Love your tips! I have never used Ajax and I think I'll try it next time for sure. I used my kids' old cloth diapers for years as cleaning cloths. They were the best! Happy New Year to you and your family, Bonita!
Some 20 years after the last baby was born and the old cloth diapers were actually disinegrating into fibers, my mother concluded that she possessed the funds to buy a package of diapers just for cleaning. Remember this and/ or an alternative as your baby's old cloth diaper begin to disintegrate.
I am now 70 years old. I am a breast cancer survivor. I had surgery that has caused me to be in extreme pain every day. I used to drive Yellow Cab. I had to have emergency surgery in 2015. I haven't been able to work ever since. Many times I wish I was able to work. My point is, happiness comes from within. I am only given one day at a time. I am thankful for what I have, and do my best to make the most out of each and every day I have. I love your tips, and if I had one to give you is One Day at a Time. 💞💞💞
My husband passed away in October. Im learning to live on one income with the same bills. Ive always been frugal so I think i will adjust and be alright . Enjoyed the video.
So sorry for your loss 😢 It will take quite some time adjusting to everything financially. I’ve already crunched numbers for whenever one of us goes first. What I’d have to cut way back on and cut out completely.
I dress warmly every day late fall through early spring. I wear a turtle neck and sweatshirt, a pair of knee socks and regular socks, jeans and long underwear bottoms. A lot of days I'll also have a fleece jacket on in the house. If im watching tv, i sometimes wear a pair of the stretchy gloves. By doing all this, I rarely turn the heat on higher than 62. I turn it down to 58 at night and wear flannel pj's and have flannel sheets, a wool blanket, and a down comforter on the bed. Hope that you're feeling better soon!
Oh wow! We live in a climate where we barely need a light jacket to go outside. 77 degrees today and in the 50s the rest of the week. We cannot handle cold weather....we are wimps!
To save money my husband and I love to have breakfast for supper. The other night we had pancakes and bacon we made sure we double batched the pancakes so that we would have leftovers and we've been enjoying the pancakes in the mornings for breakfast as well. The Frugal life is amazing!❤
@@pompommania well, I would have to say my husband and I do it once every few months months. Maybe if we were doing it every week it would be a different story. But even then it all depends on what you're eating.
Great ideas! I hang my machine-washed clothes up to dry all seasons. In the winter, the drying clothes are hung inside and act as a humidifier. I also leave out a wet dishtowel over night under my ceiling heat vents to provide moisture. Unless you are on call, shut down your cable box, etc., at night to save on electricity. Unplug your laptop after it has charged and use the battery power as much as possible. I like Ajax, too!
My cousins in Mexico 🇲🇽 City as do a lot in that country put like Cool whip tub with some foca soap and water next to the kitchen sink the soap dissolves then they use something like a green scrubbie in there ands use as dish soap washing each piece individually dipping in the soap water as needed and rising green scrubbing before dipping in soap water. Same soap dishes and laundry. Mexico custom.
I quit my gym membership when I got a dog. I take him for walks and lift weights at home. This turned out to be a double whammy for saving as the gym was near some shops, and I found myself shopping 3 or 4 times as often just because I was over there.... I occasionally miss being around people, but I didn't make a single friend in over a year, so it's not a huge loss.
I retired at 61 because I was so tired of working! That meant that I had 4 years before I could get my benefits here in Canada. It was a highly planned operation...lol I am a renter, so a few years prior to retirement, I had already moved into an affordable apartment. After selling my house, I decluttered a lot to fit into the apartment. My life is so simple and organized now. I do all the frugal things I can think of. I live in a small town and can walk everywhere, so have decided not to drive my car much this winter to save on gas and wear and tear. I drive it now and then to keep the battery up, but otherwise I walk everywhere! This keeps me healthy too. Maybe this will make my car (and me) last longer 😊
If you can find somewhere to park your car inside it’ll help a lot. My mom did that when we moved to an apartment. Not our building but a building not far away.
We cleaned out the Q store at our Army base. We found a stillage with 20 boxes of saltines left over from WW1 (1917). Dares happened and soon enough, we were all tasting them. They were OK. No one got sick even after eating a whole packet. Best befores and use bys are just a guide. Store food properly and it will last up to a century.
That is interesting, Debbie. Mostly because saltines are one of the things that I think get a funky taste when they get a little bit out of date. Good to know! Were they packaged the same as they are now?
I wash my dishes by hand too .Ajax is great. My house didn't come with a dishwasher. It saves on electricity and water. My Mom cuts my hair and I color it myself. I don't go out for coffee or out to eat. Only on special occasions. I reuse tea bags. I do everything I can to save money. I retired early at 62. So happy I did.
Yesterday and today our weather is in the high 50s maybe even reaching 60 so I am in a short sleeve shirt and jeans. But I noticed that my husband built a fire out in the family room of our home which is a new addition that he put on a couple of years ago. He knows I like to sit here and look out all the windows that we have in this room it's a beautiful Timber framed room. But I asked him why did you start a fire you know it's going to be close to 60°. He said it was chilly out in this room and I wanted you to be warm and comfortable this morning while I'm gone. I thought that was very very sweet and frugal. We didn't have to turn up the heat he just got a fire going❤
Our windows are original to our 1800's house, so I cover them with the plastic tablecloths from the dollar store. I then use safety pins to attach thrifted fleece blankets to the back of my regular curtains for added insulation.
We have 39 windows in our house. Since we built our own home, most are facing SW. So, in the winter, and it’s sunny during the day, it’s free heat ! 😊 it’s amazing. It could be 20 outside but 70 inside with the sun coming thru those windows
@@cjhoward409nice wish I could say the same! North Pole Alaska here. We do put plastic then blankets over our windows. But still -40 below outside it still feels cooler inside. Not to mention only about 4 hours of twilight mid winter. 😊
Well, another great post, full of ideas! I put my fresh fruit in canning jars in the fridge. They last quite a bit longer. I, too, wear extra layers to save on heat. I use Polar fleece sheets in the winter on the beds, they keep us warm. I do wash my dishes in rubber bins and rinse them in another bin. I use the water to water plants outside. I use the Nellie's washing soda for our clothes. I buy it at the end of the year for the best price. It has 1100 loads. It works for us. I use Castile soap for foaming hand soap. It works well. Happy New Year!
A lot of small towns have a dial a ride bus or small bus local transportation buses. I take a bus to my physical therapy or appointments. It is 2.00 each way and requires me to walk 4 blocks to the bus and I do have to transfer buses so time consuming. I pack a lunch to save on buying food as it takes a good part of the day bussing versus a 20 minute trip each Way in a car. I avoid the parking costs to park in the ramps. I also reuse my sandwich bags and keep bread bags etc to pack my food.
Good evening Bonita! I think you are fabulous! lol Someone told me my video was boring! I was making coleslaw from scratch. that is pretty boring. I thanked her for watching! I am 54 and quick working 9-5 and I am semi retired. My husband is 50 a completely retired. We are debt free and mortgage free and we like living a slower life that is more fuller. I can concentrate on the things I love instead of working to pay the bills. Your remarks line up with a lot of things we have incorporated into our lives. Stay blessed!
My husband loves a certain type of store bought cookies and now that we live frugally I did some experimenting. Those cookies are overly flavorful to begin with so I stretch them by starting with a homemade batch of cookie dough and crumble a couple of the store bought ones into my recipe. They ended up tasting even better and it makes at least 4x more. I love the challenge and now I’m on a mission to be even more creative. Once you put your mind to it, it becomes a very addictive way of life.
Most of what you said in this video I also do. (Well, not exactly but if I can save on anything, I do it) Beside from living with only my savings, I also am into a minimalist lifestyle and so being frugal comes with that kind of lifestyle too.
We wash our hands with cold water after we've been to the toilet, and rinse dishes in cold water before putting them in the dishwasher. We also cold wash our clothes unless there is some special need for a warm wash. That has saved us so much money in electricity. The in laws think it's strange but it is estimated that hot water costs 34% of an electricity bill in New Zealand. I now also only buy something if I need it, and that is quite rare. Then I will occasionally buy something extra, and it it is a treat and I appreciate it. Thanks for the video. I appreciated it. By the way the in laws have benefited from our generosity and are coming to appreciate my little quirks.
@@SarahHarris-hx6ec My in-laws have learned to accept my little quirks as well. They know that I’m frugal, but they were frugal back in the day as well.
North Pole Alaska here. I love New Zealand been there twice. Our house we leave the hot water heater off unless someone is going to shower. The water comes out of the ground ice cold summer and winter. We use the hot water tank as a tempering tank and turn on the hot faucet to was hands and things, it's still cold but not as freezing. Lol😊
Just retired in 2024. We are also downsizing and have moved into a smaller house. This has caused forced declutterring. Now I have the time to do so. Budgeting adjustments have started so I’m looking for frugal tips. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.🕊❤️
Loved this video. It’s so true that we spend money rewarding ourselves for getting through a day or week at work. A much better reward is the time to do what the heck we want and not working all the time!! 😂. It’s also interesting that some of the cheap brands you mentioned aren’t cheap in the UK. Ajax and Ariel are well known premium brands.
Great tips! Good video! I used those cloth burp pads too or diapers as cleaning cloths. And I will have to try the Ajax d/w liquid bc I love Dawn, but it is getting ridiculously expensive now!
I LOVE your tips! I buy a big bag of Ariel laundry powder at Family Dollar in the beginning of each year, and I don't need to buy more until the next year!! I use 1 or 2 tablespoons per load and my clothes come out perfectly clean and fresh. Also use Ajax dish soap - I buy the great big bottles and only need about 2 per year. I love the Ajax in the citrus scents.
I use an old cream sachet Avon jar to keep Mentholatum by my bedside. It's so pretty! I am so with you on managing my resources so that I don't have to live through the stress of working outside the home. No money coming in equals no money going out is a great way to look at life, actually. I don't do "no spends," like a "no spend January." I am shopping Christmas mark-downs hard right now because I don't shop for gifts throughout the year, for the most part. I will check out the Ajax. I hope you feel better soon!
@@suredeydo My mother would rub it on the bottom of my feet before I put on warm socks, especially at bedtime, when I had anything going on related to a cold. She also would put it on a soft cloth to lay on my chest under my pajamas, especially if I had a cough. Sometimes I just open a jar and breathe it in when my sinuses are congested. A small jar lasts a very long time.
We are picking up after our New Year’s Day party. I’ve put up any foods that did not need to be eaten right away. I will also go over the contents of my fridge in order to plan my meals accordingly to our leftovers. I have always lived frugally, but when I want an item, I do not feel guilty about purchasing exactly what I want. Clothes are worn until they are used out. I bring shoes and boots to shoemaker to re- heel and keep them polished and looking good. Reduce, reuse and recycle. Definitely my motto
I also have a blow dryer. I wash my hair early enough that it dries before I go to bed. The only time I use the blow dryer is if I get a last minute call from family or a friend suggesting that I come over that evening and I've already washed my hair. That may happen a once or twice a year. Otherwise I air dry my hair. We keep the heat/air adjusted so our bill is low but we don't shut vents off. When I'm getting ready to leave the house I adjust the thermostat 2-4 degrees. We are using the dishwasher once a week. We've been told that using it once a week protects the seals around the edges and it will protect it from leaking as it gets older. We bought extra dishwashing and laundry detergent when it was on sale so we have enough for awhile. I will look for Ajax on sale when we get low on dishwashing detergent. I bought off brand laundry detergent and I use a lot less than what the manufacturer recommends. I saw a video of an appliance repair guy saying to use 1 tablespoon of laundry detergent per load. He said a washing machine will last a lot longer if you do that. I don't measure it off but I pour a little bit in the cap of liquid detergent and then pour that into the washing machine. As I've shared before I track every penny and have been doing it for years. I did a load of laundry on Saturday afternoon. I didn't use the dryer. Instead it's hanging throughout the house drying. Most of it is dry by now and I will put it away today. I avoid using the dryer most of the time.
I think that’s why my hair never gets split ends because I air dry it. Sometimes I’ll flip my hair over in front of my pellet stove or oven when I’ve just turned it off. Just for some extra drying if it’s close to bedtime
I started my UA-cam channel over a week ago and your advice is GREAT! Life in the UK - England and DUMPSTER DIVING is a passion as it allows me to help people even though i am on minimum wage here. I try not to focus on the money or one finds that it does not come. I enjoy making content as you have to love what you do in order for there to be longevity, on this platform. WHY DON'T WE ALL BUY A TICKET AND ENJOY THE RIDE
You should try organic soap nuts for dishes and wash. Sustainability is key. Reduce,reuse and recycle. My Ebike is my main transportation and the car gets 2-3K miles a year. I am making insulated curtains for the sun room made from items I bought from garage sales. The list goes on.
@@dawnmireles2912 Unfortunately they recently changed Dawn’s formulation, and now it has “A NEW SCENT”! 🤬🤬🤬 Frankly I think the new scent REEKS, and I bet it doesn’t clean as well either! They just lost a customer of MANY, MANY YEARS!
I love Vick's when I have a cold. I have been known to sleep holding the jar up to my nose. 😅 But I've got the same jar that expired in 2016 (no joke).
I found hair conditioner in my grandma’s linen closet from the 1980’s. It was mine. Brown bottle. Vidal Sassoon. Stuff smells amazing and yes I used it. My hair looked good and smelled good. I don’t believe soap goes bad. 😂 And I’m so thrifty and frugal.
Great video-thanks for the tips. I just took early retirement at 61. I can not draw SS until October this year. I woke up this morning thinking of a tracking book for our spending. Glad to see your video to reinforce that idea. I have been trudging along for the past year surviving working 40 hrs a week like a needle stuck in a groove. Now the challenge I’m having is not doing what I was doing to just get through the week. I am making myself stop and think-do you need to go to town or can it wait? When I decided it was time to stop working our budget got a complete overhaul. The 2 things we decided to keep were our weight watchers and Y memberships. Both of these are beneficial to our health. I look forward to checking out your other videos. Hope you get well quickly.
Once I effectively got a $550/month raise (20 years ago) but it ended up not being a raise at all because I was trying to leave the company and they paid me the extra to stay on temporarily but I had to spend the money on entertainment just to distract myself because I was unhappy.
I am the same way if I feel chilly in my house I have a sweater that sits on a chair in my kitchen I have a desk that's part of our counter system in our kitchen and there's a chair there so I always keep a sweater hanging on that chair plus a crocheted scarf that my mother-in-law made for me years ago that has pockets on the very bottom of them for my hands so if I feel a little chilly in the house I'll just throw that sweater on and scarf until I warm up. A lot of days I get very hot during the day because of hot flashes, so I'm not using that sweater as much in the milder weather
I don't want to say good for you. Because you can always throw on a sweater but I'll tell you what I'm glad for your sake you don't have hot flashes they can be pretty miserable.
@@PenniestoDollarsit’s that time of year. My mom used to tell me when I had a throat, chest cold, sit outside in the sun and stick your throat right in the sun. 10-15 min is all it takes. It’s medicinal. The best way to get Vit D is directly onto our skin. And it cuts those colds in half ! I swear it works. I told my neighbor this last week. She was feeling better the very next day. 😎
We have been forced into decluttering from our Christmas smoke damage. Saturday we decluttered an entire closet and it felt good. Eventually the insurance company is coming in and they will be hiring a company to completely clean our home from floor to ceiling and everything in between. So this is something that we need to do before they can come in.
It is very discouraging when things get ruined and you have to throw them out. That’s happened to me on things that I saved that I should have gotten rid of. And yes it does feel good to get rid of it.
It definitely does and the things that we're going out the door I put them on the backseat of my car. they ended up being things that were my daughters and also some board games. So I stopped by her apartment and asked her did she want any of it she took most everything on the back seat except for about three board games and those I donated at a thrift store down the road from my house
Great tips. I use Tide original but only a T. for a load. A 34oz bottle for under $5 lasts me forever (I only do a load of laundry once a week). I use Zote soap for deep surface cleaning (woodwork, cabinets and soaking stains) at $1.98 a bar will last me 2 years. I refuse to give up my windex though. 😆
We use solar lights inside the house. Just put the detachable panels outside during the day to charge and bring them in in the evening. Also use a clothesline to dry clothes. And have portable heater and portable air conditioner. Wash clothes on cold. Almost always by the store brand. Run all errands at one time to save gas, instead of going in and out during the day. Wear it out, use it up, reuse it for something else.
Great tips! I use Ajax dishwashing liquid, as well. I'm able to buy it for 1.25 at Dollar Tree. Because it's less harmful to the environment than laundry detergents, I use it for my laundry, too. My clothes don't get that dirty, so it's fine. One bottle a month is generally all that I need. Because I'm 75 and my skin is much dryer than it used to be, I only shower every 3 days. This sounds gross, but it's recommended by dermatologists. It saves me a lot on shampoo and conditioner.
My mother-in-law is a widow and I noticed that she always has lights on in rooms that she's not even in. Now she has motion type lights in her kitchen that will come on as she walks through but I did notice that she kept lights on in other rooms and I asked my husband about that isn't that really draining on her electric bill he said well maybe he said but I actually think she feels safer having her home more lit up and not so dark. So I can understand why she would do that. But we are more inclined to turn lights off
Loving the intro music 🎶 Very country! ♥️ Hope you get rid of the cold soon. I enjoy washing dishes by hand! You mentioned spending so much money when working. I’m wondering, with the distance you needed to drive for work, how much was your monthly gasoline expense? Vinegar is an inexpensive and great product to use as a hair conditioner, fabric softener, grease remover from pans, a cleaning agent for windows, and more.
I spent at least a couple of hundred dollars a month in gas when I was working. I also had a job where I had to do assessments at peoples homes. Mileage was reimbursed but it put a lot of miles on my car.
I cut up a cloth diaper into small squares and use them as makeup removers. When time to wash I place in a mesh bag a add to regular wash. They easily whiten if I launder adding bleach.
I will have to say Bonita you are my inspiration for not looking at expiration dates in my home. I find out that a lot of things last for a very very long time. I'll pull out a container of sour cream and I'm thinking oh my goodness when did I buy this and I open it up and it smells completely fresh so it is amazing. Now what I have to do is sometimes train myself to remember to look at expiration dates at a store. Which I need to do at a place like an Ollie's or it is scratch and dent type shelf or something cuz that could be a waste of money if I threw money away when really something was getting ready to expire in a month and I knew I wouldn't use it that soon. I do know that certain things last far past the expiration date but I always feel a little leery about those things that are very close to expiring that I have not purchased myself ahead of time. What are your thoughts on that? If you see a good deal on some canned goods but they're getting ready to expire next month will you purchase them? My thinking is how have they been cared for before I bought them. Now if I bought them 6 months ago and they're getting ready to expire that's okay I'll hold on to them cuz they've been on my shelf but I don't know what conditions they've been in in transportation at the store ,warehouses Etc what are your thoughts on that? Sorry if my sentences sometimes run on or of what I'm saying is confusing hopefully you're getting what I'm saying
I love the Aldi laundry detergent and the blue bottle dish detergent......reasonable price. I have a stack of quick dry microfiber cloths.....wash, rack dry, and they are dry in a few hours......I use them for everything.
When I go to Starbucks I bring my own teabags, then get hot water, and leave a 1$ tip. So I save 3$ on a cup of tea. I go twice a week to visit with coffee friends.
I’m sure they are fine with that since you leave them a tip. I’ve heard of people doing that at restaurants as well. I wish I was a tea drinker but I only like it cold and then I only like it when it’s really hot outside. I have never learned to like hot tea.
Very inspiring videos…I get great suggestions & hints from you. Since starting your channel, I live below my monthly income and save about 600$ a month. Great fun for a former spendthrift.
@@PenniestoDollars I have gotten away from drinking hot tea daily, but it is a nice afternoon break to look forward to sometimes. I like plain ol' Lipton tea brewed in a pretty teacup. I add a little half and half, no sweetener. Enjoyed with a ginger snap or shortbread cookie, it is a nice afternoon treat and a time to relax and slow down.
Now that I have the life that I want which is Retirement, I am more than willing to do what I need to do to live that life comfortably and with no stress. A couple of things I do……..saving my chicken bones and making bone broth. Over the weekend I put all the bones I have been saving in the freezer for the past 5 or so months into the roaster and I ended up with 8 qts of broth. I don’t go by end date on a lot of things…..things last longer than a person thinks. Download free Libby app for books , magazines etc. I have never owned a dishwasher so I’ve always done dishes by hand. And I am not brand loyal. If it works snd is less expensive I’m all about that. Good video!!
One thing we do by phone now that we never used to was pay some bills. We always wrote a check. But unfortunately back several months ago when my husband through his business had a check stolen washed and written for a very large amount which we still have yet to recoup it really woke us up. And we now pay almost all our bills that we can by phone and then as soon as the credit card come due we pay it immediately we have never carried a balance.
❤ Fantastic video Bonita ❤ I also do not use a hair dryer or curling iron, used to use them all the time years ago when i worked not anymore. Its great i feel so much better, i hand wash dishes, hang dry clothes, shut off heat vents when no one uses a room. I use Palmolive Dish soap ❤ use only clorox brand laundry sanitizer in our laundry no detergent. Cloth diapers are awesome for cleaning ❤ i Retired at 62 now 65 Loving life with my Cowboy ❤
I always only use half the amount of laundry soap recommended. Also cut the ends off tubes of toothpaste and hand cream - there’s still a lot in there!
I stopped buying facial scrub and use baking soda, I make my own toothpaste with baking soda and essential oils and I do oil pulling with coconut oil(I buy in bulk from vitacost), I eat beans almost every day to help cut down on the amount of meat. I am pre-diabetic so I still eat meat with almost all meals, I just supplement with beans. Dry pinto beans in bulk are the best. When I have time, I make my own bread and tortillas. The washing soap from the Hispanic stores is great too; just shave off some of the bar! I’m also considering trying to make my own dishwashing soap from Dr Bonners since I use it as an all purpose cleaner and a liquid hand soap in different concentrations.
Even better make your own menthol salve. It’s even cheaper and that’s with all organic ingredients. Plus, you can control how strong you want to make it. The same goes for things like lip balm and body butter. They’re super cheap and easy to make and don’t have any yucky chemicals or preservatives in them (as long as the products are oil based and don’t contain water or water like products, i.e., hydrosols, aloe vera, etc. you don’t need to add a preservative, though an antioxidant like vitamin E or Rosemary antioxidant is a good idea to help prevent oxidation.)
I use shower gel as handwash as it’s cheaper 😊 I’ve got an insulated jug I boil the kettle once fill my jug with boiling water and that what I use to make my tea & coffee 😊
I wait for the clearance of themed items after every holiday, and use them for the following holiday. This is all from the local thrift shop! Just this week, 90% off Christmas themed items.
I have a wish list going of items that I need to purchase from CVS but rather than just run over there and buy them in the last couple of weeks I've been waiting for a coupon that needed to be good it started on the 30th of this month so today and it'll go through a little bit into January that way I'm able to get 25% off the purchases that I need to make
Me too, I went over there today and picked up the two items that I needed and I ended up saving a total of $5 off of my bill. A little over $5 actually. And one of the items was one that my husband had requested and I didn't want to just put it off if he felt like it was something that he needed right away but he told me it was fine to wait till the coupon was active
Everything that is beyond using for it's original purpose gets used for dusters and cleaning cloths - sheets, tee shirts, towels etc. I also do my laundry on a cold wash unless it's really dirty because modern laundry detergents are much more effective than they were years ago.
I cut up tee shirts into pieces for rags and use them for doing dishes and other cleaning. If what is cleaned is really gross I will just throw them out. otherwise they go in the washer. I use a rag instead of a paper towel
I rotate between my kitchen my living room and my family room during the day. The family room is where the wood stove is so if I'm cold I'm out there. Of course if I'm cooking or preparing meals I'm in my kitchen if I'm folding laundry I'm in my living room
For people who say why would you live that way that's not living are often people who either are trying to get out of debt are in debt are struggling all the time. People who buy things they can't afford and are always stressed and anxious because they are always trying to pay off a bill. So everybody's entitled to their opinion. I am happy how we live and I would not want to live any differently. Now one thing that I mentioned in a previous comment of a video that you made recently was that I enjoyed treating my children to lunch out. Now I realize that when my husband and I retire that will not be something that I will be able to do as often. Right now through his business we each get a paycheck and that's where that money is coming from and it's not that I won't be able to treat my children but right now I am able to treat two or three of my children weekly. But I know that that may not always be it might be monthly or every couple of weeks. But that's okay I'm willing to make that sacrifice so that we can retire comfortably and not have to worry
I still spoil my kids and grandkids at Christmas and her birthday. A lot of people don’t buy their adult children gifts but I’m not willing to give that up. You are right, we all have our own preferences and that’s OK. That helps us budget for our needs.
Exactly. We always give our adult children money every year they really look forward to it. Some of them use it to get a car repaired, sometimes they use it and treat themselves to things other times they use it to pay a bill. But once it leaves our hands and enters theirs it's up to them what they do with it.
Have you tried making your own laundry detergent yet? I got my ingredients and am about to make a bucket of laundry detergent myself at home. I recently retired and am now getting by with a fixed income. I'm looking at everything and how to reduce my expenses.
Oh one more thing i just cook once a day we eat the same thing twice so I don't need to use the stove again for dinner or it can be light dinner nothing heavy
Wool balls if you use a dryer. I have a link under items that I used to save money in the description box. However, I only use my dryer a few times a year.
Thank you for another inspiring video to keep me on my frugal journey. I write expiration dates on all my food. This way I know what needs to be used first from my pantry. If it is expired but still looks ok to eat then it is used. Are you going to same place in Texas as last year or are you choosing a different location?
What kind of work did you do? My job was stressful and I worked longer than I thought I could. Life is better now. Wish I retired sooner? Not sure. Maybe. Now I do very little. I stay close to home and some activities close to home. I stay home too. These are no spend days. I find many hobbies and interests. Take care all. 🇺🇸
I do buy original blue Dawn for stains in laundry because Ive never found something better; But I never use it for dishes lol. For dishes I use Ajax or Palmolive, which ever is cheapest with coupons/loyalty programs and rebate apps combined. Sometimes I will even go further and buy generic and cut it 1/2 & 1/2 with Ajax or Palmolive. Whatever it takes to get through until the next sale if I run out. I also use the above ways to get most Tide, Persil or All detergent for less than a buck per bottle (Im allergic to Gain) and then I add about a cup of purified water to it. So it works out to be cheaper than the Mexican mkt stuff even. I only use 2-3 TBSP per exlarge load, so a bottle lasts a VERY long time.
@@PenniestoDollars My husband wears uniforms to work, so we have to do 3 extra large loads per week and an occasional additional load of blankets. I just looked and my bottles of Tide are 32 ozs plus 1 cup of water and I paid .94 cents each. So very comparable. Is yours a liquid detergent? Does it come perfume and dye free? I may be persuaded to try it!
Love your tips! I have never used Ajax and I think I'll try it next time for sure. I used my kids' old cloth diapers for years as cleaning cloths. They were the best! Happy New Year to you and your family, Bonita!
@@MyMountainHomeandKitchen I’m glad to know I’m not alone! Happy New Year, Daphne!
I'm still using old cloth diapers (used as burp cloths for my babies) for dusting rags too. They are my favorite cleaning cloths.
Some 20 years after the last baby was born and the old cloth diapers were actually disinegrating into fibers, my mother concluded that she possessed the funds to buy a package of diapers just for cleaning. Remember this and/ or an alternative as your baby's old cloth diaper begin to disintegrate.
They are so soft!
@@terryhenderson424 That's actually a great idea. They are so absorbent (of course)!
I am now 70 years old. I am a breast cancer survivor. I had surgery that has caused me to be in extreme pain every day. I used to drive Yellow Cab. I had to have emergency surgery in 2015. I haven't been able to work ever since.
Many times I wish I was able to work.
My point is, happiness comes from within. I am only given one day at a time. I am thankful for what I have, and do my best to make the most out of each and every day I have.
I love your tips, and if I had one to give you is One Day at a Time. 💞💞💞
Thank you, Kathrine! Happy New Year!
@@kathrinekerns8398 I am on the same schedule almost 2014, then again 2020 till now chemo. Best to you!
My husband passed away in October. Im learning to live on one income with the same bills. Ive always been frugal so I think i will adjust and be alright . Enjoyed the video.
I am so sorry Mary. Thank you for listening!
So sorry for your loss 😢
It will take quite some time adjusting to everything financially. I’ve already crunched numbers for whenever one of us goes first. What I’d have to cut way back on and cut out completely.
I dress warmly every day late fall through early spring. I wear a turtle neck and sweatshirt, a pair of knee socks and regular socks, jeans and long underwear bottoms. A lot of days I'll also have a fleece jacket on in the house. If im watching tv, i sometimes wear a pair of the stretchy gloves. By doing all this, I rarely turn the heat on higher than 62. I turn it down to 58 at night and wear flannel pj's and have flannel sheets, a wool blanket, and a down comforter on the bed. Hope that you're feeling better soon!
@@Cindy-lg3zr Thank you! This cough just keeps hanging on.
Oh wow! We live in a climate where we barely need a light jacket to go outside. 77 degrees today and in the 50s the rest of the week. We cannot handle cold weather....we are wimps!
Me either! That’s why I go to Texas in the winter!
I lived in way upstate NY for 22 years before moving back to the Shenandoah Valley in VA. I love cold weather and melt in the heat and humidity here!
I need you to talk to my husband!
To save money my husband and I love to have breakfast for supper. The other night we had pancakes and bacon we made sure we double batched the pancakes so that we would have leftovers and we've been enjoying the pancakes in the mornings for breakfast as well. The Frugal life is amazing!❤
That’s a great way to save money for sure. I do love frugal life as well! It gives you so many opportunities!
It sure does!
That seems unhealthy though
@@pompommania well, I would have to say my husband and I do it once every few months months. Maybe if we were doing it every week it would be a different story. But even then it all depends on what you're eating.
Great ideas! I hang my machine-washed clothes up to dry all seasons. In the winter, the drying clothes are hung inside and act as a humidifier. I also leave out a wet dishtowel over night under my ceiling heat vents to provide moisture. Unless you are on call, shut down your cable box, etc., at night to save on electricity. Unplug your laptop after it has charged and use the battery power as much as possible. I like Ajax, too!
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My cousins in Mexico 🇲🇽 City as do a lot in that country put like Cool whip tub with some foca soap and water next to the kitchen sink the soap dissolves then they use something like a green scrubbie in there ands use as dish soap washing each piece individually dipping in the soap water as needed and rising green scrubbing before dipping in soap water. Same soap dishes and laundry. Mexico custom.
@@krisqueen5939 Interesting! I didn’t know you could use it as a dish soap. Thank you!
I quit my gym membership when I got a dog. I take him for walks and lift weights at home.
This turned out to be a double whammy for saving as the gym was near some shops, and I found myself shopping 3 or 4 times as often just because I was over there....
I occasionally miss being around people, but I didn't make a single friend in over a year, so it's not a huge loss.
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I retired at 61 because I was so tired of working! That meant that I had 4 years before I could get my benefits here in Canada. It was a highly planned operation...lol
I am a renter, so a few years prior to retirement, I had already moved into an affordable apartment. After selling my house, I decluttered a lot to fit into the apartment. My life is so simple and organized now. I do all the frugal things I can think of. I live in a small town and can walk everywhere, so have decided not to drive my car much this winter to save on gas and wear and tear. I drive it now and then to keep the battery up, but otherwise I walk everywhere! This keeps me healthy too. Maybe this will make my car (and me) last longer 😊
It definitely can be done if it is well planned out. I love my life now, too!
If you can find somewhere to park your car inside it’ll help a lot. My mom did that when we moved to an apartment. Not our building but a building not far away.
Wonderful that you are living the life that you want. I love being a nurse. I've never worked a day in my life.
That’s great! In my last job we were terribly overworked. No lunches or breaks and had to account for every minute on our daily calendar
We cleaned out the Q store at our Army base. We found a stillage with 20 boxes of saltines left over from WW1 (1917). Dares happened and soon enough, we were all tasting them. They were OK. No one got sick even after eating a whole packet. Best befores and use bys are just a guide. Store food properly and it will last up to a century.
That is interesting, Debbie. Mostly because saltines are one of the things that I think get a funky taste when they get a little bit out of date. Good to know! Were they packaged the same as they are now?
I think crackers back then were made different Than today. How are they packaged? Too funny😊
I wash my dishes by hand too .Ajax is great. My house didn't come with a dishwasher. It saves on electricity and water. My Mom cuts my hair and I color it myself. I don't go out for coffee or out to eat. Only on special occasions. I reuse tea bags. I do everything I can to save money. I retired early at 62. So happy I did.
I love my retirement!! It’s so worth it! 🥰🥰🥰
Just cut my son and my husband’s hair a couple of days ago because 2 days ago I had neck surgery. I knew I wouldn’t be able to do that for 6 weeks.
The "expiration dates", "sell by dates" are basically to prevent law suits against companies. 🤷🏽♂️
Yes the length of time they are willing to guarantee the product. You are so right!!
Yesterday and today our weather is in the high 50s maybe even reaching 60 so I am in a short sleeve shirt and jeans. But I noticed that my husband built a fire out in the family room of our home which is a new addition that he put on a couple of years ago. He knows I like to sit here and look out all the windows that we have in this room it's a beautiful Timber framed room. But I asked him why did you start a fire you know it's going to be close to 60°. He said it was chilly out in this room and I wanted you to be warm and comfortable this morning while I'm gone. I thought that was very very sweet and frugal. We didn't have to turn up the heat he just got a fire going❤
You have such a sweet, thoughtful husband!
Thank you, I sure do
Our windows are original to our 1800's house, so I cover them with the plastic tablecloths from the dollar store. I then use safety pins to attach thrifted fleece blankets to the back of my regular curtains for added insulation.
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We have 39 windows in our house. Since we built our own home, most are facing SW. So, in the winter, and it’s sunny during the day, it’s free heat ! 😊 it’s amazing. It could be 20 outside but 70 inside with the sun coming thru those windows
@@cjhoward409nice wish I could say the same! North Pole Alaska here. We do put plastic then blankets over our windows. But still -40 below outside it still feels cooler inside. Not to mention only about 4 hours of twilight mid winter. 😊
@krisqueen5939 I don’t think I could do that. You are a strong lady!
Well, another great post, full of ideas!
I put my fresh fruit in canning jars in the fridge. They last quite a bit longer.
I, too, wear extra layers to save on heat.
I use Polar fleece sheets in the winter on the beds, they keep us warm.
I do wash my dishes in rubber bins and rinse them in another bin. I use the water to water plants outside.
I use the Nellie's washing soda for our clothes. I buy it at the end of the year for the best price.
It has 1100 loads.
It works for us.
I use Castile soap for foaming hand soap. It works well.
Happy New Year!
Thanks for sharing your frugal tips! Happy New Year!!
A lot of small towns have a dial a ride bus or small bus local transportation buses. I take a bus to my physical therapy or appointments. It is 2.00 each way and requires me to walk 4 blocks to the bus and I do have to transfer buses so time consuming. I pack a lunch to save on buying food as it takes a good part of the day bussing versus a 20 minute trip each Way in a car. I avoid the parking costs to park in the ramps. I also reuse my sandwich bags and keep bread bags etc to pack my food.
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Good evening Bonita! I think you are fabulous! lol Someone told me my video was boring! I was making coleslaw from scratch. that is pretty boring. I thanked her for watching!
I am 54 and quick working 9-5 and I am semi retired. My husband is 50 a completely retired. We are debt free and mortgage free and we like living a slower life that is more fuller. I can concentrate on the things I love instead of working to pay the bills. Your remarks line up with a lot of things we have incorporated into our lives. Stay blessed!
Thank you for commenting, Racheal! Sometimes you have to take what people say with a grain of salt 🤗
My husband loves a certain type of store bought cookies and now that we live frugally I did some experimenting. Those cookies are overly flavorful to begin with so I stretch them by starting with a homemade batch of cookie dough and crumble a couple of the store bought ones into my recipe. They ended up tasting even better and it makes at least 4x more. I love the challenge and now I’m on a mission to be even more creative. Once you put your mind to it, it becomes a very addictive way of life.
It’s fun! 🫶🫶
What a great idea!
I reuse socks with holes in them to dust my house. They fit great on your hand and I just throw them in the washer when I am done.
Perfect!!
Most of what you said in this video I also do. (Well, not exactly but if I can save on anything, I do it) Beside from living with only my savings, I also am into a minimalist lifestyle and so being frugal comes with that kind of lifestyle too.
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We wash our hands with cold water after we've been to the toilet, and rinse dishes in cold water before putting them in the dishwasher. We also cold wash our clothes unless there is some special need for a warm wash. That has saved us so much money in electricity. The in laws think it's strange but it is estimated that hot water costs 34% of an electricity bill in New Zealand. I now also only buy something if I need it, and that is quite rare. Then I will occasionally buy something extra, and it it is a treat and I appreciate it. Thanks for the video. I appreciated it. By the way the in laws have benefited from our generosity and are coming to appreciate my little quirks.
@@SarahHarris-hx6ec My in-laws have learned to accept my little quirks as well. They know that I’m frugal, but they were frugal back in the day as well.
North Pole Alaska here. I love New Zealand been there twice. Our house we leave the hot water heater off unless someone is going to shower. The water comes out of the ground ice cold summer and winter. We use the hot water tank as a tempering tank and turn on the hot faucet to was hands and things, it's still cold but not as freezing. Lol😊
Just retired in 2024. We are also downsizing and have moved into a smaller house. This has caused forced declutterring.
Now I have the time to do so.
Budgeting adjustments have started so I’m looking for frugal tips. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.🕊❤️
Thank you for listening, Carol, and Congratulations on your retirement!
"No daily rewards needed" to get through a 9-5 workday. Bingo. Nail on the head. Love this video.
Thank you!
I love, love, love this video! Thank you for the tips and Happy New Year x
Happy New Year, Susie!
Loved this video. It’s so true that we spend money rewarding ourselves for getting through a day or week at work. A much better reward is the time to do what the heck we want and not working all the time!! 😂. It’s also interesting that some of the cheap brands you mentioned aren’t cheap in the UK. Ajax and Ariel are well known premium brands.
Interesting!! Maybe more popular there? About $2 a jug here. Much less than the name brands.
Great tips! Good video! I used those cloth burp pads too or diapers as cleaning cloths. And I will have to try the Ajax d/w liquid bc I love Dawn, but it is getting ridiculously expensive now!
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I LOVE your tips! I buy a big bag of Ariel laundry powder at Family Dollar in the beginning of each year, and I don't need to buy more until the next year!! I use 1 or 2 tablespoons per load and my clothes come out perfectly clean and fresh. Also use Ajax dish soap - I buy the great big bottles and only need about 2 per year. I love the Ajax in the citrus scents.
Thank you! They are great products and super affordable!!
I use an old cream sachet Avon jar to keep Mentholatum by my bedside. It's so pretty! I am so with you on managing my resources so that I don't have to live through the stress of working outside the home. No money coming in equals no money going out is a great way to look at life, actually. I don't do "no spends," like a "no spend January." I am shopping Christmas mark-downs hard right now because I don't shop for gifts throughout the year, for the most part. I will check out the Ajax. I hope you feel better soon!
I just have a cough that’s hanging on. Thank you!
What is the mentholatum for?
It is a menthol cream like Vicks. It’s very old-fashioned and it’s all we bought when I was growing up.
@@suredeydo My mother would rub it on the bottom of my feet before I put on warm socks, especially at bedtime, when I had anything going on related to a cold. She also would put it on a soft cloth to lay on my chest under my pajamas, especially if I had a cough. Sometimes I just open a jar and breathe it in when my sinuses are congested. A small jar lasts a very long time.
Thank you!
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We are picking up after our New Year’s Day party. I’ve put up any foods that did not need to be eaten right away. I will also go over the contents of my fridge in order to plan my meals accordingly to our leftovers. I have always lived frugally, but when I want an item, I do not feel guilty about purchasing exactly what I want. Clothes are worn until they are used out. I bring shoes and boots to shoemaker to re- heel and keep them polished and looking good. Reduce, reuse and recycle. Definitely my motto
Works great to give you the life you want!
I also have a blow dryer. I wash my hair early enough that it dries before I go to bed. The only time I use the blow dryer is if I get a last minute call from family or a friend suggesting that I come over that evening and I've already washed my hair. That may happen a once or twice a year. Otherwise I air dry my hair. We keep the heat/air adjusted so our bill is low but we don't shut vents off. When I'm getting ready to leave the house I adjust the thermostat 2-4 degrees. We are using the dishwasher once a week. We've been told that using it once a week protects the seals around the edges and it will protect it from leaking as it gets older. We bought extra dishwashing and laundry detergent when it was on sale so we have enough for awhile. I will look for Ajax on sale when we get low on dishwashing detergent. I bought off brand laundry detergent and I use a lot less than what the manufacturer recommends. I saw a video of an appliance repair guy saying to use 1 tablespoon of laundry detergent per load. He said a washing machine will last a lot longer if you do that. I don't measure it off but I pour a little bit in the cap of liquid detergent and then pour that into the washing machine. As I've shared before I track every penny and have been doing it for years. I did a load of laundry on Saturday afternoon. I didn't use the dryer. Instead it's hanging throughout the house drying. Most of it is dry by now and I will put it away today. I avoid using the dryer most of the time.
All of those things add up to noticeable savings!!
I think that’s why my hair never gets split ends because I air dry it. Sometimes I’ll flip my hair over in front of my pellet stove or oven when I’ve just turned it off. Just for some extra drying if it’s close to bedtime
I hate going to bed with wet hair, too!
I really enjoyed the video. Thank you❤
Thank you for listening!
Foca smells amazing. Probably the best laundry detergent I have ever used and works great! You turned me on to it!
It is a great detergent and a good price, too!
It sure is. It's a little over $2 a bottle here at my local Walmart which is 5 minutes away from my house
Foca used to be $1.85 for the bottle at walmart in Arkansas. It is now $3 something. Still cheap, but has gone up.
I started my UA-cam channel over a week ago and your advice is GREAT! Life in the UK - England and DUMPSTER DIVING is a passion as it allows me to help people even though i am on minimum wage here. I try not to focus on the money or one finds that it does not come. I enjoy making content as you have to love what you do in order for there to be longevity, on this platform. WHY DON'T WE ALL BUY A TICKET AND ENJOY THE RIDE
Thank you and Welcome to the channel!!
You should try organic soap nuts for dishes and wash. Sustainability is key. Reduce,reuse and recycle. My Ebike is my main transportation and the car gets 2-3K miles a year. I am making insulated curtains for the sun room made from items I bought from garage sales. The list goes on.
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I really like Dawn. A few drops goes a long way.
Same with Ajax 😉
Amazing stuff. I spot clean clothes and use it on tennis shoes too. The only stuff I use
@@dawnmireles2912 Unfortunately they recently changed Dawn’s formulation, and now it has “A NEW SCENT”! 🤬🤬🤬 Frankly I think the new scent REEKS, and I bet it doesn’t clean as well either! They just lost a customer of MANY, MANY YEARS!
Interesting. I was unaware.
I love Vick's when I have a cold. I have been known to sleep holding the jar up to my nose. 😅 But I've got the same jar that expired in 2016 (no joke).
As far as I’m concerned, that stuff does not expire. That menthol in there lasts forever. Thanks for sharing!
@@myapexodyssey I beat you I have a jar of Vaseline that is 11 yrs old
I found hair conditioner in my grandma’s linen closet from the 1980’s. It was mine. Brown bottle. Vidal Sassoon. Stuff smells amazing and yes I used it. My hair looked good and smelled good. I don’t believe soap goes bad. 😂
And I’m so thrifty and frugal.
Yep! I’m using an old shampoo now!
"If you don't look good. we don't look good" 😊
Great video-thanks for the tips.
I just took early retirement at 61. I can not draw SS until October this year.
I woke up this morning thinking of a tracking book for our spending. Glad to see your video to reinforce that idea.
I have been trudging along for the past year surviving working 40 hrs a week like a needle stuck in a groove.
Now the challenge I’m having is not doing what I was doing to just get through the week. I am making myself stop and think-do you need to go to town or can it wait?
When I decided it was time to stop working our budget got a complete overhaul.
The 2 things we decided to keep were our weight watchers and Y memberships. Both of these are beneficial to our health.
I look forward to checking out your other videos.
Hope you get well quickly.
Thank you! 3 more years before I can draw SS here.
Once I effectively got a $550/month raise (20 years ago) but it ended up not being a raise at all because I was trying to leave the company and they paid me the extra to stay on temporarily but I had to spend the money on entertainment just to distract myself because I was unhappy.
It’s terrible when you have a job that you are not happy at. I can sympathize.
I am the same way if I feel chilly in my house I have a sweater that sits on a chair in my kitchen I have a desk that's part of our counter system in our kitchen and there's a chair there so I always keep a sweater hanging on that chair plus a crocheted scarf that my mother-in-law made for me years ago that has pockets on the very bottom of them for my hands so if I feel a little chilly in the house I'll just throw that sweater on and scarf until I warm up. A lot of days I get very hot during the day because of hot flashes, so I'm not using that sweater as much in the milder weather
I think I will never have hot flashes. I am always cold.
I don't want to say good for you. Because you can always throw on a sweater but I'll tell you what I'm glad for your sake you don't have hot flashes they can be pretty miserable.
I'll be praying for you hope you feel better soon😢❤
Thank you! This cough won’t go away and my voice sounds bad. I had laryngitis 4 days!
Oh my goodness you poor thing. I don't know what it is about the Christmas holiday. I have heard so many people who have said they have not felt well.
@@PenniestoDollarsit’s that time of year. My mom used to tell me when I had a throat, chest cold, sit outside in the sun and stick your throat right in the sun. 10-15 min is all it takes. It’s medicinal. The best way to get Vit D is directly onto our skin. And it cuts those colds in half ! I swear it works. I told my neighbor this last week. She was feeling better the very next day. 😎
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Your hair always looks so good!❤
You are too kind🥰
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I just came across your channel.and subscribed! Newly retired teacher here! Ty for the tips!❤😊
Congratulations on your retirement! Thank you for joining our community.
We have been forced into decluttering from our Christmas smoke damage. Saturday we decluttered an entire closet and it felt good. Eventually the insurance company is coming in and they will be hiring a company to completely clean our home from floor to ceiling and everything in between. So this is something that we need to do before they can come in.
It is very discouraging when things get ruined and you have to throw them out. That’s happened to me on things that I saved that I should have gotten rid of. And yes it does feel good to get rid of it.
It definitely does and the things that we're going out the door I put them on the backseat of my car. they ended up being things that were my daughters and also some board games. So I stopped by her apartment and asked her did she want any of it she took most everything on the back seat except for about three board games and those I donated at a thrift store down the road from my house
When low cut your toothpaste tube in 1/2 mine will last 2-3 weeks longer .
That is so true! It is amazing. How much is still in there!
Great tips. I use Tide original but only a T. for a load. A 34oz bottle for under $5 lasts me forever (I only do a load of laundry once a week). I use Zote soap for deep surface cleaning (woodwork, cabinets and soaking stains) at $1.98 a bar will last me 2 years. I refuse to give up my windex though. 😆
I use Zote soap to clean my make up brushes!
We use solar lights inside the house. Just put the detachable panels outside during the day to charge and bring them in in the evening. Also use a clothesline to dry clothes. And have portable heater and portable air conditioner. Wash clothes on cold. Almost always by the store brand. Run all errands at one time to save gas, instead of going in and out during the day. Wear it out, use it up, reuse it for something else.
Great rules to live by!!
Great tips! I use Ajax dishwashing liquid, as well. I'm able to buy it for 1.25 at Dollar Tree. Because it's less harmful to the environment than laundry detergents, I use it for my laundry, too. My clothes don't get that dirty, so it's fine. One bottle a month is generally all that I need. Because I'm 75 and my skin is much dryer than it used to be, I only shower every 3 days. This sounds gross, but it's recommended by dermatologists. It saves me a lot on shampoo and conditioner.
I have dry hair, so I only wash it a couple of times a week and it works best for me so no judgment here!
My mother-in-law is a widow and I noticed that she always has lights on in rooms that she's not even in. Now she has motion type lights in her kitchen that will come on as she walks through but I did notice that she kept lights on in other rooms and I asked my husband about that isn't that really draining on her electric bill he said well maybe he said but I actually think she feels safer having her home more lit up and not so dark. So I can understand why she would do that. But we are more inclined to turn lights off
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She may be afraid of falling if there's not enough light.
@@janeandrews1790 yes, makes sense. She is very unstable that way
LED lights take up hardly any energy.
Loving the intro music 🎶
Very country! ♥️
Hope you get rid of the cold soon.
I enjoy washing dishes by hand!
You mentioned spending so much money when working. I’m wondering, with the distance you needed to drive for work, how much was your monthly gasoline expense?
Vinegar is an inexpensive and great product to use as a hair conditioner, fabric softener, grease remover from pans, a cleaning agent for windows, and more.
I spent at least a couple of hundred dollars a month in gas when I was working. I also had a job where I had to do assessments at peoples homes. Mileage was reimbursed but it put a lot of miles on my car.
I cut up a cloth diaper into small squares and use them as makeup removers. When time to wash I place in a mesh bag a add to regular wash. They easily whiten if I launder adding bleach.
Great idea!
What do you use on the soft diaper squares
I will have to say Bonita you are my inspiration for not looking at expiration dates in my home. I find out that a lot of things last for a very very long time. I'll pull out a container of sour cream and I'm thinking oh my goodness when did I buy this and I open it up and it smells completely fresh so it is amazing. Now what I have to do is sometimes train myself to remember to look at expiration dates at a store. Which I need to do at a place like an Ollie's or it is scratch and dent type shelf or something cuz that could be a waste of money if I threw money away when really something was getting ready to expire in a month and I knew I wouldn't use it that soon. I do know that certain things last far past the expiration date but I always feel a little leery about those things that are very close to expiring that I have not purchased myself ahead of time. What are your thoughts on that? If you see a good deal on some canned goods but they're getting ready to expire next month will you purchase them? My thinking is how have they been cared for before I bought them. Now if I bought them 6 months ago and they're getting ready to expire that's okay I'll hold on to them cuz they've been on my shelf but I don't know what conditions they've been in in transportation at the store ,warehouses Etc what are your thoughts on that? Sorry if my sentences sometimes run on or of what I'm saying is confusing hopefully you're getting what I'm saying
I normally do not buy anything that is getting ready to expire unless I know I’m going to use it very soon.
Good. Then my hunch is right about that
I much prefer natural light. And I feel like my house is more homey when we have lights off and we just use lamps for the natural light.
Me too!
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Great video!!❤❤
Thanks!!
I love the Aldi laundry detergent and the blue bottle dish detergent......reasonable price. I have a stack of quick dry microfiber cloths.....wash, rack dry, and they are dry in a few hours......I use them for everything.
Good information! I’ve never tried the Aldi laundry detergent or dish soap.
I'm loving your channel so much. I would like to see more of your place lol. Especially from the outside. I bet it's so cozy 🤗
❤️❤️❤️ Thank you!
When I go to Starbucks I bring my own teabags, then get hot water, and leave a 1$ tip. So I save 3$ on a cup of tea. I go twice a week to visit with coffee friends.
I’m sure they are fine with that since you leave them a tip. I’ve heard of people doing that at restaurants as well. I wish I was a tea drinker but I only like it cold and then I only like it when it’s really hot outside. I have never learned to like hot tea.
Very inspiring videos…I get great suggestions & hints from you. Since starting your channel, I live below my monthly income and save about 600$ a month. Great fun for a former spendthrift.
@ What?? Oh my goodness! That makes me so so happy!
@@PenniestoDollars I have gotten away from drinking hot tea daily, but it is a nice afternoon break to look forward to sometimes. I like plain ol' Lipton tea brewed in a pretty teacup. I add a little half and half, no sweetener. Enjoyed with a ginger snap or shortbread cookie, it is a nice afternoon treat and a time to relax and slow down.
Your hair looks great today! Not that it looks bad other days….
Haha It is naturally curly, so it looks different every day, depending on it’s mood!
Now that I have the life that I want which is Retirement, I am more than willing to do what I need to do to live that life comfortably and with no stress. A couple of things I do……..saving my chicken bones and making bone broth. Over the weekend I put all the bones I have been saving in the freezer for the past 5 or so months into the roaster and I ended up with 8 qts of broth. I don’t go by end date on a lot of things…..things last longer than a person thinks. Download free Libby app for books , magazines etc.
I have never owned a dishwasher so I’ve always done dishes by hand. And I am not brand loyal. If it works snd is less expensive I’m all about that. Good video!!
I know you understand. I am exactly the same way. I will do a lot of things to have the life that I want.
One thing we do by phone now that we never used to was pay some bills. We always wrote a check. But unfortunately back several months ago when my husband through his business had a check stolen washed and written for a very large amount which we still have yet to recoup it really woke us up. And we now pay almost all our bills that we can by phone and then as soon as the credit card come due we pay it immediately we have never carried a balance.
I pay most of mine online, but I set them up to post on the day they’re due.
@PenniestoDollars excellent
❤ Fantastic video Bonita ❤ I also do not use a hair dryer or curling iron, used to use them all the time years ago when i worked not anymore. Its great i feel so much better, i hand wash dishes, hang dry clothes, shut off heat vents when no one uses a room. I use Palmolive Dish soap ❤ use only clorox brand laundry sanitizer in our laundry no detergent.
Cloth diapers are awesome for cleaning ❤ i Retired at 62 now 65 Loving life with my Cowboy ❤
I love my life, too! Retirement is amazing!
I always only use half the amount of laundry soap recommended. Also cut the ends off tubes of toothpaste and hand cream - there’s still a lot in there!
For sure!
I stopped buying facial scrub and use baking soda, I make my own toothpaste with baking soda and essential oils and I do oil pulling with coconut oil(I buy in bulk from vitacost), I eat beans almost every day to help cut down on the amount of meat. I am pre-diabetic so I still eat meat with almost all meals, I just supplement with beans. Dry pinto beans in bulk are the best. When I have time, I make my own bread and tortillas. The washing soap from the Hispanic stores is great too; just shave off some of the bar! I’m also considering trying to make my own dishwashing soap from Dr Bonners since I use it as an all purpose cleaner and a liquid hand soap in different concentrations.
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I like palmolive. In the winter, it's all that I use. It makes a difference in my hands.
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I remember those commercials!
Palm Olive coconut & olive oil? Maybe that's the reason🤔 Oh, and me too, I like Palmolive.
Depending the size of the load of laundry, instead of laundry detergent, I use 1 or 2 teaspoons of Dawn Platinum.
Yes, I just use about a tablespoon of detergent and it works great and saves so much product and money!
It’s the agitation in the washer that really gets things clean versus the soap.
Even better make your own menthol salve. It’s even cheaper and that’s with all organic ingredients. Plus, you can control how strong you want to make it. The same goes for things like lip balm and body butter. They’re super cheap and easy to make and don’t have any yucky chemicals or preservatives in them (as long as the products are oil based and don’t contain water or water like products, i.e., hydrosols, aloe vera, etc. you don’t need to add a preservative, though an antioxidant like vitamin E or Rosemary antioxidant is a good idea to help prevent oxidation.)
I just bought a large bottle of Ajax at CVS for free with a $4 off coupon 😊 it smells so nice and is sudzy, too.
Yes! A hidden secret!
You have a good texture so you don't need to blow dry it. I need to blow dry and use a flat iron to make my hair behave.
I use a flat iron, sometimes too, but it just curls back up.
I like the idea of splitting it up. I definitely would do that.. my blow dryer broke over a year ago. I refuse to buy another one .
I hadn’t realized that I had just forgot that they even existed until someone mentioned them the other day.
@@Brattyanne1231frugal got a blow dryer at a thrift store for $2. I need it to give my baby one hair volume. It's been working great for years.
I use shower gel as handwash as it’s cheaper 😊 I’ve got an insulated jug I boil the kettle once fill my jug with boiling water and that what I use to make my tea & coffee 😊
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I wait for the clearance of themed items after every holiday, and use them for the following holiday. This is all from the local thrift shop! Just this week, 90% off Christmas themed items.
Great mark down!
I have a wish list going of items that I need to purchase from CVS but rather than just run over there and buy them in the last couple of weeks I've been waiting for a coupon that needed to be good it started on the 30th of this month so today and it'll go through a little bit into January that way I'm able to get 25% off the purchases that I need to make
I love CVS coupons!
Me too, I went over there today and picked up the two items that I needed and I ended up saving a total of $5 off of my bill. A little over $5 actually. And one of the items was one that my husband had requested and I didn't want to just put it off if he felt like it was something that he needed right away but he told me it was fine to wait till the coupon was active
Everything that is beyond using for it's original purpose gets used for dusters and cleaning cloths - sheets, tee shirts, towels etc. I also do my laundry on a cold wash unless it's really dirty because modern laundry detergents are much more effective than they were years ago.
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I like the way you think.
Thank you!
4:15
I use a heating pad
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Congratulations on the mentholatum purchase. What a deal😊
Yes!! Stocked up for years now :)
Oh yes for sure. I like that smell as well it's a very comforting smell I think it reminds me of when I was young.
I use a washer ball (which I ordered off Amazon) instead of laundry soap. I think it cost around $9, and it's good for 1500 washes.
Nice! I haven’t heard of those!
I cut up tee shirts into pieces for rags and use them for doing dishes and other cleaning. If what is cleaned is really gross I will just throw them out. otherwise they go in the washer. I use a rag instead of a paper towel
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I rotate between my kitchen my living room and my family room during the day. The family room is where the wood stove is so if I'm cold I'm out there. Of course if I'm cooking or preparing meals I'm in my kitchen if I'm folding laundry I'm in my living room
I love the natural light in my office so the cats and I are in our sunbeam every day if there is sun 🌞!
That's adorable. It's so nice to have sunshine🌞
Oh yes you are smart. No more little bows for me too :)
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I bought Ivory dish soap recently and it was a waste of money. No suds at all and didn't cut the grease. Usually I buy palmolive.
I don’t like any brand but Ajax and Dawn to cut grease. I agree. Ivory doesn’t work.
Yes I’ve used Ariel for years. It smells wonderful and is so much cheaper. Thanks for the tip about Ajax. I’m going to try it.
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I can wash a sink full of dishes with one gallon of water. Wash them like you're camping.
Yes!!
For people who say why would you live that way that's not living are often people who either are trying to get out of debt are in debt are struggling all the time. People who buy things they can't afford and are always stressed and anxious because they are always trying to pay off a bill. So everybody's entitled to their opinion. I am happy how we live and I would not want to live any differently. Now one thing that I mentioned in a previous comment of a video that you made recently was that I enjoyed treating my children to lunch out. Now I realize that when my husband and I retire that will not be something that I will be able to do as often. Right now through his business we each get a paycheck and that's where that money is coming from and it's not that I won't be able to treat my children but right now I am able to treat two or three of my children weekly. But I know that that may not always be it might be monthly or every couple of weeks. But that's okay I'm willing to make that sacrifice so that we can retire comfortably and not have to worry
I still spoil my kids and grandkids at Christmas and her birthday. A lot of people don’t buy their adult children gifts but I’m not willing to give that up. You are right, we all have our own preferences and that’s OK. That helps us budget for our needs.
Exactly. We always give our adult children money every year they really look forward to it. Some of them use it to get a car repaired, sometimes they use it and treat themselves to things other times they use it to pay a bill. But once it leaves our hands and enters theirs it's up to them what they do with it.
Have you tried making your own laundry detergent yet? I got my ingredients and am about to make a bucket of laundry detergent myself at home. I recently retired and am now getting by with a fixed income. I'm looking at everything and how to reduce my expenses.
No mainly because I heard it can be hard on washers and the detergent I buy is already so inexpensive. Let me know how it works out!
Oh one more thing i just cook once a day we eat the same thing twice so I don't need to use the stove again for dinner or it can be light dinner nothing heavy
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Good ideas
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Yes i only heat one room or airconditionning in one room
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Great video ❤
Thanks!
Some good tips! Thank you!
Thank you!
Your words are so true. Thanks
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How can you fight static clean? Besides dryer sheets? It's very "staticy" where I live.
Wool balls if you use a dryer. I have a link under items that I used to save money in the description box. However, I only use my dryer a few times a year.
@PenniestoDollars thank you!
Thank you for another inspiring video to keep me on my frugal journey. I write expiration dates on all my food. This way I know what needs to be used first from my pantry. If it is expired but still looks ok to eat then it is used. Are you going to same place in Texas as last year or are you choosing a different location?
Yes I am going to the same place this year.
Good Morning Bonita!
Good morning, Roberta! Happy New Year!
Such good ideas! By the way, I love your hair!!
Thank you!
I use liquid detergent that is on sale. I make it frugal by using only a jigger measure of it for a load which is always washed on cold.
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What kind of work did you do? My job was stressful and I worked longer than I thought I could. Life is better now. Wish I retired sooner? Not sure. Maybe. Now I do very little. I stay close to home and some activities close to home. I stay home too. These are no spend days. I find many hobbies and interests. Take care all. 🇺🇸
I worked in Healthcare as a Dept of Aging and Disabilities Assessor at my last job. We didn’t have enough help. We didn’t get lunches or breaks.
I do buy original blue Dawn for stains in laundry because Ive never found something better; But I never use it for dishes lol. For dishes I use Ajax or Palmolive, which ever is cheapest with coupons/loyalty programs and rebate apps combined. Sometimes I will even go further and buy generic and cut it 1/2 & 1/2 with Ajax or Palmolive. Whatever it takes to get through until the next sale if I run out. I also use the above ways to get most Tide, Persil or All detergent for less than a buck per bottle (Im allergic to Gain) and then I add about a cup of purified water to it. So it works out to be cheaper than the Mexican mkt stuff even. I only use 2-3 TBSP per exlarge load, so a bottle lasts a VERY long time.
I use about a tablespoon and I can get 64 loads for about two dollars. We only do about two loads a week so it works out great!
@@PenniestoDollars My husband wears uniforms to work, so we have to do 3 extra large loads per week and an occasional additional load of blankets. I just looked and my bottles of Tide are 32 ozs plus 1 cup of water and I paid .94 cents each. So very comparable. Is yours a liquid detergent? Does it come perfume and dye free? I may be persuaded to try it!
@ That’s a great price! They are liquid and have a scent.