There's a lot of things I used to do, but I had more money coming in because I worked. Now that I'm retired, I have the time to do them myself. It's a tradeoff that I'm enjoying! 😊
I’m not sure who said it but it has stayed with me since hearing it. “We don’t own anything. We are simply borrowing it until the next person uses it.” This is so true. Think about it. When we die, we take nothing with us. It all becomes someone else’s for a while.
I really would love a cleaning service, and I know we will need one as we age more. I use to clean, and deep clean weekly had energy to do anything like shop, go out with friends, and workout. Those days are past me, so now we both do our best house cleaning . Happy Weekend Everyone 🥰
I clean weekly and deep clean as I go. So everything gets deep cleaned with some frequency. If I were to hire someone to clean for me once or twice a month, my house would actually be less clean. It's an expense that I just can't justify.
I have never had a housekeeper. I know one day I will need more help, but I am planning to keep doing it myself as long as I am physically able. My husband does help with some cleaning. I calculated that we have saved $60,000 over the past 25 years by not paying for a cleaning service. We also have never hired anyone to do our yardwork. As long as we can physically do it, we will. Our 75 year old neighbor still enjoys mowing his yard! That has saved us another $30,000. It's really amazing how much stuff adds up over time.
@penelopeprimrose90 - we have occasionally had to pay for some things but we keep it to the minimum. When we moved into our current house we paid for a tree/brush clearing service to attack the back half of the property that had been neglected for a decade. We also paid for help with the bottom chunk of solid ice at the end of the driveway when we lived in New England, especially Daughters first winter. We had several massive storms and I couldn't help clearing the driveway.
@@christines2787 Yes, some things are just too big of a job to do yourself. We pay someone to trim our trees every other year. We are not climbing trees and using chain saws.
This is the end of my first year of focusing on being frugal. I had some eye-opening experiences as I shopped at various low cost grocery stores. I did save money, and that's always delightful. It feels like winning. (Although I was only challenging myself.) I discovered many truly delightful UA-cam channels, like your channel. I actually printed posters from ww2 era and discovered the "Squander Bug." Hilarious. I put them up all over the house. Saved enough to offer to buy another car for someone, who didn't want one. The biggest change was my whole relationship with vegetables. Vegetables are cheap. I've never eaten so many vegetables in my life. It's been a heck of a year. Next year will be very different from this year, but I'll continue with my frugal journey. Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year everybody. 😁
@mysticmeadowshomestead6209 - I'm guessing from your name your also a gardener. There are some incredible vegtables that we don't see in stores. We eat a tremendous amount of mashed potato squash and I am extremely excited to grow a green fleshed Guatemalan ayote squash next year.
Thus year I decided to shop for gifts of all kinds all year l long I shopped at yard salescjurch, estate and sales at regular stores. I.krrp a running list of people So at Christmas time to so.much easier to just pick something wrap it and I done. I was make things. I saved a ton ofoney doing this and there no street ir charges
@@christines2787 Regarding, "There are some incredible vegetables that we don't see in stores." If you grow vegetables in your front yard/ garden, then people will nibble as they walk by on the sidewalk. But if you take advantage of the fact that there are vegetables that the average person won't recognize and plant those in the front, no one will touch them. I find that a bit of a laugh, don't you?
@@mysticmeadowshomestead6209 so true. Many edible ornamental go unnoticed. Among my favorites are blood sorel and amaranth. Some low growing tiny peppers too
Wow...nutshell....I miss the chase for the deal. Absolutely...me too. Trying to learn digital coupons, using Ibotta and Fetch....and it is the chase of the deal. Not able to walk far, miss thrift stores and yard sales...watching UA-cam videos not sane as the actual chase. Stopping for ice coffee....McDonald's app 99 cents. It is definitely the chase...you are 100% right.😊
I miss having my hair done. I didn't do it frequently but I was able to do it when I really wanted to. I also miss clothes shopping. Because I feel like my wardrobe could do with sprucing up more frequently. Something which I never did but would love to would be having a Mani Pedi sometimes and someone to help me clean my house at regular intervals.
@janinedekoker9405 - one thing that might help you feel better about avoiding manicures is to think about the concentration of noxious fumes in those places. I brought Daughter to one to get her nails done for the prom and it was actually worrying. Never before or since. Maybe you could do them at home? My knitting/sewing skills are rudimentary but could you learn those and update your own wardrobe? I haven't pushed myself as I'm a jeans and t shirt kind of person.
I think it's totally normal to miss spending money on things. It means your self control mechanism is hard at work. Hey, if it was easy, we would all be super frugal.😊😊😊
There is only one time in my life when someone cleaned my home and that was before the funeral when my husband died. My kids paid for it so that people could come to the house after the funeral. I have thought about it, but frankly dust doesn't bother me and I don't need to have the perfectly tidy home. One thing my husband and I liked to do was to visit antique stores. We purchased a few things but mostly it was to look and take a trip down memory lane. Now I am selling off and donating what I do have as I declutter. I really have no urge to shop and when I need something I look online for it. For decades I cut my own hair but now I have it cut. I shampoo before I go and it is a simple short cut and blow dry. Even at that it is still $25 so I give it at least 8 weeks between cuts. I do have Prime and it is worth it for me because I purchase so much of the stuff I shop for on Amazon. I use the Amazon Chase card that gives me 5% back so with the rebates I get a lot for free. I have no desire to eat out or buy fast food. I also seldom purchase any snacks because I don't need all those extra empty calories.
Oh, I miss buying books. I love reading, and have a library of my own, but new books now are received as gifts, sometimes II buy books from a thrift store. I use my library a LOT, but there are some books I really want my own copies of - specific authors who are not longer in print, certain books that I reread.
I don't miss a thing. I spent a lot of money on things I didn't want when I was living with hoarders. And I spent a lot of money on things when the kids were still at home, which I'm glad I did. But now I have the freedom of not living with a hoarder. And I also don't have kids at home. So I'm actually not spending money on the things I never wanted to spend it on to begin with. The few things that I do enjoy spending money on, I still have those in my budget.
I do not miss things I never had: I always did my deep house cleaning, my hubby and I did and still do all yard work, and I never liked thrift stores, couponing, or ordering food online. I am such an "old-school". The only things I miss that are not related to the money are cross-country skiing and long bike rides in the park.
I miss travelling, both to see family and friends across the country but also to travel to other countries for tourism. All forms of transport have gotten crazy expensive due to the high cost of fuel, service sectors wages, and the unsteady dollar. Thank goodness for FaceTime, it’s just not the same. 🥺
The real reason it’s gotten more expensive is there is more demand. Since covid 19 restrictions ended everyone is travelling more. Service wages don’t factor in at all
@psr1lady - I understand. My daughter is a reporter and covered an active shooting situation yesterday. Fortunately, she got there after the situation was somewhat resolved. I'm not thrilled.
Im right there with you. I am much more deliberate with my purchses, whether retail, thrift stores or yard sales. I'm just over harboring stuff i dont use or need.
I do miss having someone clean once a month. I have not had a cleaner for 2 years ago. But the quality went down. We are helping a disabled family member, so there is no extra money with inflation and prices so high. Thanks for sharing. 🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄
I miss eating fast food, like Sonic. I miss shopping at stores that went out of business. I miss Myrtle Beach. I miss ordering the holiday party food vs making it. I miss going to the theater. I miss buying expensive holiday dresses. I miss colored contact lens.
Last cleaning company I hired had to give me back half the money I paid for a “deep clean”. I was aghast at what a commercial company thought was acceptable. Tub, not rinsed, top of bathroom cabinet not done, corners/ceilings ignored. I asked them if they got the wrong instructions and she giggled. Sigh. I cleaned after them, at least it was started…. I was so disappointed. I will hire a local person who wants a job if I ever need that kind of support again.
I agree about the buyer's remorse feeling. I am not as patient about saving up cash to purchase big ticket items that are needed around the house such as a washing machine. I like to get those things right away which so far I have had the money BUT it takes so long to build up the line item.
I used to get my hair cut and styled 8 times a year. The price is now $85 per hair cut and I only go 3 times a year and use cash envelope system to save for them. Dawn. I absolutely love you.
My spending is out of control this month! I’m scrounging around the kitchen today gathering ingredients to make Chicken Pho soup out of a Rotisserie chicken 😅
Buying books at ollies discount store, thrift books site, brought too many bibles gave away 15 and kept 9 only ones i cherish and going to the malls, and buying things i really did not need just because it was on clearance. Now I just download free books or just re read ones I have , only buy necessary items, sams Club has really helped curb my spending time and money. Great video today!! 😊 2025 will be on a tight budget for sure. Will cut back even more..
Nothing really. I had an instinct to pay off our debt years ago and challenged myself to buy nothing, look at everything I did buy to see whether I could do better and that led me to making my own cleaning products, cooking from scratch, not buying any takeaway meals, op shopping for clothes and household items. It was really hard and I had to reward myself by going to a lovely little shop where I would buy myself a nice scarf or a necklace or earrings etc. It was owned by a lovely couple who had great taste and they couldn't survive once a bigger discount shop opened up near them so I had my reward shop taken away..boo hoo for a while but now I am a very intentional shopper and it's really good - you cut out so much that you think you might be good that isn't.
I miss specially ingredients and other kitchen stuff. I enjoy playing with new recipes and sometimes substitutions are not as authentic. Ill readna recipe or watch a video and see somebody using an extract, spice or specialty fruit that I cant justify ordering. Its the curiosity factor that kills me. What the heck does Pandan cake taste like? No idea. Too frivolous to buy something expensive for a single use. Fiori de Sicilia is some kind of citrus flavor. Is it worth buying when i have orange? I decided no. I want a beautiful bunt pan with a festive pattern. Will that make me happier than the plain year round angel food bunt pan that cakes are easy to get out of? Most likely only short term, which is why I don't have one. Drives me nuts sometimes.
I would love to get a mani pedi every month. I miss that. Now I just do my own nails but they definitely do not look the same. 😅 I also miss getting my car washed and detailed every other month. I do that myself about twice a year now. I hate doing it. 🫤
Same, once I retired the mani pedis went by the wayside. For a while I got pedis only monthly but even that is a special treat these days. Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!
There's a lot of things I used to do, but I had more money coming in because I worked. Now that I'm retired, I have the time to do them myself. It's a tradeoff that I'm enjoying! 😊
I love that you're finding the positives!
I’m not sure who said it but it has stayed with me since hearing it. “We don’t own anything. We are simply borrowing it until the next person uses it.” This is so true. Think about it. When we die, we take nothing with us. It all becomes someone else’s for a while.
That’s pretty cool
Oh Dawn, I so feel you in my bones and my soul.
Your honesty is refreshing!
I appreciate that!
I often thought it would be nice to hire someone to do a deep clean, I haven't done it yet but I would love to do that..
That’s on my list too!!
I really would love a cleaning service, and I know we will need one as we age more. I use to clean, and deep clean weekly had energy to do anything like shop, go out with friends, and workout. Those days are past me, so now we both do our best house cleaning . Happy Weekend Everyone 🥰
It's worth it!
I clean weekly and deep clean as I go. So everything gets deep cleaned with some frequency. If I were to hire someone to clean for me once or twice a month, my house would actually be less clean. It's an expense that I just can't justify.
I have never had a housekeeper. I know one day I will need more help, but I am planning to keep doing it myself as long as I am physically able. My husband does help with some cleaning. I calculated that we have saved $60,000 over the past 25 years by not paying for a cleaning service. We also have never hired anyone to do our yardwork. As long as we can physically do it, we will. Our 75 year old neighbor still enjoys mowing his yard! That has saved us another $30,000. It's really amazing how much stuff adds up over time.
@penelopeprimrose90 - we have occasionally had to pay for some things but we keep it to the minimum. When we moved into our current house we paid for a tree/brush clearing service to attack the back half of the property that had been neglected for a decade.
We also paid for help with the bottom chunk of solid ice at the end of the driveway when we lived in New England, especially Daughters first winter. We had several massive storms and I couldn't help clearing the driveway.
@@christines2787 Yes, some things are just too big of a job to do yourself. We pay someone to trim our trees every other year. We are not climbing trees and using chain saws.
I like doing as much for myself. It’s free exercise and I don’t have to pay for a gym membership 😊
@@cjhoward409 Yes, an added benefit for sure! Housework and yard work definitely keeps you in shape.
This is the end of my first year of focusing on being frugal. I had some eye-opening experiences as I shopped at various low cost grocery stores. I did save money, and that's always delightful. It feels like winning. (Although I was only challenging myself.) I discovered many truly delightful UA-cam channels, like your channel. I actually printed posters from ww2 era and discovered the "Squander Bug." Hilarious. I put them up all over the house. Saved enough to offer to buy another car for someone, who didn't want one. The biggest change was my whole relationship with vegetables. Vegetables are cheap. I've never eaten so many vegetables in my life. It's been a heck of a year. Next year will be very different from this year, but I'll continue with my frugal journey. Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year everybody. 😁
@mysticmeadowshomestead6209 - I'm guessing from your name your also a gardener. There are some incredible vegtables that we don't see in stores. We eat a tremendous amount of mashed potato squash and I am extremely excited to grow a green fleshed Guatemalan ayote squash next year.
Thus year I decided to shop for gifts of all kinds all year l long
I shopped at yard salescjurch, estate and sales at regular stores. I.krrp a running list of people
So at Christmas time to so.much easier to just pick something wrap it and I done. I was make things. I saved a ton ofoney doing this and there no street ir charges
It’s been a great year for you!
@@christines2787 Regarding, "There are some incredible vegetables that we don't see in stores."
If you grow vegetables in your front yard/ garden, then people will nibble as they walk by on the sidewalk. But if you take advantage of the fact that there are vegetables that the average person won't recognize and plant those in the front, no one will touch them. I find that a bit of a laugh, don't you?
@@mysticmeadowshomestead6209 so true. Many edible ornamental go unnoticed. Among my favorites are blood sorel and amaranth. Some low growing tiny peppers too
Wow...nutshell....I miss the chase for the deal. Absolutely...me too. Trying to learn digital coupons, using Ibotta and Fetch....and it is the chase of the deal. Not able to walk far, miss thrift stores and yard sales...watching UA-cam videos not sane as the actual chase. Stopping for ice coffee....McDonald's app 99 cents. It is definitely the chase...you are 100% right.😊
I miss that too
If we don't hear from you for a few days hope you and you're family have a great christmas. 🎉
Happy holidays!
I miss having my hair done. I didn't do it frequently but I was able to do it when I really wanted to. I also miss clothes shopping. Because I feel like my wardrobe could do with sprucing up more frequently. Something which I never did but would love to would be having a Mani Pedi sometimes and someone to help me clean my house at regular intervals.
@janinedekoker9405 - one thing that might help you feel better about avoiding manicures is to think about the concentration of noxious fumes in those places. I brought Daughter to one to get her nails done for the prom and it was actually worrying. Never before or since.
Maybe you could do them at home?
My knitting/sewing skills are rudimentary but could you learn those and update your own wardrobe? I haven't pushed myself as I'm a jeans and t shirt kind of person.
I go to a chiropodist every two months .! Feels wonderful. Covered under my health care. $55.00.
I think it's totally normal to miss spending money on things. It means your self control mechanism is hard at work. Hey, if it was easy, we would all be super frugal.😊😊😊
There is only one time in my life when someone cleaned my home and that was before the funeral when my husband died. My kids paid for it so that people could come to the house after the funeral. I have thought about it, but frankly dust doesn't bother me and I don't need to have the perfectly tidy home. One thing my husband and I liked to do was to visit antique stores. We purchased a few things but mostly it was to look and take a trip down memory lane. Now I am selling off and donating what I do have as I declutter. I really have no urge to shop and when I need something I look online for it. For decades I cut my own hair but now I have it cut. I shampoo before I go and it is a simple short cut and blow dry. Even at that it is still $25 so I give it at least 8 weeks between cuts. I do have Prime and it is worth it for me because I purchase so much of the stuff I shop for on Amazon. I use the Amazon Chase card that gives me 5% back so with the rebates I get a lot for free. I have no desire to eat out or buy fast food. I also seldom purchase any snacks because I don't need all those extra empty calories.
The thing I miss is being able to drive myself
You look so nice!
Thanks!
I miss clothes shopping for my office job. Now that I’m retired no need to refresh wardrobe.
I understand.
I kind of miss that too.
Now it’s jeans, tshirts and sweats. Lol
Oh, I miss buying books. I love reading, and have a library of my own, but new books now are received as gifts, sometimes II buy books from a thrift store. I use my library a LOT, but there are some books I really want my own copies of - specific authors who are not longer in print, certain books that I reread.
I don't miss a thing. I spent a lot of money on things I didn't want when I was living with hoarders. And I spent a lot of money on things when the kids were still at home, which I'm glad I did. But now I have the freedom of not living with a hoarder. And I also don't have kids at home. So I'm actually not spending money on the things I never wanted to spend it on to begin with. The few things that I do enjoy spending money on, I still have those in my budget.
I do not miss things I never had: I always did my deep house cleaning, my hubby and I did and still do all yard work, and I never liked thrift stores, couponing, or ordering food online. I am such an "old-school".
The only things I miss that are not related to the money are cross-country skiing and long bike rides in the park.
I miss travelling, both to see family and friends across the country but also to travel to other countries for tourism.
All forms of transport have gotten crazy expensive due to the high cost of fuel, service sectors wages, and the unsteady dollar.
Thank goodness for FaceTime, it’s just not the same. 🥺
The real reason it’s gotten more expensive is there is more demand. Since covid 19 restrictions ended everyone is travelling more. Service wages don’t factor in at all
Yes. A deep clean would be a nice luxury
I think so too!
I miss planning nice vacations on a budget. I used to LOVE it!We no longer want to travel due to safety concerns.
Most car accidents happen within 4 miles of our own homes. Hmmm. Flying is always safer than driving …
@psr1lady - I understand. My daughter is a reporter and covered an active shooting situation yesterday. Fortunately, she got there after the situation was somewhat resolved. I'm not thrilled.
People seem to have gone insane. We have had road rage incidents where the person actually followed my husband home.
Same here and I really miss it.
Im right there with you. I am much more deliberate with my purchses, whether retail, thrift stores or yard sales. I'm just over harboring stuff i dont use or need.
It feels so good to be intentional!
I do miss having someone clean once a month. I have not had a cleaner for 2 years ago. But the quality went down. We are helping a disabled family member, so there is no extra money with inflation and prices so high.
Thanks for sharing.
🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄
I miss having a cleaner too!
This is why i am subscribed. You are so real.
We don't agree on everything and that's okay.
Lol❤Have a Merry Christmas! 🎄
Merry Christmas 🎅 🎄 ❤️
I miss eating fast food, like Sonic. I miss shopping at stores that went out of business. I miss Myrtle Beach. I miss ordering the holiday party food vs making it. I miss going to the theater. I miss buying expensive holiday dresses. I miss colored contact lens.
Oh that last one is intriguing
I Miss going on a nice vacation. Thanks for the video.
Last cleaning company I hired had to give me back half the money I paid for a “deep clean”. I was aghast at what a commercial company thought was acceptable. Tub, not rinsed, top of bathroom cabinet not done, corners/ceilings ignored. I asked them if they got the wrong instructions and she giggled. Sigh. I cleaned after them, at least it was started…. I was so disappointed. I will hire a local person who wants a job if I ever need that kind of support again.
I’m lucky, a neighbor started a cleaning business right about the time a doctor told me to quit doing the heavy stuff.
How wonderful
Breaded shrimp is definitely something I miss, and just fun freezer snacks in general. Banquet chicken!
I miss Chinese tv dinners, and old fashioned candy like bonomo turkish taffee or gummy babies!
I’m with you 100% I do miss having someone come in and clean!!!!! That was fantastic
I know, it's a luxury!
I love boots ! All kinds ! But , they can be expensive, and I don't get to wear them much , because it's warm down here where I live. 👢
You have cowboy boots for scootin’?
@@GrannyLinn hi , yes , we have so many stores down here that sell Cowboy boots , probably because I live in Texas. Lol
@@ceciliaperales8466 LOL, you sound like my kid. We had a shoe intervention when she moved home after college
@ I do too!
@@christines2787 the way I look at it , after working 40 years, if I have the money to buy the shoes, I should be able to buy them. Lol
I agree about the buyer's remorse feeling. I am not as patient about saving up cash to purchase big ticket items that are needed around the house such as a washing machine. I like to get those things right away which so far I have had the money BUT it takes so long to build up the line item.
I totally understand!
Looking good, bless you
Thanks! I appreciate it.
I loved having cleaners too. Loved those girls lol
I used to get my hair cut and styled 8 times a year. The price is now $85 per hair cut and I only go 3 times a year and use cash envelope system to save for them. Dawn. I absolutely love you.
I love you too
My spending is out of control this month! I’m scrounging around the kitchen today gathering ingredients to make Chicken Pho soup out of a Rotisserie chicken 😅
That sounds delicious!
We just bought land and are going to build a house so I'm going on a very rigid budget starting 2025
Congratulations
Well said! Good conclusion.
🎄💜🎄💜🎄💜🎄
I miss newspapers! Now they're not even printed daily.
Daughter is a newspaper reporter. Her paper published online articles daily but only has physical copies Wednesday and Saturday.
Yes. But $6 for the Sunday paper. ☹️
They are by me. Well, a local paper that comes out every Wednesday
Me to! I miss reading the newspaper and listening to the radio
I miss the colored funny papers comics!
Jesus is the reason for Christmas
I miss browsing the consignment shops in my area. I felt the need to buy a few items at every visit.
Cute thumbnail ! ❤
Thank you
I miss shopping at the Kohls of 20 years ago. Such great deals however i did buy more than necessary.
Kohls was better 20 years ago.
Buying books at ollies discount store, thrift books site, brought too many bibles gave away 15 and kept 9 only ones i cherish and going to the malls, and buying things i really did not need just because it was on clearance. Now I just download free books or just re read ones I have , only buy necessary items, sams Club has really helped curb my spending time and money. Great video today!! 😊 2025 will be on a tight budget for sure. Will cut back even more..
I hear you!
Great video❤
Thanks so much!
❤❤❤❤❤❤
Nothing really. I had an instinct to pay off our debt years ago and challenged myself to buy nothing, look at everything I did buy to see whether I could do better and that led me to making my own cleaning products, cooking from scratch, not buying any takeaway meals, op shopping for clothes and household items. It was really hard and I had to reward myself by going to a lovely little shop where I would buy myself a nice scarf or a necklace or earrings etc. It was owned by a lovely couple who had great taste and they couldn't survive once a bigger discount shop opened up near them so I had my reward shop taken away..boo hoo for a while but now I am a very intentional shopper and it's really good - you cut out so much that you think you might be good that isn't.
I miss cleaning better and going to thrift stores. I also miss going to different stores when shopping.
I feel you!
I can’t think of anything. There are a few things I WISH I could cut out. Maybe later. But probably not.
What if you invested that money that you “saved” on all of those deals? If you bought 1 share of Apple stock at $8 in 2009, you would have $250 now.
TESLA!
I miss specially ingredients and other kitchen stuff. I enjoy playing with new recipes and sometimes substitutions are not as authentic. Ill readna recipe or watch a video and see somebody using an extract, spice or specialty fruit that I cant justify ordering.
Its the curiosity factor that kills me. What the heck does Pandan cake taste like? No idea. Too frivolous to buy something expensive for a single use. Fiori de Sicilia is some kind of citrus flavor. Is it worth buying when i have orange? I decided no.
I want a beautiful bunt pan with a festive pattern. Will that make me happier than the plain year round angel food bunt pan that cakes are easy to get out of? Most likely only short term, which is why I don't have one. Drives me nuts sometimes.
It's tough to justify spending money on something you'll only use once!
I have life remorse lol
I would love to get a mani pedi every month. I miss that. Now I just do my own nails but they definitely do not look the same. 😅 I also miss getting my car washed and detailed every other month. I do that myself about twice a year now. I hate doing it. 🫤
Same, once I retired the mani pedis went by the wayside. For a while I got pedis only monthly but even that is a special treat these days.
Merry Christmas!
Happy New Year!
It's so nice to be pampered!