I'm a professional chef and I can't fathom how people spend so much on groceries! My budget is $60 week. And I eat very well...steak, seafood, cheese, bakery goods and lots of fresh veggies and fruit. Learning to cook from scratch, use the right tools and season food properly is a game-changer. Plus I rarely eat out or get food delivered since I can make whatever I want at home.
I cannot imagine spending $1000 / month for groceries Dreaming. I'm glad you found this channel. I hope you're putting your new found money to good use. My father always said...it's better to save a dollar than work for a dollar. Cheers.
I cut our grocery bill by at least 40% by planning a months' worth of meals at a time and buying in bulk and on sale. At one point I realized that no matter how many bags of chips and jars of salsa I bought, they could eat it all. I put a limit on snack food buying in general.
I do 77 (74 at night) in Florida. Ceiling fans are set to high and keep the air circulating and comfortable (except during a hot flash 😜). We rarely, if ever, use heat in the winter.
Here in Tucson l keep mine at a comfortable 82° With the door open. I like being able to see out & enjoy the fresh air. It's great if one doesn't have a excess weight.
@@Tk-iz2wsMeow! You live in Tuscon, which means desert level humidity. 82° in high humidity feels like a sauna. There's no reason to make cracks about the weight of people you don't even know.
We have tries 3 times trying to get my ac fixed and we have no money to try again right now and I'm 8 months pregnant. 79 I will have ice packs in my clothes trying to cool off lol
I finally had to get a new car. Went with a no plug hybrid. $30 in gas in THREE months. Let’s just say I’m thrilled. My old van was about $60 every other week for the exact same commute. House paid for, pack my own food for work, canning, dehydrating, full pantry and freezers. I’m down to shopping only loss leaders at grocery stores and Aldi is now 2 blocks away. Summer clothes all came from thrift store. Even scored some brand new scrubs for work at the same thrift store (DAV) and they now have a loyalty program as well as a veteran discount, which I am. Feeling pretty good. On to the decluttering! 😘
😂 I set my air conditioner on 70 and 69 at night so I laughed when you called your son psycho for turning the air on 74. I think it costs more to keep adjusting the temperature rather than just leaving it alone.
Yes totally agree and have tested this theory in 4 homes now, also in some of our business locations - each location we dropped the electric bill by keeping the AC down to NO HIGHER than 73 - this is Florida so very hot - and we have fewer issues with our maintained AC units this way. We turn it to 68 at night and 73 at 9am. This is more efficient but we do have some condensation in the places that don’t have the double windows. Your furniture will get hot if you turn it up, then if you want to cool things at night your furniture is giving off that heat for hours that your AC unit will be working harder to have to bring back down. Plus the cool air pushes the warm air away from the openings - you can feel this when you open the door and feel the rush of cool air out. We also always keep the fan pushing the air down to keep the air moving and the heat from collecting higher up. The most recent cost difference the prior year’s costs were double what they are now. The electric company showed us the usage graph and the prior owner said they kept it at 78, $380-450/mo - we don’t pay over $230 in the hottest months.
My frugal tip about restaurants is to forgo fast food and roadhouse restaurants and then once a month go to a locally run ethnic food place which features higher quality food for the money. Thai, dim sum, shawarma etc. Support local restaurants not chain restaurants.
I don't do ethnic but we do a small locally owned restaurant every week. Still pricey but better burger than fast food and combo isn't that much more than what FF charges now.
Or if you're eating out for lunch with friends, order an appetizer and ice water. There is often "free" bread on the table. You'll have time with your friends, but a much lower bill than ordering a full entree.
Exactly! Or, like me, I've cooked on a large electric griddle, I've even used it outside when it's too hot inside to cook. It's of course not the best dupe, but it worked well enough. I use it more when we're cooking these really spicy brats made by a local butcher, so we don't have to breath in the fumes from the hot peppers lol.
There are also a TON of great recipes on the internet. I almost never look in an actual cookbook anymore, except for my old fashioned Betty Crocker Cookie Book because I love that thing!
Hi! I'm 72. Besides providing great money-saving tips and ideas, you make me laugh! I just retired last week and as much as I like research and UA-cam, investment information is making me nuts! Then you popped up out of the retirement video jungle! So, thank you for cheering me up. You are amazing! I used to love going to the library with my kids to pick up books and movies. I just reluctantly canceled my streaming subscriptions except for one. I need to cut back in other areas too, so, instead of getting stressed and depressed, I will go visit my library tomorrow. Thanks for the reminder!
Burger story here. We dont go out to eat very often. Last fall my Husband wanted to go out to this certain Bar Restaurant for an Olive Burger & Onion Rings. I wasn't very hungry but said okay let's go. We decided to share one meal so we ordered one Olive Burger an order of Onion Rings, one Soda & a glass of water. The Bill came to $36 that was without the tip. We decided right then & there it just isn't worth going out to eat anymore. I can make meals at home that taste so much better for a fraction of the cost. For example that meal we paid $36 for plus a $8 tip = $44 would cost $5 to make at home. I enjoy cooking our meals & enjoy saving money every month. I know people who spend $100 & up for a night out a couple times a week to eat out. We spend $250 - $275 a month for groceries for 2 people.
A/C on 80; buying in bulk 1x a month and splitting into individual packaging for freezing; shopping at thrift stores/garage sales (haven’t purchased in a retail store in I don’t know how long). Hanging wet clothes to dry. Still driving a 2011 car that I’ve maintained. Finally, if you can’t afford it-don’t buy it. It’s really not hard to do. Our society doesn’t know the meaning of the word restraint!
Good job! Agreed. Though I wimp out quite often in favor of comfort (and forego other things), I come from a time when we didn’t have AC where we came up with “strategies” to sleep at night. Now, it does get up into the high 80s and 90s with 90 humidity/ high dew point - (so, breathing is nice 😄 I’m grateful for AC) and I do indulge. (God forbid America’s grid should go down during a heat wave😄)
How is it air conditioning at 80°. Just open the window. That's ridiculous. Sorry but allergy suffer here. If you made me live in an 80° house, I'd probably smother you when you sleep with a pillow
So here’s our Chilis order. 3 for me $10.99(appetizer, entree and one drink) My husband and I share it. Chips and salsa, old timer with fries and one drink(he always drinks water). We get out for around $15 including tax and tip and have plenty to eat. Love it! Love your channel too!
Here in San Antonio, it is over 100°, lowering the thermostat is a non-negotiable for me! I'd rather eat cheaper and make my own iced coffee at home than sit under a fan and still sweat my post menopausal tail off 😂
its ok im further south texas than you an i understand. but i think that follows her in and out rule. you want more AC, you get rid of ice coffee. or something like that lol.
We all pick our battles. AC/Heat is one of mine. As I explained to a friend once, I don't pay for AC and I don't pay for heat. I pay for comfort. I'm very sensory delicate. This one is important to me. Since I'm the one paying my electric bill, I'm okay with this.
I agree. I. grew up in a house with that stupid radiant electric heat in the ceilings. My parents made us keep it at 65 degrees because electricity was so expensive. They were paying a fortune, and we were freezing cold. When I left home, I refused to ever be cold again. I wouldn’t look at a place that had a radiant heat. Then I bought a townhouse with central A/C, and I use it. I programmed the thermostat so the differential is only two degrees. I keep it between 72 and 74 degrees.
If you wanna be successful, you most take responsibility for your emotions, not place the blame on others. In addition to make you feel more guilty about your faults, pointing the finger at others will only serve to increase your sense of personal accountability. There's always a risk in every investment, yet people still invest and succeed. You must look outward if you wanna be successful in life.
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.
Safe to say not everybody has the skill to pursue investing. But it's always easy to follow the advice of someone who knows how to i.e a financial advisor. You could anywhere between 10--40k with the right ones. Online businesses are a good bet too if you are savvy.
In fact, I had no prior experience or understanding when I began investing in 2020, but by the end of 2023, I had made a profit of almost $850k. All I had been doing was going by what my financial advisor had told me. This demonstrates that all you truly need is a professional to assist you; you don't even need to be a great investor or put in a lot of work.
Making touch with financial advisors like “Izella Annette Anderson” who can assist you restructure your portfolio, would be a very creative option. Personal financial management will be crucial to navigating the next difficult times.
If it was 79 in my house, I'd be calling the repairman to find out why my AC wasn't cooling! I have started hanging some clothes up to dry mainly because my dryer is older and I am trying to prolong its life. And I def rotate streaming services. I just went through them again yesterday after some announced more increases this fall.
I’m very frugal, but draw the line at the thermostat! We keep ours about 69 in the day and 66 at night. Our house is about 2000 square feet and our bill is between 150-280 a month, depending on temperature. I use space heaters in the winter when awake.
Same! 😂 I will not be miserable in my own house. Lol I wish my husband would let us turn it that low. Haha But it is 72 all year, during the day and 68 all year, at night. It is your house. You should be comfortable there. And I grew up without ac(Except for a window unit in the living room only, that my dad wouldn't put in until mid July) and we were miserable every summer. It was so hard to sleep.
I'm in FL and I started this year acclimating myself to higher temperatures. I can now keep my a/c on 83 as long as the humidity is not too high. I keep a fan going on me all day. If that gets too hot, I turn it down one degree at a time to get the a/c to run for a few minutes to take some humidity out. I sleep at 80 at night. If it's too hot, I turn it to 79. I used to keep it at 80 and 77, and my light bill has gone down drastically since I started this. Went from $144 to $115 in a month.
I don't drink soda much so this isn't an issue for me but it always catches my eye. $5.99 for a 12 packs of cans - and that is a SALE price?? What the heck? I remember $12 for 4 - 12 packs was a sale price! Crazy.
As a single person with no kids, I have life insurance from my former employer. One of the benefits was that I could keep my life insurance at a reduced amount and rate into retirement. It will be enough to pay my funeral expenses and any reasonable outstanding debts. I live in the deep south so my power bill in the summer months is always high. I keep my A/C at around 77 or 78. I rarely ever eat out and the only time I have food/groceries delivered is when I am sick. I also love the library. I check out books, DVD's and music CD's.
Re: feminine hygiene products. My peer group stopped using tampons when one of us got toxic shock syndrome. Cramping always seemed worse when using them, anyway.
A friend of mine had it, she nearly died. I always used pads they're safer. I'm 65 now and went through the change at 47. I was glad when I finished with all that!
The reusable pads I started using while going through menopause are now used for minimal stress incontinence. I spend 0 dollars/month as opposed to the money my friends spend each month. Pads get washed with my underwear which gets washed separately from other clothes. I’ve been using a version of the $1/use strategy for decades for clothes shopping. Buy better quality clothes with classic lines and dress them up or down with accessories. If I want something trendy, I buy it as cheaply as possible since it probably won’t be worn more than a season. That doesn’t happen very often. I may not get down to $1/use but I save a ton of money by focusing on cost per use rather than actual use. My local library is small with short hours and I am a voracious reader (I live in a town about 1/10th the size of yours). I use thrift stores and used book stores in a nearby city to feed my habit. One thrift store charges $1/ paperback, the second hand book stores give you varying amounts of store credit. I can read as much as I want for minimal money when a library isn’t an option. I don’t chase gas prices but because I need to buy almost everything from stores an hour's drive away, I am very good about combining errands (in a loop so no backtracking) and a friend and I will will either run or errands together in the same trip or will check before making a solo trip so we can make stops so the other can avoid a trip.
I wanted to try period panties but I can't find any over XL size so I tried making reusable pads. Lol, I need to make them thicker so I'm still using regular pads. I do use my reusable pads at home for my other womanly needs & Poise Pads when I leave the house because wearing Poise all the time gets expensive!
We were recommended by our furnace installation company to run the fan on your furnace all the time (both winter and summer) because it pulls the heat/cool from the basement and it actually keeps the house at a more regular temperature. We have done this and it’s actually true… our house stays regulated and the furnace runs less overall. Just turn your fan to the “on” instead of “auto”. This especially helps with those rooms that are further away from the furnace that have a hard time staying regulated.
I love your tips! Have asthma and am a little older... I keep my AC at 75 during day and 76 at night but if asthma is bad, it goes down to 72. I say keep at whatever fits you....
I live on $10.00 a day. And when I don’t leave the house, I save that 10.00 for gas or clothes from good will. Or my emergency fund. That’s about 300.00 a month. I also have a 100.00 jar 🏺 of one dollar bills for tithing. Or a certain purchase. When I substitute teach I get money that goes to my emergency fund. But I don’t do that everyday. I’m 75, so I have to slowly work. Yet I have no debt or grandchildren. I live debt free and all the children I teach are my grandchildren.❤ I enjoy my life. I so love Jesus and Our Father! I live with the joy of the Lord Jesus and I have eliminated hurry from my personal culture. I use technology only in the day. Or for emergencies when driving, like flat tire. I call AAA. Technology does not run my life or cause me to buy things. I use it like everything else , only when I need it. It is not my entertainment. It is a tool for safety, not my lifestyle to waste time. Love the Lord, take your countercultural time, be safe!❤
Or it could be a medical condition. While I’m almost 65, I don’t have the menopause symptoms because I still take Premarin that I have been on since I lost my last ovary in 1991. But last summer, on vacation, I got overheated and I think I came pretty close to a heat stroke. We had walked a pretty long way in town and I kept getting hotter and hotter. I didn’t say anything. We are still raising two adopted grandkids who are now 13 and 11. My then 10 yr old had seen a restaurant she wanted to eat at so we were walking there. (Our car was still parked in a lot for the train ride thru the mtns and we didn’t want to hunt parking uptown.) by the time we got the restaurant, and I discovered it was a bar, not a family restaurant we would normally choose, I told my husband that we had to stay. I couldn’t go anywhere else. I swore the kids to secrecy as we don’t drink and I told them they better not tell the pastor or anyone. You know how those good ole’ baptists are! lol! But ever since then I can’t stand the heat. I ended up in the ER once then the hospital after we came back home. It was pretty scary! I’ve never been in the hospital except for surgery. Never for being sick. So I do keep my house cooler than I used to. I used to be the one who opened the windows and didn’t turn on the air until it passed 85. lol!
We keep the ac at 22c and in winter the heat is around 20c. 90% of our living is upstairs in a south facing house so we rely on closed blinds and the ac to keep it comfortable…totally worth it to me! 😂😊
I had farmers, my home owners almost tripled and my car insurance doubled, all in one year with no claimed. I switched to AAA and saved $1000 a year and my policies went back to yearly.
There are a few things unavailable at my stores (daughter is on a special diet but she gets tired of the same stuff over and over) so since I get free delivery from Amazon, I do a big purchase of those things she can eat (that aren't available locally) about 3 times a year.
As an adult child of parents who set the AC at 80ish to save money and got annoyed if I lowered it because I wasn't paying the bills... Be careful. I couldn't sleep and couldn't function normally. I dread going to visit in the summer because I know it's going to be HOT. Don't alienate your children.
Haha. That was my childhood as well! My parents used an attic fan sparingly at night but that was it. Instead, they just told us to move slower to compensate for the heat! It wasn't until many years later that they finally got small window air conditioners for the bedrooms (but they used them sparingly too!) I had trouble tolerating the heat and would stay at the local library as long as possible. The library was always ice cold. :)
I can't sleep like that either and my mom is almost 90 and seems to keep a UTI and she had it on 78 last week. I clean her house and I nearly died even after cutting it down some..took it a long time to cool off. 😢
Agreed. Good sleep is really important and it’s just not worth saving the extra dollars in this area. Cutting expenses in other areas makes more sense.
When I was really poor and single I realized that I could safe allot on electricity by just living in my bedroom. I moved my desk and everything into my room and only went into the rest of the house to cook or use the bathroom.
@@brianb0326 she's talking about using the lights and fans and any appliance in that one room instead of having lights on all over the house when she was living alone. She's not a psychopath.
Try garlic bread pizza at home I use French bread / garlic bread from Kroger comes in a silver bag from the deli department toasted a little then added cheese,pepperoni and salami basil from my garden the kids did not even notice there was no sauce.
#1 is crazy!! I’m not hard core frugal but I still only spend $500 a month and that’s including household items (cleaning-toilet paper etc). I realize I could do better, there’s only two of us… but $1K is insane.
@marengries7030 , the budget is for food and household items. I should have been clearer. I apologize. We pay around 900€ per month for our home. Our bills total about 1500€ per month.
Finally convinced my mom to get blackout curtains for every south facing window. It made a huge difference in the comfort level of the house and the AC doesn’t have to work as hard. Just close during the hottest part of the day. She’s over 70 now and stubborn as a mule so I’m taking the win, lol. Found super cute ones that she loves and I got them during prime days less expensive than the plain ones at Walmart. Score!
I liked the one dollar rule best and I think it's the most universally adaptable rule for any lifestyle. Not everyone can work, or has a car, or uses streaming services, etc. But no matter how much they spend or what method they use to purchase items, everyone buys things somehow, so being intentional about spending is essential. Not saying the other tips aren't also helpful for most people, but they just don't apply to me. I will definitely use the one dollar rule in the future. Good video! (And hell yeah! Chili's was THE best restaurant back in the day!)
79. 😳. I’ve learned people thermoregulate so differently, and being in a super humid environment makes it feel so much hotter. We set our a/c to 70, but our house is only 1,100 sq ft. Personally, I cannot tolerate being in peoples’ homes that are that warm.
@@SoloRenegade Temperature that cold in winter would kill me. I keep mine about 72/73 and I still have a t-shirt, long sleeved shirt and sweatshirt and two pairs of socks on and sit wrapped in a blanket - and I live in SoCal!
Live near Buffalo. Kept the thermostat at 55 this winter. No air conditioning, fans only but did get some mild heat exhaustion when temp went mid 90’s outside. Don’t cut all your shade trees away, it makes a huge difference. Consider a lighter colored roof if it needs replacement, it absorbs less heat in Summer.
I set my air conditioner in 103° temperature at 82. It stays at 82 all day and all night, all year long! True it runs almost constantly from 10:30 in the morning till 5 PM in the summer. It flickered on and off occasionally I have never had an electric bill over $65. I have renters insurance, but I have it through the Hartford through my retirement plan. It has kept me safe more than once!
So many scammers out there! How do they live with themselves?!Bought a Pit Boss flat top griddle on sale and used a coupon as a gift for my husband. So much less expensive! We're at 77°, but turn it up sometimes if it's too cold. Ha ha! You can definitely make better food at home for so much less. Streaming is gone! Wanted to watch the Celine Dion story online. I found it for free, no app needed. So many options. Thanks Christine for helping everyone to have the abundant life for less!! You're the best❤
I grew up without AC & when we finally got one, we used it sparingly. I like to keep mine at 80°F, 78° if I'm really hot. I have to turn it off at bedtime & I sleep with a fan on. 😊
Alright, all these are good. Some of mine additional: no restaurants make using up challenge, not only for pantry, but also clothes, books, eletronics, decor, nothing new before the old stuff is not used up/ripped/broken to go away make lunch to go to work, and as much as possible from scratch, like no store bought spreads, dressings etc. (maybe ketchup, hot sauce, mayo, bbq sauce, make ranch and such from scratch) don't get acrylic nails, lashes etc. done - repeating not necessary (hair, facials , even pedicures etc. might actually be necessary) don't do hair color, extensions, blow-outs don't go by car several times back and forth, like have an errand day and run errands after work that one day in that area switch off router, charger etc. at night when you sleep don't run shower water for long time while you soap, if you want to soak do a full bath, or do that in the gymn, don't do 20-30 Minute showers check fridge at least once a week: what is about to spoil: how can this be turned into a meal asap? don't buy stuff that needs re-fills swiffers, sprays anything that is over-processed both in cleaning, cosmetics and foods, like wash that microfibre rag and don't re-buy sponges, packed wipes etc. all the time, e.g. soap bar instead of liquid soap if money is tight: cut monthly recurrings/subscriptions and conveniences, like the baby-sitter (swap with friends), gardening service, gymn, memberships, use a public library or the cheaper community courses/classes if you really need something that is a tool (think of you will use and it will help you) go for the best necessary quality even if it is more expensive, so that you won't have to buy it twice, that can be a broom, a knive, a hair brush, sports bra or a mobile phone - a tool is a necessary helper
For the $1.00 rule, I have been doing this for years…if the item was $10, second wear would be $5, etc, so some clothes are have been worn so much the outfit can only cost like 4 cents.
74 is too cold for me, but 75-76 is good. At 74, I'm bundled up in blankets and I'm not skinny. Boys and men, however, have greater muscle mass and like lower temperatures because their bodies create so much heat of their own. My husband is a furnace. He likes the temp set at 74 for sleeping, which is fine for me when he's in bed, but if he gets up, I wake up freezing.
I’m accustomed to holding ETFs, but inflation is eroding my portfolio. My concern is whether I can sustain my standard of living, even with a frugal approach, on only $800k. Every withdrawal seems to make it harder for my savings to recover through compounding. It feels like ETFs are limiting my returns rather than managing risk
I'm approaching retirement and having a financial advisor has been helpful. I started investing later than most, so relying on compound interest from index funds or bonds alone wasn’t enough for me. Despite that, I’ve managed to do well and am on track to retire with around $6 million
I usually avoid making specific recommendations because everyone’s situation is unique. However, my experience with Emily Ava Milligan has been quite positive. You might find it worthwhile to see if her approach fits your needs
Each person's situation is different; you have to try different tips to see what works for you. I find here in the England the opposite is true of grocery delivery, which is very common here. By not going to store, I spend much less as I'm distracted by fewer items I don't need. Also, as a disabled person, it saves energy I can then use to cook from scratch.
I'm eating down a stand-up freezer and not going to the grocery store. Maybe 2 times a month for less than $40.00 fruit and veggies. I can cook so much better than most of the restaurants. Plus learning to put my own spin on new favorites. We have to think outside of the box. 🎉
The public library is not only a great option for checking out DVD’s, but for cookbooks as well. You can check them out for free and find a plethora of cookbooks that work for your budget and family. 💕
I was brought up learning how important electric and it doesn’t come free. I was born before A/C and fans were great. I’ve lived this way all my life. In summer when I have to cool 78-79. In the winter I know all the tricks to stay warm. The healthest way to sleep is in a cold environment. But give me fall through spring and I’m happy!
We don’t have A C in Europe. Our temperature never gets over 40centigrade very often in England. People these days eat too many fast foods and snacks . This puts the cost of food up. Wish they had period pants in my day. People also have a new wardrobe every season. That can be up to 28 new outfits a year. Back in the day people only had a weeks worth of clothes and replaced them every 3 years
The one dollar rule. I bought a blouse for $100 a really long time ago and I have worn it soooo much, for 2 decades. It must be a 25 cent blouse by now! My mom grew up poor and helped me learn a tonne of frugal tips. Remind me to tell you how to make a protein broth drink for free using chicken bones.
We have saved greatly by NOT turning on our A/C. The only day we turned it on was the one day our 8 mos pregnant friend came to visit. After being cooped up in a closed house during the fall and winter, I can’t stand being cooped up all summer as well. Plus, I love hearing the birds. I live in an area of the country that gets hot and humid. I think we Americans are just soft.
Which state do you live in? I hear people up north saying it is so hot and humid where they are. It's bc they are not used to what we have down here where I live. 😂😂
As a WA state resident, I don’t even have AC….just heater. This year we didn’t go into the hundreds which granted its max about 10 days a year but more like 5 in western WA. So it’s easy to not have AC depending on where you live. However if I go to CA state in winter they are at a wonderful 65F and my cousins are blasting the heater at 78F-80F it’s strange to me. It’s humid in our state but we get more dry heat, or cold rain so things like thunderstorms are very rare.
Thank youuuu!!! Today is grocery day I've been watching your videos for a few days now & I feel a lot more prepared to shop better!! Well actually sending hubby himself I'll be home with our daughter instead of us all going out together!
I do well with challenges, even when I set them myself. I made a reasonable budget but on the frugal side, and I find it motivating to work to stay under for the month. I'm not actually rewarding myself with anything other than that extra savings, but the mental trick works anyway. Making it a game to keep my grocery budget down really motivates me to plan around the sales, and watching that eating out budget is great motivation to turn down coworkers who are ordering out. I can eat my little homemade lunchable while they have their $10 sandwiches - the company is the same!
I love my Glad Rags washable pads! We set our AC at 80 during the day and 78 at night simply because I prefer it cooler when we’re sleeping. I cook fresh, whole chickens in the crockpot to make my own “rotisserie” chicken @ $1.32/lb for a 6# bird.
My massages are about every 10 weeks. They are not the soft, relaxing kind. They are deep tissue, therapeutic and I consider them as health care. I use my personal allowance on them. We all have our stuff.
Pam here….I have an Amish clothes drying rack, I hang most clothes to cry on hangers or this rack. Using drying only for towels and sheets and my hubby’s fruit of the looms.
Hi. I enjoy watching your UA-cam videos. They are informative and entertaining. I have learned a lot about using what have in my freezers and pantry to meal plan and save money. I am currently doing my own freezer clean out challenge and budgeted myself $25 a week for this month to buy milk and fruit etc. Thanks for challenging us to think outside the box. God bless you and your family.
I am a big advocate for life insurance. I worked for State Farm and learned the importance of life insurance. I talked to my firstborn son into getting it right away when he started working thank God he did because when he passed away at age 34 he was coveredfor both his wife and myself. I supported him for many years as an adult and he got life insurance and made me the beneficiary before he got married. What a surprise but as a mom, it made me proud my husband and I have life insurance.
Team 80 degrees! In the winter I keep it at 62. If I'm cold, I put on a sweater and find a chore to do 😂 It's a little uncomfortable the first couple of days when the weather shifts but your body is an amazing machine that adapts pretty quickly to weather changes by building more capillaries to cool you in warmer weather.
Our air conditioner is set at 77 and we run a box fan. That keeps us pretty comfortable. I’m not sure what we’ll set the heat at this winter. We rent our home and it’s all electric!
I have two cookbooks I use. 1. Chef Paul Prudhomme 2.Sylvia's Soul Food Family Cookbook 3. Ina Garten. I've learned how to make my own seasonings and spices mix from these 3 cooks
👍❣️😊 AC at 86 in Summer.(at least 2 fans in every room)Heat 64 in Winter.(a cool fireplace looking, infrared Heater running constantly if its below 30 outside. Costs $15 a month)It's better to acclimate and adjust with clothing. That way you can spend more time outside without suffering as much. 😊❣️
I don't know if this will work everywhere, but at our library you can request that they purchase a certain tv series or movie. And they often do!! They want to have the items that their customers want on hand. Also, they will order things for you from other libraries.
Libraries are the BEST! I like to say I want all my taxes to go to the library, because they provide great services to so many people. Libby is an online reading/audiobook app through which you can borrow books. After three weeks, they disappear, so no overdue fees. The library has classes, speakers, clubs, and fun events for all ages. In my area one can join all area libraries. I belong to four, so I can usually get books and materials I want quickly. My library also has passes for free, like park passes, museum passes, etc. It's the best bargain around!
My air is at 79 and heat in winter is 72 during the day and 67 at night. This is living in Kansas and my utilities stay low. I refuse to pay the high prices. Great video and you’re like listening to my best friend. So much fun. Love 💕 and Hugs. 💙💙💙
O’Charleys in my area started doing on Monday and Tuesday - a carry out only- Chicken strips, fries and a drink for $5- now that makes a pretty good deal!!
Glad you mentioned the period undies. Have been using the reusable pads for a few years (the same set), they are fantastic. The undies are a more discreet option. Highly recommend as an investment for teenagers and young women
I also have way easier cycles since switching to reusable period products. Ive been rotating using bamboo pads, period underwear, and the diva cup. Ive had the same cup for over 18 years! Never any leaks. I also used cloth diapers for my kids which saved me a ton of money. I bought a used lot on craigslist and used them for two kids. I also used cloth wipes. Neither of my kids ever had a rash and I don't remember them leaking ever either. I used the diapers for cleaning rags for years after too!
We keep our air-conditioning at 79 and have fans running and our house feels cool. I'd imagine the coolness of the house will be affected by how insulated our homes are. Our home is very well insulated.
My air is on 74-75 I cannot imagine it being warmer than that. I will literally turn into the wicked witch and melt in a puddle. Yes please get life insurance. We just had a friend die at 41 and they thought he was perfectly healthy for the most part. He died from cardiac arrest. These scams are getting out of hand. I'm so done with these knuckleheads. The period underwear are a life saver I'm every way!😅
Regarding life insurance, also consider the cost of help for elderly parents. Even if you are not able or don’t contemplate caring for them full-time in lieu of a nursing home, it is likely that you would have provided services before they got to that point. Grocery shopping, food preparation, housecleaning and chores, errands, transportation to medical appointments. How much would it cost to pay someone to do these things if you were gone?
We live in Pa . Summers here are hot an humid we cook our food on our outdoor gas grill burner and don’t use the stove which keeps our electric bill Lower. We keep it at 77degrees and use fans to keep us cooler. Keep blinds closed, hubby made a cover for our upstairs stairway that we don’t use as bedrooms are downstairs so that helps too. Our electric bill was $100.00 last month,we live in a cape cod style house.
I e also started to hang dry our shorts, shirts and of course, bras. Since we rent we cannot have a wash li e. I’m looking at thrift stores for a few things, one of them being a drying rack or two!
I set up a drying rack in my bathtub. I also use the shower curtain rod to hang clothes on hangers. Another tip - putting a drying rack over heating vents in the winter not only dries them faster, but also adds moisture to the dry winter air.
I'm a professional chef and I can't fathom how people spend so much on groceries! My budget is $60 week. And I eat very well...steak, seafood, cheese, bakery goods and lots of fresh veggies and fruit. Learning to cook from scratch, use the right tools and season food properly is a game-changer. Plus I rarely eat out or get food delivered since I can make whatever I want at home.
Where the heck do you live?? And do you have any dietary restrictions?
Do you have any kids? Or it that just $60 a week on yourself.
I’m betting you waste nothing! Great job!
Inflation hasn't impacted me, some of us know how to handle money properly.
I salute you!!! Would love to see UA-cam channel.
You are the sole reason why I went from $1000 to $400 a month for groceries for my family of 3. Thank you so much!
$400? So are we talking fruits & vegetables over here for a family of 3?
@@tonyp9313 everything! ALDIs and there is a grocery outlet close
I cannot imagine spending $1000 / month for groceries Dreaming. I'm glad you found this channel. I hope you're putting your new found money to good use. My father always said...it's better to save a dollar than work for a dollar. Cheers.
@@johnsparkman2007 we saved a bunch and now working on opening a family business
I cut our grocery bill by at least 40% by planning a months' worth of meals at a time and buying in bulk and on sale. At one point I realized that no matter how many bags of chips and jars of salsa I bought, they could eat it all. I put a limit on snack food buying in general.
79?! That’s 90 year old temps! Lord have mercy!! I would sweat while sleeping! Lol
I do 77 (74 at night) in Florida. Ceiling fans are set to high and keep the air circulating and comfortable (except during a hot flash 😜). We rarely, if ever, use heat in the winter.
Here in Tucson l keep mine at a comfortable 82°
With the door open. I like being able to see out & enjoy the fresh air. It's great if one doesn't have a excess weight.
@@Tk-iz2wsMeow! You live in Tuscon, which means desert level humidity. 82° in high humidity feels like a sauna. There's no reason to make cracks about the weight of people you don't even know.
@@Tk-iz2wsI don't have an ounce of excess weight and I would die at 82 😂 it's ok to be outside at that temp but indoors it's too hot for me.
We have tries 3 times trying to get my ac fixed and we have no money to try again right now and I'm 8 months pregnant. 79 I will have ice packs in my clothes trying to cool off lol
I finally had to get a new car. Went with a no plug hybrid. $30 in gas in THREE months. Let’s just say I’m thrilled. My old van was about $60 every other week for the exact same commute. House paid for, pack my own food for work, canning, dehydrating, full pantry and freezers. I’m down to shopping only loss leaders at grocery stores and Aldi is now 2 blocks away. Summer clothes all came from thrift store. Even scored some brand new scrubs for work at the same thrift store (DAV) and they now have a loyalty program as well as a veteran discount, which I am. Feeling pretty good. On to the decluttering! 😘
What kind of car did you buy?
😂 I set my air conditioner on 70 and 69 at night so I laughed when you called your son psycho for turning the air on 74. I think it costs more to keep adjusting the temperature rather than just leaving it alone.
I'm old. I don't care anymore. 72° for me!
Agreed! I'm 56 post menopausal in Atlanta, GA! Anything over 73 degrees is just CRAZY!!!!
I have my air set for 84 in summer ( used to be 86) in Mesa arizona !
79 no way. I live in Houston. 71 during the day. 72 at night 😆
Yes totally agree and have tested this theory in 4 homes now, also in some of our business locations - each location we dropped the electric bill by keeping the AC down to NO HIGHER than 73 - this is Florida so very hot - and we have fewer issues with our maintained AC units this way. We turn it to 68 at night and 73 at 9am. This is more efficient but we do have some condensation in the places that don’t have the double windows. Your furniture will get hot if you turn it up, then if you want to cool things at night your furniture is giving off that heat for hours that your AC unit will be working harder to have to bring back down. Plus the cool air pushes the warm air away from the openings - you can feel this when you open the door and feel the rush of cool air out. We also always keep the fan pushing the air down to keep the air moving and the heat from collecting higher up. The most recent cost difference the prior year’s costs were double what they are now. The electric company showed us the usage graph and the prior owner said they kept it at 78, $380-450/mo - we don’t pay over $230 in the hottest months.
My frugal tip about restaurants is to forgo fast food and roadhouse restaurants and then once a month go to a locally run ethnic food place which features higher quality food for the money. Thai, dim sum, shawarma etc. Support local restaurants not chain restaurants.
I don't do ethnic but we do a small locally owned restaurant every week. Still pricey but better burger than fast food and combo isn't that much more than what FF charges now.
Great idea!
@@TheSwimmom1 If it has cumin, curry or cilantro in it, we are out. Those 3 ingredients ruin everything they touch.
Or if you're eating out for lunch with friends, order an appetizer and ice water. There is often "free" bread on the table. You'll have time with your friends, but a much lower bill than ordering a full entree.
Put a flat top griddle on your BBQ. You have a blackstone.
LOL, love it!
My dad did this a few years ago!
I just got my husband one of those! It’s cast iron and we love it! We didn’t want to buy another big thing to put in our garage!
Exactly! Or, like me, I've cooked on a large electric griddle, I've even used it outside when it's too hot inside to cook. It's of course not the best dupe, but it worked well enough. I use it more when we're cooking these really spicy brats made by a local butcher, so we don't have to breath in the fumes from the hot peppers lol.
Public libraries have a massive selection of cookbooks. There is no need to buy cookbooks, when the library has them for free.
Yes,I’m a librarian and I approve this message 😂
Thrift stores have cook books for pennies and you dont have to run back and forth to the library.
@@BethLane-t7f Yes, I love thrift store cookbooks, as well!
I never thought of that!
There are also a TON of great recipes on the internet. I almost never look in an actual cookbook anymore, except for my old fashioned Betty Crocker Cookie Book because I love that thing!
Hi! I'm 72. Besides providing great money-saving tips and ideas, you make me laugh! I just retired last week and as much as I like research and UA-cam, investment information is making me nuts! Then you popped up out of the retirement video jungle! So, thank you for cheering me up. You are amazing! I used to love going to the library with my kids to pick up books and movies. I just reluctantly canceled my streaming subscriptions except for one. I need to cut back in other areas too, so, instead of getting stressed and depressed, I will go visit my library tomorrow. Thanks for the reminder!
A comfortable temperature in my home is worth every penny. I live here, sleep here, work here. All seasons it's 70 daytime, 67 nighttime.
Burger story here. We dont go out to eat very often. Last fall my Husband wanted to go out to this certain Bar Restaurant for an Olive Burger & Onion Rings. I wasn't very hungry but said okay let's go. We decided to share one meal so we ordered one Olive Burger an order of Onion Rings, one Soda & a glass of water. The Bill came to $36 that was without the tip. We decided right then & there it just isn't worth going out to eat anymore. I can make meals at home that taste so much better for a fraction of the cost. For example that meal we paid $36 for plus a $8 tip = $44 would cost $5 to make at home. I enjoy cooking our meals & enjoy saving money every month. I know people who spend $100 & up for a night out a couple times a week to eat out.
We spend $250 - $275 a month for groceries for 2 people.
A/C on 80; buying in bulk 1x a month and splitting into individual packaging for freezing; shopping at thrift stores/garage sales (haven’t purchased in a retail store in I don’t know how long). Hanging wet clothes to dry. Still driving a 2011 car that I’ve maintained. Finally, if you can’t afford it-don’t buy it. It’s really not hard to do. Our society doesn’t know the meaning of the word restraint!
Good job! Agreed. Though I wimp out quite often in favor of comfort (and forego other things), I come from a time when we didn’t have AC where we came up with “strategies” to sleep at night. Now, it does get up into the high 80s and 90s with 90 humidity/ high dew point - (so, breathing is nice 😄 I’m grateful for AC) and I do indulge. (God forbid America’s grid should go down during a heat wave😄)
How is it air conditioning at 80°. Just open the window. That's ridiculous. Sorry but allergy suffer here. If you made me live in an 80° house, I'd probably smother you when you sleep with a pillow
So here’s our Chilis order. 3 for me $10.99(appetizer, entree and one drink) My husband and I share it. Chips and salsa, old timer with fries and one drink(he always drinks water). We get out for around $15 including tax and tip and have plenty to eat. Love it! Love your channel too!
I heard that with the Chili’s app, you get complimentary chips and salsa. Who knows how much privacy you’re giving away in exchange for it.
Here in San Antonio, it is over 100°, lowering the thermostat is a non-negotiable for me! I'd rather eat cheaper and make my own iced coffee at home than sit under a fan and still sweat my post menopausal tail off 😂
I'm in San Antonio too and I agree! Between the heat and high humidity it's just miserable! My a/c is usually set on 73 or 72.
I just posted about this on Facebook yesterday. It will be 105 here on Tuesday. My thermostat is either on 69 or 70.
its ok im further south texas than you an i understand. but i think that follows her in and out rule. you want more AC, you get rid of ice coffee. or something like that lol.
Palm Springs area here at 115°F and we keep A/C at 79°F. Wear loose cotton dress at home.
I'm in co .mountains cooler in the summer.
We all pick our battles. AC/Heat is one of mine. As I explained to a friend once, I don't pay for AC and I don't pay for heat. I pay for comfort. I'm very sensory delicate. This one is important to me. Since I'm the one paying my electric bill, I'm okay with this.
I agree. I. grew up in a house with that stupid radiant electric heat in the ceilings. My parents made us keep it at 65 degrees because electricity was so expensive. They were paying a fortune, and we were freezing cold. When I left home, I refused to ever be cold again. I wouldn’t look at a place that had a radiant heat. Then I bought a townhouse with central A/C, and I use it. I programmed the thermostat so the differential is only two degrees. I keep it between 72 and 74 degrees.
If you wanna be successful, you most take responsibility for your emotions, not place the blame on others. In addition to make you feel more guilty about your faults, pointing the finger at others will only serve to increase your sense of personal accountability. There's always a risk in every investment, yet people still invest and succeed. You must look outward if you wanna be successful in life.
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.
Safe to say not everybody has the skill to pursue investing. But it's always easy to follow the advice of someone who knows how to i.e a financial advisor. You could anywhere between 10--40k with the right ones. Online businesses are a good bet too if you are savvy.
In fact, I had no prior experience or understanding when I began investing in 2020, but by the end of 2023, I had made a profit of almost $850k. All I had been doing was going by what my financial advisor had told me. This demonstrates that all you truly need is a professional to assist you; you don't even need to be a great investor or put in a lot of work.
@@mikegarvey17I’ve been looking to switch to an advisor for a while now. Any help pointing me to who your advisor is?
Making touch with financial advisors like “Izella Annette Anderson” who can assist you restructure your portfolio, would be a very creative option. Personal financial management will be crucial to navigating the next difficult times.
If it was 79 in my house, I'd be calling the repairman to find out why my AC wasn't cooling! I have started hanging some clothes up to dry mainly because my dryer is older and I am trying to prolong its life. And I def rotate streaming services. I just went through them again yesterday after some announced more increases this fall.
You can get a good used clothing dryer from a trusted appliance store in your area and get it for a great price. I never buy new.
I’m very frugal, but draw the line at the thermostat! We keep ours about 69 in the day and 66 at night. Our house is about 2000 square feet and our bill is between 150-280 a month, depending on temperature. I use space heaters in the winter when awake.
😂 I'm in a 1700sq ft condo in Phoenix and our bill is between 370-390 at 74° 🥵🥴
Same! 😂 I will not be miserable in my own house. Lol I wish my husband would let us turn it that low. Haha But it is 72 all year, during the day and 68 all year, at night. It is your house. You should be comfortable there.
And I grew up without ac(Except for a window unit in the living room only, that my dad wouldn't put in until mid July) and we were miserable every summer. It was so hard to sleep.
I'm in FL and I started this year acclimating myself to higher temperatures. I can now keep my a/c on 83 as long as the humidity is not too high. I keep a fan going on me all day. If that gets too hot, I turn it down one degree at a time to get the a/c to run for a few minutes to take some humidity out. I sleep at 80 at night. If it's too hot, I turn it to 79. I used to keep it at 80 and 77, and my light bill has gone down drastically since I started this. Went from $144 to $115 in a month.
I don't drink soda much so this isn't an issue for me but it always catches my eye. $5.99 for a 12 packs of cans - and that is a SALE price?? What the heck? I remember $12 for 4 - 12 packs was a sale price! Crazy.
My kids drink sooo much soda. Here it's $9/ a 12 pack of cans. Meanwhile we have a sodastream with all the flavors.
You should do a cookbook with all those favorite recipes!!! I would love to get one 😊
As a single person with no kids, I have life insurance from my former employer. One of the benefits was that I could keep my life insurance at a reduced amount and rate into retirement. It will be enough to pay my funeral expenses and any reasonable outstanding debts. I live in the deep south so my power bill in the summer months is always high. I keep my A/C at around 77 or 78. I rarely ever eat out and the only time I have food/groceries delivered is when I am sick. I also love the library. I check out books, DVD's and music CD's.
I even check out art ….three month period on that. Helps keep me from buying house decorations.
Re: feminine hygiene products. My peer group stopped using tampons when one of us got toxic shock syndrome. Cramping always seemed worse when using them, anyway.
TSS is why i never used them from the start. I have terrible memory so taking no chances.
A friend of mine had it, she nearly died. I always used pads they're safer. I'm 65 now and went through the change at 47. I was glad when I finished with all that!
The reusable pads I started using while going through menopause are now used for minimal stress incontinence. I spend 0 dollars/month as opposed to the money my friends spend each month. Pads get washed with my underwear which gets washed separately from other clothes.
I’ve been using a version of the $1/use strategy for decades for clothes shopping. Buy better quality clothes with classic lines and dress them up or down with accessories. If I want something trendy, I buy it as cheaply as possible since it probably won’t be worn more than a season. That doesn’t happen very often. I may not get down to $1/use but I save a ton of money by focusing on cost per use rather than actual use.
My local library is small with short hours and I am a voracious reader (I live in a town about 1/10th the size of yours). I use thrift stores and used book stores in a nearby city to feed my habit. One thrift store charges $1/ paperback, the second hand book stores give you varying amounts of store credit. I can read as much as I want for minimal money when a library isn’t an option.
I don’t chase gas prices but because I need to buy almost everything from stores an hour's drive away, I am very good about combining errands (in a loop so no backtracking) and a friend and I will will either run or errands together in the same trip or will check before making a solo trip so we can make stops so the other can avoid a trip.
@@kathychatterton5623 I’ve started using my library’s online service. It’s great for going on a trip. I can load a few books and read without Wi-Fi.
I wanted to try period panties but I can't find any over XL size so I tried making reusable pads. Lol, I need to make them thicker so I'm still using regular pads. I do use my reusable pads at home for my other womanly needs & Poise Pads when I leave the house because wearing Poise all the time gets expensive!
We were recommended by our furnace installation company to run the fan on your furnace all the time (both winter and summer) because it pulls the heat/cool from the basement and it actually keeps the house at a more regular temperature. We have done this and it’s actually true… our house stays regulated and the furnace runs less overall. Just turn your fan to the “on” instead of “auto”. This especially helps with those rooms that are further away from the furnace that have a hard time staying regulated.
I'm going to try this and see what I think!! Keeps the air moving sounds like?
We do this too! I do think it helps!
I love your tips! Have asthma and am a little older... I keep my AC at 75 during day and 76 at night but if asthma is bad, it goes down to 72. I say keep at whatever fits you....
My husband and I live frugally on around $300/month. That means only occasionally getting a bag of of chips, no other snacks, but meals are covered.
I live on $10.00 a day. And when I don’t leave the house, I save that 10.00 for gas or clothes from good will. Or my emergency fund. That’s about 300.00 a month. I also have a 100.00 jar 🏺 of one dollar bills for tithing. Or a certain purchase. When I substitute teach I get money that goes to my emergency fund. But I don’t do that everyday. I’m 75, so I have to slowly work. Yet I have no debt or grandchildren. I live debt free and all the children I teach are my grandchildren.❤ I enjoy my life. I so love Jesus and Our Father! I live with the joy of the Lord Jesus and I have eliminated hurry from my personal culture. I use technology only in the day. Or for emergencies when driving, like flat tire. I call AAA. Technology does not run my life or cause me to buy things. I use it like everything else , only when I need it. It is not my entertainment. It is a tool for safety, not my lifestyle to waste time. Love the Lord, take your countercultural time, be safe!❤
Wait til the hot flashes & night sweats start. 74 will seem still too warm. Lol
Yes exactly she won't sleep and she will be having hot and cold flashes..no worries she will figure it out 😂😂😂
Amen. 67 year round... oh yea
Or it could be a medical condition. While I’m almost 65, I don’t have the menopause symptoms because I still take Premarin that I have been on since I lost my last ovary in 1991. But last summer, on vacation, I got overheated and I think I came pretty close to a heat stroke. We had walked a pretty long way in town and I kept getting hotter and hotter. I didn’t say anything. We are still raising two adopted grandkids who are now 13 and 11. My then 10 yr old had seen a restaurant she wanted to eat at so we were walking there. (Our car was still parked in a lot for the train ride thru the mtns and we didn’t want to hunt parking uptown.) by the time we got the restaurant, and I discovered it was a bar, not a family restaurant we would normally choose, I told my husband that we had to stay. I couldn’t go anywhere else. I swore the kids to secrecy as we don’t drink and I told them they better not tell the pastor or anyone. You know how those good ole’ baptists are! lol! But ever since then I can’t stand the heat. I ended up in the ER once then the hospital after we came back home. It was pretty scary! I’ve never been in the hospital except for surgery. Never for being sick. So I do keep my house cooler than I used to. I used to be the one who opened the windows and didn’t turn on the air until it passed 85. lol!
@@dianasimplifies I was thinking EXACTLY this. I am way too hot now all the time.
winter: heat set at 64F
summer: heat set at 88F (*if the humidity gets too high, I turn the AC down to 1-2F below outside air temp)
Here’s a tip for you. Buy a digital antenna for $20 and get local TV channels for that one time cost
I get 56 channels over air
I bought clear TV it didn’t work waste of $
That’s what we did as well.
@@SoloRenegadeI have outdoor attenna. I can get 11 to over 70 channels. Depends on the day I guess. But no bill is good.
@@pamelabrown7772If a car drives by, I loose all reception. Miles away if there are cars on the interstate, depending on rush hour, no reception.
We keep the ac at 22c and in winter the heat is around 20c. 90% of our living is upstairs in a south facing house so we rely on closed blinds and the ac to keep it comfortable…totally worth it to me! 😂😊
In the winter I keep my heat set at about 68.
But most of the year I live in Central Florida and keep my A/C at 78, sometimes 80.
I had farmers, my home owners almost tripled and my car insurance doubled, all in one year with no claimed. I switched to AAA and saved $1000 a year and my policies went back to yearly.
There are a few things unavailable at my stores (daughter is on a special diet but she gets tired of the same stuff over and over) so since I get free delivery from Amazon, I do a big purchase of those things she can eat (that aren't available locally) about 3 times a year.
My mother in law gave me her used Better Homes & Garden cookbook & I’ll never give that cookbook away ❤ it
ha my Mother-In-Law also gave me better Homes and garden cookbook for my shower 1983 😅
As an adult child of parents who set the AC at 80ish to save money and got annoyed if I lowered it because I wasn't paying the bills... Be careful. I couldn't sleep and couldn't function normally. I dread going to visit in the summer because I know it's going to be HOT. Don't alienate your children.
Haha. That was my childhood as well! My parents used an attic fan sparingly at night but that was it. Instead, they just told us to move slower to compensate for the heat! It wasn't until many years later that they finally got small window air conditioners for the bedrooms (but they used them sparingly too!) I had trouble tolerating the heat and would stay at the local library as long as possible. The library was always ice cold. :)
I can't sleep like that either and my mom is almost 90 and seems to keep a UTI and she had it on 78 last week. I clean her house and I nearly died even after cutting it down some..took it a long time to cool off. 😢
Agreed. Good sleep is really important and it’s just not worth saving the extra dollars in this area. Cutting expenses in other areas makes more sense.
Get a hotel room
Yes!!! My dad has the house too warm and when we have a family gathering there is a constant battle over the thermostat 😂
When I was really poor and single I realized that I could safe allot on electricity by just living in my bedroom. I moved my desk and everything into my room and only went into the rest of the house to cook or use the bathroom.
In all respect , maybe you need to talk to a professional.
@@brianb0326 she's talking about using the lights and fans and any appliance in that one room instead of having lights on all over the house when she was living alone. She's not a psychopath.
Dude
, don't be ignorant. @@brianb0326
Just bought a Little Ceasars pepperoni pizza. It used to be $8.99 it is now $16. Guess we won't be buying that anymore.
NOOOOO!!! Where do you live?
I remember when they used to be $5.
@@FrugalFitMom
Northern Nevada
Try garlic bread pizza at home I use French bread / garlic bread from Kroger comes in a silver bag from the deli department toasted a little then added cheese,pepperoni and salami basil from my garden the kids did not even notice there was no sauce.
Wait, what? They were $5 at the beginning of 2020.
#1 is crazy!! I’m not hard core frugal but I still only spend $500 a month and that’s including household items (cleaning-toilet paper etc). I realize I could do better, there’s only two of us… but $1K is insane.
I live in Northern Germany, and we have a similar 500€ monthly budget for two as well. We could do a lot better, though.
@@myvillagelifeintheupperhar607 Thats cracy! What is your rent? My Rent for two rooms is nearly double of that!
Bor@@myvillagelifeintheupperhar607
@@myvillagelifeintheupperhar607born Hahn airforce base German
@marengries7030 , the budget is for food and household items. I should have been clearer. I apologize. We pay around 900€ per month for our home. Our bills total about 1500€ per month.
Glass lets heat in/ out. Keep your curtains closed during the heat of the day, to keep the cooler air in. Your ac will run less.
Thanks for the tips!
Blackout curtains are a great investment!
Finally convinced my mom to get blackout curtains for every south facing window. It made a huge difference in the comfort level of the house and the AC doesn’t have to work as hard. Just close during the hottest part of the day. She’s over 70 now and stubborn as a mule so I’m taking the win, lol. Found super cute ones that she loves and I got them during prime days less expensive than the plain ones at Walmart. Score!
I liked the one dollar rule best and I think it's the most universally adaptable rule for any lifestyle. Not everyone can work, or has a car, or uses streaming services, etc. But no matter how much they spend or what method they use to purchase items, everyone buys things somehow, so being intentional about spending is essential. Not saying the other tips aren't also helpful for most people, but they just don't apply to me. I will definitely use the one dollar rule in the future. Good video! (And hell yeah! Chili's was THE best restaurant back in the day!)
Just an fyi chili's has the "3 for me" menu which includes drink, appetizer and entree for $10.95. that's a good deal
Came here to say just that! And the burgers are fantastic!
79. 😳. I’ve learned people thermoregulate so differently, and being in a super humid environment makes it feel so much hotter. We set our a/c to 70, but our house is only 1,100 sq ft. Personally, I cannot tolerate being in peoples’ homes that are that warm.
winter: heat set at 64F
summer: heat set at 88F (*if the humidity gets too high, I turn the AC down to 1-2F below outside air temp)
@@SoloRenegade Temperature that cold in winter would kill me. I keep mine about 72/73 and I still have a t-shirt, long sleeved shirt and sweatshirt and two pairs of socks on and sit wrapped in a blanket - and I live in SoCal!
@@thetaekwondoe3887 it wouldn't kill you. your body adjusts with time.
Live near Buffalo. Kept the thermostat at 55 this winter. No air conditioning, fans only but did get some mild heat exhaustion when temp went mid 90’s outside. Don’t cut all your shade trees away, it makes a huge difference. Consider a lighter colored roof if it needs replacement, it absorbs less heat in Summer.
I set my air conditioner in 103° temperature at 82. It stays at 82 all day and all night, all year long! True it runs almost constantly from 10:30 in the morning till 5 PM in the summer. It flickered on and off occasionally I have never had an electric bill over $65.
I have renters insurance, but I have it through the Hartford through my retirement plan. It has kept me safe more than once!
So many scammers out there! How do they live with themselves?!Bought a Pit Boss flat top griddle on sale and used a coupon as a gift for my husband. So much less expensive! We're at 77°, but turn it up sometimes if it's too cold. Ha ha! You can definitely make better food at home for so much less. Streaming is gone! Wanted to watch the Celine Dion story online. I found it for free, no app needed. So many options. Thanks Christine for helping everyone to have the abundant life for less!! You're the best❤
Great tips, I am sharing them with my daughter who is a fan of spending money!
I grew up without AC & when we finally got one, we used it sparingly. I like to keep mine at 80°F, 78° if I'm really hot. I have to turn it off at bedtime & I sleep with a fan on. 😊
Alright, all these are good. Some of mine additional:
no restaurants
make using up challenge, not only for pantry, but also clothes, books, eletronics, decor, nothing new before the old stuff is not used up/ripped/broken to go away
make lunch to go to work, and as much as possible from scratch, like no store bought spreads, dressings etc. (maybe ketchup, hot sauce, mayo, bbq sauce, make ranch and such from scratch)
don't get acrylic nails, lashes etc. done - repeating not necessary (hair, facials , even pedicures etc. might actually be necessary)
don't do hair color, extensions, blow-outs
don't go by car several times back and forth, like have an errand day and run errands after work that one day in that area
switch off router, charger etc. at night when you sleep
don't run shower water for long time while you soap, if you want to soak do a full bath, or do that in the gymn, don't do 20-30 Minute showers
check fridge at least once a week: what is about to spoil: how can this be turned into a meal asap?
don't buy stuff that needs re-fills swiffers, sprays anything that is over-processed both in cleaning, cosmetics and foods, like wash that microfibre rag and don't re-buy sponges, packed wipes etc. all the time,
e.g. soap bar instead of liquid soap
if money is tight: cut monthly recurrings/subscriptions and conveniences, like the baby-sitter (swap with friends), gardening service, gymn, memberships, use a public library or the cheaper community courses/classes
if you really need something that is a tool (think of you will use and it will help you) go for the best necessary quality even if it is more expensive, so that you won't have to buy it twice, that can be a broom, a knive, a hair brush, sports bra or a mobile phone - a tool is a necessary helper
Lol, I'm a crazed-insane-manic-nut case-lunatic because I keep my a/c at 74 during the day and 70 at night 🌨❄😃 Love your videos!
Indeed 🤣
same! exact temp for both day and night lol!
💨that’s us too ☃️
For the $1.00 rule, I have been doing this for years…if the item was $10, second wear would be $5, etc, so some clothes are have been worn so much the outfit can only cost like 4 cents.
Hanging your clothes protects them from ware in the dryer
Clothes hung outside on the line is the best! They smell great
Would love to put our clothes on the line but neighbors have to spray their front and backyard. Doesn't help any with health either.
@@brg2743I hang mine indoors....
79! I will die!😂 74 is more than reasonable.
Agree 🎯👊🏻😃
74 is too cold for me, but 75-76 is good. At 74, I'm bundled up in blankets and I'm not skinny. Boys and men, however, have greater muscle mass and like lower temperatures because their bodies create so much heat of their own. My husband is a furnace. He likes the temp set at 74 for sleeping, which is fine for me when he's in bed, but if he gets up, I wake up freezing.
Reasonable? No. tolerable, maybe
winter: heat set at 64F
summer: heat set at 88F (*if the humidity gets too high, I turn the AC down to 1-2F below outside air temp)
I’m accustomed to holding ETFs, but inflation is eroding my portfolio. My concern is whether I can sustain my standard of living, even with a frugal approach, on only $800k. Every withdrawal seems to make it harder for my savings to recover through compounding. It feels like ETFs are limiting my returns rather than managing risk
I'm approaching retirement and having a financial advisor has been helpful. I started investing later than most, so relying on compound interest from index funds or bonds alone wasn’t enough for me. Despite that, I’ve managed to do well and am on track to retire with around $6 million
I'm worried about my portfolio and could use some guidance. How can I get in touch with your advisor?
I usually avoid making specific recommendations because everyone’s situation is unique. However, my experience with Emily Ava Milligan has been quite positive. You might find it worthwhile to see if her approach fits your needs
I looked for the name online and found her page. I emailed and made enquiries. Thanks for the help
SCAM ALERT. YOU PEOPLE ARE SO OBVIOUS YOU MAKE ME LAUGH @@SaraNisha1
I’d love to see more of your cook book recipes!! Thanks for the encouragement for my family of 5!
Are you kidding me!?!? I start to sweat at 73. I am not obese or anything, but I’d be ill if I have to live in 79 degrees.
Each person's situation is different; you have to try different tips to see what works for you. I find here in the England the opposite is true of grocery delivery, which is very common here. By not going to store, I spend much less as I'm distracted by fewer items I don't need. Also, as a disabled person, it saves energy I can then use to cook from scratch.
I'm eating down a stand-up freezer and not going to the grocery store. Maybe 2 times a month for less than $40.00 fruit and veggies.
I can cook so much better than most of the restaurants. Plus learning to put my own spin on new favorites.
We have to think outside of the box. 🎉
We love our Blackstone. During the 100+ degree heat in the summer we cooked out in the Blackstone so we didn’t have to heat up the house by cooking.
The public library is not only a great option for checking out DVD’s, but for cookbooks as well. You can check them out for free and find a plethora of cookbooks that work for your budget and family. 💕
Also, if your library has book sales, you can get some really great cookbooks for fifty cents each or a dollar.
@@allythewriter Garage sales are also another frugal option.
I was brought up learning how important electric and it doesn’t come free. I was born before A/C and fans were great. I’ve lived this way all my life. In summer when I have to cool 78-79. In the winter I know all the tricks to stay warm. The healthest way to sleep is in a cold environment. But give me fall through spring and I’m happy!
We don’t have A C in Europe. Our temperature never gets over 40centigrade very often in England.
People these days eat too many fast foods and snacks . This puts the cost of food up.
Wish they had period pants in my day.
People also have a new wardrobe every season. That can be up to 28 new outfits a year.
Back in the day people only had a weeks worth of clothes and replaced them every 3 years
The one dollar rule. I bought a blouse for $100 a really long time ago and I have worn it soooo much, for 2 decades. It must be a 25 cent blouse by now! My mom grew up poor and helped me learn a tonne of frugal tips. Remind me to tell you how to make a protein broth drink for free using chicken bones.
Yes, cost per wear can make expensive clothes less expensive than the cheap clothes.
My mom would sew our own clothes and make homemade soap, very frugal..we didn't have much..and we were happy 🙃
I totally agree about the period panties and reusable pads, it has helped my symptoms also.
We have saved greatly by NOT turning on our A/C. The only day we turned it on was the one day our 8 mos pregnant friend came to visit. After being cooped up in a closed house during the fall and winter, I can’t stand being cooped up all summer as well. Plus, I love hearing the birds. I live in an area of the country that gets hot and humid. I think we Americans are just soft.
Which state do you live in? I hear people up north saying it is so hot and humid where they are. It's bc they are not used to what we have down here where I live. 😂😂
I call summer "free heat" here in central Michigan. 😂
As a WA state resident, I don’t even have AC….just heater. This year we didn’t go into the hundreds which granted its max about 10 days a year but more like 5 in western WA. So it’s easy to not have AC depending on where you live.
However if I go to CA state in winter they are at a wonderful 65F and my cousins are blasting the heater at 78F-80F it’s strange to me.
It’s humid in our state but we get more dry heat, or cold rain so things like thunderstorms are very rare.
Thank youuuu!!! Today is grocery day I've been watching your videos for a few days now & I feel a lot more prepared to shop better!! Well actually sending hubby himself I'll be home with our daughter instead of us all going out together!
We shopped around this year for insurance to because of a enormous bill ! we saved 3,000 shopping around!!!
I do well with challenges, even when I set them myself. I made a reasonable budget but on the frugal side, and I find it motivating to work to stay under for the month. I'm not actually rewarding myself with anything other than that extra savings, but the mental trick works anyway. Making it a game to keep my grocery budget down really motivates me to plan around the sales, and watching that eating out budget is great motivation to turn down coworkers who are ordering out. I can eat my little homemade lunchable while they have their $10 sandwiches - the company is the same!
I love my Glad Rags washable pads! We set our AC at 80 during the day and 78 at night simply because I prefer it cooler when we’re sleeping. I cook fresh, whole chickens in the crockpot to make my own “rotisserie” chicken @ $1.32/lb for a 6# bird.
Here in humid Michigan, 79 is not tolerable.
Truth, I keep ours at 75. Hubs complains occasionally but he doesn’t see the bill! 😅
Have not used AC at all this summer here in Central Michigan. It's been 75 degrees F in my apartment during the day; 70 at night. Perfect! 😉
My massages are about every 10 weeks. They are not the soft, relaxing kind. They are deep tissue, therapeutic and I consider them as health care. I use my personal allowance on them. We all have our stuff.
Yes. I like my nails done. My side hustle pays for it, so I don't feel bad.
Pam here….I have an Amish clothes drying rack, I hang most clothes to cry on hangers or this rack. Using drying only for towels and sheets and my hubby’s fruit of the looms.
Hi. I enjoy watching your UA-cam videos. They are informative and entertaining. I have learned a lot about using what have in my freezers and pantry to meal plan and save money. I am currently doing my own freezer clean out challenge and budgeted myself $25 a week for this month to buy milk and fruit etc. Thanks for challenging us to think outside the box. God bless you and your family.
I would love to see your recipe book! I want to use the least amount of ingredients.
I am a big advocate for life insurance. I worked for State Farm and learned the importance of life insurance. I talked to my firstborn son into getting it right away when he started working thank God he did because when he passed away at age 34 he was coveredfor both his wife and myself. I supported him for many years as an adult and he got life insurance and made me the beneficiary before he got married. What a surprise but as a mom, it made me proud my husband and I have life insurance.
Not me sitting here eating a Costco rotisserie chicken wrap in my 70° house... 😂 Always love your content, Christine! 💕
Team 80 degrees! In the winter I keep it at 62. If I'm cold, I put on a sweater and find a chore to do 😂 It's a little uncomfortable the first couple of days when the weather shifts but your body is an amazing machine that adapts pretty quickly to weather changes by building more capillaries to cool you in warmer weather.
Our air conditioner is set at 77 and we run a box fan. That keeps us pretty comfortable. I’m not sure what we’ll set the heat at this winter. We rent our home and it’s all electric!
I have two cookbooks I use.
1. Chef Paul Prudhomme
2.Sylvia's Soul Food Family Cookbook
3. Ina Garten.
I've learned how to make my own seasonings and spices mix from these 3 cooks
No food-delivery challenge? I WIN. I never do that. EVER. It's easy, just make food at home.
We live outside the town limits , so we couldn't do food delivery even if we wanted to. Which we do not.
I've never had food delivered (meals or groceries)
👍❣️😊 AC at 86 in Summer.(at least 2 fans in every room)Heat 64 in Winter.(a cool fireplace looking, infrared Heater running constantly if its below 30 outside. Costs $15 a month)It's better to acclimate and adjust with clothing. That way you can spend more time outside without suffering as much. 😊❣️
Oh please girl don't let them make you feel bad. Most people share log-in information for streaming services
I guess I'm not most people. I never did that.
Depending on the service, there is some sharing allowed. They also have different levels with lower cost due to commercials.
I think Christine shows good character by admitting she isn’t proud of the suggestion she made. Our society could use more of that.
Agreed.
Holy crap i keep my air on 66.feels so good,even at nite,feels to good snuggled under the covers and feel the cool on my face,helps u sleep so gooood❤
I don't know if this will work everywhere, but at our library you can request that they purchase a certain tv series or movie. And they often do!! They want to have the items that their customers want on hand. Also, they will order things for you from other libraries.
Libraries are the BEST! I like to say I want all my taxes to go to the library, because they provide great services to so many people. Libby is an online reading/audiobook app through which you can borrow books. After three weeks, they disappear, so no overdue fees. The library has classes, speakers, clubs, and fun events for all ages. In my area one can join all area libraries. I belong to four, so I can usually get books and materials I want quickly. My library also has passes for free, like park passes, museum passes, etc. It's the best bargain around!
My air is at 79 and heat in winter is 72 during the day and 67 at night. This is living in Kansas and my utilities stay low. I refuse to pay the high prices. Great video and you’re like listening to my best friend. So much fun.
Love 💕 and Hugs. 💙💙💙
72 during the day in the summer, 69 at night, and 67 in the winter. I run really hot and hubby can always bundle up if he gets cold.
I keep my AC at 78°. Heat in the winter 66°. I wear leggings under my jeans and a t-shirt, long sleeve shirt and a sweatshirt to stay warm.
Base layer and thermal underwear are so cosy. Worth looking at if you think those are only for the elderly. Not so. They're fab!
You need to make one of those recipe books for all your kids for a wedding gift!
And also turn it into a cookbook so we can buy it!!! ❤❤❤
First home gift. Everyone needs to eat, whether they find a spouse or not.
O’Charleys in my area started doing on Monday and Tuesday - a carry out only- Chicken strips, fries and a drink for $5- now that makes a pretty good deal!!
Not us over here setting our thermostat at 68 in the summer and 74 in the winter 😂 we do live in a pretty small house which helps with utility costs.
Thank you for so such helpful frugal tips/ideas. They are truly going to help me & my family. God Bless you✝️🙏🏼
I live in Texas - we would melt at 79!! I keep ours on 74 and my kids complain it’s too hot when they visit 😂
😂😂😂
Glad you mentioned the period undies. Have been using the reusable pads for a few years (the same set), they are fantastic. The undies are a more discreet option. Highly recommend as an investment for teenagers and young women
We keep our thermostat set at 68 degrees year round. 😂
This is my spouse 😂
me too, i'd die in this 100+ degree weather
Exactly! I live in S Louisiana. I save money in the winter, and spend it all on AC the other 8 months!
We do 62 in the winter. 🥶 I love the cold.
Same! We're in SC and our AC is on 68 in the summer and 70 max in the winter!
I also have way easier cycles since switching to reusable period products. Ive been rotating using bamboo pads, period underwear, and the diva cup. Ive had the same cup for over 18 years! Never any leaks.
I also used cloth diapers for my kids which saved me a ton of money. I bought a used lot on craigslist and used them for two kids. I also used cloth wipes. Neither of my kids ever had a rash and I don't remember them leaking ever either. I used the diapers for cleaning rags for years after too!
I cut my home owners insurance by 50% this year! From $4200 to $2300
We keep our air-conditioning at 79 and have fans running and our house feels cool. I'd imagine the coolness of the house will be affected by how insulated our homes are. Our home is very well insulated.
simple foods like rice and beans are absolutely delicious
A major benefit of life insurance is that it is not taxed.
My air is on 74-75 I cannot imagine it being warmer than that. I will literally turn into the wicked witch and melt in a puddle.
Yes please get life insurance. We just had a friend die at 41 and they thought he was perfectly healthy for the most part. He died from cardiac arrest.
These scams are getting out of hand. I'm so done with these knuckleheads. The period underwear are a life saver I'm every way!😅
Regarding life insurance, also consider the cost of help for elderly parents. Even if you are not able or don’t contemplate caring for them full-time in lieu of a nursing home, it is likely that you would have provided services before they got to that point. Grocery shopping, food preparation, housecleaning and chores, errands, transportation to medical appointments. How much would it cost to pay someone to do these things if you were gone?
70 is perfect! 75 is tolerable but 79 is blazing here in central cali where it’s 109 and 110 right now.
Chili's is one place we will go to. 3 for me is great. Plus members get free chips and salsa.
We live in Pa . Summers here are hot an humid we cook our food on our outdoor gas grill burner and don’t use the stove which keeps our electric bill
Lower. We keep it at 77degrees and use fans to keep us cooler. Keep blinds closed, hubby made a cover for our upstairs stairway that we don’t use as bedrooms are downstairs so that helps too. Our electric bill was $100.00 last month,we live in a cape cod style house.
I e also started to hang dry our shorts, shirts and of course, bras. Since we rent we cannot have a wash li e. I’m looking at thrift stores for a few things, one of them being a drying rack or two!
I set up a drying rack in my bathtub. I also use the shower curtain rod to hang clothes on hangers. Another tip - putting a drying rack over heating vents in the winter not only dries them faster, but also adds moisture to the dry winter air.