough to be able to do this as my husbands wage was just enough for us to get by on, we did have to make sacrifices, we didn’t have luxuries, the most up to date household items or foreign holidays but I think we gave them a nice childhood,camping trips which they all look back upon fondly, they range in age from my oldest at 37 to my youngest at 18 all lovely hard working young men, I’d go back and do it all exactly again if I could, love watching your videos x
I'm 76 year old male. I live frugally. I now have a large cushion of cash reserves. That gives me a great sense of security. I spend 2 months in Thailand each year...when frugality stops feeling like a sacrifice you are home free
The quote 'we buy things we don't need...' is from Fight Club. That movie/book, especially when Tyler Durden says 'the things you own end up owning you' is what made me become a minimalist. Agree with everything, great video! :)
14 years ago we made the "big move", selling a larger home with property in the country and buying something smaller on a smaller piece of land, in town. We didn't know it at the time, but it was such a good thing because over the past few years, we've both had health issues that would have made caring for that other property a nightmare. So it wasn't just the money that was a change, but also the maintenance.
My parrents did the opposite in 2008/09. Having lived in the middle of nowhere for many years without a driver's license wasn't fun. Happy i can choose "correctly" now that i bought my own place. No need for a car is great.
I needed you in my life decades ago Seve. You have thought me to view stuff now in terms of time! How much time have I spent in work to buy this stuff? I look around my home now and I am overwhelmed about the time I have wasted working to attain it! I don’t even remember buying most of it. I don’t use any of it! Better late than never! Thank you Seve!
Exactly, better late than never. This is I guess one of the good things about social media, you can share tips to so many more people and much easier than ever before. Thanks for watching! 😊
This year I’ve been making an effort to live more frugally and one of the things I did is to get rid of my car. Even though I am paying couple hundred more in rent to live in downtown I am saving thousands not having a car, so is worth it. Also now that I don’t have to commute I live a more stress free live, the commute here in the us in the city I am was crazy. I am finding so much perks in living a frugal life and definitely also feels good to be able to help the environment and my saving account at the same time 🥰
Even if you become extremely frugal in the US, you still have a better life than A LOT of people people around the world, specially like Nicaragua, central America, where I'm from originally. Trust me.
It depends on the situation you have in those countries; I am from Mexico and though I am middle class in the US, my family in Mexico live better than I do. They are professionals who own their homes/cars and have very little to no debt. They travel frequently within Mexico, Europe and South America. The generalization that everyone in Latin America lives poorly is very widespread in the US.
@@smileandsaycheese44 this is such an insensitive comment. There are a lot of factors that can make moving really difficult and even when everything goes according to plan you usually leave your family behind and spend at least half of your holidays visiting them instead of travelling to different places
Do not compare yourself to others. Set a goal. More importantly work on all the steps and milestones you can think of to achieving that goal. If the steps are big, break those up with even smaller steps. Set a budget and measure your results at set intervals. Forgive yourself. Remember you’re still human and small set backs will occur. Be flexible and pivot or adapt as situations change, always mindful of the end goal. Say what you’re going to do and do what you say.
I’m amazed how much expensive clothing in thrift/charity shops just needs a small repair, button sewn on, or careful hand washing to get it really clean and remove the effects of cheap detergents. Worth using a specialist product for wool and silk. Or maybe the fur trim on the hood or hood drawstring is missing, not a big deal. The latter is cheap to replace with a long shoe lace. Do this and it’s possible to own superior clothing for not much money, and it gets re used. My family taught me how to sew and I’m grateful, but no doubt there are UA-cam tutorials teaching the basics.
With the high taxes, medical, food and home/ car expenses here in the US, I have definitely stopped buying useless sh*t. I only buy food and very few basic necessities. My goal is to have a homestead.
I have a small garden, 200 square meter, but this year we bought three chickens and made some vegetable plots, there's something deeply wholesome to look at an egg and know which of your chickens produced it...
I love 'new to me' clothes. I bought a dress second hand recently for £15 then I made my way to the shop that sells the same dress new, it cost £70 there. It felt fantastic knowing I spent so little money 😂 Also I'm on a weight loss journey, so whatever is too big now I sell on eBay or donate.
I quit my job in the big city because the expenses were too high. I'm 30 and still live with my parents. I save so much. Luckily, I found a job where we live, and my salary is doubled. It enabled me to buy a car because the public transportation in the country where I live is so bad and having a car helps me save time. I really love it here, the vibe is serene and no stress at all. It really helps my mental health, plus I get to eat homecooked and quality food at a cheaper price. While many young adults move to the big cities for better opportunities, I took the road less travelled.
Hey, I'm 27 and live back with my father again too! I feel very much judged by others (if I'm not only judging myself 🤔) But I'm getting out of student debt FAST 🙏🏻 We are very lucky!
@@paulavanunen dont take the judgement from others personally, if you and your family makes the living beneficial to each other, thats fine 🙂 In some countries its actually encouraged to stay with the family and live at one place together
I think one very important point is setting a goal for being frugal to begin with. It can be easier if you have a set goal in mind (even if it’s decades away) than just saving for saving’s sake.
@@pburke5274 🤣 yeah first world problems. But the situation does allow me to take a job I love at a lower salary, biking distance from my house. So thank you 😉 for your sympathy, but I'll be ok.
Hey, I’ve been debt free for 2 years and I’ve managed to save a little. I do think I could be a bit more careful or at least more mindful when it comes to spending…I say this as frugality maybe a little extreme for now but I’ll work on this. Thank you for sharing 😊
Thriving for more, "consumerism", this is the power of life, its nature. There is no standing still in nature, onli thriving or decay. People dont understand the world they live in
Greetings from Austria! I am a student and I've been living quite frugal for the past four years, but one thing I noticed (and that you also briefly touched upon I think) was that I was thinking too much about money and it hurt so much every time I spent some. Anxiety started to form around the topic. Right now I'm trying to enjoy spending money more, because it is nice to buy something I need or really want, or to invite someone to a nice dinner or anything else. I'm still living frugally, but when I do spend money on sth (that I think is worth it) I want to be happy about it.
This year we've moved back to an apartment, after renting a house for a couple of years. Not only is it less stressful, less work, less cleaning, and a MUCH smaller rent, but a smaller place also means being more intentional and paying more attention to what you want to buy. Even though a rent in a big city might be higher, it gives you the possibility to ditch a car, as you can easily rely on public transport or bike lanes. Furthermore, it's much easier to have a smaller footprint in a bigger city, especially when you have everything you need in proximity. Social housing is a great concept that's starting to see some light again in Europe.
I'm definitley the type of person who was already half way into this lifestyle. I live in a studio flat "small space." I'm single and 29 years old, I drive a 2019 Chevy Spark "small car" it's completely paid off. I have decluttered and gotten rid of everything I didn't need. I only spend 15% of my earnings a month. I also have 3 part time side hustles that replaced my full time job. I have more free time than ever. My next step is to literally clean out my colest and bathroom drawers and my space will be complete. next I would like to wear the same clothes every day.
Hi, it's Joshua from the future! I completely decluttered, and I wear the same thing every day now. It's made the biggest difference. Maintaining a "look" took up much more space in my brain than I thought.
I've adopted many of these principles in my life. I don't have a car. (I live in a walkable city). I don't need heat or air conditioning (I live in a moderate climate). I try not to have things in my life that require more maintenance than I myself can provide. If I need someone to come in to help me clean, then I need to look at why. I take a certain amount of pride in doing things for myself, that helps I'm sure. I pay attention to my finances and am in tune with what brings ease, comfort, and joy into my life, and what is or becomes a burden. My life is way less st:essful than it used to be, and I'd like to keep it that way ;)
You raise some quite profound issues around modern lifestyles. I wish I had been more financially disciplined in the past. I could be retired and free of many financial concerns now. Sound advice Seve.
Moro ☺️ I have my own electric scooter with a maintenance agreement. My job is located about 60 kilometers way from my home. I use my scooter to go to railway station, the fold my scooter up and travel in train. When i reach my workcity I scoot to work. If there is any kind of trouble with my scooter i can switch it to another one. Stressfree and fun. Now 706 kilometers (with helmet) starting from spring to now and this maintenance agreement costs 14,95 € per month. I'm that generation that it is standard to own a car, but I'm happy to choose otherwise ☺️! Thank you for your channel, I just love it and I live in Tampere too 😊
@@SunnyKindJourney this is a company (is it allowed to advertise here a bit?) Augment Eco, first i had a 2 years leasing agreement, now I own my scooter and pay only for maintenance. I think I have had like 5 different scooters within 4 years. If there is any kind of trouble they send me a new or well fixed one
I used to find happiness in material items. I woke up. Now my challenge is ‘spending free’ days. I mark in my calendar every day I don’t spend. It’s fun!
I bought a small car, the least expensive on the lot, brand new. Yes I had a loan, but I plan on keeping it until I retire from work. It will have been worth it in my opinion.
Keep up with regular maintenance, and it will last a long time. I bought mine brand new and, 12 years later, I still drive the same car. Yes, I went into debt for it, but I paid it off years ago. Nowadays used car prices are much closer to new, often to the point of needing to take out a personal loan anyway, so the old adage of always buying used is no longer, necessarily, the soundest advice.
Healthcare for my family alone is like $2,000 a month. The U.S. is insane. Figuring out how I can cut back without putting my family in a terrible financial situation if someone gets sick. My baby was hospitalized a couple of months ago. How much did it cost? $397K and insurance paid all but $2K. Wild.
Whaaaaat? That's the amount some people make in their whole career 😯 I mean I do know a thing or two about how differently things work in the US with insurances and stuff compared to Europe but how can they expect anyone to have 400k to spend in a couple of months? What way of doing business is that? I guess they don't expect and just know insurance companies will pay basically whatever?
Love your channel! I'm lucky that I've always been naturally frugal, but I think most people find it difficult to restrain themselves (for many reasons).
Yess I stop paying gift about 28 yrs ago we give to many materials things Soo Sad we keep giving and giving material and feel more and more lonely and more sad as a nation I only give food as gifts that I cook or homecraft that is meaningful God Almighty bless all thank you ❤️🌈✨🌟❤️
Not having a car is a tough one for me. As someone who is semi-retired I use my car almost every day & would'nt want to rely on UK public transport! Love my bicycle though, and walking.
Great Video! I have just one small comment that from what I see (and I am not alone in this) most people in North America buy pick up trucks for social validation, not because they actually need them. My friends and I call them "Emotional Support Vehicles" haha. It doesn't make any sense why they buy them. ( 18:55 )
I made many of the changes you discussed in January of 2024. I’ve been learning more and more how to be frugal. Getting rid of my car was the biggest savings. I continue learning how to save and much of what I’ve learned is my habits are expensive, like too much eating out. I’ve rediscovered the joy of cooking and my bank account is growing more. I look forward to following your videos and taking this journey together.
I listen to various vids during my morning workout, thanks for posting! It's funny this popped up, I'm your opposite. I read, cook, garden, take care of my house and car, make and fix stuff, so I need lots of tools to do that. I've got a whole barn of stuff. Shovels, wheelbarrow, mower, materials, paint and painting supplies, plumbing and electrical stuff, along with car and carpentry tools. I play music and ride a bike so that stuff is in the barn along with tools to maintain them . I've wondered if I'd be better off paying someone to do everything, but I seem to evolved into a DIY sort which entails owning a lot of stuff. I always figured if I had to boil it down I could get by with a bike and a guitar, but then I'd need tools, so...
I have a nice savings. I don't spend much money have been using a budget for 20 years. You must write down what you are spending your money on then you will do much better
you’re right about the car. i wish i didn’t need one. driving makes me really anxious, but public transport in the US is a joke 🙁 and there’s no other way i could get to work without expensive uber or lyft rides.
I wish I went this direction along time ago however it’s never too late to change your mindset and lifestyle. I’ve accepted that there’s going to be situations that I know I can’t fix myself. I tried to revamp a meal recipe and instead of making it better I needed to give it a decent burial 🤭🤭
My new company provides free meals coupons. I shamelessly pack for home. I have coworkers who share their coupons with me in case they order take out. The food wallet is not carry over, so most folks have balance left. I ask them if they can get a sandwich 🥪 packed for me at end of day I don't have the skills to cook a meal, I can make coffee toast and eggs , ramen etc but not a full meal My depression makes me often dysfunctional so prep and cleaning after takes a lot of time. a full meal helps me a lot and eating eggs ramen or pasta doesn't fulfill me mentally This has helped me a lot and I don't feel hollow I invested in Tupperware and tiffin boxes. I don't care I get judged and thankfully my colleagues understand Biggest thing in my house is the refrigerator No more ordering take out On my birthday team asked for what I wanted and I asked them for a steel French press and high end electric kettle that will last forever , I invested in a good quality travel mug I don't use my food wallet for coffee at work I have begun to save money and feel good. I now have time for exercise and keeping House tidy
Appreciate your positive style! 😀 7:40 I've been being too frugal about buying a dishwasher for YEARS now. 🤪 I finally realized that given how I often I eat out it would quickly save me money AND improve my health by making me more likely to eat at home, but I *still* have a mental block about it because they're expensive and I know I want to move. Time to do some math about how likely I am to *actually* move in the next X months vs. the benefits I'd gain from having it! Thanks for the video! 😃❤ 🥗🍳🍵
Awesome awesome awesome message. Really appreciate your wisdom and insight. Too much junk in our lives. We use only bikes for our business and leaving our commercial vehicles parked saves us over almost $2k per month and we ride with smiles our faces! 😂
I think 2025 will be the turning point. Personally we have come full circle and Christmas has brought it home how much we spend and how much we didn't need to. I'm reeling it all in. I don't shop in supermarkets i spend money on food from farmshops. Thank you for this video. Im taking to the road in my van and i dont need to spend anymore than food and fuel.
I'm a "white guy" here in New Mexico, in the U.S. I was taught a long time ago how to make red and green chile. I make my own meals. I buy tortillas, and good ones, for less. I make all kinds of meals. I go to a restaurant with friends twice a month. I order the cheapest, healthiest foods there. I don't order alcohol any longer (though sometimes, I do). I sometimes fix my jeans with duct tape. I get those at thrift stores (when duct tape won't do any longer). Your videos mean a lot to me.
I moved to italy temporarily, got a dyson vacuum second hand, used it for a year and then resold it for almost what I paid for it. second hand is amazing lol
As a typical consumer driven American who felt like I had to have everything I ever even thought about for 50 years, my last ten years have been the opposite. It's an adjustment first of all. Can't deny that. But I've crafted a life no longer depending on that quick adrenaline burst that fades so quickly. The big thing with any addiction and consumerism is an addiction, is finding somethings to replace that high! For me it's physical fitness and development of personal skills. The benefits are so much greater and more fulfilling. Money wasn't really the objective or problem to begin with but the financial savings have been staggering. Amazing to say the least. Just a better life. Win win!!
Travel even to the US can be done relatively cheap. I do fly twice a year to the US with some friends and it just is the best experience for me personally to do road trips there. We fly with hand luggage, split rental car costs and I usually pay 1500 $ altogether, but never more than like 12 days. Especially it is a good balance if you save your money by living somewhere where its cheaper to conquer the world ocassionally.
I live in the UK with the highest energy costs in the world. It gets to minus 5 here often at this time of year. I have been unwell several times because of trying to save on energy bills. This is sadly something I cannot cut back on any more. I dont have alot of free time as a nursing student, so its hard to have time to cook and not just grab quick things on the go.
The energy costs are outrageous here . We don’t have central heating so use a gas heater , the gas bottle replacement is £22 which lasts a month usually .
This is great Seve-your own story, and what you're saying has helped me, today I'm starting w/ paper & pen. You are helping me, with added hope and staying with it, thank you!
My biggest expense is food on the go, and I never enjoy it so I've started making the effort to food prep so I have my lunch ready for work. I also don't waste money on coffee when I'm out.
I live in a small one bedroom apartment about 20 mins from the city. It costs a small amount more than if I lived further out but the location is so close to the local shops, I walk there (3 min walk). And it's 5 mins walk to the train station. I got rid of my car and don't miss the expense of it. If I need to I can Uber when needed and it's still cheaper. I use my bicycle too. Also keeping my home warm in winter is very low cost because the space is small. I live as a minimalist and the small space is cute and perfect. I'm saving a lot of money because of the size of my home and the proximity to shops and public transport. I can earn less as a result and have a less stressful job. I love it. I would have done this sooner if I'd realised I could give up my car without missing it and save money overall. I also don't connect Internet to my home, I use my mobile phone hotspot. So I save money there. I have lots of things I do to cut right back on expenses.
When I see something I like in a shop, and I would like to buy it because I like it, I first try to figure where I would put it at home. Where could I place it? I try to imagine in detail muself getting home and putting the thing where it should go (be it in a cabinet, or on a piece of furniture, or inside and already well-packed wardrobe)...In most cases I realize it would just be yet another thing that will clutter my home, and I don't buy it. It's a good exercise.
You have a very nice smile. I smiled the whole time watching) And an interesting accent, I've never heard Finnish English before. Greetings from St. Petersburg to the neighbors 🌸
It is a hard decision whether or not it makes sense to negotiate for a small savings like the phone bill you describe, even though it does seem like a waste of time I also feel like every little bit counts and does add up eventually. I understand what you're saying and I know time is valuable too.
. i don't look at it as sacrifice . it is fun ! like a game and an goal . and i love spending money on restaurants . but i am 78 years old so feel that i deserve it .
Most basic start to frugality - no store coffee, no eating out, no smoking and no drinks out, cut out soda 2nd level frugality - add to above - no cable (just 1 streaming service), no movie theaters, no expensive vacations (choose local vacay), find cheapest phone plan (under $25 per month), cheapest internet service, cut back on utilities (little warmer in summer and a little cooler in winter) 3rd level frugality - add to the 2 above - learn to do things to save money like car maintenance, refuse to buy things above a certain price (like when a dozen eggs goes up to $5 wait until it's back around $2), get rid of gas guzzlers, keep cars longer, minimize entertainment expense, instead of buying gifts make something yourself, whenever you think you need something sleep on it (often times you realize it was a want not a need), instead of just buying something ask around to friends and family and see if they want to unload the thing you need (got a free lamp this way) Do this for awhile until it becomes habit, and watch the savings add up. Then a few times a year reward yourself with a nice dinner out or a good road trip.
I was in Tampere. In the winter it was more cosy and with a lot of young people who shared with me their room and bier :) Not sure if Tampere cheapier than Helsinki.
I am a full time college student and also not from the US, I want to live more frugal so I can feel secure for the future and not worry about my expenses
If possible get a switch or timer for your water heater. Why heat the water when you are at work 8 to 12 hours? Also why heat/cool the whole house when you are sleeping in one room all night. Saved me so much money on my electric bill. Friends were shocked when I told them how low my electric bill was 😂
What’s one frugal tip you swear by that others might find surprising? 😏
One out one in. Instead of one in one out ❤
You can buy a new bicycle every single month for the monthly *cost* of your car. (If it is a fancy car you'll get a fancy bike, if it is a very modest car, you can buy a modest bike.) It tells something about how much people spend on cars. Others are really surprised when I tell them this in short version!
One can also look at how much some extra space in your home costs, f ex do you have a guest room? How many hours do you have to work to keep a guest room? How much does a decent B&B cost in your area, where your guest could stay over night in stead, on your expence?
"If you want, Marabou fudge and sea salt chocolate, then buy that and not something else!"
It can save you more money by just getting that freaking item you are thinking of, instead of trying to talk yourself out of it or find a substitute. I get more enjoyment out of drinking one glass of my favorite expensive tropical juice, then buying a bad cheap juice no one wants to drink. The small stuff adds up. Sometimes even faster then the expensive ones.
Traveling from Sweden to Asia is less expensive than traveling from Helsinki. It's also fun to take a day as a tourist in your hometown or take a bus trip to a nearby city and get to know it. You don't have to travel halfway across the world to see things.
No social media (except YT) and a flip phone
I lost husband at the beginning of the pandemic. I couldn’t afford our home by myself and couldn’t rent it out because of the government allowing people to not pay rent. So I had to sell. I bought a van, put solar on the roof and moved in to it to slow down the money drip as much as possible. After 4 years of not paying rent or mortgage or campground fees, I bought a big beautiful piece of land. I put a shed on it for storage. My only bills are cellphone, gas, groceries,propane. Land taxes and car insurance are once a year. I put gutters on the shed for water. I haven’t been to a beauty shop since my husband passed. I have been in a restaurant twice since the pandemic for obligatory reasons. The only place that I could cut more spending is on my pets because I cook for them. But I’m ok with that. My monthly expenses are about $600.
I'm shocked the government hasn't found a way to tax the air we breathe, and that no electric company has made legal claim to the suns light so they can start metering it.
That is amazing. You are such a fighter.
@ a survivor maybe lol, but thanks for your kind words. Merry Christmas or whatever you celebrate!
What do you actually mean by saying that the government wouldnt allow you to rent it out?
@ The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) took unprecedented action by issuing a temporary national moratorium on most evictions for nonpayment of rent to help prevent the spread of coronavirus
if you always wanted to travel, do it soon or you will regret it when you get older. i am frugal on all aspects of life but am willing to spend on travel experiences.
Can’t you travel when you older lol
I think the same. Travel will be an amazing memory. Otherwise what is the point of living and earning
If you take care of your body you can be healthy and able up to 70 years old. Health is everything
It’s up to each person to decide if they’d rather spend money to travel as a young person or as an old person. Each person has their own set of priorities in conjunction with opportunities and limits. I love traveling young.
@@mstash164I'm 58 and have been suffering with chronic pain in my right leg and foot caused by a bulging disc in my back. I'm at the point where I find it very hard to enjoy walking anywhere.
You never know what time is going to do to your body!
I don't smoke, drink, or take drugs!
You are smart! I'm 74, still have to work because I was a spender, not a saver. I have to be frugal now, I have no choice. People need to remember that saving for old age is necessary
I as well, but I sure had fun spending on others. Still do, but like our parents would say he happy with what you have. Enjoy life. 😊
Im 27 and I feel overwhelmed by my desire to spend everything I earn. Any advice?
@press645 ..its so much fun to be young and do what you want and not worry, I understand. I think if I had planned better I would not be in such a painful situation now though. I should have made myself save as well as spend. Maybe put money away in investments, and spend only some for fun stuff, but make the fun times more about experiences than " things"
@@press645 When I'm tempted to buying something I think about my hourly wage and ask myself, this item costs $200, and say I earn $40/hr, do I want to put off my retirement by an additional 5 hours of work for this item?
Or if you prefer think about it today. Would I rather have this item, or trip, or whatever it is, and have to work an additional however many hours the item is worth?
In most cases when it comes to no essential items I will choose not to spend and decide that I would rather have my time than the item.
It's important to think of everything you spend as how many hours you had to work to afford that item. it puts everything into perspective and makes you more selective with your spending on only things you really enjoy and need.
I love living off as little as possible. I get a lot of satisfaction from it.
On comprend bcp mx avec l âge
It's like my mind is at peace knowing I don't need that much to be happy and I can sustain myself for a long time
you know what they say. less is more. i feel the same way
I'm frugal and happy! I was In The Navy so I've traveled around the world for free. I don't own a car or TV. It's a peaceful quiet life and I love it. No drama or chaos. Blessings 😊
Love that 😊🌿
Do you need a roomate😂
@amgooder I leave stuff laying around and I'm an old salty dog. Peace and quiet sends me too better thoughts and ideas.
That's impressive.....I think I'm getting there
Love that. My dream is to build a cabin in the woods and live there. It would be such a drastic and needed change from the busy city area. I long for that type of peace
I respect your commitment to enlightening your readers. We all want to live better lives and be financially stable. Careful budgeting, thrifty living, and smart investing can help you achieve this. I'm glad I was taught early on how important it is to work hard in order to achieve financial independence.
In my opinion, making a smart investment is not only a technique for earning passive income, but also a profitable way of saving for future expenses. People who fail to make the proper judgments early in life often come to regret it later in life. Nonetheless, investing alone can be difficult and risky. As a result, I recommend obtaining an expert’s assistance. The challenge is not just watching videos and reading investing books; it is about implementing information effectively.
Smart investing, in my opinion, is not only a way to generate passive income, but also a profitable way to save for future expenses. Those who make poor decisions early in life often regret them later. However, investing on your own can be challenging and risky, so I advise getting professional help. The challenge is not just watching videos and reading investing books; it is about putting information into practice.
I wholeheartedly concur, which is why I opt to entrust the day-to-day decision-making to an investing coach. With their specialized knowledge and extensive research, it is highly unlikely for them to underperform. Their expertise is centered around harnessing the asymmetrical potential of risks while also employing measures to safeguard against unfavorable outcomes. I have been collaborating with an investment coach for more than two years
How can I participate in this? I sincerely aspire to establish a secure financial future and am eager to participate. Who is the driving force behind your success?
I've stuck with ‘ "Lauren Christine Campbell’’ ’” and her performance has been consistently impressive. She’s quite known in her field, look her up.
Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without.
Love that 🙌🙌
Nice qoute
I heard this as a child…so true.
I say that at the end of my videos 😊
Statement from @Jerryrigeverything's mom..😊
Grateful for growing up in the 70s, where my parent’s frugality was passed down to me!
Me too
My biggest money savers
1. Build a set wardrobe. Only own the specific items on your list, and no more.
2. Stop buying liquids. Most liquids are expensive and unhealthy. Simply sticking to water and coffee is difficult at first but quickly becomes the baseline.
3. Stop buying paper products. A cheap bidet attachment and some decent towels can save hundreds each year. Plus, it's just more luxurious.
4. Minimize transportation costs. We spend a shocking amount on cars, gas, insurance, maintenance, parking, Ubers, etc. you may be better off spending a lot more to live in an area where you don't need to own a vehicle, or saving up for a nice electric bike for easy commuting.
5. Buy food in bulk, but only on sale. I quartered my monthly food bill by learning about my local store's discounting system.
6. Live in a smaller home than you are comfortable with. I moved from a 2br to a studio and thought it would be awful, but it ended up being great, and saved me a ton.
7. Stop upgrading. We trick ourselves into thinking we need better things, when what we have functions perfectly.
8. Avoid eating out like the plague.
9. Learn to do your own repairs and maintenance.
10. Learn to cut your own hair. It's surprisingly easy, and you save a ton.
I do pretty much all of these 😊 UA-cam is brilliant for how to do appliance maintenance: I type the make and model and find tutorials all the time. I also learned how to adjust my watch bracelet links and various other tips, all on here for free! 💗
Sounds like a sad life
@@MyLifeFrAiurGaming it's not sad when you're able to be debt-free and spend on your hobbies/trips etc that you WANT to spend the money on instead :)
@ How? I have everything I want. Maybe you find joy in wasting money on things that don't provide value, but I don't.
That is great advice thanks. As a woman, I also stop buying shower gel (I use hard soap as it lasts longer), stopped using beauty wipes to take off my make-up (and use a flannel with water), and I also colour my own hair from the supermarket, saves me an absolute ton.
What a great video and such a lovely presence you have!
Here's my take on being frugal:
I don't smoke or drink. I like drinking water and never sodas or energy drinks. instead of buying water in bottles, I filter my tap water.
I like eating the same dish two days in a row. I like making big portions of food and freeze in portion sizes for later use. Despite inflation I make it work, because I always look for sales and making your own food saves you quite a bit of money.
I cut my own hair - I learned from UA-cam videos.
I don't spend money on all that expensive skincare - I use natural oils mixed with non perfumed lotion. I make my own body scrubs. Also going to the sauna is a great way to get a beautiful teint and plump up you skin - I'm 51, and people tell me i look 10-15 years younger, so I guess expensive skinecare isn't necessary..
I never upgrade any electronics - I use it till it doesn't work anymore.
I don't have my entire home lit up at night - just the room I'm in - also string lights or LED lights on battery.
I like a clasisc style wardrobe, so a lot of my clothes, shoes, handbags, accessories I've had for many years. I've never had much money, so I just learned from my mom how to be frugal. It keeps evolving and it's kind of like a sport for me how to save more and figure out what I can live without or don't need at all😅 It's a journey and not something that happens over night. Love from Denmark
Thank you! And that's a great amount of money saved with those habits of yours 😉
cool ideas
For me, it is a fun challenge that reinforces my self-worth. I feel so smart when I don't waste money, which I hate doing more than anything.
I’m working on it 👍👍
I sold my car a year ago and bought an electric bicycle with a big box in the front of the bicycle where u can pack stuff etc. Most of my trips are short and took alot of mental stress away aswell to sell the car. Im in Sweden tho with a very good bicycle roads and good local trafic :)
That's amazing! 🙌🏼 Is it fairly cheap to maintain and charge an e-bike?
@@SunnyKindJourney yeah it's almost free, I've been charging it at work alot aswell for extra cheapness but even if you just charge at home its barely a noticeable cost
@@toothpaste_tm7323 True! To make electricty even cheaper we bought shares in windpower. Keep it up, Toothpaste!! Kudos to you! We still use electricity mindfully, because all forms of consumption have their negative aspects.
@@SunnyKindJourneyre "cheap?". Per kilometer, bicycles and e-scooters use less energy than your metabolism would use walking ovet that time, it's a great idea as long as it's 1) safe and 2) you have another form of exercise
@@SrdjanRosic for sure, but more as a complement to having a car rather than a form of excersise :) ofc it's also important to do some escerise in your life for well being 😊
Actually, keto and intermittent fasting have not only saved my health but my money as well.. I consider this life style being frugal friendly💪
SIBO?
I liked IF because of its simplicity. I quit years ago though. I did recently quit sugar again and I'm realize how much money it's saving because I'm not browsing the deserts at the grocery store and I'm certainly not going out to crumble cookies or for donuts or whatever.
If you do Intermittent fasting on regular diet is staving but if you do it on carnivore/keto, you are being healthy and thriving.
@@lilylo7786not necessarily
@@Runner466 you don't understand how good the carnivore way of eating is because you have not tried it. You eat less and feel amazing. In the beginning you eat a lot as your body craves the nutrients animal based food provides for healing but once you pass that stage and achieve a healthy body it takes little to maintain you. I've been eating this way for 20mths and never changing. I 'hunt' for mark down meat and bulk buys to supplement home grown. I've even been able to give up coffee and only drink water, a huge saving and means I buy very little at the supermarket now.
I am in the states, and for years I thought buying a home by 30 was a goal. That didn't happen, but what did happen is that as I have gotten older and met and work alongside homeowners, the rose tint on the glasses started coming off. I heard of people using PTO just to do yardwork or spend hundreds of dollars to buy blinds or spending evenings after work at Home Depot. None of it really appealed to me. Now, I want a small (1200 sqft) low maintenance home with a small yard. I learned that my time and money matters more to me than the status of the "home(problem)owner" title.
That's a great story and gives good perspective for my own plans. I'd like to have my own place at some point but definitely need to be ready for everything that comes with it before making any decisions. Thanks for sharing 🌿
@@quaithom3138You are deluding yourself. You own NOTHING. Do you pay property taxes? Of course you do. Which means you will be RENTING your home from the government for the rest of your life. Try not paying the taxes. The government will come and TAKE your home away from you. Resist them and they will send men with GUNS to MURDER you.
You don’t “own” the roof over your head. You’ve been conned.
100% agree. I've owned my home for 31 years now, and I can't begin to tell you how many tens of thousands of dollars have gone into upkeep for roof, windows, furnace, water heater, etc., not to mention when appliances break, plus property tax increases, insurance, and the day-to-day costs of maintaining a home ... and my home is just 1185 square feet. And, like you say, so much time spent working on maintenance. Plus literally tens of thousands of dollars -- really hundreds of thousands over 30 years -- in interest paid to a mortgage company. And if you want to move, it's SO much harder when you own your home than when you rent. As for rental money going to a landlord, your loan money pays interest that supports banks and construction companies. The whole "American dream" BS about owning a home is just that -- BS. The amount of peace of mind that comes from knowing ALL problems are someone ELSE'S is totally worth it. So much less stress. I'm always telling my (adult) kids to rent as long as they can. (Now, if you have kids and want to settle in a school system, maybe that's a different thing ... but otherwise, rent all the way!)
As a home owner I will definitely say it can feel like another job. If you haven't read Ramit Sethi, you might want to as he prefers renting and talks about other methods to build wealth.
Renting here in the U.K. is hell. Until my forties I lived in horrendous flats, black with damp, falling to pieces, and sometimes dangerous. In one flat, urine from the flat of the heroin addict upstairs trickled down my walls. And flats, even like this, are expensive and hard to get.
Now I live in a beautiful little bungalow with my own garden. I’m safe and happy. The mortgage isn’t much more than the rent I used to pay.
The buying/renting question depends where you live.
I especially like the mention of doing things yourself. I am a 62yo single woman with osteoporosis who cleans my own roof, gutters, cuts down many trees and cuts them up , paint inside and outside my house, all yard work, housework, etc, while still working seasonally. I have been told by some people that many men wouldn’t do what I do. I hang up my laundry to dry rather than using the dryer unless it rains, run my dishwasher and laundry machine on weekends, use water from my shower to and a whole host of other things to save money. I very rarely eat out. There is an online budget through Dave Ramsay that is much like what you showed and like I have started keeping since age 16 as I had a car note, insurance, gasoline, etc. Frugality brings peace of mind and freedom.
Is the budget online free?
@ yes, “Every Penny Counts”
I been a spender and a saver through out my life. Don’t be frugal to die and only to see zero’s in your bank account, but balance yourself in life . Speaking as a financial analyst who see’s lots of money that goes to the government when there’s no beneficiaries with people who are frugal.
100%, well put! 🙌
I’m completely with you on childcare, I have 4 grown up children now and chose to keep them at home with me until they had to go to school at 4 ( which is also far too young in my opinion) I wanted to bring my children up myself as someone who loved them and not someone who was doing it as a job,, also I didn’t want to miss a minute, I am in England and was lucky enough to be able to do this as my husbands wage was just enough for us to get by on, we did have to make sacrifices, we didn’t have luxuries, the most up to date household items or foreign holidays but I think we gave them a nice childhood,camping trips which they all look back upon fondly, they range in age from my oldest at 37 to my youngest at 18 all lovely hard working young men, I’d go back and do it all exactly again if I could, love watching your videos x
Nothing better than raising my own children. I homeschooled until high school.things became complicated when their father took off.
I'm 76 year old male. I live frugally. I now have a large cushion of cash reserves. That gives me a great sense of security. I spend 2 months in Thailand each year...when frugality stops feeling like a sacrifice you are home free
For crumpet ?
The quote 'we buy things we don't need...' is from Fight Club. That movie/book, especially when Tyler Durden says 'the things you own end up owning you' is what made me become a minimalist. Agree with everything, great video! :)
Love that! 🙌
14 years ago we made the "big move", selling a larger home with property in the country and buying something smaller on a smaller piece of land, in town. We didn't know it at the time, but it was such a good thing because over the past few years, we've both had health issues that would have made caring for that other property a nightmare. So it wasn't just the money that was a change, but also the maintenance.
Totally, the maintenance part can be so taxing both financially and health-wise. I am glad you made the right decision!
My parrents did the opposite in 2008/09. Having lived in the middle of nowhere for many years without a driver's license wasn't fun. Happy i can choose "correctly" now that i bought my own place. No need for a car is great.
I agree with treating what you buy with care and trying to fix things that are broken.
I needed you in my life decades ago Seve. You have thought me to view stuff now in terms of time! How much time have I spent in work to buy this stuff? I look around my home now and I am overwhelmed about the time I have wasted working to attain it! I don’t even remember buying most of it. I don’t use any of it! Better late than never! Thank you Seve!
Exactly, better late than never. This is I guess one of the good things about social media, you can share tips to so many more people and much easier than ever before. Thanks for watching! 😊
This year I’ve been making an effort to live more frugally and one of the things I did is to get rid of my car. Even though I am paying couple hundred more in rent to live in downtown I am saving thousands not having a car, so is worth it. Also now that I don’t have to commute I live a more stress free live, the commute here in the us in the city I am was crazy. I am finding so much perks in living a frugal life and definitely also feels good to be able to help the environment and my saving account at the same time 🥰
That's great! 🌿
Even if you become extremely frugal in the US, you still have a better life than A LOT of people people around the world, specially like Nicaragua, central America, where I'm from originally. Trust me.
It depends on the situation you have in those countries; I am from Mexico and though I am middle class in the US, my family in Mexico live better than I do. They are professionals who own their homes/cars and have very little to no debt. They travel frequently within Mexico, Europe and South America. The generalization that everyone in Latin America lives poorly is very widespread in the US.
Move then.
@@smileandsaycheese44 this is such an insensitive comment. There are a lot of factors that can make moving really difficult and even when everything goes according to plan you usually leave your family behind and spend at least half of your holidays visiting them instead of travelling to different places
Do not compare yourself to others.
Set a goal. More importantly work on all the steps and milestones you can think of to achieving that goal. If the steps are big, break those up with even smaller steps.
Set a budget and measure your results at set intervals.
Forgive yourself. Remember you’re still human and small set backs will occur. Be flexible and pivot or adapt as situations change, always mindful of the end goal.
Say what you’re going to do and do what you say.
Well put! 🙌
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉kudos
I’m amazed how much expensive clothing in thrift/charity shops just needs a small repair, button sewn on, or careful hand washing to get it really clean and remove the effects of cheap detergents. Worth using a specialist product for wool and silk.
Or maybe the fur trim on the hood or hood drawstring is missing, not a big deal. The latter is cheap to replace with a long shoe lace.
Do this and it’s possible to own superior clothing for not much money, and it gets re used.
My family taught me how to sew and I’m grateful, but no doubt there are UA-cam tutorials teaching the basics.
With the high taxes, medical, food and home/ car expenses here in the US, I have definitely stopped buying useless sh*t. I only buy food and very few basic necessities. My goal is to have a homestead.
What a beautiful goal, and I'm sure you will accomplish it 🍀
I wish you the best.
@@camillaholst7321 Thank you so much Camilla 😊
@@camillaholst7321 Thank you 😊
That's a great goal! I think being mindful of our spending is so important for this generation. Thanks for listening 😊🏡
I have a small garden, 200 square meter, but this year we bought three chickens and made some vegetable plots, there's something deeply wholesome to look at an egg and know which of your chickens produced it...
My first time watching a Finnish content creator! So cool!
Happy I was your first 😂
I love 'new to me' clothes. I bought a dress second hand recently for £15 then I made my way to the shop that sells the same dress new, it cost £70 there. It felt fantastic knowing I spent so little money 😂 Also I'm on a weight loss journey, so whatever is too big now I sell on eBay or donate.
Living frugal makes house clean and clear, no leftovers food in pantry refrigerator no moldy stuffs around the house, that all cause unhealthy living.
True! 🙌
I quit my job in the big city because the expenses were too high. I'm 30 and still live with my parents. I save so much. Luckily, I found a job where we live, and my salary is doubled. It enabled me to buy a car because the public transportation in the country where I live is so bad and having a car helps me save time. I really love it here, the vibe is serene and no stress at all. It really helps my mental health, plus I get to eat homecooked and quality food at a cheaper price. While many young adults move to the big cities for better opportunities, I took the road less travelled.
Hey, I'm 27 and live back with my father again too! I feel very much judged by others (if I'm not only judging myself 🤔) But I'm getting out of student debt FAST 🙏🏻 We are very lucky!
My kids live with me, after their father died I need help. It’s a win-win for all of us!
@@paulavanunen dont take the judgement from others personally, if you and your family makes the living beneficial to each other, thats fine 🙂 In some countries its actually encouraged to stay with the family and live at one place together
I think one very important point is setting a goal for being frugal to begin with. It can be easier if you have a set goal in mind (even if it’s decades away) than just saving for saving’s sake.
Very true! 🌱
True, but difficult to keep raising the bar. I have now achieved most of my goals and now… I don’t know what to save for. So it becomes meh.
@@JaNouWatIkVind Oh dear, that must be awwwwwful.........
@@pburke5274 🤣 yeah first world problems. But the situation does allow me to take a job I love at a lower salary, biking distance from my house. So thank you 😉 for your sympathy, but I'll be ok.
Hey,
I’ve been debt free for 2 years and I’ve managed to save a little. I do think I could be a bit more careful or at least more mindful when it comes to spending…I say this as frugality maybe a little extreme for now but I’ll work on this. Thank you for sharing 😊
My Mother…. “ live within your means and learn to be happy with what you have”.
Thriving for more, "consumerism", this is the power of life, its nature. There is no standing still in nature, onli thriving or decay. People dont understand the world they live in
I have been cutting out some groceries, cleaning out a few things. Your videos are awesome
Awesome! Thank you! 😊
Greetings from Austria!
I am a student and I've been living quite frugal for the past four years, but one thing I noticed (and that you also briefly touched upon I think) was that I was thinking too much about money and it hurt so much every time I spent some. Anxiety started to form around the topic. Right now I'm trying to enjoy spending money more, because it is nice to buy something I need or really want, or to invite someone to a nice dinner or anything else. I'm still living frugally, but when I do spend money on sth (that I think is worth it) I want to be happy about it.
This year we've moved back to an apartment, after renting a house for a couple of years. Not only is it less stressful, less work, less cleaning, and a MUCH smaller rent, but a smaller place also means being more intentional and paying more attention to what you want to buy.
Even though a rent in a big city might be higher, it gives you the possibility to ditch a car, as you can easily rely on public transport or bike lanes.
Furthermore, it's much easier to have a smaller footprint in a bigger city, especially when you have everything you need in proximity. Social housing is a great concept that's starting to see some light again in Europe.
That's true as well! 🙌
My ma always said about big houses that you have to fill them up with people. One should not have a bigger home than one need.
When you consider opportunity cost (what your home equity could earn), upkeep, and value of your time, home ownership becomes expensive.
I'm definitley the type of person who was already half way into this lifestyle. I live in a studio flat "small space." I'm single and 29 years old, I drive a 2019 Chevy Spark "small car" it's completely paid off. I have decluttered and gotten rid of everything I didn't need. I only spend 15% of my earnings a month. I also have 3 part time side hustles that replaced my full time job. I have more free time than ever. My next step is to literally clean out my colest and bathroom drawers and my space will be complete. next I would like to wear the same clothes every day.
Wonderful! 👏
Hi, it's Joshua from the future! I completely decluttered, and I wear the same thing every day now. It's made the biggest difference. Maintaining a "look" took up much more space in my brain than I thought.
3 part time jobs....so, no insurance provided? That's a biggie
I've adopted many of these principles in my life. I don't have a car. (I live in a walkable city). I don't need heat or air conditioning (I live in a moderate climate). I try not to have things in my life that require more maintenance than I myself can provide. If I need someone to come in to help me clean, then I need to look at why. I take a certain amount of pride in doing things for myself, that helps I'm sure. I pay attention to my finances and am in tune with what brings ease, comfort, and joy into my life, and what is or becomes a burden. My life is way less st:essful than it used to be, and I'd like to keep it that way ;)
In this world we need such videos and such people
Thank you :)
You raise some quite profound issues around modern lifestyles. I wish I had been more financially disciplined in the past. I could be retired and free of many financial concerns now. Sound advice Seve.
Thank you 🙌
Moro ☺️ I have my own electric scooter with a maintenance agreement. My job is located about 60 kilometers way from my home. I use my scooter to go to railway station, the fold my scooter up and travel in train. When i reach my workcity I scoot to work. If there is any kind of trouble with my scooter i can switch it to another one. Stressfree and fun. Now 706 kilometers (with helmet) starting from spring to now and this maintenance agreement costs 14,95 € per month. I'm that generation that it is standard to own a car, but I'm happy to choose otherwise ☺️! Thank you for your channel, I just love it and I live in Tampere too 😊
That's just great! 🙌 Do you get it from your work or just from some company? I could be interested in something like this too! 😊
@@SunnyKindJourney this is a company (is it allowed to advertise here a bit?) Augment Eco, first i had a 2 years leasing agreement, now I own my scooter and pay only for maintenance. I think I have had like 5 different scooters within 4 years. If there is any kind of trouble they send me a new or well fixed one
@@sarihautamaki8735 Oh yeah, I have heard about them actually! Thanks for sharing your positive experience with them :)
I am sure many will find your advice helpful.
"Waste not...want not" is something I remember my Grand saying. I've tried to emlate that.
That's good piece of advice! 😊
I used to find happiness in material items. I woke up. Now my challenge is ‘spending free’ days. I mark in my calendar every day I don’t spend. It’s fun!
Highly recommend tracking your finances by pen/paper at least for a period - you'll learn more about yourself than just your $.
I bought a small car, the least expensive on the lot, brand new. Yes I had a loan, but I plan on keeping it until I retire from work. It will have been worth it in my opinion.
Yeah, many times if we are really intentional and do our research we make good decisions 👏
Keep up with regular maintenance, and it will last a long time. I bought mine brand new and, 12 years later, I still drive the same car. Yes, I went into debt for it, but I paid it off years ago. Nowadays used car prices are much closer to new, often to the point of needing to take out a personal loan anyway, so the old adage of always buying used is no longer, necessarily, the soundest advice.
Healthcare for my family alone is like $2,000 a month. The U.S. is insane. Figuring out how I can cut back without putting my family in a terrible financial situation if someone gets sick. My baby was hospitalized a couple of months ago. How much did it cost? $397K and insurance paid all but $2K. Wild.
Whaaaaat? That's the amount some people make in their whole career 😯 I mean I do know a thing or two about how differently things work in the US with insurances and stuff compared to Europe but how can they expect anyone to have 400k to spend in a couple of months? What way of doing business is that? I guess they don't expect and just know insurance companies will pay basically whatever?
Many bloodsuckers in the health care business. $400K is so much money that it almost give one a heart attack.
What would have happened to your baby if you did not have insurance?
Omg here in England it’s free!! That’s an absolute disgrace that you have to pay that!!!!
Children's health care is free here in Ireland too. Yes we pay taxes but even if adult gets a hospital bill here, it's hundreds of euro at the most.
Love your channel! I'm lucky that I've always been naturally frugal, but I think most people find it difficult to restrain themselves (for many reasons).
Thank you! :)
I agree with all of this apart from the travelling, this is an experience you cant loose and worth the money
Yess I stop paying gift about 28 yrs ago we give to many materials things Soo Sad we keep giving and giving material and feel more and more lonely and more sad as a nation I only give food as gifts that I cook or homecraft that is meaningful God Almighty bless all thank you ❤️🌈✨🌟❤️
Not having a car is a tough one for me. As someone who is semi-retired I use my car almost every day & would'nt want to rely on UK public transport! Love my bicycle though, and walking.
I wish more young people have
the same way of thinking like you ❤
Great Video! I have just one small comment that from
what I see (and I am not alone in this) most people in North America buy pick up trucks for social validation, not because they actually need them. My friends and I call them
"Emotional Support Vehicles" haha. It doesn't make any sense why they buy them. ( 18:55 )
I made many of the changes you discussed in January of 2024. I’ve been learning more and more how to be frugal. Getting rid of my car was the biggest savings. I continue learning how to save and much of what I’ve learned is my habits are expensive, like too much eating out. I’ve rediscovered the joy of cooking and my bank account is growing more. I look forward to following your videos and taking this journey together.
I think you are my financial twin!
I listen to various vids during my morning workout, thanks for posting! It's funny this popped up, I'm your opposite. I read, cook, garden, take care of my house and car, make and fix stuff, so I need lots of tools to do that. I've got a whole barn of stuff. Shovels, wheelbarrow, mower, materials, paint and painting supplies, plumbing and electrical stuff, along with car and carpentry tools. I play music and ride a bike so that stuff is in the barn along with tools to maintain them . I've wondered if I'd be better off paying someone to do everything, but I seem to evolved into a DIY sort which entails owning a lot of stuff. I always figured if I had to boil it down I could get by with a bike and a guitar, but then I'd need tools, so...
I like your videos Seve and the entire community here. Feels a bit like chosen family.
I appreciate that ❤️❤️
I have a nice savings. I don't spend much money have been using a budget for 20 years. You must write down what you are spending your money on then you will do much better
you’re right about the car. i wish i didn’t need one. driving makes me really anxious, but public transport in the US is a joke 🙁 and there’s no other way i could get to work without expensive uber or lyft rides.
I wish I went this direction along time ago however it’s never too late to change your mindset and lifestyle. I’ve accepted that there’s going to be situations that I know I can’t fix myself. I tried to revamp a meal recipe and instead of making it better I needed to give it a decent burial 🤭🤭
My new company provides free meals coupons.
I shamelessly pack for home.
I have coworkers who share their coupons with me in case they order take out.
The food wallet is not carry over, so most folks have balance left. I ask them if they can get a sandwich 🥪 packed for me at end of day
I don't have the skills to cook a meal, I can make coffee toast and eggs , ramen etc but not a full meal
My depression makes me often dysfunctional so prep and cleaning after takes a lot of time.
a full meal helps me a lot and eating eggs ramen or pasta doesn't fulfill me mentally
This has helped me a lot and I don't feel hollow
I invested in Tupperware and tiffin boxes.
I don't care I get judged and thankfully my colleagues understand
Biggest thing in my house is the refrigerator
No more ordering take out
On my birthday team asked for what I wanted and I asked them for a steel French press and high end electric kettle that will last forever , I invested in a good quality travel mug I don't use my food wallet for coffee at work
I have begun to save money and feel good.
I now have time for exercise and keeping House tidy
Be frugal. But also enjoy life too.
That's the plan! 😉
Thank you very much for your time and videos. I’ve watched only two so far, but I’ve now subscribed to your channel. Thank you.
Great video! You just seem so genuine. Earned another subscriber here.
I appreciate that! 😊😊
Appreciate your positive style! 😀 7:40 I've been being too frugal about buying a dishwasher for YEARS now. 🤪 I finally realized that given how I often I eat out it would quickly save me money AND improve my health by making me more likely to eat at home, but I *still* have a mental block about it because they're expensive and I know I want to move. Time to do some math about how likely I am to *actually* move in the next X months vs. the benefits I'd gain from having it! Thanks for the video! 😃❤ 🥗🍳🍵
Yeah, really good that you have the awareness now and can run the numbers! 😉
Detinetly get a dishwasher. It's something that will really improve your life and last you years.
Awesome awesome awesome message. Really appreciate your wisdom and insight. Too much junk in our lives. We use only bikes for our business and leaving our commercial vehicles parked saves us over almost $2k per month and we ride with smiles our faces! 😂
Right on! 🚲🚲🚲
I think 2025 will be the turning point. Personally we have come full circle and Christmas has brought it home how much we spend and how much we didn't need to.
I'm reeling it all in. I don't shop in supermarkets i spend money on food from farmshops.
Thank you for this video.
Im taking to the road in my van and i dont need to spend anymore than food and fuel.
I'm a "white guy" here in New Mexico, in the U.S. I was taught a long time ago how to make red and green chile. I make my own meals. I buy tortillas, and good ones, for less. I make all kinds of meals. I go to a restaurant with friends twice a month. I order the cheapest, healthiest foods there. I don't order alcohol any longer (though sometimes, I do). I sometimes fix my jeans with duct tape. I get those at thrift stores (when duct tape won't do any longer). Your videos mean a lot to me.
I moved to italy temporarily, got a dyson vacuum second hand, used it for a year and then resold it for almost what I paid for it. second hand is amazing lol
It was basically a free vacuum cleaner haha 😄
I did that with a car for 4 years. 😀
We also did it with a car😂
Love “pre loved”
As a typical consumer driven American who felt like I had to have everything I ever even thought about for 50 years, my last ten years have been the opposite. It's an adjustment first of all. Can't deny that. But I've crafted a life no longer depending on that quick adrenaline burst that fades so quickly. The big thing with any addiction and consumerism is an addiction, is finding somethings to replace that high! For me it's physical fitness and development of personal skills. The benefits are so much greater and more fulfilling. Money wasn't really the objective or problem to begin with but the financial savings have been staggering. Amazing to say the least. Just a better life. Win win!!
That’s incredible! 👏 Yeah the benefits are so much deeper. It really is a win-win!
Travel even to the US can be done relatively cheap. I do fly twice a year to the US with some friends and it just is the best experience for me personally to do road trips there. We fly with hand luggage, split rental car costs and I usually pay 1500 $ altogether, but never more than like 12 days. Especially it is a good balance if you save your money by living somewhere where its cheaper to conquer the world ocassionally.
Thanks for the practical tips.We all need to conserve,recycle & spend wisely.
I live in the UK with the highest energy costs in the world. It gets to minus 5 here often at this time of year. I have been unwell several times because of trying to save on energy bills. This is sadly something I cannot cut back on any more. I dont have alot of free time as a nursing student, so its hard to have time to cook and not just grab quick things on the go.
The energy costs are outrageous here . We don’t have central heating so use a gas heater , the gas bottle replacement is £22 which lasts a month usually .
This is great Seve-your own story, and what you're saying has helped me, today I'm starting w/ paper & pen. You are helping me, with added hope and staying with it, thank you!
Thanks for sharing this, I'm happy I can help you :)
Greetings from Greece. New to the channel. I find your videos extremely useful and helpful, thank you brother. Happy new year.🇬🇷🇫🇮
I'm an admitted ship ahold c and this was helpful. I'm going on a spending freeze and revaluating my expenses this month.
Glad to hear it was helpful for you :)
Thank you as always, and again, Seve - I really enjoy your tips and reminders!
Thanks for watching! 😊
With all these balanced choices you can keep your very beautiful smile! Love and Peace dear!
❤️❤️
11:34 oh God thank you I've been struggling with this. Cheers to pre quarter life crisis
My biggest expense is food on the go, and I never enjoy it so I've started making the effort to food prep so I have my lunch ready for work. I also don't waste money on coffee when I'm out.
Arigatou for sharing your advices. I see a beautiful soul out there!
Thank you for listening! 😊
I live in a small one bedroom apartment about 20 mins from the city. It costs a small amount more than if I lived further out but the location is so close to the local shops, I walk there (3 min walk). And it's 5 mins walk to the train station. I got rid of my car and don't miss the expense of it. If I need to I can Uber when needed and it's still cheaper. I use my bicycle too. Also keeping my home warm in winter is very low cost because the space is small. I live as a minimalist and the small space is cute and perfect. I'm saving a lot of money because of the size of my home and the proximity to shops and public transport. I can earn less as a result and have a less stressful job. I love it. I would have done this sooner if I'd realised I could give up my car without missing it and save money overall. I also don't connect Internet to my home, I use my mobile phone hotspot. So I save money there. I have lots of things I do to cut right back on expenses.
That's smart! Truly simplifying life 🙌
Thank you very much for this informative video. I really want to become frugal, so this helped me alot.
When I see something I like in a shop, and I would like to buy it because I like it, I first try to figure where I would put it at home. Where could I place it? I try to imagine in detail muself getting home and putting the thing where it should go (be it in a cabinet, or on a piece of furniture, or inside and already well-packed wardrobe)...In most cases I realize it would just be yet another thing that will clutter my home, and I don't buy it. It's a good exercise.
Video I needed.
You have a very nice smile. I smiled the whole time watching)
And an interesting accent, I've never heard Finnish English before.
Greetings from St. Petersburg to the neighbors 🌸
I was spending insane amounts on fast food and Starbucks!
Thank you, I’m furthering my education in this area 👍
I feel way more confident after this!
So happy to hear that :)
Sharing food with partner... saves money and also healthier!
So true! 😊
Same guy after 10 years. I wish I had bought this bought that enjoyed life
It is a hard decision whether or not it makes sense to negotiate for a small savings like the phone bill you describe, even though it does seem like a waste of time I also feel like every little bit counts and does add up eventually. I understand what you're saying and I know time is valuable too.
. i don't look at it as sacrifice . it is fun ! like a game and an goal . and i love spending money on restaurants . but i am 78 years old so feel that i deserve it .
Thanks - I live in Finland too - this is amazingly informative
Most basic start to frugality - no store coffee, no eating out, no smoking and no drinks out, cut out soda
2nd level frugality - add to above - no cable (just 1 streaming service), no movie theaters, no expensive vacations (choose local vacay), find cheapest phone plan (under $25 per month), cheapest internet service, cut back on utilities (little warmer in summer and a little cooler in winter)
3rd level frugality - add to the 2 above - learn to do things to save money like car maintenance, refuse to buy things above a certain price (like when a dozen eggs goes up to $5 wait until it's back around $2), get rid of gas guzzlers, keep cars longer, minimize entertainment expense, instead of buying gifts make something yourself, whenever you think you need something sleep on it (often times you realize it was a want not a need), instead of just buying something ask around to friends and family and see if they want to unload the thing you need (got a free lamp this way)
Do this for awhile until it becomes habit, and watch the savings add up. Then a few times a year reward yourself with a nice dinner out or a good road trip.
I was in Tampere. In the winter it was more cosy and with a lot of young people who shared with me their room and bier :) Not sure if Tampere cheapier than Helsinki.
That's great! I like this city a lot 😊
I am a full time college student and also not from the US, I want to live more frugal so I can feel secure for the future and not worry about my expenses
That's a great mindset 😊
thank you - Your videos are awesome and I appreciate them very much. ☺️
I love this video but you are right it's difficult in the US
If possible get a switch or timer for your water heater. Why heat the water when you are at work 8 to 12 hours? Also why heat/cool the whole house when you are sleeping in one room all night. Saved me so much money on my electric bill. Friends were shocked when I told them how low my electric bill was 😂