55. Money Saving Tips from a "Naturally Frugal" girl

I got this message from a listener "I had an idea for your podcast, mainly cause it will help me. So it’s a selfish idea I guess 😂 you’ve mentioned before that you are naturally frugal, and the thing is I’m not. At all. But I need to learn to be and I’ve been working on it. But I could use advice from someone who’s naturally good at it. So maybe at some point you could do a podcast on the things you and your husband do, and did early in your marriage, to avoid spending unnecessary." This episode is my attempt at answering this question!
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[@lynetter6850]

I'm a naturally frugal girl as well. As my husband's income increased I've felt the "lifestyle creep" and began listening to frugal tips again, and most of them are very unhelpful for someone who is already frugal. Your take was just what I needed! Thanks for the reminder that our homes don't need to be just-so and to always look for used things first.

[@Cat-ik1wo]

The best compliment my son ever gave me was that I can stretch a penny.

[@homecomfortdecors]

I'm just glad I was blessed to be the black sheep of the family and turn things around for my own family. I'm also blessed that my father is a barber, and Granny does hair, though she's retired now. I cut my relaxer off and do my own hair now. I am baffled at the prices of things now.

[@MrsSecor]

Thrift store curtains are the best! And I use them as tablecloths too!

[@jahsoka8307]

My husband and I just got our first apartment and the furnishings literally cost less than $300 (including appliances) because most were gifts and I could easily find anything else keeping an eye out at surrounding goodwills and second hand shops. I know I can sew curtains from the table cloth/sheets/fabric section of goodwill and get them up for less than $20. The apartment is gorgeous and my favorite pieces are some of the cheapest.

[@everydaysetapart]

I really enjoyed listening to this. It resonates with me, as a naturally frugal person. Also, one thing I've noticed about naturally frugal people is that we don't buy brand new baby items. We are okay with accepting used donations from friends or family and scouring thrift stores for deals! In addition to knowing that babies don't require much at all (while marketing would like to convince us otherwise....).

[@saltinlight8267]

I just saw this comment and totally agree! I'm 34 and my husband and I had our first baby at 19. My husband was 27. My family made it entirely possible that our baby had every single thing you could think of plus more. His crib and dresser set cost over 3000 alone. After realizing quickly that amount of stuff was more overwhelming than necessary, with our daughter we didn't spend as much and had less...but she still had waaaaaay too much. We're now trying for our third child and we're like, "Okay. Bassinet. A weeks worth of essential clothing. A sling. Cloth diapers. A pacifier. Some bottles. Bam. Done."😂😂😂 Babies really are very simple amd it took raising two wonderful children to realize it. You're right. Marketing will tell us we need 1000 things. I didn't realize this until I went to college and got my degree in pr/marketing. It was eye-opening.

[@joannasmith4793]

This really helped me evaluate my spending for my husband's time at work and I am going to do better

[@ofirshorshy8281]

Exactly. As I am not really relaying on my fience I have never thought about it this way and it is so important to think of speanding in this way

[@KH-vp4ni]

I'm with you on Dave Ramsey! We have been doing the baby steps for 10 years. Bs6! Changed our legacy from us both growing up on the system in poverty ❤ Not our family! 😊

[@Simplefarmhouselife]

That is awesome!

[@Pandorash8]

Great tips. I’m not naturally frugal. But I’m learning.

[@cherylT321]

Good for you!

[@bettypecoraro8104]

I only ever went to the casino one time with my daughter and quickly lost 50 dollars. That was my first and last time at a casino...when my husband passed away, my daughters wanted me to trade in my car and my husband’s car on a new car. Our cars were 5 years old at the time and well maintained. I said no way was I trading in those cars and ending up with a car payment. I sold my husband’s car for $8000.00 and kept my car and invested the money. I put very little mileage on my car, and I couldn’t see the logic to that.

[@cherylT321]

So glad you didn’t listen to her. It does make me wonder if she’s frugal, though!

[@fourdayhomestead2839]

Today I had to choose fixing ($1700) an old but nice car or getting a newer one with a payment & higher insurance. I pray fixing it will be the right choice. I've been saving for a much needed truck.

[@catherine9443]

This episode was so helpful!

[@athinaadams5177]

30:33 thanks Lisa. I am naturally frugal also. Every time I cook, always from scratch, I make about 4 portions for 2 people. I freeze 2 of them and we eat the rest over the next 4 days. They keep perfect in the fridge. In this way, I save energy and time and its so good to have nutritious food ready when I am very busy!! I also never waste food, I prioritise based on first in first used! Children should learn the value of money at home! Great topic, thanks.

[@hydspirit]

Loved this video/chat, would love to keep hearing more.

[@joannasmith4793]

Thank you Lisa.

[@ChristyZilka]

Amazing, thank you for sharing and inspiring others. I think you definitely should share more finance info by yourself and with others, it's so so helpful I think.,

[@snuggisthecute]

Agreed on almost every single thing. The car washing has been a recent change for me. I used to wash my car when I had a silver car. Now that I have a black car, brush streaks from my washing can be seen after it dries. It takes 3-4 scrubs and rinses to finally get it clean which takes over an hour (minus vacuuming, window/dashboard cleaning). The cost of going to the car wash is a quarter of an hour in terms of my hourly wage, so I totally do it because it takes 60 seconds to go through the car wash lol! I guess it all depends on the type of car you have, how close you live to a car wash, and how much your time is worth.

[@babybaby5893]

I can relate. I am a huge fan of Aldi and don’t buy food at target. Don’t buy clothing at kohl’s or Dillard or outlet or malls , we cut hair on our own, I only did my nails 3 times in my life, we have no interest on any big or luxurious brands even we are the top 10% income and we have lots of investments and beach houses in NY, we are naturally frugal :))

[@whitneysanders6996]

It is getting harder i think at least in my area to buys nice clothes second hand. Ive found myself buying more of my clothes new but buying less of them.

[@sandraruiz4737]

This is great! I have the hardest time with kids clothing. My 2 oldest always need shoes/clothes/ ects. Ugh! It’s hard to find size 6 plus in decent shape at thrift stores.

[@kellywilliams7214]

Hi! New subscriber here. I really enjoyed this podcast because I am also a naturally frugal person and don't always realize that I think about things differently than someone who isn't naturally frugal. I also think about how many hours I will need to work to buy something I am interested in buying and more than not I decide it's not worth the time I have to work to buy it. Time means more than things to me also.

[@bethdignallvernon923]

Love this so much!

[@faithboothman9496]

Many a time I have found the ideal piece of furniture on FB marketplace. A few times it was not even what I was looking for but knew the minute I saw it that it was the perfect find.

[@regenaguinn]

Loved this. Especially love your view toward the future-as a retiree I can really appreciate your advice to invest, and to crunch the numbers before you spend. When you get to retirement and realize what you bought as a “want” could have, invested, made so much money….it makes you wanna cry.😢

[@rhondachildress689]

What did you go about health insurance when Luke quit his job. I am assuming since he had the public job he Carrie’s the insurance. We are older than you guys but that’s the whole reason my husband can’t quit is insurance.

[@sarakock7343]

Very interesting and helpful. Thank you!

[@Simplefarmhouselife]

Glad it was helpful!

[@homewithheydi936]

We are 4 years into our home and no curtains yet. We do have $10 blinds on the windows though.

[@letsgrosh]

I agree with so much that you are sharing about for sure! I think my biggest difference in thought would be the gas - I think driving a little out of your way, if it's just exiting one exit early or taking the time to wait in the CostCo gas line once a month when you get some of your bulk items...it absolutely adds up. OBVIOUSLY not if you gotta go to the next town over. You just have to be intentional and be aware of your surroundings/options - I think that's the main message. I.e. The station right next to my house is currently 3.39/gal. CostCo is at 2.93/gal today and you best believe that is significant enough for me to plan around the next time I will be near a CostCo, which I am every Wednesday for one of my work locations. That's $6 per fill up, for two commuter cars, filling up about twice a month - saves us almost $150 a year.

[@smoothsailingmp]

Grateful for you...... Both husband and wife have to be on the same page, though

[@lisarosebud6404]

I need to be more mindful as my income isn’t changing. I always have a few uniforms myself lol, always have. I’ve always been a thrift store/garage sale shopper

[@veganfromvenus]

1. Understanding money better. 2. Cook more simply. 3. Buy furniture from thrift stores, market place and buy only necessity items. 4. Anything monthly should be cancelled if it's not necessary. 5. Gym membership fees can be cancelled if your able to do other things to move your body. 6. Avoid driving for gas if the math doesn't add up. 7. Cut own hair and wash your own car. 8. Pay credit cards down. 9. Live within your budget and means. Follow the plan of your budget. 10. Reduce the amount of clothes you own, purchase pieces that will last. 11. Think creatively and find deals. 12. Don't play the lottery. 13. Invest. 14. Be mindful, crunched the numbers, adopt a frugal mindset and get the snowball moving.

[@vickibridges8766]

Thanks for reminding me about memberships, just cancelled two and it saves me $40.00 a month.

[@effinxrightt]

I didn’t buy a piece of furniture until I was 26 lol. My friends think I’m absolutely nuts because of this but every piece of furniture I’ve gotten has been a gift, free from someone getting rid of there’s or a hand me down from family. The only exception being our bed. Recently we did have to buy a new couch due to the old one literally breaking apart(thank you 65lb dog lol) but that couch was free and lasted us 7 years. This one we waited until it was on sale for the best price and free delivery. We also up cycle everything possible. We had an old wooden bed frame that doesn’t fit our bed now but we are cutting the wood up to use as a plant stand for our container growing this spring. Love your frugal tips!

[@christineshah7330]

YEP. I am complimented on my house all the time and I just laugh...almost everything is trash picked/garage sale/gifted/Goodwill. Our bed was bought new...but on sale. LOL Oh, and our dining chairs because I wanted super sturdy metal chairs that could stand up to my wild monkey child 3rd son. 12 years later they all still have their legs and look new (he had accidentally broken 5 wooden chairs in just over a year prior to buying the metal chairs). That was probably money well spent. I think people underestimate the power of personal style, color and proportion. All paint colors cost the same amount. You can bring serious style to your house just with a beautiful wall color, creativity in furniture/decor arrangement and style.

[@Chelseabee55]

Don’t drink alcohol or smoke. My fiancé and I are not alcohol free at all but we cut our alcohol consumption down by like 80%. It makes such a big difference financially, for our physical health, and mental health. We don’t smoke, I couldn’t imagine lighting $20 on fire every day just to give myself cancer

[@Vbe796]

I feel like a lot of people miss this one. Alcohol consumption is so normal now that it’s abnormal not to drink. My husband and I didn’t drink much before but we consciously stopped buying wine etc. to keep around the house for guests/get togethers. It’s saved alot of money!

[@aysepersona4194]

We are Muslim and don’t drink. Whenever I see alcohol bills of friends I’m always flabbergasted by the cost!!!!

[@amandabooyens5718]

Thanks for the great tips. How do you become/remain frugal with a partner that is not??

[@diannajohnston4558]

Great job!

[@Simplefarmhouselife]

Thanks!

[@alexism1127]

I know this is an old episode..but I just listened. And I can relate a lot. I’ve always been naturally frugal. But recently I have found myself spending wayyyy too much money, beyond my means. Time to reel it back in and re evaluate. So this episode was perfect. My fiancé and I love to get stuff from our dumpster in our neighborhood. Since we moved in over 2 years ago we have got 3 flat screen large TV’s, a mini fridge in perfect condition, and a vacuum. Thousands of dollars right there all for free. (: all the furniture in our home was given to us. Definitely not the style I want but I make it work.

[@gerigowers8318]

I think I'm half and half. I can spend a lot on Amazon, now that I don't get out much. At the same time, my furniture, which we bought everything when we moved to SC from Jersey, I still have it all 17 years later. Also, purchased my curtain panels in a store in Union City, NJ for $4.99 per panel or $7.99 per panel (if it had an attached valance). Those curtains are still up. If I could curb Amazon and Etsy, I'd probably be rich. Plus the fact that anything you buy now is not made to last.

[@whitneysanders6996]

I found my curtains at a bin store still in store packaging for 2 bucks a panel buy one get on free!

[@alitristan1933]

I try and buy all my families clothes in charity shops and car boots. I love the fact things are being recycled and that your saving loads of cash..win win in my opinion.

[@luv3lori950]

You are so right about the window advice! Don't do it.

[@alishareneethompson]

Do you have any tips on how to actually invest your money? I get really stuck and overwhelmed here.

[@EE-hi4re]

With respect to furniture- my problem is that I don't know how to fix up used pieces. The good news - aside from beds, we don't see furniture as necessary. BTW, you look good not to have a gym membership!

[@57msdeb]

KZbin is my best friend when I need to learn something new. I have redone furniture, regrouted my bathroom tile, cleaned my chimney, and more. Love KZbin for DIY projects.

[@cameoswansonn-mf1xc]

Any ideas

[@ninilovenana]

I definitely need more income

[@yeldaincesu2927]

You can actually create multiple income for your self, my first income i do a normal 9-5 and my second income i put it back to work to make more money. I’m not just after the money but the freedom to live on my terms lol 😆

[@stevestone8740]

@@yeldaincesu2927 yes and your 9_5 can't give you the freedom you need. An extra income stream (passive income) is a great option

[@yeldaincesu2927]

@@stevestone8740 yeah I make about $2k weekly as extra income from my Investing. Trying so much to build more side hustles and extra income

[@jeannehunter5344]

If you can house hack in any way (you live in part of a house and rent out the rest) it is a fairly easy way to make an income.

[@tomaszwyszkowski2253]

You gonna cry and throw up 😂 26:45

[@jat6547]

Why don't you all think about working...... I'm frugal as well, however I'm not dependent on my husband, even though I could be.... St the end of the day he respects me for that..

[@Simplefarmhouselife]

My blog and KZbin and podcast are my job.