Financial Freedom is having enough money that you no longer worry about money. The key to true financial freedom is freedom from debt. I retired 7 years ago debt free. I am now able to do what I want anytime I want and I never have to think twice about the money. That's financial freedom to me.
No booze. That's a big one. I shudder to think how much people spend on alcohol. I make no moral judgement, but am just so grateful that I've preferred being sober since my teenaged years.
Since I retired I drink far less. It definitely helps my mood, energy levels and maintaining a more balanced approach to things. Lots of obvious physical benefits too.
The best sentence is „let‘s go for a walk….“ I‘m viewing your videos from Germany. I feel confirmed by your advice regarding most of the points. I‘m continously decluttering and feel relief for each piece I could get rid of.
My wife and I are in our 30's. We have no debt other than our mortgage and have opted for experiences over "things" when it comes to holidays and anniversaries. Life and marriage is so much better when you're on the same page.
Yep, just hit 51. Married for 18 years, family of 4. Home and rentals are all paid off, no debt. My wife and I are on the same page, if one spends like crazy it won’t work.
I try to order from Amazon in big chunks. Fill my cart, let time pass, once I’m ready to buy, I review my cart and ditch the unnecessary things. Seeing an entire month’s worth of Amazon purchases in one cart is a way to get back to reality
Wanted to add that for items you can't get on Amazon, I create an account with the vendor, subscribe to their email newsletter, add the item I want to my cart and DON'T purchase yet. Eventually a sale or % off promo comes my way. Great for items not urgently needed.
Great advice! I have lived a very simple life. I raised 2 sons as a single mom and paid my 3 bedroom house off in 9 years. I continue to live a frugal life. I also buy used cars and pay them off in 2 years, mine has 200k miles. I will retire March of 2024 at age 61 years! I am healthy and so happy I have made these choices. This life style isn't for everyone, it took discipline and hard work to get where I'm at today.
Congrats on you success! My wife and I have been lucky in a way. In 2008/9 we were new to the workforce and not many good jobs to apply to. This made us pay off credit card/college debt before buying a home in 2014. We rented a small place from family member until ready for home purchase (plus eventually got better jobs). Got lucky buying foreclosed home for less and been saving more since. The last couple years have been our “spendiest” with the purchase of two new cars, not gonna lie, felt kinda guilty spending a bunch of money but we feel we earned it and can afford it. Our goal is to retire before 60, and we’re on track to do so 🤞.
I dont understand something about people in the USA why is that you put your selves in this boxes or labels like left conservative minimalist why? If you put your self in a box you are putting self in the situation to be stereotype ridicule. also it doesnt make sense because you can be a minimalist one month in different month you con sume normaly..
My girlfriend and I sold a giant beautiful 5 bedroom 5 bath 6000 sf house and downsized to a 2 bedroom condo, invested the money from the house sell. Don’t miss that house and all of the unnecessary extra furniture and stuff at all. Love the freedom and extra time it has brought us.
@@kennethward4985 We also bought 3 rental properties with the profit from 2017-2018 and they all appreciated quite a bit, those are our 1st and only rentals. We have a decent amount in the stock market as I have always been a saver. Invested a small amount in Goog, Aapl, Isrg in 2005 and NVDA 2017 amongst others. I’ve had my losers as well but those companies have done really well and more than made up for any losers. We are wondering if we can permanently retire, haven’t worked since last July, hard to wrap my head around it. I am 51, she is 48.
@@djack915 yep, my girlfriend cleaned it herself, didn’t want anyone else and who knows how much that would have cost. It took an entire day. So much work involved in general. The yard maintenance was also crazy, water bill, fertilizer for the large lawn, had a pond with a waterfall that was eating electricity and water as a dry climate where I live. Had to have a small dumpster rather than regular trash can due to all the landscaping as it was 1 1/3 acre. All that stuff adds up so when we moved it was a huge drop in monthly expenses. It worked out as we bought at the bottom of market and I know I will never need or want a big house again, but damn it was a lot of work in the meantime.
1. Amazon purchases 2. Spend time with friends over coffee, not dinner 3. Ride ferry across bay 4. Dessert instead of dinner at nice restaurant 5. Pottery with kids 6. Cut monthly subscriptions. 7. Spotify and pandora, limit use. 8. No Apple TV 9. Smaller TV to limit watching 10. Downsize clothing, donate it 11. No new cars 12. Avoid making bad investments. Resist sales pitch.
Already do most of these and I’m still working ! This guy had boomer advantage of a good job and rising property ( bought cheaply years ago ) . Next generation can’t do this
Nice theory but in practice you’ve bought all your “Things” already when you’re young. I’ll bet you’ve got a house, a car, a bike, a wardrobe full of clothes, etc etc. Easy to spout the philosophy when you’ve got all the trinkets, tools and essentials bought already.
@@strickostrickotrue. I grew up poor and the small amount of money I would earn I would spend it in wishes, cheap stuff, food. When I came to the USA, it took me 2 years to realize "things" are just things and the desire to have new things never ends and felt so much remorse to let go of things I pay money for. It was like throwing my money in the trash. Now, I try to live below my means
How can I safeguard my savings in stocks amidst the economic firestorm? What's the most effective strategy to reallocate funds in my portfolio to hedge against downturns?
Investors need to understand where and how to allocate funds to hedge against downturns and still make profits. if you can't navigate the market you should consult with an expert advisor
Accurate asset allocation is crucial, and some individuals use hedging strategies or allocate part of their portfOlio to defensive assets for market downturns. Expert guidance is vital for achieving this. This approach has helped me stay finan-cially secure for over five years, yielding nearly $1 million in returns on invest-ments.
Retirees who struggle to meet their basic needs are the ones who could not accumulate enough money during their active years to meet their needs. Retirement choices determine a lot of things. My wife and I both spent same number of years in the civil service, she invested through a wealth manager and myself through the 401k. We both still earning after our retirement.
Interesting. I think this is something I should do, but I've been stalling for a long time now. I don't really know which firm to work with; I feel they are all the same but it seems you’ve got it all worked out with the firm you work with so i surely wouldn’t mind a recommendation.
Insightful... I curiously looked up her name on the internet and I found her site and i must say she seems proficient, wrote her an email outlining my objectives. Thanks for sharing.
We’ve down sized from the big (Brady bunch) house years ago, although we live in a modest size home we enjoy having a basement and garage areas with plenty of storage space for stuff like extra pantry, camping gear, extra kitchen ware, family heirlooms, exercise and hobby space, tools work benches etc, we make goodwill runs all the time to thin the herd, though we’re comfortable having the extra space and there’s a good chance we have a replacement if something gets broke or comes up missing downstairs!
I love my frugal life. I have lived and worked in 4 countries.. travel to many more, adopted my son solo. Own two homes (paying off in two years), prepping for retirement in 3 years. Life is Good.
Thank you for this video!! As a 64 year old single father & grandfather I've learned to simplify my life! Live & work out of my small one bedroom studio and loving the freedom of hardly any over head!! Purchased a used car for 5k that gets me around just fine and my biggest expense is travleing to see my now grown children and Grandchildren! Also getting what I need to run my Music production business!! Thank you for sharing and continue to feed us with your great content and freeing us from the overhead nonsense that means nothing!! Cheers!!
It’s so nice to hear people our age talk about how great life is. I’m done with our peers who embrace being “old!” If I hear one more time…. “That’s how it is when you get old,” or “It sucks to be old,” or “That’s what happens when you get to be our age,” I think I will scream! Most of them now know I don’t want to hear it and I will argue. I’ve noticed the change in some things they say. I hope I’m influencing them for the better! You are too!
Right on! my reply to moaners " I have gathered a lifetime of wisdom from my decisions and interacting with Others. Using that wisdom now brings so much pleasure!"
I like your ideas. Some time ago I discovered that owning a home, especially as a single woman, is a losing proposition. When I moved to my current place with my partner, who unfortunately died in January, I settled down with tackling all he had collected in over 50 years of his life that he just held onto. It's been a daunting task, but I loved sharing his things, and some of mine, knowing some good would come from it, not the least of which was a neater environment. I'm working on the garage now but I'm getting there. 😊
I was once given advice from a wise friend in my 20’s who said “protect yourselves financially”. So I did. I’ve been frugal most of my adult life. I never felt like I was depriving myself. I recently had to retire from work due to an illness at the age of 51. Because I had protected myself financially, I was able to leave the workforce and concentrate on my health and not worry about how I would pay my bills without an income.
I agree with so much you say. I’m 62 and just moved into my final place and have slowly decluttered and sent 90 % of “stuff” I don’t even want to look at anymore to Goodwill. I could live in a tiny place with the basics at this point and be happy as a Jay bird. Lol. I’m over it!!!
I moved out of a rental house almost 4 years ago, after building out a Ford Transit van to live and travel in. Went to Baja Mexico for that first winter, and love it so much that I now spend 6 months a year (Nov-May) down there to avoid the rainy cold up north, and the other 6 months I spend in my van in the Pacific NW where my kids and grand kids reside. I was paying $2,000/month rent when I moved out of the house, and now pay $4,000/year for my house on the beach in Baja. I still "work" at my online business at age 75, so I'm not depleting my retirement savings (other than the RMD). I love me life style, and find little need for "things" to entertain me. I spend my time working in my business(4hrs/day), paddle boarding, hiking and golfing when in Baja, and walking and being with my grandkids a lot when up north.
True joy is uncaused; it springs from an interior life that is spiritually fulfilled. Material pursuits are misguided attempts at quenching a bottomless thirst for happiness so prevalent in a society that knows little more than superficial yardsticks of "success."
I never thought of myself as a minimalist but have been doing everything you talked about my entire life. If I don't need it I don't buy it and when I do buy something buy quality with the idea I am going to use it for a long time.
I’ve learned to live a minimalist life ever since I retired at age 58 3 years ago. The financial & materialistic freedom is sooo refreshing and quite exhilarating. I spend my meager pension now on quality foods, eating very well & healthy, cooking & enjoyable the dishes that I like. What money I can save, I do splurge it on my self care, like going for massage and beauty salon, and on daughter whenever she comes to visit me in VietNam, by creating some great memories with her, taking her traveling around VN to explore this beautiful country. Bless you for sharing your tips, Azul. I can see the happiness in your smiles, and they are infectious. Let’s enjoy the remainder of our lives unencumbered by the materialistic stuff of the consumeristic society.
@@f430ferrari5 indeed, much as changed in VN. I live 10 min walk from the beach, and absolutely enjoy doing sunrise yoga on the beach almost every morning. Yes, i left VN when i was 13. I’ve come full circle, living at a beach town where i’ve had the fondest memories of my childhood.
My wife and I eat out most Friday and Saturday nights. Some of our friends ask how we can afford to do that. Here are some ways we keep the cost down...1. Use Groupon or coupons when possible. 2. We don't drink often and my wife is a big water drinker. Drinks, especially alcoholic ones run your bill up very quickly! 3. We rarely order appetizers and if we order dessert, we share it. So most of the time we can keep our bills between $35 and $50. (Oh, we also don't go to expensive restaurants. Mom and pop places are great.
once again, great advice. For so many people, the biggest money waster is eating out (or picking up food out). To me, dinner with my wife is an investment in the relationship, but we don't do it a lot. Buying food away from the house is a huge waste most of the time. Cars - an alternative to buying used is what we do. Buy new, but drive the car for 10-15 years or more. My car is 17 years old, and my wife's car lasted 14 years (her new one is 3 years old) and we paid cash for the last 3 new cars. Keeping them in good repair is almost always cheaper than buying another car.
I'm 48years old living in California, I'm hoping to retire at 50 if things keep going well for me. Bought my first house last month and I can't be more proud that am i now. I'm glad I made great decision about my finances that changed me forever but now I can't seem to make any other smart investment.
The first step to successful investing is figuring out your goals and risk tolerance either on your own or with the help of a financial professional but is very advisable you make use of a professional like I did. If you get the facts about saving and investing and follow through with an intelligent plan, you should be able to gain financial security over the years and enjoy the benefits of managing your money.
@@rebecca_burns14 I agree, , I totally agree, I'm 54 and just retired with about 1.2 million in outside retirement funds, no debt and very small dollars in retirement funds compared to my balance of portfolio over the past 3 years to date. tbh, the role of the Fin-advisor can only be overlooked, not denied. just do your research to find a reputable one.
@@edward.abraham s there any chance you could recommend who you work with? I've wanted to make this switch for a very long time now, but I've been very hesitant about. I'll appreciate any recommendation.
@@Kim.beneteau Renowned for her proficiency and expertise in the financial market, “Julia Ann Finnicum” my financial advisor, holds a broad understanding of portfolio diversification and is recognized as an authority in this domain.
@@edward.abraham I found her, reached out via email, and scheduled a call, anticipating her response. My goal is to continue 2023 on a positive financial trajectory
Yes, we use ferries in the Bay Area and Seattle. The restaurants are ridiculously priced in greater San Francisco and Seattle. Many people waste so much money dining out.
I'm 62 and feel bad for younger generations. They want so much - a big house, new car, raising kids, vacations, eating out, designer clothes, specialty foods, etc...and feel deprived when they have to sacrifice. I was the same way but something changed as I got older. I stopped wanting all that stuff and just feel content having a big stack of cash saved, no debt; then a reliable wealth manager to help me stay afloat through retirement.
Well said old timer, i was also once like that. I'm currently in my mid-50s. This is something my wife and I did. I withdrew some cash from a property of mine, and with the help of my wife's financial manager, I made a significant market investments over the previous two years. I won't be able to catch up to m wife's earnings over time, but at least I make more now. Even before I retire, my income has increased by 71%, compared to merely using my 401(k), my retirement savings has grown significantly.
Lol i was once also that reckless. Not anymore. It's unfortunate most people don't have such information. I don't really blame people who panic. Lack of information can be a big hurdle. I've been making more than $31k passively by just investing through an advisor, and I don't have to do much work. Doesn't matter if the economy is misbehaving; great wealth managers will always make returns.
@bezosjesss Well You may do the same thing we did when we first began out and look for a few independent licensed brokers/firms online. We no longer utilize anyone other than "HEATHER LEE LARIONI" as our investment advisor. Since we began utilizing her services three years ago, her methods have provided extremely steady, reasonable returns in bonds and ETFs.
I’m 57… when I was a teenager my grandpa gave me sound advice to NOT get into debt. Did I listen ? No. Lol. I turned 18 and before I was 19 I had 4-5 credit cards, mostly maxed out on stupid stuff. But, when I was about 21 I straightened out. Paid off the debt, went to college and haven’t had debt since then. No mortgage, no car loans no nothing. It’s so freeing. Yes, some sacrifices along the way but well worth it
It's amazing to see all the stiff we have in our house that we never use. I look at that stuff I bought and think, damn, I could have retired 2 years earlier if I didn't waste money on that item and just invested said money.
In 2016 we sold our home, our two cars, put art clothes and some furniture into a 10x15 storage unit, have worked and live in a few different countries and now living as ex pats in a small apartment in Portugal. No regrets!!
Getting rid of lots of our stuff was so enlightening!!! We moved to our ski condo when we did a two year renovation on our big house, we ended up selling the house when the work was done. We felt like life was so much more simple. We travel lots, so you just lock the door and have No worries about sprinkler systems and everything else running in an empty house.
Azul! I couldn’t agree more with your points. Simpler is better! Minimalism allows max enjoyment. My wife and I are giving serious thought to selling our 2,500 sq ft house for $550K and moving into our $200K lower/upper apartment, living in the lower and leaving upper empty for when family and friends visit and will use net $350K to travel more and invest. Keep sharing my brother!
The closest town town to us is Truckee CA, where we do everything. I almost prefer visiting at a coffee house so it doesn't take all night and they have staff that much of the time, you just sit there and wait so long for everything you need. Transportation in Truckee is free, their lush bushes allow anyone to get on and off. I just got the best job ever, I am a caregiver/companion to a lady with dementia. We go to a fancy restaurant every Thursday night with her daughter, of course, paid. Slow service is fine, I am on a 48 hr shift. Paid to sleep downstairs in a Million Dollar Home with my own 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and living room downstairs with deck. Otherwise I cannot imagine actually paying to go out to eat, it would drive me nuts all that waiting and crowds. Cycling is our favorite. We watch too much UA-cam which is $12 a month
Thank you for a video on frugality. I've never had a high paying job, so had to be frugal. Have a nice home and even a small cabin. Bought cabin when the housing market crashed way back when, so paid very little. My model is: only have hobbies that generate income or save money. I vegetable garden, maintain my own lawn/yard, cook from scratch etc. I don't need to go to the gym or go for walks for exercise get enough from hobbies. This may not be for everyone but it works for me. I to do not like a lot of clutter just wasted money in my opinion.
Amen on Amazon. I am 2 years out, and learning about retirement. I have been reducing my amazon usage. Things like car parts, supplements.. Amazon will never go away. You seem like a good role model. I have been talking to older people at work, learning from them about retirement ideas...plans. Sadly to many people are CLUELESS about life in general. To tied up in working and consuming. Life isnt about working. My goal, once I retire... stop being a consumer. Grow my own food. Manage my investments and grow them for the next generation. I am very blessed, God has taken care of me very well, it's time for me to give back. I have a valuable skill set and can use it to help others. Live Well. Keep up the great work.
We love our lifestyle. Not a minimilism family. We love our home. We cut where we can . Every penny saved is a plus. Everyone has to do what is right for them and their families
About the home: We purchased a starter home in 1989, raised two successful kids in it, and continue to comfortably live in 1,500 square feet less than two miles from work. We have two 2008 cars (58,000 and 18,000 miles), and a classic for fun that is inside the one-car garage. The home is low maintenance with a first floor bedroom and bath and could work in retirement. One home, one spouse, simple, simple, simple.
Eating out for us was a necessity when we were both working. Now it’s a hassle or for special occasions. Saving tons! Otherwise the biggest change is maximizing our time and expenditures. Longer vacations at off times for less money. Using up accumulated miles for airfare. Haven’t bought clothes in 18 months. Change my own oil etc. Loving it! We went into retirement with a boat and old sports cars, and plan to buy a used RV this Fall. So we are not spinsters, but always looking to save a buck or buy the BOGO, and maximize the value of every dollar.
I’m with you on avoiding buying a new car. The last new car I bought developed a major fault just after the warranty ran out. Buy nearly-new, that way hopefully any glitches will have been addressed.
Love this topic. We just started the process of going through all of the stuff we have accumulated over the past 25 years and getting rid of what we don't need. Our goal is to do small amounts each week and after a year will have gotten down to just what we need. This timing coincides with when we will both be retired and position us to sell our primary residence and easily move into a smaller property we own in another state. We feel doing this in small chunks reduces the emotional component to it and as we experience less clutter it will increase the motivation to keep going.
I cut the cord to cable tv three years ago. Using free OAT ( over the air TV ) It cost about 300 bucks to set up. (Antenna, filter and splitter serving 4 tvs) it is a High definition digital signal and works great.
I've been streaming for over 10 years. I've never heard of OAT. Is it regular tv with all the commercials? I can't stand that. 5 min of your show and 10 min of commercials. I haven't had to sit through commercials for years. I can get local tv on Roku but never watch it.
Hi Azul, it’s funny you mentioned of having a 35” TV at home. We have a 45” TV but for the most part we spend watching TV on either a 10” iPad or even 4.7” iPhone thanks to the technology allows us to watch TV anywhere.
Amazon is just a substitute for spending time on and going out shopping in your car. Amazon warehouses are run by robots and things are cheaper and service quick. If you are impulsive, Amazon is not to blame. Then there's low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. Most need that fix. I'm a minimalist and use a lap top for entertainment and communication, and have no boob tube or telephone with scam callers. No car but bus it. No added furniture to clean and smell up the place. The basic fork, knife and spoon etc, not drawer fulls of anything. I live well and am quite satisfied.
Excellent discussion. I would like to see you do a discussion about wasting food. I am not a religious person by any stretch but I think it borders on being a sin to throw food away. With a little planning and flexibility you can eat everything and save a few bucks in the process. For example; I had a small amount of left over spaghetti and some left over stuffing for lunch yesterday. It doesn't exactly 'go together' (to put is mildly) but I didn't throw it away. Thanks
I think the concept of 'left overs' is part of the problem-second hand food normally thrown away if not eaten immediately. Yep, let's prepare food carefully and not waste anything. And enjoy the next day!
I love this, I am the same, practical frugality, I pay for what brings me joy and comfort but not more than that, I pay for a few streaming services because I love watching documentaries and movies, never buy new cars, when i need to buy something newer, its usually 3-5 years old with lower-ish miles on it and its serviced me well for many years. I am not so frugal that I won't splurge say on a vacation activity or something like that but like you said it's experiences now more than material items.
Still have cable tv but will work on hubby to get rid of it when he retires next month. We both use the library a lot for reading. I'm still driving my will be 13 year old CRV. Hubby has a company car with free gas and insurance until he retires. Then we will use my car and be a one car family. I've put us both on an Amazon holiday and we will order together to save on shipping. Now on to clean the house after retirement.
I just discovered your channel . I’m 57 and enjoy your ideas. We have stopped the dinners as well. I go out fr coffee instead. Keep up the good work. I’ve been a single mom for over 20 years and hv two grown daughters in their mid and late 20s . Thank you for your channel. Looking forward to more.
OMG husband & I loved to have coffee at McDonalds in out tourist town. We'd encounter folks from all over the world. We love to people watch! Simple pleasures ARE the best, indeed. The library is great for a book or DVD. A long walk outside, even nicer in a warm rain. Right on, no to new cars, too.
Totally agree with all your points. We only have one car now because I don’t need one anymore. I noticed you do your videos with outside ambient light. Well done as it saves you money needed for a lighting kit, which is amazing sure almost all UA-camrs have. Liked the sunset (? Sun rise) behind you. 😊😊😊☀️☀️☀️
Thank you. Just what I needed to watch. My hubby and I are directors of our farm business and own property, plus small pensions. I am nearly 52, hubby is 55. We have started to save to retire from the farm, and possibly live on rental income, I'd really appreciate you go LIVE and talk about how to earn passive income online and retire comfortably, let’s say $1M.
It really isn’t about how much you save, it’s about how you manage your money. Whether you work to earn income or invest, it still boils down to income vs expenses, so yeah you may look into financial advisors for a strategy that suits your timing.
I totally agree, I'm 60 and newly retired with about 1.2 million outside retirement funds, no debt, and very small dollars in retirement funds compared to my portfolio balance over the past 3 years till date. tbh, the role of the invt-advisor can only be overlooked, not denied. just have to do your research in finding a reputable one.
@@jeffery_Automotive well a million in profit is a nice milestone, how did you achieve that? I guess you have a proven trading strategy that you've spent a lot on please share more info !! and YES i dont want to make
I began with an Advisor by name Julie Anne Hoover. She’s sec verified and an ISDA member. Her approach is transparent allowing total ownership and control over my portfolio and fees are very reasonable in comparison with my ROI.
This may not apply to everyone, but my wife and I are into playing trad folk music Trad Irish, French Canadian and American Old time. (We are not professionals, although we did play for Ceili dances for 20plus years) but our lives revolve around getting together with other friends we know who also play. Often our trips involve going to festivals where we just camp out and play with others. I know its something I can do into my old age (and learning new tunes keeps the brain active). Its a great and social art form.
I totally agree with the social art form definition. I'm more into trad/swing jazz, but the benefits of jamming w/others are the same, regardless of the style.
@@stevereich2940 yes, you know what I mean. The style doesnt matter. It all goes to what he's saying, enjoyable things dont have to be expensive. Walk in nature, sharing a meal with friends, even cards and board games.
The single most cost saving decision I ever made, was getting divorced from my wife of 27 years! The divorce settlement was misery as the courts are all biased to pathetic women. I'm now retired 14 years later at only 62 years old and so happy.😂
@sallyhuang9709 Actually, it's like downsizing in a company to maximize your profits and getting rid of dead weight employees that do nothing but cost your company money.😂😂
Most of us on this channel probably already know this, but as Azul mentioned, the type of car you own is one of the best ways to lower your expenses. They are always depreciating, unlike real estate, so we try to buy 5-10 year old cars and then keep them until the repairs get to be too frequent. Besides saving on depreciation, you also save by paying less in yearly taxes (if your state has vehicle registration based on the car’s value). Our cars are now 15 and 17 years old, so we also only pay for liability insurance coverage now, and we don’t bother fixing every little dent (also less stress too!). Moderate maintenance I can do myself (changing oil, brake pads etc). Also be sure how much vehicle you really need, and track your mileage to know what your real world fuel efficiency is. A car that gets 25 mpg vs 15 mpg will save $1,200 every year if you drive 15,000 miles a year and gas is $3.00/gal. We are also considering an electric car for our next one. Yes we’ll probably be buying a newer one than we usually buy, but the savings of electricity (if you charge at home) over traditional gas will add up, plus there’s less maintenance or things to break (oil changes, brake pads, serpentine belt, timing belt, head gasket, radiator leaks etc). Of course there’s the battery, but I’m not seeing a lot of catastrophic battery failures that were once feared.
Hi im a new subscriber, great advice, i agree having coffee and a dessert or a slice of cake with hubby or a friend then a full on meal all the time is not needed, 2 years ago we sold a large home with a huge mortgage and bought a small 3 bedroom home with a small mortgage and yep we got rid of lots of stuff thats not needed, im now permanently disabled and aided and hubby retires next year, we dont need lots of things, Thankyou for shareing, watching and following from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 😊🇦🇺
Tip #1, cancel your Amazon Prime. Your will really evaluate your shopping cart before you click buy, or better yet shop your local community for your “needs”. Go out for lunch rather then dinner. Love this way of being intentional with your resources to add value, not clutter up my home and mind with more stuff.
Hubby and I enjoy Happy Hour once a while. We live in a ski town too (Steamboat) and during off-season the various restaurants will offer good deals for the locals
Hi Azul, I am 47 and I have had quite a few setbacks in my life, so the advice you are giving here, I am taking very very seriously. I am at a turning point in my life and your guidelines are very relevant to me, one main one is calculating how many weeks you have left in your life. When you vocalize 1000 weeks it puts a lot into perspective. I have been thinking about minimalist living for some time now and I think now is the best time to implement it. Unfortunately the people I live with don't have the same ideals as I do so it is a bit of a challenge. But thank you for your lists and your honest opinions.
Thank you. Interesting comments. I downsized and moved from Australia to Spain and I now live a simple life. I buy so much less stuff and I find myself feeling so much more content. The difference is stark.
I would love to de clutter. That's number one. I have just gone thru getting rid of DISH and subscribed to You Tube TV. It saved us $110.00 a month. I changed by electric supplier in April and saved about $35 a month. My next move is to shop for auto insurance for a better rate! I also shop for groceries at Aldi's and a place called Sharp Shopper. Much, much cheaper than our local Weis grocery store. I also buy meat from a local beef farm. Organic, grass fed is way better tasting! We stopped going out to eat as much and grill with finer cuts of steak, fish, etc!!!! There are ways to save. One has to be aware! I like your videos a lot!
I’m on the same page, after COVID, a buy out incentive was given for higher paid teachers and I took it. I bought a travel trailer and I’m trying to camp every 2-3 months. I’m substitute teaching and I decide who to work for and it’s helping my inflation cushion. I’m in a few RV groups and several people mention that their spouse died prematurely so now the remaining spouse is going to explore the US.
I stopped coloring my hair. And I enjoy my gray. (I'm 62). Also downsizing and freaked out by all the clothes. It makes a difference after you quit working professionally. I need so much less and it feels so great!
Good info. The only thing I feel differently about is a car. I bought a brand new car at 67. The perfect one for me. I figured it will probably be the last vehicle I purchase. My 65 year old wife has a 20-year-old Lexus still going great. She's leasing an electric car for the daily work commute. Saves a ton on gas. She'll buy it at the end of the 5 year lease when she retires.
I save a lot by going to libraries instead of bookstores. When I do find myself in a shop it's one which sells used/publisher overstocks. Recently I decided to learn Spanish & found lots of books/workbooks for sale at my local Friends of the Public Library. I paid $5 for $50 worth of materials. They also sell lots of used CDs & DVDs.
You are right about Amazon! I suddenly owe them $2000! Netflix is now $20. I'm not too into it and have considered cancelling it. I haven't bought new clothes for a few years now, but I'm retired. Unfortunately I got into a car contract that I have regretted almost since I drove off the lot. I bought a big SUV because my sister (with whom I lived) and I travelled a lot and there was lots of luggage room. Well, she died 6 months after I bought an 8 year payment plan car and it is now way too big for me. I have a little less than 4 years to pay on it left. When it is paid for I will maintain it and hope it lasts until I die. So far, 4 years old and has only 28000 miles, so here I sit with a $530 a month payment on a car I rarely drive. Big mistake.
It never makes sense to be wasteful. But, if you work your entire life to have a comfortable retirement, don't go out of your way to deny yourself. Be smart about it.....
That is how I feel. I've been frugal my whole life and have trouble spending money. I'm constantly talking myself out of things that I really do want. I'm trying to break that habit. I've only recently discovered convenience foods at age 64! A lot of it is really good and not that much more expensive. I wasted a lot of food when I was buying in bulk and shopping sales.
@@grannygoes7882 convenience foods can taste really good however many can have too much salt in them and can make you gain weight. There is a time for convenience food because they saves time but most are ultra processed and it’s better to make your own food, even if it’s just slicing up things for salad, or steaming some vegetables together with a fish or chicken or vegetables with tofu for the vegetarian
I guess I am a true minimalist your standards. No amazon, no tv/app/magazine subscriptions, no new cars, last new car bought in 2008. My 22 year old car died in 2021 meaning the mechanic couldnt fix it. So I bought a used truck to replace it. I very rarely eat out. Recently I have tried investing and so far I am ahead on it. But somehow I find myself over $800k in debt (mostly real estate) I am 66 and plan to work intil 70. I guess one thing life has taught me is that your most valuable asset is talent. If you are talented you can do anything, without it you are kind of screwed. I have autism and test in the bottom 2% of any kind of baseline ability assessment so basically I am not practically good at anything and that makes survival tough.
As far as TV. My Father-In-Law, several years ago, had the first Satellite Dish in the neighborhood. Measured about 10 Ft in diameter. He agreed to let most of his close neighbors to hook up to his TV using additional cable. The funny thing is, they could only watch what he watched. So they would ask him at times if they could watch some other channels. He might complain to himself but would do it anyway. Lol
Best advice I ever got. Never have a credit card or any loans even for a car. Save up cash for a car even if it’s $5K - 10K, second hand. The only loan you should have in your life is a home loan. Save up for your vacation and pay upfront. If you don’t have the money, you don’t go!
We are the opposite. We didn’t have extra money to buy stuff. Now we bring home more $$ than when working so we can go to dinner without looking at the checkbook. Go to see our daughter and her family (400 miles away) whenever. We really don’t buy a lot stuff though.
I am 66 years old and try to be in good health as health care will become unaffordable soon. 2 days gym and 3 mile walk, 3 days Pickleball. Cook at home ,once a week eat out, fish and chips. Sunday and Wednesday to church, no TV just internet.
Oh well,I own 12 restored classic cars and 2 houses but love it!!!! I did downsize I sold 2 other properties..Own 6 other classic cars to be restored and 4 maybe 5 to be sold once done,also own 4 late model cars/truck,the truck is essential for my hobby. My cars are collector cars we restored,I also buy&sell them to make more money..I retired at 38 that was 13 years ago and I wont downsize..It works for some but not myself,I have enough cash/investments to last me to 160 years old,cheers! I dont waste money,dont buy Herman Miller furniture etc..
Find diners or restaurants that have senior day specials. We have a local breakfast place that serves $5 Eggs Benedicts (Bennies!) on Tuesdays. Normally they are about $10. So Tuesdays we run a morning errand and stop by our breakfast place for coffee and Bennies!
Thanks for the practical advice. Keep it coming. I love the don't buy what you don't need approach. I can't tell you how many times that I have said that to my kids. It stuck for a couple of them. Not so much for the others.
Your channel is just what i have been looking for! I need to retire! I told 2 clients NO today! I am just doing the clients i already have for now. That's JOY for me
Thanks enjoy your videos makes me more confident in my plan. Wife and I are about your age when we go to dinner we split a dinner no drinks water. That saves money and still let's you enjoy a night out.
New subscriber here... I appreciate that you said you still DO buy things from Amazon, but only what is necessary. I'm a widow (3 years from retirement) and love that I can get what I need usually within a day or two from Amazon (and often for a better price). I find that when I go to a store, I end up spending more money than I intended. I have a nice car that's paid off, but it uses premium gas and the maintenance is expensive. Most of my entertainment lately has been learning all I can about finances and retirement strategies. Kinda boring to others, but there's a lot to be said for financial literacy!
Welcome Angela! Thanks for watching, and taking the time to comment. And, of course, subscribing!! Agreed, that 1 to 2 day delivery from Amazon is amazing. Sometimes even the same day. How Jeff Bezos does it I’ll never know … 😎 Azul
No car made today needs to use premium fuel. Modern day engines are optimized for mid grade fuel. You can spend that extra money if you want, but the dollars you are putting into your tank don’t equal the dollar out value you get. Save your money
Great video. We only have one TV, never had Netflix or any kind of stick. We do have Apple TV but use it for the fitness program. Also on the used car front, we buy a three year old and under 30K miles on them. My current commuter car is a 2012 Honda Fit with 175+K miles on it, should get another year of so out of it. We live close to NYC, we will pack a cooler and the dogs and head to Liberty State Park, great place to walk 5 miles, have a great dinner and watch the lights come on on the Statue of Liberty and the city. Cheers ! And “Thank You”
I lease a furnished apartment perfect for me (location etc.) I spent hundreds to remove the previous tenant's stuff. He left a 65 inch TV that I used today to watch YOU!
We are renting out our house (it’s paid off) and are downsizing. We are getting rid of so much stuff. It’s time to improve relationships and don’t worry about “things”.
About the Amazon shopping. I nearly exclusively shop online. Much of it Amazon. I find I spend far less shopping online than I do in actual stores. I am not nearly as likely to indulge in impulse buying online as I am walking around in a store. Sometimes I will even spend a dollar or two more online for the savings of my time and gas having to drive to some store, park get out walk around in the store searching for something, paying for it and again wasting time and gasoline driving home. Also, I love a large screen TV. As a senior, I don't like having to squint at the television while watching it.
When I started camping, it opened my eyes. I literally need hardly nothing. I do enjoy quilting, and still have a child in the home- so that’s complicated.
One of the best things I ever did was to give up Xmas & birthdays. Gave 'em up for religious reasons (NOT JW)...but freeing one's self from the obligatory exchanging of 'gifts' was truly liberating, and prevents you from being in the situation where you say "I never use it, but it's still like new, even though I've had it for 10 years...and I can't get rid of it because Aunt Bertha gave it to me". I'm a maniac about not bringing anything new into my home unless it';s an absolute necessity and or I have a place to store it, and know I'll be actually using it frequently. I can't bel;ieve all the crap most Americans clutter their lives with...they spend more time, energy and thought storing and taking care of all the crap than actually using it.
Most people spend $1-$2.5 a mile on a car/truck. I live 45 miles from a bigger city and ordering online saves me money. Last year I put 3000 miles on the car and the rest on an Ebike. If you place items you need in the shopping cart that total $35 you can get free shipping from Amazon. I pay no free shipping fee. People still watch TV? I haven't had my TV on for years. I hardly ever buy new clothing. I buy high quality clothing used online or in garage sales. You are missing out if you don't have organic cotton , bamboo, hemp or silk shirts. Work around the house pants was given to me at a garage sale. My clothing lasts so long hanging them on a clothes line.
Dessert? I order appetizers for my entree! I went out for a 3-hour dinner with a group of friends, drank water and ordered the Caprese app, and spent 18 bucks incl. a generous tip! I made the time more about interacting with those that I was with, rather than what I was ordering. I can buy a bottle of wine at home for what I'd spend on two glasses out. So, I had a RICH night out with a great group of people!
Thank you for sharing. I am not retired but have been trying to scale down. I am pretty good about it but still have a way to go. When I look at unnecessary purchases, I ask myself if I want to work that much longer to buy this. More often than not, the answer is no.
The truth is straightforward: financial freedom is not about what you possess but rather about what you can choose to do without.
AKA...contentment consists not in great wealth, but in few wants.
Financial Freedom is having enough money that you no longer worry about money. The key to true financial freedom is freedom from debt. I retired 7 years ago debt free. I am now able to do what I want anytime I want and I never have to think twice about the money. That's financial freedom to me.
its not what you make its what you spend/owe
Well said 👍
two ways of making money.
earning it, and not spending it.
No booze. That's a big one. I shudder to think how much people spend on alcohol. I make no moral judgement, but am just so grateful that I've preferred being sober since my teenaged years.
Me too. I must have saved a bundle by now at age 60.
Same with smoking. Vices can be detrimental to your finances.
With you!
I'm quitting Alcohol for awhile. Multiple reasons and being frugal is very important the older I get. Good luck and Less is more!
Since I retired I drink far less. It definitely helps my mood, energy levels and maintaining a more balanced approach to things. Lots of obvious physical benefits too.
The best sentence is „let‘s go for a walk….“ I‘m viewing your videos from Germany. I feel confirmed by your advice regarding most of the points. I‘m continously decluttering and feel relief for each piece I could get rid of.
My wife and I are in our 30's. We have no debt other than our mortgage and have opted for experiences over "things" when it comes to holidays and anniversaries. Life and marriage is so much better when you're on the same page.
Yep, just hit 51. Married for 18 years, family of 4. Home and rentals are all paid off, no debt. My wife and I are on the same page, if one spends like crazy it won’t work.
I try to order from Amazon in big chunks. Fill my cart, let time pass, once I’m ready to buy, I review my cart and ditch the unnecessary things. Seeing an entire month’s worth of Amazon purchases in one cart is a way to get back to reality
That is a GREAT strategy.
Good method!
Wanted to add that for items you can't get on Amazon, I create an account with the vendor, subscribe to their email newsletter, add the item I want to my cart and DON'T purchase yet. Eventually a sale or % off promo comes my way. Great for items not urgently needed.
Great advice! I have lived a very simple life. I raised 2 sons as a single mom and paid my 3 bedroom house off in 9 years. I continue to live a frugal life. I also buy used cars and pay them off in 2 years, mine has 200k miles. I will retire March of 2024 at age 61 years! I am healthy and so happy I have made these choices. This life style isn't for everyone, it took discipline and hard work to get where I'm at today.
Congrats on you success! My wife and I have been lucky in a way. In 2008/9 we were new to the workforce and not many good jobs to apply to. This made us pay off credit card/college debt before buying a home in 2014. We rented a small place from family member until ready for home purchase (plus eventually got better jobs). Got lucky buying foreclosed home for less and been saving more since.
The last couple years have been our “spendiest” with the purchase of two new cars, not gonna lie, felt kinda guilty spending a bunch of money but we feel we earned it and can afford it.
Our goal is to retire before 60, and we’re on track to do so 🤞.
with all due respect Chris, were you receiving alimony and or child support? just an honest question I am not judging
Congratulations 🎉
WOW 👏🎉
I dont understand something about people in the USA why is that you put your selves in this boxes or labels like left conservative minimalist why? If you put your self in a box you are putting self in the situation to be stereotype ridicule. also it doesnt make sense because you can be a minimalist one month in different month you con sume normaly..
My girlfriend and I sold a giant beautiful 5 bedroom 5 bath 6000 sf house and downsized to a 2 bedroom condo, invested the money from the house sell. Don’t miss that house and all of the unnecessary extra furniture and stuff at all. Love the freedom and extra time it has brought us.
The house might have been a much safer investment when the stock market or the $$ crash from Bidenomics.
@@kennethward4985 We also bought 3 rental properties with the profit from 2017-2018 and they all appreciated quite a bit, those are our 1st and only rentals. We have a decent amount in the stock market as I have always been a saver. Invested a small amount in Goog, Aapl, Isrg in 2005 and NVDA 2017 amongst others. I’ve had my losers as well but those companies have done really well and more than made up for any losers. We are wondering if we can permanently retire, haven’t worked since last July, hard to wrap my head around it. I am 51, she is 48.
Plus , no big house to clean !!! 😅
@@djack915 yep, my girlfriend cleaned it herself, didn’t want anyone else and who knows how much that would have cost. It took an entire day. So much work involved in general. The yard maintenance was also crazy, water bill, fertilizer for the large lawn, had a pond with a waterfall that was eating electricity and water as a dry climate where I live. Had to have a small dumpster rather than regular trash can due to all the landscaping as it was 1 1/3 acre. All that stuff adds up so when we moved it was a huge drop in monthly expenses. It worked out as we bought at the bottom of market and I know I will never need or want a big house again, but damn it was a lot of work in the meantime.
@@Beaverto 😆 🤣 😂 😹 😆 wow
1. Amazon purchases
2. Spend time with friends over coffee, not dinner
3. Ride ferry across bay
4. Dessert instead of dinner at nice restaurant
5. Pottery with kids
6. Cut monthly subscriptions.
7. Spotify and pandora, limit use.
8. No Apple TV
9. Smaller TV to limit watching
10. Downsize clothing, donate it
11. No new cars
12. Avoid making bad investments. Resist sales pitch.
Jesus Christ thank you
Already do most of these and I’m still working ! This guy had boomer advantage of a good job and rising property ( bought cheaply years ago ) . Next generation can’t do this
Kind of like how we saved $$ in college
13. Hairspray
Thanks. I lasted until 1.17, at which point he had bored the sh1t out of me.
The older we get the more we realize things are just things. Experiences last a lifetime.
Exactly
❤
Agree. Unfortunately, they tell us to not spend money on moments, either
Nice theory but in practice you’ve bought all your “Things” already when you’re young. I’ll bet you’ve got a house, a car, a bike, a wardrobe full of clothes, etc etc. Easy to spout the philosophy when you’ve got all the trinkets, tools and essentials bought already.
@@strickostrickotrue. I grew up poor and the small amount of money I would earn I would spend it in wishes, cheap stuff, food. When I came to the USA, it took me 2 years to realize "things" are just things and the desire to have new things never ends and felt so much remorse to let go of things I pay money for. It was like throwing my money in the trash. Now, I try to live below my means
How can I safeguard my savings in stocks amidst the economic firestorm? What's the most effective strategy to reallocate funds in my portfolio to hedge against downturns?
Investors need to understand where and how to allocate funds to hedge against downturns and still make profits. if you can't navigate the market you should consult with an expert advisor
Accurate asset allocation is crucial, and some individuals use hedging strategies or allocate part of their portfOlio to defensive assets for market downturns. Expert guidance is vital for achieving this. This approach has helped me stay finan-cially secure for over five years, yielding nearly $1 million in returns on invest-ments.
Would you mind telling me how to contact this specific coach using their service? You seem to have the solution, as opposed to the rest of us.
Her name is Rebecca Noblett Roberts. I can't divulge much. Most likely, the internet should have her basic info, you can research if you like
I'm pleased with the advisor's prompt and knowledgeable assistance. Her professionalism instills confidence. Looking forward to further discussions.
I never started buying from Amazon...thank goodness! You're right.. restaurants are so expensive 😮. You're so right and sensible on everything!!!
My husband and I live by these values... Have been for years, and it's kept money in our pockets
Retirees who struggle to meet their basic needs are the ones who could not accumulate enough money during their active years to meet their needs. Retirement choices determine a lot of things. My wife and I both spent same number of years in the civil service, she invested through a wealth manager and myself through the 401k. We both still earning after our retirement.
Interesting. I think this is something I should do, but I've been stalling for a long time now. I don't really know which firm to work with; I feel they are all the same but it seems you’ve got it all worked out with the firm you work with so i surely wouldn’t mind a recommendation.
Insightful... I curiously looked up her name on the internet and I found her site and i must say she seems proficient, wrote her an email outlining my objectives. Thanks for sharing.
We’ve down sized from the big (Brady bunch) house years ago, although we live in a modest size home we enjoy having a basement and garage areas with plenty of storage space for stuff like extra pantry, camping gear, extra kitchen ware, family heirlooms, exercise and hobby space, tools work benches etc, we make goodwill runs all the time to thin the herd, though we’re comfortable having the extra space and there’s a good chance we have a replacement if something gets broke or comes up missing downstairs!
I love my frugal life. I have lived and worked in 4 countries.. travel to many more, adopted my son solo. Own two homes (paying off in two years), prepping for retirement in 3 years. Life is
Good.
Thank you for this video!! As a 64 year old single father & grandfather I've learned to simplify my life! Live & work out of my small one bedroom studio and loving the freedom of hardly any over head!! Purchased a used car for 5k that gets me around just fine and my biggest expense is travleing to see my now grown children and Grandchildren! Also getting what I need to run my Music production business!! Thank you for sharing and continue to feed us with your great content and freeing us from the overhead nonsense that means nothing!! Cheers!!
It’s so nice to hear people our age talk about how great life is. I’m done with our peers who embrace being “old!” If I hear one more time….
“That’s how it is when you get old,” or
“It sucks to be old,” or
“That’s what happens when you get to be our age,”
I think I will scream! Most of them now know I don’t want to hear it and I will argue. I’ve noticed the change in some things they say. I hope I’m influencing them for the better!
You are too!
Right on! my reply to moaners " I have gathered a lifetime of wisdom from my decisions and interacting with Others. Using that wisdom now brings so much pleasure!"
I like your ideas. Some time ago I discovered that owning a home, especially as a single woman, is a losing proposition. When I moved to my current place with my partner, who unfortunately died in January, I settled down with tackling all he had collected in over 50 years of his life that he just held onto. It's been a daunting task, but I loved sharing his things, and some of mine, knowing some good would come from it, not the least of which was a neater environment. I'm working on the garage now but I'm getting there. 😊
I was once given advice from a wise friend in my 20’s who said “protect yourselves financially”. So I did. I’ve been frugal most of my adult life. I never felt like I was depriving myself. I recently had to retire from work due to an illness at the age of 51. Because I had protected myself financially, I was able to leave the workforce and concentrate on my health and not worry about how I would pay my bills without an income.
I agree with so much you say. I’m 62 and just moved into my final place and have slowly decluttered and sent 90 % of “stuff” I don’t even want to look at anymore to Goodwill. I could live in a tiny place with the basics at this point and be happy as a Jay bird. Lol. I’m over it!!!
i always love watching videos about minimalism and decluttering, it took me 8 years to completely empty both of my cellars and the garage.
I moved out of a rental house almost 4 years ago, after building out a Ford Transit van to live and travel in. Went to Baja Mexico for that first winter, and love it so much that I now spend 6 months a year (Nov-May) down there to avoid the rainy cold up north, and the other 6 months I spend in my van in the Pacific NW where my kids and grand kids reside. I was paying $2,000/month rent when I moved out of the house, and now pay $4,000/year for my house on the beach in Baja. I still "work" at my online business at age 75, so I'm not depleting my retirement savings (other than the RMD). I love me life style, and find little need for "things" to entertain me. I spend my time working in my business(4hrs/day), paddle boarding, hiking and golfing when in Baja, and walking and being with my grandkids a lot when up north.
True joy is uncaused; it springs from an interior life that is spiritually fulfilled. Material pursuits are misguided attempts at quenching a bottomless thirst for happiness so prevalent in a society that knows little more than superficial yardsticks of "success."
I never thought of myself as a minimalist but have been doing everything you talked about my entire life. If I don't need it I don't buy it and when I do buy something buy quality with the idea I am going to use it for a long time.
I’ve learned to live a minimalist life ever since I retired at age 58 3 years ago. The financial & materialistic freedom is sooo refreshing and quite exhilarating. I spend my meager pension now on quality foods, eating very well & healthy, cooking & enjoyable the dishes that I like. What money I can save, I do splurge it on my self care, like going for massage and beauty salon, and on daughter whenever she comes to visit me in VietNam, by creating some great memories with her, taking her traveling around VN to explore this beautiful country. Bless you for sharing your tips, Azul. I can see the happiness in your smiles, and they are infectious. Let’s enjoy the remainder of our lives unencumbered by the materialistic stuff of the consumeristic society.
Wonderful story. You must have been around 10 years old when you first left Vietnam?
So much has changed.
@@f430ferrari5 indeed, much as changed in VN. I live 10 min walk from the beach, and absolutely enjoy doing sunrise yoga on the beach almost every morning. Yes, i left VN when i was 13. I’ve come full circle, living at a beach town where i’ve had the fondest memories of my childhood.
Azul's smile is infectious and comes across as a stress free gentleman
My wife and I eat out most Friday and Saturday nights. Some of our friends ask how we can afford to do that. Here are some ways we keep the cost down...1. Use Groupon or coupons when possible. 2. We don't drink often and my wife is a big water drinker. Drinks, especially alcoholic ones run your bill up very quickly! 3. We rarely order appetizers and if we order dessert, we share it. So most of the time we can keep our bills between $35 and $50. (Oh, we also don't go to expensive restaurants. Mom and pop places are great.
Let me guess, you also only tip like 15 percent max.
@@nohero178 wrong. I am a generous tipper. Both of my kids waited tables. I usually tip 20%.
once again, great advice. For so many people, the biggest money waster is eating out (or picking up food out). To me, dinner with my wife is an investment in the relationship, but we don't do it a lot. Buying food away from the house is a huge waste most of the time.
Cars - an alternative to buying used is what we do. Buy new, but drive the car for 10-15 years or more. My car is 17 years old, and my wife's car lasted 14 years (her new one is 3 years old) and we paid cash for the last 3 new cars. Keeping them in good repair is almost always cheaper than buying another car.
I'm 48years old living in California, I'm hoping to retire at 50 if things keep going well for me. Bought my first house last month and I can't be more proud that am i now. I'm glad I made great decision about my finances that changed me forever but now I can't seem to make any other smart investment.
The first step to successful investing is figuring out your goals and risk tolerance either on your own or with the help of a financial professional but is very advisable you make use of a professional like I did. If you get the facts about saving and investing and follow through with an intelligent plan, you should be able to gain financial security over the years and enjoy the benefits of managing your money.
@@rebecca_burns14 I agree, , I totally agree, I'm 54 and just retired with about 1.2 million in outside retirement funds, no debt and very small dollars in retirement funds compared to my balance of portfolio over the past 3 years to date. tbh, the role of the Fin-advisor can only be overlooked, not denied. just do your research to find a reputable one.
@@edward.abraham s there any chance you could recommend who you work with? I've wanted to make this switch for a very long time now, but I've been very hesitant about. I'll appreciate any recommendation.
@@Kim.beneteau Renowned for her proficiency and expertise in the financial market, “Julia Ann Finnicum” my financial advisor, holds a broad understanding of portfolio diversification and is recognized as an authority in this domain.
@@edward.abraham I found her, reached out via email, and scheduled a call, anticipating her response. My goal is to continue 2023 on a positive financial trajectory
Yes, we use ferries in the Bay Area and Seattle. The restaurants are ridiculously priced in greater San Francisco and Seattle. Many people waste so much money dining out.
I'm 62 and feel bad for younger generations. They want so much - a big house, new car, raising kids, vacations, eating out, designer clothes, specialty foods, etc...and feel deprived when they have to sacrifice. I was the same way but something changed as I got older. I stopped wanting all that stuff and just feel content having a big stack of cash saved, no debt; then a reliable wealth manager to help me stay afloat through retirement.
Well said old timer, i was also once like that. I'm currently in my mid-50s. This is something my wife and I did. I withdrew some cash from a property of mine, and with the help of my wife's financial manager, I made a significant market investments over the previous two years. I won't be able to catch up to m wife's earnings over time, but at least I make more now. Even before I retire, my income has increased by 71%, compared to merely using my 401(k), my retirement savings has grown significantly.
Lol i was once also that reckless. Not anymore. It's unfortunate most people don't have such information. I don't really blame people who panic. Lack of information can be a big hurdle. I've been making more than $31k passively by just investing through an advisor, and I don't have to do much work. Doesn't matter if the economy is misbehaving; great wealth managers will always make returns.
@bezosjesss Well You may do the same thing we did when we first began out and look for a few independent licensed brokers/firms online. We no longer utilize anyone other than "HEATHER LEE LARIONI" as our investment advisor. Since we began utilizing her services three years ago, her methods have provided extremely steady, reasonable returns in bonds and ETFs.
Well said!
I’m 57… when I was a teenager my grandpa gave me sound advice to NOT get into debt. Did I listen ? No. Lol. I turned 18 and before I was 19 I had 4-5 credit cards, mostly maxed out on stupid stuff. But, when I was about 21 I straightened out. Paid off the debt, went to college and haven’t had debt since then. No mortgage, no car loans no nothing. It’s so freeing. Yes, some sacrifices along the way but well worth it
It's amazing to see all the stiff we have in our house that we never use. I look at that stuff I bought and think, damn, I could have retired 2 years earlier if I didn't waste money on that item and just invested said money.
In 2016 we sold our home, our two cars, put art clothes and some furniture into a 10x15 storage unit, have worked and live in a few different countries and now living as ex pats in a small apartment in Portugal. No regrets!!
I could listen to you all day long, your voice is very soothing.
Getting rid of lots of our stuff was so enlightening!!!
We moved to our ski condo when we did a two year renovation on our big house, we ended up selling the house when the work was done. We felt like life was so much more simple. We travel lots, so you just lock the door and have No worries about sprinkler systems and everything else running in an empty house.
Azul! I couldn’t agree more with your points.
Simpler is better! Minimalism allows max enjoyment.
My wife and I are giving serious thought to selling our 2,500 sq ft house for $550K and moving into our $200K lower/upper apartment, living in the lower and leaving upper empty for when family and friends visit and will use net $350K to travel more and invest.
Keep sharing my brother!
The closest town town to us is Truckee CA, where we do everything. I almost prefer visiting at a coffee house so it doesn't take all night and they have staff that much of the time, you just sit there and wait so long for everything you need. Transportation in Truckee is free, their lush bushes allow anyone to get on and off. I just got the best job ever, I am a caregiver/companion to a lady with dementia. We go to a fancy restaurant every Thursday night with her daughter, of course, paid. Slow service is fine, I am on a 48 hr shift. Paid to sleep downstairs in a Million Dollar Home with my own 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and living room downstairs with deck. Otherwise I cannot imagine actually paying to go out to eat, it would drive me nuts all that waiting and crowds. Cycling is our favorite. We watch too much UA-cam which is $12 a month
Thank you for a video on frugality. I've never had a high paying job, so had to be frugal. Have a nice home and even a small cabin. Bought cabin when the housing market crashed way back when, so paid very little.
My model is: only have hobbies that generate income or save money. I vegetable garden, maintain my own lawn/yard, cook from scratch etc. I don't need to go to the gym or go for walks for exercise get enough from hobbies. This may not be for everyone but it works for me.
I to do not like a lot of clutter just wasted money in my opinion.
Amen on Amazon. I am 2 years out, and learning about retirement. I have been reducing my amazon usage. Things like car parts, supplements.. Amazon will never go away. You seem like a good role model. I have been talking to older people at work, learning from them about retirement ideas...plans. Sadly to many people are CLUELESS about life in general. To tied up in working and consuming. Life isnt about working. My goal, once I retire... stop being a consumer. Grow my own food. Manage my investments and grow them for the next generation. I am very blessed, God has taken care of me very well, it's time for me to give back. I have a valuable skill set and can use it to help others. Live Well. Keep up the great work.
We love our lifestyle. Not a minimilism family. We love our home. We cut where we can . Every penny saved is a plus. Everyone has to do what is right for them and their families
About the home: We purchased a starter home in 1989, raised two successful kids in it, and continue to comfortably live in 1,500 square feet less than two miles from work. We have two 2008 cars (58,000 and 18,000 miles), and a classic for fun that is inside the one-car garage. The home is low maintenance with a first floor bedroom and bath and could work in retirement. One home, one spouse, simple, simple, simple.
We share coffee and/or breakfast most days with friends. Some days I just go for a walk.
Good advice again.
Eating out for us was a necessity when we were both working. Now it’s a hassle or for special occasions. Saving tons! Otherwise the biggest change is maximizing our time and expenditures. Longer vacations at off times for less money. Using up accumulated miles for airfare.
Haven’t bought clothes in 18 months.
Change my own oil etc.
Loving it!
We went into retirement with a boat and old sports cars, and plan to buy a used RV this Fall. So we are not spinsters, but always looking to save a buck or buy the BOGO, and maximize the value of every dollar.
I’m with you on avoiding buying a new car. The last new car I bought developed a major fault just after the warranty ran out.
Buy nearly-new, that way hopefully any glitches will have been addressed.
Love this topic. We just started the process of going through all of the stuff we have accumulated over the past 25 years and getting rid of what we don't need. Our goal is to do small amounts each week and after a year will have gotten down to just what we need. This timing coincides with when we will both be retired and position us to sell our primary residence and easily move into a smaller property we own in another state. We feel doing this in small chunks reduces the emotional component to it and as we experience less clutter it will increase the motivation to keep going.
I cut the cord to cable tv three years ago. Using free OAT ( over the air TV ) It cost about 300 bucks to set up. (Antenna, filter and splitter serving 4 tvs) it is a High definition digital signal and works great.
I've been streaming for over 10 years. I've never heard of OAT. Is it regular tv with all the commercials? I can't stand that. 5 min of your show and 10 min of commercials. I haven't had to sit through commercials for years. I can get local tv on Roku but never watch it.
I think they meant OTA , means ‘over the air ‘ using an antenna
Where do you get that?
Hi Azul, it’s funny you mentioned of having a 35” TV at home. We have a 45” TV but for the most part we spend watching TV on either a 10” iPad or even 4.7” iPhone thanks to the technology allows us to watch TV anywhere.
I sit in front of my 45” TV and watch on my iPad or MacBook.
I had only 4 TVs in my life, 13, 19, 42, 50. The only one that died was the 13 inch.
I decided not to buy another television and see if I missed it. I didn’t know watch Netflix or youtube on my iPad or my laptop and that’s enough.
Amazon is just a substitute for spending time on and going out shopping in your car. Amazon warehouses are run by robots and things are cheaper and service quick. If you are impulsive, Amazon is not to blame. Then there's low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. Most need that fix. I'm a minimalist and use a lap top for entertainment and communication, and have no boob tube or telephone with scam callers. No car but bus it. No added furniture to clean and smell up the place. The basic fork, knife and spoon etc, not drawer fulls of anything. I live well and am quite satisfied.
Excellent discussion. I would like to see you do a discussion about wasting food. I am not a religious person by any stretch but I think it borders on being a sin to throw food away. With a little planning and flexibility you can eat everything and save a few bucks in the process. For example; I had a small amount of left over spaghetti and some left over stuffing for lunch yesterday. It doesn't exactly 'go together' (to put is mildly) but I didn't throw it away. Thanks
I've adopted the Carnivore diet and it is so simple, easy and wasteless as well as bringing life changing benefits in health
I think the concept of 'left overs' is part of the problem-second hand food normally thrown away if not eaten immediately. Yep, let's prepare food carefully and not waste anything. And enjoy the next day!
@@Baabaabelle not for the animals
I love this, I am the same, practical frugality, I pay for what brings me joy and comfort but not more than that, I pay for a few streaming services because I love watching documentaries and movies, never buy new cars, when i need to buy something newer, its usually 3-5 years old with lower-ish miles on it and its serviced me well for many years. I am not so frugal that I won't splurge say on a vacation activity or something like that but like you said it's experiences now more than material items.
Still have cable tv but will work on hubby to get rid of it when he retires next month. We both use the library a lot for reading. I'm still driving my will be 13 year old CRV. Hubby has a company car with free gas and insurance until he retires. Then we will use my car and be a one car family. I've put us both on an Amazon holiday and we will order together to save on shipping. Now on to clean the house after retirement.
Live sensibly, live frugal, live within your means. Enjoy what you have not what you want!
I just discovered your channel . I’m 57 and enjoy your ideas. We have stopped the dinners as well. I go out fr coffee instead. Keep up the good work. I’ve been a single mom for over 20 years and hv two grown daughters in their mid and late 20s . Thank you for your channel. Looking forward to more.
I haven't purchased a new car since 2001. A pre-owned or used car has worked just fine for me since then.
OMC - Old Man Coffee, started it at 40 to to get years of solving the world problems with my friends.
OMG husband & I loved to have coffee at McDonalds in out tourist town. We'd encounter folks from all over the world. We love to people watch! Simple pleasures ARE the best, indeed. The library is great for a book or DVD. A long walk outside, even nicer in a warm rain. Right on, no to new cars, too.
Totally agree with all your points. We only have one car now because I don’t need one anymore. I noticed you do your videos with outside ambient light. Well done as it saves you money needed for a lighting kit, which is amazing sure almost all UA-camrs have. Liked the sunset (? Sun rise) behind you. 😊😊😊☀️☀️☀️
Im 59 and this is all so helpful and relevant. Thank you!
Thank you. Just what I needed to watch. My hubby and I are directors of our farm business and own property, plus small pensions. I am nearly 52, hubby is 55. We have started to save to retire from the farm, and possibly live on rental income, I'd really appreciate you go LIVE and talk about how to earn passive income online and retire comfortably, let’s say $1M.
consider financial planning.
It really isn’t about how much you save, it’s about how you manage your money. Whether you work to earn income or invest, it still boils down to income vs expenses, so yeah you may look into financial advisors for a strategy that suits your timing.
I totally agree, I'm 60 and newly retired with about 1.2 million outside retirement funds, no debt, and very small dollars in retirement funds compared to my portfolio balance over the past 3 years till date. tbh, the role of the invt-advisor can only be overlooked, not denied. just have to do your research in finding a reputable one.
@@jeffery_Automotive well a million in profit is a nice milestone, how did you achieve that? I guess you have a proven trading strategy that you've spent a lot on please share more info !! and YES i dont want to make
I began with an Advisor by name Julie Anne Hoover. She’s sec verified and an ISDA member. Her approach is transparent allowing total ownership and control over my portfolio and fees are very reasonable in comparison with my ROI.
I love the idea of meeting just for desert!
This may not apply to everyone, but my wife and I are into playing trad folk music Trad Irish, French Canadian and American Old time. (We are not professionals, although we did play for Ceili dances for 20plus years) but our lives revolve around getting together with other friends we know who also play. Often our trips involve going to festivals where we just camp out and play with others. I know its something I can do into my old age (and learning new tunes keeps the brain active). Its a great and social art form.
I totally agree with the social art form definition. I'm more into trad/swing jazz, but the benefits of jamming w/others are the same, regardless of the style.
@@stevereich2940 yes, you know what I mean. The style doesnt matter.
It all goes to what he's saying, enjoyable things dont have to be expensive. Walk in nature, sharing a meal with friends, even cards and board games.
The single most cost saving decision I ever made, was getting divorced from my wife of 27 years! The divorce settlement was misery as the courts are all biased to pathetic women. I'm now retired 14 years later at only 62 years old and so happy.😂
You decluttered your wife😅
@sallyhuang9709 Actually, it's like downsizing in a company to maximize your profits and getting rid of dead weight employees that do nothing but cost your company money.😂😂
Most of us on this channel probably already know this, but as Azul mentioned, the type of car you own is one of the best ways to lower your expenses. They are always depreciating, unlike real estate, so we try to buy 5-10 year old cars and then keep them until the repairs get to be too frequent. Besides saving on depreciation, you also save by paying less in yearly taxes (if your state has vehicle registration based on the car’s value). Our cars are now 15 and 17 years old, so we also only pay for liability insurance coverage now, and we don’t bother fixing every little dent (also less stress too!). Moderate maintenance I can do myself (changing oil, brake pads etc). Also be sure how much vehicle you really need, and track your mileage to know what your real world fuel efficiency is. A car that gets 25 mpg vs 15 mpg will save $1,200 every year if you drive 15,000 miles a year and gas is $3.00/gal. We are also considering an electric car for our next one. Yes we’ll probably be buying a newer one than we usually buy, but the savings of electricity (if you charge at home) over traditional gas will add up, plus there’s less maintenance or things to break (oil changes, brake pads, serpentine belt, timing belt, head gasket, radiator leaks etc). Of course there’s the battery, but I’m not seeing a lot of catastrophic battery failures that were once feared.
Hi im a new subscriber, great advice, i agree having coffee and a dessert or a slice of cake with hubby or a friend then a full on meal all the time is not needed, 2 years ago we sold a large home with a huge mortgage and bought a small 3 bedroom home with a small mortgage and yep we got rid of lots of stuff thats not needed, im now permanently disabled and aided and hubby retires next year, we dont need lots of things, Thankyou for shareing, watching and following from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 😊🇦🇺
On the East coast we use ferries, too. North shore of Long Island to Connecticut, Staten Island to Manhattan. Fun.
Tip #1, cancel your Amazon Prime. Your will really evaluate your shopping cart before you click buy, or better yet shop your local community for your “needs”. Go out for lunch rather then dinner. Love this way of being intentional with your resources to add value, not clutter up my home and mind with more stuff.
Hubby and I enjoy Happy Hour once a while. We live in a ski town too (Steamboat) and during off-season the various restaurants will offer good deals for the locals
Hi Azul, I am 47 and I have had quite a few setbacks in my life, so the advice you are giving here, I am taking very very seriously. I am at a turning point in my life and your guidelines are very relevant to me, one main one is calculating how many weeks you have left in your life. When you vocalize 1000 weeks it puts a lot into perspective. I have been thinking about minimalist living for some time now and I think now is the best time to implement it. Unfortunately the people I live with don't have the same ideals as I do so it is a bit of a challenge. But thank you for your lists and your honest opinions.
Thank you. Interesting comments. I downsized and moved from Australia to Spain and I now live a simple life. I buy so much less stuff and I find myself feeling so much more content. The difference is stark.
I would love to de clutter. That's number one. I have just gone thru getting rid of DISH and subscribed to You Tube TV. It saved us $110.00 a month. I changed by electric supplier in April and saved about $35 a month. My next move is to shop for auto insurance for a better rate! I also shop for groceries at Aldi's and a place called Sharp Shopper. Much, much cheaper than our local Weis grocery store. I also buy meat from a local beef farm. Organic, grass fed is way better tasting! We stopped going out to eat as much and grill with finer cuts of steak, fish, etc!!!! There are ways to save. One has to be aware! I like your videos a lot!
I’m on the same page, after COVID, a buy out incentive was given for higher paid teachers and I took it. I bought a travel trailer and I’m trying to camp every 2-3 months. I’m substitute teaching and I decide who to work for and it’s helping my inflation cushion. I’m in a few RV groups and several people mention that their spouse died prematurely so now the remaining spouse is going to explore the US.
I stopped coloring my hair. And I enjoy my gray. (I'm 62). Also downsizing and freaked out by all the clothes. It makes a difference after you quit working professionally. I need so much less and it feels so great!
Good info. The only thing I feel differently about is a car. I bought a brand new car at 67. The perfect one for me. I figured it will probably be the last vehicle I purchase. My 65 year old wife has a 20-year-old Lexus still going great. She's leasing an electric car for the daily work commute. Saves a ton on gas. She'll buy it at the end of the 5 year lease when she retires.
I save a lot by going to libraries instead of bookstores. When I do find myself in a shop it's one which sells used/publisher overstocks. Recently I decided to learn Spanish & found lots of books/workbooks for sale at my local Friends of the Public Library. I paid $5 for $50 worth of materials. They also sell lots of used CDs & DVDs.
Excellent analysis the key takeaway is to know the difference between a need and a want in Life.
I bought a hair trimmer for $17 and save $35/haircut best investment ever
just a pair of hair scissors will do ... on the road ... in the trench ...
You are right about Amazon! I suddenly owe them $2000! Netflix is now $20. I'm not too into it and have considered cancelling it. I haven't bought new clothes for a few years now, but I'm retired. Unfortunately I got into a car contract that I have regretted almost since I drove off the lot. I bought a big SUV because my sister (with whom I lived) and I travelled a lot and there was lots of luggage room. Well, she died 6 months after I bought an 8 year payment plan car and it is now way too big for me. I have a little less than 4 years to pay on it left. When it is paid for I will maintain it and hope it lasts until I die. So far, 4 years old and has only 28000 miles, so here I sit with a $530 a month payment on a car I rarely drive. Big mistake.
It never makes sense to be wasteful. But, if you work your entire life to have a comfortable retirement, don't go out of your way to deny yourself. Be smart about it.....
That is how I feel. I've been frugal my whole life and have trouble spending money. I'm constantly talking myself out of things that I really do want. I'm trying to break that habit. I've only recently discovered convenience foods at age 64! A lot of it is really good and not that much more expensive. I wasted a lot of food when I was buying in bulk and shopping sales.
@@grannygoes7882 convenience foods can taste really good however many can have too much salt in them and can make you gain weight. There is a time for convenience food because they saves time but most are ultra processed and it’s better to make your own food, even if it’s just slicing up things for salad, or steaming some vegetables together with a fish or chicken or vegetables with tofu for the vegetarian
I guess I am a true minimalist your standards. No amazon, no tv/app/magazine subscriptions, no new cars, last new car bought in 2008. My 22 year old car died in 2021 meaning the mechanic couldnt fix it. So I bought a used truck to replace it. I very rarely eat out. Recently I have tried investing and so far I am ahead on it. But somehow I find myself over $800k in debt (mostly real estate) I am 66 and plan to work intil 70. I guess one thing life has taught me is that your most valuable asset is talent. If you are talented you can do anything, without it you are kind of screwed. I have autism and test in the bottom 2% of any kind of baseline ability assessment so basically I am not practically good at anything and that makes survival tough.
As far as TV. My Father-In-Law, several years ago, had the first Satellite Dish in the neighborhood. Measured about 10 Ft in diameter. He agreed to let most of his close neighbors to hook up to his TV using additional cable. The funny thing is, they could only watch what he watched. So they would ask him at times if they could watch some other channels. He might complain to himself but would do it anyway. Lol
Best advice I ever got. Never have a credit card or any loans even for a car. Save up cash for a car even if it’s $5K - 10K, second hand. The only loan you should have in your life is a home loan. Save up for your vacation and pay upfront. If you don’t have the money, you don’t go!
You can never have too much minimalism !
We are the opposite. We didn’t have extra money to buy stuff. Now we bring home more $$ than when working so we can go to dinner without looking at the checkbook. Go to see our daughter and her family (400 miles away) whenever. We really don’t buy a lot stuff though.
I am 66 years old and try to be in good health as health care will become unaffordable soon. 2 days gym and 3 mile walk, 3 days Pickleball. Cook at home ,once a week eat out, fish and chips. Sunday and Wednesday to church, no TV just internet.
Oh well,I own 12 restored classic cars and 2 houses but love it!!!! I did downsize I sold 2 other properties..Own 6 other classic cars to be restored and 4 maybe 5 to be sold once done,also own 4 late model cars/truck,the truck is essential for my hobby.
My cars are collector cars we restored,I also buy&sell them to make more money..I retired at 38 that was 13 years ago and I wont downsize..It works for some but not myself,I have enough cash/investments to last me to 160 years old,cheers! I dont waste money,dont buy Herman Miller furniture etc..
Find diners or restaurants that have senior day specials. We have a local breakfast place that serves $5 Eggs Benedicts (Bennies!) on Tuesdays. Normally they are about $10. So Tuesdays we run a morning errand and stop by our breakfast place for coffee and Bennies!
Thanks for the practical advice. Keep it coming. I love the don't buy what you don't need approach. I can't tell you how many times that I have said that to my kids. It stuck for a couple of them. Not so much for the others.
Your channel is just what i have been looking for! I need to retire! I told 2 clients NO today! I am just doing the clients i already have for now. That's JOY for me
Thanks enjoy your videos makes me more confident in my plan. Wife and I are about your age when we go to dinner we split a dinner no drinks water. That saves money and still let's you enjoy a night out.
New subscriber here... I appreciate that you said you still DO buy things from Amazon, but only what is necessary. I'm a widow (3 years from retirement) and love that I can get what I need usually within a day or two from Amazon (and often for a better price). I find that when I go to a store, I end up spending more money than I intended. I have a nice car that's paid off, but it uses premium gas and the maintenance is expensive. Most of my entertainment lately has been learning all I can about finances and retirement strategies. Kinda boring to others, but there's a lot to be said for financial literacy!
Welcome Angela! Thanks for watching, and taking the time to comment. And, of course, subscribing!!
Agreed, that 1 to 2 day delivery from Amazon is amazing. Sometimes even the same day. How Jeff Bezos does it I’ll never know … 😎 Azul
No car made today needs to use premium fuel. Modern day engines are optimized for mid grade fuel. You can spend that extra money if you want, but the dollars you are putting into your tank don’t equal the dollar out value you get. Save your money
@@clintonwhite2966 I wish I could agree, but that dang Mercedes runs like a dog on lower grade fuel.
I love pandora..great video. Enjoy your thoughts. We also enjoy the simple life and have older cars that run great. 😊
Great video. We only have one TV, never had Netflix or any kind of stick. We do have Apple TV but use it for the fitness program. Also on the used car front, we buy a three year old and under 30K miles on them. My current commuter car is a 2012 Honda Fit with 175+K miles on it, should get another year of so out of it.
We live close to NYC, we will pack a cooler and the dogs and head to Liberty State Park, great place to walk 5 miles, have a great dinner and watch the lights come on on the Statue of Liberty and the city.
Cheers ! And “Thank You”
I lease a furnished apartment perfect for me (location etc.) I spent hundreds to remove the previous tenant's stuff. He left a 65 inch TV that I used today to watch YOU!
We are renting out our house (it’s paid off) and are downsizing. We are getting rid of so much stuff. It’s time to improve relationships and don’t worry about “things”.
About the Amazon shopping. I nearly exclusively shop online. Much of it Amazon. I find I spend far less shopping online than I do in actual stores. I am not nearly as likely to indulge in impulse buying online as I am walking around in a store. Sometimes I will even spend a dollar or two more online for the savings of my time and gas having to drive to some store, park get out walk around in the store searching for something, paying for it and again wasting time and gasoline driving home. Also, I love a large screen TV. As a senior, I don't like having to squint at the television while watching it.
When I started camping, it opened my eyes. I literally need hardly nothing. I do enjoy quilting, and still have a child in the home- so that’s complicated.
Still trying to get my husband to get rid of his dress shoes from the 80s. Also the shoe polish kit. No clothes to wear with them though.😂
One of the best things I ever did was to give up Xmas & birthdays. Gave 'em up for religious reasons (NOT JW)...but freeing one's self from the obligatory exchanging of 'gifts' was truly liberating, and prevents you from being in the situation where you say "I never use it, but it's still like new, even though I've had it for 10 years...and I can't get rid of it because Aunt Bertha gave it to me". I'm a maniac about not bringing anything new into my home unless it';s an absolute necessity and or I have a place to store it, and know I'll be actually using it frequently. I can't bel;ieve all the crap most Americans clutter their lives with...they spend more time, energy and thought storing and taking care of all the crap than actually using it.
Most people spend $1-$2.5 a mile on a car/truck. I live 45 miles from a bigger city and ordering online saves me money. Last year I put 3000 miles on the car and the rest on an Ebike. If you place items you need in the shopping cart that total $35 you can get free shipping from Amazon. I pay no free shipping fee.
People still watch TV? I haven't had my TV on for years.
I hardly ever buy new clothing. I buy high quality clothing used online or in garage sales. You are missing out if you don't have organic cotton , bamboo, hemp or silk shirts. Work around the house pants was given to me at a garage sale. My clothing lasts so long hanging them on a clothes line.
Dessert? I order appetizers for my entree! I went out for a 3-hour dinner with a group of friends, drank water and ordered the Caprese app, and spent 18 bucks incl. a generous tip! I made the time more about interacting with those that I was with, rather than what I was ordering. I can buy a bottle of wine at home for what I'd spend on two glasses out. So, I had a RICH night out with a great group of people!
Thank you for sharing. I am not retired but have been trying to scale down. I am pretty good about it but still have a way to go. When I look at unnecessary purchases, I ask myself if I want to work that much longer to buy this. More often than not, the answer is no.