5 Things I Refuse To Spend Money On

[@CaptainRocketsCesspool]

I respect the music subscription opinion. I personally have Spotify Premium, and I listen to it for atleast 2 hours everyday (most days it's more, though.). Somedays I fall asleep listening to new albums, or relistening to old ones. I put music in the bg while I work, read, draw, etc. But literally everyone is different, like my best friend who probably opens up a music app once every week. I think spending money on whatever improves your quality of life is worth it, and that varies from person to person and whether or not it has an environmental impact haha.. Great video as always, Cara!

[@thefinancialfreedomgirl]

thank you so much for watching! and 100%! I feel like it absolutely depends on how much you use it - for my brother, who loves so many niche artists and loves curating playlists, it feels more worth it to have Spotify Premium. But since I like listening to the same music over & over + I spend a lot of my time listening to free podcasts or KZbin playlists (aka chill lowfi beats hehe), I've always felt like I wouldn't get my money's worth. thanks again for watching, and for sharing your thoughts :)

[@intorainbowzOG]

I pay for youtube premium because I usually go to sleep listening to KZbin and the ADs come through blaring and wake me up. For me that is a fair trade. I get to sleep without meds and don't get blasted awake by an ad for Target.

[@voydkid]

Why don't you just buy the music you want to listen to instead of paying for the right to listen to it frequently

[@lance_374]

@@voydkid From my experience, it's a trap, just like Netflix. You pay for it for several months. might listen to new music, then if you want to cancel, you lose all that music unless you want to pay for it again. Or just keep paying the subscription (which is cheaper than most albums). Eventually, prices will have to rise because it is not profitable in its current state. All the music streaming services must have some other source of revenue because they either barely break even or lose money on the music itself. That is why Spotify pushes podcasts so hard. Other companies like Apple, Google, and Amazon get their money from other sources, so they don't have to make money from music, and instead just have an ecosystem.

[@sweetcherryblast7251]

​@@voydkidMany cars aren't made with cd players anymore. Spotify allows a person to access millions of songs for free or $10. Albums(digital or physical) cost $10-$30. A million songs for $10 is worth it over a 10 track album for $10 for many people.

[@zhenghao123]

While I agree on the food part but in some countries it is impossible to cook as rental do not come with access to kitchen. Or there is a kitchen but the landlord do not allow you to cook. 😅

[@adamc1966]

I have Utube premium for entertainment. No money wasted on cable or any kind of dish service. All they show are crime shows or movies you already have on DVD. Plus the amount of commercials now is outrageous !!

[@DinaStrange]

What about all the trees and animals we destroy for stupid consumer junk.

[@jj8818]

Yea. I would die without music. I curate my music carefully to fit different moods, activities, mental states, time of day etc. I used to have at least 30gb of music in my phone before streaming apps became a thing. The convenience of having access to a global library of music is too good for me to let go of. I refuse to spend money on newly-released video games. $60-80 USD on products that are often not ready for launch and quickly lose value is a waste. And honestly some of that shit should be pirated.

[@dragoncat3499]

The only time I've ever used food delivery was when I left my lunch for work at home. Never again. As for music subscriptions, I pirate all my music or use youtube with an adblocker. :>

[@avengermkii7872]

Maybe I'm just old but I prefer buying music albums and having the mp3 files downloadable than get a music subscription. I'm not spending money for the ability to listen to music offline when I can just do it myself. Shit like KZbin music is a waste of money.

[@laurie8857]

Is hot chocolate not a flavored drink? I don't understand poopooing coffee if you are drinking something similar. I basically agree with everything though, commenting to support the algorithm haha

[@thefinancialfreedomgirl]

Haha I'm not poopooing coffee! I love the smell but just have never liked the flavor (as much as my brother keeps getting me to try different types hehe)

[@thefinancialfreedomgirl]

Also thank you!!

[@winterbutterfly8861]

I'm doing my nails right now while watching this. My mom has always told me to avoid spending money on something I can do myself so I learned to do my own nails and it does save me so much money

[@kariay50]

I started doing the same👍🏻💅

[@bachsdmacncheese1182]

Me too!!!

[@Brightfantasy]

Yes! I have never stepped into a nail salon, and never will!

[@winterbutterfly8861]

@@Brightfantasy I did it once about six months ago, regret it immediately. Spend a lot of money, ended up getting more stuff that I wanted because I felt pressured by the owner (I'm an idiot for that part, only me to blame really) and since they put acrylic it took a lot of time to get rid of all of it. At the end I was glad, now I KNOW that is not my cup of tea

[@yoominji.]

Yes I do the same with my eyebrows and my mom cuts my hair for me.

[@by_sha]

To chip in on the wedding part - I did my own makeup & nails for my wedding, hell even my entire outfit was puzzled together from a few places. Nobody, absolutely not a soul, noticed that my appearance is DIY-ed. people won’t notice, even if you’re a bride. But we did have an incredibly good time. I had so much fun throughout my own wedding. Just so you know, it’s totally okay to skip some spending even for the big day!!

[@krk6216]

Omg yes I’m doing the same thing!! So many people try to push you HARD to get a hair and makeup artist! It’s just a big no for me 😂 I’ve only seen decent “professional” wedding makeup in person ONCE. Every other bride I’ve ever seen melted because the artist didn’t use a quality primer or bake their face in the makeup process…. After watching I just know I’ll do a better job

[@by_sha]

@@krk6216 I feel you!! I basically did my daily 10-min makeup with perhaps the exception of a few pieces of eyelash extensions, and I look just like MYSELF in every photo. I hate to look unrecognisable on my wedding lol. You totally got this. Do what feels right to you!

[@krk6216]

@@by_sha sounds like you looked beautiful

[@sofiaa_abad]

id definitely do my own makeup!😭 i hate how cakey the makeup artist makeup feels on my face

[@krk6216]

@@sofiaa_abad That's a good point. I bet they use Estée Lauder Double Wear on everyone regardless of skin type. I personally dont like the heavy smoky eye that we literally haven't been able to shake for YEARS as a trend in wedding makeup.

[@elizabethtangora4353]

I painted my own nails all through my teenage and college years, but always imagined a professional manicure must be so amazing, look so good, last so long, etc… I was so disappointed after my first professional manicure. And the ones after that. They were worse than my own at-home job. Turned out after all those years of painting my own nails I had gotten pretty good!

[@intorainbowzOG]

Same. I just got my first professional manicure in years after doing them myself and am very disappointed. I do them better.

[@_Martine_]

I’m a guy and I currently get my nails done in a salon for the past 3 months I literally spent over $200 on my acrylic nails they look so pretty and I love them but my French nails are the last one I would get for a very long time

[@WiillasAnnnewi]

Hello

[@Lhene9]

Same! I rarely paint my nails but I was really surprised at how a manicure was not much better then my own work. I'd consider it for fancy designs (especially on my right hand), but most of the time I want solid colours and I can do those just fine.

[@MayaTheColdplayer]

I'm not trying to be mean or anything , but I honestly never understood the appeal to painting nails. ..

[@WinS392]

for me, shifting from a "what can i afford" perspective to "what can i save" was a gamechanger. i used to spend up to $1,000/month on food delivery, and sure, i "can afford" it, and never went into debt. but now i would look at that as $1,000 that i'm not saving, and won't have available to me (including compounding) in the future when i might want to take a break, start my own business, or even retire early. right now, i "can afford" my rent but i'm in the process of aggressively trying to haggle it down or i'm going to move somewhere else so i can save more!

[@vvitch-mist20]

My grandmother wanted to buy a toy for my daughter because it was $16, but I was unsure if it could be compacted since we live in tight quarters. The toy was originally $40 and while it seems like we are saving money, we're actually spending $16.

[@yoominji.]

Youre a genius. This just lit a lightbulb in my head. Thank you

[@angela.luntian]

this happened to me when i was making my biggest halloween costume yet. its not done yet but it was done enough to use for halloween (i just needed someone to sew me big stilt pants). My daily college life that october was like "what can I survive not buying?"

[@CrossFitterinRealtime2359]

Congratulations is a big change.!

[@shivangitiwari9892]

As a climate scientist, I am so happy you talked about the cost of fast fashion. Avoiding it would allow people to help themselves as well as others (I avoid saying "help the planet" since that's not the point; the point is there are people who suffer because of others' thoughtless choices).

[@es4408]

I love that reframe to helping other people through our climate efforts. After all, it's not the planet that will "die"

[@georgereiss5494]

You nailed it Shiv.

[@WiillasAnnnewi]

Hello

[@reginafisher9919]

Agree 💯

[@chirrion6510]

all of those are also a hard no for me, except music streaming (it's so much cheaper than buying cds, and the options it gives suit my personal listening habits) takeout (yeah it's expensive but it's /the/ guilty pleasure for me) and coffee. Also, I found out that if you stop using makeup products all together, at some point people will accept that this is how you look now and stop expecting you to have any on. Feels great to never have to buy those again

[@sonyasever7625]

my contract says i HAVE TO have a makeup on my face, lol

[@EmeraldAshesAudio]

I save a fair amount on cosmetics by being extremely boring with my makeup choices. I just bought a new eyeshadow palette for the first time in like a decade because I was running low on my go-tos. ...also, I refuse to believe that eyeshadow expires.

[@angelamelum4304]

I watched “The True Cost” with my kids. We all agreed to try finding what we need second hand.

[@absolutecrapfilmstudios6783]

I refuse to spend money on BOTTLED WATER why spend money on something you can get for free. Don't like the taste? Just buy a filter, you'll make back the cost in no time.

[@AndrewMassengale]

I mostly agree with everything on this list, except I don't think I'll ever give up my Spotify subscription. A lot of industries went through some rough upheaval with the advent of the digital age. Among the first to get hit was the music industry. It was a rough start at first with Napster, Limewire, and Grooveshark. And then some studios and bands started being dicks about it with the lawsuits. However, I really like on the solution they settled on: unlimited access to all music for an affordable monthly fee. Granted, it's not perfect, but it's pretty great. In contrast, live TV is still trying to figure out how to not suck, and cinema is only halfway there (how many times has my digital movie collection been migrated?). The music scene has it mostly figured out (for now), and (for now) I'm willing to support that.

[@jacobdean1858]

Yep. Music is a must, and I personally can't stand advertisements. Paying for Spotify is almost a value proposition.

[@maddie8415]

I honestly think that most people who know how it was before you could access music online think it's a bargain for the consumer (even if it's bad for the artists). I'm a huge music fan and have never questioned being a Spotify subscriber, even if I question my other streaming subscriptions regularly.

[@r.sakarollsafe1285]

@@jacobdean1858 I would rather stop paying streaming platform instead. I know it's controversial opinion, but there are tons of ways to actually watch things online for free. Spotify though, you might have the same argument, but it's practically one stop centre for every song there is (KZbin is too but you gotta search and some random videos might slip in between songs and so on), unlike Netflix HBO Disney and etc. I even installed adblocks just to stop ads in youtube it's that annoying

[@ariesmry]

Music for me is an experience, I listen to it to get into flows, for moods, and just for appreciation and exploration. But for casual listeners, I understand the logic in not paying for a subscription. What I do appreciate about Spotify, particularly for independent artists, is that I can support artists directly by making contributions.

[@vvitch-mist20]

I listen to a lot of smaller independent artists on there, and it feels nice to be able to help an artist by listening to their music.

[@a.d.d.4233]

The true cost was really shocking! I watched it a year ago in school & we had to discuss the topic afterwords. I try to live very minimalistic in general, but this documention just shows the "level of destruction" that comes with consumerism very clearly. It really made me try even harder to consume as little as possible.

[@Garglicious]

Just found your channel and already on a binge-watch ❤ Completely agree with your thoughts on spending. I used to be so bad at savings but from this year i have gotten so much better at prioritising my money. A big no for me now is to waste money just to maintain a social life. Fortunately i do have amazing friends who understand where i am coming from. I don't want to get pressured into going to expensive restaurants every weekend or those casual shopping hangouts. I have also chosen to stop splurging over foods that aren't good for my health for eg expensive sugary bakery items. i choose my mental & physical health over everything ❤

[@stillstymied]

These are great! Things i don't spend money on: seasonal holiday decor, books (i use the library), meat after i went veg years ago, dietary supplements (not necessary). Spending less and cutting back on: streaming services, air conditioning, candles, beauty products (overrated). Spend more to save over the long run: fine jewelry (it lasts forever), good sheets and towels, produce (good for health). Id like to invest in solar panels someday.

[@smilenpassion]

love the list💖💪

[@theomarsh1329]

Super happy I found your channel, I've always been financially stable and working but never had any real budget or plan with money, now realising at 25 if I start budgeting and saving that I could be retiring happy early 40s.

[@thefinancialfreedomgirl]

Yay so glad you're here! It's such a cool feeling when you realize how you can retire early with the right steps in your 20s!

[@aziza000]

How much would you need to save to happily retire at 40 though?

[@davidalves6813]

Hey Cara, thought I'd leave you my thoughts on this video. I always enjoy videos like these, specially because they can help bring some perspective to our spending habits. The ones I most agree with are on the end of the video. Food Delivery gets crazy expensive and you get used to it really fast. I work down town in a middle sized European city, and there are fast food joints around the corner. At launch time, I have had colleagues who instead of walking for 5 minutes and eat at the joint, just ordered. They paid a few extra euros on top of the menu price. To this day, I still don't know why this would happen. Sometimes they say those apps give them big discounts, but they seem to purposefully ignore that they are paying for the food more than if they went to the restaurant. It's funny. Also flavoured drinks are investment in your health. Seriously. Sugary drinks are to avoid at all costs, and that includes SPECIALLY alcohol, as you have rightly mentioned in your channel at a certain point. This also reminds of fine dining restaurants. Which I really don't understand. There is one in my area which charges 8€ for banana with a drizzle of perfume. I'm not kidding. I feel like they try to sell you an experience, but that experience is a kind of spectacle, and it will be only an experience if you are willing to believe it will be. Trust me, I have visited some of those "fine dining" places, are they are not special. Many traditional restaurants with heart-warming food are much better, with deeper, even if more common, flavours. I would advise against buying clothes AT ALL unless needed. Not just avoiding fast fashion, but buying clothes in general. Those can easily become a burden on your day: more clothes=more laundry. More to chose can also become a problem, as has been debated many, many times. And it's kind of the useless stuff you mentioned. I have worked retail, and it amazed me the stuff that people buy. I really don't get the answer to the "why" of those purchases. It just leaves me frustrated. But there is something very important about those purchases: they always have plastic. Which is not good for environment, so that's also a key to save money: think green and it will lend you a hand in saving money. How about using that idea for a video? :) I also wondered why you chose to start with the reference to Spotify! That is indeed very polemic for me, but I feel like I am not right person to confront you on that: I am on a family plan and just love the music and the podcasts on it. But I feel like if we were budgeting, we could put a Spotify subscription in the same category as books or Netflix subscriptions, which would be things I would advise against spending money on, because you get equivalents on your local library (which is awesome, by the way). That does not apply to cinema, however. Even if quite expensive, it's a very special occasion.

[@thefinancialfreedomgirl]

thanks for sharing your thoughts on spending, too! and hahaha i had to start with the spotify one to stir up some sweet, sweet controversy 😈 i actually try not to have any subscriptions (i do have apple tv right now while ted lasso s3 is on), or at least to audit them regularly so that I can figure out if I'm using them enough to make it worth the money!

[@thejohnbeck]

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[@tamiz8895]

My wedding dress was an Alfred Sung off eBay ($200), had it professionally tailored, all other items like favors, invites were here and there from different vendors, many local and smaller businesses. Put money into invitations, photos and the booze/food. A reverend friend officiated. Many people talked about that wedding for years after. We had our wedding at a local art museum, fantastic portraits on the wall, easy to get to, lots of parking and good hotels for guests. I did it pretty much all alone, because I had a vision and I wanted it to be exactly what I saw it as. All of the guests had a wonderful time, they all loved it. I say, give yourself a lot of time to plan. Put money into the important things. The small things won’t matter. I still look at pics and I wouldn’t change a thing. We’ve been married for two-plus decades.

[@shreyds]

Can u share your insta id i so want to see pictures after reading this😍

[@jenniy7557]

Oh, just want to add... I refuse to spend money on movie tickets. I haven’t bought one in years! There are a number of reasons for this. I have rethought my “need for entertainment” in general and would rather spend the time on cooking or crafts. But in the past few years, hearing about disturbing things going on in Hollywood makes me not want to give any support to that industry anymore.

[@bluz1864]

Finally! I mean I bought one for John Wick 4 but it was more because my fiance has never been to a theater but before that, 2017 was literally the last time I bought movie tickets

[@Janae.citizenofearth]

I agree with the flavored drinks, it’s crazy how expensive 😊those can get overtime! I like to buy the 100pack of tea bags to have some variety they are usually less than $10

[@smig2801]

Funny thing is that, as a disabled person, some of the stuff you mentioned are absolutely life saving for me. Spotify Premium allows me to make my own playlist and download it to listen offline if I need it to calm down because of my anxiety. Without food delivery I would literally starve or keep eating unhealthy snacks because I don't have the energy to cook. I also can't do my own pedicure to save my life because of the pain. I pay for someone to cut my hair and keep it short because of low maintenance (and it looks cute imo). That said, I absolutely love buying second hand. You can find really good stuff for an affordable price, and I even find some rarities from time to time. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. I loved your video, it's always nice to see a different perspective.

[@태이씨]

Yes, absolutely. For some people it may be a waste, but for others, it's an essential.

[@soggycookie345]

I think that just goes to show how we should really only spend money on things we actually NEED. I’m happy we have these things though to help people similar to you!

[@shaliniguha1822]

I really don’t understand how some people just won’t learn how to cook. It’s a basic life skill!

[@WiillasAnnnewi]

Hello

[@ayintovah3132]

I know how to cook I just don't do it because to me is waste of time.

[@shaliniguha1822]

@@ayintovah3132 which is fine. I’m talking about people who won’t learn.

[@DeeV2001]

I don't go to Expensive concerts. I remember going to see Janet Jackson , Prince and Boy George at a reasonable cost. The nineties are definitely over. I rather save that cost and save up for awesome trip.

[@WiillasAnnnewi]

Hello

[@dianaa8125]

Mine are: 1.A car. I get around my bicycle. It does cost money to service the bike every 6 months but its free exercise and keeps me local. 2. Hair color. I'm not grey yet so I'll cherish my hairs natural color for now. 3.Never browse clothes. I have a specific wardrobe and a function for everything. It its broken or worn it gets replaced. I don't discriminate against fast fashion or designer. I just want something that's the right material or color.

[@Ixoracraft]

Please make more vids like this one! I've spend a lot of money on subscriptions and I would love to have new perspective on saving money so I won't fall into the same trap again

[@thefinancialfreedomgirl]

Absolutely!!

[@cece121234]

I'm not a huge fan of spotify either, lol. We had a family plan that I never used so my husband switched back to a personal plan for himself. I do audiobooks so I have an Audible subscription. It's about making the most of everything you buy and understanding that the things you own could own you. Thanks for the wonderful content, keep fighting the good fight!

[@WiillasAnnnewi]

Hello

[@digicat247]

Always think about who made the thing and where that thing will go when you’re done with it. All of the cheap plastic throw away holiday stuff is just insane.

[@lea5898]

I'm so happy I made productive decisions about my finances that changed my life forever,hoping to retire next year... Investment should always be on any creative man's heart for success in life.

[@domenez]

I agree with you and believe that the secret to financial stability is having the right investment ideas to enable you earn more money, I don't know who agrees with me but either way I recommend real estate or crypto and stocks.

[@findingpath8362]

Yeah!! It would be more beneficial and yield more profit if you actually trade on cryptocurrency, I've been trading since the dip, I've made so much profit trading.

[@tryleraaron9244]

I am interested to know more and invest in Crypto please

[@arktom7335]

trading is easier with proper guidance, especially from a professional, Newbies who are not aware of how crypto truly works and wish to make profits from it, I would advise to invest with a professional like Fergus waylen, It helps secure and minimize the possibilities of losses.

[@KamranKhalil-br6dk]

I'm honestly surprised that this name is being mentioned here, I stumbled upon one of his clients testimony last week in CNBC world news

[@adventureoflonelysoul4109]

As a minimalist myself, I totally agree with your video. I don’t have a single subscription ever! Im just being added by my cousin and its FREE! I also do my manicure and pedicure because I am so meticulous about my nails and never get satisfied in the salon. I don’t buy designer clothes either. I only wear scrub suits most of the time. Haha!

[@L2snakegold]

I absolutely agree with food delivery. I refuse to even download the apps.

[@Anirossa]

Had spotify premium for 10 years... I tend to get at the year review that I listened more to music than 99.5% of users, got adhd and I need anything from sea shandies, to WWII songs, to Eminem and Beethoven and I would not go without my houndreds of playlists. Use it to buzz out annoying noises, sleeping, studying and just constantly 😂

[@arinaira1417]

You know, i agree witn this list! Food delivery cost is so crazy expensive. It can cost as much as the food cost. Also, i don't have Spotify Premium, my sister has it. I think it depends on the usage. She uses it on her phone and laptop. I have in my PC too and i'm fine listening to ads. It doesn't bother me. 😅😂

[@aprilzhao4730]

omg girl I feel so related to your spending habits! I get roasted all the time for my free Spotify, driving to a restaurant for my pick up order, and refusing to do my nails, brows, eyelashes, etc.

[@liptoncunningham6666]

I also avoid all the things in this video (with the exception of a weekly boba or fancy coffee). I think this is a great exercise. It makes you really think about what you value. This is my personal list: - New anything, if I can find it via a buy nothing group or secondhand first, I go for that. With the exception of things like underwear lol. - Parking. When possible, I plan around free parking days and times. It encourages me to be better with time management since I have to walk farther. I also get more steps in - Fast food. It's cheaper and healthier to buy frozen meals. I grew up poor so I always have a stash of easy to prep shelf stable food on hand for emergencies, like you mentioned. It's a good idea in general to have two weeks worth of food in your home if you can afford it. - If I can DIY something easily, I won't buy it/or pay someone to do it for me. I've learned a lot of skills this way. It also encourages me to learn about a process, so when I DO hire someone, or buy the thing off the shelf, I know a little more about it and can have a feel for whether it's worth the extra cost or not - Movies in theatres

[@daniellewis6228]

Really helpful and wholesome content. Who are some other youtubers/creators you know that don't give crappy advice and scam people? Keep up the great work.

[@marjiew]

Great video and editing! I agree with your five. The cost of getting food delivered is not only horrible on your wallet, but terrible for the planet and the third-party services take such a huge cut of the profits that restaurants barely make money off of those orders. Not to mention, all of the disposable materials that come with for a single meal! I've said it before and I'll say it again, convenience and consumption are killing the planet (and our wallets)!

[@WiillasAnnnewi]

Hello

[@ulrikesextro4187]

Some Restaurants offer home deliveries. Why not calling them so that they get the whole momentan you pay for the ordered food?

[@Reticence9zen924]

I don't get professional manicures, pedicures or hair appointments - I don't know how other people afford it regularly.

[@tyrantfox7801]

I don't think I'll ever buy a music subscription. I'll just use plain old KZbin

[@yeeyeeyeeye]

To add on to your point about music subscriptions, I refuse to give Spotify money because it's not even a good way to support your favorite artists. Spotify takes a huge chunk of revenue from album streams, and smaller artists barely get a living wage out of it. There's a video by Some More News that goes more into detail about it, and why Spotify in general just sucks, but there are ways to give money to your favorite artists directly without wasting it on a music subscription (bandcamp friday, buying vinyl, Patreon, etc.).

[@Farbroe]

When I truly listen to music I use my 1970’s stereo and secondhand speakers. I get my music from bandcamp (high fidelity files) or Vinyl records and CDs. I find new music on Spotify and KZbin. But using streaming service for all music listening is just sad since it’s expensive compressed audio. Also at the end of the day subscriptions are services, not assets.

[@ms_cartographer]

Poshmark and Depop are great for thrifting too.

[@Jogilusz]

Cara, please go on Caleb Hammers show. It would be so refreshing to see someone who isn't spending themselves into a bankrupcy and ti would be a boost for your channel as well, because his is becoming more masive by day.

[@thefinancialfreedomgirl]

oooh now that would be interesting!! I love watching his videos :)

[@rin0120]

I respect that you don't drink teas or flavored drinks but I personaly think it's just nice having a little variety of tea or soda for your own enjoyment. I usually drink only water with meals and I then leave other things for the rest of the time. I would find it a little boring to only have watter.

[@lc4n333]

Number 5 shocked me. Yes flavored drink can be addictive thus add up the cost but I personally like the taste of coffee and tea. I am not addicted, I don't crave them physically and mentally. They don't cost much. I often make my own drink. Do you mean flavored drink with lots of sugar? Then yes, I avoid them. I don't drink coffee and tea with sugar. Sugar definitely makes our body crave it.

[@thefinancialfreedomgirl]

I don't know why but I've never liked the taste of coffee and tea! I love the smell of coffee but it just doesn't do much for me. I am a sugar addict though :'( so I do hot chocolate instead!

[@lovelexierose]

I’m kinda late to this video, but if you’re still having a problem picking at your nails I have a tip that worked for me! I keep a bottle of cuticle oil on my desk, in my car, my purse, etc. Any time I notice myself picking at my nails I apply the cuticle oil. I have a lavender one and the scent and feeling the oil on my cuticles makes me more aware of my actions, and eventually I stopped picking! Bonus is the oil helps your cuticles and nails get healthy again ◡̈

[@MsKatze]

I do my own nails, dye and trim my own hair. I don't buy designer clothes because I think the price tag is absurd. If I buy fast fashion it's not because it's trendy, it'll be something I use and keep until it falls apart lol. I've really wanted to get into thrift clothes but every time I go into a thrift store the smell grosses me out, I just can't get past it.

[@WiillasAnnnewi]

Hello

[@not_imy]

I've been cutting down on my expensive hobbies but I'm still so dependent on food delivery and flavored drinks... I need to cut down on both of those. I hope this video convinces me. I'm too lazy and stubborn ugh. Edit: but i can't get rid of tea though. i need me my tea.

[@lisahines532]

Flavoured drinks is my downfall. I use sparkling water to keep me from consuming more calories, and I also drink a lot of coffee and tea. But, it is also a calculated cost, as a part of my enjoyment. Everything else on your list I can get behind for sure!

[@WiillasAnnnewi]

Hello

[@liamcollinson5695]

My main one is coffee i love iced coffee but stopped getting it from places like Starbucks because it can be like 5£ a time so i just get cheap ones from supermarkets for 1£ i also learnt how to make pizza and Korean fried chicken so i didn't have to order it

[@satoncho]

As a food delivery driver I have to say, tipping should always be optional nobody should be forcing customers to tip anyone even if it means demanding it, also if any of you live in gated communites whether it's appartments, condos, or houses please give us the gate code because we can't always get through the gates to leave or meet at door for your orders, otherwise will get lost and leave your orders in places you may not find it right away, if you don't have the gate code at least wait outside the front gates to get your order.

[@Diembee]

Flavored drinks? Dang, can’t relate. I’m not a soda or juice fan really but missing out on Coffee, Earl Grey and Green Tea is something I can’t do. I mean getting a batch of costco coffee will only set you back 12 cents a cup, so I say it’s worth it.

[@burnoutminion]

I used to buy ALBUMS of my fav artists. No more in my 30s. Not even for ADELE. I used to buy junk foods and fast foods and comfort foods and sweat treats and drinks, have meals at fancy expensive restaurants and cafe. NO MORE. Ultraprocessed foods including breads and cakes, cut out. Expensive vacation, bye~ Movies, unless it's like exceptionally great. Expensive hobbies including traveling and scrolling mindlessly in malls a no no, I replaced them with hobbies that actually improve my skills and cost almost nothing, for example learning how to make compost, study a thing and teaching it to others, gardening and harvesting vegetables, making artworks etc.

[@nette9836]

If you truly love certain songs, video games, etc. own them physically. Do not rely on "owning" media that can just disappear into the ether. Owning something is only concrete when there is a physical item in hand. Things I refuse to spend money on: 1) haircuts (do it at home) 2) manicures (not even at home because nail polish is terrible for the environment) 3) soda 4) fast food, unless I'm in the biggest crunch imaginable and even then I only do sandwich shops and such 5) bar nights (I don't drink to drunkeness and it is also against my religion so I just enjoy a drink every few months and am perfectly fine)

[@joeytan7986]

The meal prep and clothes shopping tips are good, keep up the work. I appreciate the content.

[@thefinancialfreedomgirl]

thank you :)

[@kvol1668]

Agree on these. I will say, however, Tidal is an excellent music service with exceptional hi-fi audio. Of all of the music services, if you pair it with a quality pair of headphones, you can hear so much more and the detail in hi-fi really enhances the songs. So if nothing else, it's a great gift for audiophiles.

[@misterwyrd8132]

Streaming services. I used to like movies and TV a lot when I was in my teens and into my mid 20s but between having a full time job post college and the general dissatisfaction with the over all "fast franchise" culture that over took the film industry I just got incredibly bored and disillusioned with the whole medium and disconnected from the whole lot just about the same time as all their rates went up as well. Now if I hear through word of mouth something is good I'll seek it out for digital rental once in a blue moon (one $5 fee every three to six months > $15-$20 per streaming provider).

[@daughterofsekhmet81]

Salon manicures are such a gross waste of money. I've been to salons a few times, the massage part was nice but the actual manicures were awful. They talked me into acrylic nails once and I'm still mad about it lol. They filed down my nail beds and made my cuticles bleed, then slapped on these thick, lumpy, crooked nails and charged me $90. My fingertips ached until I took them off a week later and it took like 6 months for my poor mangled nails to grow out. Salons are so NASTY too, I watched one tech clip and file my toenails then toss the tools back in the drawer. No sterilizing. If they did that with me, then they do it with everyone else too 🤢I think a lot of people have the mindset that "professional" equals better, but I have never seen a set of salon nails that looked better than what I can do at home. I know there are good nail techs out there too but most people aren't going to them, they're going to "Beauty Nail" in the strip mall and paying ridiculous prices for fugly unsanitary manicures. It's cheap, fun, and SAFE to do your own nails. If you're not good at it, just practice until you get better! Anyone can do it.

[@CyberMercy]

NAILS: I crunched the numbers and having my nails done one a month is more cost efficient & produces less waste than owning the required products and tools to do my own nails at home every week. So point is before jumping to assumptions of what is cheaper do the math. AND Learn To Sew seams, Tears Buttons.

[@AshishAcharyaalex]

Coffee ain’t that expensive. If you go to Starbucks or even dunkin everyday then yes. But what i do is i buy coffee pods from sams club and one box lasts me almost 3 months. Its even cheaper than hot chocolate you drink.

[@ningyoh3490]

My god im so happy i came across someone who is not caught with this matrix , you make so much sense , totally can agree on everything u say ...n exposing the trend fashion ...

[@thelaundryman9287]

Why is brunette Jeanette McCurdy telling me I can't drink juice 🧃😭 Jkjk 😂 great channel ❤

[@Life-oo2tr]

I refuse to spend money on Starbucks every morning. Going out to a nice cafe to catch up with friends once in awhile, I’ll order a nice drink I wouldn’t be able to make at home. But my every day morning coffee, I can make on my own at home. I see my coworkers order a big Starbucks drink every morning and I honestly don’t know how they can afford it since we work retail on minimum wage.

[@Karina_J]

I got KZbin premium and got addicted to it. Now I prefer watching ads because it just helps me to spend less time here

[@espenbrathen7156]

I would probably have to make 100k+ a year to consider paying for food delivery lmao

[@kilbeam99]

With Spotify, it's only like 2,50 euro a month on a family. 100% worth it for me. I use it almost everyday

[@chrisd725]

As a coffee adict: if you make coffee at home e.g. in a cafetierre, it's really cheap. Agree re 'emergency meals' I always kept a tin of tuna, a tin of tomatoes and some pasta in reserve. I like to save money by belonging to a graphic novel book club hosted by the library. The tables are groaning with books and I can take 18 at a time for free (and I can renew 10x online, so no late fees).

[@zyobeam]

I also haven't spent money on these things but I do buy flavoured drinks occasionally.

[@gunnergunnarsson3534]

I think people watching this video should just take it as a guideline rather than an absolute rule when making financial decisions. For example, I will still have my Spotify premium, for the convenience, as well as drinking coffee/tea for those little enjoyments in life. But overall, it is the mindset/perspective before making a purchase since the money you earn is basically how much time you have given up. Thanks Cara for another awesome video

[@xCindyLouWhox]

Totally agreed on the flavored drinks! They are so bad for your health and a total waste of money. I also stopped craving this stuff when I stopped drinking it!! Although I do still drink coffee and alcohol occasionally.

[@mustkilln00bs]

I agree with most of this EXCEPT THE DRINKS lol I drink things more than I eat so I again I love my sparkling water, my tea and coffee lol But like you always say what works for one might not work for another, and I would like to point out that for most things I buy, I almost always go the cheaper route or get the product where I have coupons for or that are on sale.

[@bleeka325]

Coupons are a must. Some things are 75% off of you get them at the right time

[@pixities]

Hey Cara, i love your videos and think it’d be so amazing if you translate these also into podcasts so we can hear your thoughts / video essays on the go! Really enjoy and need your anti-consumerist reminders lol. Would you consider it?

[@pompokkko]

Yes please...

[@RaymondStone]

I'm with you on the drinks. I basically only drink water with the only exception being maybe an apple cider on major holidays. I think the eating out for convenience versus cooking for saving is a little more nuanced though since that comes down to how much you're valuing your time versus how much you're valuing your money.

[@robertlee4172]

If you've got cold cuts, processed cheese and a loaf of white bread in your fridge, that's not living. That's just sustenance. How much do you value your health, if your plumbing goes on you in the early stages of your life? Going to the KFC is a lot more time consuming, after you factor the subsequent trips to the clinic and or hospital in the future.

[@artemisanoriega2299]

I don't buy flavored drinks either, but for a different reason. 😅 I don't like them that much and I can easily gain weight. So if I am going to gain weight at least I choose something I enjoy.

[@WiillasAnnnewi]

Hello

[@joshieeeee]

thankful that I've got that University Spotify Discount, that will end this September. 4 years of Spotify I can definitely say it's worth it, even paying full price. But having that discount would be amazing even if I'am not a student anymore huhuhu

[@El_Chuchuca]

Indeed, Spotify premium is the only subscription based app I pay. For everything else I can do bootleg shit, but after years of finding, downloading and transferring 256~320Kbps audio I got burned out. If I don't have anything particular to listen, I just put my favorite FM radio station.

[@Deicy55]

Great video, as always!!🥰🤗💐💝🙅🏽‍♀️I love Pandora!

[@samdryden7944]

The thing I would say to minimalists like yourself is - your time on this planet is limited. It's absolutely fine to cut out certain things, but what's your goal? To have enough money when you retire...to do the stuff you denied yourself while you were younger? In another video you said a key word - balance. Some minimalists become martyrs by taking it way too far. So, while you're here, and given that tomorrow is not promised to any of us, live a little. Go on, just a little.

[@thefinancialfreedomgirl]

a great point, though I promise that I and many other minimalists are living well and fully :) I don't think retired me will feel upset that I didn't have more soda haha

[@shaygriffin8297]

I am a nail biter, and I get dipped my nails (powder) It honestly helps me not bite my nails and keep them healthy and grown out. Maybe it’ll help if you get dipped nails which doesn’t damage your nail bed because your nail is dipped in powder. Unlike fake acrylic nails where glue is on your nail-bed. Maybe it’ll help you not pick the nail polish off. Idk.. just an idea. Everyone is different ha! Great video 😊

[@thefinancialfreedomgirl]

ooh I've never heard of dipped nails before, I'll have to check it out! thanks & also thanks for watching 😄

[@isabellar772]

Yeah I agree getting a dip powder nails made me not pick or bite my nails. Plus my nails felt so strong and didn’t break for the like 6 weeks I had them! I miss getting my nails done now lol 😭

[@nae4830]

I tried dip. Supposedly it’s worse than acrylics because every single time you do a dip session your nail gets buffed. Whereas with acrylics it’s fills. But in the isn’t it all bad for nails and pricey?

[@TazzyZee14]

Dip nails can still be bad for your nails though. If it makes you feel good to have your nails done all the time, then I think it's totally worth it. But for me, having my nails done nice, even on my regular days, doesn't do much for me and instead I feel the nails get "wasted" since I only went to work or to run errands with them. So I only ever do my nails for specific occasions.

[@mukta4689]

What is dip nail powder? And how frequently should I do it? I am a nail biter too so. Also, which brand do you recommend? Sorry for asking too many questions haha but just curious 😅

[@captainchaoscow]

We should realise - not having the skill to cook basics is a kind of poverty.

[@MrCbrehaut]

I refuse to spend $8 for a Starbucks frappachino with oat milk. They rip people off. I don’t understand how a drink comes with animal milk but if we change it to plant base it gets more expensive. Let’s put them out of business and make coffee at home.

[@Dakyta252]

For me, I refuse to go to a hair salon. I'm either not colouring my hair or I trim the ends by myself. I refuse to give so much money on that, it's so expensive and so unnecessary.

[@lerapetrova20]

Same, I trim my bangs and ends myself because my grandma is a hairstylist so I'm used to getting this for free but she lives in another city

[@jacobteets27]

I thought I was the only one who ever liked Pandora so it is real

[@parezaapple2228]

Thank you so much for your great content. I always love the flavored drink and now I need to rethink before spending money on it.

[@jessicaparker2011]

I drive for work and i will die if i have to listen to commercials

[@Jadfisk]

I’m such a sucker for flavoured drinks, that my own reaction to you not buying any surprised me 😂

[@kmmz4445]

I found your channel and played it in the background while working. surprised you don’t have 1 mil subs. keep up the good editing, script, etc and you’ll get there fast

[@Zeldafan1ify]

5 things I'll never spend money on: 1. Nail salons. Not everyone can do this, but I'm an artist. I can create my own nail designs. I also have naturally long nails, so I don't need fake nails. Plus, I quickly realized that my own designs are actually better than what these nail techs were overcharging me for. If you are able to do something you are spending your hard-earned money on, try it, practice. You never know the potential you have for saving bucks. 2. Full-price subscriptions or any streaming subscription that goes over $7. I go for student discounts and deals, then I push those for as long as possible. I dropped disney plus for a full year after they increased their premiums. Didn't even miss them. I simply watched whatever I wanted for free on the internet and other streaming platforms. Then disney offered me a $2 monthly plan for being a student and for having a certain provider, and I took it. Hulu is 4.99 for me, now they're snatching shows from my catalogue and moving them to their "premium" paywall. Still not paying premium. Still going to find what I want elsewhere for free. Soap2day is my bestie. 3. The latest phone. And any iphone. I'm going 2 years strong with my note 10 plus, and that's only because my note 9 broke in half. Anytime I upgrade, it's either pre-owned or on sale. Also, I don't subscribe to iphones or smart watches. I just don't need them. 4. Gym memberships. I have all the tools I need at home to exercise and get fit. All I need is motivation, a couple of dumbells, a yoga mat, and youtube videos 😀 some people need a gym in order to feel motivated enough, but for me, staying productive at home is just so much better. 5. All those add-ons that retailers or brands sell for the things you use everyday, like tide pods and fabric softeners for example. All I need is detergent to wash my clothes, not a whole kit 😅 vinegar and natural products that cost maybe a dime are waaay more effective for what these add-ons offer. Another example is insurance for things that will probably never break. Like electronics. I take good care of my stuff, enough for me to not really benefit from paying $50 more for a separate "warranty" that should honestly just come with the expensive product you're already paying for. Or like when brands try to sell you something pricier than the other when both items serve the same purpose, but they tack on new "reasonings" for the higher cost, like how "shiny it is" or how "the vinyl case won't cut your fingers if it cracks while the glass one will, so please pay $20 more for this vinyl one, even if your chances of breaking that case are 0 to none"

[@mukta4689]

I love this message and I will try to follow all of this. Unfortunately I do have a gym subscription since I am not motivates to exercise by myself 😅

[@CamJames]

can't listen to ads. i run ads for a living and will never do it. that being said i already don't pay for the rest of it. i don't spend on hair either, cutting my own was a massive benefit.

[@aynapaisley]

I definitely been telling myself life is too short to not buy myself stuff that I want here and now, and I know now I was in the wrong..I'm trying to change my financial habbits and it feels so much better

[@Cupcak3Zombi3]

3/5 on your list! Premium sub for Spotify is for my husband, who needs it for his work or else he'll go insane. Also we spend $$ on seltzers, coffee beans, tea because it makes us happy (but we always make it at home - no $10 crap-ass Starbucks for us!)

[@adellapolk9212]

Hair salons. I have a pretty simple haircut that mostly just requires a small trim every few months, and learning to cut my own hair has saved me hundreds of dollars over the course of a few years.

[@sunchildmomo]

I think the delivery fee problem depends on countries. In Czech Republic, we don’t have a big tipping culture, and you basically pay extra just for packaging and delivery. But sometimes you don’t pay extra even for the delivery because of promotions. So in the end the only extra you pay is the restaurant price, which sucks, but I’ve definitely seen higher abroad. Overall, it can be worth it to save time. I heard in China or Korea it’s also pretty cheap. So depends.

[@Victorcolongarcia]

For me one of the worst things is going to bars. In my country people’s idea of meeting up is always going to bars, and I find it a waste of money, not very interesting, not healthy (people smoke around you). People spend happily 20€ on a meal and those 20€ for me would be half a week of food. I am amazed at how nobody thinks about that. I rather spend my money on other things, eating out doesnt make me happier 🤣 am I weird?

[@baibaining]

Watched some of her other videos and found them quite well narrated and informative... this feels a bit arbitrary. I guess some people will like the personal connection, but e.g., if you want to pay for your music subscription or not depends entirely on what and how much joy you derive from something. I feel explaining the method behind finding things that don’t add much value to your life but are drain your wallet has more benefit than this. That being said, I did enjoy other content of hers.

[@Komichitan3]

I used to subscribe to Spotify for sooooo many years but then they raised their premium price (I hate ads) and so I decided to go for KZbin premium + music and thats the BEST decision I could make. I love how I dont see any ads anymore and I can listen to music and watch videos undisturbed. Also, I occasionally buy books (both new and secondhand) but after watching this video... I'll just stick to my E-book/audiobook subscription instead. Which I feel is way better for both my wallet since buying physical books are even MORE expensive than the digital subscription. If I dont like a book I can just remove it instead of cluttering up my home with books I didn't like. Really great video with good points.

[@racheldornan]

Only one I disagree with is the music subscription. I use Spotify daily. I definitely get my moneys worth out of it, especially because I signed up for the student discount and get it half price. Once that expires, I will probably unsubscribe cuz idk about 10$ a month😂

[@WiillasAnnnewi]

Hello