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Hi. I see where you’re coming from. But I have bought extended warranties on many things and it’s saved me so much money! I got a whole new vacuum, new iRobot, outdoor water fountain, game controllers, and more I can’t remember. So it does pay off for us a least. 😊
Oh I am a trift store shopper for my clothes and kids clothes! Most of what I get from goodwill or once upon a child are under $ 5 a piece! A lot of these items are brand new w tags!
I slightly disagree (I wouldn't use a ratty couch from anyone - even if it's free). To me being frugal doesn't mean you're cheap - it means that I don't spend money on things that don't matter to me so that I can spend money on the things that do.
I agree. Also with restaurants, we eat at home typically but there is some food is cheaper to pick up than but all the ingredients to make it, like Thai food. But we make it we worthwhile making it an experience versus just sustenance
We had a ratty couch the neighbors put to the road when we first moved into our house. It wasn't in great shape but it was free and that's what mattered at the time. It was this couch or no couch. So we took it back to the garage, sprayed it with bed bug killer as a precaution (which funnily enough was left behind by the sellers) and it was good to go for a year til we had the money to replace our couch with something good quality.
LOL, Ive never owned a new couch. Last 2 have been my dads old couch and my mums old couch. Both in reasonable condition. My current couch is perfect for me, not to flash so I dont mind the cat and the dog being on them, nice long couch so I can lie down on it with plenty of room, and 2 recliner chairs which are super comfy.
I wouldn’t sleep on a used couch or used mattress, just like I wouldn’t wear used underwear. 🤮 You don’t know what has happened on that couch ! Disgusting ! Now, used bookcases or desks that are metal or wood, that’s different.
I just went to the thrift store sale and bought 20 pieces of clothes for 40 dollars. They were on sale for 2 dollars each. I completely updated my wardrobe for 40 dollars. It be honest, I lost 45 pounds and it was a treat to myself to buy new clothes without the new price.
Great list! Let me tell you as an early 40s female I am watching my friends spend crazy $ on lashes, Botox, hair dye... all to fight the inevitable. I have earned my wrinkles and my gray and I’d rather go travel then be stuck in denial.
I love your husband saying car washes... yes I would prefer to wash my own car but I have a son who has autism and his favorite thing to do Is go thru the car wash. So yes I pay the monthly pass but my car is always clean and my son is happy... so worth the $25.00
I used to struggle a lot keeping the inside of my car clean, so I started going through the car wash, and then pulling around to the free vacuums and cleaning out the trash, getting the worst of the dirt and leaves and debris, etc. I never thought I'd be one of those people that keeps a car clean, but now I am, and it only costs $7 once or twice a month. WELL worth the money!
My apartment lease will not let me wash my car. Something about creating a hazard. And there’s rules about soap going in the drains that go to the ocean. So my only legal option is to go to a car wash!
Wait, you live in Idaho, Do you wash your car in winter? I couldn’t imagine washing it myself in the winter but in the summer, absolutely, wash it yourself!
I live in the northeast and in the winter they salt the roads which does a lot of damage to cars, especially the undercarriage which is pretty hard to clean yourself. Paying for a car wash with the underneath washed is actually an investment on your vehicle if you plan on keeping it long term.
I think it's important to remember that just because one frugal family does something, it doesn't mean that it's going to work for you. Everyone's situations, hobbies, and life are going to be a little bit different so don't feel like you have to only use the library if your passion is collecting certain books/series. Or maybe you like splurging on concerts now and again. That's totally fine. And maybe you're saving money somewhere else.
She says this a lot! Her family puts money towards things like biking and hiking equipment, she realizes that isn’t important to all families but they budget specifically for what is important to them. She touches on that all the time 😊
Full-priced cards or gift wrap/bags. The Dollar Tree is the place to go for cards, bags and some wrapping paper. Holiday wrapping paper is only purchased on steep discount after the holidays and bonus if you can find ones that pass for other occasions too at that time.
I think being a minimalist is better than being frugal! Living for experiences instead of clutter. Instead of buying 5 pairs of cheap shoes, buy 1 pair of high-quality shoes.
I bought Bally shoes 35 years ago and the shoes still look beautiful whereas cheaper brands fell apart years ago. Quality counts when it comes to shoes and they are more comfortable too.
My mother got a zero interest car loan about 2 years ago. She said it was the only reason she financed it. And honestly, it does make more sense than pulling her money out of an interest bearing account, especially since she gets retirement income.
@@Giannas1096 a discount off cash offer does not mean a loan has interest. I understand your point, but you are talking total cost, NOT the cost to take out a loan.
@@JustWatchMeDoThis same thing. If a car costs $20k with a loan but you pay cash up front you might get a discount of 2-3K. Meaning the car now costs you 17-18K. The 2-3K is the interest on the loan but they make it look like it’s interest free by bumping up the price in the first place. I’ve worked in finance, this is how they do it. The car yard has already factored finance into negotiations.
The mom in law of a friend of mine died. She was a lady who always dressed well and spent money on good quality clothes. She also took really good care of her clothes. Turns out I am her size ( my friend us not) So she gave me all if these awesome clothes! This was about 4-5 years ago and all the clothes still look great!!!
I would add that I don’t buy special hair products and skin care products. I have a bar of soap, 1 container of shampoo and 1 container of conditioner in my shower. My hairdresser was blown away at how healthy my hair is using cheap products, and people normally assume I am 10 years younger than I really am.
My oldest daughter has told her inlaws so many times about me going garage saleing for clothes that this year when they cleaned out their closet they sent me 3 contractor bags full of expensive clothes. Needless to say i got a new wardrobe and i sent 2 of those bags full of clothes to other people i know 😂
The most comfortable couch that I ever owned was a hand me down from my grandma. I was so heart broken when it started to fall apart and I still miss that couch. It was so ugly but so comfortable.
I rarely buy clothes with patterns. I buy plain solid-colour basics that I can mix and match. That way, my clothes don't date and I can wear them for years. I dress them up with accessories like interesting scarves and beads - and most of those I find at thrift or charity shops.
I laughed out loud at the tech part about the cell phone. I feel ripped off if I don't get at least 3 years out of a phone and I HATE updating! Great video, I totally related to most of this. No wonder my husband calls me the "cheapest woman in America".
@@mr.kilpatrick2991I used mine for several years and then replaced the battery from Apple for $50, then used it another year and a half until it just wouldn't load any pages on Safari 😂 I still have it though, just in case!
My Father always said if you can’t pay cash for something then you don’t need it or shouldn’t buy it until you can pay cash. My husband or myself haven’t ever had a car payment. We have always waited until we had the cash to buy our vehicles. My sons have done the same thing.
My fiancé’s health insurance pays for our gym membership and gives him $25 a month to buy vitamins and OTC medications. It definitely helps out and makes my frugal heart happy
I've been hunting for a new watch for about three years now. Just recently, I was cleaning out a storage bin and found one of my older watches. There were so many good memories that went with that watch I decided to just pay for a battery replacement; way cheaper than buying a NEW watch all together. Hope you and your family are having a great day! Keep up the great work!
Something I learned from a car dealership is that rental companies don't keep the cars in their fleets for more than 20,000 miles maximum. The best deals are for these cars. The dealerships associated with these cars know their service histories and that you would be buying basically a new car at a vastly reduced price.
Pretty much agree with all your points. The one thing we do keep plenty of is paper plates, etc. But we live in Florida so they're part of our hurricane supplies. And they're good things to have on hand for any emergency.
I enjoy going to music festivals but am to frugal to pay. So I sign up as a volunteer. Trading 2, 4hour shifts volunteering, I get free camping, free admission, free showers and free parking. Every festival is a little different but definitely saves me hundreds each festival.
I hate when new clothes shrink in the dryer and then don't fit like they did when trying them on at the store. This is one of the reasons I LOVE to buy used jeans. I know they have already gone through some laundry loads and I don't have to worry about whether they will shrink later. What you see in the fitting room of the thrift store is what you get.
Great things on this list . In our county with the water shortage and drought we are asked to use the car washes because the water in car washes are recycled through the car wash system so it ends up being better for the environment.
Everyone spends their money on what they prioritize. It’s pretty fascinating really. Would love to see a frugal back to school edition with your oldest going to colleg!
I lucked out in 2020 and bought my house owner financed with 0% interest. I did have a big down payment and excellent payment history so I’m sure that was a factor.
We have used the same birthday candles for over 5 years maybe longer for a family of 6. Never thought about it until now ☺️ I also don't buy pre shredded lettuce or cut veggies/fruit, meat and cheese trays. I don't dye my hair and very rarely get a professional cut. I don't get my nails done.
Serious question: What do frugal people do for enjoyment? I am apparently not a frugal person…it looks like those who are don’t dine out regularly,if at all…don’t go to concerts or shows unless free…must not play golf or tennis since these are costly, esp golf…don’t shop or browse gift shops…don’t update their homes…do they go on vacation? I’m serious…in theory, frugality sounds ok, but I’m trying to figure out how it actually works.
So many thrift stores have gotten rid of dressing rooms--it's really frustrating because I do want to try on clothes before I buy them, especially because they can't be returned easily to thrift stores. Returns are often only done within a week of the purchase and for store credit only. While the thrift stores are still cheaper than many retailers selling new items, the thrift store prices have increased a lot around me, too.
In the past I’ve worn fairly close fitting yoga pants and a tank top for shopping at the thrift shops. Where I live they don’t have any fitting rooms. The other thing is a tiny purse measuring tape and a list of the inside measurements on my favourite clothes on my iPhone.
i work at a grocery store (on the cheaper end mind you) and get tired of people saying… these prices are so expensive, this is crazy, ridiculous, ect…. and i’m looking at them and their cart thinking… well, u have starbucks in your hand, cases of soda, and wine, and beer, and chips, and cookies, and lunchables, ect…in ur cart. look what ur buying people. u cant complain when u buy all that kimd of stuff. and then i also think of how much more their bill is at a higher end store. so stop complaining people. 🤦🏼♀️
Yes. I enjoy baking a lot - cookies, muffins, cake all so easy to make. Taste better from scratch and less chemicals too. Breadmaking takes a little skill to learn but is worth it. Canning your own pickles and garden produce is something else easy to do once you learn how initially.
I don't buy Designer Dogs. We are dog lovers, especially the Australian Cattle Dog (ACD) breed. There are specific rescues for any dog you might want and we searched the ACD Rescue of Texas but didn't find what would work for us. Then we checked the local shelter and found a perfect ACD for us but she had heart worms (which is why ACD of Texas wouldn't take her). So for a $300 tax deductible donation to the no-kill shelter, we found our new baby and gave her a forever home - she's fabulous! The shelter took care of all her shots, spay, and heart worm treatments. Be sure to check shelters before looking for a Designer Dog!
We bought a house 9 years ago-it is spray painted (very badly done) mauve😩. But nothing, financially we could do. We decided on what we wanted for siding and new windows-after 9 years-we have saved enough cash to do this project👏👏. Feels better than trying to remortgage/loan and come up with a payment each month. So excited we did it this way! Bye bye mauve!!!
I’m gonna say I never purchased a new tv until I was 40. I received “hand me downs” from my friends and relatives that had to have the latest and greatest. Also, I think frugal people rarely hire yard maintenance or snow removal. (I live in the mitten) I’ve always considered it extra exercise and pride of ownership maintaining my own property. And saved a ton of money in the process.
I’ve learned a TON of food tips from you over the years. I went shopping at the commissary on base which is cheaper than any grocery store - $150, and I’m GUESSTIMATING 60 meals out of it (20 meals for a family of 3). We stopped at Wendy’s and for 2 “normal” meals (sandwich, fries, coke) was $25… $25!!!! Not doing that again any time soon, I thought it’d be a treat and it was “ok” at best and definitely not worth the $25 bucks we spent
I get this ,,I am in Canada and went to AW drive thru here ,,so expensive $12 for a meal and it was mmh ,,,almost as expensive as a sit down meal in a restaurant ,,my friends and I were going once a month to a buffet ( $22) last time I suggested we do a pot luck,,so much more fun, I love prepping the food ,I put love into it ,,,,we can laugh carry on for as long as we want ,,,😃😄😂
No if i eat out, its a biggie bag for $5-7...or use coupons BOGO meal on a special occasion. We occasionally take kids to the drive in which is $10 for adukts and $5 for children over 6 and its always a double feature and we make out meals and snacks to take with us.
Yup, I use our Military Commissary and supplement at local family operated grocery, Literally down the street, For fruits and vegetables through the week.
If you're not already, the commissary rewards program has good coupons. Plus, I'll peruse the sales flyer online and verify prices and sales before going. Def learned SO much from FFM 😊
Eating at home is a HUGE way to save money. I teach families how to save money on groceries by making their produce last and I would love to do a collab with you to share my best tips with your audience. If you have someone who could reach out to me I'd love to chat more about it!
Lawn service, dog grooming, plants for the garden (they start seeds themselves). Lots of my friends and I did the homemade laundry soap for years now we're trying the sheets.
I admit, I don’t often try on clothes. But it’s because I’m a mom of 3, soon to be 4 and I just don’t have time. A lot of times I’m buying things like sweats and T-shirts at a thrift store though, so it’s pretty easy to tell if they’re going to fit. And when I only spend $2 for an item, I’m not super upset if I have to “return” it (re-donate, lol). One thing I don’t spend money on is beauty products. I have a few tried and true products I like, and I don’t deviate from them. They all can be bought at Walmart for under $10.
Frugal people often grow their own produce, you don't need a big garden space, you can even grow in pots on a balcony, once established it's money saved year after year, grow, use, freeze, preserve and it's also a free hobby. You can grown certain veggies from scraps and you can save seeds from even store bought produce. The joy it brings is great for your mental health also 🥕🧄🍅🌰🫑 I even have a few video's!
We are retired with no debt and a financial cushion for emergencies. So glad we were careful with our money while we were still earning. Delayed gratification!
+ adding pedicures/manicures/monthly haircuts/spa day stuff (the bathtub at home is good enough for me. I might spend a dollar on nailpolish IF I even do my nails at all.)
0 percent means you do not get the best deal on a vehicle. Never start with a trade-in, sell older vehicles outright. The dealership uses a trade-in not to give you the best deal. Know your msrp, know what you are willing to pay, and be willing to walk out if it is not the deal you want and wait for their reaction.
Manicures, pedicures and other non-essential vanity services. I started cutting my husband's hair during COVID, and he' s not gone back to the barber shop since. I trim my own hair as well, but do splash out for regular cuts, 'tho.
learning to buy smart (being frugal) is what we all should do but as someone else said before each of us do it in our own way....I dont agree with the seasonal stuff. I love to change up decor and outdoor decorations. My family will buy the year prior for the next year when 75% of more off. And usually buy things that we can use year after year. I started this when my son was little to show him the different seasons, holidays. You can be frugal and still change up things.
I purchase extended warranties for 2-3 years on expensive appliances and electronics. I have used them 3 times. It was for a refrigerator repair, a TV repair, and a washing machine. The smart TV motherboard went out after 2.5 years. Without the warranty it would have been better to throw it away. The freezer on the refrigerator was icing up. On the washing machine the motherboard went bad after 2 years. It was something minor. The deep fill no longer worked but otherwise it ran just fine. The warranty company just returned my full purchase price and told me to do whatever I wanted with it. That was $800 refunded and I continue to use the machine without the deep fill. That is 7 years of use for $0.
I used to love retail therapy. I have gotten better, but I still fall for the yarn clearances once in a while. I use that yarn to make things for my Samaritan's Purse O.C.C. Shoeboxes, though. Or to make blankets for gifts, so it's almost a trade off. And if I need yarn to finish a project, I wait on Hobby Lobby's sale on yarn week.
I can’t resist yarn either, but definitely wait for sales or coupons! I usually make all of my projects for gifts for family and friends, or to donate to babies at the local hospital, so I don’t feel bad about buying yarn too often.
@StephanieGrealis I hit a Hobby Lobby clearance a few years ago...gave half of it away because I felt guilty right after buying it and had no where to put it... but I'm still working on some of that and kinda wishing I hadn't given so much away... there will be other clearances.
I am lucky with this. I belong to a volunteer senior crafters group. We use donated supplies including yarn to make items to sell. The money goes towards funding programs at the centre. Love to make stuffies but no one to give them to so this is a win-wind situation.
Lol I buy the latest tech new and then it lasts me like 12 years. Then rinse and repeat. Both phone and computer. I basically use the computer until my Adobe software stops updating. I'm a graphic designer.
Hey Christine, I don’t think you’ll see this, but I wanted to let you know that better help isn’t as great as they claim. Plenty of clients and therapists have spoken about this, on youtube and other places. Frugal means getting the most value for your money, and better help thus isn’t a frugal option.
Frugal but love retail therapy at times, but my retail therapy is thrift store hunting for treasures and consists of hunting until I find something I really want (travelling to 3-4 thrift stores and making a day or a weekend out of maybe a 20.00 spend).
The only time the extended warranty was worth it was for our laptop. The warranty covers spills. Our laptop is currently getting fixed for a water spill. The thing wouldn’t turn on! Otherwise we would have to shell out big bucks for a similar replacement. Other than that I completely agree with skipping the extended warranty.
I'm 73. I volunteer at 2 places that give me shirts, tote bags, and food. I've also gotten paid to teach classes. I trade house plants with neighbors, and get bags of clothes and household linens. I just dropped off 2 big bags of things we couldn't use at Salvation Army. Tina, Al's wife
I love those tiny bottles of water because they fit in my purse but i buy a 12 pack of them like 2x a year and i will reuse the tiny bottle for 2 weeks until i want a fresh one or lose the bottle
@@debiwillis9045exactly people are not doing themselves any favors eating and drinking out of all this plastic. I have refillable stainless bottles and have always used them. I'm not even a big environmentalist but it bugs me all the plastic bottles everyone is pitching left and right, bugs me to death to see them in the gym trash. Ugh 😑
About car washing, in places like where I live in California you are not allowed to wash your own car. You have to go to a car washing facility that can recycle the water. I think this is because A) the soapy water would run off into the bay, and B) we are often in drought conditions.
Wow...I have always washed my own vechicles...detail them well...glad I live in a rural area and have some freedoms...that is ridiculous not being able to simply wash a vehicle
I live in SoCa in a big city and we wash our cars on the street in front of our house all the time. This must be a HOA thing. The only thing that you can’t have while hand washing is a hose without a nozzle that automatically shuts off which makes sense to me.
Frugal people always think "I can get the $10 gym membership INSTEAD of Netflix!"🤣🤣 We will always swap one thing (close in price range) for something we want more🤗❤🙏🏾
Do like like to buy a ton of clothes and try them in at home because it’s easier to do at home with a toddler under my feet. And I don’t feel rushed to make a decision.
I might buy new, but I wear it out. And I buy quality over quantity. My best friend buys a blender about every year. She uses it til it quits working. And then buys another for whatever the going rate. I bought a Vitamix in 2007. I use it almost daily. My $395 has lasted 16 years and still going strong. Pretty good investment, imo. And yes, I paid cash. I don't own a credit card.
It's when you have something break you must replace immediately and don't HAVE $400 for a Vitamix that you end up buying crap you have to replace monthly. It's absolutely worse over the long haul, but... you may not always have a choice to buy quality. I call it "poverty tax," when you have to buy the cheap, obviously crappy option because it's still all you can afford.
@@EFergDindraneover the 16 years she would have paid for the vitamix and then some if she is buying a $30 blender once a year. Even when money is that tight I have always been able to figure out a way to save my money to make that better purchase because it saves me more money in the long run. Trust me I have been there where it was extremely hard to make ends meet and most months they didn’t meet(even with going to the food bank) but I knew a cheap item wasn’t worth getting.
my friend is a single mom and she bought a vitamix for $400 20 years ago. Her three "boys" all cook and use it regularly. Having one son, let me assure you a cheap blender is considered a disposable item. Her $400 vitamix is still alive and kicking.
I will buy clothes without trying them on but my clothing size hasn’t changed since high school despite having four children. Best investment for myself and family was becoming a personal trainer, getting resistance bands and borrowing dumbbells from my father (who bought them, used them maybe four times in three years) and watching videos to make work out plans.
My size hasn’t changed but different brands fit differently. Some brands I can do a medium, some a large and some I need XL. This is why I still try on everything before I buy. The inconsistencies between brands and sizing is terrible
@@LifewithKrystlemany clothes are made in china or another Asian country and the sizing is small I buy what fits and it's usually two sizes bigger I wear size 16 but buy things that are 18 or twenty because asian size 16 too small
The only thing on this list that I do is buy clothes without trying them on first because I buy all of my clothes online. Also, I completely agree with Jen. Returning items is not worth the hassle and aggravation. I purchase clothes rather infrequently and they almost always fit so this really isn’t an issue for me.
Agree. Especially as a very fat person who doesn't fit sizes that most stores have, I *have* to buy online. But I don't buy very often. I've been rocking the same wardrobe for about 15ish years now.
Hi Christine My name is Sharon and I recently moved from NJ to va. I want you to know that I really like your chanel, I love to Cook and I'm trying to learn from you. I wanted to say that I think you have a beautiful family and it's obvious to me that you expect help from your children and they are not kept or spoiled. Christine just ignore these negative people that probably have nothing good in their lives. Keep doing what your doing, I love to Cook and I love to watch you. Sharon Williams in Virginia 😅
OMG my dh bought filet mignon steaks yesterday for our dinner with his two sisters on Sunday. Including the corn on the cob, macaroni salad and an ice cream cake he spent $89 at the grocery store. Lot's cheaper for 5 people then going out. The steaks were outrageously good!!!
My husband does something similar once in a while. He’ll buy big tomahawk steaks, sous vide them at home in a cooler, sear them up on the grill, and serve them. I’ll make some side dishes from whatever I have in the pantry and freezers.
1. We have 4 drivers in our house. All 4 cars are paid off. The oldest car is 13 yrs old and still running. When a deer ran into the side door, we just pounded out the dent and bought a replacement side mirror at a junkyard. 2. Found my 1st gray hair at 11 yrs old. Had my hair professionally colored once. Never again. Dont have the patience to sit there 2+ hrs plus i can do it myself for under $5.
0% interest rate, 12,24, and 36 month plans from Home Depot and Lowe’s Credit Services are great deals. I pay the appliance or service project off (HVAC, Windows, generator, etc) before the term ends, pay no interest, and it’s literally same as cash…savings cushion remains intact.
Best warranty I've ever bought. Someone decided randomly to stab the sidewall on one of my new tires. Got a free tire replacement and paid $45 to add coverage to that replacement tire. No brainer win-win. Discount Tires ftw.
I don't buy fancy jars or mason jars for food storage. I washed the pasta sauce or salsa jars, removed the labels with olive oil and reused them. Make your own cleaning products - vinegar and baking soda clean everything. 😀
Actually, car washes not so much. In the winter, all that salt can be awful for your undercarriage. And you probably don’t want to do a car wash at home in February in New England. 😬
Daughter has a travel intensive crazy schedule long hour job. She loves it. She was able to schedule help when her person moved on. It has worked out well with her.
Yes, let's work out at home when possible. It's one thing when you're on your way home and stop at the gym and shower to save money on your water bill. Cut out the snacks, too. I used to spend more on supplements at the gym than I did on the membership, like 3 times as much!!
I have to tell you- I do buy the extended warrantees on appliances. I have had one washer and one dryer lemoned. They had the same repeated problem and then after the third time, they gave me the price of the unit to buy a new unit. On the washer, they didn't have a tech in my area, so they lemoned it and it was fixed with a $25 amazon purchase. I had a microwave replaced too. Choose carefully and be sure that the warranty people have service providers in your area.
Good advice. When my son first started driving I had just purchased a car, they offered a warranty on the tires for $25 a month . I decided to go with it. During that time because he couldn't seem to stop curbing the tires and I had to have them replaced multiple times, that warranty paid for itself.
😅mind blown with the racing in Sun Valley, unbelievable 😮 moving on, I used to be so frugal because we had to. Now we’re doing so well for the past 9 years…we’ve raised our lifestyle too much. Uhh 😬 thanks for the wake-up call. I do probably 5-6 of these things. Hugs ❤
Frugal and minimalist, be sure you have a place and or a plan for anything you buy before you buy it. It's not a good deal if you have it sitting somewhere. Loved this list, I have to say though I do cheat occasionally with the car wash, maybe three times a year - but we are in the snowbelt and sometimes you gotta get that salt off in the coldish weather.
Not to mention that the undercarriage is a spot that everybody misses when washing your own car, and if you don’t treat your ride to a real car wash in the spring, sooner or later that road salt is going to absolutely _eat_ through your car’s underbody!
I live in Michigan and have the $30/month car wash plan. I own a cleaning company and having a clean vehicle is important and reflects my standard of business. The car wash is on the way home and my plan includes unlimited car washes. I love it!
Yesterday just picked up 4 pkgs of clothe napkins (8ct napkins per pkg) for 99 cents each, at Ollie's! They was in the fall items, the pkgs each have 4 fall colors (2 napkins per color) which is perfe t for me cause my decor is fall colors! Just so tired of husband still bringing home and using so much disposable paper towels. Making him use the clothe ones now ( he will eventually adjust, withdrawals seem harsh so far 😂)
I can’t believe people enjoy leaving negative comments about you or your material on UA-cam. If you share a tip, sure. Why the heck are people getting uptight in comments about frugality? 🙄
Most of my friends and family think I'm crazy, but I only buy maybe 6 rolls of paper towels a year (and that mostly depends on how often we camp). I use dish towels that I bought on clearance for 10 cents each. I cut them into 6 pieces, hemmed them, and use those for napkins and cleaning the kitchen counters and stuff.
I’m with you…I use paper towels IF i fry something , but I put a single layer on top of the free newspaper we get. I also use them for puppy/kitty oops
I would expand on your Clothes topic: Buy pre-owned! Consignment stores, thrift stores, garage sales, FB Marketplace. Consignment and thrift stores have fitting rooms. When no fitting room available, I have worn a thin shirt and tried a shirt or dress over top to see if it fits. I hardly ever, ever buy new. Tons of money to be saved this way. This is how I thought you were going with this topic.
I always hit the clearance racks first in stores and my 17 year old daughter does the same thing, we went to Walmart yesterday and I found a clearance rack that she got a nice t-shirt for $5 and she has no problem shopping for clothes at the thrift stores either, “it’s new for me” she says.
I have embraced frugal living. I recently helped a friend downsize and she gave me all of her laundry doing supplies. I have not bought laundry soap now for over 3 months. I also use up all of the soap that people give you at bridal showers. As far as I can tell these products are just as good as the ones I have previously purchased. I also have reduced the number of times that I have my hair cut` just 3 or 4 times per year. Finally, I have started washing my own car. a great way to spend time with my father as I do it at his house. And I do not purchase any groceries that are not part of a specific meal plan and do not exceed my set budget. It can be challenging but is so worth it in order to save for things that I really need
Me on the other hand have a well-stocked fridge (2) and freezer 1 large, 2 fridge/freezers. Also a walk-in pantry. I can precook and freeze, take advantage of sales, never worry about going out to shop if I don't feel well or it's bad weather. I can pull a delicious budget meal or dessert or snack by being prepared. It saves a lot of money and no excuse to go out to eat. I coupon, watch sales, bogo, and I Ibotta.
when my mom went into independent living where housekeeping is provided, I cleared out all her cleaning supplies. I had a huge box full. none of my siblings wanted any. I will have cleaning supplies until I die lol
I used to do a lot of the things you mentioned. I had a local "boutique" fitness membership up until about 4-5 months ago. I also had a Pure Barre membership that was $169 PER MONTH and I went MAYBE 5-6 times per month. If you use it and can afford it then I have a different opinion...but my best financial and TIME choice in recent months was cancelling those memberships and getting doing your Peloton dupe/hack. I ride my spin bike, do Les Mills Body Pump, or maybe a barre workout almost every day. I'm more consistent and what I spent in a month for the gyms I spend in a year for an App.
I don’t even turn on the AC in my car (I ride with the windows down) so that I don’t waste more gas and therefore have to fill up my gas tank as quickly. The AC runs off your gasoline. I also bought the kill switch for my engines automatic shut off since there’s not a turn off switch already installed in my model vehicle. Do you know how much gas your vehicle uses to turn the engine on. My engine would turn off even at a 2 second stop sign so that’s a lot of gas saved with one $100 purchase of the kill switch.
I have to disagree on extended warranties. I don't get them for everything, but the extra 5 years on my dishwasher that gave out after 3 and essentially had to be rebuilt was a lifesaver. Also when I was learning to build a computer and accidentally fried the CPU I was so glad I had insurance on the components.
Yes this was a thing back when appliances lasted forever. We have a dishwasher that was here 30 years ago when we moved in, that was when Maytag seriously was amazing. Now we have a washer hubby has replaced nearly every part on, same with our crappy fridge. We have been thru like 3 huge expensive window units in our bedroom. Nothing is made to last past about 3 years if that! I think some of the extended warranties are worth it.
I got a free couch once. The place I was working at was closing my location, so they had to get rid of stuff. It was a nice leather couch. Kept it for eleven years until it got too ratty.
It's so cool that you went to the Ramsey influencer event. I would love to see more footage from that, if you want to share. You would be the best official Ramsey Personality. Thank you for all your advice! 😃
I am really cautious of spending because I have to be. And denying yourself small things and little joys doesn't feel great and that's not good for mental health. If you can get things that are good quality that will last. Its not always possible, but if you can, the better quality one will last a lot longer and save money in the long run.
Sorry but I must disagree on extended warranties for major appliances. We went through absolute hades with two major appliances at different times. Appliances will likely have some component fail at just over a year which coincidentally is right after the mfg warranty expires. There is a break-even cost at some point which we monitor but appliances are expensive to purchase and more expensive to repair.
If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor BetterHelp. Click betterhelp.com/frugalfit for a 10% discount on your first month of therapy with a licensed professional specific to your needs.
Frugal people check their health insurance for therapists. Most provide telehealth options.
@@PeaceTrainJumpEXACTLY! BetterHelp wanted to charge me $130/month! No thanks!
Hi. I see where you’re coming from. But I have bought extended warranties on many things and it’s saved me so much money! I got a whole new vacuum, new iRobot, outdoor water fountain, game controllers, and more I can’t remember. So it does pay off for us a least. 😊
Please take a deeper look into your sponsors. Better Help has a dark reputation.
Oh I am a trift store shopper for my clothes and kids clothes! Most of what I get from goodwill or once upon a child are under $ 5 a piece! A lot of these items are brand new w tags!
I slightly disagree (I wouldn't use a ratty couch from anyone - even if it's free). To me being frugal doesn't mean you're cheap - it means that I don't spend money on things that don't matter to me so that I can spend money on the things that do.
I agree. Also with restaurants, we eat at home typically but there is some food is cheaper to pick up than but all the ingredients to make it, like Thai food. But we make it we worthwhile making it an experience versus just sustenance
We had a ratty couch the neighbors put to the road when we first moved into our house. It wasn't in great shape but it was free and that's what mattered at the time. It was this couch or no couch. So we took it back to the garage, sprayed it with bed bug killer as a precaution (which funnily enough was left behind by the sellers) and it was good to go for a year til we had the money to replace our couch with something good quality.
My allergies would agree with you 😅
LOL, Ive never owned a new couch. Last 2 have been my dads old couch and my mums old couch. Both in reasonable condition. My current couch is perfect for me, not to flash so I dont mind the cat and the dog being on them, nice long couch so I can lie down on it with plenty of room, and 2 recliner chairs which are super comfy.
I wouldn’t sleep on a used couch or used mattress, just like I wouldn’t wear used underwear. 🤮
You don’t know what has happened on that couch ! Disgusting ! Now, used bookcases or desks that are metal or wood, that’s different.
I just went to the thrift store sale and bought 20 pieces of clothes for 40 dollars. They were on sale for 2 dollars each. I completely updated my wardrobe for 40 dollars. It be honest, I lost 45 pounds and it was a treat to myself to buy new clothes without the new price.
Awesome 🎉congratulations 😊
Congrats!!! 👏🏼
Congratulations!
Congratulations and what a fantastic savings on the clothes.
This makes me happy ❤
Great list! Let me tell you as an early 40s female I am watching my friends spend crazy $ on lashes, Botox, hair dye... all to fight the inevitable. I have earned my wrinkles and my gray and I’d rather go travel then be stuck in denial.
Plus you are investing in life experience, not shallow useless things like plastic fingernails.
@@ninnymuggins5159It can be very healthy and creative to do shallow things. It express your personality. Look at Iris Apfel. 😊
I like what you said about fighting the inevitable. I concur about travel.
Same, girl. Same. :)
Also, fingernails at nail salons, regular visits to spas, and buying one-use appliances which u will use infrequently.
I love your husband saying car washes... yes I would prefer to wash my own car but I have a son who has autism and his favorite thing to do Is go thru the car wash. So yes I pay the monthly pass but my car is always clean and my son is happy... so worth the $25.00
I used to struggle a lot keeping the inside of my car clean, so I started going through the car wash, and then pulling around to the free vacuums and cleaning out the trash, getting the worst of the dirt and leaves and debris, etc. I never thought I'd be one of those people that keeps a car clean, but now I am, and it only costs $7 once or twice a month. WELL worth the money!
My apartment lease will not let me wash my car. Something about creating a hazard. And there’s rules about soap going in the drains that go to the ocean. So my only legal option is to go to a car wash!
Going through the car wash with the different colors makes me happy and I don't have Autism 😊
Wait, you live in Idaho, Do you wash your car in winter? I couldn’t imagine washing it myself in the winter but in the summer, absolutely, wash it yourself!
@@bethk8149 he loves all the colors and the lights
I live in the northeast and in the winter they salt the roads which does a lot of damage to cars, especially the undercarriage which is pretty hard to clean yourself. Paying for a car wash with the underneath washed is actually an investment on your vehicle if you plan on keeping it long term.
I think it's important to remember that just because one frugal family does something, it doesn't mean that it's going to work for you. Everyone's situations, hobbies, and life are going to be a little bit different so don't feel like you have to only use the library if your passion is collecting certain books/series. Or maybe you like splurging on concerts now and again. That's totally fine. And maybe you're saving money somewhere else.
Free concerts are great, but there’s nothing like seeing your favorite band live.
Some of my best experiences were concerts. Love em!
Absolutely. Free park converts almost never have well known artists who I would pay to see. I love going to concerts!
She says this a lot! Her family puts money towards things like biking and hiking equipment, she realizes that isn’t important to all families but they budget specifically for what is important to them. She touches on that all the time 😊
That's true, it would be a good thing to say this at the top of this post. Also IMHO the word "Never" shouldn't have been used.
Full-priced cards or gift wrap/bags. The Dollar Tree is the place to go for cards, bags and some wrapping paper. Holiday wrapping paper is only purchased on steep discount after the holidays and bonus if you can find ones that pass for other occasions too at that time.
I think being a minimalist is better than being frugal! Living for experiences instead of clutter. Instead of buying 5 pairs of cheap shoes, buy 1 pair of high-quality shoes.
I bought Bally shoes 35 years ago and the shoes still look beautiful whereas cheaper brands fell apart years ago. Quality counts when it comes to shoes and they are more comfortable too.
I'm a minimalist and I have 3 pairs of shoes. My messed up pair for wrenching on my car, good pair and a pair of steel toe boots for my work.
My mother got a zero interest car loan about 2 years ago. She said it was the only reason she financed it. And honestly, it does make more sense than pulling her money out of an interest bearing account, especially since she gets retirement income.
That's the only way I buy a new car.
There’s no such thing as a zero interest loan. If your mother had offered cash she would have got a discount off the car and saved money.
@@Giannas1096 a discount off cash offer does not mean a loan has interest. I understand your point, but you are talking total cost, NOT the cost to take out a loan.
@@JustWatchMeDoThis same thing. If a car costs $20k with a loan but you pay cash up front you might get a discount of 2-3K. Meaning the car now costs you 17-18K. The 2-3K is the interest on the loan but they make it look like it’s interest free by bumping up the price in the first place. I’ve worked in finance, this is how they do it. The car yard has already factored finance into negotiations.
The mom in law of a friend of mine died. She was a lady who always dressed well and spent money on good quality clothes. She also took really good care of her clothes. Turns out I am her size ( my friend us not) So she gave me all if these awesome clothes! This was about 4-5 years ago and all the clothes still look great!!!
I work out at home weights and crunches. Walk every day, get fresh air, and see people
I would add that I don’t buy special hair products and skin care products. I have a bar of soap, 1 container of shampoo and 1 container of conditioner in my shower. My hairdresser was blown away at how healthy my hair is using cheap products, and people normally assume I am 10 years younger than I really am.
My oldest daughter has told her inlaws so many times about me going garage saleing for clothes that this year when they cleaned out their closet they sent me 3 contractor bags full of expensive clothes. Needless to say i got a new wardrobe and i sent 2 of those bags full of clothes to other people i know 😂
Very generous people and non judgmental.
The most comfortable couch that I ever owned was a hand me down from my grandma. I was so heart broken when it started to fall apart and I still miss that couch. It was so ugly but so comfortable.
I rarely buy clothes with patterns. I buy plain solid-colour basics that I can mix and match. That way, my clothes don't date and I can wear them for years. I dress them up with accessories like interesting scarves and beads - and most of those I find at thrift or charity shops.
I laughed out loud at the tech part about the cell phone. I feel ripped off if I don't get at least 3 years out of a phone and I HATE updating! Great video, I totally related to most of this. No wonder my husband calls me the "cheapest woman in America".
I refuse to update phone as well. Buy and pay as you go….
I use my phone's until they die! 😂🎉
haha...same...I have an iphone 6 (8+ years old LOL) and granted its on its last legs...but walking into a verizon store ...ughhhh...painful experience
Lucky man, he is.
@@mr.kilpatrick2991I used mine for several years and then replaced the battery from Apple for $50, then used it another year and a half until it just wouldn't load any pages on Safari 😂 I still have it though, just in case!
My Father always said if you can’t pay cash for something then you don’t need it or shouldn’t buy it until you can pay cash. My husband or myself haven’t ever had a car payment. We have always waited until we had the cash to buy our vehicles. My sons have done the same thing.
My fiancé’s health insurance pays for our gym membership and gives him $25 a month to buy vitamins and OTC medications. It definitely helps out and makes my frugal heart happy
I've been hunting for a new watch for about three years now.
Just recently, I was cleaning out a storage bin and found one of my older watches. There were so many good memories that went with that watch I decided to just pay for a battery replacement; way cheaper than buying a NEW watch all together.
Hope you and your family are having a great day!
Keep up the great work!
Something I learned from a car dealership is that rental companies don't keep the cars in their fleets for more than 20,000 miles maximum. The best deals are for these cars. The dealerships associated with these cars know their service histories and that you would be buying basically a new car at a vastly reduced price.
Pretty much agree with all your points. The one thing we do keep plenty of is paper plates, etc. But we live in Florida so they're part of our hurricane supplies. And they're good things to have on hand for any emergency.
Yes I think most preppers keep on hand in case they don't have water or power etc. ❤❤❤ great point!
We also don’t buy gift bags or tissue paper, we reuse the ones we’re gifted.
I agree with everything except the gym membership. Health is so important and my classes are fun, social, and i use far more equipment than i own.
Great list - I used to tell my young & quite materialistic assistant “happiness is wanting what you have, not having what you want”.
I enjoy going to music festivals but am to frugal to pay. So I sign up as a volunteer. Trading 2, 4hour shifts volunteering, I get free camping, free admission, free showers and free parking. Every festival is a little different but definitely saves me hundreds each festival.
I hate when new clothes shrink in the dryer and then don't fit like they did when trying them on at the store. This is one of the reasons I LOVE to buy used jeans. I know they have already gone through some laundry loads and I don't have to worry about whether they will shrink later. What you see in the fitting room of the thrift store is what you get.
I wash all my clothes in cold water and hang them on the line to dry. Easy peasy and no shrinkage and the clothes last longer.
@@cjhoward409yes me too. Nothing shrinks. I love cotton so this is a necessity.
Great things on this list . In our county with the water shortage and drought we are asked to use the car washes because the water in car washes are recycled through the car wash system so it ends up being better for the environment.
Everyone spends their money on what they prioritize. It’s pretty fascinating really.
Would love to see a frugal back to school edition with your oldest going to colleg!
I know this isn't a cooking video, but I'm 52 and today is the first time I'm trying my hand at homemade bread. Love watching your videos.
I lucked out in 2020 and bought my house owner financed with 0% interest. I did have a big down payment and excellent payment history so I’m sure that was a factor.
We have used the same birthday candles for over 5 years maybe longer for a family of 6. Never thought about it until now ☺️
I also don't buy pre shredded lettuce or cut veggies/fruit, meat and cheese trays. I don't dye my hair and very rarely get a professional cut.
I don't get my nails done.
Serious question: What do frugal people do for enjoyment? I am apparently not a frugal person…it looks like those who are don’t dine out regularly,if at all…don’t go to concerts or shows unless free…must not play golf or tennis since these are costly, esp golf…don’t shop or browse gift shops…don’t update their homes…do they go on vacation? I’m serious…in theory, frugality sounds ok, but I’m trying to figure out how it actually works.
So many thrift stores have gotten rid of dressing rooms--it's really frustrating because I do want to try on clothes before I buy them, especially because they can't be returned easily to thrift stores. Returns are often only done within a week of the purchase and for store credit only. While the thrift stores are still cheaper than many retailers selling new items, the thrift store prices have increased a lot around me, too.
I used to shop at Goodwill. Now I shop online at temu. The prices are so much cheaper.
Agree. But Goodwill has raised their prices so much, that fast fashion ( Temu, SheIn ) is more affordable.
In the past I’ve worn fairly close fitting yoga pants and a tank top for shopping at the thrift shops. Where I live they don’t have any fitting rooms. The other thing is a tiny purse measuring tape and a list of the inside measurements on my favourite clothes on my iPhone.
If you buy good quality and take care of them, clothes last 10 years and beyond.
I sometimes try on something over my clothes, especially cardigans, ect.
i work at a grocery store (on the cheaper end mind you) and get tired of people saying… these prices are so expensive, this is crazy, ridiculous, ect…. and i’m looking at them and their cart thinking…
well, u have starbucks in your hand, cases of soda, and wine, and beer, and chips, and cookies, and lunchables, ect…in ur cart. look what ur buying people. u cant complain when u buy all that kimd of stuff.
and then i also think of how much more their bill is at a higher end store. so stop complaining people. 🤦🏼♀️
Right I buy organic and I complain less than anyone about food prices lol bc I'm used to it!
Yes. I enjoy baking a lot - cookies, muffins, cake all so easy to make. Taste better from scratch and less chemicals too. Breadmaking takes a little skill to learn but is worth it. Canning your own pickles and garden produce is something else easy to do once you learn how initially.
I don't buy Designer Dogs. We are dog lovers, especially the Australian Cattle Dog (ACD) breed. There are specific rescues for any dog you might want and we searched the ACD Rescue of Texas but didn't find what would work for us. Then we checked the local shelter and found a perfect ACD for us but she had heart worms (which is why ACD of Texas wouldn't take her). So for a $300 tax deductible donation to the no-kill shelter, we found our new baby and gave her a forever home - she's fabulous! The shelter took care of all her shots, spay, and heart worm treatments. Be sure to check shelters before looking for a Designer Dog!
We bought a house 9 years ago-it is spray painted (very badly done) mauve😩. But nothing, financially we could do. We decided on what we wanted for siding and new windows-after 9 years-we have saved enough cash to do this project👏👏. Feels better than trying to remortgage/loan and come up with a payment each month. So excited we did it this way! Bye bye mauve!!!
I’m gonna say I never purchased a new tv until I was 40. I received “hand me downs” from my friends and relatives that had to have the latest and greatest. Also, I think frugal people rarely hire yard maintenance or snow removal. (I live in the mitten) I’ve always considered it extra exercise and pride of ownership maintaining my own property. And saved a ton of money in the process.
I’ve learned a TON of food tips from you over the years. I went shopping at the commissary on base which is cheaper than any grocery store - $150, and I’m GUESSTIMATING 60 meals out of it (20 meals for a family of 3). We stopped at Wendy’s and for 2 “normal” meals (sandwich, fries, coke) was $25… $25!!!! Not doing that again any time soon, I thought it’d be a treat and it was “ok” at best and definitely not worth the $25 bucks we spent
I get this ,,I am in Canada and went to AW drive thru here ,,so expensive $12 for a meal and it was mmh ,,,almost as expensive as a sit down meal in a restaurant ,,my friends and I were going once a month to a buffet ( $22) last time I suggested we do a pot luck,,so much more fun, I love prepping the food ,I put love into it ,,,,we can laugh carry on for as long as we want ,,,😃😄😂
No if i eat out, its a biggie bag for $5-7...or use coupons BOGO meal on a special occasion. We occasionally take kids to the drive in which is $10 for adukts and $5 for children over 6 and its always a double feature and we make out meals and snacks to take with us.
Yup, I use our Military Commissary and supplement at local family operated grocery, Literally down the street, For fruits and vegetables through the week.
Today $25 for several is actually cheap when it even comes to fast food.
If you're not already, the commissary rewards program has good coupons. Plus, I'll peruse the sales flyer online and verify prices and sales before going. Def learned SO much from FFM 😊
Eating at home is a HUGE way to save money. I teach families how to save money on groceries by making their produce last and I would love to do a collab with you to share my best tips with your audience. If you have someone who could reach out to me I'd love to chat more about it!
Lawn service, dog grooming, plants for the garden (they start seeds themselves). Lots of my friends and I did the homemade laundry soap for years now we're trying the sheets.
We have shifted over to Molly's Suds laundry soap on Amazon and it's much cheaper per load than making it ourselves and does a better job.
I admit, I don’t often try on clothes. But it’s because I’m a mom of 3, soon to be 4 and I just don’t have time. A lot of times I’m buying things like sweats and T-shirts at a thrift store though, so it’s pretty easy to tell if they’re going to fit. And when I only spend $2 for an item, I’m not super upset if I have to “return” it (re-donate, lol). One thing I don’t spend money on is beauty products. I have a few tried and true products I like, and I don’t deviate from them. They all can be bought at Walmart for under $10.
Frugal people often grow their own produce, you don't need a big garden space, you can even grow in pots on a balcony, once established it's money saved year after year, grow, use, freeze, preserve and it's also a free hobby. You can grown certain veggies from scraps and you can save seeds from even store bought produce. The joy it brings is great for your mental health also 🥕🧄🍅🌰🫑 I even have a few video's!
We are retired with no debt and a financial cushion for emergencies. So glad we were careful with our money while we were still earning. Delayed gratification!
+ adding pedicures/manicures/monthly haircuts/spa day stuff (the bathtub at home is good enough for me. I might spend a dollar on nailpolish IF I even do my nails at all.)
0 percent means you do not get the best deal on a vehicle. Never start with a trade-in, sell older vehicles outright. The dealership uses a trade-in not to give you the best deal. Know your msrp, know what you are willing to pay, and be willing to walk out if it is not the deal you want and wait for their reaction.
We’ve always bought a newer used car and then at the very end, we trade in our car. Harder for them to try and hide things that way
Manicures, pedicures and other non-essential vanity services. I started cutting my husband's hair during COVID, and he' s not gone back to the barber shop since. I trim my own hair as well, but do splash out for regular cuts, 'tho.
learning to buy smart (being frugal) is what we all should do but as someone else said before each of us do it in our own way....I dont agree with the seasonal stuff. I love to change up decor and outdoor decorations. My family will buy the year prior for the next year when 75% of more off. And usually buy things that we can use year after year. I started this when my son was little to show him the different seasons, holidays. You can be frugal and still change up things.
I purchase extended warranties for 2-3 years on expensive appliances and electronics. I have used them 3 times. It was for a refrigerator repair, a TV repair, and a washing machine. The smart TV motherboard went out after 2.5 years. Without the warranty it would have been better to throw it away. The freezer on the refrigerator was icing up. On the washing machine the motherboard went bad after 2 years. It was something minor. The deep fill no longer worked but otherwise it ran just fine. The warranty company just returned my full purchase price and told me to do whatever I wanted with it. That was $800 refunded and I continue to use the machine without the deep fill. That is 7 years of use for $0.
I used to love retail therapy. I have gotten better, but I still fall for the yarn clearances once in a while. I use that yarn to make things for my Samaritan's Purse O.C.C. Shoeboxes, though. Or to make blankets for gifts, so it's almost a trade off. And if I need yarn to finish a project, I wait on Hobby Lobby's sale on yarn week.
I can’t resist yarn either, but definitely wait for sales or coupons! I usually make all of my projects for gifts for family and friends, or to donate to babies at the local hospital, so I don’t feel bad about buying yarn too often.
@StephanieGrealis I hit a Hobby Lobby clearance a few years ago...gave half of it away because I felt guilty right after buying it and had no where to put it... but I'm still working on some of that and kinda wishing I hadn't given so much away... there will be other clearances.
I am lucky with this. I belong to a volunteer senior crafters group. We use donated supplies including yarn to make items to sell. The money goes towards funding programs at the centre. Love to make stuffies but no one to give them to so this is a win-wind situation.
That’s good sometimes you can get whole bundles in Thrifts stores
Nothing wrong with that. Wish I had one of your blanket. Homemade is the best🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Lol I buy the latest tech new and then it lasts me like 12 years. Then rinse and repeat. Both phone and computer. I basically use the computer until my Adobe software stops updating. I'm a graphic designer.
Hey Christine, I don’t think you’ll see this, but I wanted to let you know that better help isn’t as great as they claim. Plenty of clients and therapists have spoken about this, on youtube and other places. Frugal means getting the most value for your money, and better help thus isn’t a frugal option.
101% correct!!! What about that Frugal Mom?????
I agree, I used them once, wasn't the greatest money spent. To each their own. ❤
Frugal but love retail therapy at times, but my retail therapy is thrift store hunting for treasures and consists of hunting until I find something I really want (travelling to 3-4 thrift stores and making a day or a weekend out of maybe a 20.00 spend).
The only time the extended warranty was worth it was for our laptop. The warranty covers spills. Our laptop is currently getting fixed for a water spill. The thing wouldn’t turn on! Otherwise we would have to shell out big bucks for a similar replacement.
Other than that I completely agree with skipping the extended warranty.
Lots of Libraries have passes that can be checked out to local museums, zoos, cultural centers, etc.
As frugal people we might go to the movie theater one to 2 times a year, we also don’t spend money on cable/satellite tv.
I'm 73. I volunteer at 2 places that give me shirts, tote bags, and food. I've also gotten paid to teach classes. I trade house plants with neighbors, and get bags
of clothes and household linens. I just dropped off 2 big bags of things we couldn't use at Salvation Army. Tina, Al's wife
I love those tiny bottles of water because they fit in my purse but i buy a 12 pack of them like 2x a year and i will reuse the tiny bottle for 2 weeks until i want a fresh one or lose the bottle
I do the sa.e with refillable, all my doctors have told me to get away from plastics for 10 years, they are very estrogenic.
@@debiwillis9045exactly people are not doing themselves any favors eating and drinking out of all this plastic. I have refillable stainless bottles and have always used them. I'm not even a big environmentalist but it bugs me all the plastic bottles everyone is pitching left and right, bugs me to death to see them in the gym trash. Ugh 😑
About car washing, in places like where I live in California you are not allowed to wash your own car. You have to go to a car washing facility that can recycle the water. I think this is because A) the soapy water would run off into the bay, and B) we are often in drought conditions.
I think my HOA has a rule like that, but once a year oh well- there's a puddle in the street that dries up in 5 minutes!
I’m in Iowa and our community policy says no washing car in drive. I may or may not purposely park in the drive when expecting rain, 😂.
@@firequeen2194😂😂😂😂😂
Wow...I have always washed my own vechicles...detail them well...glad I live in a rural area and have some freedoms...that is ridiculous not being able to simply wash a vehicle
I live in SoCa in a big city and we wash our cars on the street in front of our house all the time. This must be a HOA thing. The only thing that you can’t have while hand washing is a hose without a nozzle that automatically shuts off which makes sense to me.
Frugal people always think "I can get the $10 gym membership INSTEAD of Netflix!"🤣🤣 We will always swap one thing (close in price range) for something we want more🤗❤🙏🏾
Do like like to buy a ton of clothes and try them in at home because it’s easier to do at home with a toddler under my feet. And I don’t feel rushed to make a decision.
I might buy new, but I wear it out. And I buy quality over quantity. My best friend buys a blender about every year. She uses it til it quits working. And then buys another for whatever the going rate. I bought a Vitamix in 2007. I use it almost daily. My $395 has lasted 16 years and still going strong. Pretty good investment, imo. And yes, I paid cash. I don't own a credit card.
It's when you have something break you must replace immediately and don't HAVE $400 for a Vitamix that you end up buying crap you have to replace monthly. It's absolutely worse over the long haul, but... you may not always have a choice to buy quality. I call it "poverty tax," when you have to buy the cheap, obviously crappy option because it's still all you can afford.
@@EFergDindraneover the 16 years she would have paid for the vitamix and then some if she is buying a $30 blender once a year. Even when money is that tight I have always been able to figure out a way to save my money to make that better purchase because it saves me more money in the long run. Trust me I have been there where it was extremely hard to make ends meet and most months they didn’t meet(even with going to the food bank) but I knew a cheap item wasn’t worth getting.
@@desertfamilyhomestead3127 Some people can't wait a year or more to save up for a better item and have to buy the low quality.
my friend is a single mom and she bought a vitamix for $400 20 years ago. Her three "boys" all cook and use it regularly. Having one son, let me assure you a cheap blender is considered a disposable item. Her $400 vitamix is still alive and kicking.
I will buy clothes without trying them on but my clothing size hasn’t changed since high school despite having four children. Best investment for myself and family was becoming a personal trainer, getting resistance bands and borrowing dumbbells from my father (who bought them, used them maybe four times in three years) and watching videos to make work out plans.
My size hasn’t changed but different brands fit differently. Some brands I can do a medium, some a large and some I need XL. This is why I still try on everything before I buy. The inconsistencies between brands and sizing is terrible
@@LifewithKrystle I definitely agree! I just don’t purchase clothing too much but if I’ve never bought from a store I will go in to try something on 😊
I'm pretty sure I just watched a video of Christine returning clothes she bought online that didn't fit. 🤭
@@ninnymuggins5159she did....I saw that too.
@@LifewithKrystlemany clothes are made in china or another Asian country and the sizing is small I buy what fits and it's usually two sizes bigger I wear size 16 but buy things that are 18 or twenty because asian size 16 too small
Brown sugar. Coffee creamer. So cheap/easy to make your own.
Molasses to make brown sugar is expensive.
@@marywatkins6798 I buy in gallon from amazon
The only thing on this list that I do is buy clothes without trying them on first because I buy all of my clothes online. Also, I completely agree with Jen. Returning items is not worth the hassle and aggravation. I purchase clothes rather infrequently and they almost always fit so this really isn’t an issue for me.
Another easy tip is always buy the same brand and most likely the sizes will always fit.
@@angieshrader6660 Yes, I do this. I almost always order from Duluth Trading or Lands End because I know their clothes work for me.
Agree. Especially as a very fat person who doesn't fit sizes that most stores have, I *have* to buy online. But I don't buy very often. I've been rocking the same wardrobe for about 15ish years now.
Don't buy sodas , engery drinks and premake dinners or lunches. I grew up with a very furgal parents. I even drank water for the garden hose. 😂💜
I wore a floral shirt I got at Goodwill and will take on my trip to Italy.
Hi Christine
My name is Sharon and I recently moved from NJ to va.
I want you to know that I really like your chanel, I love to Cook and I'm trying to learn from you.
I wanted to say that I think you have a beautiful family and it's obvious to me that you expect help from your children and they are not kept or spoiled.
Christine just ignore these negative people that probably have nothing good in their lives.
Keep doing what your doing, I love to Cook and I love to watch you.
Sharon Williams in Virginia 😅
You’re like my UA-cam Mom ❤️❤️❤️thank you
Your Daughter...🎶 Life is a highway..🎶 !! She's great!! Loved that!! Great job Mom!!💜
OMG my dh bought filet mignon steaks yesterday for our dinner with his two sisters on Sunday. Including the corn on the cob, macaroni salad and an ice cream cake he spent $89 at the grocery store. Lot's cheaper for 5 people then going out. The steaks were outrageously good!!!
My husband does something similar once in a while. He’ll buy big tomahawk steaks, sous vide them at home in a cooler, sear them up on the grill, and serve them. I’ll make some side dishes from whatever I have in the pantry and freezers.
1. We have 4 drivers in our house. All 4 cars are paid off. The oldest car is 13 yrs old and still running. When a deer ran into the side door, we just pounded out the dent and bought a replacement side mirror at a junkyard. 2. Found my 1st gray hair at 11 yrs old. Had my hair professionally colored once. Never again. Dont have the patience to sit there 2+ hrs plus i can do it myself for under $5.
My son (16) got a free summer membership to Planet Fitness under their student deal. He doesn't go every day but free is my favorite price.
0% interest rate, 12,24, and 36 month plans from Home Depot and Lowe’s Credit Services are great deals. I pay the appliance or service project off (HVAC, Windows, generator, etc) before the term ends, pay no interest, and it’s literally same as cash…savings cushion remains intact.
I do buy the warranty on my tires, if I have a flat, they’ll come fix it for me or tow me, and rotations are free, and alignment are discounted.
In my world the business is called. Discount Tires
Best warranty I've ever bought. Someone decided randomly to stab the sidewall on one of my new tires. Got a free tire replacement and paid $45 to add coverage to that replacement tire. No brainer win-win. Discount Tires ftw.
I don't buy fancy jars or mason jars for food storage. I washed the pasta sauce or salsa jars, removed the labels with olive oil and reused them. Make your own cleaning products - vinegar and baking soda clean everything. 😀
We should all have a Grandma who was raised during the Depression, to teach us about frugality!!
@@jillsipocz3582 you don't need a grandma to teach you. It's called a minimalist life.
Be careful though, some of the cheap glass containers have lead.
How do you make the vinegar and baking soda cleaner? How much vinegar and baking soda?
Thank you! ❤🎉
Actually, car washes not so much. In the winter, all that salt can be awful for your undercarriage. And you probably don’t want to do a car wash at home in February in New England. 😬
She lives where it's cold and snowy, I wonder how she handles this?
The undercarriage will definitely rust out quick. I've lived in cold snowy places. That salt under your car is no joke.
Daughter has a travel intensive crazy schedule long hour job. She loves it.
She was able to schedule help when her person moved on. It has worked out well with her.
Yes, let's work out at home when possible. It's one thing when you're on your way home and stop at the gym and shower to save money on your water bill. Cut out the snacks, too. I used to spend more on supplements at the gym than I did on the membership, like 3 times as much!!
Oh yes- I did too! I do aqua there every day, so shower there afterwards….but coffee afterwards with friends once a week, not more often!
I have to tell you- I do buy the extended warrantees on appliances. I have had one washer and one dryer lemoned. They had the same repeated problem and then after the third time, they gave me the price of the unit to buy a new unit. On the washer, they didn't have a tech in my area, so they lemoned it and it was fixed with a $25 amazon purchase. I had a microwave replaced too. Choose carefully and be sure that the warranty people have service providers in your area.
Good advice. When my son first started driving I had just purchased a car, they offered a warranty on the tires for $25 a month . I decided to go with it. During that time because he couldn't seem to stop curbing the tires and I had to have them replaced multiple times, that warranty paid for itself.
We don't go to the dog groomers or the salons.
😅mind blown with the racing in Sun Valley, unbelievable 😮 moving on, I used to be so frugal because we had to. Now we’re doing so well for the past 9 years…we’ve raised our lifestyle too much. Uhh 😬 thanks for the wake-up call. I do probably 5-6 of these things. Hugs ❤
Frugal and minimalist, be sure you have a place and or a plan for anything you buy before you buy it. It's not a good deal if you have it sitting somewhere. Loved this list, I have to say though I do cheat occasionally with the car wash, maybe three times a year - but we are in the snowbelt and sometimes you gotta get that salt off in the coldish weather.
That’s probably protecting your car long term!! 👍🏻
Not to mention that the undercarriage is a spot that everybody misses when washing your own car, and if you don’t treat your ride to a real car wash in the spring, sooner or later that road salt is going to absolutely _eat_ through your car’s underbody!
I live in Michigan and have the $30/month car wash plan. I own a cleaning company and having a clean vehicle is important and reflects my standard of business. The car wash is on the way home and my plan includes unlimited car washes. I love it!
You're helping so many people...thank you.
Yesterday just picked up 4 pkgs of clothe napkins (8ct napkins per pkg) for 99 cents each, at Ollie's! They was in the fall items, the pkgs each have 4 fall colors (2 napkins per color) which is perfe t for me cause my decor is fall colors! Just so tired of husband still bringing home and using so much disposable paper towels. Making him use the clothe ones now ( he will eventually adjust, withdrawals seem harsh so far 😂)
I can’t believe people enjoy leaving negative comments about you or your material on UA-cam. If you share a tip, sure. Why the heck are people getting uptight in comments about frugality? 🙄
Most of my friends and family think I'm crazy, but I only buy maybe 6 rolls of paper towels a year (and that mostly depends on how often we camp). I use dish towels that I bought on clearance for 10 cents each. I cut them into 6 pieces, hemmed them, and use those for napkins and cleaning the kitchen counters and stuff.
I’m with you…I use paper towels IF i fry something , but I put a single layer on top of the free newspaper we get. I also use them for puppy/kitty oops
It's small but we don't buy napkins or paper towels any more. We just made cloth napkins and have normal dish towels. Less waste and reusable.
I would expand on your Clothes topic: Buy pre-owned! Consignment stores, thrift stores, garage sales, FB Marketplace. Consignment and thrift stores have fitting rooms. When no fitting room available, I have worn a thin shirt and tried a shirt or dress over top to see if it fits. I hardly ever, ever buy new. Tons of money to be saved this way. This is how I thought you were going with this topic.
I always hit the clearance racks first in stores and my 17 year old daughter does the same thing, we went to Walmart yesterday and I found a clearance rack that she got a nice t-shirt for $5 and she has no problem shopping for clothes at the thrift stores either, “it’s new for me” she says.
I have embraced frugal living. I recently helped a friend downsize and she gave me all of her laundry doing supplies. I have not bought laundry soap now for over 3 months. I also use up all of the soap that people give you at bridal showers. As far as I can tell these products are just as good as the ones I have previously purchased. I also have reduced the number of times that I have my hair cut` just 3 or 4 times per year. Finally, I have started washing my own car. a great way to spend time with my father as I do it at his house. And I do not purchase any groceries that are not part of a specific meal plan and do not exceed my set budget. It can be challenging but is so worth it in order to save for things that I really need
Me on the other hand have a well-stocked fridge (2) and freezer 1 large, 2 fridge/freezers. Also a walk-in pantry. I can precook and freeze, take advantage of sales, never worry about going out to shop if I don't feel well or it's bad weather. I can pull a delicious budget meal or dessert or snack by being prepared. It saves a lot of money and no excuse to go out to eat. I coupon, watch sales, bogo, and I Ibotta.
when my mom went into independent living where housekeeping is provided, I cleared out all her cleaning supplies. I had a huge box full. none of my siblings wanted any. I will have cleaning supplies until I die lol
I used to do a lot of the things you mentioned. I had a local "boutique" fitness membership up until about 4-5 months ago. I also had a Pure Barre membership that was $169 PER MONTH and I went MAYBE 5-6 times per month. If you use it and can afford it then I have a different opinion...but my best financial and TIME choice in recent months was cancelling those memberships and getting doing your Peloton dupe/hack. I ride my spin bike, do Les Mills Body Pump, or maybe a barre workout almost every day. I'm more consistent and what I spent in a month for the gyms I spend in a year for an App.
I don’t even turn on the AC in my car (I ride with the windows down) so that I don’t waste more gas and therefore have to fill up my gas tank as quickly. The AC runs off your gasoline. I also bought the kill switch for my engines automatic shut off since there’s not a turn off switch already installed in my model vehicle. Do you know how much gas your vehicle uses to turn the engine on. My engine would turn off even at a 2 second stop sign so that’s a lot of gas saved with one $100 purchase of the kill switch.
I have to disagree on extended warranties. I don't get them for everything, but the extra 5 years on my dishwasher that gave out after 3 and essentially had to be rebuilt was a lifesaver. Also when I was learning to build a computer and accidentally fried the CPU I was so glad I had insurance on the components.
Yes this was a thing back when appliances lasted forever. We have a dishwasher that was here 30 years ago when we moved in, that was when Maytag seriously was amazing. Now we have a washer hubby has replaced nearly every part on, same with our crappy fridge. We have been thru like 3 huge expensive window units in our bedroom. Nothing is made to last past about 3 years if that! I think some of the extended warranties are worth it.
How on earth do you fry a cpu? I get toasting a mobo but frying a cpu?
I got a free couch once. The place I was working at was closing my location, so they had to get rid of stuff. It was a nice leather couch. Kept it for eleven years until it got too ratty.
Shop at second hand stores not only for clothes but kitchen gadgets, utensils bakeware, plates, cups etc. They also have kids books, toys, bicycles.
You bet I bought a ladies long sleeve top it goes with all my clothes in my wardrobe in a thrift shop for $5 normal retail price $40_60
There's such a thing as being too frugal. Some of those things are too crazy, like that couch!
Just re upholstered dining chairs and vanished 20 year old table saved 500 $ on replacement...
It's so cool that you went to the Ramsey influencer event. I would love to see more footage from that, if you want to share. You would be the best official Ramsey Personality. Thank you for all your advice! 😃
I am really cautious of spending because I have to be. And denying yourself small things and little joys doesn't feel great and that's not good for mental health. If you can get things that are good quality that will last. Its not always possible, but if you can, the better quality one will last a lot longer and save money in the long run.
Good info 👍🏴
Sorry but I must disagree on extended warranties for major appliances. We went through absolute hades with two major appliances at different times. Appliances will likely have some component fail at just over a year which coincidentally is right after the mfg warranty expires. There is a break-even cost at some point which we monitor but appliances are expensive to purchase and more expensive to repair.