What To Do When The Budget Isn't Working - Easy Frugal Living Tips!

[@karenallen919]

I cashed out my IRA and i paid off my house, bought a new car, and banked the rest for medical expenses & living expenses. I was entering stage 5 kidney failure. I had transplant 5 years ago. The mental calm i had about housing during that extremely stressful time was amazing. I put aside $ to cover taxes to pay cash.

[@jamesallen8219]

God bless you

[@bchompoo]

Jill was right. I often do as she advised and it always worked! Thank you mom!

[@rosebuddanielle967]

I was a stay at home mom. Our boys are grown up now, but I am so glad I got to be home when they were little. Here are a few ideas of some things this woman could do at home to make some extra money. How about watching a child or two after school until the parents get home from work. Or She could do pet care or house watching for a local neighbor when they go on vacation. We always pay a local neighbor girl to water my house plants, the flowerbeds, and feed the cat twice a day. She could take her kids with her in a stroller while she is doing that. She could talk to her nearby neighbors that she is offering those services. She can just walk over to their home with the one kid in a stroller and the baby in a front pack and do these easy tasks. Also, how about doing ironing ? No one likes to iron anymore, but there are folks who have dress shirts that still need to be ironed to look right. And if she can sew, she could take in mending jobs or sewing on buttons, or hemming pants. In my area, the alterations lady gets $10-$12 per pair for hemming up pants. These are jobs she could do when the kids are napping. Another idea is baking bread and cookies or cakes or other desserts to sell. No one wants to take the time to bake anymore- but only sell to friends and neighbors for cash under the table - keeps the local government agency *(health dept) out of it. Have a garage sale to make some extra money from unwanted or no longer used items. We have a garage sale every year and make at least $200 -$400. We have decided junk grows baby junk in the basement! We always seem to find items to sell. If she is good at some kind of craft or candle making, knitting or crocheting - those items could be sold online or at a local craft /farmers market. Hope one of these ideas could be helpful to someone.

[@marycherek1927]

Jill, I grew up with radish sandwiches. I figured it was a depression era food as both my parents grew up in that time. I loved them. Recently lost my dad at 101 yrs old. I learned a lot of frugal tips from him and my mom. It helped me and my husband raise 4 kids on one income so I could stay home and raise our kids. I am the 2nd youngest of 9 kids.

[@nancyerickson3431]

Your advice for her to stay home and stop the kids’ college fund is spot on- they can make it work, and the babies need her with them!!!

[@teranda3974]

Speaking of living in a mobile home in Mississippi that's where I am. 😂 It gets stressful being in a rural area all the time but I'm blessed to have no rent.

[@KD-pz6rb]

My husband and I just wrote down and gathered all receipts for the month. I keep all receipts for Fetch so I have them. He and I were disgusted and astonished of where and what we spend our money on. It’s not big stuff. It’s the little! We have vowed to change this. I have all three of your books and we are definitely getting our act together! No excuses.

[@Commonmomhomeschooler]

Everyone’s retirement plan should include a paid off house and zero debt. It’s so freeing. We accomplished this in our mid 30s and started to grow our family and I stay home now with our babies.

[@sandraknudsen2658]

Thank you so so much for sharing the crazy things that happen in your life! Sometimes I feel like we are the only ones to experience similar house problems. I’m glad to know we’re not the only ones! Just know you are in good company! God Bless❤

[@janetjohn7618]

I spent the week getting my vegetable garden in also. Finally done, now all I have to do is water, weed and feed my garden until it’s time to harvest. I’m in my happy place.

[@VS-fo9py]

We didn’t become money wise until later in our adulthood. We did not save for our kids college tuitions. My daughter wanted to go out of state for college like her friends. I told her she’s broke, and I would not allow her to go into heaps of debt. So she completed two years at our local community college and has no student loan debt. We cash flowed her transfer to the state college in our city. She will need to get a job to fund her second year of state university. I know she appreciates the decision we made to not allow her to go into debt for a degree, she sees the amount those friends have

[@leahix7356]

Yep! We built our house on five acres in the country. We have been living frugally and adding almost a second payment extra on our mortgage. Also put on extra found money onto the principal. September is the five year anniversary of our first mortgage payment and this September (four more months to go!) we will pay off our mortgage!!! I cashed in my two small IRA's out (minus taxes) and lumped it all on the mortgage. Saving us almost $106,000 in interest over the life of the loan and that's at a very low interest. This is so important to us, since we just retired!!! Being debt free will be the best thing we could of done for us. Also, try to be as self-sufficient as possible. Plant a garden (start small) and if you can, get chickens.

[@lsu52frog]

No better feeling than paying that last amount on your mortgage and knowing that your home is yours. It is a huge weight lifted. Ours has been paid off about 5 years now. We didn't have a lot of extra money, but we payed a little extra every month and payed off our mortgage years in advance. I was fortunate to be raised by a frugal mom and learned a lot from her but I'm always looking for more ways to save. Thanks for all you do.

[@lindadorman2869]

Always pay off debt first. Years ago, I made a 6-figure salary but was always broke. When I finally saw how much interest I was paying on credit cards every month, I was shocked. No wonder I had no money! I took a leap of faith and used my entire savings to pay off my credit cards in one fell swoop. Then I went to work trimming my spending - every line item got cut at least 10%. Now I'm retired with a fraction of what I made before, but I've been debt-free for 5 years and have plenty of cash.

[@kellyswolfe]

Love your comment.

[@ninarn2399]

This is the first time I caught the live show. Ordered first 2 cookbooks for my daughter and her boyfriend so they can learn how to cook thrifty meals. Thanks for all you do, love you and Jill and Mike

[@leilarhymeswithsheila1344]

Radish sandwiches - lovely! I’ve just picked my radish - woody, sadly. My mum used to make me tomato sandwiches and people would say, ugh! No ham? But I liked them just the way they were. Great show as usual. 👍

[@nancykraus5127]

If the radishes are a bit woody they can still be used in soups and other cooked meals. Or throw them in a bag in the freezer with other bits of vegetables for making vegetable broth.

[@campoida]

Paying off the mortgage saves tens of thousands and frees up monthly dollars too.

[@daytonadog2001]

Shelter is the most important thing. Make sure your house is paid off. You can walk, bike or take mass transit and live without cable TV.

[@marywebb9127]

Walking or biking is not an option in rural America. It can be 45 minutes to an hour to the nearest grocery store. You can get attacked by people's dogs who run loose in the country. Unless it is a known bike trail it is not worth it. Pubic transit maybe not be an option because they don't exist in some rural areas. You don't have a car, you are at the mercy of friends or family. Uber and Lyft will be high because the drivers mostly live in the city and will have to drive just to pick you up in the country.

[@shellysjostrom2646]

There is no bus system where we live and it's 45 minutes to an hour to a town to do shopping. A car is definitely a necessity.

[@daytonadog2001]

@@shellysjostrom2646 you are correct. I should really watch what I say. I too live 12 miles one way from my closest grocery store and I do not have mass transit available where I live. Generalizing kicks me in the teeth every time.

[@daytonadog2001]

@@marywebb9127 you are so right. I was wrong to post what I did. Housing still is my priority and I drive an old beater.

[@KimSelensky]

My son works summers to cover living expenses at college. He has scholarships that cover tuition and keeps his grades up to keep his scholarships. He has 3 years done with NO DEBT. He has 1 more year and will be debt free when he graduates!! It can be done. The school you go to has a lot to do with it. Smaller schools are easier on the budget and offer nearly as many degree programs as the bigger schools.

[@joannep5974]

For the drain issue. You may want to have it professionally cleaned. Or snaked with a camera. Tree roots can grown through and into the septic fields and create clogs.

[@LorrieAnne]

I love the common sense.Get some RidX to take of the sewer drain, it breaks things down better than vinegar and baking soda . It’s made for septic systems. If you are on town sewer call them first, although you are probably responsible for your sewer line from your house to the edge of your property where the sewer line connects. You put it right down your toilet a few times per year.

[@tisharodriguez9541]

One of my daughters worked 3 jobs -babysitting, Wawa, went to school and drilled with the reserves. The other daughter worked at Outback. Both were able to pay for college and didn’t mess around and fail classes or party.

[@makafindcindy116]

Dawn, about 1/2 of a small bottle in the toilet followed by a buckle full of really hot water. Boiling works best.

[@crazychick]

Our weekend was ruined with our pool. We pulled off the cover and it was super green and our vacuum and filter pump died in one day so we swam in green water with spray bottle of cleaner and dipping out the algea plants we will be so happy the new pump comes on friday

[@CookingwithCatLover0330]

We bought a home in Central IL in 2020. Our mortgage is $500 a month. IL is cheaper than other states if you know where to go. Don't go to Chicago! We live in a nice small town. Our taxes are $2,000 a year and we own an acre of land plus have woods and a creek behind us that is usable to us. I don't know what Idaho is like but all of IL is not bad with prices. We have to deal with stink government but it's not as bad down state. I bet this family can stay in Idaho and have her stay at home. She needs to raise her kids. Great video. And Jill, I agree with you. No matter who is elected, it is going to hit the fan. Thank you.

[@LivingOnADime]

Yes you were the exact person I was thinking of when I said it wasn't all bad. I know there are part that are good...just like all states. Really it's just a matter of weighting the pros and cons.

[@karenkaren5013]

​@@LivingOnADimeTawra, can you give me the name of the eye glass site that you use? Please and thank you ❤

[@brittanysweitzer6671]

Similar situation in Illinois here as well!

[@dianabenjamin7837]

"Don't let your schooling get in the way of your education " Mark Twain.

[@susielansford9500]

Although women "get penalized" via our social security system if they are homemakers, keep in mind that we should be storing up treasures in heaven. Raising our own children, protecting and educating them, training them up in the way they should go will have FAR greater rewards in heaven AND on earth than any stipend you could ever receive from the government.

[@TeresaAlley]

I’m 64 and have gone through so much and it’s caused me to slow down a lot! I don’t think anyone understands.

[@grannys3426]

Sorry it's been so rough! Some people have different struggles...listen to these ladies.. such great ideas and spirit.. .some of us might understand more than you think.

[@ksewald91]

We had a large family and never was able to save for the kids college. Hubby paid off student a few years after graduation, but as the kids came along we lived pay check to paycheck. I agree with you on not stressing about the future.

[@sharoncosper4446]

Yes to Jill and letting grandma help after the birth of a child.

[@craftyshell3822]

Our memorial weekend here in Texas was spent helping swift through ruble of my friend's house. It was hit by a tornado sat night, it took the whole house down. It's in pieces over acres of land. The last 5 years for him has been heart breaking, His wife (my best friend) we lost her to breast cancer 5 years ago. Her ashes were in the house, and we have yet to find them. Thank god he had left the house or he be gone. 7 died that night in his area and two were children 5 and 2 they were right behind him on the next street. He is pretty angry at god right now and I can understand that. Wish I knew what to say to him. Tuesday a storm blew in with 80 plus mph wind knocked out power then preceded to knock down my neighbor's massive tree on our property and land on the shed and the fences. At light of day seeing the damage I thought well we still have our home, and no one was hurt not going to complain.

[@sharoncosper4446]

😢

[@donnasnesko8280]

Rhubarb cake is on your cookbook and it's delicious. I think it's your recipe!

[@pamt3915]

It’s not mandatory to have escrow for your property taxes & homeowners insurance with your mortgage. My mortgage is with a major bank & I requested NOT to do escrow. Mortgage lenders typically don’t tell you that. I had to pay a year in full for homeowners insurance before closing. I didn’t have to prepay or do anything towards property taxes.

[@berlinmiller4617]

I live in Idaho, and paying down my mortgage shortens the life of the mortgage, but does not lower my loan payment per month, anyway.

[@pamt3915]

Her husband can start a Heathcare Savings Account through his employer if they don’t have one. Why can’t she work part-time in the evening after her husband gets home? I agree with cutting back on the education fund & Retirement account if it’s not employer matched.

[@donnakerstiens9899]

Great video! ❤️💙💚

[@conniebennett3378]

Jill, I grew up on radish sandwiches. Not to many People know about them.

[@leeannwicker937]

Her husband is probably emotionally overwhelmed with the idea of being sole provider especially with a new baby and wife not working. Sit down and run the numbers to develop a realistic budget showing him how little income her job will contribute after paying childcare and work expenses. Then discuss a long-term plan for her to return to work once kids are in school. The kids' education fund could be considered an emergency fund to give him more peace of mind.

[@rustyriley2585]

She could stay at home till kids start school than she could work part-time while kids are at school

[@joniahaworth]

Thats my plan! I'm a SAHM of 4 and plan to substitute teach at the kiddos school when they are school age.

[@ubwaterman]

Love this content!!! Both of you!!!❤ Sher.

[@nancyerickson3431]

Our property taxes and insurance just went up $350/month- it’s now $1000-44% of our payment! Awful! We are in Douglas County, CO

[@ChrisIsTasha]

I just want to pop in here and share an experience. The week of Memorial Day weekend one of our local chain stores had 80/20 burger on sale for $1.97#. I went in on the last day of the sale at 3pm and they were completely sold out. Since they closed at 11 or midnight, I felt this was unsatisfactory service and quantity stocked. I inquired about a rain check and was sent to the customer service desk. I was told because it was meat and supplies vary they didn’t do rain checks. Because I know the lady from other places outside of the store, I asked her if there was a manager available I could speak with for an override since it was a typical item carried. Would I have asked anyways? Yes. But I knew she definitely would not say no to me because of our connection. ☺️ She couldn’t reach the store manager but the second in command said yes. I asked for a rain check for 25#. In addition to this, I had a $10 off $50 coupon for the remodel inconvenience currently happening. My hubby and I went yesterday. We chose packages to add up to 23# so there wouldn’t be any issues. A total of 9 packages. When all done at the register, she handed the rain check back to us with the 25 crossed off and put 16. The system doesn’t know the difference between packages and pounds! We are going back in two weeks and buying more for this price. The rain checks are good for 90 days. 😁 And that will be just in time for the July 4 holiday and hopefully another great sale. All this to say DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR WHAT YOU NEED TO LEGALLY SAVE MONEY. ❤️ Edit: The cost if 80/20 burger at this store is now $5.39 a pound and was on a current sale of $3.99. Plain ol’ burger. If I watch specials carefully, I can get 100% grass fed burger on sale for $2.99 or $3.99 so $3.99 at this store is not even a great sale.

[@amazinggraceranch6793]

Hi guys! Hope everyone is doing well 😊❤

[@margaretbagur3553]

Besides the big stuff it doesn't hurt to do the math on the things you don't think about like the early morning before work stops. The gas station/convenience stores are crazy busy every morning. It's sneaky. Doing the math you might see a shock. Let's say $40 a day 5 days a week for two people. Are you sitting down? $14,560 a year approximate. Yes, $14,560.

[@campoida]

You can liquify any meat and put it in a soup, or beans and rice

[@StephanieJoRountree]

She could do work-at-home jobs while the kids nap.

[@lynncostello7007]

Love your show!!!

[@valentinalambert6308]

Another thing people aren’t mentioning is the amount of cigarettes they smoke DAILY. I have an older friend on social security and getting only 850$ a month (rent is only 200$) and she’s always broke halfway through the month because of the PACKS of cigarettes she smokes every. Single. Day. And then wonders where her money goes. Yes her preferred kind is $4 or $5 a pack but smoking 2-3 a day really adds up.

[@conniecollins4449]

Do you have any printed spiral undated planners left?

[@LivingOnADime]

yes

[@sheilabus5475]

Not all taxes are in the mortgage. Some pay separately.

[@traceymalley5778]

Should I use my 403b to pay off my debts and my mortgage?

[@LivingOnADime]

I don't know you'll have to run the numbers.

[@caitlinross8601]

I wonder how much their healthcare premiums are. It would be helpful to know what the Net is. It’s not uncommon to be paying $1000+ a month in premiums for a family.

[@findingaway5512]

Secret to happiness is all the resilliance you are getting from chaotic moments like the 💩.

[@marychristensen4254]

Possibly roots in your pipes. I had the same thing with roots.

[@sharonbarry1520]

Is the red and blue cook books the same as the two red books with the metal binders???? Or is it new recipes????

[@sharonbarry1520]

I have been looking for a couple years or more

[@sharonbarry1520]

I love your books but I don’t want to buy double.

[@LivingOnADime]

The red book is volume 1 with 40 new recipes.

[@sharonbarry1520]

@@LivingOnADime thank you for getting back to me. I want to buy all your books. Not e books cause I got some but I can’t find them on my phone. I am 71 years old and I am on a fixed income. but I do plan on getting all your books. I may be slow but I am sure

[@lyndacordova6212]

I don't know about slowing down in your 70s. I know a lot of people in their 70s who flit off on vacations four or more times a year, stay active in their towns as far as being involved in xhurch and city activities, etc.

[@sadie21962]

The comment about "not having gorillas chasing me in my garden" gave me a visual of Mike behind the camera imitating a gorilla. Lol. Oh my goodness.

[@findingaway5512]

Our house the roots from a tree grows back in the pipes. I wonder if you have a tree in pipes. Maybe they can scope it. .

[@findingaway5512]

We had to have it snaked.

[@sharonbarry1520]

Please answer about the cook boos…. Is it new recipes????

[@lyndacordova6212]

I live in California. A Big Mac Meal here is not $20. A Big Mac Meal is a little over $13. That's still too much and not something I order. I had to look it up because I thought, that sounds wrong.

[@babyfacestp]

Sorry I'm new. I'm trying to catch on. I think your name is Jill. I'm so sorry if I'm wrong. What did you say that sounded like bronze water when responding to the person that asked for other soft foods. I couldn't understand the pronunciation and can't figure out how to spell it either. Sorry for the hard question wish I could be more clear.

[@pama9302]

I believe she said braunschweiger.

[@LivingOnADime]

braunschweiger

[@jenniferheth8117]

I’ve lived in Illinois (12 years) and Idaho (5 years). There is no comparison, the taxes in IL will eat you alive especially in Cook County. Idaho is far better from a tax perspective.

[@LivingOnADime]

Yes they will!

[@donnasnesko8280]

Put pen to paper...right Jill?!

[@angiepayne9987]

I'll pass on that thank you

[@melodycharles7875]

4% rule

[@karenandrew5467]

Kids should be responsible for getting school loans, grants, scholarships. Trades apprenticeship are great.

[@Sher1965]

The not marking down planet thing sounds like McDonald's with throwing food away.

[@TrustinYeshuaHaMashiach]

When will you have more Planners for sale? I missed the slighty damaged one. I was waiting to get paid.

[@LivingOnADime]

We are sold out. We won't have any more.

[@TrustinYeshuaHaMashiach]

@@LivingOnADime oh, I am so sad I missed that. So you are not printing anymore ever? So I could get the digital one only?

[@laurafarr2693]

I’ve known someone my whole life who is on her second husband. If I believe everything she says about her husbands, she has married terrible men. She takes no accountability for her choice in who she married and she recently attacked me because I said I wasn’t lucky I have a good husband and marriage. It didn’t just happen to me. She said I’m being quick to judge and being mean. I don’t treat my husband the way she treats hers, and my husband has never come close to treating me the way hers supposedly treat her.

[@jdbd60]

Hi Jill. Do you grow a garden?

[@jillcooper172]

I did years ago when I was first married but had so many things destroy it and was so much work. Then when my husband left I added the numbers and I could do 1 hr of my regular work and make more money then when I did 3 hrs of gardening so it really ended up costing me more to grow the things than to buy them. Tawra loves to garden and is her hobby. I did most of my gardening in the heat and humidity of KS so really wasn't fun or relaxing for me. : )

[@jdbd60]

@@jillcooper172 That makes sense. Thank you.

[@findingaway5512]

I had a friend taht was livin. In africa and she had to brace herself against a door ehen a baboon was trying to get in. There wete monkeys around the village they were in. That is crazy to think about. But different animals different places around the world. I will stick with the bunnies and deer and squirrels and chipmunks and birds. 😂 I still dont know how people live where there are alligators.

[@sharonbarry1520]

Books

[@thefunkythrifter]

I don’t think this takes into account the brainwashing and coercive control and manipulation that takes place in abusive relationships. I fled my marriage pregnant and with a less than one year old to a women’s refuge. I started my life all over again from scratch but staying away from him nearly killed me because of the trauma bonds and all the emotional mind control that went on. I didn’t know who I was on my own. I had to leave and get out of danger but I had moments of wanting to go back because I’d been so controlled there it had become all I knew. I love your channel and find the rants entertaining. I have the original dining on a dime cookbook and I think you have tonnes of good advice but sometimes I think it’s important to stop and think if you haven’t gone through something in your own life personally, could I be misunderstanding something here?

[@LivingOnADime]

As I said there are all kinds of nuances and I get that but I have been with many women going through this and at some point you just have to say I'm not doing this anymore and if you don't no amount of help from outside is going to help you.

[@thefunkythrifter]

@@LivingOnADime yeah I agree you have to step back when the pattern is repeating. They have to get there in their own time and they might never get there. But it’s not weakness.. it’s mental entrapment.

[@kristiecox7350]

Gross, I had that happen at my salon. Roto rooter lol

[@sandraortega898]

Pay off house then put it into a trust in your name

[@magenta4443]

The one thing Trump can do, if elected, is open oil drilling, fracking and pipelines. By the way, you can start some plants by buying produce from the grocery store. You can root parsley in water to develop roots and you can cut up ginger and plant in dirt, for example.