Extreme Frugality. How we live on less than minimum wage & save half of it
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- Опубліковано 21 вер 2024
- Run through our monthly budget with me to see the nuts and bolts of frugality.
Frugal Queen in France
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We are a British couple living in Brittany on a budget.
Frugal recipes, days out, home renovations and day to day making do in France.
We’ll give you hints, tips, advice and an insight into our life in France.
Website www.frugalquee...
FaceBook / frugalqueeni. .
Instagram / frugalqueen. .
Twitter / batt_jane
Equipment used
Camera : iPhone
Editing : iMovie on a Mac mini
Music:
Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon....
Artist: audionautix.com/
Some Sound from Zapsplat.com
UA-cam Audio Library
Apple iMovie*
Hi everyone. Yes, I missed off home and contents insurance and that costs us 220€ a year that we pay in full each January. Medication is covered in our social medicine and insurance. We don't pay car tax or tax on a trailer. Yes we pay property tax, that's in the video.
B
Here in the US I live on a "disability income" of $1100. I'm considered "low income" living below poverty level. But I survive because I'm totally debt free like u. I put into my sinking funds $700 a month n have a zero base budget too. It can be done even with rising prices, but u need patience n discipline.
Wow! How resourceful! And inspirational!
I live on SSDI as well, my bills are a bit more. However, I cut things in one or 2 places so that I can build a sinking fund. It is very much doable. Just need to set heart and mind to get it done. 💝
I would love to know how you are doing it on 400 in the US! Seriously... that's so impressive if you can save that much out of 1100. Thanks for the inspiration.
I am also on SSDI and do not understand how you manage your budget. I certainly can't do it. Maybe you don't pay for medical insurance and I have a substantial premium. The only saving grace that I have is that my house is paid for but I must still pay taxes and insurance. Maybe it's just the area where you live.
Like 'chasingsimpledreams' below, I would be very interested in how you are able to survive on $400 a month while banking the rest of your SSDI.
@@karenallen919 especially with the price of food!
Having an emergency fund gives such peace of mind. Same with sinking funds. Although, even though sinking funds are meant to be used, I hate seeing the balance drop when I pay a pre saved for bill. Thank you for sharing your budget. I always get good tips and encouragement watching the videos.
Thanks for watching
I shared your channel with my husband and he said he understands why I watch you and reference things you've discussed. He thought you were quite cheerful, intelligent and well versed in whatever you are discussing. I couldn't agree more. Because of your budget chats, I have become more organized and we are finally saving money on a regular basis without fear of the future. Thank you both for sharing how you budget.
Thanks very much for your feedback
Great work
Hi from Spain. Very helpful. I like the idea of the discretionary fund. I have 2 kids and just this month we've had to find money for a school trip and craft supplies that we had not anticipated.. God bless you for your time and effort to help others via your channel.
Thanks for your feedback
Thank you Jane and Mike. I retain something new every time I watch you do your budget. My car needs tires, brakes, a windshield and an oil change. Voila! A fully funded car repair sinking fund! It's like some sort of MAGIC!!
Our pleasure!
I got hit with a 'surprise' expense this weekend.
It was planned for. I just thought it would be sometime next year before that refrigerator kicked the bucket. Since I knew it was coming up, I'd already made a budget for it. I was able to lock in a promotional special, with an upgrade I really wanted at no extra cost, and come in under that budget. I'm really glad I didn't have to make a completely unplanned emergency purchase.
Thanks for sharing
That’s a great feeling to know the money is in the sinking funds already
I always but in savings last. Because of you, i am saving first my last two social security raises. I also spent my grocery money the month ahead of my check. I now wait until the check is in the bank before I spend it. Now i have the money to pay the charge card when it arrives. I also started a more detailed sinking fund.for tires, brakes, and glasses. I use to make budgets but used them as guidelines as long as I didn’t go over the total a ount. Now, I stick to the budget. Anything lefypt over goes into savings now. Thanks for all your help!
Well done on the sinking funds
When you asked if we were better off I thought it meant was I making more money. I'm not I am saving consistently for the first time thanks to you .Thank you so much
Thanks for sharing
A darn good video as always, as you know we are also in France not too far from you, we have been here full time since 2009, now retired, debt and mortgage free, we are now able to enjoy our lives, saving at the moment for a new roof ☺
That's awesome! Roofs are expensive.
I really appreciate it when you go over sinking funds, because every time I hear it, it helps to cement it in my mind (it needs a bit of cement!). Thank you, Jane and Michael, for sharing how you live in a detailed way, because it gives the rest of us a roadmap and hope that we CAN do this, too.
You're so welcome!
Jane, you are delightful! Even though you have a small budget you are so upbeat about what is possible with it and how good life is with it
Thanks so much
Love the lamp!
Another clear and concise chat on how you manage your budget - the chats are so helpful and affirming for people including myself in the current economic conditions. Thanks so much 😊
You are so welcome!
I have encouraged several of my friends to watch your videos. Those who have, are feeling more confident they can pull themselves out of debt and build a more secure future for their older selves. Thanks for your precise and clear information.
Thanks for sharing!!
You are such an inspiration, Jane. Thank you for sharing how you budget. I love the idea of writing a budget on week 3.
Thank you for introducing me to an accounts book.
You are so welcome!
Very good talk, good common sense. A few years ago I was suddenly widowed. The first thing that was completed was a budget of all expenses-it was a lifesaver. I still record what is spent, so keeping track of expenditure is for me an absolute must. Thanks Jane and Mike. 🎉😊
Thanks so much for watching
Hi Jane, Mike and everyone else.
Having a sinking fund saved us for the last twenty years. You explain it so well. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
You're a good teacher, Jane -- you explain these ideas really clearly.
Thank you
Until I saw this video, I've struggled to understand zero-based budgeting. I've always loved the concept, and have had budgets & plans, just never zero based ones! Thank you so much for your clear explanation! I now have a zero based budget and a sinking fund 😊. I have no debt or mortgage, so we're off to the races now!
thank for shariing. Your comments are so helpful. I too am living to a strict budget yet I feel rich since it is a choice !
You are so welcome!
happy to be with the frugal community, gives less headache
Loved this, just discovered you and about to binge all your videos. I live and work in NYC and although I am in the accumulation phase I have always been frugal and saving/investing before it was so mainstream. I remember being the only twenty something bringing in my lunch or taking home food after meetings. I plan to retire to Portugal in 10 years, although the recent popularity is worrisome! We also plan to be off the grid with a garden, chickens and maybe a goat! My husband and I are handy and creative and I am already practicing some skills that we will use to live well and keep costs down. Okay off to watch your journey!
Using your sinking funds idea over the past year has saved my life and my sanity thanks so much Jane and mike 😊
Our pleasure!
I always learn something new from each of your budgeting videos, thank you!
You are so welcome!
I have increased my emergency fund. And it has already helped!
Good to hear that.
I like your budgeting videos. They are so helpful for those learning to budget and what to plan for. On another note, laughing about the eyebrow explanation 😂😂. That is my story, too!
Love that!
Because of your very good and detailed information, I am on afar more peaceful journey. Not where I want to be but much better financially. Thank you so much. You can teach an old dog new tricks.
You can do it!
This was exactly what I needed
Thank you for the very detailed budgeting video this was so so helpful!!
You are so welcome!
Thank you so much. I budget as carefully as possible since learning from you. However, since the recent increases in almost everything, I find my budget covers all the items but most months the food budget is just not getting there. So much of what I buy appears to have increased by on average more than 20%. So, yes, some things have increased by more than 30%. The French government doesn’t appear to agree with me on food inflation. I don’t eat red meat anymore and eat chicken or fish six nights a week. Don’t eat meat or fish during the day. I am adding another thank you to you both.
We too have increased our supermarket budget from 300-400€ this year and we buy less than we used to. We used to have treats once a month like salmon or steak but can’t anymore.
I Australia food prices are the same, I buy for 5 adults and used to have lots of wiggle room, now I need to track my money carefully and menu plan
A great video as always. I've done zero based budgeting for years. It has helped me tremendously. I am now recently retired at 56 and on a really tight budget, but mortgage and debt free. Thanks for all the insight and tips you share each and every week. It helps so many of us, plus it's always interesting to see other people's budgets. Take care x
Great job!
Excellent video Jane, very clear and easy to understand!
I bought a budget book and now have each sinking fund on a separate page!
It didn’t work just having a big lump of money as I needed to track what we spent in each category!
Glad it was helpful!
When my son did his GCSEs, they did a "walk through" of each exam paper, which he found extremely helpful. I sat in on a few and could see how good they were. I view your videos, the budgeting ones especially, in the same way. I shall re-watch this one later. Thank you (PS I still can't access your FB page, have been trying for weeks).
Watching from
Johannesburg
South Africa
🇿🇦
I have to start with a No spend week and train myself that way. GREAT VIDEO!! 👍
You can do it
Thank so much for this! It has given me several ideas I hadn’t thought of before!
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks Jane and Mike, I am going to try a no spend July and implement doing my budget on week 3. Your videos and tips have really helped …. I took your advice and have been purchasing 1 piece of school uniform every month with my shopping and now I do not have the £400+ uniform bill to face in August. I know I could try a sinking fund for this but I often dip into these so having the uniform ready to go works best for us. Thanks so much 🙏
Wonderful!
Dear Jane and Michael, i appreciated sharing your income figures and expenses very much. Thank you for that: I found out by comparing that I am on a good way on my frugal journey and i would like to know, as i am a NEW Follower, if you had children, how they grew up during your frugal journey and how do they consider their upbringing/what changes would you suggest to make today. Yours, Antje
Very helpful information, thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Great video. You did an awesome job explaining all of the details of budgeting. 😊
Thanks so much! 😊
Love these budgeting videos. I learn something new with every video.
Glad you like them!
Thank you so much for this. It is clear and concise. I have taken many notes from it and will be doing my own budget from it next week. Your explanation made it so I am inspired to do better for myself.
You are so welcome!
I love your red striped "mariners" top! Super cute!
Very comprehensive and clearly explained. Many thanks. 😊
Glad it was helpful!
This video came up in my feed today, and whilst I was washing dishes after dinner I put my AirPods in and listened. Very, very impressive information on budgeting, thank you for sharing. I’ve been thinking more lately about getting more on top of my finances. A couple of years or so back, I was doing very well, maintaining a budget, tracking my spending, planning ahead for costs etc, I don’t know but somewhere along the line it fell down the wayside. I’ve not been doing terribly with managing my money, but could definitely do much better! I’ve taken inspiration from this video and like the idea of a no spend week. I do have no spend days, and no spend weekends even. I also need to go back to keeping a budget on a spreadsheet, as I did before. 😊
I have decided no thrift shopping in July also
Wow! Your electricity bill is high! About double our here in SC with A/C running. I have had a budget for at least 30 years and do my best to stick to it daily. I can't imagine NOT having one. Thank you as always for your positivity and encouragement!!! Have a great 4th of July ( don't know if that is celebrated in France).😊🏝🌍
Hi Mike and Jane,
Looking forward to this video. I learn so much from you!
Very enlightening, thank you
You're very welcome
Jane and Michael thanks for the great video! I have used many of the great ideas from your videos and have used them to improve our budget. You’re right that some of the costs here in the States are much larger especially medical bills also medical insurance costs are much higher. Sometimes that makes for some tricky budgeting but it’s great to know that I’m not alone on this journey! Take care!
Lovely again today. Very helpful. Thank you both so much.
Our pleasure!
I really appreciated seeing how you keep track of your sinking funds. I have quite a few categories and was unsure how to manage them. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
👍 Dave Ramsey would be THRILLED with this!! 👏👏👏🙋♀️🥰🇺🇸‼️
Thank you for the incredibly detailed information. We are planning on relocating to France from the US. Very helpful!
Glad it was helpful!
Great video! And I love the no spend for the last week of the month. I'll have to try this!
Thanks for watching
A great video! Like the detail you show for your sinking & living funds. Reminds me of areas I'd forgotten about.
Glad it was helpful!
Great ideas, thanks
You are so welcome!
Watching your videos made me pay closer attention to the monthly automatic payments, such as insurance and phone.......didnt realise how expensive things got....looking to switch to cheaper providers. Thank you:)
Thanks for watching
Jane and Mike- I just love your organization...it speaks to me! LOL I know credit cards aren't as widely used in Europe as they are in the US but there are things you can't do here without one (ie rent a car, reserve a hotel room). Even using a debit card to buy gas can be problematic as some stations put a large hold on the card for your purchase that doesn't drop off for several days. So I use a credit card for everything then pay it off weekly. I'm not sure what life looks like without one. But, everyone finds what works for them. Oh, did I miss homeowner's insurance in your bills? It's a very sore subject here in Florida USA as our premiums are skyrocketing! Another awesome video!! Thank you
Thanks so much for your video
Thankyou so much for these budgeting vidéos. I've been following your monthly méthode from january & it really does help
I now know where every penny goes
I'm so glad!
take a look into inexpensive paper log makers, then start making paper logs with waste paper and be on the lookout for paper. Saves using/buying wood. The logs have to dry so its a year round project.
We don't have any waste paper. We do have free wood.
Great video, I love sinking funds and my 20 year old son uses them now :) I need to start with week 4 being a no spend week and work up to a month no spend
That is awesome!
@@FrugalQueeninFrance yes I am so proud of him, he just bought his dream car for cash and paid for his holiday with cash.
Chapeau!
Merci
Excellent video! Thank you for sharing your budget with us.
You are so welcome!
I definitely need to be more organized with my budget and write down every single thing. Thank you for detailing how you both budget.
Very interesting! Thanks for all this helpful information.
Glad it was helpful!
I found you budget to be very inspiring ❤ thank you for sharing. I hope to one day be in your shoes. I’d have an extra $1600 a month if I didn’t have my mortgage & debt payments 😮
You will when you’re debt and mortgage free
@@FrugalQueeninFrance if I get there 🤣🤦♀️ it seems a lofty faraway impossible goal right now…but we push on in hope ❤️
This is SO helpful, Jane and Michael. Thank you for being completely transparent and detailed with your budget. I have a couple of questions: are your property taxes low for France? They are much lower than ours here in Colorado.. And do you have homeowner’s insurance? Finally, how do you save for , say, a large house repair, like pipes, etc. ? Thank you again!
Our taxes for the property are average. DIY home maintenance has its own sinking fund of 3600€ a year. Our property insurance is 220€ a year, I did say I'd miss something, we pay that every January. We have low taxes.
Thanks!
Do you pay real property tax on your home? That is one thing here in the us you can’t get around. Even if your home is paid off you still pay taxes on it! It’s rough on retirees because if the value of their home increases, their taxes increase, but their income doesn’t increase.
Yes, as I said, we have a sinking fund for that of 850€ a year, it's actually 671€ this year.
Thanks Jane and Mike, another cracking video, full of common sense and wisdom! Very helpful for me, learning from your experience is wonderful.
Our pleasure!
Another great informative video. Thank you
Our pleasure!
So far I have just created an estimated monthly budget and tracked all my expenses. In the next few months I want to learn and implement the zero budget method. I have come a long way and still have a long way to go but I am making progress and it's a learning process.
Wonderful! You're heading in the right direction. Budgeting takes time to get it right but keep working at it.
Wow! You explained that whole budget so well! Thank you! You are a great teacher!❤
You are so welcome!
Very helpful, thank you!
Very transparent! Thank you for all the ideas!😊
You are so welcome!
Your videos are so informative. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. ❤
You are so welcome!
We have a credit card for large purchases or online and pay off the full amount each month by DD. This allows us some security on purchases over £100 as MasterCard will refund you if something goes wrong.
I only now discovered your channel. Love it ! Your situation is very similar to ours although we re half a world away in Canada. Thank you for sharing your numbers , it helps to see others are similar and I will be tweaking my own sinking funds after watching this . Subscribed !
Welcome aboard!
Thank you Jane, for sharing with us your budget.
You are so welcome!
Great video!! Thank you for this video!🙂☮️👍
Thank you too!
Thank you for such a helpful video. It's wonderful that you are prepared to share everything like this.
You are so welcome!
I'm loving this and your channel. Thank you.
Glad you enjoy it!
Well done Jane. This was clear, simple, and very educational! Have a blessed day, hello to your husband! 🌞😊🙏👍🏻🕊
Thank you! You too!
I enjoyed your video. Thank you for sharing.
I also have separate accounts for an emergency fund, sinking fund ( i call it an annual expenses fund for 1 time a year expenses), and general expenses fund (checking account) which i keep at 2 month level. My long term savings is in a Fidelity account. I am surprised that you have to pay a banking fee. We dont have any fees when the balance is above a certain threshold and with auto transfers into the savings accounts.
I have an itemized budget and i maintain an accounting of all expenditures. I think diligence is the key and an ability to stick to a No Spend Month or week. I am working on that.
Another great video Jane and Mike. Thanks for the detailed budget information. Very helpful!
Our pleasure!
I need to have a no spend month too. I need to reset my spending attitudes and have a fresh start. Can't wait to see your no spend month videos to help me.
July is a no spend month
Great budget. Thank you for this guide to help with my personal accountability as far as my income is concerned.
Sharon from Australia 🇦🇺
Glad it was helpful!
Thank yoy for sharing good budget 📹 great to track. Going to start sinking funds envelope and online banking great 👍 .bless u frugal queen 👸 voice of a angle heart of gold star 🌟 bless you and family 👪 with joy peace and happiness always ❤ 😊 💖 💕 keep safe take care 🙂 lov f4om 🇬🇧 💷 🇬🇧 💷 🇬🇧 💷 ❤❤❤❤
We use a Starling account for our sinking funds - you can allocate 'spaces' on the account for each item like garden, clothes, kids clubs, Xmas, birthdays, car service etc and each month we allocate the monthly payment for that. Its a shared account so throughout the year, when we need to buy something from that category, we can go into that space, remove the amount from the correct space and it makes it easy. It works really well for us - we are in the UK so not sure how available a Starling account is elsewhere. Great video, ta very much!
Those accounts are great
Bless you - this is so helpful!
💞💜💞
Thank you I’m in the U.S. and we are low middle class income I do save but we spend with out keeping track, but not big spenders either. I do have credit cards but pay off every 2 weeks and each has a purpose like one grocery’s and so on. But some months I just think we overspend and don’t know where it goes. So I will be try this method of keeping track.
You can do it!
Thankyou for all the tips
You are so welcome!
I use YNAB for my budgeting (classic so no monthly fee). I can track anything I like and it is totally customisable.
Thank you, this was so helpful for me.
Fantastic video! Very inspiring.
Glad you enjoyed it!
What a great video 👏
Glad you enjoyed it
Hi, I think you do an amazing job living within your means. Thank you for sharing your financial information. It is very helpful to see how you manage your budget. Good luck and best wishes.
Thank you so much!
Thanks for sharing this, very very helpful in our planning for our life in France
Glad it was helpful!