Four Frugal Living Struggles

We always try to do the right thing with our lifestyle as a frugal couple. But there can be struggles. Let me tell you our top four.
Frugal Queen in France
We are a British couple living in Brittany on a budget.
Frugal recipes, days out, home renovations and day to day making do in France.
We’ll give you hints, tips, advice and an insight into our life in France.
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[@joannereynolds69]

Yes us frugal people live differently, but I am at a point in my life where I no longer care what others think about me!!! The benefit of age 😊

[@gretelwhite8088]

Totally agree!

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Well said

[@carolined3058]

So true but I rather have some discomfort of beeing frugal then the stress of not having money to pay the bills or have no savings. Living this way gives a better night sleep.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Well said

[@tracyaf6084]

I always appreciate how you stress that people all live differently and prioritize different things. When I feel envious of someone doing things I can’t afford I try to remember that all feelings are temporary. I will move on pretty quickly 😊

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Well done

[@sw8234]

My husband and I learned delayed gratification early on by necessity. After a while, it became a way of life. I think it saved us an untold amount of money and debt. Delayed gratification is an important life skill.

[@heatherj3030]

Paying off our debt, and home, and building up an emergency fund was really hard, but totally worth it! I wouldn't trade that peace of mind for a new home, nice cars or expensive vacations. Jane, I followed your advice and sent up a separate account for my sinking funds. I know we have the same amount of money, but keeping it all separate is helping me feel more in control of our finances. Thank you for the great advice! ❤😊

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

That’s great

[@marypeterson1053]

I'm thankful to have savings and money in checking. Got it covered.

[@terryhoffmann8652]

I have been totally feeling like this lately.

[@DebfromVa]

This video was spot on for all of us frugal people

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You're welcome

[@lynnhensley4326]

I agree about going on cruises. Sounds like they mostly just eat huge meals. Many friends and my brother own vacation homes. I have never wanted to keep up another place. Too much trouble. I am not envious of friends with more. I am happy with what we have and am grateful for what we have.❤❤

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@jennjenn0316]

I needed to hear this today. I chose a frugal lifestyle in order to retire early. Lately, I have been wanting to update my house, the kitchen cabinets, the bathroom, the furniture. It's all perfectly fine, but I have been feeling dissatisfied. I need an attitude adjustment. I'll just wait it out and i know the feeling will go away - eventually.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

It’ll pass

[@andreagillan7372]

As a family who homeschooled our disabled son, we are very familiar with being seen as different. Being frugal and living on a low income is just another difference for us! We have long ago learned to pay no attention.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

I love that

[@Sandra-s3p]

Thank you for sharing, Dolly, Mary, Jane and Mike.

[@sheila1013]

Hi Jane and Mike. Yes it's easy to be influenced by other people's purchases and life choices. There are things I would like to do right now but these days I tend to think things through more, maybe overthink at times. 🤗.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Well said

[@lauravancea3935]

I get you live, so happy. Hello from Romania🖐️😍🇷🇴

[@lauravancea3935]

I can tell, these were al true 100% for me😊

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks

[@margaretbridgeford6159]

Love all the wee snippets between the chat - good humoured 😊

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You're welcome

[@Cheryl-gu1hv]

I appreciate that my husband and I saved while we were working. And now that we are retired we still put away for household expenses. Everything goes up in cost. So we must be prepared. Thanks for a commom sense video. As always you do a wonderful job. Love to Jane, Mike, Dolly, and Mary. 😊

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thank you

[@BrittanyLucy]

Dolly has such a wise little face! I generally feel having and doing expensive stuff would bring more stress than doing without. I'm quite sure if I had an expensive car I'd prang it the next day.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Good thoughts

[@IrbyGirl]

I’m frugal and my head always wins but family members can not understand why we don’t spend more which is frustrating sometimes

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

They're not paying your bills

[@denisebolin-clark8826]

Excellent video. I love that you get to the heart of frugality and are reflective. Thank you

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You are so welcome!

[@SharonMcGee-b2i]

I ❤ your everyday common sense chats!

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks very much

[@michellejennings3232]

These are all very relatable concepts. Overall, it does seem to me that frugality is beginning to be far more accepted by many people. Some of the stigmas may be fading. I know this will be unpopular, but i believe we should be very careful in telling young people they can do anything they choose. We just need to switch it up and teach that they can make things happen by lots and lots of hard work. Oftentimes, it seems to me we give young people a false sense of what is truly within reach of working people.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Well said

[@lynnoorman2144]

As an ex teacher I totally agree with this! I attended a careers session with students ( age 16 ish) last summer ( I no longer teach but was in the school in an advisory capacity). Of about 60 children at least 10 thought they could make a living by being an influencer. 😂 About 10 of them had university and professional careers in mind. One had already begun a career in professional rugby!! And was going to be taken on by the local team. The rest had little or no idea what they were doing to do or how they would earn money. Imo, a shameful state of affairs, which the school was trying to address. But it just shows you how young people are influenced by media - which rarely shows, or applauds hard work and thrift!

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

@@lynnoorman2144 I don't blame them. Who wants to build roofs without paid medical insurance for poor pay when you can get paid more from selling on tik tok. Careers and ways of earning money changes. Most young people lack ambition as they know it's futile to go out and work for poverty wages when they'll never afford a home or healthcare. When I look at France where it's still possible to train for free, go to university for free, get social housing or affordable housing, get married and have a family (for now) then it's not surprising that they can and do choose traditional careers.

[@patmartin9727]

Lots of good points there Jane. I have always tried to live frugally. Since retiring I have continued to save at least 10% of my income. I have a fully funded emergency fund. I also save money into sinking funds every month. This gives me peace of mind that when yearly expenses come around or Murphy comes knocking I have money put away to deal with the expected bills but also the unexpected ones as well.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks

[@Hadassahs-Holt]

For years, I’ve been disturbed by how many people don’t even “choose” convenience, they unconsciously defer to it as the “best choice.” There’s no thinking involved. But lately, the increasing hostility toward living frugally is more overt, and that’s even more worrying. At least where I live, this kind of attitude translates into government policy too frequently. Stay tough, Jane and Mike and all of us. None of them lay their heads on our pillow at night 🌻

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks so much

[@kathleens4252]

I live in Texas and just spent 9 days without air conditioning waiting for a compressor from the manufacturer!!! It was challenging to say the least with outside temps between 95 and 99 degrees farenheit. You are wise to say you would prioritize a/c if you lived in Texas! Side note: I grew up in the northeast (USA) and never had air conditioning….it wasn’t a priority.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

I’m glad yours is fixed

[@mlu18]

Yes! I understand.. I am going through some discomfort now. My air conditioner unit went out at the end of the summer season last year. I refused to add debt on top of some other debt I'm paying off. Once I pay off my current debt then I will start saving for a new one for next year. I heard the negative remarks, but I'm happy I'm doing it my way. Thanks for sharing..

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You got this!

[@carolynredinger439]

You guys are great at self-discipline, and wonderful models of frugality. I know you are in an extra pinch time because of recent events. Let's focus on some ways to have fun and nurture yourself while you are doing all the hard stuff. I know that what is fun or pleasurable may be different for each of us, but I occasionally brain storm things that are free or close to it. I think I'll start a new list, today. I hope you have a trove of things that bring you joy, every day. ❤

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thank you

[@muttersmenu2422]

Thank you for another good video 😊 Pats to the pooches 👍🇦🇺

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@karenschumacher9622]

Comfort vs Freedom I first heard that from Bob Wells, the vanlife guru. More Comfort leads to less Freedom because it's more costly to maintain. But if you choose Freedom from working so much to maintain that Comfort, you can open up a whole new world for yourself. And that's what I want more of - Freedom

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Great point

[@dawncampbell4221]

I think sometimes it's not really about being frugal. It's more about being content with what one has. My husband reckons people who dream constantly about getting away on holiday must lead a very unhappy life. Us, we are more than happy to be in the comforts of our own home, living a satisfying life and just appreciating what we have. On another note, we live in North Queensland where temperatures are in the 30 degrees celcius with 90 percent humidity for months on end. We don't have air conditioning, just ceiling fans, however our home is built for this climate with very high ceilings and lots of open windows. We don't feel we miss out on anything. One luxury however is an air-conditioned car 😂

[@seekingtheminimumlevel1830]

You are so right about living differently. For us it's a good thing that we are introverts and don't really care what other people think, because I have found over the years that going against the norm can be isolating. This was more challenging when our children were young, but now it just doesn't matter that we don't fit in anywhere.

[@LauraMacMillan-el2kc]

You just haven’t found your people yet. You Wii! As long as you’re open to it. ❤️

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks for sharing

[@jennil7797]

Frugality was a matter of pride on our and on other local farms and the cottages in the nearby village in the 50s and 60s. Respect was given to those who kept a clean, tidy home, cared for their clothing and lived within their means. Furniture was handed down for generations and , when I think of the cottages, I still feel as though I can smell lavender and beeswax polish from the loved and cared for wooden items. When did constant spending and running up debts become a matter of pride instead? And why?

[@terrilynn8770]

Yes I have wondered the same

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Consumerism

[@lynnoorman2144]

Profit for big companies to make folk buy insubstantial tat so that within a few years, they have to buy it all over again. But I agree, I remember lavender Polish and the pride in a well kept home!

[@LorettaNance]

Having saved my 6 month emergency fund and keeping my sinking funds current, I most definitely save for travel and recreation. I have no debt, so I absolutely enjoy the money I set aside for fun. Money is a tool, not the end goal.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@lorelei9393]

I agree. Its amazing how people will decide how you should spend your money. They didn't earn it!

[@fetch33]

I just finished watching a KZbin channel called Travel with Ben. He is a teacher in England with a flexible schedule. He just got off a 10-night European cruise that he booked 4 days before embarkation. The cruise cost him $57 a day! That is 10 days of entertainment, food, lodging, and travel to different cities/ country every day. I have cruised many times and never paid full price.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks for watching

[@Shantelle6253]

I personally love a chilly room. Works out great living in my Campervan because it saves on propane. I won't use propane while I'm asleep anyway. I use a 12v electric lap blanket powered by portable solar generators. The only way I'll get to cruise again is if someone else pays for it 😂

[@KarenJamieson-o9p]

Other people's opinions about me are none of my business. I love my life as it frugally is, yet no one is the wiser of my path. Thank you for your reassuring video today..

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks for watching

[@LauraMacMillan-el2kc]

I sometimes wonder if we don’t “create our own monsters” by oversharing. “No one really knows your path” definitely struck me as a judicious move.

[@joannereynolds69]

@@KarenJamieson-o9p I am the same - blissfully living a very frugal life that no one else is aware of! I always say - you do you and I’ll do me! 😊

[@carlienvandernet7902]

For me that is just daily living. It is not even a real choice. But I don’t long for these luxuries either. If I want to save a little bit of money I have to be very frugal and that is what I do. For me delayed gratification is trying to keep some spare money to buy some macadamia nuts to treat myself or buy a piece of salmon. I do save €50,- a month to buy clothes, shoes, books, birthday gifts, go to the hairdresser etc so that if something is really needed I do have the money for it. Luckily I don’t care about fashion, makeup etc and I will wear clothes until they are completely worn out. Living like this makes it possible for me to save about €150,- a month in my savings account so that if the refrigerator or other really necessary items break down I can buy a new one. I do live in the Netherlands so luckily social security is pretty good and I don’t ever want to get into debt. So I think this is just a normal life and I don’t long for more to be honest.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You're very determined. I respect that.

[@marshagaravaglia8149]

Another great video ❤

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks again!

[@juliemoore6957]

Good food for thought!

[@snapdragon2441]

I need your wise advice today Jane, went a bit wild this month and bought a number of new clothes, now need to wind my spending in, lots of bills coming next month. Oops. My dream of owning a motor home and travelling around may never be possible but it doesn’t stop me choosing the vehicle I would like, or watching others on tour. I would never go into dept for something like this.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

It's always ok to look

[@sjchan3199]

Its doesnt hurt to have dreams, you never know they may come true.

[@preppernut]

Good points. I wish that there was less struggle, but being dependent on someone else to provide my food, heat, entertainment, etc., is not happening as long as I can help it. At our age, delayed gratification does not come into the picture, though, ha ha. We are looking into buying a used golf cart so that I can get around the yard a bit easier to harvest the fruit as it becomes ripe. And I want it now, so that it will be available next year, instead of spending two months looking for one and in the meantime, that fruit is lost. My husband is doing the picking, poor fellow, and he is 82!

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

He's a hero

[@preppernut]

@@FrugalQueeninFrance Yes he is, in great shape, looking much younger than his years. But he could become disabled as well, so a form of transportation that is easy to get in and out of will be extremely useful. We aren't giving up this home easily.

[@CharleneEvenson]

I have learned to squash my champagne tastes because I only have a beer budget lol.

[@TracyOwen-y9t]

Great video 😊

[@Larissa-iw5wy]

When discussing house temperatures, do you have concerns of pipes freezing in the house in the colder days/spaces or does it not get cold enough within the home with your zone warm ups? Just curious as someone who probably has a different type of house build in Canada. (For example, we don’t have any wood burning capacity.)

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

It's not cold enough for that. Our walls are 3 feet thick and everything is insulated. The main part of the house never drops below 18°c and the other rooms 12°c so not freezing.

[@clarem2772]

I don't see being frugal a struggle, I opened a savings account when I was 5 and with my first paycheck I bought stocks. I have never turned the heat on in my bedroom and I will admit I like going into my igloo in winter to sleep, we do have winter temps in the minus 20 to 30 F range so the bedroom is brisk.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks

[@lynnoorman2144]

I often walk the mile to my 'local' ASDA to drop off my plastic 'foil' for recycling and to buy the one or two items that I cant get in my nearby (7 mins walk away) Lidil. Dolk think Im nuts or that I havent got petrol money. There are two lovely routes, I walk one there and one back. Exercise, beauty to appreciate, chores completed, time to think - whats not to like??

[@virginiacervantes7988]

👋👍🌹

[@lynnestait8011]

Thankfully cruising has never appealed to me, even if we could afford it (which we can't) far too peoply for me ;-)

[@lindadorman2869]

The head always wins...unless it involves food. When I want to eat something specific, even if it's not good for me, I just can't listen to my head. I've tried pretending I'm allergic to chocolate, or a juicy steak, or succulent seafood, or whatever it is but it doesn't work. I even changed careers to become a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef so I could cook whatever I want. I guess it's a good thing I don't crave cigarettes or liquor.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks