10 "Normal" Things I Don't Do As A Financial Minimalist

[@GabeBult]

What are some "Normal" things you don't do?

[@shrutiprakashbanerjee790]

I don't buy any newspaper, showpieces, updated electronic gadgets and high coast branded accessories to fit in the society.

[@kate60]

Eat out. Pay for entertainment. Upgrade anything.

[@beebsblue]

Drink alcohol, go to expensive restaurants, buy designer clothes, get the latest iPhone,

[@zrstockholm]

I don't charge my phone at home. I do it at work

[@zrstockholm]

Keep my water heater turned off. Just switch it on half an hour before showering. Have done this in the last 4 places where I lived and it never broke down nor anything.

[@JastaAdventures]

When I first started gardening I also thought I would only have food producing plants. But as I became more experienced, I realized that flowers attract pollinators. I would encourage you to think about getting some local flowering perennials. You could also plant herbs, many of which flower and are great for pollinators during certain seasons

[@pirateslife4me]

This!! Some flowers are edible, some make great companion plantings for veg and of course attract pollinators for an abundant garden. Gardening on the cheap also can involve propagating your own plants and sharing plants with others. Then it becomes a built-in social activity that is low cost and healthy! Bottom line, live like my grandma did lol

[@zephfyre5167]

@@pirateslife4me True! There are also flowers you can boil for tea.

[@macpeters9873]

Agree - if you want to get the most out of your fruit trees/shrubs, you should ideally have something in flower throughout the entire growing season, so pollinators always have a reason to hang around. Different plants also help feed the soil or keep pests out of your fruit, so you don't have to buy fertilizers or insecticides. Turf grass, on the other hand... not very useful at all. A small area for play is one thing, but there's a big field of wasted opportunity all around that sad, lonely pear tree.

[@muwgrad1987]

Herbs are beautiful, and much cheaper to grow than to buy fresh. I grow flowers for the same reason - and their beauty is food for the soul!

[@progresswithjes]

Yep

[@ForestFury101]

I love and agree with all except no pets, but pets bring a lot of value to my life and also, we don't all have to agree. I love the no gift thing. What a racket. We also have one car.

[@Googlyeyes5265]

Right! I'll cut any other costs to be able to provide a home for a pet, they do bring joy, love, and funny experiences for me🥰

[@bestyoutubechannelever3206]

You can still have pets and be a minimalist. Minimalism isn't supposed to be like living in a military barrack. It's about reducing down to the things that truly make you happy. Not just things for the sake of things or trying to impress others that you don't even like and they don't even like you. If pets truly make your life happier then have pets. Think of it as decluttering your life.

[@Ohole]

But he just said that is FOR HIM, and he understands that this is different for others.

[@karendobbs8153]

It isn’t about agreeing. He was saying it’s not for his family at this time. He wasn’t talking about anyone else.

[@picsburgh]

@@Googlyeyes5265 I so miss the freedom of not having a pet but I wouldn't not have a dog in my life. I love my dog more than anything.

[@topofmindwithterri]

For Christmas, we started donating to charity. The family would gather for a meal, games and activity for the donation. We'd each contribute $20 (there were 15 of us, so that's $300). Then we'd each pick a charity and draw a name at random. That person's charity got the $300 donation. Games were for bragging rights. It was great!

[@asmigaikwad4836]

Thats great may god bless you and your family

[@nancyjuarez2037]

I love this idea!

[@financialfreedomin7years]

Pets are the best friends! ❤Even if thinking about living a frugal life, I can’t imagine a life without pets at home. They bring so much happiness and joy 😍 it’s worth every penny.

[@sabl6381]

The intro is pure gold. We have a 5-month-old baby girl and so it was especially epic.

[@ellenhawkins128]

The Intro!😂 loved it. We have one dog, three adult children. We all get so much joy and shared memories with our pet, but pets are like toddlers who never grow up.

[@brijeetinapod1654]

True but you cannot unlove that dog..

[@FrogeniusW.G.]

Depends on the pet. I think this mainly applies to dogs. My cats are very "grown up". 😂

[@picsburgh]

@@FrogeniusW.G. lol

[@HairyKnees1]

For me pets replace the need for therapy and antidepressants… so they bring value for me. Online shopping is my risk for overspending. So I recently downloaded a couple of free games to use during moments of boredom (& strictly adhere to playing without buying in app stuff). That helps. I’ve seen a reduction in my expenses since getting the games. Note that I utilize time blocking and schedule in some downtime/relaxation. That avoids game addiction.

[@sonialinsey8083]

If you have a young child and that was the goal for you, I can see having no pets. Children are a huge responsibility. I just…couldn’t live without my dog and cats. I even understand the idea of no xmas presents. Mostly presents are just junk anyway. I spent 1 year without pets after my older cat passed. My house was clean but I got really really depressed. Also NO FLOWERS ugh. I’m kinda glad I don’t have to live this way.

[@somegladmourning443]

I looked and researched for over 8 months to find a older minivan that I could pay cash for instead of financing a newer vehicle. It's still one of the nicest vehicles I've ever owned, but being willing to wait and being ok with a 15 year old vehicle (still in good shape) made all the difference.

[@sherryvietor5767]

I was so entertained by the opening of this video that I subscribed. Good luck meeting your goal.

[@frankbatista.official]

I love talking about personal finance. One thing that I love to talk about with my clients is having goals. Most of the people who can't stick to a budget and keep the same bad money habits are those who don't have any goals or objectives. Always have goals for your money guys. LOVE YOUR CHANNEL GABE. Love your videos!!!!!

[@gwenj5419]

Kids are only THAT expensive if you buy all the unneeded baby products that are pushed by consumerism. The things you actually need can be purchased 2nd hand at garage sales etc.

[@Melaniejd902]

Exactly

[@acrobaticanna]

I agree. Thry can be basically free if you use cloth nappies, nurse them and get clothes from friend's baby's who have grown out of them.

[@Jane-rh7tc]

yup, kids outgrow clothes so fast it's totally not worth getting new ones, just buy secone hand. Toys too, kids lose interest in toys super fast, a lot of secone hand out there, see if friends/family have used ones to give away.

[@arlenepoff1014]

Enjoyed this video! We don’t have a pet either. I try not to eat fast food. My husband still does occasionally. When I worked, retired now, I took my lunch most days. I told my husband recently that we don’t need two cars, but he disagreed. Anyway, I agree with all your ideas. Thanks for this.

[@cozumel617]

New follower, and you are literally changing my life right now. I've been struggling to adapt to minimalism for the past few years. I'd say I'm getting there. Restaurants and excessive social media are the last two I need to let go ! Have been trying to watch more valuable KZbin content that is actually relevant to me and helps me learn instead of Netflix or hulu...thank you for being one of the more valuable content creators !

[@HotTeaAddict]

I would recommend reconsidering the flowers. I also have planted a bunch of fruit and nut trees in addition to blueberries etc. The benefit of planting flowers like marigolds or natives to your area is it encourages more bees to help your fruit and veggies grow more. Additional plants like marigolds and some native (non human edible plants) also are ‘sacrificial’ to keep bugs and pests from eating the food you have grown. Natives are super low maintenance and really help the local system in addition to improving crops

[@moonbyeol9130]

I'm working at McDonald's (in Poland) and the amount of orders and money it makes is still growing despite inflation. We run out of stuff before delivery days, because we're never ready for increasing "need". Also a I see a lot of kids and teens, the same ones everyday eating there. Whevener I'm on a bus to work I hear people talking about going to McDonald's... And it wasn't like that just few months ago. The cult of fast food now is terrifying. Even on Sundays when the stores are closed (my MC is in a mall) people come just to eat, as early as 10 am - we open at 10, they'd be earlier if we were open lol.

[@turtleanton6539]

Insane

[@Anne-ub1nq]

As I recall, pets do prevent children from developing allergies later in life. As well as the emotional benefits of owning a pet. I've been struggling with the decision as they are quite expensive, and it is nice to not have to worry about leaving on vacation. But there are many benefits of owning pets as well. It's a personal decision to be sure! ☺️

[@joannecatherinegabl1913]

I love our family Christmas. We bought gifts for all the kids and they expressed disappointment and a severe lack of gratitude. Now it’s a grand meal, spending time together, and passing down other traditions. It’s made the season longer and more special. I personally celebrate with music and reflection.

[@kaitlinross4348]

I honestly love buying gifts for other people, especially my toddler. Seeing the joy a thoughtful gift brings people makes me so happy. We absolutely spend way too much at Christmas time but it’s just one thing we will never stop doing lol. I do lean toward items that will give more of an experience rather than an item that will likely hardly be used, stored away, etc. And for cars, we have definitely started to buy them brand new and it’s been a huge money saver for us. Might have gotten lucky but haven’t had any problems with any of them, and we buy during a time of deals offered (free oil changes up to so and so miles, free repairs etc.)

[@victoriavlasenko]

Most stuff that we buy doesn’t bring us happiness - so true!

[@claudiafairbanks]

I can say that extended warranties have saved me so much money. Last year I had my Robot Mop have an issue and my extended warranty was able to completely replace it for me. It was definitely worth the $60 to get a $399 get card to replace it. I was able to get the replacement on sale for under the $399 I got from my warranty.

[@vivianhudacek1556]

Wise choices! Years ago a friend said to me, “We know we love each other, so let’s just skip getting gifts.” I’ve repeated that practice with others since then. My best friend & I take each other out for lunch on our birthdays. For years my husband & I haven’t given each other gifts for special occasions, but we’ll do something instead, like take a trip. We seldom eat out, preferring to eat more wholesome food at home & saving money. Since the pandemic I’ve found I’m not interested in shopping for entertainment.

[@vaevictis1697]

I mean... A trip is a gift. A very $$$ one

[@vivianhudacek1556]

@@vaevictis1697 yes, made possible by not giving other gifts over the years. It also doesn’t add to more stuff in the house, & it doesn’t mean a big trip & certainly not one for every occasion, more a saving up & anticipating.

[@marisaedgar-fox3198]

I’m definitely a minimalist but I do have 11 pets. They bring us a lot of joy, and I think having an animal and learning to care for them is important for my children, it has made them all caring and compassionate people. But I do spend a lot of time and money on them, but my pets live a minimalist life, instead of tons of toys, or leashes etc they have one or a select few things that are easy to clean that is high quality.

[@turtleanton6539]

Yeah pets dont need many different toys😊

[@SeanWilliamsofficial]

Tip: take a photo of your receipt for large purchases/electricals and then use image search when you need to locate the receipt. Most software has text recognition like apple photos. Or save the receipts to a folder on iCloud or your pc for retrieval 👍

[@llkg9]

Exactly, if I'm spending money on a new laptop, I'm also spending 60 seconds to take a pic of the receipt and upload it to a folder.

[@kimlkershaw]

With our extended family we do "Secret Santa" for Christmas which means you end up buying for one person and everyone gets a gift at the end of it. This is where everyone puts their name in a hat and then we each draw out a name and that is the person you buy for. We put a value on it i.e. $20. I am organising it this year, which means I will know who is buying for who, but it is a great way to cut back on expenses and it is fun too.

[@Paul9]

We just put money towards a trip for Christmas now and buy a small gift to open. It really annoys me that people end up stressing about buying presents for people who don’t need them with money they don’t have just because we’re all conditioned into it.

[@wmgreen00]

Don’t go to the grocery store hungry, some of the BEST advice I’ve gotten

[@mooretessie]

Just a perspective on the pet thing… doesn’t have to be travel OR pets. We do both. Also, both dogs travel/camp/backpack with us! 😊 and if not, someone watches them while we are gone. Sure though, it is an expense that has to be worth it to you.

[@travisambrose]

A note on the christmas gifts- no buy holidays have been something my family has done for years, but I realized that the Gift love language is something I value being satisfied, even though it's a low priority. I think a way to emphasize community, connection, and gift giving (because many people value this love language), is to do secret santa or white elephants to still have the joy of gathering, giving and receiving, but to significantly reduce the financial burden. And if you're someone with a creative gene, home made gifts are some of my favorite gifts to receive.

[@johannklassen862]

1. No pets 2. No fast food 3. No extended warranty 4. No shopping as a pass time 5. No holiday gifts 6. No posting highlights 7. Just to fit in 8. No flowers 9. Paying for housing 10. No car

[@lee14876]

No housing costs?

[@ricardojmestre]

Thank you!

[@dmb1995ta]

Gotta have a puppy! The amount of joy it brings every day is unmatched. Sometimes it's the little things. Have a great day people!

[@newyou9914]

@@dmb1995ta Totally agree. How much do people spend on therapy? Probably more than a pup cost and the pup is my therapy! lol

[@susanclaire901]

*pastime

[@lydiaackermann]

I agree with most points, but would exchange "no pets" for "no kids". Might not be the most popular view though, but was the right decision for us.... Further, we switched to gift memories, for example gifting tickets for events that we then attend together, so we spend time and create memories together. We do agree on the events and dates together beforehand, so it is not a surprise gift, but something eveyone is looking forward to.

[@Red_1976]

Greeat idea

[@kellyhere2031]

I agree except for the pet thing. I think having a cat doesn’t cost too much, and I think once a person has a furry friend in their life, they’ll realize how important it is. But that’s just me. Not pushing it

[@juliawashburn675]

Plant nasturtium. They has beautiful flowers and the whole plant is eatable. Flowers can be used in tea, leaves can be cooked like spinach.

[@RedNicole22]

They also are a pain reliever, and keep aphids away. So spicy and yummy. Interesting pollinators love nasturtium. Can’t recommend them enough. Oh and they produce so much seed, never need to buy more.

[@june-uni]

Plus they put Nitrogen back in the soil :)

[@alphaattaroa4654]

The no pets thing kind of made me chuckle. The wanting freedom in the home and ability to travel being reasons to not have one but having a child that gives the same restrictions. Then again, I have a dog and no kids. The dog travels with me because any vacation worth having is one she is able to go on. 🤷

[@Eric-1776]

A child and a hamster are not even remotely similar.

[@alphaattaroa4654]

@@Eric-1776 Both Gabe and I were using the example of a dog. Last I checked hamsters and children are both small mammals that require housing, bedding, and food. Sounds pretty similar to me.

[@alphaattaroa4654]

@@Eric-1776 Every reason Gabe gave for not having a pet is exemplified 100x if you are comparing children to hamsters. Hamsters are far cheaper and easier to maintain as well as being more self reliant than children when it comes to wanting to travel and leave them behind. Just leave plenty of water and food available and a hamster will be fine when you get back, a baby would be dead.

[@Eric-1776]

@@alphaattaroa4654 I’m not denying that children require attention. I reject any other equivalency however. To consider the two similar is insane. The reward and joy of children is not even remotely close to that of a pet. To even consider such a concept is utter lunacy. Unfortunately, it’s going around these days.

[@rtagnani]

@@Eric-1776 to you. Don’t speak for everyone. I can assure you, a child would not bring enough joy to my life to justify having one. People need to stop assuming everyone loves children or finds value in them. Just as Gabe doesn’t find value in pets, there are people who don’t find value in children. It’s a diverse world.

[@josephbrown9685]

The holiday gift thing has been a big hang up for certain members of my family for years. Fortunately, my sister and brother-in-law are on board with my way of thinking. It really bothers me how holidays that are supposed to be about family togetherness have been corporatized.

[@SamBrown-pt4wg]

I just got a dog after years of not having one and.. oh my gosh it has improved my life and happiness so much more than I could have imagined!

[@Bemusedbeyondbelief]

Agree with pretty much everything, apart from the pet because, for me, the value they bring to your life far outweighs the expense. (We are all different) I have found that the pandemic has changed so much. Because of the logistics in buying and delivering Christmas presents at the time many of my family members decided to give it a miss that year, and it is something we have not picked back up in subsequent years. I started to shop more on line during the pandemic. I am fairly product loyal, so shopped around to find the best deal on cleaning products, toiletries etc as well as more ‘one off’ products. This habit has stuck. Other than a supermarket for food (always stick to the list) I barely visit a shop now and thus I am less tempted into impulse purchases. If I want or need something, but is not urgent, it gets added to a Christmas or birthday list - if I still want it or need it then, that is the time to get it. Spending more time at home and not going out having experiences made me realise that actually lots of possessions did not make me happy, but a simple, calm space bought me more joy (I have since got rid of 60-70% of my possessions and regularly declutter more - no regrets). The thing I did miss in my life was experiences and not all those cost money. This is now my priority.

[@jukes243]

Yep, I agree with all 10 things. I love a good challenge. Thanks, Gabe.

[@kimsnader8777]

As an animal lover, I applaud your acknowledgement that owning a pet is a significant financial and time commitment. Beyond your financial readiness to bring a pet into your life is recognizing how rooted your life is .... too many animal rescues and shelters take in pets from owners who moved to an apartment that wouldn't allow pets, or whose jobs changed to require extended travel or long hours so that extra pet-care services were needed that weren't affordable. As an amateur gardener, I also agree with your choices about choosing productive plantings (fruits and vegetables instead of flowers and well-behaved shrubbery selected solely for aesthetic purposes). Your understanding about best-bang-for-your-buck investments for your location will evolve, and will be very location-specific.

[@neilschipper3741]

First of all you've been doing a great job over the years on your videos. I got rid of my car 4 years ago. I live in a large populated county that has Regional Transportation for Three Counties. If I need to go somewhere it's $2.50 all day on a senior pass. Fast food .. yuck! Haven't done that in years! Thanks again for another informative video.

[@cheekymonkeygirl3378]

Your points are about everyday life that most people do not consider. Every time I watched your videos, I learn a valuable lesson. You are amazing. You deserve all the best in life.

[@Denise_Cocoa]

That intro was sooo stinking cute and hilarious. My friend was just complaining last week about how much her 13-year-old is costing her and after I listened I said, “I know a great way you can save some money. You’re gonna have to put her up for adoption, it’s the only way!” 😂 We shared a laugh so your intro was especially funny to me lol

[@stannyxc]

There are herbs and spices that are often used decoratively as flowers. Many of the can be easily grown from seed, so they are very cheap to have. You could also collect seeds for next year to save a little more :)

[@resourcefulqueen5109]

Thanks for sharing your ideas. I do not have house payment because my house has a basement apartment which I rent out, plus I rent out my guest bedroom and bath to long-term Airbnb guest. This covers my mortgage and utilities. In fact, my house is almost paid off. Yea! Also, I have a rule to never sell a house (this is my 3rd) because eventually the rent will pay it off and then the income will contribute to my retirement budget. Onward!

[@maryconnell888]

You could always try propagation. It's free. But I recommend you grow raspberries if you haven't already because they're really great for you, expensive in the shops and they fruit for months.

[@CAGChannel1]

My daughters service dog = life, literally Yep, she works HARD and provides massive, massive value. Invaluable to the chromosome triplication community, for sure…..and, let’s face it, I love that furry beast to death :)

[@ellenhawkins128]

Not doing seasonal professional photo shoots, not doing the ever-expanding Christmas card mail out, secondhand furniture/car/clothing, etc. purchases, quitting cable tv 27 years ago, always saving at least 10%, and tithing - some of the things that have brought us financial health.

[@keny9981]

So young and wise, took me years to have this mindset

[@shareehammett1590]

I agree about planting food instead of just landscaping. But you know you can plant flowers 🌷that you can eat 😉 that's what I decided to do...and bushes such as rosemary are landscaping and food.👍

[@ushacole3674]

Even the plants are paying rent 😂 I’ve been debating what plant to get and I’m so thrilled I saw this video. What a great idea: plants that are functional and beautiful.

[@shaunaleessnackidies]

Funny intro! 😂 totally agree on all of these, and I can personally vouch for the dog thing, it was super expensive and she was a little dog. Keep up the great work!

[@lindaroyal8161]

All great points. I own a duplex so I do get to live basically for free, the rent I collect pays the mortgage payment, it was a great decision. Yes I have more upkeep but the payoff is worth it. I do have pets, cats, they bring me joy, kids are all grown and on their own.

[@ameliabyrne3907]

Your health is your wealth ❤❤

[@MultiLadybug72]

I really enjoyed this one because, as you, I do not own a pet. I enjoy my kid's pets, but I do not want to own one. Does that make me a bad person. Hell no. Not having one gives me more freedom, and freedom brings me joy. It's all about joy, right? Keep up the good work.

[@oxfordstyle5807]

I’ve always felt that way about gardens and pets too, doesn’t seem extreme at all!

[@katieschortmann1098]

Plant native perennials for the ecosystem services! Careful planting can save you money on cooling your home and help you stay healthy. Growing you own produce and herbs is great, but don’t forget the ecosystem you’re a part of (not to mention gardening provides entertainment and education opportunities for your family.)

[@emiliaumana272]

Flowers have a purpose. They provide food for pollinators and in turn you get more fruit and vegetables. Also, some of them can keep pests away. In my case, (I am an agronomist) another service is just that they are so pretty to look at and planting and taking care of them is excersice. 😊

[@Sophie-knows-it]

Love the fruit planting!! Maintenance for a reason! Thank u!!

[@BeckyHollandFuller]

Agree with most of these, except one... no flowers. If you want to get the most out of your fruit and veggie plants, some flowers and other plants to help pollinators and soil health would actually increase your yield and make your food production more efficient over time. Plan them strategically to attract beneficial insects and to give back certain nutrients that the soil needs in order to keep your plants thriving. Lupins, for example, are beautiful and are nitrogen fixers.

[@claudiazam-rod3362]

Love it! Great great idea having a fruit tree it’s wonderful to plant fruit very smart strong idea 👍

[@mr.forthright702]

Making money is an like an action. Keeping money is a behavior, but "Growing money is wisdom" I figured this out a week ago

[@docbreezy3545]

@Robert Grant ya it works I remember my friends calling me crazy when I started investing in crypto now I shut them up with my 7figures weekly returns

[@joeccvvvv6732]

@Romero R I agree with you, I had a senior colleague at work who lived well but never had an investment, unfortunately his job ended so he went from living well to surviving with his family

[@anynyguedes355]

Loved the entire video. And the beginning, was so fun 😂

[@kpaxian6044]

My cat is my absolute little treasure. I wouldn't give her up for a billion dollars. For an animal lover...having a pet can be an investment in happiness and can reduce depression. Adopting my little 18 year old cat saved my life.

[@reginaldshannon4220]

I would never give up my two dogs i have had dogs for the last 45 years. . They are great to have around. Reg in Dublin

[@europeanmominalaska]

I am a gift giver lol😂practicing :) Mom of 3, we own our cars in full. We stay home and save money that way, no random coffees or lunches. Take food to go. Do couple of bigger trips a year. We do have a dog, it’s an extra human if you ask me 😅we work full time:)

[@TVsez]

Something worth discussing might be the impact of minimalism both financial and otherwise have on you social life,relationships, how your perceived...the downsides to minimalism

[@shesisloved9992]

Shucks, I thought this was my social life.

[@AlexShiro]

I have tracked my appliances and purchases warranties etc via MS Excel. Roll your eyes, but thank me later if you have used a warranty (I have!!) But no pets, after one go of cats that passed away. Definitely makes my life simpler and easier.

[@llkg9]

Exactly! I upload mine to a folder on Google Drive. It's so easy to find what I need, and we've gotten WAY more from these warranties than we ever spent for them!

[@margaretroberts-neilson1356]

We also don’t have pets, for pretty much all the same reasons you gave. We do however offer our to dog sit for many of our friends. This way we get to enjoy spending time with lots of different dogs without any of the expense, or long lasting responsibility. Actually we make a bit of money for the service. We don’t charge/accept as much as they would pay a kennel or doggy day care because we like knowing we are helping our friends and we get a lot of enjoyment out of it.

[@juliem.3936]

The pandemic really helped me to stop shopping as a past time. I still order items and food online and pick up from the local store, but I don't have opportunity to shop as a past time and face those impulse purchases anymore. Yay!

[@lisacrews3060]

Great video. No Gifts We did the no more Christmas gifts for extended relatives for Christmas several years ago. At the time my 4 siblings, their kids, my mom and step-dad, my in-laws, and my husband's sister and her kids were all local to us. Even when we bought for minor aged kids only, it was 20 people including my spouse and 3 kids. All 4 of my adult siblings, my mom and step-dad, my dad, my-laws, and my sister-in-law wanted separate lists from us for what the kids wanted. (8 different lists for each kid for every birthday and Christmas!) We don't raise our kids to be stuff people, so there wasn't enough to go on lists for everyone. None of my siblings had in-law nieces and nephews to buy for because none were local to them. I made a list of everyone we bought for showed it to each sibling and set of parents and grandparents individually in early fall explaining we weren't buying for extended relatives anymore. We explained we hoped they wouldn't buy for us either and we would happily arrive at events after the gift giving if they were more comfortable with that. Instead of individual gifts we provided a very large package of fireworks (one purchase, nowhere near as expensive as individual gifts) for all the kids to share at the Christmas celebrations which we supervised. It worked out well. They all still insisted on giving our kids gifts, which wasn't our stated preference, but you can't control other people. We just said thank you, stuck to our no giving policy, and passed out the fireworks. All the relationships remained the same. Edible Landscaping Google "edible landscaping" for resources about selecting plants that are both beautiful and productive. Your local extension office can help you with soil testing, plant selection, and plant care for your area. Sometimes they can provide you with plants at discount from local growers. It's usually by county. Also, certain flowers are essential to pollinators in the ecosystem and help with pest control for edible plants. Learning to harvest their seeds is a way to have lots of flowers for the cost of one packet of seeds, which is usually under $10, often less. Now that I've retired from 25 consecutive years of homeschooling and my husband has worked from home (computer programmer and consultant) for 25 years, we're in a stage of life to share one vehicle. Our second car will go to the youngest who just turned 17. I garden in our food forest and woodland gardens on our suburban 1.3 acres full time and husband still works from home. I'm learning to can and preserve food. We live frugally to pay off our house early.

[@smallfootprint2961]

I agree, Gabe, about the shopping thing In order to by just what I need. I shop from a list. Go in, get what I need, and get out. Not a big fan of stores anyway. Lol. Good advise all round.

[@juniormintess]

You definitely think outside the box! Also plant some flower perennials that come back every year 😊

[@dpowell964]

Love your vlog today.Lots of great tips .

[@bertbouton7157]

I know about 1 other person that is as connected and with their dog as much as I am with mine. They are both incredibly trained, they sleep in beds with us, I'd be devastated if I lost mine. People that are on that level with their dog, there is no price. However, 95% every other owner I run to and watch interact with their dog SHOULD NOT HAVE THEM. If you think of your dog as a "pet" you shouldn't have them.

[@lilypudd]

The right kind of flowers placed near your berry plants & trees, help attract pollinators. With the pollinators, they will pollinate your berries and trees and you will have bigger crops than you have now. Same dirt, same amt of watering, bigger amt of production. The type of flowers are specific to the region your in and what you are planting so you would need to "Google" that.

[@SawounVlogs]

i think the last year or so i seen some of your videos and your content has become more and more interesting. I actually binge watching your videos the last couple times i was on youtube. Keep up the great work!

[@simplycinemayt]

I value movies which to some minimalists may count as wasting time, but since I still give time to people and working to earn money I'm happy with the balance. One thing, however is that I have more than one streaming service to provide youtube content, but the "normal" thing I've cut out doing is also buying blurays or dvds on top of that, and I limit how much I go to the theater. I also take into consideration the time it takes to drive to the theater (plus paying extra for snacks or the time shopping for blurays)

[@sallyr4]

I think you will regret not being generous with friends, family, and especially your wife when it comes to gifting. No matter what she says, she doesn't want the practicle gift for Christmas. It will hurt your elationships in the end and you can't put a price on that!

[@tholm4307]

We travel a lot at present so no pets for us…maybe in the future. We also love growing our own food. We have 3 different variety of tomatoes, avocados, peach, nectarine and mandarins trees as well as blackberries. All produce quite well. We are looking to plant raspberries next. Cheers!

[@eastcoastjen6690]

I love you saying ‘post the lowlights’. That is so awesome. Love your video and ideas. Thanks 🙏🏼💚🙏🏼💚🙏🏼💚🙏🏼

[@valeried2941]

She is precious! I remember having to live at home after college while I looked for first job...didn't do well on first job....sigh...went home. But then was ready to fly so I laugh at shoving your little one out the door. I only buy warranties on large ticket items. Tv. Pc. I agree with you on that one too! We also back off on holiday gifts.....I ask for practical like coats too. March to your own beat! Excellent advice!

[@DebbieBuckland]

saw the clutter free home because it poped up in my feed. Watched the first 30sec of this and subscribed.

[@rogershell2241]

Save money and don't get a pet that will cost 9k per year but have a child. Lol

[@krn2683]

Right?! 🤣

[@lifewithmargot]

I agree with the fruit trees and no flowers I planted a lime tree and shrubs that wouldn’t die

[@PhilFlock]

as a financial minimalist i highly recommend fasting. i eat 2-3 meals a week. it is extremely healthy and it brought my budget for food down to 10-30 dollars per week.

[@cynthia6771]

I stopped overly landscaping. It was so expensive updating every season. Not to mention watering.

[@Erin-rg3dw]

Agree. I don't have a yard currently, but it boggles me how much people spend, especially on lawns - fertilizer, seeding, mowing, the list goes on and it's not even healthy. You can have grass in places where you hang out or play with your pets without doing much more than mowing (less often), and then will garden the rest or get lower maintenance native plants. Much less work and money. Or if you want really low maintenance and live in a dry area, xeriscaping. Beautiful and low/no maintenence

[@coreygendron3766]

I dont eat fast food either. I have been between 170 and 180 ibs since high school and im 48 years old. I know people that eat fast food for breakfast lunch and dinner 😝

[@renabale1541]

We have one car for the whole time we’ve been married (14 years). We have 2 kids. Only can recall 3 times when a second car was really needed. Thankfully there are busses and trains where we live. But the cost of insurance and servicing and petrol is just not worth a second vehicle. Plus it’s one less thing to worry about and maintain. So this is great advice and I recommend families try it if possible. ❤

[@emmalarson]

I absolutely understand the fast food! I stopped eating it for a long time, had some recently & was in SO MUCH PAIN the next day. Really showed me how bad it is for your body which is sad since I used to like so many places but it's not worth it anymore.

[@bessieoriotis5104]

Okay, you don't do what everyone does, but your priorities are correct. Actually since I started cutting what wasn't necessary I ended up on a better standard of living, I could sleep at night knowing we could pay our bills! I eat better and enjoy my life more.

[@ObieMinimalist]

It means that just live with simple life not complicated Gabe.

[@nolakillabeast]

Loved the intro. I am dying to get a dog, literally, its been a dream of mine for ages.BUT, uber expensive and ultimately, I'll be the only one taking care of him. My kids keep promising me they will help, but we all know they won't.

[@karenmcdermott2161]

The problem is large unexpected get bills

[@lifetimestoriesphotography]

We have 2 cockatiel they are on the low maintenance side and $ once you invested in them and the cage., we also have an axelothl that one was expensive to setup and is easy to maintain ...we don't plan dogs or cats but I want to buy 3 chickens more from teaching my son the food chain and be responsible

[@aidenoconnor3774]

I am pretty much following the same lifestyle you are except I do have flowers. Not ornamental ones though. I plan edible flowers and herbs that are god helpful companion plants for my fruit and vegetables. They either ward off pests/blights/funguses or they draw pollinators 😊

[@MultiLadybug72]

Awesome opening!!!! Ya know that red flowery shirt your "camera guy" was wearing in the beginning? Is that the same shirt on a decluttering video you made 11 months ago? The one from 11 months ago came up on my feed after watching today's video. I watched it and recognized the shirt. Not that it's good or bad.....I just thought it was uncanny that I would see both on the same day. Love your creativity. Carry on.

[@Karen.c.h]

People get a lot of value from gardening besides food I think. Most of this was on the extreme end for me, but hey glad it works for you. Please don’t get a dog to watch those chickens when you get a farm. You will end up with a dog with a mouth full of feathers and no eggs.

[@margarethawk3073]

This year we went down to one car also to cut expenses. I miss the other car, but… it was the right thing.

[@bethanyg153]

Shopping as a past-time 🤣 I do stop into thrift stores if I’m close and have some extra time, but I have a list.

[@alphaandomega1332]

I agree with all and I will implement these changes.

[@joycecarr1661]

yes real good ideas

[@Christina4JesusChrist]

I love flowers but i've planned to get edible flower and roses because tea is expensive but yeah mostly fruit trees