How Consumerism Keeps You Broke And Sad By Design

[@AccordingtoNicole]

Get 4 months extra on a 2 year plan here: nordvpn.com/nicole. It’s risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee!

[@anthonybf2]

lol no but you get that bag!

[@tudormiller887]

So true Nicole. I'm trying not to give into the cult of consumerism. Having ADHD is linked to impulse buying, and don't I just know it.😫

[@nachojimenez2420]

Don't waste your money... buy nord vpn. LOL

[@AlexR_44]

Bah, ha ha ha ha ha ha😂 Good one. A VPN add on an anti-consumerism video. All those VPN services are a scam and a joke at best. At worst, they're the ultimate spy tool. If your data is leaked, it's leaked. Doesn't matter if it was encrypted on the way to or from the leak. Also... basically 90% of web traffic is already encrypted, has been for years before those VPN services started. However, if they really do allow you to watch KZbin, Netflix and Prime video as if you were in a country that doesn't have ads, AND they cost less than a subscription, I could see that being cool. They aren't cheaper though, so...

[@ret-j6w]

just bought selling my data, ty

[@marjamesquire8141]

I don’t know who will read this or care, but the last part of the video about being at a job you hate, while you’re young, with your kids young, parents aging, and pets lying by the door waiting for you….that resonates so much. I have been thinking that for two weeks and have decided to quit my job in the beginning of 2025. (I’m trying to hang in there for the Christmas bonus to save before I leave.) My husband makes enough for the household. I have two kids that I’m ready to be a stay-at-home-mom for and the 2 hour daily commute to my job is horrible. I’ve not been this depressed in like 15 years!!!! I’m debt-free and ready to be home with the fam before life passes me by. I hate my job. I love the work/profession, but hate the particular controlling company. I would love some words of encouragement and prayers. Four more months of quiet quitting before the final day of ADIOS!

[@FoodandOtherPassions]

It's true you'll never get back the time with your kids while they are young. Just make sure your husband is onboard and realize you'll need to cut expenses to make it on one salary. You'll still need an emergency cushion as well, especially with kids. Can you get on your husband's health insurance or maybe that's not an issue where you live. Also, if you haven't already, make sure in these next 4 months (and beyond) to build your pantry with food and other every day items your family uses. Try to have at least 3 months or more stocked. Hope this helps and wish you and your family the best! ❤🙏

[@wrecklisseve]

Good luck and hang in there! I've been in job assignments I hated and what got me through was that I knew they would not last forever. I counted down the days as they passed. I brought my favorite lunch and called my loved ones at lunch time. (I LIVED for my lunch time.) Other than that, I let my bosses yell at me and tell me what to do all day. Just told myself I would not get angry and I would not cry. I definitely stopped caring or hoping for a pleasant work environment. Just did what they told me to the best of my ability and let the rest fall to fate. This too shall pass.

[@marjamesquire8141]

@@FoodandOtherPassionsTHAT’S PERFECT! Thanks. Yes, the pantry is stocked and I have more than a year’s worth of my annual lawyer salary saved in an emergency fund. We can switch to his insurance paid 1/2 for by his boss in a 24 hour period. It’s easy. We’ve done it before. I appreciate your words.

[@marjamesquire8141]

@@wrecklissevealas, our boss is so controlling, that we have to eat lunch with her. If she starts talking about our cases, i shut down and check the news or social media on my phone. Or I’ll abruptly start talking about sports to signal that I’m off for my lunch hour. We aren’t really allowed to leave our building either. I used to go to lawyer lunches and get my CLEs (continuing legal education hours) before I started at this firm. Then she decided she doesn’t want us networking to get whisked away by other firms, so we are only allowed to do online CLEs. I’m so depressed! I tried to quit in April when i got an offer doing a different type of law (criminal defense) than our firm (family law). She promoted me and promised i could do some criminal cases. I have had zero criminal cases since this promise was made. I should have left in April when i had the chance. Now I’m sitting there miserable until we come back from new year’s break.

[@Bawkr]

With the free time you might be able to earn a bit locally and still have time with them. This is a lot of people's issue committing to a $$ that isn't feasible for their location

[@lordsalisbury1]

I'm not saving money, I'm purchasing my freedom.

[@BrettKuntz]

Who wants to get up and go to work for corporate America (china); where the big wigg takes all the money

[@paveltyavin]

Are you a slave?

[@GregMacDougall-m3n]

Good thinking, just remember to get a receipt.

[@helenivanova5440]

Same! If I had a ton of money, the main thing I would buy prior to whatever is free time, namely I would work less or wouldn't work at all.

[@JennyCarrier-hn1op]

well said :)

[@rd.3696]

I wish there was more woman around like this lady.Very refreshing and straight to the point.

[@keitha.9788]

The stuff you own ends up owning you..... The last few years I discovered, that having less stuff has improved the quality of my life.

[@DanicaDjukic-s1c]

How did you manage to downsize your enormous amount of stuff to less stuff , did you seek help through a psychiatrist or therapist or did you do it on your own & in case you did do it on your own ,how did you do it ( downsizing to owning less stuf tfrom owning more stuff) ? What advice can you give to me as i really need it ? .

[@keitha.9788]

@@DanicaDjukic-s1c My wife and I would take walks at night around our neighborhood. We would see many cars parked in driveways with the garage door opened. Garages stuffed full with stuff. I'd constantly ask myself - Do they really use all that stuff??? I realized that many times people buy something and only use it once or twice. After that, I'd sometimes pick-up my own stuff and ask myself - "If I didn't have this thing, would I ever miss it?" If the answer was no, I'd give it away or put it in a pile and take it to Goodwill. When I go shopping and pick up something that I like, I'd ask myself "Do I really need this? Would I use it? If the answer was No, I'd put it back on the shelf and walk away. I then discovered I had more money to save and invest. I'm retired now and very happy...

[@keitha.9788]

@@DanicaDjukic-s1c I came to the realization all by myself. (I posted a longer answer earlier today, but they took it down...)

[@turokforever007]

@@DanicaDjukic-s1c If it has been in the loft or basement or just sitting in a box for a year, then it can go. Also, just look at each item and say to yourself, do I need it.

[@Denniss7420]

@@DanicaDjukic-s1c I watched a whole bunch of 'Hoarders' episodes😳 Also, I think it has to do with ones age (obviously, some have a hoarding illness). In my younger years, nobody could convince me that one can have too much stuff. Now, it's just excess stuff taking up space and collecting dust!

[@iczemi]

That is really deep. I am 62 retired, zero dept, living frugally. Anti consumerist.

[@nanetten6238]

Same here!

[@thirstonhowellthebird]

I did redecorate my house just to wipe out the memory of my horrid toxic family. Outside of that I don’t want to spend any money. I just want to live a happy life, helping people and animals.

[@donnaatienza8001]

aww that's great

[@vikingprincess634]

Same! No house payment, no car payment, no credit card debt. We grow, process, store, and cook our own food. It can be done. 👍

[@kevmorris3000]

I realized this about 25 years ago. I realized that buying stuff didn't really make me happy, and it wound up putting me in debt as I had a lot of crap I rarely used. Now I rarely buy anything for myself unless it's something I know I'll use a lot.

[@ebikescrapper3925]

Advertising works on fear, fear of being poor, smelly, alone, behind the times, unfit, unhealthy, unkind.

[@shosho4real]

That's why I don't watch TV

[@michaelhalbert-q2f]

True, and it's effective. But why? I know who I am, and I don't care what strangers think, so it appears that this is an easy trap to escape from.

[@OliviaHacking-kf7px]

ebikescrapper - 100% correct. Responsible capitalism has been hi-jacked ! Those in the psychology of marketing and marketing people themselves, have MUCH to answer for in the decline of the collective West. Now that GOV has adopted the same strategy of fearmongering there is no escape for many people. Time to expose it ALL and educate people to THINK for THEMSEVES.

[@petergarayt9634]

I'm capitalisms worst nightmare, I only buy what I need.

[@ronpagan]

I feel like I'm fighting a war everyday when it comes to buying stuff. I am mostly winning.

[@petergarayt9634]

@@ronpagan You are fighting a war as we all are, a psychological one.

[@lynnoorman2144]

Me too! Folks around me are always trying to get me to spend money that I don't need to. Eg go on this holiday/ go to this restaurant- I have finally got it into their heads that I don't want things!

[@sscbkr48]

Me too, until she mentioned a cotton candy machine! Now that I could use.

[@7Write4This9Heart7]

Mood! VERY RAELY a want, and only on DEEEEEEEP SALE! lol.

[@michaelfrancolini255]

Love your vids, three years ago I stopped buying what I don’t need, became a minimalist and I keep my money, love my new life, 🎉

[@martinezbiz]

as I get older, I realize there aren't many things worth spending your time earned money on. most things are a waste

[@L32C-yg9hm]

Except assets. Gold, stocks, real estate. Not every industry is worthless.

[@sscbkr48]

@@L32C-yg9hm when you were younger, time was money. When you got older, money was time.

[@annbeth6730]

Invest in others . Family ,close friends and eventually other people.

[@Madchris8828]

For me it's just experiences with other people. I hardly buy things for my own self. Other than groceries I will occasionally buy a book or two or maybe a video game here or there. That's pretty much it though

[@kensiblonde4203]

Cats are the ultimate anti consumers. No matter what you buy them, they just want to lie in an empty box and play with the twist tie you dropped on the floor.

[@Madchris8828]

Haha they are cute and usually entertain themselves but as a bonus you as well

[@thriftyminia]

Consumerism literally grosses me out. Year after year, I see the aisles of Christmas decor & I always think to myself “don’t people already HAVE Christmas decorations? Why is there SO MUCH of it every single year?!” 🤢 I get that there are newlyweds & new people in town, but damn, so much brand new products & all the packaging just saddens me. Then there’s the monstrosity amount of clothes! My local thrift stores are LOADED with clothes, that’s where I get 98% of our clothes. It hurts to see so much NEW clothes in retail stores, when there’s already an over abundance at the thrifts.

[@lilPopper]

My lesson: be glad with what you have. Don’t spend beyond what you can’t afford.

[@F1083]

And if you do remember it is not your fault. The system was designed to make you sad

[@stasacab]

I am glad that I was brought up in the 1970's where I could take my bike and ride all day. I still do that, and it does not cost me a fortune.

[@viktoreisfeld9470]

Heck, yeah! My parents would let me ride ~20 miles. The only rule was I had to be home when the street lights came on.

[@helenivanova5440]

​@@viktoreisfeld9470:))). Oh, I had same street lights rule as a kid! Your comment made me feel nostalgic.

[@waynehendrix4806]

I go one step further. It's cheaper when you steal somebody else's bike.

[@theoriginalDAL357]

The latest trend that goes beyond the beautiful simplicity of a human-powered bicycle is the electric bicycle. Undoubtedly, they have their uses, but are they really necessary for the average person?

[@deborahlee7975]

@@theoriginalDAL357Yes! And in my small city, electric scooters are suddenly so popular…times are different, for sure!

[@clawscrab3497]

The need to pay for a storage unit is a clear indication you have too much stuff...

[@seltzermint5]

I have convinced several people to stop using storage units and/or sell the stored items. I knew a woman who was storing about $1200 of kids bedroom furniture for 6 years. Paying $40 per month that was almost $3k to store the items. Insane.

[@WhySoLoud]

"Working jobs we hate to buy [stuff] we don't need [to impress people we don't know]'. -- Tyler Durden, Fight Club [mostly]

[@RobsNeighbor]

I havent bought anything in years, I work at a high end recycle center and use it every Saturday in my rural township, everything computer cell phone bikes appliances speakers so many things all free! Great video Nicole

[@veilgray9586]

Love your rants! And I'm with you. I'm a firm believer of "if it works, don't fix it." I have talked myself out of buying a roll-up-dryrack, when the sink surface does the same job just fine. And what's the point of a pressure cooker/air fryer/rice cooker/hot pot/etc ..when you have a stove and a pot and a wooden spoon? Or have we forgotten how a pot works? I've extended this awareness to the minor stuff as well. I no longer buy paper towels; kitchen towels do the job and can be washed. Same for tissues. And old tshirts can turn into good rags to mop the floor with instead of "special fibre" for floor mopping ...etc etc. One must be vigilant where the traps are. It's money for someone, but I'm the one that works for it, so no thank you.

[@Kelssinho]

We need more voices like yours. Thank you.

[@scleo1959]

1. You are SO smart. 2. You have the guts to boldly say what most people are thinking. 3. Your content and the way it is so articulately presented separates you from others. 4. You are SO MUCH FUN to watch & listen to! From a big fan in RI, USA.

[@elgabenedicta]

Content people doesn't make good consumers. 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@Whineboy]

So much common sense, Nicole. I am 60 and a month from retiring 100% debt-free thanks to avoiding lifestyle creep and almost always only buying what I need, not want.

[@jerrydbrown1401]

Her hair is gorgeous and her face. She's smart and grounded

[@shawnhampshirehick101]

😊❤❤❤❤

[@melmckane2913]

Despite getting a degree, I stayed home with kids, and pets. I did many side gigs. I can not tell you how often people told me i was missing something great by not working 9 to 5!!

[@terrorbilly1]

Don't get fooled by them. Misery loves company.

[@UniquelyNeecee-ml8vd]

You're not missing ANYTHING!! Congrats for going down the less traveled road!

[@TexMarque]

The Trad wife just has a totally different social outlook from the 9-5ers. Personal satisfaction with a purpose in life is a choice for most.

[@JewelsprideBengals]

Love it. Woke up and watched this while getting ready - best start to a Sunday. Keep up the great content ❤

[@AccordingtoNicole]

🙏🏼

[@RTDoh5]

“To live a good life: We have the potential for it. If we can learn to be indifferent to what makes no difference." ― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations (written: 161 - 180 a.d./c.e.)

[@stalesunday]

when you said "common electric toothbrush" my brain heard "Carmen Electra toothbrush" and for a moment i was very impressed with her marketing prowess!

[@vk8sj]

It took me almost 40 years to find a job that I don't mind going to! We no longer have any consumer debt along with no house or car debt. One of the biggest reasons that we were able to get to this is not being a consumer. Yes, we do eat food and have utilities. But I do not buy clothes, shoes, and other stuff unless 100% needed. I don't buy makeup, get nails done or hair. I am one of those lucky people that does not look my age and can get away with it. We save up for anything we want and save for our vacations.

[@martijnb3381]

To me this is a really healthy livestyle. In the Netherlands (where i live) this livestyle is almost the norm i think.

[@BrianK-zz4fk]

My fridge is 20 years old, no way in hell I'm buying one of those fancy new ones that make circle ice cubes and break in 5 years😂.

[@seltzermint5]

We replaced our 40 yr old fridge (original to the house) with the cheapest most basic new Frigidaire imaginable. Works great. Truly don't need a Bluetooth fridge or any bells and whistles. I'm hopeful it will last a decade but if not, fairly cheap to replace.

[@BrianK-zz4fk]

@@seltzermint5 good luck the more simple it is the more likely it will last 👍

[@seltzermint5]

@@BrianK-zz4fk that's what I've heard a lot from a friend who owns rental properties. I know my $300 dishwasher is a rockstar.

[@L32C-yg9hm]

Old fridges actually use a lot more electricity than new ones.

[@BrianK-zz4fk]

@@L32C-yg9hm how so? they dont need to power the computer crap in em. The new fridges use 400% electricity and oil than the old ones cause you need to get one every 5 years compared to 20 years

[@healthyrootsstrongwings538]

Youre hilarious :) joking about high scool shootings, raccons up butts, happy ending massages etc. I like you

[@jerrydbrown1401]

She really is quite pretty easy to listen to.good content too.relaxing to her her

[@JubeiKibagamiFez]

4:39 Bluetooth toothbrush??? W T F???? Now, I think I've heard everything.

[@seltzermint5]

lol it is a real thing. So weird!

[@janehex]

I agree with 100% of this, and am definitely guilty of shopping to feel better. Maybe I should rewatch this everyday! I am getting better though, this year I am not buying a single damn piece of "seasonal holiday decor". And while it's depressing to do so, lately whenever I am in a store that sells a lot of useless crap (Homegoods, Michaels, Target), there's a little alarm going off in my head that whispers "LANDFILL LANDFILL LANDFILL LANDFILL." This junk will all be in a landfill in a few months or years. Just to satisfy someone's fleeting whims. It's obscene, really. Oh and btw, mindless rampant capitalism is actually not required to keep society afloat. We got by for thousands of years on a service-based and agrarian economy. How did people survive without millionaires to support??!?

[@jenHry-ng3pw]

I was thinking about safety razors. The classical double edge costs almost nothing, is completely biodgradable, shipping and storage costs are minimum. The shave is perfect and it lasts for weeks. Now we replaced it with 3D something that is 100x more expensive per piece, has plastic pieces, so it has to go to landfill and is not biodegradable or recyclable. WTF

[@MIOLAZARUS]

I use a safety razor. It’s also a way more beautiful object ❤

[@thisismyyoutubeaccount3322]

I've been using the same Gillette blade for like three years. If you keep them dry they don't dull. Yeah, it doesn't work as well as it used to, obviously, but it still works. There's no reason to throw it away just because you have to go over a spot an extra time occasionally.

[@ThePennySaver]

I saw a ad for Dolce and Gabanna perfume for Dogs. When my dogs put it on their Christmas list I'll buy it 😂😂😂

[@cynthiahoward2285]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@seltzermint5]

15 yrs ago my friend accidentally bought dog perfume at TJ Maxx and she wore it anyway. Hilariously, when she petted and held my dog, the dog smelled amazing for 3 days after.

[@elijaprice]

"They say the solution isn't to throw money at the problem. But what is money for, if not for throwing at problems?" - Kurt Vonnegut.

[@GregMacDougall-m3n]

Waist not what not!

[@althunder4269]

@@GregMacDougall-m3n waste

[@cynth68]

Nicole telling it how it is! Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺

[@TylerG7777]

“Your dog, at home, alone by the front door, waiting for you to come home”. Ouch, that one hit me hard.

[@MIOLAZARUS]

Lost my dog 2 months ago. She made me so happy and now she is gone.

[@TylerG7777]

@@MIOLAZARUS Mio, I am so sorry to hear about your beloved dog. Believe me, I know exactly how you feel. 6 years ago, I lost my best friend too. He and I were inseparable. I had him for 11 years. After we had to put him down (cancer), I cried on and off for a month. I still miss him so much. I do have a new/wonderful dog that I love so much, but still not quite the same. But I have been able to move on. Wishing you much strength as you go through this difficult period. Hug. -Tyler

[@MIOLAZARUS]

@@TylerG7777 Thank you so much. Mina had a tumor. She was only 4 years old. Putting her down is the worst experience ever. Essentially taking the life of your best friend.. I don’t think I will ever get over it. I understand and I wish you healing as well. Happy to hear you have a new dog 🥰❤️ They are angels.

[@user-zt2wc3uh1l]

Everyone on this thread: stop feeding your dog commercial food, especially kibble. Dogs should be getting RAW meats, RAW organ meats and RAW bones (depending on their size, some bones would be too big_), from grass-fed free range animals. Buy from small farms, no store bought meats. Look up the raw meaty bone diet. No carbs, no cooked fats. My heart goes out to those who lost their dogs way too early to cancer.

[@Pihlalorjoone]

One more consumerism: buying a dog...

[@Steven-ox3rm]

Another item to add is ripped up jeans. Why would you want to spend money on already shredded jeans? I have jeans with holes in them, but those holes are earned.

[@sprinkle61]

Its called fashion, obviously you don't have it. Only pre-ripped jeans are cool, worn out jeans are lame-o...

[@lVlegabyte]

Jeans with holes designed for them don't let the hole get bigger unless you mess with them. Of course that only matters if you care about that, I've got jeans with both designed holes and "earned" holes.

[@nobbynoris]

My bank account has holes in it. The one and only time I tried to sell it I got laughed at.

[@undeadfate99]

I saw someone at work that had holes in the knees and a hole on the backpocket. You couldn't use the back pocket because something could fall out but you could still see the color of the underwear lol

[@sprinkle61]

@@undeadfate99 I've seen that back pocket variant as well, its actually from a metal chisel. Working men carry them in their back pockets, but the chisel point will work its way through the jeans, when they sit on it !

[@billmartins5545]

There are a few things I so spend more money on: electric toothbrush as it is genuinely better at cleaning my teeth than when I used a manual brush; Netflix and Spotify as I love series and music. But I cook my own meals, almost all of my clothes and furniture and kitchen stuff is secondhand, and I despise trends.

[@bree8150]

You literally just validated my decision to just FaceTime with my parents today rather than drive down to their house to visit. I was feeling a little guilty for wanting to just stay home and on the couch, but I’m saving gas, the environment, and my sanity if we just FaceTime. 😅

[@mht5875]

So true what you say about consumerism Nicole, I know a lot of people who are returning to the value of thrift and saving money.

[@JennyCarrier-hn1op]

me to..i am also

[@gtakween]

Damn consumerism! Broke down and bought a paperback book and dog dental chews via that huge online service that we love to hate. But it's okay, saved $2,800 last month.

[@andreabellini6796]

Hell yeah!

[@Juhsentuh]

My TV went out July 3rd and I don’t care to purchase another one. I have my iPad and laptop to watch KZbin and Pluto TV. Local news can be streamed on their apps and/or websites. I’m honestly okay with not having a TV. It seems to bother other people than me, living by myself is making me realize how little I need to survive. Less is more especially when I’m concentrating on paying off debt. Picked up a second income to do just that!!

[@trydowave]

I just chucked most of my stuff.. my flat is incredibly sparse now and i tell you what... it was cathartic.

[@martijnb3381]

My phone has a cracked screen for more then a year now and i dont care. I was looking at a new phone but they are all the same to me.. so why buy a new one?! I have a pc that has parts that are 10+ years old.. Once a year i buy an expensive legoset..Dont need it but i like building it.. Things in general dont make me happy, luckily 😊 The whole idea that people are happy when they buy lots of stuff is really sad..😢 to me.

[@markritacco270]

I have no mortgage and no debt. I have a strict budget where I know where every penny is going each month. I do not buy into consumerism anymore and have no-buy months (since last Nov) whereas I pay fixed expenses and prop/school/local taxes.

[@helenivanova5440]

Congratulations! I wanna learn it from you. Except no buy months maybe. Not that I am a shopoholic and consuming addicted, but I definitely need to cut down my budget to put aside and invest more.

[@markritacco270]

@@helenivanova5440 I retired early in 2019 at 59 1/2 and took money out of my smallish retirement account until I turned 62 and took SS. In that time and up until then I had a stock, and mutual fund portfolio for 20 years. I had lost plenty of principal through the years and decided this year that I was going to move all of my money to a fixed income (T-bills, notes, MM and a small amount for monthly bills in a HYSA). I refused to lose any more money in the stock market casino. I have zero mortgage and zero debt of any sort, so I am able to still save each month from just SS without taking anything from my investments. I have not stepped foot in a restaurant or fast-food establishment in over 25 years and surely do not miss it. I go for a walk in the morning for a minimum of 40 minutes and have not missed a single day (since Sept 2019) no matter what the weather is like. I live on the East coast of the US, so in the warmer months, I have an extensive garden that takes about 1.5 hours a day to water and tend (three times a week). For indoor entertainment, I have a vast collection of music [records, tapes (cassette/reel to reel), CDs, and high-res digital downloads] that I either listened to on multiple headphones or tube stereo gear. For a few hours a day I will watch media on my computer through a 32-inch 4k monitor. If and when I have something go wrong or need general maintenance on my house, I fix everything myself. Most of all I DO NOT care what others think of me, as I am not one that NEEDS to keep up appearances with others, and to me, it is so refreshing. I truly hope for your continued success.

[@markritacco270]

@@helenivanova5440 I retired early in 2019 at 59 1/2 and took money out of my smallish retirement account until I turned 62 and took SS. In that time and up until then I had a stock, and mutual fund portfolio for 20 years. I had lost plenty of principal through the years and decided this year that I was going to move all of my money to a fixed income (T-bills, notes, MM and a small amount for monthly bills in a HYSA). I refused to lose any more money in the stock market casino. I have zero mortgage and zero debt of any sort, so I am able to still save each month from just SS without taking anything from my investments. I have not stepped foot in a restaurant or fast-food establishment in over 25 years and surely do not miss it. I go for a walk in the morning for a minimum of 40 minutes and have not missed a single day (since Sept 2019) no matter what the weather is like. I live on the East coast of the US, so in the warmer months, I have an extensive garden that takes about 1.5 hours a day to water and tend (three times a week). For indoor entertainment, I have a vast collection of music [records, tapes (cassette/reel to reel), CDs, and high-res digital downloads] that I either listened to on multiple headphones or tube stereo gear. For a few hours a day I will watch media on my computer through a 32-inch 4k monitor. If and when I have something go wrong or need general maintenance on my house, I fix everything myself. Most of all I DO NOT care what others think of me, as I am not one that NEEDS to keep up appearances with others, and to me, it is so refreshing. I truly hope for your continued success.

[@markritacco270]

@@helenivanova5440 I retired early in 2019 at 59 1/2 and took money out of my smallish retirement account until I turned 62 and took SS. In that time and up until then I had a stock, and mutual fund portfolio for 20 years. I had lost plenty of principal through the years and decided this year that I was going to move all of my money to a fixed income (T-bills, notes, MM and a small amount for monthly bills in a HYSA). I refused to lose any more money in the stock market casino. I have zero mortgage and zero debt of any sort, so I am able to still save each month from just SS without taking anything from my investments. I have not stepped foot in a restaurant or fast-food establishment in over 25 years and surely do not miss it. I go for a walk in the morning for a minimum of 40 minutes and have not missed a single day (since Sept 2019) no matter what the weather is like. I live on the East coast of the US, so in the warmer months, I have an extensive garden that takes about 1.5 hours a day to water and tend (three times a week). For indoor entertainment, I have a vast collection of music [records, tapes (cassette/reel to reel), CDs, and high-res digital downloads] that I either listened to on multiple headphones or tube stereo gear. For a few hours a day I will watch media on my computer through a 32-inch 4k monitor. If and when I have something go wrong or need general maintenance on my house, I fix everything myself. Most of all I DO NOT care what others think of me, as I am not one that NEEDS to keep up appearances with others, and to me, it is so refreshing. I truly hope for your continued success.

[@markritacco270]

@@helenivanova5440 I retired early in 2019 at 59 1/2 and took money out of my smallish retirement account until I turned 62 and took SS. In that time and up until then I had a stock, and mutual fund portfolio for 20 years. I had lost plenty of principal through the years and decided this year that I was going to move all of my money to a fixed income (T-bills, notes, MM and a small amount for monthly bills in a HYSA). I refused to lose any more money in the stock market casino. I have zero mortgage and zero debt of any sort, so I am able to still save each month from just SS without taking anything from my investments. I have not stepped foot in a restaurant or fast-food establishment in over 25 years and surely do not miss it. I go for a walk in the morning for a minimum of 40 minutes and have not missed a single day (since Sept 2019) no matter what the weather is like. I live on the East coast of the US, so in the warmer months, I have an extensive garden that takes about 1.5 hours a day to water and tend (three times a week). For indoor entertainment, I have a vast collection of music [records, tapes (cassette/reel to reel), CDs, and high-res digital downloads] that I either listened to on multiple headphones or tube stereo gear. For a few hours a day I will watch media on my computer through a 32-inch 4k monitor. If and when I have something go wrong or need general maintenance on my house, I fix everything myself. Most of all I DO NOT care what others think of me, as I am not one that NEEDS to keep up appearances with others, and to me, it is so refreshing. I truly hope for your continued success.

[@Jane_Moss]

love this video, new subscriber! i hope more people start receiving this message

[@sprinkle61]

If you unplug from the consumerist matrix, your purchases will naturally go way down as you reach 40. Now that I am 50, my ONLY expenses are monthly things like electricity, taxes, and HOA, I need almost nothing new, unless a car dies and I have to replace it. Most things will last 10 years plus, and you can find a lot of things others have thrown out, so there are very few things you won't have after 20 years.

[@MathsAintMathing]

Girll!!!! So after watching two of your videos where you talked about amazon, I finally decided to just unsubscribe from Amazon just to see. And you were 100% correct. Those thieves 😂

[@AlexPrime86]

A sad customer is a paying customer

[@schoolneverteach]

Great analysis and delivery, as always!

[@RajnishKumar-zt4je]

Good Job madam. Plz bring more awareness to consumer for this nexus. As an Indian we always had taught to spend less and save more. Thanks

[@captkev55]

Greetings from Australia. Nicole, your videos should be shown in schools.

[@mad3leine]

I know when i stumble upon a new favourite youtuber and you have become one of them🎉 thank you for saying things as it is!

[@lizrose346]

Love this Nicole! You are so right. Such an eye opener, consumerism is getting ridiculous! This was lovely to listen to whilst enjoying my day off before work tomorrow. ❤

[@Abraham.Lincoln22]

The hair looks good. 🎉

[@lledwards66]

Unfortunately, as far as phones go, the telecommunications companies go, every update to your phone restricts the battery from fully charging. After a year, you can't go a whole day without charging your phone. They do this, and hide it in the code of the update, so you can't tell what they've done. You just think your battery is wearing out. That's how they get you to upgrade every one to two years. Planned obsolescence. It's an evil thing.

[@andreabellini6796]

I’m as frugal as possible I really don’t spend my money but I splurged and had a “What would Nicole do?” And bought concert tickets to see 21 Pilots last night and it was a kick ass show. I’ve also been on a no new clothes journey for about a year now. I have enough clothes, I don’t need any more.

[@gingerfellah5665]

“What would Nicole do?”, I love that ❤

[@nobbynoris]

I am currently deep into a 'no clothes' journey. 'Danglies gonna dangle,' as Taylor Swift might not ever have actually sung. I currently hold lifetime ASBOs banning me from Sussex, Kent, Lancashire, the Scottish Borders and more London boroughs than I am at current liberty to name. Not to mention the twelve times I have been beaten up by small-minded people who can't bear [?] the sight of a pair of bare balls. And you know what? It feels good. Get 'em out people.

[@JennyCarrier-hn1op]

when we know..we know..i dont by clothes anymore i got so much..

[@andreabellini6796]

@@nobbynoris that’s actually very concerning….

[@cookieforawookie]

"It's as American as a bald eagle eating an apple pie during a school shooting" What an opener LMAO. Had me rolling.

[@IgnacioChavez]

I can't help to be sad about this, I don't get why people would really laugh about it, its the worst

[@blackrustedvan7533]

Utter crass on her part. And yours too.

[@cookieforawookie]

@@blackrustedvan7533 you sound fun.

[@cookieforawookie]

@@IgnacioChavez it's called having a sense of humor. life must be extremely tiresome for you.

[@chrismantonuk]

1:58 😂 this had me absolutely dying

[@1YzeWhoaman6821]

I'm out of the loop AND uncool. Always have been, and I LOVE IT!!

[@hhjhj393]

From the lectures I have listened to about psychology and nuero chemistry, humans physically can't be happy for long periods of time. It's not really how our brains work. We naturally have short dopamine cycles. The whole poiny of dopamine in the first place is to get you to perform a behavior. The reason why sex is pleasurable is because our brains want us to perform it. If sex was painful no one would do it. Dopamine is just there to give you the desire to chase something. The problem is that once you do it, the pleasure wont last. Imagine if I ate one cookie and was just permanently happy for the rest of my life.... I might not have sex with a woman, or do anything... I might just find a tree to sit under and think about the pleasure from the cookie until I die. So by our very nature we can't be happy. Also dopamine truly tries to build ANTICIPATION. Humans are the happiest, not when eating the cookie, we are happiest when anticipating the cookie. We think about it all day at work, we rush home, we see the cookie on the countertop, that's when our pleasure truly peaks. Kinda like foreplay with sex. Happiness isn't the best goal to have. Learning to enjoy a bit of suffering is far more intelligent of a path. Cookies, sex, these things have large real world consequences, learning to like hard work might have less consequences, learning to love walking, running, pushups, etc will cause far less destruction. Maybe instead of sex, learning to love dancing? Dancing with a woman is sexual, there is build up, foreplay, an act, but you don't have to worry about a baby popping out afterwards.

[@lindaeliis8239]

Nicole, you broke this cycle down to make it easy for everyone to understand. Excellent!

[@MathsAintMathing]

"like a peasant" took me out 😂😂😂.. ".. a canvas print that says live laugh love" 😂😂😂 I might have 2 or 3 of those from my younger years, deing ur right. For real, those thieves; they get you when you're young & naive 😭🤦🏾‍♀️

[@therainchannel01]

i understand now because my new microwave only has a 2 year warranty

[@kerel866]

There's nothing that can make me broke. Paid off my mortgage and earning 5K a month. Money has become irrelevant. People should just live to their income. When i was on a tighter situation, i carefully calculated all my expenses, subtracted that from my income, so i knew what i could freely spend on nonsense. Keeps you out of debt. They should teach that in school.

[@alxk3995]

That only works if you have full-time jobs that actually pay for the most basic necessities. There is a study that showed that a "poor" person in America would need around 20years of no big illness and/ or car payment to make it out of "poverty". That's just a shitty situation that doesn't need to exist.

[@FedPut]

inflation can, whenever they choose

[@rickschlosser6793]

I paid off my mortgage and started investing. Now my investments earn me $5000/month while I stay home and live my life. Or at least what is left of it.

[@deathwarmedup73]

well done.

[@kerel866]

@@FedPut Income will also inflate. By the time inflation will break me, the entire world will be broken

[@phillipevans9414]

Don't fee bad about your analogy at the start of this video...most people don't know apple pie is originally English - other than that, you're 100% correct about consumerism. Cheers!

[@ss11733]

thank you for continuing to consistently make videos!!! since I started watching you I went from 40k to 65k. from barely surviving to having wiggle room. that would have happened anyway. but it helps so much having someone in my corner cheering me to on help myself. ty!!!

[@OrganicGreens]

This is why I only got my first smartphone in 2020. A used iPhone x. Just replaced the broken screen on it for 10 dollars. Still works great even if its like 6 gen's behind. Still miss my flip phone honestly tho. Miss my 12 dollar a month bill the most.

[@thisismyyoutubeaccount3322]

Why did you switch?

[@kyootzee]

Don't pause at 2:00. Don't do it.

[@ricy802]

I didn't listen. I couldn't help myself. I SHOULD HAVE LISTENED!!

[@tactileslut]

"People also ask . . ."

[@avi8r944]

This is good advice. Should be writing it down.

[@EvanDelay]

Hi Nicole. Thanks for being a source of useful information and good advice.

[@JazzyArtKL]

Spot on Nicole. Collect experiences, not objects.

[@IzzyOnTheMove]

I don't wear a watch. I haven't mowed my lawn in 2 years. I don't shave (I wax). I haven't used a blowdryer in 30 years. I vlog with my phone. I don't have a TV or a couch. I don't drive. I try to buy durable items that will last forever and I'll never have to buy again. But i travel. Ohhh, do i travel. Tip to avoid credit card fraud - keep your cards locked unless you're making a purchase.

[@anthonybf2]

You should at least consider some sort of solar + 6 band watch. My G Shock automatically gets the correct time signal at midnight from 1 of 6 frequncies, and has a solar panel in the display to stay charged. Your phone isn't always guaranteed to be there for you.

[@terrorbilly1]

@@anthonybf2 agree. Nothining beats a solar powered gshock.

[@tonyp.bahama9368]

No couch? Like what do you use to sit down on? Im thinking of getting rid of mine aswell, i dont know how to say it in English but the springs pop out of the bottom lol

[@mc2ryan100]

How does she not have at least a million subs. Such an astute commentary on materialism.

[@RustyDice]

- glances at giant CD and DVD binders on shelf "Haha - yeah - back in 98"

[@Wingedshadowwolf]

I'm currently driving a car with a dc player and no other inputs aside from the radio. I have a box of cds in the car.

[@shlf2615]

I love my CDs and DVDs. They'll have to pry 'em outta my cold dead hands. Hahaha!!

[@Alan-jx7uk]

I purchase used cd's and dvd's usually at auctions. They usually sell for less than a $1 each when they are sold as a group of 20-30. Edited: I rip the cd's that will allow it, download them to my phone then I can play them in my car.

[@RustyDice]

@@Alan-jx7uk cool -original boxed or in wallet?

[@Steven-ox3rm]

"Two racoons can fit up a humans rear end". That is very interesting.

[@timdersch8754]

That ass much be pretty big. Lol

[@chrismadill4185]

Your channel is working towards a better world. Nice work. Love the atmosphere and relaxing presentation. Levi's a good boy.

[@JudithMcPheron-pb9lv]

Thanks Nicole, excellent knowlege shared and all truth. Wish I'd had a better outlet for all my emotions when younger than retail therapy! Never, ever underestimate what a great source of inspration and help you are to those who watch, listen and learn from you! Many Blessings! ❤😊❤

[@valerie1870]

Love your channel, full of good old common sense, so funny and smart. Look forward to each post. Love to you and Levi. 💖

[@gracesimplified3860]

Best video yet! I wish more people would consider this when boarding the consumption train 🚂 to debt and environmental disaster.

[@yardboy3955]

So true, I get it. Don’t get duped to buying stuff you don’t need.

[@anthonycapistrano9559]

Really enjoyed the bit about trading your time with loved ones for that random crap you don’t need. The next time I have an urge to spend money I’m gonna weight it against the opportunity cost to earn the money as well as the money itself.

[@stephenthomas5784]

The most insufferable people on the planet? A job you hate? Speak for yourself. Borderline personality symptoms? (seeing everything in extremes) You know better, Nicole.

[@Ckawauchi35]

Another useful video by Nicole. Thank you! The more we know, the more we can protect ourselves fr conglomerate greed and physical junk that crowd our psychological well-being. Over-consumerism has been exploited by these conglomerates at the expense of our finances and the environment.

[@dchappy6985]

Thanks, that's just what I needed. 😌

[@texasleslie]

Love your channel, but your honesty is more valuable than fake examples

[@theesilverghost]

Excellent timing! A small group of us were having this very discussion today. Also, the Stanley cup now has accessories! Wheeee!

[@millax-ev6yz]

Ok the google search of the racoon made me laugh so hard out loud! Hilarious!

[@petergarayt9634]

I have a glass water bottle with a rubber stopper. I've had it for twenty five years and strangely there's nothing wrong with it.

[@jdotslittleshopofwonders]

As the saying goes, “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.”

[@rickschlosser6793]

Yes there is. You cannot check the temperature of the water in your water bottle by using an app on your phone!

[@JP-ve7or]

The one good thing about manufacturing going to sh1t is that I'm rarely tempted to blow money on new things.

[@brndafay8518]

True, on all accounts of examples noted! Overconsumption, boredom & fomo!

[@amywilliams1617]

The phone upgrades are such a rip off. My iPhone 7 was great, but they stopped supporting it. Now I have an iPhone 12 mini, which is great, but I'm waiting for them to tell me they won't support that either. Somehow, no matter how they promise that our bill won't go up, other than the cost of the phone which we pay cash for, it does if we get a different phone. I've called them multiple times to take off whatever extra they've added but they state it's necessary. We live between 2 states in rural areas, so we don't the coverage we need with most carriers and we are limited in our choices. It's a racquet for sure. Fortunately, I have been frugal my whole life, so we do well in many other areas, but this one is a joke.

[@tascker0]

This is by far the best video I watched this year.

[@jburch1544]

People complain about life just as they did 50 to 100 years ago. Just do it more comfortably, with more stuff and more convinces than ever. First world problems for sure!

[@JennyCarrier-hn1op]

3 tv in the same house ..it start like this..

[@HelloworlditsSamuel]

Genuinely one of the best videos that I have seen Nicole, a very thought provoking video. Your channel is like a breath of fresh air, keep up the great content 👏✨️

[@saramm3765]

Not the Live Laugh Love 😱 My worst spending periods are when I feel out of control of my life when therapy, time outside and meditation would be much more beneficial.

[@Melly3112-ox3ey]

If you have a need to spend, buy chocolate!

[@gene_takavic57]

Our weekly dose of reality. Thanks, Nicole!

[@Alan-jx7uk]

When I was in my mid 30's I drove up a substantial credit card bill. Also a car loan and mortgage. I looked at the interest I was paying on the credit card and thought, huh, that's half my car payment. That was my epiphany moment. I paid down my credit card to 0 (took me till my early 40's) paid off my car loan and then my mortgage. I have paid off my credit card every month since then. Saved enough to pay cash for my car. And bought a nicer house and make extra principle payments every month. I figure I'll probably have it paid off by the time I die! LOL

[@cindyperdomo285]

Amazing!! One of the best videos ❤. Loved it. 🥰 Lots of truth in what was said.