5 Practical Ways to Live Below Your Means in 2025

[@myaccount9498]

This year in 2024, I started out with my first "no buy challenge in January" & also tracked every purchase daily in a written book. I was shocked how much I saved in 1 month, so I continued on and I'm in my 11th month of a "no buy/low buy" year. When my friends ask me to go out to places that cost money, I say no (unless it's a birthday) and instead invite them to my place for coffee etc I've always been a good budgeter, but by doing an every dollar budget, daily spend tracking and paying myself first; I'm absolutely blown away by how much I've saved this year on a fixed low income. So 2025 will be an action replay! I encourage everyone who says they can't afford to save, to just start small, but be consistent. 💜

[@TheMummyBubble]

@@myaccount9498 this is so great, thanks so much for sharing. It’s amazing what a challenge can do for changing your habits, and making you realise what a huge difference making these changes can make for you ❤️ keep me updated with how you’re getting on 👍

[@annademo6003]

I am with you on that one. This is my second month of written budget tracker and that alone has helped me reduce my cost of living significantly.

[@suebee1540]

Great information Vicky. In April for my 65th birthday, I am flying from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic ocean in Canada. Taking 3 trains all the way across Canada back to my island in the Pacific. 4435 km! Staying in 4 different 4 star hotels on the way. Solo! I have been doing a lot of overtime at work and have saved for it in my vacation sinking fund over the last few years. I have listened and learned to you and several other youtubers and I am happy to say, I'm doing OK.

[@TheMummyBubble]

@@suebee1540 oh wow I am so jealous! That sounds like the most incredible trip, a trip of a lifetime! I adore Canada, I’ve been twice with my parents as a teen and it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world ❤️

[@Mybelovedcountry]

Thanks for the tips. I started doing a £5.00 weekly saving challenge in June and saving for a vacation and investment in June 2025. Then, Il''ll be commencing another one in January to overpay my mortgage in Dec 2025. It needs a huge sacrifice but it's worthy it. I've done it in 2024. 🙏

[@TheMummyBubble]

Sounds fantastic, best of luck with the savings challenge!

[@loquaxify]

I've been trying to not pay for car parking for the last few months of my maternity leave and it's made a real difference to my outgoings and my attitude to spending as a whole. It's not much each time but it adds up fast!

[@jodieupton4000]

Great idea. To save on parking I often try to park a bit further away from places then walk. It's healthier to as you get exercise.

[@M_SC]

That’s brilliant.

[@pattykake7195]

I am ending a no buy year…the savings are going to 10 day holiday on the Barrier Reef…the leftover goes to my emergency fund. 🏖️

[@TheMummyBubble]

Amazing! A no buy challenge can be so great for big savings goals. How have you found it? Was it easy to stick with it?

[@mysustainabilityjourney9321]

Very Well done. I'm working on a no spend week!

[@sylsuthss]

I have been drafting up my saving and spending plan for 2025, 5 year and 10 year goals this afternoon. I have planned to over pay my mortgage by £10k in 2025 as working towards paying it off within 10 years. I save monthly to a home fund to cover the cost of unexpected/expected purchases/repairs in the home. Aiming to achieve this by batch cooking, taking food into work and buying needs not wants in 2025.

[@TheMummyBubble]

That's incredible, keep us update on how it all goes! I'm sure you will do great in 2025 with this plan in place👌

[@hollyashton7009]

I think I’ll try a no buy January. Last Jan I started a low buy, but kept making little exceptions to my “rules” & then it just snowballed from there. I have surgery end of Dec, so am hoping to just read a lot of books in recovery. The tricky part will be avoiding online shopping/boredom when I’m on bed rest. Thank you very much for these tips!

[@TheMummyBubble]

I hope all goes well with your surgery and you have a smooth recovery. I am planning a vid about no buy January so keep an eye out for that!

[@M_SC]

I’d advise a little online game to replace online shopping. Not one that wants you to periodically purchase “gems” etc. Pay 6.99 for a game and get dopamine from that, it’s cheaper

[@davidmolloy126]

I've cancelled two unnecessary subscriptions and I'm marking a list of what not to buy. I'm really positive and have wanted to do this for a few months. I think that the key word there is wanted. Take care, David.

[@trishacarlson4122]

Oooh! This year I did a hard thing and changed job locations from the location I was at, a town over, to the location close to me now (across the highway). That took a lot of self talk and convincing. But now, having done all the things....which was a process...I have already upp'd my pay a total of $2.75/hr + more than what I was making before this all started :) I hit my 10k goal in 2024 & going for another in 2025. Paying myself first was the game changer.....saving most of my income. And paying as ahead on my bills as I could. I use the envelope system, and I stay organized. Staying organized & on top of your finances is probably the key. Even if it's just a $25 bank fee, you dont want that. Esp not more than once! So anyway.....I think this year financially will be looking pretty good :) Hard work DOES pay off!

[@TheMummyBubble]

That's so amazing Trisha, well done for hitting your goal. You're so right, staying organised is so so important as you can miss those payments and fees which over time can really knock you back. Thanks so much for sharing your success! It's great motivation ❤️👌

[@julieteakel1384]

What I do is subscribe to Netflix between November and February when it's dark and miserable outside so I can have a movie binge, then unsubscribe in the months as it gets lighter. Thank you for this video.

[@marynotcontrary3]

Thanks for the great tips! I’m expanding and refining my use of sinking funds. They have been a game changer for me.

[@CharliniAlmeida]

Yay another finance creator in the UK 🇬🇧 !! Keep it up @Vicky, very helpful video !!

[@christinal3041]

Thank you Vicky for a great video, My daughter and I will visit home Jakarta and we go to Bali , hope in may next year , and I have been doing 52 weeks saving challenge, so that’s for our holiday , much luv from Preston x 😀

[@TheMummyBubble]

Amazing, I bet that will be such an incredible holiday! Thanks so much for watching ❤️

[@tezzatel]

I love your videos they are brilliant. Unfortunately my other half has no interest in budgeting or saving which is a real nightmare. Saving and budgeting needs to be done as a couple if one person doesn't want to then that's a massive problem. Maybe you could do a future video about relationships and money!

[@connieclark1288]

Good job! So good to see you.

[@TheMummyBubble]

Thanks so much for watching ❤️

[@Solomumtoone]

Planning a Disney cruise and also setting up sinking funds for the year ahead as like you with the washing machine have a feeling my car may need replacing in the next couple of years.

[@TheMummyBubble]

@@Solomumtoone I am hoping ours clings on for another year, here’s hoping! Our holiday plans for next year are on a similar theme to yours, I’m so excited for the kids! Best of luck with your sinking fund, you’ll smash it ❤️

[@EllaTee293]

I really enjoy your channel 😊

[@WealthyChronicle]

Setting aside just £20 a month sounds so doable! I can't believe I've never thought of starting that small. Thanks for the tip, Vicki! 🤔 Anyone else starting their savings journey this way?

[@tara9221]

Im going to start again soon on my own as a single mum after my marriage ending,and want to feel in control of my money. Thank you for such a helpful and inspiring video ❤

[@TheMummyBubble]

Thank you so much for watching. All the best to you with your fresh start, you've got this xx

[@tamaradesutter7157]

I set a goal of low spend in January and February! I do not really like these two months . I plan home declutterring projects . Going to Alaska in May 2025’👍

[@TheMummyBubble]

Ooh I would love to visit Alaska, it looks beautiful! I have a vid about low/no spend month coming up in December ❤️

[@mafish7962]

Very helpful video, tfs, Laura ❤

[@TheMummyBubble]

Thank you so much for watching! So glad you liked it ❤️

[@kathrynp7595]

I’m going to do a no spend January 😊

[@TheMummyBubble]

@@kathrynp7595 fab! I did a no spend Jan this year and it really does get the year off to a great start ❤️

[@anaveragemuppet]

I’m hoping to save £150 per payday in 2025 (one I get monthly and the other is every 4 weeks) and I’ll be using the money to pay off all my debts and then the remaining money is going towards Christmas 2025! My Disney+ subscription finishes this month and I’ve decided we won’t be having any subscriptions next year. We’ll be eating out of the food supplies we have but I will be buying produce for our five guinea pigs (we have lots in the freezer for us) but I’m hoping to actually grow more produce next year as we’ve bought some raised beds in anticipation

[@TheMummyBubble]

That's amazing, sounds like you've got a great plan in place for the year ahead!

[@anaveragemuppet]

@ I do! We’re planning to be more self sufficient

[@christinawalker-qh9jt]

Helpful video, thanks. No big holiday planned yet. 2025 Goals... I'm trying to get my sinking funds funded for 6 months ahead. I'm already fully funded for all January to March Birthdays, and I am already saving for Christmas 2025. The fund ahead system really helps me, as I don't like seeing the New Year in with a clunky Christmas overspend. Great idea to have low buy or no spend periods. Will try that one.

[@TheMummyBubble]

Thank you, so glad it was useful. Sinking funds are such a great thing to have, it has helped me so so much, Especially with my car expenses!

[@CassieMoore-d9m]

Do you use a particular funding ahead method. Savings challenges or just saving a fixed sum? I’m figuring out my options as to how best do this in 2025. Many thanks

[@christinawalker-qh9jt]

@CassieMoore-d9m not sure if this will be of help, but here goes. I started off with just one Yearly Birthdays envelope last January and put £10 in it every week. It was all I could budget. After a while, I realised that the Birthday envelope money was being used as fast as it was being stuffed! So, I set up a Fun Challenge binder for stuffing with leftover money each week. Most of the 6 challenges were free to download from an American channel. I then wrote down each Birthday and occasion for the whole year in month order. It was a long list! I realised just how much was involved. Overwhelming in fact. So, I got rough envelopes for each person or event and created an Annual Binder. Then I started off with the first Birthday of the year and stuffed it with the leftover money challenges each time I finished one. Soon, I was onto stuffing the second Birthday in January, and so on until I felt I was on a roll. Great feeling, fully recommend it. I continued to put the £10 each week into the original Birthday Envelope. But I added a tracker for it and tried my best to fund upcoming Birthdays from the £10 a week tracker rather than from the Annual Binder. It worked most of the time, and now I have months of Birthdays stuffed ahead. Hope that makes sense.... all the best with your journey x

[@francescanorton9805]

My focus of 2025 is getting Infront of upcoming big bills. Putting the money aside well in advance. I've made my husband start now 😂

[@TheMummyBubble]

That's such a great focus, it definitely has saved me money being able to do this. And I stress a LOT less when my expensive renewals month comes around.

[@dianediliberto1876]

Thank you.

[@alisonschooley5459]

Great content. Subscription creep, yep, those low prices if you subscribe. I am making it a habit to really regularly go through the subscriptions. I've always been a meal planner and it really helped when the kids were at home. I planned based on schedules, are we home early or do we need a quick meal? All 3 of our kids learned to cook like this and as adults continue the habit.

[@TheMummyBubble]

Thanks so much for watching! Yes subscriptions can really add up can't they, and you do just forget to cancel. Meal planning has definitely helped us too, and that's fab you taught the kids to cook!

[@mysustainabilityjourney9321]

I really need a new bathroom. The bath has been patched 3 times, the sink and toilet both have cracks. We're going to learn how to replace them ... like for like... with advice on you tube to save money. Wish me luck!

[@Thathippiekittykat]

I have 4 streams of income, but still low. So i take £20 from every income, which can be up to £80 a month, but i make myself save at least £20 a month ❤

[@frugalstu]

Hi great vid. Iam a new subscriber . Lara from Frugalfull channel recommended you.

[@LauraN-do2of]

I have a 2025 planned budget for the coming year. I based it off my current expenses for 2024. I’d like to pay off 20,000$ of my student loans in 2025. Any bonuses will go towards that as well. I have 58,000 in total. I’d like to pay it all off in 2.5 years.

[@TheMummyBubble]

Great to have a plan already! I'm sure you will smash it ❤️

[@InnaCeketa]

I love your videos ❤️😘

[@TheMummyBubble]

Thank you so much for watching ❤️

[@bigelbow4854]

All this working different jobs trying to earn the barest minimum just to sustain ourselves. Don’t we get tired? Can they make us rich? I doubt. But what if there was another way. Much easier, more flexible?

[@bigelbow4854]

My advice to everyone is this : if you want to grow big this year especially in your finances. Be willing to make investments. Saving is great but investing puts you on a pedestal where you wouldnt have to worry about savings as you do now. Thanks to larysa Caba, my portolio is doing really great and im proud of the decisions i made last year.

[@bigelbow4854]

My advice to everyone is this : if you want to grow big this year especially in your finances. Be willing to make investments. Saving is great but investing puts you on a pedestal where you wouldnt have to worry about savings as you do now. Thanks to larysa Caba, my portolio is doing really great and im proud of the decisions i made last year.

[@leticiaenraz8514]

I feel one Of the greatest challenges that we first timers face in the ma rket is that we end up losing all we have,making it difficult to find ourselves back to our feet. My biggest advice is to always seek the services of a professional just like I did when I ventured into it for the first time. Big thanks to Larysa Caba. I now make huge profits by weekly through her services while still learning to stand on my own.

[@fred5528]

I know Larysa Caba. she trades for everyone I meet. I met her twice at a meeting in Germany and after her lectures from Ella I had to personally ask her to be my financial advisor. she is definitely good.

[@jasperflontes4289]

I have never seen a trader as open and transparent as Larysa Caba with her clients. The way she decides to make a profit for her clients. she allows you to express your fears and she still rests your fears and that is my respect. I don't normally comment on videos, but this word should be included. she is really cool.