34 Extreme Frugal Tips We use to save 60% of our income
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- Опубліковано 22 вер 2021
- Here are 34 of my extreme frugal tips that my husband and I use to save 60% of our income. We live on just $30,000 a year and save the rest.
In only 3 and a half years (2017-2020) we saved $110,000.00 (on an average income of $60000) proving these tips really work.
I guarantee once you start implementing these tips you will save yourself a ton of money.
I would love to hear from you guys what frugal things you do to help make the most of your money 🌸
Ablut clothes many of them does not need to be washed eg. Jeans or even some pull over in whool. Dry cleaning should also be agoided. Most of the time it worn the fabric. Just keep them outside the wardrobe for a day or 2 and iron them and this is it. Maybe once a year clean them
About clothes again but it could be also for durable equipment. We should not think about the buying cost but cost per usage. If you sear a jeans 5 times and cost 50usd the cost per used is 10usd. If you pay 100usd but you wear your jeans 100time the cost per usednis now 1 usd
For food in belgium we have an app called too good to go. Basically you can buy a surprise bag for 4euro worthed between 12 and 20eur. Downside you don't choose the products and they all have reached experation date but you can freeze moqt of the food or plan a meal with what you get and anyway moqt of the product are still ok for a few addiotional day or week
I would love to follow your channel but your voice is so soft I have trouble hearing you. I'm 76 & falling apart. Haha
Hi Linda, can you try wearing headphones or putting the subtitles on? 😊 That might help x
One the best advices I was ever given was to make sure that your partner feels the same way about being frugal. For 18 years, we worked very hard for our money but we kept living paycheck to paycheck and we could never get our heads above water. Now, my electric bill went down 50% and I’m saving 20% of my salary. All I had to do is get a divorce 🤣🤣🤣
Also, Saving in water, electricity and gas is not only good for your wallet but also for the environment.
Fighting the uphill battle of a non-frugal partner is very tiring and no mistake - it wears on your spirit managing to save a couple of grand and then have to use it bail out someone else's debt :(
Keep your head up high and your options open. You will prevail. Self care, self love. Freedom to do what you like. Much love, peace and happiness. Enjoy your life every day and make your home your castle. If you feel lonely sometimes maybe consider getting a cat or puppy and maintain old and new friendships. You can have dinner parties everyone brings their own bottle or a dish. Its all entirely doable. Yes women can be ok without a man, we don't have to be in unhappy relationships so we can show we have a man in our life. A good great funny man is always welcome but not that easy to find. SO in the meantime have yourself a ball....
Hi Soumaya, lol that is indeed the best thing you can do. When you’re both on the same page it definitely makes being frugal much easier 🌸
Yup, I was doing so much better financially without my other half. He thinks about the 'today and now' is happy to spend without a care in the world and has been paying for a large storage container for the past 4 years. We've lost thousands. I would do so much better living alone. My bills have never been so high.
I had one like that and I prayed for our marriage. God changed the circumstances of the financial dynamics so now he is 100 percent on board....
I generally live the way you do, but have some additional ideas. After I lost my career, health insurance, and retirement investments in The Crash of 2008, I started researching ways to live better on less money. First thing I did was start making my own laundry detergent, which is better than any of the market brands and only costs $1.11 (USD) a gallon. Cold water wash, line-dried, of course. Then I started making all of my cleaning solutions, floor cleaner, carpet shampoo, furniture polish, etc. For environmental reasons, I quit buying toilet paper, facial tissue, and paper towels; instead, we use handkerchiefs and 8" flannel squares for bathroom and kitchen cleanups. They come out perfectly clean & sweet-smelling in my homemade laundry soap. Then I gave up meat and started making my own granola, yogurt, and marinara sauce. Tried home-grown fruits and vegetables, but couldn't keep the deer out. Clothes, gift items, and household products come from a local upscale thrift store. I live quite comfortably on only half of my poverty-level Social Security income, and find that I rarely do without anything at all. It takes hardly any effort, only thought. I had to learn to ask, "How might I do this more economically?" The internet is a game-changer for those of us looking for new ways to do things.
Enjoyed. Thanks for sharing. Now how about sharing your laundry soap recipe. Then again, I could use google. Take care.
Thanks for your inspiring post, on the health side please don't ignore the need for fish and seafood in human diet, it contains a substance called DHA ,vital in our modern world to combate the effects of emf ,( vegetable sources are not as compatible),best wishes to you
Thank u for these encouraging words
@@markhedger6378 Is dha the same thing as Omega-3? I am so not a fish person. I do find finely grounded flaxseed sprinkled on top of my yogurt helps a lot with my ptsd and bi-polar part of the nutrition maintance.
😵😧😲gave up toilet paper???? let’s not go overboard here. That’s a turn off
I appreciate the tips in this video; there is just one thing I'd like to say. I am a Licensed Massage Therapist and I highly, highly suggest that if there is one item that you invest in, as far as purchasing- is great supportive footwear. I speak from personal experience when I say I have had bilateral foot issues (Plantar Fasciitis) and one of the most important thing that I did to give my feet support and time to heal was buy very good shoes. Please, please invest in good, supportive footwear! If you follow frugality tips in other areas of your life, you will not struggle financially because you spend more on shoes. Trust me.
Same! I had to give up so much footwear bc of lack of support. My chucks had to go, as did my heels.
I got solar lights for outdoors at dollar tree use them inside at night very bright no electric use
I love solar everything :) We have solar lights under our patio that turn on once it gets dark, and although they only last a couple of hours, they are really lovely to watch through our large glass door in the living area and knowing it's free makes it even better :)
This is a REALLY good idea😊😊 Thank u so much!
Same here! Hurricanes plus tornadoes equal power outages. Promised! These gems are hand held lanterns with the tips attached. Thanks for bringing this up ✔️
Everyone needs solar. There are flashlights, lanterns, cell phone chargers...and hand crank power radios. Thanks for reminding us.
Solar Deck Lights. Easy to handcarry after having them charge in the sun. Live in an apt so solar charging anything is limited. Have four which I line up in the window and rotate my nightly usage using one or two at night. The ones with the on-off button can be charged in the Off mode. Every daylight savings time, I take the AA rechargables out and recharge at night when utility costs are a bit cheaper.
If you have shampoo that you don't use or like, rather than throw it out, use it for cleaning. Shampoo has much the same ingredients as car polish, and it's totally easy to make a bathtub or shower stall gleam with just a bit of this on a damp cloth. works on counter tops and cars, too.
This is a great idea!!
how about conditioner ??
@@Penguinstudios123 you can use conditioner it as shaving cream. Or still as a conditioner, but add some good stuff to it, so it fit's your needs better. For example honey for nourishment, rice water for protein or some oil (olive, avocado, coconut etc.) for protection. Or you can use is as a mask - add dissolved gelatin for a super protein bomb mask.
@Penguinstudios123 Conditioner makes great shaving cream. My legs have never been softer!
We live in the US. We live frugally. We took early retirement. Our kids are in their 40's. I have always been careful with money. Tina
All of them are common sense, and being 72 and a fairly poor retiree I have observed them for ages (except the car, never owned one 😃) I could add quite some more; e.g. over here in Germany heating costs in winter are quite exorbitant, so better invest in a nice cashmere or alpaca jacket and a pair of warm leggings - I have stopped heating my flat a long time ago.
Switch off all your electronic devices at night - did you know, that even a charging cable for computer, if disconnected but left in the socket, draws electricity and thus generates costs? Get a cable with a general switch-off button.
Also on electricity: it is cheaper to produce boiling water in a water cooker than on a stove, e.g. for boiling potatoes or cooking spaghetti etc. Also, microwaves are more energy efficient than ovens, and induction stoves consume less electricity than normal electric ones.
Books: if, like me, you own an e-book, with a kindle you can return the book within 14 days and get refunded. Don't do this too often or there might be repercussions from amazon, but I do it with the most expensive ones 😃 Of course you have to read fairly fast😃 Also, you can lend them out electronically to friends for 14 days.
Food: over here supermarkets sell meat and other products for 30% off, if they are close to their sell-by date; I buy them and either deep-freeze them raw or as a prepared meal for a later date. Many items also are much longer viable than their sell-by date - inform yourself on the Net. And, when there is a farmer's market, usually towards the last half hour before closing time, they sell their products for half the price, especially on Saturdays.
I'll stop here for now 😃
Hi Dan, that's quite a list of excellent tips. I also don't run our heating in the winter unless it's of a day and the solar power is covering our costs. We rug up in warm clothing, have throw blankets in the lounge, otherwise opt to jump into bed and snuggle up there :)
I did know about the power to devices and do follow that tip myself, but thanks so much for bringing that up here anyway.
I always look out for bargains and items that are reduced to clear at my local supermarket and have bagged myself some great specials in the process. Not long ago they were selling out a couple of types of vegan frozen snacks at 50c a box and although it's not really something I would normally buy at the usual price they served as cheap lunches for us for a few weeks.
Thanks so much for taking the time to pass on your knowledge, hope to hear from you in the future :)
I've used crock pots as radiators in the winter, water is included in rent and I fill up to top, I put 1 under my bed and one in each room and adjust temp as needed, costs only pennies a day to run, I use one of those cut your electric usage by 50percent .I ran the AC all summer on high highest bill was $55.00 plus the ceiling going on high 24/7 and a box fan when it was in the 90 to 100 degrees in west Texas. Winter I use crock pots, and ceramic space heaters. The and the electric heat I only have to turn on late December thru mid March and it is used sparingly and winter electric bill is $55-57. Electric is my only utility In the morning I use the gas stove to take the chill off the apt. I do wear sweats and a comforter so my electric bill stays low also. Hope this helps some of you, if you have young children or dogs, I would loosely enclose it to protect kids ,dogs but not too tight to prevent heat from getting out or enclose it and drill lots of holes to allow heat to escape.
Great tips!
The only thing I'd caution against is using flat-box found bookshelves as planters. A lot of cheap furniture is made of particle board which has urea-formaldehyde glue in it. That can get into your soil/plants.
Hi Kristen, thanks for this. We had thought about this also and have only planted flowers in the bookshelf and nothing edible. 🌸
I bought a bidet for 30.00 dollars. It Works great. A lot more sanitary than Cloths and it saves money on toilet paper.
I mend everything. I even darn socks. But my daughter is not this frugal. I love reusing and upcycling. At this very moment, while I watch the video I'm sewing a dress from a used bed sheet and It is becoming lovely. I learnt this trick from an Australian youtuber.
Sadly, the people who need to be frugal THE MOST are people who are poor. I'm not talking about the homeless . . . (although, actually I AM, somewhat ...) but middle-income retired people (who've NEVER had much money) simply can't go out & buy 20 boxes of this & 18 jars of that - they've never really had anything new and I am using t-shirts and nightgowns that are 35 & 40 yrs old. Forget about vacations, getaways, dinners in restaurants . . . I'm lucky if I get a new pairs of shoes every 5 years. Still wearing the coat I got 25 years ago. It's a good thing I don't care about "fashion". 😼 Your cat is gorgeous!! 💙
Learn to get rice cheaper.# 25 bag of rice is around $12 at Costco (food warehouse store) and #50 bag is $17. However, if you have an Indian store around you, you might find rice there cheap too. Or try Walmart. Get legume in the largest bag you can find as its usually cheaper per pound this way. This gives you carbs and protein on the cheap.
You are a trouper.
@@tpkyterooluebeck9224 In order to do that you need to have $12 to your name, that's the problem. Too many people can't afford that. In some cases, dumpsterdiving is your best option. Freeganism is a thing now. Icky, but doable, and learning to live with hunger temporarily, going to food banks... As soon as you CAN buy in bulk for cheap then yes, please do so. There was a time all I could afford to eat was a bouillon cube in water and call that soup. There was no way I could buy pasta or rice. Luckily you can live without a car in Europe so that's one less expense for me. But in the US you can't. So those $12 for 25lbs of rice? Too bad, you need it for gas.
An old Slovenian neighbour taught me to store potatoes, onions and garlic in the fridge. I've been doing this for years and they keep for ages. I keep the potatoes and onions in the fridge drawer lined with a couple of Chux wipes which absorb the moisture and prevents veges going off. I keep the garlic uncovered on a door shelf. Bonus - no more tears when cutting up onions! (I also wash and reuse the Chux wipes.)
"Keep in a cool, dry place"...igneous!
And carrots last ages in the fridge too!
Before you buy 30 of something make sure it will still be good by the time you get to using it.
Absolutely Kate, it’s pointless buying anything you can’t use, that’s not saving at all 🌸
Hang dry clothes....the smell afterwards is unreal. Love it!
I save the broth from canned chicken and freeze it for later use in making rice or soup. Also if I buy a rotisserie chicken... after we eat a good bit of it, I simmer the rest until tender. Debone and skin it. Lots of good meat left. Then boil the bones and skin a second time to get more broth. Really just simmering it for a good while. I rarely if ever have to buy chicken broth. I combine canned white meat chicken and chunk light tuna very well and make tunicken salad. Tastes as good I think as white albacore..
Great content, wish voice was louder and music lower. A little tricky for me to hear. 👵
Turn on the subtitles.
Lori Patterson Thank you!! I thought I was the only one til I read your comment. I really had to struggle to hear her voice and understand her Aussie accent as opposed to my Texas one! I really wish UA-camrs would forego the background music for the most part because it is so distracting.
We repurpose everything and now my husband has become the inventor. He shocks me when he builds something from the stuff that was going to be thrown out. I make my own compost and use up everything we buy including food. His work throws out cleaning products and building products so he asked if he can bring it home. My husband finally gets it and tries to be frugal now
Green onion tip: When using a green onion, cut only to about 1 1/2 inch from the roots. Place in water, and the green onion will grow back. In about a week, replant in the garden. I have used and reused the same green onions for about two years!
Don't eat out or wait in line the drive thru. There are countless copy cat recipes for your favorite take out dinners. I can make 8-9 copy cat sandwiches (including the super simple from scratch sour dough buns) for the cost of one $9.50 sandwich at the drive thru window. Sorry, no sandwich should cost that much. Add homemade potato chips and that's already a savings of $100 and we haven't gotten to the soft drinks.
Rotate your pantry and freezer so nothing expires. Do not let any food rot in the fridge. Anything thrown in the garbage is hours of your time and energy at your job. Use every last bit of food. An avocado seed will make a cup of tea. A cabbage core can go into soup or a jar of pickled veggies and the leaves can go into a salad. The dog might love chewing on the cores of whatever. The cat will love the liquid off canned tuna. If you're canning jelly, turn the remaining pulp and skins into preserves or fruit butter. Add a cup of pickle juice to a pork roast in the crock pot (no, it doesn't taste pickle-y) or use the pickle liquid to make pickled vegs or use it as drain cleaner since it's vinegar.
Freeze the liquid off cooked or canned items to use later as veg or meat broth. Boil meat bones for broth. Freeze meat fat to use as cooking fat or when a recipe such as tamales that calls for a large quantity of lard. The broths above can be continuously added to if you have them in a big freezer container like a reused margarine tub if you're wanting it for soup or in ice cube trays if you're wanting small uses. Drink or add the juice from canned fruit into jello, a smoothie, a frozen popsicle, rice, etc. Make a quick bread from fruits that are past their prime.
Does a recipe really need milk or can water be substituted and can you eliminate an egg if it calls for several? Instead of running to the store and buying a recipe ingredient, can something you already have be substituted? Raisins, dates and plums can be substituted for each other or would some other dried fruit in your pantry work just as well or use up several almost empty bags. Little bits of leftovers can be put on a homemade pizza or made into an empanada, casserole or soup at the end of the week. A homemade pizza with leftovers is about $2 vs. $15 if you pick one up yourself at the restaurant.
Hi Betty, thanks for all your tips 😊
Wow. Thank you. I throw away too much fresh veggies and fruit.
Hope more young people learn from you.
Sometimes I have to throw away fresh fruits or veggies or kitchen scraps. I live in an apartment and gardening is not an option. On my walks to the nearby stores, I take the kitchen scraps to a nearby beautiful old tree next to the railroad tracks. One of these trees belongs to an owl. The scraps must attract rodents. This helps, at least in my mind, the circle of life as we all need to eat. I find it a better option than sending down the kitchen disposal which leads to the sewer system. The stuff gets chemically sprayed mostly for roaches, but the roaches tend to survive the sprays.
👌👌👌
In most homes the clothes dryer is the most energy intensive appliance. Air drying not only saves money, but helps the environment too.
Hi Ber, completely agree, it’s also much kinder on your clothes to air dry them 🌸
Hi a little thing which I think has saved me a fortune over the years (and better for the planet too) is reusable washable sanitary towels that press-stud around the pant gusset x
Hi Jane, great tip 🌸
2 tips that I use:
1. Keep windows covered. your home will stay warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Big savings on electricity.
2. Share items with a close family. My son and his family live in the same town, so we often check with one another before making a purchase. For instance, I had Covid pneumonia, and they lent me a nebulizer. I will replace the facemask, much better than buying my own nebulizer!
What do you mean by keeping them covered?
@lynncrf put plastic or blankets, sheets, towels, etc. over your windows. Tape or staple them up, cuts down on sun coming in, in the summer, and wind coming in, in the winter. Personally, I use cheap aluminum foil with shiny side out in the windows for summer before covering with whatever cheap material I can find, like sheets from thrift shops. Or using a flat sheet from the set where my bottom sheet wore out over the years I used them for... Also, watch videos on diy caulking or insulating your house...
I just found your channel. I'm 71 and gardening for over 50 years. We had solar-powered installed 4 1/2 years ago👍and I have 2 water barrel that I water porch plants with and my Can-O-Worms. I've been a Vermiculturalist since 2009.
We live in a development so we have to abide with HOA rules. But we live frugally without ever feeling it.
Nice channel 👍
My "Garden What You've Got" is a lifetime Mantra.
I wish you success with your channel 👍
Hi Peggy, thanks for your comment 🙂. I think that’s the trick…to live frugally without feeling it🌸
@@RowenaMarie I started a channel last year to spread the same ideas in Gardening and Vermiculture 👩🌾👍🪱
Spices with oils/fat and / plain tomato bases are much cheaper than stir bought sauces.
Hi Rowena, I live in Perth too (SOR)! I invested in solar panels when I first bought my house three years ago, and it means that using the dryer, dishwasher, other appliances is completely free during daylight hours. I find clothes and other fabric items fade so quickly here in WA, so I avoid putting things that are not white out in the sun. I benefitted from the state rebate which made it much more affordable. I now have very low power bills, and sometimes even get deposits in my bank account from the power I send back to the grid. I also upgraded my hot water system to one which only uses one hour of power each day, solar power during the afternoon so it costs nothing to run. I was able to disconnect my gas connection completely because of this, as I have an induction cooktop. I highly recommend solar if it's in your budget, it pays for itself over time.
Oh and another tip I have which I am doing myself at the moment is Airbnb! I put my home on Airbnb, decluttered and all personal objects in the garden shed. My son and I go camping when we have a guest booking. I clean the house, go camping, come back home with a bit more money in the bank. I have received around $5000 in the past couple of months and have had an amazing time with my son exploring our beautiful state!
The only problem in the US is that inmost if not all places, it is illegal to disconnect from the grid... We can cut our use down, but no matter how much we lower our costs, we have to pay a minimum price whether we use it or not, and on top of that, they keep trying to make it to where we are taxed for our solar use, either monthly or yearly. 😢 I hope the solar tax never comes into being.
Thanks. My hot water uses more electricity that any other appliance. I’m going to turn it off half the day or more according to the need I have. In the US we don’t always have easy access to the water heater! Thank You Great tip!
I colour my wife's hair for her, we use 2 packets of similar blond colour, and interlayer the colours, this helps disguise my mistakes and also looks more natural as its not a solid colour.This saves almost £100 UK in a salon and then we freeze the made up colours for another session so no wastage.She calls me Mr Teezyweezy!(some old celebrity hairdresser )
I didn't know you could freeze made up colour. I have short hair and have to throw out more than 1/2 each time. Have tried measuring out half but been very difficult.
Wow. I didn’t know you could freeze it. Lol. Cool.
@@chrisw3031 could also do a double colouring with a friend and go halves on the cost
Okay first of all, freaking awesome that you color your wife's hair! 😍 Also so cool that you can freeze hair color I never would have thought.
Now your wife can make extra money signing Barbie autographs. With a little work you could accompany her as Ken! And get around in the pink Barbie Jeep.
Keep your refrigerator full. If you don't have enough food to fill it, fill up some of those empty juice and milk jugs with water. Having it full creates cold mass and the motor doesn't have to run to cool empty air. Same with your freezer. Also, do your research on whether it's actually cheaper to hand wash your dishes. Uncle Google can offer a lot of insight here.
Also extra water in your fridge is a good idea if the power goes out. You still have it for drinking or washing.
Very sensible tips. Your house is immaculate...an example of what you mean when you say that you take care of your things. Diane
Hi Diane, thanks for your kind comments :)
I turn my oven, skillet heat off as much as ten minutes before called for. I use the micro to heat wash-clothes at night if I don’t use the electric kettle, heavenly. I heat only one room at a time, wearing sweaters instead. Eating out though fun, really ruins a budget.
Hi Linn, I also turn off my pots before everything has finished cooking and in winters hubby and I like to jump into bed early to read or watch tv, saves on heating and is cosy 🌸
So happy to find this video! I already live like this and it is nice to know, that i m not the only one
To know how to cut, dye and style your own hair. Big saver.
Cut, maybe; style for sure; dye, sure depending on what you do. I had a friend who went from dark hair to blonde and ended up with a disaster! I go 1 or 2 shades lighter or darker ,so I will do it myself. I must pay for haircuts as I am disabled and lost the use of my dominant arm due to a stroke. However, I wear a basic bob style so I only get a haircut 3 times a year and I go to a school so it is very inexpensive plus I go during the week and get a senior discount.
🎯 Largest savings = NO dye ...
Accomplished by those with thick skin, with self-confidence.
Twice a year, I use summer and winter solstice, lubricate all the locks in your house and vehicles. I use TriFlo which is Teflon dust in a liquid carrier. I also use it on door hinges. Also have a hidden key outside for your house and one on your vehicle. This way you will never have a stuck lock or have to call for a locksmith to rescue you. Locks are small delicate machines and will last forever if lubricated. It is OK to be a maintenance nerd!
I live in an apartment building. I placed a spare door key on another floor so if I ever get locked out, I can retrieve that key to get in…and, since that key is on another floor, if anyone finds it, they would probably assume it would fit one of the apartments on that floor instead of mine!
@@cherylT321what a great idea! I also give a spare car key to a close friend I trust in case I lock myself out of my car somewhere, since we are retired, we are usually available for each other in an emergency...
Depending on location, it might be easier to turn off your water heater at the breaker.
We need hot water much of the day. In the winter a water heater can help to heat the house if it is surrounded by rooms and has insulation above it. Try a solar water heater in sunny locations.
sunlight sterilises clothes too
Goodwill gives 50% off certain color tags all week. But on one day a week they add a one dollar tag color in addition to the 50% off color. I’ve bought furniture items for $1. Also have bought porcelain kitchen sink, lamps etc.. all for either 50% off or $1.
Wow! wish my Goodwill was so generous!!!
We also cut things up for rags and even small cotton pads (so we do not buy cotton balls). We love trading books at Little Free Libraries. We are active meal preppers. We avoid stores and batch errands.
I always check the sale or discountinued racks throughout stores.
Other than toilet paper, I no longer buy one use items. I use reusable paper towels, napkins, zip lock bags, and glass food storage. I live in the country. I am planning that any food waste will go into compost and putting dry stuff into reusable bags. My wife hasn't bought into that part yet, lol
I am on the fruit tree train, and they look so pretty in the garden. :)
Hi Affordable living, they really do look pretty especially when they are flowering. It’s so exciting seeing those flowers change into the beginning of your fruit too 🌸
Buy groceries online and pickup for free; I save money by not impulse buying being in the shops it also saves so much time.
I am allergic to bananas, so I have made pancakes, muffis, biscuits etc. With sweet potatoes
Hi! I’m seriously allergic to bananas too and they’re in so many recipes so this is a great tip for me, thanks! Do you just switch them out in the same quantity?
Every single year we make are wine, hot sauce and are sausage, I shop second hand, I get are groceries on sale , we eat at home , I take public transportation, be a smart cookie!!!
I definitely do 3 and 4 ... thank you for these tips!
Hi Annie, thanks for saying hi 🥰
Nice pace and calm tone of voice - plus I love your accent. This is almost as important to listeners as content. Thanks!
Hi Jane, thanks that’s really sweet of you to say 🌸
Excellent and practical tips!! 👏
Hi Roshini, thank you 🌸
Amazing video! We drive older cars, mine is 12 years old, his is 17 years old. We keep them well maintained and plan on having them as long as we can. I buy things on sale, we eat at home, it is much cheaper. I have decided for 2022 that I will only buy what is needed. I have plenty of clothes so one goal is to not purchase any new clothing. I get a kick out of being Frugal (my nick name is Frugal Francine) By the way, I am Lisa Marie from Jacksonville Florida
Hi Lisa, thanks for sharing, I get a kick out of being frugal too 😊. I currently have a challenge on, on the channel, includes a no buy month…plus more. Nice to meet you 🌸
In winter tape large bubble, bubble-wrap over your windows lets in the light yet I saved enough in heating bills in about two months to pay for a roll of it new, and still using it years later, just new tape from year to year. Take it down in warmer months. Though I did leave it up year round in the less used areas of my home.
Does it work to keep the windows cooler in summer?
Does it work when winter goes down to -40?
I love this one.
We do the same, but don't use tape.
I spritz the window glass with water & then put the bubble wrap on the windows like a cling film (if that makes sense) bubble side to the windows. Cut them to size & store well in the summer & they will last for years! (Haven't had to buy any new in the last 6 years)
As further proof of it working, when we had a big polar vortex a couple years ago, our heating bills did not go up like everyone else's did in out area.
@@NdnUrbanCataluminum foil, shiny side out works wonders in keeping house cooler in summer. Use it in windows where the sun shines in especially.
I buy the least expensive paper towels and am very frugal with them, saving them for the messy stuff. Mostly I dry my hands off with a clean dishcloth kept on the counter. Works for me! Also saves more room in the kitchen cabinets for other things. I turn the water heater off at the breaker after my shower and turn it back on 15 minutes before my next shower and the water's always very warm. If you have to turn the cold water on too much then you're using too much hot water so start with the hot then turn on a little of the cold. The clothes dryer is not cheap to run! Don't keep it running after things are dry. ALSO, take apart the part that collects the lint. You'll be shocked at how much lint is below the filter which is a fire hazard and causes the dryer to be slow to dry. There's a good instructional video I just watched about this called Doing Things Dan's Way. You'll be shocked!
Brilliant show. Thank you
Awesome list, especially about the vehicles maintenance 👍 One of the best frugal habits we have adopted is the attitude of asking a series of questions: Do I really need this item? Can we borrow, get it used or better yet, free? I have estimated these questions save us anywhere from $10-20 K a year!
Hi K S , yes I agree, question everything you buy and also consider minimalism, it really is a relaxing and cheaper way to live 😊🌸
Hi, I am a new subscriber, just found you. Oh, how I enjoyed this video. We also adopt pets from our local shelter. I love your seed starters, I get such a thrill from reusing things. Thank you for a great video. Lots of love from South Africa. ⚘
Hi Debbie and welcome, thanks for your lovely comment. I love reusing things also, such a great feeling knowing I’m not wasting things. So glad you enjoyed the video 🌸
I do what you do but I clean the rubber seals on the fridge and vacuum the back once a year. I'm in the US. We turn our water heater down to 120° F.
Just found your channel! Really good tips, thank you. May I add to the car section that it saves you money if you don't go around with lots of stuff in your car, as you are transporting extra weight. Have only what you need in there! Off to watch more of your videos...
Hi Lyn, great tip thanks for your input and it’s great to have you here.😊
In the winter,we carry 2 bags of the old fashion clay kitty litter for extra weight for traction and secondly if you get stuck you can use the kitty litter to use for traction, it's a good idea to carry a small army shovel that folds up, in case you have to dig your way out. Along with water,some non- perishable food just in case you get stuck in an emergency, get one of the newer cell phones that can hold a charge for a couple days, call for help and they will find you thru your GPS in your phone. Hope it helps.
These are fantastic tips Rowena, thanks for sharing 👍 Bella is beautiful 😍 We have 5 rescue cats and our Mr Loganberry is half ragdoll, very beautiful and has the sweetest nature 😻
Hi bex, I’m glad you find them useful. Bella is such a sweet natured girl and the most talkative cat I’ve ever had. She is our baby 😊🌸
Careful about keeping your tires full in icy areas. Less air can help with traction
Re use food scraps in your garden. I don’t have a compost bin, I bury food scraps in the soil. I don’t have to dig deep, just cover them. Banana skin is amazing for the soil.
Hi Alexa, yes putting it straight into the soil is a great option 🌸
In late fall I pitch my 4 man tent in LR n shut heat way down n live n tent saves a lot on heat also on Jan 2 I shave head n donate hair to Pantene who makes wigs for chemo patients then let grow all year till next Jan 2 n so on
Hi John, that’s such a lovely thing to do 🌸
What a great channel, subbed!!
Hi Shan and welcome, so glad you are enjoying it 🙂🌸
Love the video. Great tips.
Thanks 🌸
Sheets smell so fresh when hung outside!! I always do this. I'm using empty coffee cans for veggie planters .
Hi Lisa, I agree they smell so good!! 😊🌸
My tip is - consider eliminating toilet paper altogether! I bought cheap, thin washrags, and they last a looong time - in two years, I have yet to lose a single one). I keep a pint mason jar on the counter, and use a little bit of water to rinse after #1, and a full pint (and possibly some soap) after #2. If you use a full pint for #2, there are no streaks, chunks, or smell. Basically, you are so clean after you rinse that the rags are mostly to dry you off. When I launder them, I do a small load and I soak it for at least 30 minutes ahead of time in Borax and laundry detergent before letting the cycle run. I use the same rag for #1 until there is a #2 event, then that rag gets retired. I have a small box for clean and a small box for "dirty" under the bathroom sink. I say "dirty" in quote marks because the rags just literally never smell, because the water rinse means you are very clean by the time you use the rags to dry off. I do wash my hands well after all this of course. Truly, I feel way cleaner than if I just using toilet paper, which just kind of smears stuff around and lets things get on your hands anyway. Toilet paper also consumes a ton of water to make, not to mention that it's a single-use paper product. There are UA-cam videos with others' methods; lots of right ways to do this! I could not be happier; I don't have to pay for toilet paper, nor do I have to store it in my small house. (I do keep a roll of toilet paper on the dispenser for guests.)
I've recently found a budget mechanic to maintain my vehicle. One of the owners I've known since he was in high school. They do quality work at a reduced price which makes it easier for me to keep my vehicle longer than I planned. Not only that but there honest mechanics
Hi salty assassins, it’s great when you find someone you can trust. I have a mobile mechanic who is great and is really reasonable with his pricing 🌸🙂
@@RowenaMarie when I saw your video I feel humbled. I feel your helping me to stretch my imagination. So I thank you. As far as vehicles go I paid 900 dollars for a 95 ford explorer. It needed both wheel bearings replaced. Most garages I talked to wanted 1400 dollars to do both of em my new mechanic charged 354 dollars to both of em. I need lower ball joints which there willing to do for 350 dollars. I refuse to price them elsewhere. Anyway enough from me I pray God blesses you and your family
salty assassins that was a great price! It really pays to shop around doesn’t it . And I’m so glad you find some inspiration in the videos, that truly makes me happy to hear 🌸😊
Good tips. Thank you. X
A great list! But I've heard microfiber cloths release microplastics...
Wear same clothes all month, wash ur hair every week (JKd) . Cover ur veggie with a wax towel they last long. Frezze ur bluberry, cook one day for all week you do not need to wash multiple times same things over an over. Plan ur trips save some money. Etc etc etc.
It could work if you wear tshirts. Things get gamey. Lol
Hi Christina, thanks for leaving your tips…and your light hearted comment 😂
@@christineplaton3048 Yes, also lately I try to use a hand towel to dry my body after shower, that save me space, energy, time, water and soap in every laundry. Towels are ridiculous large for a single individual.... just try...
@@RowenaMarie Lol... another good idea is to made your own yogurt with some milk and khefir, your own coffe. Save the chicken bones in the fridge then slow cook them up till you make ur own cocentrated broth, for multiuse. No need to buy seeds... some fruits come with it just save them and planted. You can freeze your organic waste to create your own compost. =)))... save save save...
I use old t-shirts and socks for rags. Cut it up. Boom rags.
Really good tips
First time viewer and have subscribed. Enjoyed your video great tips
I love Karyn Slaughter too!
Very useful. Some of the thrifts I also do!😊
Learn the difference between wants and needs. You don't need that 10th pair of shoes just because they're cute. If you think you need something, delay the purchase for 2 weeks and you may have already forgotten about it or decided you really don't need it. There are youtubes or friends to teach you how to repair whatever is broken rather than rushing out to buy a new one. Don't shop.
Hi Betty, yes learning the difference between wants and needs is the number 1 tip for frugality 🌸
Update to 44cent Tariff - if you have a property with 44cent tariff and sign a contract of sale. In Queensland with Ergon if someone applies to transfer power into their name Ergon will message the current customer to advise there has been an application to change but the message will not advise transfer date. If the new owner transfers the account prior to settlement and something goes wrong you can lose your 44cent tariff. Advice from Ergon - include a clause in the sale contract something like "new owner is not to transfer power prior to settlement" also if settlement doesn't take place immediately contact supplier to attempt to regain your 44 cents
I turned off the intake valve on the toilet, and bucket flush it with reclaimed gray water.
I pull regular maintenance on my 29 year old Jeep.
My whole house is retrofitted with LED lights.
I got rid of the stove and cook with counter top appliances.
I use a bidet, family cloths, cloth napkins, handkerchiefs, and cleaning rags. No paper products unless it's so grotty that I'd have to sacrifice one of my good rags.
That's it off the top of my head.
Good ideas at this time.
Good ideas. I didn't realize until I watched this that I'm doing a lot of your frugal suggestions. It does help. Also, if I may add, check out your local Dollar Store. We have an amazing one. I buy all my toilet paper, paper towels, laundry soap, sponges, cleaning products for a fraction of the cost of what super markets charge. I also get the Sunday paper for $1.09 when the grocery store charges $4.00. There are ways to save money for sure.
Hi Sylvia, yes there are many ways to get what we want for a lot less. We don’t have Dollar Store in Australia but we do have Red Dot and the Reject Shop which are similar. They definitely are great places to get bargains 🌸
These are all sensible and easy tips.
I hope they help :)
Already do all of that & more. Raised by grma who lived thru depression. Was taught it was a sin 2 waste!
I do a lot of these but I can't imagine myself dealing with switching the hot water on and off before and after work. Not to mention that if other people live with you, that would be chaos.
Surely there is a timer switch to purchase for this. Some purchases are actually investments.
Here in the U.S. there is a trend to install in line on-demand water heaters near the point of use. Thus, for example, the heater only kicks on when you dial up warm water in the shower and shuts off when you are done. Although that type of heater is more expensive than the traditional tank heater, it does "pay for itself" in energy cost savings and a longer equipment life. I plan to have them installed in my home as I have renovations done over the next few years before my existing tank needs to be replaced. Of course, I don't know if that kind of system is available in Australia.
Hats off for consistency and growing your own food. I'm frugal about certain things simply because I have no interest, eg, beauty products and I'm just generally not a materialistic person but I'm not consistent. One tip I recommend is using eco-powder instead of dishwashing tablets and only using a small amount. if you don't use the dishwasher every day I'm assuming you rinse the dishes and as I think it's the water heat that does most of the cleaning only a small amount of powder is needed - cannot stand the smell of non-eco dishwashing tablets.
Thanks for the tip, I will definitely look into the eco powder instead 🌺
What is eco powder
Hello ,I want to know what's eco power
@@ShirasongMusica cleaner dishwashing soap from the health food store
@@torinhofmann7117a cleaner dishwashing powder from a health food store
Use peroxide and baking mixed together to a paste to brush teeth, it whitens your teeth quicker and cheaper than whitening toothpaste.
When at the kitchen sink I’m running water to get it hot I have a pitcher to catch the cold water and put it in the dog bowl or on the plants. No wasted water
Hi Teresa, thanks for this great tip 🌸
Great video. Just one thing, we should avoid using microfibre clothsas they’re damaging our oceans.
How?
@@VelvetyMoon They release microplastics which the fish ingest.
I use microfibre cloths for work, is there a better alternative? I use around 80 cloths a week 🤦🏻♀️
Do you have "little free/lending libraries in Australia? They're boxes (each different) where you can take a book or leave a book. I have several magazine subscriptions that I put in after I'm done and I've found some great books, even once a collection of 7 DVD'S of Criterion collection films from the late 60's. They're usually on street corners or in parks, but I saw one recently at an airport.
Hi Maria, no I haven’t seen any of those in my area but they may have them in other parts of Australia, they sound like a great idea 🌸
We have free community lending libraries here and there. Sometimes they're located at random places. There's a town called Penguin in Tasmania that had it by the main street.
There are 'street libraries' all over Sydney. Little weatherproof cupboards on suburban streets where people can leave or take books for free.
Yes we have them in Australia. In the cities and in community hall in my local village. We also have food pantries so those that are struggling can go to them for food, toilet paper, personal care items.
I have "no spend days" every week so I try not to spend 2 to 3 days a week I'm in Australia as well 🙃
Hi Amy, no spend days are great 🥰
Water pressure nozzles are a good investment. Super cheap, easy to install. Saves a lot of water. I prefer a bit of water pressure when washing things or myself. Ours restrict 70 % of the water flow. The only time I don't use it is when I need to fill a larger container with water.
We're saving over 72 % of our household income with low income jobs and one rental property. We're not super-strict in our frugality. A large portion of it is instinctual at this point. One difference is that some activities that aren't ''high yield'' we might skip since we factor in paying ourselves for our time. The best kind of frugality for us is the passive kind, where you make an investment or change a habit that will pay out continually.
Hi Ben, yes we use water saving nozzles in our showers 🙂. I agree after awhile being frugal is habitual and saving money is just something that happens and you no longer really have to think about it. 🌸
Fruit trees are a great birthday present to request from your nearest and dearest
Hi TermiteVideo, I couldn’t agree more 🌸
NEW TO THIS VIDEO : BLESSINGS PPL 🌸🇺🇸
On the topic of MANICURES. If you tend to paint your finger, instead of nail, don't give up! Next time, place a bottle cap and q-tip nearby to 'erase' mistakes. Keeps you trying. Soon, you'll be a pro!!!!
Hi Chuckie, great tip 🌸
Very helpful
Hi Rina, glad you found the tips helpful 🌸
if you are on the 44 cent solar feed in use appliances at night and feed into grid during the day
Entergy has a night time plan for electricity but good luck getting info from them on it much less sign up for it.
Same here. My apt on shared flexible solar panels. My light understanding is part of anything extra is factored into paying off the loans. I and other tenants have asked around about the math formulas. As there are 1-2-3&4 bedrooms. No luck. Except to expect like going to a thrift store, I can expect some kind of small discount. I do get a monthly extra statement per my request but it is totally in greek. I have been able to understand if it is a high day of the county or area usage, Time of Use Day from about 4-9pm weekdays when people are getting home to make dinner and summertime air conditioners turned on because of extreme heat. Have been advised somehow I get first choice from the solar panels. Anything extra goes into the grid. Yet if the electric I might need to pull off the grid quite maybe $1.40 unit(?), yet if I have most my appliances off, they automatically buy off me maybe 5 or ten cents a unit. Lots of varibles such as cloudy days or seasonal beach morning summer fog and length of day are always constant varibles. Have learned that on very cold winter days yet more so on summer triple degree days, Time of Use 4-9pm in extreme weather, if I can try and stay off grid with maybe only running the fridge..that frees up the utility company to buy off my extra available. The higher demand days in my community I can make a bit more extra compared to a more temperate or mild weathered day. Not going to get rich off this and my savings seem a bit more noticable by at least several dollars in the monthly bills. At least being an at home person can kind of homestead and try the wild card for a few extra dollars saved each month. This is my third summer I have completed here. As the locals say each summer is always different with weather patterns. This summer I paid attention to the Time of (community demand) aka triple degree days- Use, 4-9pm and it seems to reflect a bit more nicely on the only and finalized monthly bills.
Just subscribed. I'm always looking for frugal tips. I need to do less online shopping🙈 I do most of those things up mentioned and more. Greet video❤
Hi Angella, welcome and nice to have you here 🌸
Buy classic thrift clothing. My furniture is 20 to 30 years old in beautiful shape. Also antiques.
The best frugal tips my dear friend
Thanks Loi 🌸
Our Home Owner's Association says no on any outside laundry, but it always smells so much better than the stuff dried in the dryer.
Lol. I hang both hand washables and light laundry in my apartment. On hangers in shower or on a collapsible wood laundry rack. I also drape things on chairs and they dry overnight. On a hot day a comforter dries easily overnight. And I use fans to circulate air anyway, not air conditioning.
Our clothes dry well in the garage.
Can you use the drying racks on your back porch? Thinking no one would see it.
Just dry using a clothes rack in the bedroom that gets the most sunlight, open the windows for quicker drying, in the winter the heat will rise up the stairs so the top rooms or landing are the best place for overnight drying.
That is why I don't live in a subdivision that has a HOA! they are not going to tell me I cannot paint my door a certain color, or hang my clothes out to dry. But, with that being said, If you love living in that type of subdivision, I'm happy for you! xo
Our library has a book sale once a month on the cheap.
Another good way to get cheap books is op shops like salvos etc. Purchases many books that way and when done donate them back 😊
Hi Rachida, yes op shops have a good assortment of books at a very cheap price 🌸
Wow some great tips in here I'm definitely adding to my routine! Especially the hot water stuff, genius! A go-to for me is making my own food bases from scratch like rice flour and caster sugar! xCC
This are valuable tips. You will go far🌷
Thanks for the kind comment 🙂