I'm very frugal w/cosmetics, I don't buy them! I do that add a little water to stuff. even paint! Have to use AC, it's Florida. No cool AM or PM. Can't work in that heat!
Just yesterday I pulled out everything from the four-door long cupboard that goes under my kitchen sink. It was 4-1/2 years of built up clutter. I used contact paper to make bright white, shiny, easy cleanup and put things back in smaller thematically-grouped containers. I was shocked by how much more space I have for having donated or thrown out a lot of things I don't need. I can quickly find anything AND won't be buying replacements for things I assume I'm out of but just didn't see.
Frugaal tips from Sue Everytime you get a letter from a company with no refs on it and a blank back sheet, I have an A5 binder and hole punch it tear it in half and use it as a Scrap pad, write shopping lists, to do sheets, notes to hubby etc then when used, recycle the paper. I actually prefer this to any shop bought notebook, I haven't bought one for ten years! Totally free and everyone in the family knew where to find a scrap of paper if they needed one! Second tip, I buy coffee in bulk at Costco, my husband is a coffee addict, couldn't function without it. The jars are thick glass and have a good seal on them, so I have washed the bottom, wiped the top clean (otherwise the top gets water trapped in it, the top is never really dirty anyway) and they make fab pasta, rice, and flour storage jars. They are thicker and better than the shop bought jars, so I am re--using something that would otherwise have gone into landfill. No cost for a storage item! And over the years I now have a uniform set, as if I had purchased a set of six! I bought the jar for the coffee, I get a storage jar for free. My old ones that were thin and hexagon and harder for me to hold , because of the shape, these are going to a Charity shop (the equivalent of goodwill in US?) so someone else can use them. Third Type: Not only do I cut my husband's hair, but he now cuts mine. I have a small face and look good wih very short hair, I have a no 3 and do my own fringe. So for about £40.00 for clippers and a fairly good set of scissors on Amazon, I have saved a small fortune. Even one hair cut means you could break even, we have done every hair cut since lockdown - No haircutting costs for a husband and a wife since 2019. This also saves a mass on hair products for both of us and time in the shower, as my hair is short and I never use a hair dryer. My hair is dry with a small towel dry. Fourth tip; I only buy really thin towels for me, as I can get 4 v large thin towels in one load. I do have quite a few towels, but with energy costs so high, it's actually cheaper to have a few more towels and save they up to do only one load every 3 to 4 weeks. He likes thick towels - opposites attract! Fifth tip: I sell on ebay, I buy on ebay, I buy on Amazon via Warehouse deals, I don't care if the packaging has been damaged, provided the item is new. I always look in ebay first, especially if I only want one pan that normally comes in a bundle - instead of paying £101.99 for two really good quality frying pans, I spent £25.00 for one pan, the actual size I wanted and £7.50 for delivery. How much of a saving was that?! Siixth Tip: In UK John Lewis and DFS both have furniture that have been ordered by people and then returned, ie Clearance items. I once bought something I had seen six years earlier, had loved but was £650.00,. it turned up as a clearance item for £149.00. I couldn't believe my luck, I had never found something that I had loved and fitted the space so much. Fifteen years later I still love the item and would move it to a new house. (It is made of reclaimed Chinese Yew, is stunningly simple with a very minimalist style) Also bought a leather chair for my son, cost £149.00 because it had a wooden leg missing, only had three legs, instead of the four. We asked for an extra £50.00 off and said we would take it away that day as very few people would be able to make a new leg for a chair, it was a four sided angled shape. So we haggled and got them to drop the price by £50.00. They really do want shot of these items, as often they are ex-display or slightly damaged items, if you are willing to renovate them then there are bargains to be had. My lovely Dad made me a leg for the chair in his garage the next day, the chair was originally £650.00 (funny, but the figures were truly exactly the same as the other example, after we had negotiated). The chair is now in his first house and will serve him for years. The leather is soft buttery and beautiful. Added to this the reminder of his grandad making a leg for him remains in his mind. He honestly loves the chair! Seven Tip: My husband took our old 1980's orange pine free standing chest of drawers and his gentleman's wardrobe and my full length wardrobe and got a 2.5 litre pot of paint, sanded it down painted it with Delux Satinwood furniture paint in Dove Grey, restained the pine to light oak with a waterproof satin stain, added crystal knobs, costing £40.00 for the whole lot and bingo a new set of bedroom furniture, cost for total transformation - £100.00. So same set of furniture for over 37 years and we will have these until we die! Eighth Tip: Boundary Method - I never realised that by limiting myself to only the clothes that would fit in one wardrobe and chest of drawers for the whole of our 37 years of married life, I would have employed the boundary method. This has saved me more money than you can imagine. I wear clothes until they fall off my body, unless I change size I can tell you that even with this limit, as I have gone up and down quite a few sizes, I still find that some items were worn very little. So I am embarking on yet another round of de-cluttering on clothes. Nothing goes to landfill, it is sold on ebay or donated to charity. I have vowed to build a capsule wardrobe I love and enjoy wearing (with colour and prints) and that make me feel fab no matter what size I am! I want to go down to half a wardrobe and half a chest of drawers. This storage covers everything I own I can wear, underwear, tops, nightwear, swimwear, accessories, jackets, etc ...! I could go on, but I won't , not very minimal. I never realised until I read your posts that I have probably been a closet minimalist all my life, but now I am embracing the opportunity to de-clutter even further. I started following you because your story was so emotionally charged and I admired your inner strength and now I also watch some of the other minimalists. We also owe it to our loved ones not to leave so much behind that they are burden with the task of clearing our clutter, something that I know will resonate with you and your journey in life. I feel blessed to have discovered your posts (I had read the Marie Kondo books and found your website, while searching youtube for her content) because it gave validation to the way I have tried to live, being frugal, sustainable and instilling these values to my own children. Finally, to all those who sometimes feel overwhelmed by their clutter. In April I decided to do the 30 day minimalist challenge and having built up my de-cluttering muscles over the last few years, I managed to get rid of 570 items, loads of books went to a charity for children's literacy in deprived areas. I felt so good to have finally given them to such a good cause. It felt like a weight had been lifted as I taped up the final box of eight and my husband dropped them off - ill health forcing me not to continue my teaching career. Knowing the books were going to teach children in deprived schools how to read really aligned with my core values. Hope that some of these tips might help others in the UK live a frugal life, good luck with renovating furniture, repurposing things etc and remember that by using Marissa's tips and others posted it might give you more financial freedom going forward!
@@sandragammack4890 Thanks for being so kind, I hoped the tips might be of use. I am not really techie enough to create content, might be something I do once my husband retires in June! I have never over bought on anything particularly, but when I went down a few sizes in clothes and then back up realised just how little I had worn some, so even the one wardrobe and chest of drawers is not full now. By making little changes, shopping purposefully and creating a capsule wardrobe with limited colours, ie bottoms are black, white, green or blue and adding tops in these colours, I have really streamlined things in the past two years. I am currently in the process of dealing with an estate where the person didn't throw a single thing away for the past 40 years, ie all his adult life and I can honestly say, it has spurred me onto be even more minimal. I think we really owe it to our loved ones to clear our own clutter before it becomes too late for us to do it. In fact having a clutter free house probably increases your life expectancy, ie no falls etc and easy maintenance, which means more time to go out and see friends. I will call this a mental health cycle! Less clutter, more socialisation, greater happiness, happiness leading to greater sense of wellbeing, less stress hormones, so also less cancer, diabetes, heart disease etc. There are research projects on this. When I went into hospital for a total knee replacement, I was the only patient on the ward without a whole carrier bag of medication. I believe my simple life style really contributes to my well being, that and swimming every day. I even have the same breakfast eceryday, berries, greek youghurt and manuka honey. It takes all the stress out of what to have and is the best breakfast ever, full of tasty stuff. Thought I would send you a quick response, you never know it might be even more helpful than the first. I am convinced the reason I am the happiest of all my sisters, is the way I live with only the things that Spark Joy and less stuff.
I live in easter Europe where an average salary is 500 Euro but the prices are similar with EU countries. All these "Extreme living frugal tips" are applied in every household I know. In here they are more like "basic survival tips". I would also add: - buying local food and products and using local recipes is usually cheaper . I tried veganism and cooking Chinese/Indian cuisine for a while but realized it is much less sustainable. It's much cheaper to purchase local fruits and vegetables and local ingredients and cook meals typical for the region you are living in. - using every part of the food - for example: the green part of the spring onion can be fried with eggs and cheese and its delicious. - learn to repair stuff at home and get creative with that! i had a cat that ruined my couch so once when I was bored, I learned embroidery through youtube and experimented with it and my couch. now I know embroidery and I also saved my couch! of course im not an expert, i just spent few days doing it but it was a fun art project - prepare lunch for work - don't buy any sweets, snacks, juices or bottled water. They seem cheap but they add so much to the expenses and are also soo bad for your health and the environment. I bought a special water pipe with filter to replace the bottled water and I try to make sweets and snacks at home and I end up eating less of it. I drink tea instead of juices and In summer i cool the tea in the fridge so I have "ice tea"
My parents have their own small garden with vegetables ( they live in a flat, but have place to let vegetables grow ), because it is extremely expensive in Poland. They have not bought clothes for years and my father cut his hair himself.
My 'extreme' frugal living tip is to take my morning tea/lunch/afternoon tea/dinner to work every day. I am a nurse working a rotating roster, and I keep my food choices and prep for work very simple, and delicious. I have never forgotten my food from home, but just in case, I keep some tins of baked beans in my locker. I would much rather eat and enjoy a baked beans sandwich, than pay for food from a local cafe. 😋🥰
I did this for the 31 years I worked rotating shifts as a medical laboratory technologist. Once in a while I ate a meal out…usually Indian food because I love it.
If your office happens to have a freezer - mine did at one point - its likely close to empty... I just stored home cooked meals in there for the times I forgot.
Some of my best frugal tips are: Whenever I buy organic produce like tomatoes or peppers, I save my seeds to replant. Some plants for me and the rest I sell. I wash most of our laundry in the kitchen sink with an agitator and hang on a drying rack. We only drink water and tea At the end of the week I do a leftover buffet night I also save all of our leftover rice in the freezer and when I have enough saved then I do a fried rice night. I also save leftover vegetables in the freezer and when my bag is full I make a soup (call it stone soup) I use free newspaper for cleaning and if I need a cloth I cut up old tee shirts
My facial moisturizer comes in a plastic tube. When it stops coming out easily, I cut off the top of the tube with scissors so that I can reach inside to get the last of the moisturizer out. I usually get almost another week of use when I do this.
I keep a spray bottle handy with water, a tsp vinegar & tsp citrus dish soap. It's fantastic for quick clean up of dishes, wiping down appliances, tables, etc instead of dragging out the whole bottle of whatever, & it really saves on dish soap & cleaners.
Some ways I stay frugal is always packing lunches for work, using a pair of shoes that wears out as gardening shoes, hand me downs for kids, catching rain water, using less laundry soap, not replacing a cell phone unless we have to
Last summer we were planning on moving to a retirement community. We did a massive cleanout. Furniture, garden tools, workshop tools, knick knacks and clothe. And we didn't move! The difference in our scaled back lifestyle was eye opening. We save so much money by rethinking everything we use and buy. K
We started an emergency fund because I was bad at spending but my husband is worst than me, so we (me, actually😅) decided to reduce our spending. Sudenly, my son had an accident and broke his leg and our medicall bills were covered by this emergency fund. Now, my son is almost back at himself and we are debtfree still, without no savings but decided to start again. This experience helped us to valorate the importance of savings.
I live in a co-op apartment building, and we try to save money by “batching” any trades services we need to bring in, like plumbing or electricity. The electrician charges $260 flat for coming, plus an hourly rate, so if I want some work done, I ask my neighbors if they also want any work done, and then we can split that flat cost between us.
I'm not crazy about rigid meal planning - I always base meals around what's on special. The one tip that HAS saved me heaps is keeping a list of the vegetables I have on hand which reminds me to use the more perishable ones first. I constantly revise the list so when I go to the farmers markets or grocery store I know what I'm out of or what still needs to be used up. Just doing this has saved money and the hassle of finding forgotten produce that goes straight to the compost - which is like throwing money away!!
Hi, great tips. One of my frugal tips is to cut any tubed product in half when I think it's empty. I honestly can get another week or so out of the product. I put a sandwich plastic baggie over each now new top so they won't dry out 😊
I would refrain from the mascara-tip, since the eye area is extremely sensitive and bacteria grow fast in those little bottles. The shelf live of this product is short for a reason. Other than that, great tips as always! We also started a swapping group at work and meet regularly to exchange clothes, decoration, books and more 💪
I prolong lifespan of my mascaras the same way for ... I would say almost 30 years. Never had problem, no inflamed eyes. And even over fifty, I have no wrinkles under eyes.
I agree. Your eyes have a lot of bacteria and keeping mascara for an excessive amount of time can potentially cause inflammation or infections. Especially if someone uses contacts. Also, you have to consider your climate/house air when making choices like this. Mascara in a hot and humid climate has a chance of turning bad quicker than mascara in a more stable environment. I have Sjogren's Syndrome and with my excessively dry eyes, I'm very careful with the products I put around my eyes.
I remember myself doing this mascara trick in a school age when we didn't have any money of our own. Growing in poverty, but wanted to look nicely at the last years in school. But hej, we are here all adult, having jobs and a head on the shoulders to say "we can afford a new mascara once the est before date passes"....More on that- eyedrops have a very short lifespan (you can keep them open not more than a month from an opening date, as they sterile and do not have preservatives added). So, I see this tip as a kind of not relevant- as a small dilute of mascara like that may cost a looooot of health problems. Better don't. I had a financially hard times as a single mom of two- what I said to myself is that is temporarily, children grow and I will be able to get myself a better mascara/eyeshadows,etc. and switched to a really cheap brand (Essence) which is a European brand after all. And I always put a label on every cosmetics product I use indicating the date it was opened. I can cheat sometimes using blush or highliter a little longer... Another option for mascara- just buy a eyelash/ eyebrows dye. It is intended for the use on eyes area and holds for some time. And do not be "frugal" on your health, invest in it and you will save money.
I was making a taco bake for supper yesterday. Layers of tortilla, meat and cheese. I was able to make one round 10”, and two square 8” pans. One for yesterday, two for the freezer. There were three layers of cut tortillas, three layers of cheese, and two layers of the meat mixture. The meat mixture consisted of 1.5 pounds of lean ground beef browned, two cups each of black eyed beans and corn, one cup of salsa and taco spice. There are only two of us in the house now, so I often make larger meals and then freeze the leftovers for another day. This keeps costs down as I’m not as tempted to order out on days when I don’t feel like cooking. I just go to my freezer and find something already prepared. All I need to do is reheat and prepare a side or a salad to go with it. I do this with chili, stroganoff, baked beans, other bean recipes, pork chops in sauces, lasagna, mini quiches, mini meatloaf, meatballs. I also fry up the whole package of bacon, even if I only need one or two slices. I then chop it into small pieces and freeze. It is so handy to add to soups, casseroles and salads. My husband even adds it to sandwiches. When I have vegetables that are on the verge of going bad, like peppers or mushroom’s, I will chop them and freeze. Makes prep time so much easier.
"Living below your means" adjust your lifestyle, be frugal, budget, save and invest. This helped me as a 6 figure earner. I've grown over a million in retirement savings with this method
Don't panic, start out easy, don't buy things you don't need, budget every money, always save a portion of your pay atleast 5%, invest from your paycheck; it grows and helps you accumulate wealth easily.
Read books, gain the knowledge, set out a plan or target goal to reach. Get a pro financial expert lead you; follow consistently. You can also build a passive income channel from your investment
Cut lotion and sunscreen tubes in half and side the end of the tube back on to store it. There is so much more lotion inside the tube! As you use up the lotion inside the tube, cut it down some more. It’s amazing how many more uses you get from it!
Great tips. As a mostly-frugal person, I’ve always balked at unnecessary purchases but got a wonderful tip from various minimalism videos- “shop your own home first”. So much that my kids tease me with that tagline all the time:) The other tip is using substitutes. My home is not a Pinterest home so I can do with mismatches and not have to throw things in the landfill.And I’m not a Michelin star chef to only use exact ingredients. This avoids more purchases, car usage, etc. Finally decluttering and organizing made me realize how many duplicates of things we had. A place for everything and everything in its place makes me live a little more frugally.
We grow Beefsteak tomatoes and sometimes cherry tomatoes every year. I had a chef friend in the past who grew them in pots on his deck. (You add a tomato cage to support the plant) They are easy to grow. I don’t have a green thumb, and it seems they almost grow like weeds! They are so delicious. My parents grow tons of fresh herbs-they always share with us. We have a few cherry and apple trees as well. I freeze apples for use in the winter.
Thank you for fantastic tips, as usual. We buy bunches of parsley, dill, cilantro for our home cooking recipes. Many people tend to discard the leftover greens. Do not thrown them out; instead, cut them, put in zip lock bags and freeze. They will be ready for your next cooking endeavor.
As always thank you for sharing. I love and appreciate your videos. A few tips I have put into practice are these: - meal planning to allow one “fun” meal/date out a week - giving up make-up - keeps my skin healthy, a lot more time in the morning to enjoy morning coffee/tea and read before work - decluttering as much as possible to allow me more time doing hobbies, relaxing, and being w family rather than upkeep of house - reusable items instead of using paper towels, cotton pads, etc. - washing on cold and hang drying laundry - planning “going out”/errands days to save on gas
Many of these are very helpful. But please be cautious mixing your own beauty products. As someone who works in the skincare industry, masks are not necessary (if you want to keep it low budget) and physical scrubs often do more harm than good. What I would recommend instead: invest in good sunscreen (it doesn't have to be expensive) and wear it every day during day time. For a really simple skincare routine, the only add-ons I'd use would be a cleanser and a high quality (again, can be low price) moisturizer that strengthens skin barrier.
Researching what is actually in sunscreen has stopped me in my tracks due to the fact that my eyes were constantly being irritated - now I use Almond Oil sparingly, which has improved my skin hydration and does not irritate my eyes. So many - what seem to me "unnecessary chemicals" in commercial products has forced me to making my own which has saved money but also has given me peace of mind, knowing I am no longer a thoughtless consumer.
Sunscreen? Why not just save a ton of time, effort, and money every day by just buying a weather-proof wide-brim hat to always wear outside so the sun never touches the face to cause aging and wrinkles? Thats what i do and i also fully cover my whole body in clothing except i do get a few minutes a day of nearly full-body sun exposure at high noon for vitamin d and activating genes and health stuff although the science is unclear about how much sun exposure is optimal
My most frugal tip was switching from expensive face wash potions, to the Dr. Bronner's Baby Soap bar. It costs under $5, lasts for a really long time (I use it twice a day and it lasts nearly 18 months!), and it's mostly made of coconut oil. My 56 year old skin is excellent, doesn't break out and isn't greasy or dry. I do use a moisturizer after, but using the bar has saved a bundle and saves space and is easy to travel with. :)
@@redvelvetbeauty6709 well, my skin is a testimony to how it actually does work. It's mostly coconut oil and I get comments all the time 9n the condition of my skin.
I make a list of something I want to impulse buy, and then wait a couple of days. I find that I can make a better decision when that antsy “gotta buy it now” feeling is gone.
I started leaving things in my cart in Amazon for later and when I went back I realized most of the stuff I no longer wanted or is still in the cart not purchased. This does work.
One of the best tips I've heard is to try and cut down your core expenses... Examples: cutting down on your food budget, switching insurances, switching mobile service, etc. 💯💯 Great Video!
As soon as my current phone is paid off, I’m switching mobile providers and downgrading to a less expensive phone and plan! Can’t wait to start saving g tbh I
@@clairewillow6475 why don't you just keep your current phone and go SIM only not sure where you live but in UK a SIM only deal for unlimited texts and calls and 5GB data is about £5 a month
I add black beans to basically any dish with ground beef or ground turkey in order to stretch it further...similar to your adding vegetables when doubling a recipe. It's normal to us but probably super weird to anyone eating with us 😆
most of these I already do but as for doing meatless meals I find that we eat less volume of food and little snacking when we eat more meat and protien and we save a lot of money that way. It takes a bit of time for your body to adjust to less carbs (pasta, wheat and rice) but potatoes work well to fill up without the bloating. Love your channel
Coconut Oil for Makeup Removal. A jar of fancy virgin organic, cold pressed, unrefined coconut oil is about $8-$15 and can last up to 6-12 months (depending on how much makeup you use). A little of it goes a long way. It removes waterproof makeup, doesn't burn your eyes, snd moisturizes your lashes and surrounding eye area. I would recommend washing your face after with a good facial cleanser/wash to remove the excess oil. Also, Witch Hazel for facial toner. After washign your face with cleanser, soap, etc..., I always use witch hazel on my face as a toner before adding my moisturizer. Great for removing excess oils, dirt, etc... It smells funny but it goes away once it's dry.
Thanks for the tips. I usually do not meal plan. I just buy fruits and vegetables especially those on sale. Then I decide what flavor profile I want. Mediterranean? Chinese? Desi? … then I make up the recipes. This has saved me from wasting less produce. When I followed recipes, I wasted some food because I did not know how to use the rest of the produce. So, singing it helps me to use the produce I have on hand.
We mostly eat animal products so I don't waste/ throw out the veggies and fruit anymore - makes meal time easy and I spend way less and I don't need to buy snacks - very satiating
You are my new favorite UA-camr! I recently found your channel and Last week I finally sorted through laundry both mine and my child's. I got rid of all the clothes we outgrew and don't need anymore. Did the same with my makeup and skincare/perfumes in the bathroom too! It has been such a fun journey and I'm going to make a no-buy list soon. Today, I followed a minimalist food prep and followed our small budget for the whole month. I've listened to your videos while sorting in the next room, like a podcast, and on my phone. I'm surprised I've been able to stay this productive! Thanks, from Iowa.
Great tips, Marissa! One of the things I do to save money on moisturizer, is to mix the nicer, more expensive one with an unscented less expensive one. Lasts twice as long and costs a lot less. I also mix water with dish soap and body wash because they tend to be so concentrated. Love the pledge! ❤️
There's a screw-on foamer that you can put on your face / body soaps to practically double their life as well, can get cheap off amazon. Does mean that if you don't use stuff that is that size, you might have to get a glass bottle to transfer it to.
If you use bar soap in the shower put it in a leg of pantyhose or a lightweight knee-high sock! Tie it to your shower rack and your soap will never fall & it dries between uses. A tip from my Grandma Eleanor who was born in 1891: unwrap your soap bars so they dry and get harder over several months. They’ll last longer!
Shop your home. Anytime you need a piece of furniture or storage etc . Before running out and buying something new, look around your own house to see if you already have something that will work.
Glad I stayed until the end! That tip 20 was great. I've added grains, like oatmeal (uncooked) or bulgur (cooked) to stretch meat a little. I'll add veggies next time - especially those veggies that are towards the end of their shelf life.
In the summer when veggies are cheaper, I dry a lot of zucchinis (yellow & green), peppers (all colors, hot and sweet), sweet onions, portabello mushrooms and egg plant. Slice them thin to dry faster on a rack near the window with sun. In winter, it drys in no time. You can cut the peppers and onions in round circles, put them on skews and lay them on a clothes rack similar to the one that Marissa has). Use them in chilli, and spaghetti sauce. You can also add them in lasagna.
Budgeting has become one of my favorite things to do! It takes me and my husband about an hour each month to write out our budget and it saves us so much money, sometimes even hundreds! Tell your money where to go instead of wondering where it went:)
You are definitely right about the home haircuts being a great money saver. My teen boys get their haircuts every three weeks and I have my husband trim mine every couple months. I figure that it saves me over $1200 a year, not including the transportation costs, plus the convenience and time saved. It takes less time for him to give my two boys their haircuts, then it would be to drive one way to the barbershop. B
My best frugal tips: 1) I use old, stained t-shirts and jeans to stay home so that I never have to buy stuff for that. I don't care who comes over for a visit, I'll wear the old stuff. 2) I make my own cleaning products for kitchen/bathroom 3) I dilute shampoo and showel gel as they're too concentrated anyway 4) I mix BB cream with hydrating cream to make both last longer 5) I don't own a car, I walk/use public transportation everywhere 6) I only buy non food stuff when strictly necessary. 7) I split tea bags for double use, no point in using a whole bag for just one tea.
I used to live in Berlin, and it was sooo easy to be car-less! Definitely a different story in most of USA. We tried sharing one car before, but that ended up being very hard when another baby, now toddler arrived. If still need two cars, I suggest buying well kept, used cars, no payments, and to keep them as long as possible!
Agree 100%. The US is extremely car-centric. Our towns & cities are planned & built for cars; not people. Most roads (stroads) where I live are actually dangerous to walk or bike. Sidewalks are rare and bicycle lanes are nonexistent. Neighborhoods & all housing is completely separate and very distant from stores, schools, churches, etc. You cannot get anywhere without a car, sadly. I would love to live in a safe and walkable city. I had a car repossessed when I was very young and ever since I've never gone into debt on a car. Only buy used & only if I can pay for it in full. Take good care of them & they last.
Received ten boxes of mac and cheese mx. I put all of the uncooked pasta in glass jars closed tightly, and I keep the little plastic bags of mix in a jar next to my popcorn, for seasoning. Saved the little strip w/ the instructions, in one of the pasta jars. I can still make mac n cheese if I want.
Thank you so much for your tips! I've always been into frugal, minimalist and planned lifestyle, but I was kinda afraid to be called a cheapskate. These videos are encouraging me more and more to incorporate this lifestyle
When I bought some new Adidas white tennis shoes the first thing I did was take the laces out of them. Then I lightly spray them with WD-40 to make them waterproof and I repeat that process a total of three times..3 yrs later my shoes look great as long as I take the laces out to wash them once in a while
Great advice! Cutting back on the meat helped us immensely! I love when a meal lasts us more than two days. Not only is it budget friendly but less planning too.
I have a 2 car household. Public transit sucks here. But I work from home. So my car does not get a lot of use especially in summer when my son is not in school. If you work from home call your car insurance. They reduced my car insurance after I told them I work from home. I am also saving on gas, maintenance, and wear and tear on my car since it is being used a lot less. I drive my car about 3 days a week in the summer.
You can also buy a Stoov, which is an infrared heat cushion/seat lining that saves you money on heating. We sit on a Stoov during the colder times of the year and don't need a very hot temperature in the home. It is a Dutch invention but they ship internationally. Definitely something worth while to check out. We have a "Big Hug" and a "Homey".
I have a small reusable glass moisturizer container that I use to tip my moisturizer bottle in when it no longer pumps out but there’s clearly still product. I just unscrew the top and leave the moisturizer tipped at an angle into the empty travel container (can use a little clean jar too). It can extend my moisturizer for 2-4 more weeks. When the travel container is empty, I just clean it and store it for next use.
Another tip to save money is to use zero waste products for skin care and household cleaning products. Some are more expensive than the mainstream products, but they last longer, and you end up saving money. Examples: over a year and a half ago, I bought 1 liter of organic almond oil and 1 liter organic argan oil, I mixed the 2 in a small perfume dispenser and it's the best anti-aging product that I use on my face every night as part of my skin care routine. I still haven't ran out of oil and I saved hundreds of euros. Also, to remove make up, I use a washable cloth and water which works wonder, so I don't buy make-up remover products anymore. Or to wash my dishes, I use a solid soap that lasts for months, so I end up saving plastic waste and money.
I budget faithfully, I make a weekky meal plan based on what I have in stock, so I only have to purchase fill ins, always check the reduced produce and day old baked goods section, always take my lunch to work. Loved you no buy month so much I have started doing it every 3 months
Hi Marissa, I love your channel. You're also so pretty, btw! I just wanted to comment to say thank you for calling out the use of buy nothing groups. I'm a moderator for my local one and I see so many people save so much money over time on amazing items. I hope these buy nothing groups continue to be popular. Thank you :)
That’s amazing and so great that you are doing that for your community - I’ve been using Buy Nothing groups for years, from Chicago to New Jersey to Germany and back again. They are sooo helpful.
I love all of these! This was so helpful thank you so much for sharing! Just wanted to quickly add to the mascara tip with extending the life with contact drops! Be sure that when you only do it up to its expiration date! (typically 3 months after opening!) If it dries out before that date, which many do, it is a great tip! But if it has lived its full life cycle with you don't bring it back from the dead, it can cause eye infections and styes! Also you can extend the life of cream foundations with a little bit of oil and shake it up if it starts to get thick on you! (Again, only to its expiration date; though this one is not as serious an expiration date as the mascara!)
My biggest frugal tip would be to rethink what you really 'need'. I've never worn makeup, but I used to use hair conditioner and moisturiser because so many people said that skin & hair 'needed' these things. And my sensitive skin reacted badly to cheaper products, so it ended up not being cheap. Then I ran out during lockdown and found that within a few days, my hair and skin felt so much better. Now, I use soap and shampoo and nothing else.
Conversely I think a lot of people strip their skin with too much soap and body wash. I only wash the hair and underarms most shower/baths and the run off (plus water) sorts the rest
😮Priority problem. Never looked at it like that BUT that's definitely my issue. I've always been good at budgeting but when it came to helping others financially I've turned into a bank and now I know I need to shift my priorities.
When shopping, I stick with stores I know the layout of shelves. It cuts down on the browsing and looking for scenario. This is why stores change it up on their floor plan, so people can't shop on auto pilot . I also used to feel uncomfortable to leave a store empty handed. I had to sit with the discomfort, until I was OK to leave without purchasing something.
Going along with negotiating bills, know what things should cost. I do that at the grocery store (always check your receipt! I have gotten up to $15 back at a time because of errors in ringing me up), and I recently called about a medical bill that seemed high- they tried a different billing code and I saved over $300. The few minutes going to customer service or calling the office can really be worth it
my frugual tip: buy shoes from companies that accept an exchange or return if they're worn out quicker than 2 years. For example Adidas and Nike in Germany. I always wear the same pair of shoes and after 1 year they're always worn out so I get a free new pair 👍🏼
Ohhhh I would LOVE for you to talk about having a priority pyramid! I struggle with that so much. I will see someone doing some craft/experience and all of a sudden I'm ready to spend money on all the supplies to do that craft. I've recently starting having myself wait at least a week before purchasing.
Apparently historically priority was only a singular thing you had a priority because as soon as you have multiple priorities in fact you have no priorities . Priority means before all else so only one thing can be before all else,
one of my newest discoveries is Sophia Hoffmann, a German vegan and zero waste chef. I learned that one can use so much more of the vegetables that we think. E. G. carrot leaves etc. So what I do when I cook, I use all the scraps to make broth. From Carrot ends to onion peel etc. I keep it in the freezer until I have enough and then I make the broth to use for soup etc. It saves me money for broth, it tastes way better and I dont waste anything. :)
Love watching frugal tip videos. Found a wardrobe rack cheaper on one website. Sandals like orthotic shoes on sale. Used boot polish as mascara as a teenager. Oat & parsley face mask. No air con or heating. Do the same as you with the blinds. Go to bed early with hot water bottles. Watch computer or phone instead of TV. Bulk cooking & freeze. Have a different colour every month or season, then old clothes seem like new. Walk or share cars. Look for free deliveries. Grow what you can. Love soups & stews - add herbs or spices for extra flavour.
I realized many of our bills had late fees added on so I started being more on top of the bills and creating a budget to stick by. Now I notice the bills decreasing each month and I’m hooked! 😅 I turn off the lights when I leave rooms like it’s a game. It made me realize how much energy we were wasting before.
Please, please be cautious adding water to products, especially personal care products. As a former personal care product formulator, these products have been formulated with the correct level of preservatives to protect the product as formulated. By adding water, you're diluting the preservatives and potentially adding bacteria to the product. Of course, if the product you are using is sold as a concentrate that you are meant to add water to, then you're fine so long as you're adding the recommended amount of water. But generally speaking, it's not worth the risk of infections and illness to save a few bucks on your products.
If you are only doing it when your product is about to run out I don't really see an issue. Diluting it doesn't miraculously turn it from absolutely bacteria inhospitable to perfect breeding ground, so the added week or two of use will not be an issue. Your shampoo or soap is still a detergent, so really bad for bacteria. Of course, adding water to something you will continue to use for months might be a bad idea, especially when it is more bacteria or fungi friendly than shampoo.
I've been cutting my husband's hair for the last 6 years, my son's for his entire life (he's almost 6) and my own hair for the past 4 years and I just started cutting my 3 year old daughter's hair too. No hair salons for us! In the spring and summer I cut everyone's hair except for mine, out on our deck to keep the mess outside!
When I heard Dave Ramsey and the same week some other personal finance people say - when you give yourself a budget you’re giving yourself a raise- I got working on it. I was hurting for an increase on income. I later found out that there were fees and not home cooking that was destroying my wallet. Give yourself that raise, even if it’s not a raise it’ll show you the next step to take.
Thank you so much for your inspirational information. So many - what seem to me "unnecessary chemicals" in commercial products has forced me to make my own Personal & Household Cleaning Products which has saved me money but also has given me peace of mind, knowing I am no longer a thoughtless consumer. A great tip for multiple use :- Capture your shower water - to see how much water just goes down the drain - this warm/hot water could be of better use to flush your toilet, which will reduce build-up in the system, reduce the use of chemicals to keep things moving, save on your water bill & the amount if drinkable water (uk) used just to flush with. I hope this is of use. Take care
Never had a car, thank goodness! Big City girl….with a garden so growing our own herbs and greens is a bonus. This is a 100% plant-based household. Healthy and economical. Very little waste! Stopped coloring my hair which saves many hours in the salon chair and lots of $$$$$$. No paper towels or napkins to save $$$ and the drag on the planet. Taking advantage of washable rags and cloths. No wrapping paper either! Learned from the Japanese how to wrap gifts in cloth. The cloth portion can also be part of the gift such as a scarf. Ceiling fans go a long way to keeping the air circulating and only use the mini-split a/c on the hottest of muggy days.
Last yr I switched to only cold tea with meals…I use those little stevia packets my coworkers get too many of with their coffee shop coffee or clear fruit juice from canned fruit juice to brighten it up..steep a lemon you squeezed for some other use…you get the idea…Walmart tea is cheap and goes a long way. I make it sun style. ( if I am going to steep a lemon or orange…I just take some water that I am heating anyway…think water for pasta…before adding the pasta…or microwave a cup) no more soda or juice or glasses of milk in my house….just one cheap tip of many I have incorporated.
Thanks for the video! Be very careful with Nr. 11! If you don't heat enough, it might enhance mold at home, which is VERY dangerous for your health AND will be costly in order to get rid of, too.
Moving around when it's cold will help keep you warmer. I find that when I'm cold I want to huddle under blankets but getting up and moving is better for me. One of my online shopping tips is to put things in my cart but not complete the transaction. Often, I decide against the item or the vendor sends me a lower price or coupon. If you track sales at the grocery store you will find that the sales are on a cycle. Speaking of tracking, grocery apps are great for coupons and sales.
such a good video, marissa! love you & your channel. so many of these GREAT tips are what i did when i was poor!!! and now they are considered "eco-friendly"
This summer the concrete sidewalks have been too hot for my dogs paws and she won't have those 'doggie' shoes.So I folded a bath towel in quarters and put it behind her favorite chair.I use a beige towel so I can see when it needs to be changed,and I put a rubber bath mat under it.At first her um "aim" wasn't so perfect...but now she's figured it out.When it cools off,we' ll start ur walks again.
This can be summed up to ‘don’t be wasteful’. Also as I hairdresser it really hurts when people say ‘just learn to do your own hair’. I’m so glad I went to school and spent $20k+ to learn how to do hair when people can just learn it at home.
Thank you Marissa, your priority pyramid is an interesting tool I’ve not heard of before. I’d love it if you could do a video going in more detail with examples of the types of foods you prioritise. It seems something that could be used in multiple areas of life. Thank you ❤
I like to bake casseroles in quantity and put some in the freezer. I put them in individual serving sizes after they have baked and cooled Then I can just thaw it out in the refrigerator and warm them in the microwave. I like to have quite a few in my freezer over the summer so I don't have to turn the oven on. I also use my crockpot a lot. I also bought me a clothesline dryer about a month ago like the one you use so I don't have to heat the house up running the dryer. I just got this a few weeks ago but I'm sure my electric bill will be cheaper.
Most of it is already normal for me. We cut down meat to only breakfast but we get so much more veggies now. When we have a meat craving, we cook something of a better quality and every one of our meals are delicious. I recommend going low-meat, makes you appreciate it more! Additionaly, our monthly food expenses for two people are as high as one, little eating person. We decided to put more money into quality igredients as a treat!
Your ideas are interesting. Some of them I already do, but others give me incentive to try. Developing a recipe rotation with pantry staples in mind is the one I am going to focus on. I am guilty of food waste and want to fix that. I already make meals that give me leftovers to freeze for another meal. I am always scouting Pinterest for new recipes focusing on my pantry items. I’ve been successfully setting financial priorities, but could improve. I like your statement “what gets measured gets managed”. I’m going to adopt that. I look forward to all your videos, every one gives me thoughts as to how to improve. Thank you so much.
you have done a lovely job styling your home. I love many of your tips, thanks for all the videos, and I have seen a bunch of yours. Always motivational!
I had to become quite frugal due the energy crisis in my country winter just past, so to keep the kitchen a bit warmer, after I'm done cooking I leave the oven door open to warm the room, also get my parents to save the hedge clippings for kindling for winter. I also got an old shed from a nieghbour for burning to keep warmer in winter without spending more on prepared logs. :D
Since it's so dry out, we collect water from washing veggies etc. and use it to water the trees infront of our apartment. That might save us a little on the German "Abwassergebühr".
frugal tip, your dish sponge gets dirty real quickly, so experts say disposing them is a must at least monthly. now I dont wanna throw away a sponge that looks fine but I also dont want germs on my plate. so what I do is to disinfect my sponge by soaking it in vinegar and then boiling it in water with baking soda aftewards.
Allo marissa, merci pour tant d'inspiration et d'idée, faire les choses différemment peu parfois faire peur mais vous le rendez si simple, longue continuité. ❤😊
se foaming hand soap. I refill mine with a Refill and add a small amount of liquid soap and lots of water. Still works well plus it's better for your skin as it's not as strong.
Please like 👍 and comment with YOUR best frugal tips! ►💰FREE Budget Planner PDF » Grab here: landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r9e9t6
Been decluttering for a year... took 2 carloads to the donation centre etc and my house looks THE SAME... until I look at the before pics
I'm very frugal w/cosmetics, I don't buy them! I do that add a little water to stuff. even paint! Have to use AC, it's Florida. No cool AM or PM. Can't work in that heat!
My best frugal tip is to ruthlessly declutter your whole house. The time and energy involved definitely cured me of my impulsive spending habits. 😂❤
YES it helps sooooo much! 💪 Priceless!
@@AtoZenLife best thing I ever did! 😊
Just yesterday I pulled out everything from the four-door long cupboard that goes under my kitchen sink. It was 4-1/2 years of built up clutter. I used contact paper to make bright white, shiny, easy cleanup and put things back in smaller thematically-grouped containers. I was shocked by how much more space I have for having donated or thrown out a lot of things I don't need. I can quickly find anything AND won't be buying replacements for things I assume I'm out of but just didn't see.
Me, too!!I find when going shopping, I ask myself where will I put it and do I really need it. I haven’t bought new decor in some time. 😊
@@bryonyvaughn2427 That's awesome!
Take inventory pictures: I took pics of each of my outfits. When I feel like shopping, I review the pictures and realize I have enough.
Same! and it makes me realised how much I've already own😊❤️
Holy cow, that's BRILLIANT! ❤
1. Question Brand Loyalty
2. Comparison Shopping
3. Use Price Matching
4. Shop Secondhand
5. Shop For "Free" - swap
6. Learn to cut hair at home
7. Add eyedrops to mascara
8. Just add water
9. DIY self care
10. Low maintenace mode
11. Turn down heat/ac
12. Line dry cloths
13. Negotiate bills
14. Repurpose/Upcycle
15. Reduce Car Expenses
16. Meal Plan
17. Cut down Food Waste
18. Reduce meat use
19. Know cheapest foods
20. Double Recipe
21. Build Priority Pyramid
22. Set Money Goals
23. Can Do Attitude
24. Purge Budget
25. Spending Freeze
Thanks!
Thank you!
Thanks for this brief one
Gracias!
so basically have money and don't spend it. For those of you who do all of this because you have no money, make more money.
As an East-European, for me watching this is just realizing that our motherd and grandpas embraced each and every trick in the video. ☺️
Frugaal tips from Sue
Everytime you get a letter from a company with no refs on it and a blank back sheet, I have an A5 binder and hole punch it tear it in half and use it as a Scrap pad, write shopping lists, to do sheets, notes to hubby etc then when used, recycle the paper. I actually prefer this to any shop bought notebook, I haven't bought one for ten years! Totally free and everyone in the family knew where to find a scrap of paper if they needed one!
Second tip, I buy coffee in bulk at Costco, my husband is a coffee addict, couldn't function without it. The jars are thick glass and have a good seal on them, so I have washed the bottom, wiped the top clean (otherwise the top gets water trapped in it, the top is never really dirty anyway) and they make fab pasta, rice, and flour storage jars. They are thicker and better than the shop bought jars, so I am re--using something that would otherwise have gone into landfill. No cost for a storage item! And over the years I now have a uniform set, as if I had purchased a set of six! I bought the jar for the coffee, I get a storage jar for free. My old ones that were thin and hexagon and harder for me to hold , because of the shape, these are going to a Charity shop (the equivalent of goodwill in US?) so someone else can use them.
Third Type: Not only do I cut my husband's hair, but he now cuts mine. I have a small face and look good wih very short hair, I have a no 3 and do my own fringe. So for about £40.00 for clippers and a fairly good set of scissors on Amazon, I have saved a small fortune. Even one hair cut means you could break even, we have done every hair cut since lockdown - No haircutting costs for a husband and a wife since 2019. This also saves a mass on hair products for both of us and time in the shower, as my hair is short and I never use a hair dryer. My hair is dry with a small towel dry.
Fourth tip; I only buy really thin towels for me, as I can get 4 v large thin towels in one load. I do have quite a few towels, but with energy costs so high, it's actually cheaper to have a few more towels and save they up to do only one load every 3 to 4 weeks. He likes thick towels - opposites attract!
Fifth tip: I sell on ebay, I buy on ebay, I buy on Amazon via Warehouse deals, I don't care if the packaging has been damaged, provided the item is new. I always look in ebay first, especially if I only want one pan that normally comes in a bundle - instead of paying £101.99 for two really good quality frying pans, I spent £25.00 for one pan, the actual size I wanted and £7.50 for delivery. How much of a saving was that?!
Siixth Tip: In UK John Lewis and DFS both have furniture that have been ordered by people and then returned, ie Clearance items. I once bought something I had seen six years earlier, had loved but was £650.00,. it turned up as a clearance item for £149.00. I couldn't believe my luck, I had never found something that I had loved and fitted the space so much. Fifteen years later I still love the item and would move it to a new house. (It is made of reclaimed Chinese Yew, is stunningly simple with a very minimalist style)
Also bought a leather chair for my son, cost £149.00 because it had a wooden leg missing, only had three legs, instead of the four. We asked for an extra £50.00 off and said we would take it away that day as very few people would be able to make a new leg for a chair, it was a four sided angled shape. So we haggled and got them to drop the price by £50.00. They really do want shot of these items, as often they are ex-display or slightly damaged items, if you are willing to renovate them then there are bargains to be had. My lovely Dad made me a leg for the chair in his garage the next day, the chair was originally £650.00 (funny, but the figures were truly exactly the same as the other example, after we had negotiated). The chair is now in his first house and will serve him for years. The leather is soft buttery and beautiful. Added to this the reminder of his grandad making a leg for him remains in his mind. He honestly loves the chair!
Seven Tip: My husband took our old 1980's orange pine free standing chest of drawers and his gentleman's wardrobe and my full length wardrobe and got a 2.5 litre pot of paint, sanded it down painted it with Delux Satinwood furniture paint in Dove Grey, restained the pine to light oak with a waterproof satin stain, added crystal knobs, costing £40.00 for the whole lot and bingo a new set of bedroom furniture, cost for total transformation - £100.00. So same set of furniture for over 37 years and we will have these until we die!
Eighth Tip: Boundary Method - I never realised that by limiting myself to only the clothes that would fit in one wardrobe and chest of drawers for the whole of our 37 years of married life, I would have employed the boundary method. This has saved me more money than you can imagine. I wear clothes until they fall off my body, unless I change size I can tell you that even with this limit, as I have gone up and down quite a few sizes, I still find that some items were worn very little. So I am embarking on yet another round of de-cluttering on clothes. Nothing goes to landfill, it is sold on ebay or donated to charity. I have vowed to build a capsule wardrobe I love and enjoy wearing (with colour and prints) and that make me feel fab no matter what size I am! I want to go down to half a wardrobe and half a chest of drawers. This storage covers everything I own I can wear, underwear, tops, nightwear, swimwear, accessories, jackets, etc ...!
I could go on, but I won't , not very minimal. I never realised until I read your posts that I have probably been a closet minimalist all my life, but now I am embracing the opportunity to de-clutter even further. I started following you because your story was so emotionally charged and I admired your inner strength and now I also watch some of the other minimalists.
We also owe it to our loved ones not to leave so much behind that they are burden with the task of clearing our clutter, something that I know will resonate with you and your journey in life.
I feel blessed to have discovered your posts (I had read the Marie Kondo books and found your website, while searching youtube for her content) because it gave validation to the way I have tried to live, being frugal, sustainable and instilling these values to my own children.
Finally, to all those who sometimes feel overwhelmed by their clutter. In April I decided to do the 30 day minimalist challenge and having built up my de-cluttering muscles over the last few years, I managed to get rid of 570 items, loads of books went to a charity for children's literacy in deprived areas. I felt so good to have finally given them to such a good cause. It felt like a weight had been lifted as I taped up the final box of eight and my husband dropped them off - ill health forcing me not to continue my teaching career. Knowing the books were going to teach children in deprived schools how to read really aligned with my core values.
Hope that some of these tips might help others in the UK live a frugal life, good luck with renovating furniture, repurposing things etc and remember that by using Marissa's tips and others posted it might give you more financial freedom going forward!
Very helpful thank you
Wow!!! Whoes page is this???You should have your own site.. 😅😅
@@sandragammack4890 Thanks for being so kind, I hoped the tips might be of use. I am not really techie enough to create content, might be something I do once my husband retires in June! I have never over bought on anything particularly, but when I went down a few sizes in clothes and then back up realised just how little I had worn some, so even the one wardrobe and chest of drawers is not full now. By making little changes, shopping purposefully and creating a capsule wardrobe with limited colours, ie bottoms are black, white, green or blue and adding tops in these colours, I have really streamlined things in the past two years. I am currently in the process of dealing with an estate where the person didn't throw a single thing away for the past 40 years, ie all his adult life and I can honestly say, it has spurred me onto be even more minimal. I think we really owe it to our loved ones to clear our own clutter before it becomes too late for us to do it. In fact having a clutter free house probably increases your life expectancy, ie no falls etc and easy maintenance, which means more time to go out and see friends. I will call this a mental health cycle! Less clutter, more socialisation, greater happiness, happiness leading to greater sense of wellbeing, less stress hormones, so also less cancer, diabetes, heart disease etc. There are research projects on this. When I went into hospital for a total knee replacement, I was the only patient on the ward without a whole carrier bag of medication. I believe my simple life style really contributes to my well being, that and swimming every day. I even have the same breakfast eceryday, berries, greek youghurt and manuka honey. It takes all the stress out of what to have and is the best breakfast ever, full of tasty stuff. Thought I would send you a quick response, you never know it might be even more helpful than the first. I am convinced the reason I am the happiest of all my sisters, is the way I live with only the things that Spark Joy and less stuff.
@@sandragammack4890 I dont think she got it
I live in easter Europe where an average salary is 500 Euro but the prices are similar with EU countries. All these "Extreme living frugal tips" are applied in every household I know. In here they are more like "basic survival tips". I would also add:
- buying local food and products and using local recipes is usually cheaper . I tried veganism and cooking Chinese/Indian cuisine for a while but realized it is much less sustainable. It's much cheaper to purchase local fruits and vegetables and local ingredients and cook meals typical for the region you are living in.
- using every part of the food - for example: the green part of the spring onion can be fried with eggs and cheese and its delicious.
- learn to repair stuff at home and get creative with that! i had a cat that ruined my couch so once when I was bored, I learned embroidery through youtube and experimented with it and my couch. now I know embroidery and I also saved my couch! of course im not an expert, i just spent few days doing it but it was a fun art project
- prepare lunch for work
- don't buy any sweets, snacks, juices or bottled water. They seem cheap but they add so much to the expenses and are also soo bad for your health and the environment. I bought a special water pipe with filter to replace the bottled water and I try to make sweets and snacks at home and I end up eating less of it. I drink tea instead of juices and In summer i cool the tea in the fridge so I have "ice tea"
My parents have their own small garden with vegetables ( they live in a flat, but have place to let vegetables grow ), because it is extremely expensive in Poland. They have not bought clothes for years and my father cut his hair himself.
❤
My 'extreme' frugal living tip is to take my morning tea/lunch/afternoon tea/dinner to work every day. I am a nurse working a rotating roster, and I keep my food choices and prep for work very simple, and delicious. I have never forgotten my food from home, but just in case, I keep some tins of baked beans in my locker. I would much rather eat and enjoy a baked beans sandwich, than pay for food from a local cafe. 😋🥰
I have a microwave rice and tin of beans for emergency in my work drawer 😸.
(It's also full of unsalted nuts to snack on)
I do this too and bring or get a drink to go out and sit down.
Good advice
I did this for the 31 years I worked rotating shifts as a medical laboratory technologist. Once in a while I ate a meal out…usually Indian food because I love it.
If your office happens to have a freezer - mine did at one point - its likely close to empty... I just stored home cooked meals in there for the times I forgot.
I save the first water that runs cold from the shower, and I use it for watering plants or in the wc. This doesn't save money but saves a lot of water
Some of my best frugal tips are:
Whenever I buy organic produce like tomatoes or peppers, I save my seeds to replant. Some plants for me and the rest I sell.
I wash most of our laundry in the kitchen sink with an agitator and hang on a drying rack.
We only drink water and tea
At the end of the week I do a leftover buffet night
I also save all of our leftover rice in the freezer and when I have enough saved then I do a fried rice night.
I also save leftover vegetables in the freezer and when my bag is full I make a soup (call it stone soup)
I use free newspaper for cleaning and if I need a cloth I cut up old tee shirts
My facial moisturizer comes in a plastic tube. When it stops coming out easily, I cut off the top of the tube with scissors so that I can reach inside to get the last of the moisturizer out. I usually get almost another week of use when I do this.
Totally! There's always so much of it left! After cutting off the tube I store it in the fridge. Same for hands cream.
I do the same with toothpaste!
I do that with basically anything that comes in a tube or container that I can cut open.
Same!
Ditto
I keep a spray bottle handy with water, a tsp vinegar & tsp citrus dish soap. It's fantastic for quick clean up of dishes, wiping down appliances, tables, etc instead of dragging out the whole bottle of whatever, & it really saves on dish soap & cleaners.
Some ways I stay frugal is always packing lunches for work, using a pair of shoes that wears out as gardening shoes, hand me downs for kids, catching rain water, using less laundry soap, not replacing a cell phone unless we have to
Last summer we were planning on moving to a retirement community. We did a massive cleanout. Furniture, garden tools, workshop tools, knick knacks and clothe. And we didn't move! The difference in our scaled back lifestyle was eye opening. We save so much money by rethinking everything we use and buy.
K
We started an emergency fund because I was bad at spending but my husband is worst than me, so we (me, actually😅) decided to reduce our spending. Sudenly, my son had an accident and broke his leg and our medicall bills were covered by this emergency fund. Now, my son is almost back at himself and we are debtfree still, without no savings but decided to start again. This experience helped us to valorate the importance of savings.
I live in a co-op apartment building, and we try to save money by “batching” any trades services we need to bring in, like plumbing or electricity. The electrician charges $260 flat for coming, plus an hourly rate, so if I want some work done, I ask my neighbors if they also want any work done, and then we can split that flat cost between us.
I'm not crazy about rigid meal planning - I always base meals around what's on special. The one tip that HAS saved me heaps is keeping a list of the vegetables I have on hand which reminds me to use the more perishable ones first. I constantly revise the list so when I go to the farmers markets or grocery store I know what I'm out of or what still needs to be used up. Just doing this has saved money and the hassle of finding forgotten produce that goes straight to the compost - which is like throwing money away!!
Hi, great tips. One of my frugal tips is to cut any tubed product in half when I think it's empty. I honestly can get another week or so out of the product. I put a sandwich plastic baggie over each now new top so they won't dry out 😊
I would refrain from the mascara-tip, since the eye area is extremely sensitive and bacteria grow fast in those little bottles. The shelf live of this product is short for a reason.
Other than that, great tips as always! We also started a swapping group at work and meet regularly to exchange clothes, decoration, books and more 💪
I prolong lifespan of my mascaras the same way for ... I would say almost 30 years. Never had problem, no inflamed eyes. And even over fifty, I have no wrinkles under eyes.
@@anumatis that’s great, if it works for you! Sadly, I have a different experience with this and wouldn’t want to risk to make it again 🤷♀️
I agree. Your eyes have a lot of bacteria and keeping mascara for an excessive amount of time can potentially cause inflammation or infections. Especially if someone uses contacts. Also, you have to consider your climate/house air when making choices like this. Mascara in a hot and humid climate has a chance of turning bad quicker than mascara in a more stable environment. I have Sjogren's Syndrome and with my excessively dry eyes, I'm very careful with the products I put around my eyes.
It’s a good thing that the saline in the contact solution kills bacteria then.
I remember myself doing this mascara trick in a school age when we didn't have any money of our own. Growing in poverty, but wanted to look nicely at the last years in school. But hej, we are here all adult, having jobs and a head on the shoulders to say "we can afford a new mascara once the est before date passes"....More on that- eyedrops have a very short lifespan (you can keep them open not more than a month from an opening date, as they sterile and do not have preservatives added). So, I see this tip as a kind of not relevant- as a small dilute of mascara like that may cost a looooot of health problems. Better don't. I had a financially hard times as a single mom of two- what I said to myself is that is temporarily, children grow and I will be able to get myself a better mascara/eyeshadows,etc. and switched to a really cheap brand (Essence) which is a European brand after all. And I always put a label on every cosmetics product I use indicating the date it was opened. I can cheat sometimes using blush or highliter a little longer... Another option for mascara- just buy a eyelash/ eyebrows dye. It is intended for the use on eyes area and holds for some time. And do not be "frugal" on your health, invest in it and you will save money.
I was making a taco bake for supper yesterday. Layers of tortilla, meat and cheese. I was able to make one round 10”, and two square 8” pans. One for yesterday, two for the freezer. There were three layers of cut tortillas, three layers of cheese, and two layers of the meat mixture. The meat mixture consisted of 1.5 pounds of lean ground beef browned, two cups each of black eyed beans and corn, one cup of salsa and taco spice.
There are only two of us in the house now, so I often make larger meals and then freeze the leftovers for another day. This keeps costs down as I’m not as tempted to order out on days when I don’t feel like cooking. I just go to my freezer and find something already prepared. All I need to do is reheat and prepare a side or a salad to go with it. I do this with chili, stroganoff, baked beans, other bean recipes, pork chops in sauces, lasagna, mini quiches, mini meatloaf, meatballs.
I also fry up the whole package of bacon, even if I only need one or two slices. I then chop it into small pieces and freeze. It is so handy to add to soups, casseroles and salads. My husband even adds it to sandwiches.
When I have vegetables that are on the verge of going bad, like peppers or mushroom’s, I will chop them and freeze. Makes prep time so much easier.
Tku for your bacon tip. 🙂
The peace I get from living minimalist is great. Everyone should give it a shot.
Yes indeed
"Living below your means" adjust your lifestyle, be frugal, budget, save and invest. This helped me as a 6 figure earner. I've grown over a million in retirement savings with this method
Don't panic, start out easy, don't buy things you don't need, budget every money, always save a portion of your pay atleast 5%, invest from your paycheck; it grows and helps you accumulate wealth easily.
Read books, gain the knowledge, set out a plan or target goal to reach. Get a pro financial expert lead you; follow consistently. You can also build a passive income channel from your investment
Investing is a good one! I felt the heavens the first time I got my investment dividends 😁....been on it ever since
Yes. I recommend Rachel Blanc. I will recommend her services to anyone and everyone. She's awesome .I've had a great run
Rachel Blanc has a great online presence and physically located in new york.
Cut lotion and sunscreen tubes in half and side the end of the tube back on to store it. There is so much more lotion inside the tube! As you use up the lotion inside the tube, cut it down some more. It’s amazing how many more uses you get from it!
They rip you off because they make it that way so you use less product than you pay for, so you have to buy more
Great tips. As a mostly-frugal person, I’ve always balked at unnecessary purchases but got a wonderful tip from various minimalism videos- “shop your own home first”. So much that my kids tease me with that tagline all the time:)
The other tip is using substitutes. My home is not a Pinterest home so I can do with mismatches and not have to throw things in the landfill.And I’m not a Michelin star chef to only use exact ingredients. This avoids more purchases, car usage, etc.
Finally decluttering and organizing made me realize how many duplicates of things we had. A place for everything and everything in its place makes me live a little more frugally.
We grow Beefsteak tomatoes and sometimes cherry tomatoes every year. I had a chef friend in the past who grew them in pots on his deck. (You add a tomato cage to support the plant) They are easy to grow. I don’t have a green thumb, and it seems they almost grow like weeds! They are so delicious. My parents grow tons of fresh herbs-they always share with us. We have a few cherry and apple trees as well. I freeze apples for use in the winter.
Thank you for fantastic tips, as usual. We buy bunches of parsley, dill, cilantro for our home cooking recipes. Many people tend to discard the leftover greens. Do not thrown them out; instead, cut them, put in zip lock bags and freeze. They will be ready for your next cooking endeavor.
Love that!
As always thank you for sharing. I love and appreciate your videos.
A few tips I have put into practice are these:
- meal planning to allow one “fun” meal/date out a week
- giving up make-up - keeps my skin healthy, a lot more time in the morning to enjoy morning coffee/tea and read before work
- decluttering as much as possible to allow me more time doing hobbies, relaxing, and being w family rather than upkeep of house
- reusable items instead of using paper towels, cotton pads, etc.
- washing on cold and hang drying laundry
- planning “going out”/errands days to save on gas
Many of these are very helpful. But please be cautious mixing your own beauty products. As someone who works in the skincare industry, masks are not necessary (if you want to keep it low budget) and physical scrubs often do more harm than good. What I would recommend instead: invest in good sunscreen (it doesn't have to be expensive) and wear it every day during day time. For a really simple skincare routine, the only add-ons I'd use would be a cleanser and a high quality (again, can be low price) moisturizer that strengthens skin barrier.
Thank you for your comment ❤
I agree, a person really has to know what does and doesn’t cause or create bacterial growth in DIY products or it can do major enormous than good.
Researching what is actually in sunscreen has stopped me in my tracks due to the fact that my eyes were constantly being irritated - now I use Almond Oil sparingly, which has improved my skin hydration and does not irritate my eyes.
So many - what seem to me "unnecessary chemicals" in commercial products has forced me to making my own which has saved money but also has given me peace of mind, knowing I am no longer a thoughtless consumer.
@@ednacrispin8825 Using oils as moisturizers is also a great tip, almond, jojoba, and apricot oil are great to name but a few
Sunscreen? Why not just save a ton of time, effort, and money every day by just buying a weather-proof wide-brim hat to always wear outside so the sun never touches the face to cause aging and wrinkles? Thats what i do and i also fully cover my whole body in clothing except i do get a few minutes a day of nearly full-body sun exposure at high noon for vitamin d and activating genes and health stuff although the science is unclear about how much sun exposure is optimal
My most frugal tip was switching from expensive face wash potions, to the Dr. Bronner's Baby Soap bar. It costs under $5, lasts for a really long time (I use it twice a day and it lasts nearly 18 months!), and it's mostly made of coconut oil. My 56 year old skin is excellent, doesn't break out and isn't greasy or dry. I do use a moisturizer after, but using the bar has saved a bundle and saves space and is easy to travel with. :)
me: washes face with water 😂 little joke
Yes I go to tj max, Marshalls or Macy's backstage for it and I got a giant bottle for around $6. Steal
Baby soap is made for babies for a reason. It’s gentle on their skin which means it isn’t a great cleaner for adult skin
@@redvelvetbeauty6709 well, my skin is a testimony to how it actually does work. It's mostly coconut oil and I get comments all the time 9n the condition of my skin.
I use the regular bars for my shower and love them
I make a list of something I want to impulse buy, and then wait a couple of days. I find that I can make a better decision when that antsy “gotta buy it now” feeling is gone.
I started leaving things in my cart in Amazon for later and when I went back I realized most of the stuff I no longer wanted or is still in the cart not purchased. This does work.
@@MsButterflyJan1976 oooh! I’ve done that too-it does work pretty well!
Oh thats right😊
Thanks for sharing your rice pancake recipe! I've got to try it! When I was a kid, we used to add sugar and milk to leftover white rice for a treat.
One of the best tips I've heard is to try and cut down your core expenses... Examples: cutting down on your food budget, switching insurances, switching mobile service, etc. 💯💯 Great Video!
Yes! In my extreme minimalist budget video I talk about the “big three:” house, car, and food. Savings there = big results!
As soon as my current phone is paid off, I’m switching mobile providers and downgrading to a less expensive phone and plan! Can’t wait to start saving g tbh I
@@clairewillow6475 I feel the same way! I've been thinking of switching to a different service for a while now and It's about time I just do it!
@@clairewillow6475 why don't you just keep your current phone and go SIM only not sure where you live but in UK a SIM only deal for unlimited texts and calls and 5GB data is about £5 a month
@@sarahmacrae8277 I’m not sure tbh how it works here. I have an iPhone, I’ll definitely look into that though, thx
I add black beans to basically any dish with ground beef or ground turkey in order to stretch it further...similar to your adding vegetables when doubling a recipe. It's normal to us but probably super weird to anyone eating with us 😆
most of these I already do but as for doing meatless meals I find that we eat less volume of food and little snacking when we eat more meat and protien and we save a lot of money that way. It takes a bit of time for your body to adjust to less carbs (pasta, wheat and rice) but potatoes work well to fill up without the bloating. Love your channel
Coconut Oil for Makeup Removal.
A jar of fancy virgin organic, cold pressed, unrefined coconut oil is about $8-$15 and can last up to 6-12 months (depending on how much makeup you use). A little of it goes a long way. It removes waterproof makeup, doesn't burn your eyes, snd moisturizes your lashes and surrounding eye area. I would recommend washing your face after with a good facial cleanser/wash to remove the excess oil.
Also, Witch Hazel for facial toner. After washign your face with cleanser, soap, etc..., I always use witch hazel on my face as a toner before adding my moisturizer. Great for removing excess oils, dirt, etc... It smells funny but it goes away once it's dry.
Thanks for the tips. I usually do not meal plan. I just buy fruits and vegetables especially those on sale. Then I decide what flavor profile I want. Mediterranean? Chinese? Desi? … then I make up the recipes. This has saved me from wasting less produce. When I followed recipes, I wasted some food because I did not know how to use the rest of the produce. So, singing it helps me to use the produce I have on hand.
We mostly eat animal products so I don't waste/ throw out the veggies and fruit anymore - makes meal time easy and I spend way less and I don't need to buy snacks - very satiating
You are my new favorite UA-camr! I recently found your channel and Last week I finally sorted through laundry both mine and my child's. I got rid of all the clothes we outgrew and don't need anymore. Did the same with my makeup and skincare/perfumes in the bathroom too! It has been such a fun journey and I'm going to make a no-buy list soon. Today, I followed a minimalist food prep and followed our small budget for the whole month. I've listened to your videos while sorting in the next room, like a podcast, and on my phone.
I'm surprised I've been able to stay this productive! Thanks, from Iowa.
Great tips, Marissa! One of the things I do to save money on moisturizer, is to mix the nicer, more expensive one with an unscented less expensive one. Lasts twice as long and costs a lot less. I also mix water with dish soap and body wash because they tend to be so concentrated. Love the pledge! ❤️
❤ Same!
There's a screw-on foamer that you can put on your face / body soaps to practically double their life as well, can get cheap off amazon. Does mean that if you don't use stuff that is that size, you might have to get a glass bottle to transfer it to.
@@lfleiaI save used pump soap bottles, cleaning them & removing the adhesive with Goo Gone (wrap with plastic wrap to keep the GG in place).
If you use bar soap in the shower put it in a leg of pantyhose or a lightweight knee-high sock! Tie it to your shower rack and your soap will never fall & it dries between uses. A tip from my Grandma Eleanor who was born in 1891: unwrap your soap bars so they dry and get harder over several months. They’ll last longer!
Eight glasses of water a day no coffee and a shop on brand moisturiser my skin is great now.
Shop your home. Anytime you need a piece of furniture or storage etc . Before running out and buying something new, look around your own house to see if you already have something that will work.
Glad I stayed until the end! That tip 20 was great. I've added grains, like oatmeal (uncooked) or bulgur (cooked) to stretch meat a little. I'll add veggies next time - especially those veggies that are towards the end of their shelf life.
In the summer when veggies are cheaper, I dry a lot of zucchinis (yellow & green), peppers (all colors, hot and sweet), sweet onions, portabello mushrooms and egg plant. Slice them thin to dry faster on a rack near the window with sun. In winter, it drys in no time. You can cut the peppers and onions in round circles, put them on skews and lay them on a clothes rack similar to the one that Marissa has). Use them in chilli, and spaghetti sauce. You can also add them in lasagna.
Sounds yummy 😋
00:13 5 shopping tips
4:43 5 beauty tips
7:30 5 home tips
12:00 5 food tips
15:20 mindset tips
Budgeting has become one of my favorite things to do! It takes me and my husband about an hour each month to write out our budget and it saves us so much money, sometimes even hundreds! Tell your money where to go instead of wondering where it went:)
You are definitely right about the home haircuts being a great money saver. My teen boys get their haircuts every three weeks and I have my husband trim mine every couple months. I figure that it saves me over $1200 a year, not including the transportation costs, plus the convenience and time saved. It takes less time for him to give my two boys their haircuts, then it would be to drive one way to the barbershop. B
My best frugal tips:
1) I use old, stained t-shirts and jeans to stay home so that I never have to buy stuff for that. I don't care who comes over for a visit, I'll wear the old stuff.
2) I make my own cleaning products for kitchen/bathroom
3) I dilute shampoo and showel gel as they're too concentrated anyway
4) I mix BB cream with hydrating cream to make both last longer
5) I don't own a car, I walk/use public transportation everywhere
6) I only buy non food stuff when strictly necessary.
7) I split tea bags for double use, no point in using a whole bag for just one tea.
Me too. I have my stay at home clothes and even my chores/DIY clothes just for that.
I used to live in Berlin, and it was sooo easy to be car-less! Definitely a different story in most of USA. We tried sharing one car before, but that ended up being very hard when another baby, now toddler arrived. If still need two cars, I suggest buying well kept, used cars, no payments, and to keep them as long as possible!
Agree 100%. The US is extremely car-centric. Our towns & cities are planned & built for cars; not people. Most roads (stroads) where I live are actually dangerous to walk or bike. Sidewalks are rare and bicycle lanes are nonexistent. Neighborhoods & all housing is completely separate and very distant from stores, schools, churches, etc.
You cannot get anywhere without a car, sadly. I would love to live in a safe and walkable city.
I had a car repossessed when I was very young and ever since I've never gone into debt on a car. Only buy used & only if I can pay for it in full. Take good care of them & they last.
Also keeping the car you have got until it is not reliable or repairable any more is actually far greener than buying a new car
Yes not always feasible in this country, unless you live in a city designed for walk around like New York, and even then it can be difficult.
@@sarahmacrae8277 Indeed. I always kept mine for more than 10 years each.
Received ten boxes of mac and cheese mx. I put all of the uncooked pasta in glass jars closed tightly, and I keep the little plastic bags of mix in a jar next to my popcorn, for seasoning. Saved the little strip w/ the instructions, in one of the pasta jars. I can still make mac n cheese if I want.
The pledge at the beginning was so good.
Thank you so much for your tips! I've always been into frugal, minimalist and planned lifestyle, but I was kinda afraid to be called a cheapskate. These videos are encouraging me more and more to incorporate this lifestyle
When I bought some new Adidas white tennis shoes the first thing I did was take the laces out of them. Then I lightly spray them with WD-40 to make them waterproof and I repeat that process a total of three times..3 yrs later my shoes look great as long as I take the laces out to wash them once in a while
Brilliant tip !
I wonder if I can spray my white pumps also - worth a try anyway. 👍
Great advice! Cutting back on the meat helped us immensely! I love when a meal lasts us more than two days. Not only is it budget friendly but less planning too.
I have a 2 car household. Public transit sucks here. But I work from home. So my car does not get a lot of use especially in summer when my son is not in school.
If you work from home call your car insurance. They reduced my car insurance after I told them I work from home. I am also saving on gas, maintenance, and wear and tear on my car since it is being used a lot less. I drive my car about 3 days a week in the summer.
I just bought a Flowbee you use with your vacuum. No mess.
You can also buy a Stoov, which is an infrared heat cushion/seat lining that saves you money on heating. We sit on a Stoov during the colder times of the year and don't need a very hot temperature in the home. It is a Dutch invention but they ship internationally. Definitely something worth while to check out. We have a "Big Hug" and a "Homey".
I have a small reusable glass moisturizer container that I use to tip my moisturizer bottle in when it no longer pumps out but there’s clearly still product. I just unscrew the top and leave the moisturizer tipped at an angle into the empty travel container (can use a little clean jar too). It can extend my moisturizer for 2-4 more weeks. When the travel container is empty, I just clean it and store it for next use.
Yes, that's pretty much how I do it. However, I simply cut the tube in half and simply slide it over one another.
I also decant the stuff the pump can't reach into the next bottle like this 😊
Insurance and utilities: I've found retention teams usually have better access to discounts to the same companies sales teams
Another tip to save money is to use zero waste products for skin care and household cleaning products. Some are more expensive than the mainstream products, but they last longer, and you end up saving money. Examples: over a year and a half ago, I bought 1 liter of organic almond oil and 1 liter organic argan oil, I mixed the 2 in a small perfume dispenser and it's the best anti-aging product that I use on my face every night as part of my skin care routine. I still haven't ran out of oil and I saved hundreds of euros. Also, to remove make up, I use a washable cloth and water which works wonder, so I don't buy make-up remover products anymore. Or to wash my dishes, I use a solid soap that lasts for months, so I end up saving plastic waste and money.
I budget faithfully, I make a weekky meal plan based on what I have in stock, so I only have to purchase fill ins, always check the reduced produce and day old baked goods section, always take my lunch to work. Loved you no buy month so much I have started doing it every 3 months
That’s awesome, Pamela 👏
Hi Marissa, I love your channel. You're also so pretty, btw! I just wanted to comment to say thank you for calling out the use of buy nothing groups. I'm a moderator for my local one and I see so many people save so much money over time on amazing items. I hope these buy nothing groups continue to be popular. Thank you :)
That’s amazing and so great that you are doing that for your community - I’ve been using Buy Nothing groups for years, from Chicago to New Jersey to Germany and back again. They are sooo helpful.
I love all of these! This was so helpful thank you so much for sharing! Just wanted to quickly add to the mascara tip with extending the life with contact drops! Be sure that when you only do it up to its expiration date! (typically 3 months after opening!) If it dries out before that date, which many do, it is a great tip! But if it has lived its full life cycle with you don't bring it back from the dead, it can cause eye infections and styes! Also you can extend the life of cream foundations with a little bit of oil and shake it up if it starts to get thick on you! (Again, only to its expiration date; though this one is not as serious an expiration date as the mascara!)
My biggest frugal tip would be to rethink what you really 'need'. I've never worn makeup, but I used to use hair conditioner and moisturiser because so many people said that skin & hair 'needed' these things. And my sensitive skin reacted badly to cheaper products, so it ended up not being cheap. Then I ran out during lockdown and found that within a few days, my hair and skin felt so much better. Now, I use soap and shampoo and nothing else.
Conversely I think a lot of people strip their skin with too much soap and body wash. I only wash the hair and underarms most shower/baths and the run off (plus water) sorts the rest
I like women who wear a little makeup. Unless you have large eyes and long dark eyelashes makeup helps bring out your eyes and lashes.
I use small soaps from hotels or used soaps to do my laundry, I just bought a cheese grinder to make dust out of them and it works perfectly.
😮Priority problem. Never looked at it like that BUT that's definitely my issue. I've always been good at budgeting but when it came to helping others financially I've turned into a bank and now I know I need to shift my priorities.
When shopping, I stick with stores I know the layout of shelves. It cuts down on the browsing and looking for scenario. This is why stores change it up on their floor plan, so people can't shop on auto pilot
. I also used to feel uncomfortable to leave a store empty handed. I had to sit with the discomfort, until I was OK to leave without purchasing something.
Going along with negotiating bills, know what things should cost. I do that at the grocery store (always check your receipt! I have gotten up to $15 back at a time because of errors in ringing me up), and I recently called about a medical bill that seemed high- they tried a different billing code and I saved over $300. The few minutes going to customer service or calling the office can really be worth it
my frugual tip: buy shoes from companies that accept an exchange or return if they're worn out quicker than 2 years. For example Adidas and Nike in Germany. I always wear the same pair of shoes and after 1 year they're always worn out so I get a free new pair 👍🏼
Ow that's something new I hear. Does it apply only to us and european citizens?
Ohhhh I would LOVE for you to talk about having a priority pyramid! I struggle with that so much. I will see someone doing some craft/experience and all of a sudden I'm ready to spend money on all the supplies to do that craft. I've recently starting having myself wait at least a week before purchasing.
Also setting budgets and not starting new projects before completing old ones is helpful 🙏
Apparently historically priority was only a singular thing you had a priority because as soon as you have multiple priorities in fact you have no priorities . Priority means before all else so only one thing can be before all else,
one of my newest discoveries is Sophia Hoffmann, a German vegan and zero waste chef. I learned that one can use so much more of the vegetables that we think. E. G. carrot leaves etc.
So what I do when I cook, I use all the scraps to make broth. From Carrot ends to onion peel etc. I keep it in the freezer until I have enough and then I make the broth to use for soup etc. It saves me money for broth, it tastes way better and I dont waste anything. :)
Love watching frugal tip videos. Found a wardrobe rack cheaper on one website. Sandals like orthotic shoes on sale. Used boot polish as mascara as a teenager. Oat & parsley face mask. No air con or heating. Do the same as you with the blinds. Go to bed early with hot water bottles. Watch computer or phone instead of TV. Bulk cooking & freeze. Have a different colour every month or season, then old clothes seem like new. Walk or share cars. Look for free deliveries. Grow what you can. Love soups & stews - add herbs or spices for extra flavour.
I realized many of our bills had late fees added on so I started being more on top of the bills and creating a budget to stick by. Now I notice the bills decreasing each month and I’m hooked! 😅 I turn off the lights when I leave rooms like it’s a game. It made me realize how much energy we were wasting before.
Please, please be cautious adding water to products, especially personal care products. As a former personal care product formulator, these products have been formulated with the correct level of preservatives to protect the product as formulated. By adding water, you're diluting the preservatives and potentially adding bacteria to the product. Of course, if the product you are using is sold as a concentrate that you are meant to add water to, then you're fine so long as you're adding the recommended amount of water. But generally speaking, it's not worth the risk of infections and illness to save a few bucks on your products.
If you are only doing it when your product is about to run out I don't really see an issue. Diluting it doesn't miraculously turn it from absolutely bacteria inhospitable to perfect breeding ground, so the added week or two of use will not be an issue. Your shampoo or soap is still a detergent, so really bad for bacteria. Of course, adding water to something you will continue to use for months might be a bad idea, especially when it is more bacteria or fungi friendly than shampoo.
👏 👏 👏
LOVE the Pledge of Allegiance!!!
I've been cutting my husband's hair for the last 6 years, my son's for his entire life (he's almost 6) and my own hair for the past 4 years and I just started cutting my 3 year old daughter's hair too. No hair salons for us! In the spring and summer I cut everyone's hair except for mine, out on our deck to keep the mess outside!
When I heard Dave Ramsey and the same week some other personal finance people say - when you give yourself a budget you’re giving yourself a raise- I got working on it. I was hurting for an increase on income. I later found out that there were fees and not home cooking that was destroying my wallet.
Give yourself that raise, even if it’s not a raise it’ll show you the next step to take.
Thank you so much for your inspirational information.
So many - what seem to me "unnecessary chemicals" in commercial products has forced me to make my own
Personal & Household Cleaning Products which has saved me money but also has given me peace of mind, knowing I am no longer a thoughtless consumer.
A great tip for multiple use :-
Capture your shower water - to see how much water just goes down the drain - this warm/hot water could be of better use to flush your toilet, which will reduce build-up in the system, reduce the use of chemicals to keep things moving, save on your water bill & the amount if drinkable water (uk) used just to flush with. I hope this is of use. Take care
Never had a car, thank goodness! Big City girl….with a garden so growing our own herbs and greens is a bonus. This is a 100% plant-based household. Healthy and economical. Very little waste! Stopped coloring my hair which saves many hours in the salon chair and lots of $$$$$$. No paper towels or napkins to save $$$ and the drag on the planet. Taking advantage of washable rags and cloths. No wrapping paper either! Learned from the Japanese how to wrap gifts in cloth. The cloth portion can also be part of the gift such as a scarf. Ceiling fans go a long way to keeping the air circulating and only use the mini-split a/c on the hottest of muggy days.
Last yr I switched to only cold tea with meals…I use those little stevia packets my coworkers get too many of with their coffee shop coffee or clear fruit juice from canned fruit juice to brighten it up..steep a lemon you squeezed for some other use…you get the idea…Walmart tea is cheap and goes a long way. I make it sun style. ( if I am going to steep a lemon or orange…I just take some water that I am heating anyway…think water for pasta…before adding the pasta…or microwave a cup) no more soda or juice or glasses of milk in my house….just one cheap tip of many I have incorporated.
Thanks for the video! Be very careful with Nr. 11! If you don't heat enough, it might enhance mold at home, which is VERY dangerous for your health AND will be costly in order to get rid of, too.
Moving around when it's cold will help keep you warmer. I find that when I'm cold I want to huddle under blankets but getting up and moving is better for me.
One of my online shopping tips is to put things in my cart but not complete the transaction. Often, I decide against the item or the vendor sends me a lower price or coupon.
If you track sales at the grocery store you will find that the sales are on a cycle. Speaking of tracking, grocery apps are great for coupons and sales.
such a good video, marissa! love you & your channel. so many of these GREAT tips are what i did when i was poor!!! and now they are considered "eco-friendly"
This summer the concrete sidewalks have been too hot for my dogs paws and she won't have those 'doggie' shoes.So I folded a bath towel in quarters and put it behind her favorite chair.I use a beige towel so I can see when it needs to be changed,and I put a rubber bath mat under it.At first her um "aim" wasn't so perfect...but now she's figured it out.When it cools off,we' ll start ur walks again.
I LOVED the pledge of allegiance!!! Hahaha! Keep up the great humor and tips.
You are so good at this. Clear and approachable 🙏
This can be summed up to ‘don’t be wasteful’. Also as I hairdresser it really hurts when people say ‘just learn to do your own hair’. I’m so glad I went to school and spent $20k+ to learn how to do hair when people can just learn it at home.
Thank you Marissa, your priority pyramid is an interesting tool I’ve not heard of before. I’d love it if you could do a video going in more detail with examples of the types of foods you prioritise. It seems something that could be used in multiple areas of life. Thank you ❤
yes!!!!
I like to bake casseroles in quantity and put some in the freezer. I put them in individual serving sizes after they have baked and cooled Then I can just thaw it out in the refrigerator and warm them in the microwave. I like to have quite a few in my freezer over the summer so I don't have to turn the oven on. I also use my crockpot a lot. I also bought me a clothesline dryer about a month ago like the one you use so I don't have to heat the house up running the dryer. I just got this a few weeks ago but I'm sure my electric bill will be cheaper.
Most of it is already normal for me. We cut down meat to only breakfast but we get so much more veggies now. When we have a meat craving, we cook something of a better quality and every one of our meals are delicious. I recommend going low-meat, makes you appreciate it more!
Additionaly, our monthly food expenses for two people are as high as one, little eating person. We decided to put more money into quality igredients as a treat!
I use a big bottle of baby lotion I buy for £1 as an eye make up remover, it lasts a whole year!
Now THAT’S frugal 🙌
Your ideas are interesting. Some of them I already do, but others give me incentive to try. Developing a recipe rotation with pantry staples in mind is the one I am going to focus on. I am guilty of food waste and want to fix that. I already make meals that give me leftovers to freeze for another meal. I am always scouting Pinterest for new recipes focusing on my pantry items.
I’ve been successfully setting financial priorities, but could improve. I like your statement “what gets measured gets managed”. I’m going to adopt that. I look forward to all your videos, every one gives me thoughts as to how to improve. Thank you so much.
I used distilled water to dilute my body lotion and shampoo. Before I was getting rid these products and wasting money. Thank you for your tips.
I loved that pledge!
You can thin out/rehydrate nail varnish with a little amount of nail varnish remover.
you have done a lovely job styling your home. I love many of your tips, thanks for all the videos, and I have seen a bunch of yours. Always motivational!
I had to become quite frugal due the energy crisis in my country winter just past, so to keep the kitchen a bit warmer, after I'm done cooking I leave the oven door open to warm the room, also get my parents to save the hedge clippings for kindling for winter. I also got an old shed from a nieghbour for burning to keep warmer in winter without spending more on prepared logs. :D
Since it's so dry out, we collect water from washing veggies etc. and use it to water the trees infront of our apartment. That might save us a little on the German "Abwassergebühr".
frugal tip, your dish sponge gets dirty real quickly, so experts say disposing them is a must at least monthly. now I dont wanna throw away a sponge that looks fine but I also dont want germs on my plate. so what I do is to disinfect my sponge by soaking it in vinegar and then boiling it in water with baking soda aftewards.
You can run your dirty sponge thru your dishwasher the next time you do a load. Put it in the silverware holder. Cleans & sterilizes it.
Thanks for all the tips. I tried the rice pancakes with leftover rice and lentils and they were delicious. I served them over a bed of lettuce.
Sounds yummy! Lentils are such a good pantry staple. My son is allergic, so we can’t eat them 🥲
Allo marissa, merci pour tant d'inspiration et d'idée, faire les choses différemment peu parfois faire peur mais vous le rendez si simple, longue continuité. ❤😊
Love, love, love your wisdom and so appreciate you sharing. Thank you thank you!!!
se foaming hand soap. I refill mine with a Refill and add a small amount of liquid soap and lots of water. Still works well plus it's better for your skin as it's not as strong.
In Rossmann they sell a big sack from the Alterra soap you showed. Saves money, but it's most importantly less plastic 😊