8 (Severe) Steps to a Frugal Creative Life

I've never worked a 9-5 job for anyone else. I've always enjoyed the freedom to pursue my creative dreams, at least somewhat, even as a midlist novelist with a partner who isn't able to work. But how does one achieve this? Well, it's not glamorous and not everyone will have the circumstances to replicate it, but this is my best advice for getting as close as possible. This is particularly what I would tell my younger self or younger people with a similar mindset to focus on.
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[@whalesequence]

My biggest financial mistake was not buying a house in 1997 when I was 5

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

LOL ain't it the truth. Back then you could almost buy a house with lemonade stand money 😂

[@scottandrews5638]

Ah many a true thing said in jest ..Love It!

[@jasonfougere3274]

Lol

[@ragdollpreppers2648]

😂😂😂

[@RhythmAddictedState]

Yeah... My biggest mistake is being born in 1997 🥴

[@ashleymariecoleman9288]

"It's possible that this is more of a mental illness that I have turned into a career path... but that is probably true for more than zero other creative people." 😂 yup

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

I knew some of you would feel this 😂

[@EmmaRayne]

I think that's the way for most of us ;)

[@adroitws1367]

damned curse!

[@KindredKaye]

I’m really worried about people taking this comment a little too lightly. I know it’s a joke, but I’m genuinely worried about people. A lot do creatives struggle with mental illness and it’s soooo important for us to take care of ourselves in HEALTHY ways! (Whatever that healthy way be for each of us individually). Please, take care of yourselves

[@adroitws1367]

@@KindredKaye well, one way to deal with it is to joke about it

[@amy-suewisniewski6451]

As someone who has kids, I appreciate the "dont have kids" comment. I love my kids, chose to have them - I'm NOT saying I regret them! I just mean I appreciate the acknowledgement that kids aren't free, and while everyone can learn more frugal ways even with kids and don't have to be rich to raise kids well, I firmly believe that kids should actually be costing you something in the sense that it means you're taking care of them. Even cooking from home, buying used, doing free activities... it still costs more money to clothe and feed you plus a kid then just you.

[@sierra9713]

1000%! My babies are about to go off on their own and I'm like... The cost of their toiletries alone is a massive savings 😂

[@grantgreyguda]

😅​@@sierra9713

[@kerrieannebaker8595]

yes, my kids are my greatest expense

[@MillennialMeg]

Amen! I love my kids, but we’re about to drop $300/week on summer camp for the next 9 weeks. And that’s just one expense. Obviously it’s a choice, but if we’re going to have kids, we’d like them to have a good quality of life.

[@lindsay3793]

​@@MillennialMeg wow $300 a week on a luxury. MUST BE NICE. Meanwhile I work OT and can't afford that for a place to live You are out of touch complaining about shelling out in a luxury like that while the rest of us are actually struggling to survive. Can't stand people like you. Oh Wah. It's so hard sending my kid to camp. Eff off

[@sarahkercheval8964]

Worst financial mistake is not investing in your health long term by not exercising and not eating right ❤ if you’re going to set up for a long and thrifty life, the best way is to have good health so you can enjoy it while you’re here on earth

[@kjmav10135]

I am 64, made all the mistakes, and am now paying the price. I cannot retire any time soon. And, believe me, you might think, when you’re younger, I don’t need to retire, and you might not even want to retire. If you are working a gross, mindless, horrible 9 - 5 job, you will eventually get so sick of the ridiculousness of the corporate world that you will long for freedom. Younger people-listen to this woman. Find a way to do what you want to do, and not what you think you HAVE to do. Heed her. Heed her well. Be like her. She is very, very wise.

[@jjjackson5183]

If you marry, be sure that person is dedicated to building a life together. Divorce will impoverish everyone.

[@lesliewells-ig5dl]

​@@jjjackson5183That is usually true. I was a homemaker and left him. I went to school for one year, got a career and 6 months later I was making more than he did. 2 years later I bought my own house. It isn't some big, elegant place, but it's nicer than the house we lived in together. And after 22 years of abuse. I have been free and happier than ever.

[@linseybachko4470]

This is a vital frugal tip for creatives that’s not so much about money as it is about time. Just as you said, don’t buy things you really don’t need - you also shouldn’t spend time on things that really don’t matter. Time scrolling social media, time worrying about the future, time endlessly learning instead of doing. All of these things take away from your success as a creative. One of the best ways to be successful as a creative is to be prolific, but that isn’t going to happen if you spend your time not doing the thing whether it’s writing, painting, etc. Choosing how we spend our time can have a huge impact on how our creative careers progress.

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

Excellent point!

[@NoiseDay]

How do I decide what's really worth doing? 😭

[@linseybachko4470]

It can be hard to tell sometimes. I know I get stuck on my phone more than I’d like to so I started setting it down in my room for hours at a time so I can focus on things that actually make me feel good - reading, going for walks, spending time with friends, and of course writing. If you want to be a writer, you need to write (not necessarily every day) so make sure to protect that time.

[@thestraightroad305]

Well said.

[@cherirose6660]

100% agree!

[@sashasun1402]

for me to reference later (thank you for this video, it brought up a lot of things I needed to consider.) 1. avoid debt 2. be aware of financial things 3. be aware of grocery store options and learn to cook 4. don't have kids 5. don't buy stuff 6. work on side hustles 7. secure cheap housing 8. surround yourself with successful/supportive people

[@user-tk1xd9js1z]

Don't have kids but do let people who will into the country. That's fair.

[@Vivo119-jf4pp]

​@@user-tk1xd9js1zbro yaps about great replacement on frugal living video💀

[@Vivo119-jf4pp]

​@@user-tk1xd9js1zbro yaps about great replacement on frugal living video💀

[@redemissarium]

@@user-tk1xd9js1z Those people who migrates once they know how people loss ownership of their kids and that the cost of nurturing and education is impossible for average people wont have kids too

[@tincan77]

Bias alert 🚨: Materialism and antinatalism seems baked into the brains of some millennials. Have kids. They are cheap to raise and will help you financially as you age. there’s no better audience for creatives and they will make your life dramatically better.

[@kelostful]

“I spend a lot of time thinking about my vampire voice“ is a quietly, outrageously charming declaration. Your videos are pleasant.

[@abelangjq]

What I found is that a healthy life and a frugal life are actually very compatible, very synergistic. Intermittent fasting, OMAD even, whole plant-based foods, minimalism, counter-consumerism, DIYism, gardening, composting, hiking, naturing, they are all very health, very easy to do(subjective), and easy on the budget. I suspect these activities also resonate with creatives.

[@legiontheatregroup]

For me, intermittent fasting has been huge. I think it would be better known as a health secret if there was a way to market it to people, lol! That's really the best part. It is absolutely free. Very little training needed either (watch a couple reputable videos and you are good to go).

[@sarahroberts7374]

Love this comment agree wholeheartedly ❤

[@freespirit-111]

Yeah, you are speaking to me here.

[@anewagora]

Fasting and doing a weight loss diet went hand in hand with me saving money haha

[@CheekBonerOne]

Starving yourself and eating a nutrient deficient diet sounds great

[@OblivionJones]

I've definitely found the step of not having kids to be the silver bullet in this. As someone who can "reduce" himself pretty effectively to ultra-frugal if times are genuinely rough, I often wonder if that'd even be possible if I had children. I suspect it wouldn't. My younger brother has three kids and his whole life understandably revolves around making sure they're not just surviving but thriving. Knowing that I am the only one I need to worry about really makes living a life far less daunting.

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

I would hate to say it's impossible. My parents were frugal, homeschooled us, and both did some creative stuff. I would guess if my mom had been laser focused on a creative career, she could have managed something (sort of, I mean it was harder to actually do back then in general). She did some stuff like producing a community newsletter for a while. But does it increase the difficulty level by a lot, for sure. If you need 8 hours of sleep, forget it. I'm a very sleepy person 😅

[@deboracopeland4795]

You sound like a young man. I’m an old lady, a spinster child free by choice. LOVE IT. I love my nephew, love to see him, talk to him then send him home. It’s great. No regrets on that front.

[@CastleHassall]

but the thing is, children can bring so much love and joy and future to our lives too

[@Miss_an100]

@@CastleHassallyou are right. But you gain all of that at their expense. Having children (I have 4) is one of the most selfish things our species does. But I don’t expect too much thought in this area since anything that has survived this long is at its core parasitic in nature. We need a host to keep feeling the highs which in turn tell us we’re worth the air we breathe and thus we continue surviving on.

[@lawsome2068]

This is so true and the mindset people have when having children is so selfish they only care about how the children will take care of THEM when they're old sometimes at the cost of the children's physical, emotional and mental well being. As someone who's parents had them due to societal pressure my upbringing sucked and I'm surrounded by people with similar circumstances. Children born as future investments and commodities.

[@LisaOliverauthor]

I had to laugh over your kids comment - as an older person with three adult kids and eight grandkids, I didn't start writing until I was fifty-two. Now, ten years supporting myself as an author and a hundred books later, my granddaughter is so proud of the fact that her grandma is searchable on Google, hehe. But yes, that creativity didn't come until after the kids had left to make lives of their own. And I can testify that putting items in a cart online and then leaving them until Amazon pays you, is a great way of working out what you really really want to buy. I usually delete more than half of my cart by the time I come to buy. Have an awesome day.

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

My mom started an art career once we were all grown, and I'm so proud of her too!

[@evaburnz]

@@lidiyafoxgloveauthor Apologies in advance if you find this remark inappropriate/offensive/insulting, considering the context of the video, and, that I'm replying to your reply to a comment, but I feel compelled to express my view that you are exceptionally attractive. Have a great day! -Australian guy P.S Apologies to @LisaOliverauthor for intruding on your comment, and, as an aside, congratulations on your authorship!

[@sophiemichel8045]

I'm so happy I got the most boring office Job recently. It's mind numbing and after six hours I'm greatful to unload the dishwasher, just to do something else. But it gives me so much time and mental space to think about my stories. I finished my outline during office hours and reading through it afterwards, I didn't feel the need to change it. I come home and have the energy to work on my things, solöving problems while I'm waiting for the programs to finally load. I know that it isn't possible very often, I only stumbled into the job by accident, but don't chose creative work when trying to be creative at home and making a living off it. It will burn you out so quickly. Just something where you can turn your head off that pays the bills. Otherwise, I'm sure, I wouldn't be able to finish 1-2 chapters a week and already thinking of the sequels.

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

I totally agree! This is why I would personally never go into editing work or something like that. It works for some people, but it would drain my writing batteries...give me a "boring" job (albeit hopefully one with a CERTAIN level of mental engagement...I probably wouldn't want to be a museum guard...) any day!

[@i.b.640]

My man was a Museum guard for a while. In a museum for classical Art with all the old Masters he adores. He is a visual artist to boot. He'd love this Job back 😂

[@sophiemichel8045]

@@i.b.640 I actually thought of be becoming one myself. Looking at art and telling people what to do does sound pretty amazing, but I got bad knees and after dislocating one standing for a long time is hard.

[@barbaraklaser3681]

I worked for years as a technical writer for the military, and it was tedious. I used to call it the most boring job in the world. But I loved it because it left my mind so unburdened for creative work in my free time. Later when I had a supervisory job in a busy, busy office, I went home exhausted and my brain so fried I could barely watch TV let alone do anything creative. Boring jobs are great for creative people.

[@i.b.640]

@@sophiemichel8045 Yes that job is hard on the knees for sure. Ihope your knees recover well.

[@ntp3099]

Living in a country with a low cost of living is another (extreme) frugal option for artists. My daughter lives in Vietnam and is the only one in her group of American artist friends who can afford to work full time/freelance on digital art and support herself.

[@NoiseDay]

I don't know that moving to another country is financially viable...

[@CryAboutit-bu7re]

I live in America and know people who do this just fine without moving

[@NefariaAdventures]

@@NoiseDaycost of living in Vietnam is super cheap, and they are always needing English teachers - they literally hire anyone who speaks English. Same with Thailand.

[@ikik1648]

On the surface I’m a mid 20’s finance gym bro type, but I want you to know that I value this advice - and I’m actually really envious of the simplicity that you stand for. Less is more nowadays, in our world of infinite options. Had a flashback the other day when I suddenly remembered how I used to be a kid that loved drawing back in primary school days - I used to think about the coolest shit, but I kind of dropped all that creativity when I went down the STEM path. There is creativity in the technical… but genuine abstract creativity, the stuff that you and many of the other commenters deal in, is something that I’m honestly starving for. It helps that I know how to implement now, but going forward I really want to rekindle that old creative flame that was snuffed out a decade ago.

[@LoveOffGrid]

There's nothing to stop you from going to art classes after work or on the weekends. Join a drawing class or group. Do it before you forget to do it and wake up 70 wishing you had. You'll be surprised how much that small amount of time can feed your soul.

[@Zoahhh]

This is my case, too. I just wish I could use my creativity in STEM, which we all know is HARD

[@texasgoddess323]

@@ZoahhhYes, so do it on the side.🌻

[@ikik1648]

@@LoveOffGrid proud to say that I’ve since joined a local drawing group after seeing your comment, thanks stranger

[@valala2987]

This whole idea that millenials and gen-z are entitled and lazy really grinds my gears. Imagine not wanting to work a regular 9-5 in a time where in most cases you will never be able to afford your own home and in some particularly bad cases you can't even afford to live. The only entitled people I see are those that demand of us to give up most of our free time and lives for no adequate reward. Anyway, love your videos. They are really motivating.

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

Once I spotted this book on generations at the college library, and it was old, so I read it out of curiosity, and it was full of ALLLL the same stuff. The kids are SO lazy and they don't want to work and they're immoral and they aren't learning as much in school and blah blah. I looked at the copyright date and it was written during the great depression. Ya bums don't want to work! Also, that means most of these kids ended up fighting World War 2.

[@grantgreyguda]

The idea seems to repeat in every single generation. Very interesting. ​@@lidiyafoxgloveauthor

[@waypay1]

The thing is, by refusing to invest in your career, you're ensuring you'll never be able to afford anything. "Working poor" is not a new invention. There have always been working poor people. The difference is, we used to set goals for ourselves to improve our situations and had too much pride to publicly whine about it.

[@saratanartist]

I'm Gen X, and that's what Boomers were saying about us when I was a teen! Every time there's a new generation, the stereotype of "these kids are lazy" or "these kids are spoiled". 🙄

[@waypay1]

@@saratanartist Exactly. The term "slacker" was invented for us Gen Xers. 😂

[@ski8799]

Spot on with the "why are we all still working so hard, if we have advanced technologically?" what in the heck are all of these advances in method, process and tech for if the quality of our lives hasn't improved and our work actually increases...

[@sarahjaye4117]

Word.

[@Momo-po5tn]

It has in some ways though. Think aboht how much time & energy is saved with an automobile, a cellphone, a refrigerator, a dishwasher, a washer & dryer, ovens, toasters, blenders, lightbulbs, heaters, coolers, etc. Dont take it for granted! Life is easier with these advances.

[@M_SC]

We work tremendously less than not long ago. The work week used to be 10 to 14 hours a day 6 days a week with ONE day off a year.

[@ski8799]

@@M_SC again, your experience

[@tropistan7735]

@@M_SCokay Oliver Twist 🙄

[@michalpitowsky]

Its so funny because I literaly had to stop the video and go pick up my kids when you started talking about how they can interupt your creative life 😂 😂😂

[@user-ki1yc4vx2s]

I am 65. I am a Boomer who dislikes "work." I am on the autism spectrum; I am ADD. Most jobs want skills + temperaments that don't mix well in the typical workforce. It's impossible for me to maintain employment. What most jobs want in skills are not my strengths.

[@user-ki1yc4vx2s]

I will read comments another day. I think there are many great ideas to chew on.

[@scorpiothesaint]

We need more people with your experience in your age bracket to speak up abt how it is bc so many others still buy into this idea that disliking 'work' is exclusive to younger people. Stuff like ADD/ADHD, autism, severe anxiety, depression etc are all major factors why many of us don't gel with the 9-5 grind.

[@welcometoeskastudios]

You're like a fairy godsister I never had and I WISH I had. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us. 💕

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

awww!!!

[@dukeofdenver]

I am fortunate to have a 9 - 5 where the daily routine isn't soul crushing. There's a fair amount of downtime that i squeeze my writing into. That is sort of a Goldilocks zone imo. You get a guaranteed monthly salary and you get to work on your passions about 2 to 3 hours of the day, give or take. Brandon Sanderson was a night shift hotel receptionist and Stephen King was a school teacher. It will take some intentional searching but those "medium to low workload" jobs are out there.

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

Yes, if I did need a 9-5 that's definitely what I would aim for. And it's certainly seemed like a possibility at points. This is another bonus to having a good boring side gig or part-time job at any given time. If I ever did need to look for a full time job...I have a good slate of basic skills with inventory management and organizational skills, websites and social media, writing, customer service, etc...

[@anival9576]

I don't really understand how being a school teacher could put one in the Goldilocks zone. I couldn't do it without phoning it in as a teacher (shutting down that part of me that is constantly analyzing how they could perform better, how I can teach it better, why those few students are so self-destructive, etc.). Maybe King was just a ninja that way. I'm behind you on the concept. I'm just mildly jealous/skeptical of King for being able to do it as a teacher.

[@Aelffwynn]

​@anival9576 King was on drugs. So that explains a lot of it I think.

[@namedrop721]

Medium to low workload I would not pick a teacher. Stephen King was like a teacher in what the 70s? It ain’t like that no more. Also neither job pays rent anymore, frugal or no. The reality is if you want anything beyond putting food in your mouth, working 40 hrs is usually not the way to go

[@aceshigh5157]

living frugally has been very natural for me.. it's trauma related. i've mostly been disinterested in culture and consumerism. i don't do social media. i hate shopping - can never find things that i like. i also dislike having a lot of things because it's overwhelming. tv shows/movies don't interest me. i never liked kids. i've never been able to connect with people. ultimately i struggle to identify my wants, needs and interests, so goal setting is very difficult for me. i'm mostly stuck in freeze. i've been doing healing work for years, but this is a lifetime commitment for me.

[@tracyingram7939]

I appreciate you. Going crazy from working for other people is a literal experience for me. The structure of jobs, dealing with people, and the jobs themselves have absolutely wrecked my brain, despite being fully compliant with my bipolar medication. I can't even take a job in the field that I stupidly got a master's degree in. Beyond it being a job structured by someone else, it didn't pay enough to cover the gas in my car. I've finally accepted that I can't do these things like other people can, and the starving artist life is my best bet at this point. The plus side of this is that I'm now editing my first novel, setting up a very small cottage food business, and making art again.

[@M_SC]

Sounds like you’re killing it actually! Well done

[@Kiwiwanderer]

Instant follow. I’m a conservative 61yo full time office worker since 16yo. You are my spirit sister. This is when I love the internet. I Left school at 16yo and straight into office 💩 Single mother at 28yo.Worked, paid bills , raised my daughter.Travelled and paid off mortgage 15yrs ago and then saved to help my 27yo daughter into her apartment and my retirement. Finally ready to live my creative life - minimalism., tiny home, van life - hiking , reading , art, yoga , gardening and cooking….it’s never too late Having said all that if I had my time again ….this is what I would do. Focus on creative life , healthy lifestyle , minimalism and frugal living and the power of compound interest !!

[@user-si7dh6kx1c]

Well said! That's it in a nutshell.

[@Memphisgeorgejewelry]

The metaphorical hug helped.

[@rachelsmith2599]

I also worked part time at a sears store while waiting to jump start my career as a scientist. Learned how to cook dry beans, and grew a vegetable garden. It was worth waiting for the right job.

[@Nadeirevyk]

"My stories would be pounding at the doors of my brain and eventually I would either have to smother them or I would just be endlessly tormented by their presense that I didn't have the time to fully acknowledge" I felt that in my SOUL 😭 I am definitely tormented by my stories. I want to have more time to work on them, but it's not really possible right now. Hopefully, I can change that soon. Great video!

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

I hope you have more time soon. I had to mostly put mine aside in 2022 and 2023 and I really felt like my spark was snuffing out and I was just going through the motions of life. It was terrible.

[@Nadeirevyk]

@@lidiyafoxgloveauthor thank you so much! I hope so too ❤️

[@forestreader]

I don't know why youtube recommended this video to me (a non-creative person with a brutal full time job) but I think I'm in love

[@wilddirtypaws]

Being frugal in the context of living a creative life was so refreshing and relatable. Thank you so much for this video!

[@barbaraklaser3681]

Really great video. I don't think most people realize how not frugally they live, and how much of that is just waste. Until I had to cut back when I retired, I thought I was frugal. I had to kind of learn incrementally to be more and more so.

[@aliciasimonds7461]

This is the most compassionate and thorough financial video I have seen. Just found your channel and absolutely love you!

[@ryanwrites]

You're like the cool older sister giving her sage advice. I needed to hear some of these tips to remember I'm on the right path, thank you :)

[@winnie2379]

I shopped at a salvage store for years, until it finally closed. The owners purchased inventory from a local major grocery chain, and it was fantastic. Some family members would have run from it & been horrified, but it was cheap & safe & I’m so grateful for the years I shopped there.

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

Yes, they are not usually GLAMOROUS places...but I love them. And expiration dates are always way sooner than they need to be on nearly everything...

[@katherinewilliamson1884]

Thank you for your kind, friendly, natural sharing of what worked (and works) for you as a dedicated creative person. I’m a writer who doesn’t write, but longs to. Work 4 days a week in retail, fashion. Even though I’m a veteran thrift store shopper, and I create clothing, clothing is my weakness. It’s my biggest budget buster. I got out of debt last year, but my 18 year old tiny Toyota died in March. So I had to buy a car. Lucked into my dream car, a practical 2009 Rav-4! I put down half the $10,000, and financed the rest at the crazy rate of 14%. I just applied to refinance with my bank for 8%. Still high, but will save me $600 a year for 3 years. Now to find a computer so I can write. In the meantime, I can use the ones at our library for free.

[@taliahd8847]

Uff, the food talk...I felt it. It is our greatest weakness. I've also convinced myself I don't like our tiny narrow cluttered kitchen with so-old appliances, who except the most famous chefs can do anything genius in that space, better not even try... Brains can be so dumb

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

Admittedly...having a better kitchen really IS nice, so give yourself a little slack. Our first kitchen was soooo small. But it's true...when you think how many chefs start out in NYC apartments...

[@olivemaycards]

Totally understand this, yes. I find looking at kitchens from other countries helps. Not necessarily people living in poverty, but just average people living in older homes or apartments. Most people in Britain have small kitchens with a washing machine in them, most people in India and even Japan have kitchens that seem so basic but they manage to cook well anyway. I like my 100yo kitchen more when I have less stuff in it.

[@darbyandholt]

Love this! I'm 54 and have burned myself out in jobs for most of my life trying to adapt to what we are 'suppose' to do. For the last four years I'm 3 days remote in a job that doesn't keep me awake at night while I learn skills to earn money online doing things I love. I have a mortgage but have a housemate who pays half of that (and is very quiet and suitable). It's a compromise I'm ok with. I try to stay in the loop to make sure I'm still employable in my comms/media niche if I 'have' to pivot for a while, too. If I were young and starting over, I'd try and get a house earlier and pay it off just so that's out of the way (a home base is a great comfort) and then pursue all the creative things a 40-hour week job does not allow. There is no mental space for me to be creative when I work F/T. I have one son who is 30, no regrets there. There are many ways to live simply and joyfully and this is great advice, thanks! PS- look after your teeth $$$ and do squats every day!

[@kjmav10135]

Yes on the TEETH! Note to people not yet 65-Medicare does not cover dental care. So, at the point when your teeth start really coming apart, you get to foot the bill for crowns, root canals, implants $$$$$$$$$$$$$

[@l.e.phillips]

Fellow full time artist here: I’m not even 5 minutes in and I absolutely love you. 😂 Agree and relate 100% thus far.

[@cecilywolfe4571]

"I don't even own a Stanley cup" LOL (me either!)

[@deboracopeland4795]

I’m sorry this is the third time I’ve heard this cup mentioned. What is the thing? Recall?

[@beautifulrose8619]

@@deboracopeland4795 Some how these cups became the rage. My daughter said to me excitedly, you have a Stanley cup. I bought it like 5 years ago, not knowing it was going to be popular.

[@sofiab.9241]

along with every other tip, thank you for advocating for financial self-education!! it's the most important thing, coming from someone who had to teach herself. It's literally changed my life.

[@eb_nowhereland]

Great advice, I'm a fellow creative and basically do similar things. We bought a house when the interest rates were at rock bottom during Covid (EU) and immediately set the mortgage on 30 years with an extremely low interest rate. Beforehand we lived in a very small cheap appartement, so we were able to save up money for the down-payment. I have budgeted since I'm 17, I grew up poor and was sick of the continuous uncertainty during my youth. Budgetting helped. 👍 Oh and child free by choice here. It really saves money. 😂 But yes, I have a college debt. It is not extreme (EU) and I studied 9 years, 2 BA degrees because of it. So it was worth it.

[@user-si7dh6kx1c]

Parts of your story sound a lot like mine. Lived in very cheap apartment and was able to save for a down payment. Bought a very small, cheap fixer- upper. Worked on it slowly. I'm 65 now and was able to retire because we never 'upgraded' to a bigger house. For me the key to being able to afford to retire at age 63 was staying in this starter home for 40 years.

[@LilouViviKiani]

Thanks for this video. I’ve always wanted to write. A few years ago I stopped writing and just felt overwhelmed by life. I recently received a cancer diagnosis and don’t really want to waste any more time and start living the life I always wanted.

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

My best friend had a serious cancer diagnosis a few years ago that reeeally helped me refocus my priorities. She's doing great now & I hope your treatment and health goes well too!

[@LilouViviKiani]

@@lidiyafoxgloveauthor thank you ❤️

[@nerdmommy7114]

I love love this. It is rare to see financial-talk videos that are not just “how much i earned…” I love how grounded and the honesty of this video. I ran my own handmade business, and have lived frugally than most fellow business owners I know. The amount I saved from years of running it, saved me during the pandemic. It was enough buffer fund to pay for rent and necessities. I stopped my business during that time because I was afraid to get sick, was afraid to get my daughter sick. The savings literally saved me. Seriously you shouldn’t just be called Cozy, you should also be The Practical Creative!!!

[@organicthug5220]

It’s really wise when starting a business to have low overhead and actually make profit. Sometimes it doesn’t look as glamorous to others. But it’s a solid foundation and usually wins in the long run. People trying to look “legit” right out the gate causes a lot of businesses to fail. If it works you can always reinvest over time and grow the business. But for some they end up going back to a simpler way of life by downsizing. Too many people want to have the instant just add water or “just add debt” businesses. Get real good at something that people will pay for. Find a way to sell it. Simple as that. If it doesn’t work then try different angles or something else entirely. Helps to do something that you find yourself paying for already. It’s easy to get trapped in a very rigid idealistic concept of what it means to be a success. Sometimes you just need to change a thing or two, then it magically works. Don’t be too stubborn for too long if it’s clearly not working. That could have saved me years of wasted or less profitable work.

[@valeriegrice4775]

You are such a smart,intuitive creative! I regret the millions of hours i worked for "the man" and sapped my creative juices to basically nothing- maybe just a drop is left.Its just so stupid and sad.Fantastic video!

[@elliwesishawkins4799]

I graduated highschool in 2018 and didn’t make a monthly budget until my husband lost his job around 2020/2021. When I tell you I literally didn’t realize until making a budget that all the bills came out within the last week and a half of the month (phone internet car then rent on the 1) it made me realize why one biweekly check would always disappear to bills and the other we’d blow on whatever cuz no bills came out those two weeks. Now I get paid weekly and set aside Month/4 worth of bills into a seperate checking so my bills always have enough in the bills account when the end of the month rolls around and the rest of the paycheck for food and gas and stuff for the kid stays consistent each week and it saves so much stress.

[@cindyyvxd]

Piggy backing on the “have no kids point” would be to not have pets either. But after having my first fur baby, I really can’t go back now. 😅 I think having a pet will always be accounted for in ny expenses from now on.

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

I count pets as a mental health expense. They've pulled me out of depression or anxiety more times than I can count. And they always really seem to know when you need them.

[@ACanuckinAlabama]

We didn’t have kids but always have pets. Even with their medical bills, it’s still much cheaper than kids!

[@Madamchief]

​@@lidiyafoxgloveauthorthat's a great way to look at it 😅 my mental health expense is a couple of bunnies that have an expensive greens habit. Frickn $20/month in kale!

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

@@Madamchief Aw those fancy well-fed bunnies! I barely buy kale anymore myself...

[@ImmedicabileVulnus]

A great resource for learning to cook is your local library! They have tons of cookbooks and cooking magazines.

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

Very true! I just like to rip things out, haha, but if you are more of a "snap a photo" person that works very well.

[@cavaliercadaver5556]

I really appreciate hearing your perspective on things. I’ve grown into a similar mindset about appreciating the little things in life instead of feeling disappointment about what I haven’t accomplished (like going to college). It’s also helped me get out of a really bad writing slump I’ve had since the end of 2021 (I lost my job and my mom within a three month period. It was kind of hard to be creative after that lol) But I started writing again after I started watching your videos. So I guess this is my thanks for that

[@gurgleblurgle7345]

I secured cheap housing by living in a camper on a friend's land. This requires some sacrifices like no running water and smaller living space, but for me it is totally worth it

[@user-si7dh6kx1c]

You are wise beyond your years. So glad I found your channel. You give great advice and I love your sense of humor!

[@4seasonshelf]

Excellent video and I so appreciate the way you acknowledge the circumstances and beliefs and values of others may differ, and how you offer kindness and grace to some of us who have sometimes made decisions that curtail our ability to live as we'd truly like. I'm 57 and when I turned 50 and the nest emptied, I turned to my own creative pursuits and let my freelance communications work go. I'm happy to do my part to be frugal, such as not owning a car but riding a bike around instead, taking care of home cooked meals, cleaning, etc. The rest of my family are quite consumerist and dowñright wasteful compared to me, but that's their jam lol.

[@kurtiscal3msetccdwell618]

I think most people confuse the word "work" with the word "job". When you do something you're working. That includes everything from making a sandwhich to digging in the garden and everything else that requires any energy to be expended from you. Jobs on the other hand or "a job" is like voluntarily going to an internment camp where you die miserably at the end of your stay.

[@legiontheatregroup]

This was great. I got to this point (of having creative freedom) in my 50s. Used a lot of the same techniques, but one was different. I somehow managed to work a corporate job for 30 years. I had no plan, this was just a lucky quirk of personality, but as I "worked my way up the ladder" I did something unusual. I never traded up. Still live in the same tiny starter home I bought when I was 25. It has everything I need. Still drive my 20 year old PT Cruiser which is maintained in new condition for less money than a car payment. For sure getting out and staying out of debt is the key. I will never be wealthy but I can now control how I spend my time. Which is the main thing I've always wanted. Great video.

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

So true. "Avoid lifestyle creep" is a phrase I see a lot on frugal communities. If you can just stay satisfied with the same life comforts that were plenty when you were young, you can really bank those midlife earnings.

[@robinpenn7167]

I really appreciate this video. Wow, the one who sneered at you for still working at Sears was SO AWFUL. What a rude and uncaring person.

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

"the one"...I wish I could say it was ONLY one... I did have one super sweet manager who asked to read all my novels in progress and slip new chapters into her in-box, and my friend Julie who...Julie, if you're out there somewhere I still owe you that cup of soup I was supposed to pay you back for "when I sell my book"

[@robinpenn7167]

@lidiyafoxgloveauthor Oof. Retail is so draining on the soul.... But I'm glad you had people even at work who supported you! I had a supportive coworker in my hellish cashier job, and that made all the difference. Even when customers acted like jerks.

[@angeliachenoweth2522]

Even though most of this doesn’t apply to me at my age, I find it oddly comforting, and I will subscribe because I am eager for more. I’m that person who didn’t do the right thing ever, some college, but couldn’t figure out where I fit. I worked at things because I had to, and tried to find the most ridiculously simple things to do so I could just get through the day until I could go home to read a book and dream. I am finding some creative, artistic things to do, and wish I had done them earlier, but to be honest, they didn’t exist when I was younger. Now, thanks to KZbin, you can learn almost anything and then have this big audience to share it with. Thanks for the encouragement.

[@M_SC]

Going home to read books is an excellent life. Well done.

[@angeliachenoweth2522]

Thank you.

[@krumbine]

I think it's also important to define what a "successful" creative life is to any one individual! For me, I've spent over 15 years in corporate and nearly 15 of those years in corporate creative. While it's routinely been a HUUUGE emotional struggle, I've also learned to (mostly) get to a place where I don't get too invested, collect my paycheck, and put my creative energy into things that matter. For me, success is simply being able to make those things that satisfy my soul. Sure, I'd like to make money on it, but I also have to acknowledge that my art is free from the demands of capitalism (or algorithms). In other words, I am my own patron! (Although if I were to do it all over again, I absolutely would NEVER EVER EVER go into corporate creative.)

[@DavidAlastairHayden]

Living a frugal life filmed in front of a shelf of manga! 😂 Seriously though, it's a great video.

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

I know, I know...I actually paid for most of them by sourcing and selling out of print manga while collecting.

[@charmedvenuss]

I used to think I just wasn't cut out for life as a creative, but i find myself in a position to chase that dream and your videos have really inspired me to do that! Your path through creativity is really motivating and this year i'm going to start putting words down and just see where it goes. Thank you for everything!

[@forindet]

As someone trying to live life as an independent artist/ illustrator, doing more of my own things and less work for clients, I definitely keep to most of these 😊

[@Simon-pl2zi]

Ok so this is so weird. I’ve always found it easy to write fantasy, the stories flow quite easily. I never know where the story is going but it always reveals itself as I write. But I’ve only done it when I’ve been in between jobs. Anyway this afternoon as I was walking to the grocery store, I said in my mind to no one in particular “if I’m meant to write give me a sign!” And your video popped up tonight in my YT feed.

[@GraceGrace14253]

50 seconds in and you're speaking to my soul. This past year has been the toughest year of my life. Thank you

[@0bookhoarder096]

This is really motivating - thank you for uploading this! It gives me hope that I can achieve a work/life balance like you've got going on at some point in my future. I'd love to have the space and time to write the stories I've always got floating about in my head. All the tips sound really useful - in particular I want to give proper budgeting a try so I have a handle on it before it's necessary! Trust me, college/university might seem romantic but the reality is anything but 😅I don't know what university is like in the US but I'm currently studying on a masters course in the UK and it is absolutely soul crushing. Though this might be because architecture is one of the most high stress degrees you can do, here it's a 7 year course which is nearly the same as becoming a doctor. The upside is because of the specific type I'm doing (working while studying) the government actually fully funds the course. But yeah strong agree with you - would not recommend a degree for a creative course! Edit: My frugal tip is use your library!! If you read voraciously but can't afford to buy books to keep up then absolutely get the books you can through the library. That way you only buy the books you can't otherwise get (indie authors etc.) or you can buy the books you already know you love. Nothing worse than buying a book full price only to find you hate it...

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

Yes, budgetiiiing, I so wish I'd done it sooner. Every tiny stupid decision really blares out at you at the end of the month. Also YES to libraries, and using them benefits your whole community too!!

[@KindredKaye]

I’ve told my sister this- who is also a creative. The difference between van Gough and DaVinci is that one of them had no support for his mental illness. As creative we must take care of ourselves and our health. Van Gough could have been successful in his lifetime but he was unable to get the support he needed. He was a great artist inspite of his mental illness, not because of it. (This is not me at all saying you must always be happy or “just get over it”. Mental illness is something we all need to take seriously, just like we would any physical illness. Find out what works- medication, meditation, eating habits, journaling, therapy- best for you so you can be the wonderful creative that you are!💗)

[@lolaandthepoets]

Right on time. Thank you.

[@annek311]

You think your own thoughts and I love listening to them! 🌈

[@constancecampbell4610]

Thank you for the encouragement and solid advice. 🌻🦋

[@prince9013]

your life actually sounds like my ideal life. i've never wanted kids and i'm perfectly happy being a homebody with a nice quiet life, so this video is very helpful! thank you!

[@C7557]

I enjoyed this talk, esp. about the watching of spending habits for those "small collections." I am now almost 63 and just retired from a job I LOVED as a rural mail carrier in a horse and buggy community. I was forced to start delivering Amazon on top of everything else and decided it was a step too far, esp. since I wasn't being paid for the extra load. I have always enjoyed doing art and have since done a couple simple paintings and a bit of writing but haven't found my rhythm. I deal with arthritis woes which has flared up due to the stress of retiring. I have been broke before so I know how to do it but got spoiled with a great job. Now back to broke. My house is paid for, kids are gone and I have all the time I wished I had. I just need to figure out how to do it now that I am 4x as slow. 🤣 Maybe my recommendation is a bit dated now but "The Tightwad Gazette" has some great ideas on living a frugal lifestyle. It got me through raising my boys. It can maybe be found at a library.

[@deboracopeland4795]

I remember the gazette! Is it still around I’ll have to look, thanks.

[@PS-qn4oz]

Oh you're lovely! I'm happy KZbin recommended this video. Subscribed. My tips for a frugal life: - Learn meditation. Free good feelings. I follow Joe Dispenza...free meditations and audiobooks here on YT. - Imagine yourself as an elderly person....what will delight you when you are more sedentary and have limited interest in consuming anything else? If I put myself in "old lady mode" it's easier to just get cozy with a book or my knitting and appreciate being in the moment. I enjoy my tea more, revel in my hand cream, etc. The slow life.

[@deboracopeland4795]

I love my old age. As a spinster with a mini doxie instead of children, I live a quiet life on the coast of Oregon in my tiny house. Love a good book and tea. Such a pleasure. Wishing you the best in many years when it’s your old age, enjoy.

[@PS-qn4oz]

@@deboracopeland4795 Aw, thanks for your kind reply! Your life sounds beautiful! Wishing you the best as well.

[@DeanHel1818]

I feel like this is also paradoxically 'easier' when you discover your passion early in life. I came to writing very late, in my late 20s, and by then I was already on a career path and it felt necessary to see it through so to speak. Now that I've reached a certain lifestyle too, it's so hard to downgrade! #firstworldproblems

[@opheliakee]

Thank you for the always candid reflections. It's refreshing to get a peek behind the curtain so to speak.

[@MissShembre]

Your videos are so wholesome and uplifting!

[@AnthonyWade7]

The voice of reason, very refreshing, thanks for this video!

[@quinnrector8497]

What a gem of a video! Thank you so much for your thoughts and thoughtfulness

[@frithbarbat]

I got laid off the same year that I started to think about retiring early. I had to move around the world to Montenegro to be able to afford to buy a house, so that's what I did. Your advice is so solid, even for non-creatives, and I don't think there is anything extreme about it. Well done.

[@LilyGazou]

Every time I hear about Montenegro, I remember the handsome man I met in Italy who came from there. Sigh. Long ago.

[@frithbarbat]

@@LilyGazou Lots of people went there during the war. There is no shortage of men here tho!

[@donna-elizabeth]

I am a Gen X'r. We are the only generation that grew up on the cusp of cell phones, the internet and social media. We knew a world with and without them. Generations that followed, grew up with these things as the norm and this would forever change the way people see the 9-5. For the first time in history we are at a place where creative freedom can be pursued because of social media - as an outlet to make money and to be our own bosses. Without online, internet, social media etc I don't think there was ever a way as huge as this. For many, 'online creator' has become a dream to pursue...for many it has been a dream being fulfilled. I personally believe in 9-5's. I think society would fall if no one worked at all. But equally I think a creatively free life is also something to be highly admired if it earns for us. For me personally, I'd like to find a balance between the two - stay working in my 9-5 but also get my creative youtube channel up and running. Just throwing my thoughts out there. Great video and thoughts 👏

[@slena]

this video is reaching me at the exact right time, thank you 🙏🏾

[@marina_writes]

I really love going grocery shopping, especially in different locations - where can I buy it the cheapest, where is a better deal for a pack of smt, and I totally feel this energy of putting on stop all of the other purchases. I just love staying at home, and the only thing I can’t currently stop myself from buying are notebooks. Because they’re so pretty and nice and I always have something to write down) thank you for the video and the advices! You’re the most comforting person with an amazing voice)

[@cherirose6660]

I love this video…..I am very much like you at 74! I’m a mixed-media artist, writer and photographer. Thank you for sharing your words of wisdom with other creatives and wayfinders. I just found your channel this evening, so I’m excited I did. You have a wonderful and interesting personality, a joy to watch! ❤❤

[@Zara-uq1wv]

Thank you for this video miss ❤

[@jeanshelbybooks4154]

I’ve worked full time for almost 25 years now and while I’m grateful for the opportunities and wages I have, i am SO over the grind! Writing is my escape and I’m hopeful it’ll be my FT career one day. 😊

[@feywerfolevado6286]

Lovely video! Thank you for being so realistic and down to earth

[@FindDreamers-uc1mx]

Thank you for believing in me😊

[@sailorcansado]

this video found me at the right time on my creative journey. thank you for it!

[@jinchoung]

fantastic advice. and you are so watchable! i can listen to you talk for hours. good stuff and well done.

[@noshoes1588]

I love your videos because I really view you as having such authority in this discussion since you've published so many books 📚 a lot of other creators i watch want to publish but havent yet and i love their thoughts i just end up learning so much here

[@David.M.]

Thanks. As Adam Smith said in The Theory of Moral Sentiments, prudence to a virtue we all should practice.

[@calius3578]

Thank you so much for sharing your perspective! I am a musician and general artist and this helped reaffirm some of the beliefs I have cultivated over the years. There were also some new points I had not considered which is very helpful!

[@margecolliganmusic]

Great advice, thank you. I definitely need to work on cooking for myself - just making it simple is what I need to do to start out!

[@PorschaWrites]

Love this video, while a lot of folks can't do all of these most of us can do some of them. I'm also a fulltime writer and creative, it's not always easy but side hustles, living below means where possible, supportive family and maintaining relationships with other creatives is so key.

[@carlk8308]

Inspiring! Thank you.

[@stephenj4638]

You are such a wonderful person. Thank you for the pep talk.

[@user-rs6bi5rq1f]

I think you are very intuitive which is great. Thank you for sharing.

[@caffeinecritter]

How the algorithm continues to send me exactly what I need to hear when I need to hear it will continue to be one of the great(ly terrifying) mysteries of life. This was a great reminder to figure out and take the steps I need to make my life what I want it to be. Especially needed to hear the point about curating the voices I let influence my decisions. I think your life sounds wonderfully perfect for you, and I hope to reach this point sooner rather than later.

[@-beee-]

This is super practical and great! Thanks for sharing your reflections. I don’t plan to live that life, but even on a different path, your thoughts resonate and inspire me. 💖🙌💯

[@rumrunner8019]

And there is also number 9, the one that changes everything: Once the money is starting to come in, and you have a decent amount saved up, consider moving to a cheaper country. After all, writing nowadays is all done online and hence can be done anywhere you have internet. I know people living and working remotely from Thailand where rent is like $300/month and living expenses are literally a third of what they are in the US. A lot of authors live in SE Asia or Latin America for that reason.

[@ClaireKinmil]

Thank you for this video. You give off such a calming earthy vibe that almost hypnotizes me. Most of the advice I can't really follow, either because I have kids or because I live in Europe. I did love the reminder to buy less stuff. I need it on a regular basis. My advice for a creative career where you don't stress over money is - marry rich.

[@terry9238]

But like they say-if you marry for money, you’ll earn every penny of it. 😐

[@ChelseaMck]

Thanks for the video!

[@lindsaysharman]

I feel like we're living a very similar life! The people closest to me have been very supportive of my chosen path (writing/acting/directing), but I've had some odd reactions too. A few years ago I worked retail to get by, and one day a friend of a friend came into the shop. They were surprised to see me, and visibly uncomfortable as we talked. Afterwards I realised their reaction was rooted in snobbishness. Appearances and status meant a lot to this person, and they 'othered' anyone who worked a customer service job. Whereas I have (very deliberately and consciously) avoided tying my self-worth to status and materialism, because to do so would've rendered me unable to pursue a career in the arts. As it is, frugality and side hustles have helped me stay on the creative path and live the life I want. Some of these side hustles were awful, some of them were fun (bar work is great for people-watching), but regardless, they helped pay the bills, and most of them taught me something about the world and myself (even if the lesson was 'I am too ham-fisted to work as a waitress')

[@LilyGazou]

One side-hustle is yard work and exterior painting. People make judgments. 😂 But it leaves my mind free.

[@lidiyafoxgloveauthor]

It's a little weird working at a bookstore because that is a low-paying job that a lot of people still envy and come in going, "This must be the most amazing job!" But then I frequently get shocked reactions when I tell people it's actually my side gig and I'm a novelist. (Which I don't often do, but sometimes the conversation wanders that way.) I'm not snobbish at all about jobs, although perhaps I am snobbish about people who are snobbish about jobs, haha. It's such a crappy thing to need service workers and house painters and lawn mowers and etc. and then decide you're better than them. I am always extremely appreciative of anyone flipping a burger or mowing a lawn for me. They've made my day a little easier and I am VERY grateful to that person. And also, some of the grungiest looking guys with dirt under their fingernails also buy the most interesting books in used bookstores.

[@lindsaysharman]

@@lidiyafoxgloveauthor yeah it's gross to be snobbish about jobs. People really show their ass when they reveal that attitude. I had a side hustle that people admired once (I worked for a wedding venue, and helped organise and run weddings) but that job suuuucked (though gave me lots of interesting stories). People just loved the 'aesthetic' of working in weddings, I guess!

[@cocoanashe]

Great message!

[@ranplan]

Loved this video. Thanks for making it! Gotta live like most people won’t if you wanna live a cool weird fun life. 🙌🏼

[@MCQueen-dj7uo]

I love your videos and I hope you keep making more . I became more successful after having children because it forced me to quit my job and write to market. It also gave me more confidence. I really benefited from college because it helped me to get a visa to live overseas but the tuition is a lot lower in my country.

[@AudeKonan]

The steps you detail are hard but unfortunately, necessary in a falling system. I'm preparing myself to live a frugal writing life as a refuse to work full time for someone else unless I have to. We only have one life