I feel being frugal doesn't mean you can't spend money on experiences!!!! to me that's why I'm frugal. I spend mine on fabric when it's on sale so I can make quilts for family. being disabled and retired it helps me to be creative and happy. It's a joy to give them as gifts.
Exactly! Living frugally doesn’t mean enjoying life. It’s about spending your money on things that matter to you instead of wasting money on stuff that doesn’t matter.
You can make nice cheap quilts by buying duvet covers on sale, putting a cheap duvet inside for filling and sewing it all up. For a double bed I use a single 4 tog duvet (£4 from ikea !) that way it sits nicely on the top like an old fashioned eiderdown. It’s super easy to sew into squares and they look really expensive.
@@DCB938 check out the uco original lantern. The candles they come with burn for hours and hours. (I don't remember the exact burn time) And because I carry it from room to room, I don't need more than one lit. The lantern itself is extremely practical and under 30$ and comes with 3 long lasting candles. Well worth looking into. I also live in a 1 bedroom apartment, with living room and kitchen so it burns bright enough when hanging above my desk, to just walk around to let my dog outside and for my nightly activities of reading and writing. I also just really hate the contrast of darkness outside and bright lights inside. I like my light as natural as possible. Sun, moon or fire My hydro is 25$ every 2 months when not using heat.
everyone in my town had that too, years ago. An outdoor line and an indoor one in the basement for when it rained! It was standard issue in the 60s and 70s and before.
We use my solar oven as much as we can. Cooks our food really well. Free energy,! Doesn't cost a dime, only what we paid for the solar oven itself. We purchased our cool oven 10 yrs ago.
I think one of the main perks of living frugally is so that you can splurge once in a while on a favorite item or on a fun or interesting activity. Like you've said it is not about being deprived, but about where/how you choose to spend your money. Of course, being debt free and not paying useless interest is a top priority. Having emergency funds and lowering all bills as much as possible is next. Adding income with jobs or selling unwanted items is great. But enjoy your life. Do things that are free (you've given many examples), nearly free and once in a while spend what it takes to have/do those special things! Thank you for continuing to share this journey and info.
You guys give SO MANY genuine actionable ideas to try and I feel like not everyone does - not to mention it's like talking to my family and getting advice, you guys are so down to earth!
I have a money saving tip. Install ceiling fans in all the rooms in your house , except the bathrooms . You will be able to set ac at a higher temperature because it will circulate the cool air better . Also , heat can be set at lower temperature and your heat will disperse better . Hi to both of you . Great vlog !!
@@alibali193 you are lucky to have temperate weather, I lived there 15 years and I had no idea about air conditioning but after living 18 years in Florida, almost 3 in Las Vegas a learned that if you didn’t have A/C , I may not survive, literally 😂
I read Moneyless Man at least once a year. I personally find it inspiring and a good way to ground myself away from consumerism, and do a self ‘reset’.
My biggest frugal/non-frugal thing I did this week was to book more than 2 weeks worth of vacation time camping at local state parks. Each night was no more than $20 a day, several were only $7-10 a day. The only other expense would be gas for travel (within a 1-3 hr drive from home). I’ll be using my pantry food stores, leftovers and a few items I have in my freezer. For ice I just freeze water in water or milk containers instead of buying bags of ice at the store. It lasts longer than bagged cubes ice.
We do this every year. We make a list of everything we need spending as little as possible.We start in January or ask for supplies for Christmas. Buy little at a time Then when it’s time to go camping we already have every thing including food except non perishables food. Spam an taters are our favorites
@@saraareed5477 Sarah, I put bits of everything in the freezer, including garlic and herb stems. I also save vegetable water from potatoes. I obviously don't use cucumbers. I cook it all as Hope described, sometimes in the crockpot. After it cools, I strain and discard the vegetable bits. Does this help?
Great Video. A Couple of frugal things my family has started doing to save money: My parents and I have started grocery shopping together once a month. It saves on fuel, plus we treat it as a small family outing. we do a lot of hiking at state parks and going to local flea markets and festivals. both of these things are free. Also anytime we go anywhere now, we take a picnic lunch instead of eating out, this really saves money and indigestion issues.😀😀
I was going to do a no spend month in August, then I realized I plan on buying a dehydrator. I also went to the library and took out a slow cooker cookbook.
Did you know if you open the windows in the car it puts more drag on the car and may not save you too much in gas consumption ? Hi to you . Love all the vlogs !!
I have heard that before but I wonder if it's a marketing gimmick by the car company so faster decay if battery and hence, you buying another car and or battery. Like, they recently debunked the theory that you have to heat up the engine or your car during winter when really just driving it from the getgo will eventually heat it up and you save both gas and time and your car. Hope that made sense ;)
love all your tips to save energy. I live in the uk and have 2 severely disabled kids so 2 ceiling hoists, 2 electric wheelchairs, 2 electric armchairs, 2 electric air mattresses, electric feeding pump, 2 electric profiling hospital beds plus all the usual household appliances and the children aren't moving around so can get cold easily so in the winter i know my heating bills will be huge. I am saving as much as I can and do a lot of what you say. Our government is giving households some help but my bill even with all my saving will be 3 times last years so every little helps.Thanks for your ideas,
It's a difficult situation might I ask, do you switch of the beds and ceiling hoist when not used? Standby cost can be high. I worked for disabled people, that's why I write you. You Might concider sheep fur to sit on for heat and comfort or as thick wool/insulated poncho type of extra cloting indoors. It's easy to put on and take of and saves in heating. Because the body stays hot. Take care, 🙌
Have a look on money saving expert he has fab advice which might help you. Also on his site so you can check to mske sure you are claiming all the benefits you are entitled too.
In winter use an extra small heater in the room your kids use the most instead of heating the whole house. Also buy them fleece outfits that are warm. Use another layer underneath if needed.
I've enjoyed this video very much, thank you Larry and Hope. I'm trying to find my feet again literally as well as with my housekeeping shopping money management and all those things because I have been critically ill for many months. Thank God I'm recovering well at home now but I've had to start from a very low baseline and most things that I took for granted are no longer easy or second nature. I've always been very capable and quietly independent but have had to learn to accept help from medical staff and my family. We have rising cost of living, things seem to be getting worse every day even here in Northern Ireland and events in the rest of the world are shocking. The future if there is one looks bleak and I feel lost and depressed bewildered and terrified much of the time. Tonight listening to you I have felt it might just be possible to take back some control and try some of your advice so I can make small positive changes to my situation. I'm only able to do small amounts physically and mentally as yet but small steps in the right direction are going to be more effective than feeling like a rabbit caught in headlights. Thank you so much. God bless you both. Vera
Something that we did this summer has made a difference saving money, and we never thought it would do much good. Our thermostat is right inside front door. We get blazing hot sun there all afternoon. We put a valance covering the windows that are across the top of the inside door. No windows are below them. What a difference! It is even cooler in the entryway. Hope this helps someone.
I didn't go a year without spending money but I went over a year without pay. I later get disability but I had to be very frugal during this period. When I got disability they gave me back pay for that year. I awarded that to my wife to deal with bc she was sole bread winner that period.
Good news - I made it through July as a no spend month! My August plan failed when I bought some books today which I really wanted and were on sale. I'm going to excuse that "not exactly frugal" expenditure and try to make August another no spend month. Not spending money is like fasting - it is hard at the beginning and then it becomes easy. Thanks for all of your guidance!
You can aks your local library to purchase the books that you would like to read. They can also request books from other libraries for you. Should save you some money.
Sure don’t understand but I’ll take it. I’m on the electric company’s budget plan. It adjusts in July. June’s bill was $9 less then I’d paid over the year and my new adjusted rate is $1 less than the past year! Works for me. I started raising my thermostat up to 79 degrees, and if I have to use the A/C, it goes off overnight and I open the house. Using Prepper Princess’s idea, I put a lot of my electronics on surge protectors and turn them off when I’m not using them and specifically overnight. Eating plant-based and I meal planned for three weeks from my pantry/freezer. All these little things are certainly helping my pocket book! Love your channel.
Years ago I went on the budget plan and when I compared what I was paying a year on budget it was higher than what I paid the year before. So that stopped quickly. I live in Indianapolis and our utilities have all gone up as well. I keep a clean bucket next to the shower. I fill the bucket while I wait for the water to get hot. Use that water to water my plants. It adds up very quickly. If I wash dishes by hand I use 2 dish pans one to wash 1 for rinsing, then I pour that into a 5 gal bucket and use it in the garden [grey water]. Every little bit helps. I live by myself so that quickly adds up to 10 gal of water 💧 very quick. I have an electric water heater it is 50 gal. I flip the circuit breaker off. I can take 2 hot showers before turning it on again. Been doing that for about a year and have noticed significant difference with electric bill
You've both inspired me now! I think I'm going to go around the house for the next week or so, just writing down things I've started doing to be frugal. Most of them are tiny, but when you add them up, I hope that they will be saving me money. I don't know if I have 35 of them, or only 15, or more than 50 - but jotting it down as I go around the house will be educational!
I’m almost diametrically opposite yourselves when it comes to spending habits, so watching your videos gives me some excellent ideas, tips, tricks, and advice that help me to even begin to THINK about where, what, and how I spend. I have a generous fixed monthly income and have developed the bad habit (among others) of going to the store, buying what I came in for plus 50 more items, going through the self-checkout, paying usually by swiping my debit card, bagging the stuff and the receipt and then walk out not knowing how much the total was or where exactly my money went. Are you cringing?? I do, when I hear you say that for a few decades now you refuse to impulse shop, shop the sales, go in with a plan and a list, review and analyze your receipt, and track your expenses. DAILY. Among other examples of your frugality. I’ve learned SO MUCH from you about what, where, when, how, and most importantly, why to save money. Thank you!!! I’m sure I’m not revamping my whole lifestyle, but I certainly am now more thoughtful about how I spend and why I SHOULD be. Please keep on making your excellent videos. I am happy and proud of you. You and your whole family are an excellent example of wisdom in finances. Thank you so much! 🙏🏼
Thank you so much for your comment, Winnie. Hope and I took it all in steps. Now this lifestyle is an ingrained habit for us. So glad you are getting a benefit from watching our videos. That's why we are doing them. Blessings!
I live in a city apartment so I make refrigerator tea. I fill a half gallon pitcher, add 6-7 regular tea bags and just stick it in the refrigerator. Sometimes I will switch out one mint tea bag. It's light and refreshing and not as much caffeine, so you can drink it all day long. But the best thing is when you hit the big 65, there are so many programs you can apply for depending on your state or city. I am thoroughly enjoying my 5g mobile plan with unlimited everything for $20 (less if you don't mind a basic phone), my monthly wi-fi discount, my utilities discounts, my Medicare-paid CSA account and more that I'm discovering all the time. And then there are all the deals that retailers offer starting as early as age 50. Now that I'm retired, I have plenty of time to Google around, and there is more out there besides Social Security to reward you for a lifetime of working and paying taxes.
I have a toaster oven that holds a 12-inch frozen pizza. I bought a set of 12 silicone baking cups. I can bake a dozen muffins in that toaster oven. I rarely use my electric oven anymore because it is just my husband and me. If I do use it, I make sure I bake 24 or more muffins.
In the summer I cook in a solar oven, single burner butane camping stove or use the grill out back. Ditched my refrigerator 2 years ago, keep stuff cold in a cooler loaded with frozen jugs of water from my freezer in the garage. Raise thermostat to 80 at night, drop to 76 in afternoons. Turn electric hot water heater on at breaker for an hour a day. Thanks for the tips. We are trying!
What!?? They make USB powered light bulbs!? This a game changer! I received 2 solar powered charging banks for Christmas last year, and I have no been able to use them! (Except for the handy flashlight feature during a few power outages.) I always learn something amazing from you two! ❤️
I did read the book years ago and really liked it. I’m going to borrow and reread it! I love that you share your non frugal choices as well. I’ve been trying to learn how to bake sourdough bread lately to save on our groceries bill. My husband serviced and repaired our car himself, that was a lot of money saved! He also taught our son(who is completely uninterested in cars but have a frugal mindset) how to do it.
Always make sure to use the BK app before making your order! My favorite coupon in app was a whopper jr, 8 pc nuggets, small fry &20 oz drink for $3 (it is currently $7!!). They have family bundles w many sandwiches & fries in them and some include the impossible burger. I most times go into the menu and get 16 nuggets, 4pc cheese stick, and use the coupon page for a free LG onion ring or fry and skip the drink. I try to keep it at $4 still 😆 I only treat myself to that about once a mo, in between clients on one particularly busy day I have. Love you guys!
I love watching your channel! I have been a subscriber for about 7-8 months now and you have definitely changed my spending habits and the way I think about money. My husband is not as frugal as me which makes it difficult but we are having open conversations about it now and making small changes as the ones I have heard about in your videos. We have even started an emergency fund. Thanks for everything you do!
Thank you, Kate. It's so good that you and your husband are talking. We took all we share in steps. It's taken us years to get to where we are today. You'll make it, too as you both work together!
Having your beautiful light on behind you made me anxious 🤷♀️😂 I can’t believe you’ve put out GREAT CONTENT FOR 2 YEARS!? Love you all!! Your personality and care for each other and your kids always come through! Thank you for everything you have taught me!!
I think budgeting and frugal living is se*y! Honestly, far better than being stressed and foolishly buying stuff on credit cards (guilty!) I’ve blown so much money by not budgeting. Love you Hope and Larry ❤❤
I work with someone who was in construction. Do not set your humidifier lower than 50%. Otherwise the wood will dry out. This includes the support beams in your home. They will deteriorate and cause expensive damage. My dehumidifier has a smart setting that saves energy. I did notice that my electric bill went up too when I started using it. I use the water for the washing machine and lawn
We flew to see family for vacation and took coffee from a local provider and spent about the same $35. It was a great treat for those of us drinking coffee.
We’ve been making sun tea since the 70’s! We use five large or eight regular cup size. In the last few years we add a couple lemon zinger bags or peach tea bags for a little different flavor. Our Berkey allows us to use filtered water for drinking.
I like the challenge of shopping once every other month.. it's amazing how far what we already have lasts & the way we get creative w/what we already have w/out feeling deprived. If we aren't in a store spending money, then our money hasn't become less. It's such a great feeling to realize that the budget came in w/a whopping savings. 🤗
Hearing Larry say he's taken to bike commuting to work made me SMILE! So glad he's exploring this fun, healthy, green option for thriftiness! One thing I'm really struggling with right now is rebuilding my stamina after Covid, especially my pulmonary stamina. That bug knocked me down, and even weeks later I still haven't fully climbed back up. It's frustrating, inconvenient, and depressing. I'm grateful that being fully vaxxed did help minimize my course over all, but the virus has left lingering problems by exacerbating my asthma significantly. I'm not back to riding my bike, yet. :( But, I'm slowly building back by walking the shortest trail (free, in the shade, and very enjoyable) @ a nearby park and doing small outdoor chores for my elderly neighbors (slowly and taking a lot of breaks). I'll know I'm myself again when I can bike to the library and back with my basket full of books! :) And, I will think of y'all the first time I succeed and think a hug in y'all's direction! :) Your week's list has been an encouraging treat for me tonight. Thank you!
Are use our electric skillet and I use my Insta pot if I have to turn the oven on I make sure I make enough of what I need for the next three days so that I don’t have to turn the oven back on. I’m thinking a toaster oven would be less energy but I’ve never had one before and I don’t know how are they cook cookies lol
If you're going to be switching insurance companies on a regular basis, be sure to choose a highly rated carrier. If you happen to need to file a claim, some companies will be very difficult to work with and will do everything possible to keep from having to pay out to you.
Thank you for the ideas! 😊Being frugal throughout the year leaves you money to do awesome things. We don’t drive new cars( all paid) or eat out(rarely), but we spend a month in California every year, go on cruises, and can buy expensive things when we want to. I think everyone places different value on different things, but one thing is for sure- unless you are well off, you need to cut some things out to have any quality of life and to stay out of debt. Period. Like your 35 dollar coffee purchase, you can do that because you don’t waste money elsewhere.
First, love you guys!!! On a fixed income n frugal by nature, but need more ways, so ty! Hope, I about fell on the floor about the amt of tea bags in your gallon sun tea! I swear you can get away with one large bag, or 3 small. For a treat I like to put some orange peel in while in sun and remove when refrigerating. For some odd reason this gives even a bit more pep in your step and very refreshing! God bless you all
I do make it strong. But, then I add a lot of ice to it, too. I like it concentrated so that I I figure I can get 2 gallons of tea out of one gallon of the tea that's been brewed in the sun.
Rain Country Homestead uses a portable 1 burner cooking unit for cooking in the summer, instead of her electric stove. She just sets it on top of her electric stove. I couldn't tell you the type or brand, but you might want to check her out to see. This may be a viable option for you to use with the solar pack you now have. Just a thought. You may want to also consider setting up an outside kitchen in the summer in your backyard to help keep your house cool. This is our 2nd year doing that and it has helped us keep our house cooler.
Excellent idea. We have an old Coleman camp stove that uses white gas. It would be more expensive to run than our old 1946 Magic Chef natural gas stove in the basement. Hope is using the Magic Chef stove for stove-top cooking instead of the electric stove upstairs. I'm wondering if the one-burner Rain Country Homestead uses can be run at low cost. Certainly having an outside kitchen would keep the house cooler.
The Moneyless Man is a fascinating read. He looks deep into the ethics of lending and debt and is absolutely meticulous about being consistent regarding his own ethics. You wouldn't be able to do this if you are responsible for children, but there are plenty of inspiring ideas nonetheless. Great video guys! 🙏🙏🙏
@@rebeccafeder9762 He works on a farm and gets the veggies in exchange. He also goes dumpster diving. He does a little foraging, but his real knowledge is about gardening. He throws a party at one point with donated food that would otherwise go to waste.
I thought that I saw on the Myth Busters series about a decade ago that not having your vehicle AC on, with the windows down, actually decreases your miles per gallon rate.
Thank you for these great tipps! 🌻And here is one for you as well: Instead of using an electric ⚡dehumidifier, you can use dehumidifier bags. There are different kinds available, but the most economic choice is the reusible kind, filled with hygroscopic substances like salt and diatomite. (You can buy them ready made, or fill your own bags yourself.) Mode of use: Put the bags in the place you want to dry, let them sit and soak 💧 the humidity out of the air. Every once in a while, you can dry them out by placing them in the 🌞 sun, or hanging them on a line on a🌬 windy day.
You guys have the same dehumidifier as me! We run it very occasionally when we have laundry to dry indoors (the joys of a Scottish Summer) Will definitely also try the USB lights and you have made me realise I am right in getting a small solar panel to help with charging our devices, because it might not seem like much initially but it's better than nothing!
Great, CalamitisedTheory! We're doing more solar charging now than ever. It helps out with the little amounts of electricity. I'm talking to Hope about eventually getting a permanent bank in the backyard sometime in the future.
You guys did it again! You’ve inspired me!! I’m gonna make sun tea, turn my AC down and eat up everything in my fridge so nothing goes to waste!! Thank you Hope and Larry! xo
If you have a bathroom in your basement be sure to close the door when running the dehumidifier as it will pull the moisture from the commode and drains rather than your basement area.
I use 6 tea bags in a half gallon of sun tea. I only have 5 bills and two of them are on auto pay and the other 3 I pay on line. Stamps are .55 each I believe. I have reduced my speed when driving and it has helped.
I bought an Emeril countertop oven. It's taller than a toaster oven but not wider. It heats up faster and because the hot air circulates it cooks faster so I can turn the temp down. It saves a LOT on my electric bill over the electric oven. Fits an 8x8 cass dish, bunt pan ect. This paid for itself in a mater of months! Mine is 2 yrs. old and the price is higher now but I would absolutely replace it if need be.
In Louisiana, Entergy has doubled the cost per kWh from last year. And also have tacked on hurricane recovery fees and all sorts of fees. We are getting fleeced. Bill is over double with same usage. It’s insane
My electric bill was $276 and some change. I about fell over when I saw the bill! My homeowners insurance was also due this month and went up substantially. I'll so be shopping for a better rate.
I’m feeling the pain regarding the energy bill! My husband and I are working hard to cut back on our usage during this billing cycle. Our last bill was outrageous!
I've been using my propane grill that has a side burner for cooking and baking. I don't know if this is less money, however, I'm trying it out to see how long my propane tank will last and how that compares to my gas bill (I have a gas stove). If it doesn't end up being much savings; I still like the idea of getting used to using an alternative cooking source, in case gas skyrockets or becomes unavailable.
I use the crock pot a lot in the summertime. Also I try to cook at lunch enough for dinner too. There's a lot to be said for salad meals too. Thank you for all your tips and I really enjoy your shows.
My husband switched to a coffee bodum, it doesn't use electricity, and no filters. However you do need to boil water. We boil a couple of litres of water and keep in a carafe, keeps it hot for hours. Last week my husband wanted to buy something for $400.00. We talked and I asked him to wait. (It was a boredom purchase). Then through you guys and one other youtuber we got the kill a watt. And he has been testing everything! So I know what you mean Hope when you say Larry it all about the machines and tech. 😆. We are looking into a portable power station and solar panels. He is on board! Thanks again.
I was so pleased to hear you mention the Moneyless Man so I was driven to post my first comment :) I read this about 8 years ago and found it really inspiring. Like anything you can take or leave the different thoughts of an author but I loved this book. I actually started a Facebook group in our small town that now has over 6,000 members, Freeconomy, for people to gift items they can no longer use rather than sell, dump or take to thrift shops and likewise, if there is something people need they can ask.
I feel being frugal doesn't mean you can't spend money on experiences!!!! to me that's why I'm frugal. I spend mine on fabric when it's on sale so I can make quilts for family. being disabled and retired it helps me to be creative and happy. It's a joy to give them as gifts.
Exactly! Living frugally doesn’t mean enjoying life. It’s about spending your money on things that matter to you instead of wasting money on stuff that doesn’t matter.
Being frugal allows you to find that joyful experience! For me, a hand made quilt would be an absolute treasure!
try buying sheets and fabric from thrift stores! I love doing this!
That is An great present
You can make nice cheap quilts by buying duvet covers on sale, putting a cheap duvet inside for filling and sewing it all up. For a double bed I use a single 4 tog duvet (£4 from ikea !) that way it sits nicely on the top like an old fashioned eiderdown. It’s super easy to sew into squares and they look really expensive.
I literally use a candle lantern as soon as the sun doesn't provide enough light inside and I love it
Alex Ember… that sounds really good.
However how much are you saving ?? Candles aren’t all that cheap, unless you make your own.
@@DCB938 check out the uco original lantern. The candles they come with burn for hours and hours. (I don't remember the exact burn time) And because I carry it from room to room, I don't need more than one lit. The lantern itself is extremely practical and under 30$ and comes with 3 long lasting candles. Well worth looking into.
I also live in a 1 bedroom apartment, with living room and kitchen so it burns bright enough when hanging above my desk, to just walk around to let my dog outside and for my nightly activities of reading and writing. I also just really hate the contrast of darkness outside and bright lights inside. I like my light as natural as possible. Sun, moon or fire
My hydro is 25$ every 2 months when not using heat.
Summer is a good time for cool/cold foods.
My parents had a clothesline in the basement near the washer. Great for drying clothes in winter.
everyone in my town had that too, years ago. An outdoor line and an indoor one in the basement for when it rained! It was standard issue in the 60s and 70s and before.
We use my solar oven as much as we can. Cooks our food really well. Free energy,! Doesn't cost a dime, only what we paid for the solar oven itself. We purchased our cool oven 10 yrs ago.
Excellent, Divot. We need to use ours more.
I think one of the main perks of living frugally is so that you can splurge once in a while on a favorite item or on a fun or interesting activity. Like you've said it is not about being deprived, but about where/how you choose to spend your money. Of course, being debt free and not paying useless interest is a top priority. Having emergency funds and lowering all bills as much as possible is next. Adding income with jobs or selling unwanted items is great. But enjoy your life. Do things that are free (you've given many examples), nearly free and once in a while spend what it takes to have/do those special things! Thank you for continuing to share this journey and info.
You guys give SO MANY genuine actionable ideas to try and I feel like not everyone does - not to mention it's like talking to my family and getting advice, you guys are so down to earth!
Thank you. It's encouraging to Hope and I to know we are contributing to other's lives.
I totally admire the discipline you exercise to be frugal, but it was nice to hear about the treats!
I have a money saving tip. Install ceiling fans in all the rooms in your house , except the bathrooms . You will be able to set ac at a higher temperature because it will circulate the cool air better . Also , heat can be set at lower temperature and your heat will disperse better . Hi to both of you . Great vlog !!
Yes, we don't have central ac and the ceiling fans are so welcome on these hot days.
Yes, and ceiling fans at about $150 each for maybe 4 rooms will really work out.
I couldn't agree with you more! We recently installed the ceiling fans and they make such a great difference.😊💛
We are in the UK and our air conditioning is called opening the window 😄
@@alibali193 you are lucky to have temperate weather, I lived there 15 years and I had no idea about air conditioning but after living 18 years in Florida, almost 3 in Las Vegas a learned that if you didn’t have A/C , I may not survive, literally 😂
I read Moneyless Man at least once a year. I personally find it inspiring and a good way to ground myself away from consumerism, and do a self ‘reset’.
Hello 👋🏻
I save all year and live frugally so I can go on an amazing vacation once a year.
My biggest frugal/non-frugal thing I did this week was to book more than 2 weeks worth of vacation time camping at local state parks. Each night was no more than $20 a day, several were only $7-10 a day. The only other expense would be gas for travel (within a 1-3 hr drive from home). I’ll be using my pantry food stores, leftovers and a few items I have in my freezer. For ice I just freeze water in water or milk containers instead of buying bags of ice at the store. It lasts longer than bagged cubes ice.
Camping is becoming my favorite way to vacation at the beach. So much better than spend thousands on a house.
We do this every year. We make a list of everything we need spending as little as possible.We start in January or ask for supplies for Christmas. Buy little at a time Then when it’s time to go camping we already have every thing including food except non perishables food. Spam an taters are our favorites
I just made my 3rd batch of vegetable broth from scraps. It is the most favorable broth! It doesn't need any added salt or other seasonings.
What scraps work best?
@@saraareed5477 Sarah, I put bits of everything in the freezer, including garlic and herb stems. I also save vegetable water from potatoes. I obviously don't use cucumbers. I cook it all as Hope described, sometimes in the crockpot. After it cools, I strain and discard the vegetable bits. Does this help?
@@noelig4152 , it does. Thank you.
Great Video. A Couple of frugal things my family has started doing to save money:
My parents and I have started grocery shopping together once a month. It saves on fuel, plus we treat it as a small family outing.
we do a lot of hiking at state parks and going to local flea markets and festivals. both of these things are free.
Also anytime we go anywhere now, we take a picnic lunch instead of eating out, this really saves money and indigestion issues.😀😀
I purchased solar bulbs from Amazon. Love them mine also came with a solar panel and a remote for each bulb. Wish I bought the 4 pack.
I was going to do a no spend month in August, then I realized I plan on buying a dehydrator. I also went to the library and took out a slow cooker cookbook.
Did you know if you open the windows in the car it puts more drag on the car and may not save you too much in gas consumption ? Hi to you . Love all the vlogs !!
I have heard that before but I wonder if it's a marketing gimmick by the car company so faster decay if battery and hence, you buying another car and or battery. Like, they recently debunked the theory that you have to heat up the engine or your car during winter when really just driving it from the getgo will eventually heat it up and you save both gas and time and your car. Hope that made sense ;)
Hello Sara Varsanov 😊 how are you?
love all your tips to save energy. I live in the uk and have 2 severely disabled kids so 2 ceiling hoists, 2 electric wheelchairs, 2 electric armchairs, 2 electric air mattresses, electric feeding pump, 2 electric profiling hospital beds plus all the usual household appliances and the children aren't moving around so can get cold easily so in the winter i know my heating bills will be huge. I am saving as much as I can and do a lot of what you say. Our government is giving households some help but my bill even with all my saving will be 3 times last years so every little helps.Thanks for your ideas,
It's a difficult situation might I ask, do you switch of the beds and ceiling hoist when not used? Standby cost can be high. I worked for disabled people, that's why I write you. You Might concider sheep fur to sit on for heat and comfort or as thick wool/insulated poncho type of extra cloting indoors. It's easy to put on and take of and saves in heating. Because the body stays hot. Take care, 🙌
Have a look on money saving expert he has fab advice which might help you. Also on his site so you can check to mske sure you are claiming all the benefits you are entitled too.
I did read somewhere that if you call your electric company, they often have a special medical rate for houses with medically necessary devices.
In winter use an extra small heater in the room your kids use the most instead of heating the whole house. Also buy them fleece outfits that are warm. Use another layer underneath if needed.
I've enjoyed this video very much, thank you Larry and Hope. I'm trying to find my feet again literally as well as with my housekeeping shopping money management and all those things because I have been critically ill for many months. Thank God I'm recovering well at home now but I've had to start from a very low baseline and most things that I took for granted are no longer easy or second nature. I've always been very capable and quietly independent but have had to learn to accept help from medical staff and my family. We have rising cost of living, things seem to be getting worse every day even here in Northern Ireland and events in the rest of the world are shocking. The future if there is one looks bleak and I feel lost and depressed bewildered and terrified much of the time. Tonight listening to you I have felt it might just be possible to take back some control and try some of your advice so I can make small positive changes to my situation. I'm only able to do small amounts physically and mentally as yet but small steps in the right direction are going to be more effective than feeling like a rabbit caught in headlights. Thank you so much. God bless you both. Vera
Something that we did
this summer has made a difference saving money, and we never thought it would do much good. Our thermostat is right inside front door. We get blazing hot sun there all afternoon. We put a valance covering the windows that are across the top of the inside door. No windows are below them. What a difference! It is even cooler in the entryway. Hope this helps someone.
I didn't go a year without spending money but I went over a year without pay. I later get disability but I had to be very frugal during this period. When I got disability they gave me back pay for that year. I awarded that to my wife to deal with bc she was sole bread winner that period.
I use the air fryer now and now never use the oven. I also use the microwave as much as possible or just eat cold food in summer.
Glad to hear you're human. Thanks for your complete report.
Good news - I made it through July as a no spend month! My August plan failed when I bought some books today which I really wanted and were on sale. I'm going to excuse that "not exactly frugal" expenditure and try to make August another no spend month. Not spending money is like fasting - it is hard at the beginning and then it becomes easy. Thanks for all of your guidance!
And, to be truthful, it’s books! Those are a necessary item for a full and happy life!
Wenn you're reading, you're not spending money😉.A book is a little vacation in another world.
You can aks your local library to purchase the books that you would like to read. They can also request books from other libraries for you. Should save you some money.
Great tips. You showed your guests that they were important. You deserved the theatre and fellowship. Dont be hard on yourself. Sometimes
Sure don’t understand but I’ll take it. I’m on the electric company’s budget plan. It adjusts in July. June’s bill was $9 less then I’d paid over the year and my new adjusted rate is $1 less than the past year! Works for me. I started raising my thermostat up to 79 degrees, and if I have to use the A/C, it goes off overnight and I open the house. Using Prepper Princess’s idea, I put a lot of my electronics on surge protectors and turn them off when I’m not using them and specifically overnight. Eating plant-based and I meal planned for three weeks from my pantry/freezer. All these little things are certainly helping my pocket book! Love your channel.
Years ago I went on the budget plan and when I compared what I was paying a year on budget it was higher than what I paid the year before. So that stopped quickly. I live in Indianapolis and our utilities have all gone up as well. I keep a clean bucket next to the shower. I fill the bucket while I wait for the water to get hot. Use that water to water my plants. It adds up very quickly. If I wash dishes by hand I use 2 dish pans one to wash 1 for rinsing, then I pour that into a 5 gal bucket and use it in the garden [grey water]. Every little bit helps. I live by myself so that quickly adds up to 10 gal of water 💧 very quick. I have an electric water heater it is 50 gal. I flip the circuit breaker off. I can take 2 hot showers before turning it on again. Been doing that for about a year and have noticed significant difference with electric bill
You've both inspired me now! I think I'm going to go around the house for the next week or so, just writing down things I've started doing to be frugal. Most of them are tiny, but when you add them up, I hope that they will be saving me money. I don't know if I have 35 of them, or only 15, or more than 50 - but jotting it down as I go around the house will be educational!
Yes!!
We use our grill a lot in the summer. Even for baking
I re-grind my store-brand ground coffee. It adds volume. The coffee has a deeper flavor and I use less when brewing.
I run the water through 3 times, it gives maximum benefit!
@@faith4754 lmk if you like it!
@@faith4754 Terrific!
I’m almost diametrically opposite yourselves when it comes to spending habits, so watching your videos gives me some excellent ideas, tips, tricks, and advice that help me to even begin to THINK about where, what, and how I spend. I have a generous fixed monthly income and have developed the bad habit (among others) of going to the store, buying what I came in for plus 50 more items, going through the self-checkout, paying usually by swiping my debit card, bagging the stuff and the receipt and then walk out not knowing how much the total was or where exactly my money went. Are you cringing?? I do, when I hear you say that for a few decades now you refuse to impulse shop, shop the sales, go in with a plan and a list, review and analyze your receipt, and track your expenses. DAILY. Among other examples of your frugality. I’ve learned SO MUCH from you about what, where, when, how, and most importantly, why to save money. Thank you!!! I’m sure I’m not revamping my whole lifestyle, but I certainly am now more thoughtful about how I spend and why I SHOULD be. Please keep on making your excellent videos. I am happy and proud of you. You and your whole family are an excellent example of wisdom in finances. Thank you so much! 🙏🏼
Thank you so much for your comment, Winnie. Hope and I took it all in steps. Now this lifestyle is an ingrained habit for us. So glad you are getting a benefit from watching our videos. That's why we are doing them. Blessings!
Hello Winnie Spencer 😊 how are you?
Less than 2 mins in and already a tip that’s easy to action! 🥰 Just reserved that book at my local library, thank you! Love a free read
It was a really interesting read. I enjoyed it.
I live in a city apartment so I make refrigerator tea. I fill a half gallon pitcher, add 6-7 regular tea bags and just stick it in the refrigerator. Sometimes I will switch out one mint tea bag. It's light and refreshing and not as much caffeine, so you can drink it all day long. But the best thing is when you hit the big 65, there are so many programs you can apply for depending on your state or city. I am thoroughly enjoying my 5g mobile plan with unlimited everything for $20 (less if you don't mind a basic phone), my monthly wi-fi discount, my utilities discounts, my Medicare-paid CSA account and more that I'm discovering all the time. And then there are all the deals that retailers offer starting as early as age 50. Now that I'm retired, I have plenty of time to Google around, and there is more out there besides Social Security to reward you for a lifetime of working and paying taxes.
I’m close to retiring; it’s good to know there are some good programs out there!
Thanks to watching so many frugal people on You Tube and following their hints, our electric and gas bill was $31 lower than this month last year.
You could use a solar oven to cook and solar lights for indoor night lighting to
I have a toaster oven that holds a 12-inch frozen pizza. I bought a set of 12 silicone baking cups. I can bake a dozen muffins in that toaster oven. I rarely use my electric oven anymore because it is just my husband and me. If I do use it, I make sure I bake 24 or more muffins.
In the summer I cook in a solar oven, single burner butane camping stove or use the grill out back. Ditched my refrigerator 2 years ago, keep stuff cold in a cooler loaded with frozen jugs of water from my freezer in the garage. Raise thermostat to 80 at night, drop to 76 in afternoons. Turn electric hot water heater on at breaker for an hour a day.
Thanks for the tips. We are trying!
What!?? They make USB powered light bulbs!? This a game changer! I received 2 solar powered charging banks for Christmas last year, and I have no been able to use them! (Except for the handy flashlight feature during a few power outages.) I always learn something amazing from you two! ❤️
I did read the book years ago and really liked it. I’m going to borrow and reread it! I love that you share your non frugal choices as well. I’ve been trying to learn how to bake sourdough bread lately to save on our groceries bill. My husband serviced and repaired our car himself, that was a lot of money saved! He also taught our son(who is completely uninterested in cars but have a frugal mindset) how to do it.
Summer cooking: grill and crockpot
I will try this year or cook over a fire pit 😊
Always make sure to use the BK app before making your order! My favorite coupon in app was a whopper jr, 8 pc nuggets, small fry &20 oz drink for $3 (it is currently $7!!). They have family bundles w many sandwiches & fries in them and some include the impossible burger. I most times go into the menu and get 16 nuggets, 4pc cheese stick, and use the coupon page for a free LG onion ring or fry and skip the drink. I try to keep it at $4 still 😆 I only treat myself to that about once a mo, in between clients on one particularly busy day I have. Love you guys!
Also remember to change any air filters whenever you pay your bill. That saves money, too.
An eye opening on the dehumidifier never would guessed. Thanks
I love watching your channel! I have been a subscriber for about 7-8 months now and you have definitely changed my spending habits and the way I think about money. My husband is not as frugal as me which makes it difficult but we are having open conversations about it now and making small changes as the ones I have heard about in your videos. We have even started an emergency fund. Thanks for everything you do!
Thank you, Kate. It's so good that you and your husband are talking. We took all we share in steps. It's taken us years to get to where we are today. You'll make it, too as you both work together!
Hope ,I love your knitted sweater vest,I do knit so I will be looking for a pattern to make one!
Having your beautiful light on behind you made me anxious 🤷♀️😂 I can’t believe you’ve put out GREAT CONTENT FOR 2 YEARS!? Love you all!! Your personality and care for each other and your kids always come through! Thank you for everything you have taught me!!
I think budgeting and frugal living is se*y! Honestly, far better than being stressed and foolishly buying stuff on credit cards (guilty!) I’ve blown so much money by not budgeting. Love you Hope and Larry ❤❤
I work with someone who was in construction. Do not set your humidifier lower than 50%. Otherwise the wood will dry out. This includes the support beams in your home. They will deteriorate and cause expensive damage. My dehumidifier has a smart setting that saves energy. I did notice that my electric bill went up too when I started using it. I use the water for the washing machine and lawn
Gosh what a great insider tip! Thanks so much!
Thanks guys!👍
I loved hearing about your splurges because they were all generous and helped you to make memories
Hello 👋🏻
We flew to see family for vacation and took coffee from a local provider and spent about the same $35. It was a great treat for those of us drinking coffee.
We’ve been making sun tea since the 70’s! We use five large or eight regular cup size. In the last few years we add a couple lemon zinger bags or peach tea bags for a little different flavor. Our Berkey allows us to use filtered water for drinking.
Hello Mscentsibly 😊 how are you?
I use 8 black tea bags and any herbs like lemon balm, chamomile, elder flowers, calendula flowers that I may have to brew one gallon sun tea.
Hello Cherie Norquay 😊 how are you?
I like the challenge of shopping once every other month.. it's amazing how far what we already have lasts & the way we get creative w/what we already have w/out feeling deprived. If we aren't in a store spending money, then our money hasn't become less. It's such a great feeling to realize that the budget came in w/a whopping savings. 🤗
Wow. Good for you!
I just put that book on hold at my library. Thanks 😃
Thank you for all your helpful tips.
I just looked up the Moneyless Man at my local library and put it on hold.
Thanks for another great video Hope and Larry
Im glad you guys decided to "live a little" and splurge on some fun things!
My husband shops car and home insurance each year. It is very helpful! We have been happy with Safeco, a subsidiary of Liberty Mutual.
Hearing Larry say he's taken to bike commuting to work made me SMILE! So glad he's exploring this fun, healthy, green option for thriftiness! One thing I'm really struggling with right now is rebuilding my stamina after Covid, especially my pulmonary stamina. That bug knocked me down, and even weeks later I still haven't fully climbed back up. It's frustrating, inconvenient, and depressing. I'm grateful that being fully vaxxed did help minimize my course over all, but the virus has left lingering problems by exacerbating my asthma significantly. I'm not back to riding my bike, yet. :( But, I'm slowly building back by walking the shortest trail (free, in the shade, and very enjoyable) @ a nearby park and doing small outdoor chores for my elderly neighbors (slowly and taking a lot of breaks). I'll know I'm myself again when I can bike to the library and back with my basket full of books! :) And, I will think of y'all the first time I succeed and think a hug in y'all's direction! :) Your week's list has been an encouraging treat for me tonight. Thank you!
Praying for your recovery!
It's good to hear you had fun!!! 👍. Wish you have a good week 🌷
Are use our electric skillet and I use my Insta pot if I have to turn the oven on I make sure I make enough of what I need for the next three days so that I don’t have to turn the oven back on. I’m thinking a toaster oven would be less energy but I’ve never had one before and I don’t know how are they cook cookies lol
Looked at new car and rental insurance this month, been with same company for years. Cut costs by half. Always look around and find new deals.
👏 yesssss!! As an insurance agent it’s a huge saver to shop around! Good job 😀
If you're going to be switching insurance companies on a regular basis, be sure to choose a highly rated carrier. If you happen to need to file a claim, some companies will be very difficult to work with and will do everything possible to keep from having to pay out to you.
We were very poor growing up. My mom used 2 of the small teabags to make a half gallon.
I use the water from our dehumidifier to water our plants (we live in Georgia). I also have a rain barrel that I pour excess water from other sources.
Hi, Which places do you shop at besides Walmart and Aldi? I am in GA too!
Thank you for the ideas! 😊Being frugal throughout the year leaves you money to do awesome things. We don’t drive new cars( all paid) or eat out(rarely), but we spend a month in California every year, go on cruises, and can buy expensive things when we want to.
I think everyone places different value on different things, but one thing is for sure- unless you are well off, you need to cut some things out to have any quality of life and to stay out of debt. Period. Like your 35 dollar coffee purchase, you can do that because you don’t waste money elsewhere.
i use one family size tea bag.. i am relly getting good ideas .. thank u hope and larry
First, love you guys!!! On a fixed income n frugal by nature, but need more ways, so ty! Hope, I about fell on the floor about the amt of tea bags in your gallon sun tea! I swear you can get away with one large bag, or 3 small. For a treat I like to put some orange peel in while in sun and remove when refrigerating. For some odd reason this gives even a bit more pep in your step and very refreshing! God bless you all
I do make it strong. But, then I add a lot of ice to it, too. I like it concentrated so that I I figure I can get 2 gallons of tea out of one gallon of the tea that's been brewed in the sun.
@@UndertheMedian oh, that makes sense! Love, love your way of thinking! God bless ya'll 🙏
Larry's selling let you almost break even!
Thank you for sharing with us.
Hello 👋🏻
Rain Country Homestead uses a portable 1 burner cooking unit for cooking in the summer, instead of her electric stove. She just sets it on top of her electric stove. I couldn't tell you the type or brand, but you might want to check her out to see. This may be a viable option for you to use with the solar pack you now have. Just a thought.
You may want to also consider setting up an outside kitchen in the summer in your backyard to help keep your house cool. This is our 2nd year doing that and it has helped us keep our house cooler.
Excellent idea. We have an old Coleman camp stove that uses white gas. It would be more expensive to run than our old 1946 Magic Chef natural gas stove in the basement. Hope is using the Magic Chef stove for stove-top cooking instead of the electric stove upstairs. I'm wondering if the one-burner Rain Country Homestead uses can be run at low cost. Certainly having an outside kitchen would keep the house cooler.
I love this. These tips are so helpful. Off topic, we use to have a Save A Lot near us.
Love this couple. God bless them! ❤
The Moneyless Man is a fascinating read. He looks deep into the ethics of lending and debt and is absolutely meticulous about being consistent regarding his own ethics. You wouldn't be able to do this if you are responsible for children, but there are plenty of inspiring ideas nonetheless. Great video guys! 🙏🙏🙏
What does he say about food?
@@rebeccafeder9762 He works on a farm and gets the veggies in exchange. He also goes dumpster diving. He does a little foraging, but his real knowledge is about gardening. He throws a party at one point with donated food that would otherwise go to waste.
Thanks for the solar power ideas. Please show us how you use the solar panels
For sun tea, I add 5 bags of Lipton Black Tea and 5 bags of a flavored tea, such as peach or raspberry. 10 bags total.
I thought that I saw on the Myth Busters series about a decade ago that not having your vehicle AC on, with the windows down, actually decreases your miles per gallon rate.
Love your mindset, thank you for all your interesting videos!
You so welcome, Belinda!
Thank you for these great tipps! 🌻And here is one for you as well:
Instead of using an electric ⚡dehumidifier, you can use dehumidifier bags. There are different kinds available, but the most economic choice is the reusible kind, filled with hygroscopic substances like salt and diatomite. (You can buy them ready made, or fill your own bags yourself.)
Mode of use: Put the bags in the place you want to dry, let them sit and soak 💧 the humidity out of the air. Every once in a while, you can dry them out by placing them in the 🌞 sun, or hanging them on a line on a🌬 windy day.
Another goodie from Hope & Larry!
Back to school shopping didn't allow frugal this month buy stride rite had shoes $20! Great deals👍💵
You guys have the same dehumidifier as me! We run it very occasionally when we have laundry to dry indoors (the joys of a Scottish Summer)
Will definitely also try the USB lights and you have made me realise I am right in getting a small solar panel to help with charging our devices, because it might not seem like much initially but it's better than nothing!
Great, CalamitisedTheory! We're doing more solar charging now than ever. It helps out with the little amounts of electricity. I'm talking to Hope about eventually getting a permanent bank in the backyard sometime in the future.
Thank you so very much. Greetings from Guadalajara Jalisco México
Your videos popped up on my account, Thank you! You guys give amazing tips! New subscriber :)
You guys did it again! You’ve inspired me!! I’m gonna make sun tea, turn my AC down and eat up everything in my fridge so nothing goes to waste!! Thank you Hope and Larry! xo
If you have a bathroom in your basement be sure to close the door when running the dehumidifier as it will pull the moisture from the commode and drains rather than your basement area.
I read that book over a decade ago. I still remember the contents!
I use 6 tea bags in a half gallon of sun tea. I only have 5 bills and two of them are on auto pay and the other 3 I pay on line. Stamps are .55 each I believe. I have reduced my speed when driving and it has helped.
@@faith4754 yes, buy the “for ever” stamps. I think I have 6 books of 20. I’m good for a while…like the rest of my life!
Stamps are now .60! I'm trying to get my husband on board to pay everything thru our bank app.
Thank you for sharing all your money saving tips. I enjoyed your viedo and will watch more. Looks you guys have alot useful viedos. 🌺
I bought an Emeril countertop oven. It's taller than a toaster oven but not wider. It heats up faster and because the hot air circulates it cooks faster so I can turn the temp down. It saves a LOT on my electric bill over the electric oven. Fits an 8x8 cass dish, bunt pan ect. This paid for itself in a mater of months! Mine is 2 yrs. old and the price is higher now but I would absolutely replace it if need be.
In Louisiana, Entergy has doubled the cost per kWh from last year. And also have tacked on hurricane recovery fees and all sorts of fees. We are getting fleeced. Bill is over double with same usage. It’s insane
Omg, yes!!!!!! It's ridiculously high!!!!! Something needs to change.
Our cost per kWH has almost doubled as well. We are doing everything we can to reduce our usage right now. It is nuts
My electricity bill had doubled here in Australia 😱. Supply costs have gone up . I will try to implement more of these small steps .
Love bishop hill. Some time spending money makes fun memories. We do it once in awhile.
8 tea bags per gallon pickle jar. Cooking using the crock pot and solar oven.
My electric bill was $276 and some change. I about fell over when I saw the bill! My homeowners insurance was also due this month and went up substantially. I'll so be shopping for a better rate.
I’m feeling the pain regarding the energy bill! My husband and I are working hard to cut back on our usage during this billing cycle. Our last bill was outrageous!
I've been using my propane grill that has a side burner for cooking and baking. I don't know if this is less money, however, I'm trying it out to see how long my propane tank will last and how that compares to my gas bill (I have a gas stove). If it doesn't end up being much savings; I still like the idea of getting used to using an alternative cooking source, in case gas skyrockets or becomes unavailable.
Good idea. We all have to do some trial and error moves right now.
I use fetch, hog receipt and Ibotta.. Love them and thanks for your awesome tips
I use the crock pot a lot in the summertime. Also I try to cook at lunch enough for dinner too. There's a lot to be said for salad meals too. Thank you for all your tips and I really enjoy your shows.
I use six regular black tea bags for a gallon (minus two cups) of sweet tea to make my kombucha.
My husband switched to a coffee bodum, it doesn't use electricity, and no filters. However you do need to boil water. We boil a couple of litres of water and keep in a carafe, keeps it hot for hours. Last week my husband wanted to buy something for $400.00. We talked and I asked him to wait. (It was a boredom purchase). Then through you guys and one other youtuber we got the kill a watt. And he has been testing everything! So I know what you mean Hope when you say Larry it all about the machines and tech. 😆. We are looking into a portable power station and solar panels. He is on board! Thanks again.
I was so pleased to hear you mention the Moneyless Man so I was driven to post my first comment :) I read this about 8 years ago and found it really inspiring. Like anything you can take or leave the different thoughts of an author but I loved this book. I actually started a Facebook group in our small town that now has over 6,000 members, Freeconomy, for people to gift items they can no longer use rather than sell, dump or take to thrift shops and likewise, if there is something people need they can ask.