Tough times for us all. We have to find more savings.

Almost every bill is rising. We have to be innovative & squeeze every ounce out of our money.
Allpowers units shown were the S2000, the R1500 and the R3500
Allpowers February/Valentines Sale Link:
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Frugal Queen in France
We are a British couple living in Brittany on a budget.
Frugal recipes, days out, home renovations and day to day making do in France.
We’ll give you hints, tips, advice and an insight into our life in France.
Website www.frugalquee...
Instagram / frugalqueen. .
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Apple iMovie*

[@MaryKane-qv5vz]

Frugal channels have been life changing for me.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Happy to help

[@cathyphillips679]

My neighbor asked me how I was managing with the price of groceries lately. She is a low income senior like I am. I told her that I am just eating more soup! (that I make from scratch, of course)

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Soup is a good meal

[@Lemonandvanilla]

How are you not getting millions of views?? Your channel has been life changing for me. So much useful info and most importantly: moral support and motivation. Looking forward to all your content.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Wow, thank you!

[@denisegoulet7780]

100% agree! If I could give 100 likes, I would! So much useful, well explained, important information!

[@elizaC3024]

We learned nearly 8 years ago that we had to buy in bulk, and shop seasonally, as well as shop clearance to get by. We went down to one partial income when I became disabled, in a short span of time. Having shopped like that for 4 years prior to my becoming disabled gave us the cushion to get by on. We cut our grocery budget to $50-75 a month maximum. And we ate out of freezers, pantry, and canning jars. Multiple surgeries later, I now walk unassisted and we shop the same, but our budget is $150-300 monthly, depending upon the deals we find. Some months it's $30, for greens, and half &half. I watch sales cycles and only buy what we need, when it is on sale. I also have learned to buy enough to have a back up waiting on regularly used items(dish soap,ketchup,butter,flour,yeast,etc). And I never go shopping with out checking multiple stores ads, and making a list of what we need. When I bake bread, I use a recipe that makes 4 loaves. I freeze 3. When I bake cookies I double the recipe and freeze in 6packs. I batch cook, freeze half, in 2 serving sizes and we eat for 2-3 meals on the other half. I buy clearance vegetables and chop and freeze for future dishes. We had garden omelets this morning with tri colored peppers, red onions, mushrooms, spinach and a sprinkling of cheese on top. All for about .75-$1.00 per serving.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You're a money saving expert and thanks for sharing

[@josephhoag2366]

Ingenious and encouraging!

[@cherylT321]

That’s really wonderful!

[@bevbond6152]

That’s so great, and so encouraging for me. I am trying to do exactly this, getting there slowly!

[@elainearchbold259]

You always make me feel that we are all in this together. Iwished i didnt feel like the government is wasting our taxes .i think they need to tune in to your channel and get a good dose of what its like for ordinary people to live and learn how to budget the frugal queen in France way. x

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks Elaine

[@Lexi-po1ur]

Jane thank you for another great video...we have to tighten the belts even more...it has become a more urgent time in all our lives regardless of where we live...time to step up the gardening this Spring, not waste any food, make healthier choices of what/how much we eat.

[@mlbonventi]

I wish our Australian politicians were required to tune in also....they might halt spending like drunken sailors.

[@loydacoulombe1397]

Part of the problem is those that run the government don't have yours and my income. They never do their own grocery shopping so they don't see the costs associated with it. Give them out budget for a few months and lets see how they fare.

[@jeannebowes2898]

How pretty you are with your lovely hair down! Taking stock of my garden shed.

[@loydacoulombe1397]

This is your best video yet.... Spot on, on so many categories. It is amazing to me how many people complain about the cost of food yet won't hold themselves to a food budget. We really do mirror each other when it comes to budget and shopping. Today our grocery ads came out and I went first thing this morning. It is snowbird season here in AZ and they will clear shelves out with all the sales. I went to 3 grocery stores and while I was watching your video I totaled my mileage. 12 miles roundtrip. I spent this week 28.87. $6.29 of that was a splurge for Valentine dinner tonight. I did add to our pantry and purchased 3 boxes of cereal . My biggest win was one store had chicken drumsticks for 57¢ a lb. In the value pack. I could only purchase 2 (that was the limit) I ended up purchasing 24 drumsticks for a total of 5.27. They went straight into the freezer as we have family visiting next month and that will be one meal for 4 adults and 4 children. Again, outstanding job on this video ! By the way so far for February my total spend at the grocery store is 221.36

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You're doing a great job and thank you for watching

[@dawnmorandin541]

Eating my cream of wheat listening to you, cooked our dinner already in the cheap hydro time, yes I would prefer bacon, eggs, sausage and beans but it's cheaper to fill up on cream of wheat. Cutting down on the meat, filling up on the veggies, making my own bread. Only one cup of tea a day, the rest was because I was bored etc our bathroom tiles are coming off the walls so we have to redo them instead of a Caribbean cruise haha no seriously we have a lovely garden and a pool so we'll wait for the summer and enjoy our vacation at home, ( the drinks are cheaper too ).

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Cheap drinks comment made me giggle

[@jeanne8507]

“Staycation”! Yes!

[@suzyq1865]

I’m planning our staycation presently. We live where there’s lots of lakes and parks. We like flee markets and such but thats spending money!

[@michellejeffrey2890]

Currently binge watching your videos as I am loving the motivation and valuable ideas. 🏡🏡🙏🙏

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@katworkstowander9853]

Hi Jane and Mike, the cost of everything never goes down. My utility company is a monopoly. They have higher rates between 4 and 9 pm, so I make sure to have my dinner cooked before 4. When I worked I mostly used a slow cooker so my dinner was ready when I got home and no cooking during the higher rates. All my laundry or other energy using tasks are done during the cheaper nighttime and early morning. My mother taught me to stock up when items were on offer/sale, meal plan around what we could buy on discount, and shop around for the best deals. If they couldn’t pay cash for something they didn’t buy it. I do the same thing. My food bill has gone down only because I’ve been diligently eating from my pantry as I have a bit too much from good sales before the holidays.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks Kat

[@desertfish6239]

I shop between two grocery stores. I go to one on Friday as they will give me double fuel credits for my car and I can save up to $1.00 per gallon. I only fill the tank once a month. The other store offers a senior discount on Wednesday and also offers fuel credits. I have gotten to know the butcher at one of the markets. He tells me in advance when certain cuts of meat are going on sale.

[@LorettaNance]

It seems for every area I save in, another expense goes up. We all just need to keep doing our best in these difficult times. Thanks for another great video.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Absolutely! It's infuriating. We've had to find savings of over 1000€ as that's how much our taxes and insurance have increased but our income hasn't

[@loydacoulombe1397]

you are so spot on with your comment.

[@connietroxell1575]

Recently I’ve gone back to an old Mennonite cookbook I used when I was married. It’s called More With Less. It has great recipes but also a lot of nutritional information. Knowing where we can get protein (and other nutrition) helps as we plan meals. Thanks for your encouragement and inspiration. We are all in this together!!

[@connietroxell1575]

Just reread this. I meant to say “newly married”. 😊

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Love that! Thanks for watching

[@michelehagerman216]

At my desk at lunch hour watching with my lunch brought from home.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

That's a money saver right there

[@michelehagerman216]

Yes! Lunch out would be on average US $10 a day. $200 a month.

[@Freaysclaw56]

@@michelehagerman216eating has become outrageous!

[@HomewithCheryl]

Thank you for being so open and sharing your struggles and how y’all overcome them. Very encouraging!

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thank you for watching

[@girldavis291]

I appreciate your videos as I realize I am not the only one being careful on spending. Ideas you or others share do make a difference! Thanks!

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You are so welcome! Thank you

[@frugalautie]

We’re not able to top off savings as we are on a disability pension and the moneys just not there at the moment but we are still able to pay down debt (more than the minimum payment each month) and not build up more debt so I guess we’re doing ok?

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You'll pay the debt off soon enough, there's light at the end of your tunnel

[@JillD-ux9zb]

You are doing better than my neighbors with 2 full salaries! Celebrate yourselves!

[@frugalautie]

@@JillD-ux9zb I really appreciate you saying that ❤️ thank you.

[@frugalautie]

@@FrugalQueeninFrance thank you ❤️

[@frugalautie]

@@theclumsyprepper thank you ❤️ I appreciate the feedback. Sometimes I wonder 🤣🤦‍♀️ I feel out of my element or like it’s all over my head

[@sela4196]

Hi Jane,you can cut the dish washing tablets into two.The results after washing will be the same and you will economise even more in that area.

[@Freaysclaw56]

Front load clothing washers only need 1 tablespoon of laundry detergent. People use way to much.

[@MaryKane-qv5vz]

A programme like yours and others who promote frugal living have made this type of living fashionable and fun and a big thank you for this. I especially like programmes with frugal type recipes.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

So nice of you

[@DebfromVa]

I believe we are all looking for ways to cut costs.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

I think we are

[@jinnemee7327]

Hello Jane! Here in Ontario our energy is lowest from 7pm to 7am and weekends/holidays. So for years I wash at night or on the weekends. Same with the dishwasher. Another tip that really helps save money, is growing your own veggies. Every little bit helps and the benefits are far greater than just the produce. Mental and physical health benefits are huge. Also, I use vinegar as a fabric softener. Keeps my washing machine clean and saves a lot of money. Cheers, Janina

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks so much for your tips

[@azgardenlover370]

I also use vinegar in my laundry. I love it.

[@TheSilveryew]

Congratulations on the sponsorship it's well deserved

[@Blondegoddess-rw9fk]

I think in the 1920s and 1930s the French peasantry were almost exclusively vegetarian with meat as a a very rare treat. Lots of French recipes for vegetables but seemingly not served in restaurants nowadays.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Plenty of vegetarians in France.

[@WarriorGoddessSubliminals]

Your hair looks beautiful ❤🇦🇺

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thank you!!

[@sargee97]

Hi Jane and Mike, like you we are cutting our food budget and I'm also cooking once and eating twice and batch cooking. I'm using my slow cookers and air fryers, yes I do have more than one of each😅. I prep our evening meal the night before and put it in the slow cooker. I shop at different shops to try and save money too. Unfortunately at the moment with my car being in the garage I can't do that but we have got a Lidl nearby. My car warranty isn't worth the paper it's written on and the garage I bought the car from and who sold me the warranty charged me £114 just to look at it and didn't even fill the report out correctly, they then wanted to charge me £256 to look at it further, £146 for the plugs to be changed plus VAT. This wasn't even going to get the car back on the road. I was advised by the garage I go to for my MOT to phone someone up the road from me because they didn't do the work that they thought may need to be done. I phoned this other garage and explained the situation and he said don't pay the money at the dealership for further investigations or for the plugs because they were charging double. He recovered my car and is replacing the plugs for less than the plugs alone at the dealership. Unfortunately the cam belt has disintegrated because it sits in oil and it's caused the problems. Due to this it isn't just a straightforward replacement and the engine sump ect needs to be taken off and the oil pressure to the engine sorted otherwise it would have been £385 on top of the recovery and plugs. The cam belt work alone should be £1,000 or more. So the guy who owns the garage knows my situation and said he will do it all for £1,000, having already paid the £114 to the dealership things are extremely difficult. I'm only on my disability payment so I will have to pay half this month and half next but in the meantime leave the car at the garage until I've paid. I'm left with just enough to top up my electricity and my direct debits. I was saving for a new washing machine because my other one has broken down and I'm having to have my older son do the very basic washing necessary because of his electric charges. I thank goodness that I have food in and I only need to get the perishables and dog food. I then need to start saving again for a new washing machine. Kind regards Angeline ❤️ xx 🇬🇧

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Hi Angeline, it’s just dreadful that you’re being ripped off like that

[@carolannes173]

Thank you for another great video! Your hair looks good down mam

[@andreagillan7372]

In addition to higher prices at the grocery store, I have noticed that many packaged things have gotten smaller for the higher price. I am really trying to cut out a lot of those packaged items. We are keeping our house cooler this winter and that seems to have kept that expense in check. It’s all about creativity and being savvy.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Great point

[@janetstonerook4552]

It's called "shrinkflation" and food companies are getting more brazen with it all the time! They use regular-sized packaging with fewer or smaller items inside. For example, my favorite candy bar used to cost $1.00 and was 7 ounces. Now it's $1.50 and it's 5.5 ounces but in the same size package as it was previously! They also have modified some of the original recipes using less expensive ingredients. There was a chocolate covered bar cookie with delicious gooey caramel inside. I noticed it no longer tasted right recently! I thought maybe my taste buds were failing me. But NOOOO! They are using poorer quality flour, chocolate and shortening , and less caramel in each bar. So what was a beloved treat I gave myself as a reward occasionally now costs more and tastes like cardboard! The only way to combat these practices is to quit buying the product when you notice it's no longer quality and its way too expensive. 😮

[@andreagillan7372]

Shrinkfltion is real and it seems it is everywhere at the grocery store.

[@marty9011]

This video made me think where I can make food savings & I have decided to eat more soup for a start ! And less meat & fish per serve. Every little bit counts.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks, we've cut our a lot too

[@preppernut]

I've let the video run through three times. Hope that it helps. What we are doing is making the most of what we already have. The chickens are laying well which is nice. I've made a two-week menu plan, and most of it is already in my pantry or freezer.....if I see meat on sale, it goes into the freezer and when I have enough, I get it into jars. (Cutting up 15 lbs of stew meat is a bit laborious at my age, so I do it in stages.) I hope that you have lots of sunny days, although a bit of rain in the summer is generally welcome.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks, we’re prepping all we can too.

[@annewright3129]

"Early to bed and early to rise" may not make me wealthy but it saves just a wee bit of money.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

I love that

[@michelehagerman216]

That quote is from Benjamin Franklin, an American founding father from the Revolutionary War era. Full quote is “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”

[@ayela562]

I track our budget categories to the penny. There isn’t a single line item that hasn’t increased year over year. The only line items that decreased have been anything discretionary because we simply have to.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

It's really hard for everyone

[@shirley1413]

Hi Jane,, another great vlog,,, I liked your comment about if you only had 100 euros you would find a way to make it work! Good mind set,,, be grateful for what we do have,, and discipline yourself, it also helps to hear from others who are practicing the same frugal ways!❤ Shirley

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks so much

[@evgeniagasumova4487]

I love your advice!!!

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thank you

[@mizg1595]

We have two Jackery solar batteries for outages. Keep in mind that solar batteries have a limited life cycle, meaning you can only charge up and discharge the battery so many times before the battery starts losing capacity. Know your battery’s life cycle and budget to replace them as needed. For example, a Jackery 2000 has a 1,000 cycle life before the capacity drops 80%. That means if I charge it every night and use it every day, it would began to lose power in about 27 months. That gives me a bit longer than two years to save up for a replacement.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Solar sinking fund here too

[@carolynm9798]

We went up to $360 for food last year for a few months and saw we could go back to $300. Then another increase in prices and we were running just under $350. We decided to “try harder” and are now at $325! I keep trying to go lower and it is tough! Meanwhile bad winter weather put our electric bill higher. Makes me nuts!

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

I can feel it. We had to reduce our food bill to pay our insurances, taxes and electricity bill, it's a juggling act

[@loydacoulombe1397]

Good job ! Yours is the heat bill but I live in the desert and ours is the AC bill.

[@Judith-b3t]

Don't forget to comment. It helps the channel.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks so much

[@utekunzmann5908]

Dear Jane and Mike, thank you very much for your videos. In these difficult times, it's good to know not to be alone. Your healthy and frugal recipes have often helped me to bring variety to the table and the Sinking Funds give me peace of mind. Budgeting and meal planning are key! Greets from Germany

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks for your feedback

[@debbiegnagey2095]

Here in the USA everything is going up, too! We are in this together and tightening our belts even more! We dropped our cable television altogether and continue to look for new ways to save. I never had a savings app until recently and now have Fetch. I am looking for other savings apps as well!

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks Debbie

[@Freaysclaw56]

I use Ibotta, Fetch and Receipt Hop. I don’t make much $100-$200 a year because I use a lot of generic items. I don’t buy just because something is on sale or has rebates, so I don’t make much and there are just 2 of us. A few things that have been helping are using the store app coupons ($6) and rewards ($6). And, my stores accept competitors $10/$50 purchase coupons. We might split the order in two to use two of the competitors coupons. So, we use those as stocking up on deeply discounted foods and goods. We probably look like we have a weird diet because this week was shredded cheese ($2.40lb), campbells chunky soup ($1.20 can), pasta ($0.80lb), beef($3.60lb) and bananas.

[@katielee9354]

We too are not going to increase our food budget. We are elderly & we spend £200 a month for the 2 of us for food, cleaning items, toiletries etc. We have no pets and we are self sufficient in fruit, salads & herbs all year from the garden. l only buy meat when its now on sale to freeze and any savings that month l spend stocking up my food storage/pantry, again only if its on sale. We plan on really utilizing every inch of the garden this year to grow green vegetable so we can freeze them. Times are getting really hard so its time to for me to really make more plans on our food budget.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

It's rough out there

[@janetstonerook4552]

It's a bit more work, but it's way healthier to grow your own! I had a big garden until a few summers ago. I can no longer tolerate the heat! But I still have a few vegetable plants in what was an old flower bed.

[@michelehagerman216]

Something I’ve noticed here in the US is that people are spending more out of fear. Checks (cheques) are still in quite common use here - for people to pay their mortgage, utilities, etc. to pay their bills via the mail. Postage is close to 70 cents here (cheaper than many counties). They pay extra to get bank statements via the mail. They lose $10/month discounts from broadband/mobile phone providers from not taking advantage of online billing. People are afraid to use online banking, electronic payments/auto debits from utilities, etc. because they’re afraid they’re going to get hacked and their money stolen. I know most other countries have done away with checks/cheques, so this is probably a US only problem. And it’s just not senior citizens/pensioners. Im in my 50s and I see a lot of younger people doing this too.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

That’s a shame, we do everything digitally here

[@autobotdiva9268]

working overtime! even on a sunday. this is crazy

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Sorry to hear that

[@sjchan3199]

Dont know if people in uk are aware of the trolley app, its not widely advertised but you can price check shopping and goods before you shop through the supernarkets. The only one not on there is lidl, some m&s food is on there. It may help others with their shop

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

That's great advice. I'll find it and share it in instagram

[@sjchan3199]

Thanks jane, the more widely known the more people it helps​@@FrugalQueeninFrance

[@beckywhinery4652]

It's called Flipp in the United States. It has all of the sales for groceries and department stores. Plus you can look at the grocery Add one day early. They call it a preview.

[@englishlearningexpert3595]

@@FrugalQueeninFrance It’s a great app.

[@karenccs67]

Times are tough, we must be doing something right, our energy bill is being reduced by £35 a month 🎉. My birthday is in December and we always tried to get away for a few days before the Christmas chaos (I work for a supermarket), for the past couple of years, we haven’t been able to because our cars tax, services etc are due, even though we save for them all year, they seem to cost more than expected 😡. This year ( we started on 01.12.23), we have decided to save £1 a day from either our food, petrol or personal budgets. I want this to give us £366 to do something in December.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

That’s great Karen

[@ZuziQ6395]

"A step too far"? There is no such thing.😂 I also never use a hair dryer nor an oven. They draw way too much electricity. Also I always hang clothes to dry. We live in the cold North and have little sun in the winter. By putting solar on the house, we feed enough back to the grid in summer to have virtually no power bill in winter. But our usage is kept low always, just as yours is. Great video! ❤

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks for sharing

[@susanb1901]

We make our own laundry detergent. Very cheap and quick - just grated soap, washing soda, and borax

[@katherinerichardson1767]

After listening to your comments, I thought about the men and women that work 5-6 days a week. It saddens me to think how doubly frustrating it has to be for them to navigate the shopping and cutting back on utilities just to make ends meet. I agree with you about keeping check on the bargains day in and day out. I look at the frugal journey as a hunting trip. When you go hunting you have to keep a keen eye out for signs of the animal's behavior so you can hunt it down. With shopping and frugal activities, you gotta keep an eye on what you need and go after it with your money.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

When I worked in the UK, I used to get to the stores when they opened at 7am to get non food bargains. I would pop back to stores are 8pm onwards to stock up on short dated reduced fresh meat, fish , bread that I could freeze

[@wandatrahan7180]

Thanks for the frugal ideas

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You are so welcome!

[@bettylpower]

Recently I saw a video that suggested that some grocery stores were taking advantage of these austere times and raising their prices to make a profit. This would not be a surprise in Canada because about 10 - 15 years ago, some supermarkets were price fixing bread costs here. 🤨

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Oh yes they are! Theiving buggers!

[@LimousinLife]

Jane, you provide very sensible sound advice. I'm your generation so I'm very tuned in to your ethos. The younger generation will learn a lot from you too. Thanks

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thank you for your feedback

[@michelehagerman216]

I chose to not renew my Amazon Prime subscription. That’s $140 US that stays in the bank account. I’m shopping much more at Aldi these days. That is the cheapest supermarket here.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Aldi is a good option

[@maureenmannion6748]

Speaking of Amazon. I cancelled Amazon Prime in June '23. Just this past week I checked on the Amazon Visa card and discovered Amazon had been charging me &16,15 per month since August '23 to May '24. I don't get a print out of monthly charges from my card. The monthly payments are on automatic debit from my bank account. Since I see what I've ordered it never occurred to me that there were other charges. Foolish I know. In addition I discovered an additional charge of 11.49 for 6 months in '23. Called them and they're refunding 11 payments of 16.15 and the other charge was for Amazon Prime in Canada. I ordered a present for my sister from Amazon in Canada and they signed .e up for Ama,n Prime there. The moral is of course obvious and all you careful people must be appalled that I didn't catch this earlier. Your videos have made me pay attention to my spending. I shudder to think of the money I wanted earlier in my life.

[@maureenmannion6748]

Meant wasted.

[@sandrawhitacre]

Hi, it is not getting better, thank you for tips . Thank you Jane, Mike and Puppies.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thank you too!

[@christyv4125]

I love your hair down!

[@nancyquarella6709]

Good morning from New Jersey!

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Hello

[@mlbonventi]

Love your wisdom Jane and Mike. Always good to be reminded that even though our belts are tight, this year will see them even tighter still. We are still buying in bulk, menu planning and controlling our portions....two new 4 Wheel drive tyres made my February budget not so comfy, but I am backfilling the bank accounts and organising a renewed sinking fund. Happy 2024!

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Fingers crossed!

[@seekingtheminimumlevel1830]

Another great video! Thank you for keeping us all motivated and on track to survive the ever-increasing costs of just about everything. We are trying to hold our food budget steady as well through cutting back on some items and making cheaper substitutes for other items. I appreciate all your ideas and sharing of how you make things work. When one is already pretty frugal, it can be challenging to find more ways to save and cut the budget to keep things balanced with rising costs but not rising income.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

That last sentence....so true

[@ERNIE555]

Yes they are squeezing us empty

[@katehorrell8732]

I went yesterday to pick up my dogs meds n found out they went up from $87 a month to $112 a month. I got an email saying that my internet bill was going up from $15 a month to a WHOPPING $106 a month, OMG n I live on a income of $1100 a month.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

As with us, large increases

[@caroldaviddaviejohnson2225]

Great idea to charge your solar at night when its cheaper and use it for energy during the more expensive day tariff👍. It's good to pull people together and walk this path of mindful frugality together as we're all facing higher costs, and incomes that simply don't increase in the same way! Ive swapped out half our weekly meals to be meat free, and has reduced my shopping bill to £200 a month for 2 adults. Thats for everything including toiletries etc. Bulk buying makes a big difference too, as well as utilising the extra freezer(s). Batch cooking saves such alot of time and money, especially if using a slow cooker. I can get 10 meals out of 1 batch from my large slow cooker, so i bag them up in ziplock bags, in portions and freeze flat. Simply a case of popping in the microwave to heat up. Packing the meals out with mixed beans, lentils,lots of veg, it goes a long way. Great video as always, and always appreciate your pragmatic ideas, so useful to many of us, I'm sure.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks Carol for sharing your money saving too

[@shirley1413]

I do a lot of batch cooking and freeze it as well, lots of beans and lentils and veggies,, I never grow tired of my soups. I call my frozen soups my fast food. LOL chers

[@beckypetersen2680]

Do the sewing machines have a problem running on the batteries during the day?

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

@@beckypetersen2680 no Becky, they use very little energy. I never leave the battery boxes on stand by, they’re switched off when not in use to conserve the electricity

[@helenwilkins4337]

Great video Jane. My weekly shop has changed a lot over the last 2 years. Each week I buy one meat but the largest amount of minced beef, minced pork or chicken I can afford. Then I batch cook and freeze so we don’t have to eat the same meal all week. I’m still working my way through my 15p Christmas veg! This week I made leftover turkey and veg pie. It was delicious and felt like free food because a few years ago it would have gone to waste x

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

That is awesome! And, you show it can be done

[@debrabachand2200]

We have discounted areas in our supermarkets. I always head there first, when my son goes with me we have a sort of a race as to who gets to it first. Sort of like speed walking and exercise at the same time.😅 Happy Valentines Day.❤

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks, it’s the best way

[@cherilewis2899]

Making a game makes life more fun 😊

[@marthaosborne9625]

I’m loving your hair style.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks

[@rnmwilkins]

Excellent video!

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thank you very much!

[@nzmoneykarma]

So true! Our council has told us that our rates (council tax) will rise by 25% in the next two years- eek- that will be around $7000/year to live in our paid off house! I don't like spending money on the boring things like bills! It is great to have a 'can-do' attitude to the budget as well- will always see you through. Have you made "panipopo" before? the best, yummiest, cheapest pudding-great to fill up on if having a lighter dinner.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

That's a lot of tax!

[@nzmoneykarma]

@@eloisepersson939 I know! It's pretty insane atm isn't it! I always marvel at the cost of fruit and vege and how cheap it is pretty much everywhere except here! I day dream of living somewhere where a nice house doesn't cost 1million+ and you don't have to sell a kidney to do the weekly grocery shop 🙂

[@MaryKane-qv5vz]

Unfortunately there are no discounts/sales like this in Ireland even if you have the inconvenience of having to up your game by going to different outlets.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Checkout savvyspender.ie, quidu.ie, the Facebook group Bargain alerts in Ireland and on instagram @itishbudgeting - Caz Mooney for local super market deals and tips.

[@lisaward3890]

Hello Jane&Michael,yes we are in this all together. Each one of us here in this community,i am sure,has to rethink and make adjustments where we can to stay on top of all the increases we are all experiencing. We in the USA are also experiencing increases with car fuel,all insurances,what we eat. Jane you are exactly correct to be making adjustments,lowering costs wherever you can and just "make it work"! I like that phrase. I think i will adopt that phrase for us this year. Often times one must find alternatives to keep in the game. I make my own cleaning products from simple ingredients,i make my own laundry detergent,we use our tumble dryer for our clothes off peak. So we do our laundry at 9:00 at night when rates are lower,then midnight till 6 a.m is the least expensive rate. I work the night shift so when i get home in the early morning i do my baking,run a fully loaded dishwasher and pack my lunch from what we ate for our meal from what remains.We are also cutting out 1 week or 2 weeks vacations and sticking with day trips for some quick get aways. I have a portable propane cooking stove. We shop our own kitchen to gather up food to cook on the trail.it is a win win and prevents us from eating out at restaurants. 👍we make it work!😃Thank you for sharing your video presentation,very timely.

[@MariinSC]

I've been very fortunate that my utilities haven't gone up and my real estate taxes are lower. Unfortunately, car and home insurance are both much higher than several years ago. I paid off my mortgage in January which gives me so much breathing room. My goal this year is to really add to the savings. I live alone and signed up for the time of use meter a couple years ago. The rates are much higher between 6 and 9 a.m. from November through March and from 3 to 7 p.m. from April through October. I make sure that nothing that uses a lot of power (heating/AC, oven, dryer, hot water) runs at this times. I have a smart meter that allows me to see energy usage by the quarter hour and know, for instance, that the crock pot uses very little power so even if it's running during the high cost times, the effect on my bill is small.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thank you for that , great to hear

[@moirasutherland7443]

This is a brilliant idea to charge the solar boxes at night. We are in South Africa and have just had three days with no electricity, thankfully the sun was shining so we were ok with our solar panels but a few weeks ago it was raining and we had a lot of power cuts so had to ration our electric. We have solar not to save money but to just have power

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

That’s great, I’m really looking forward to a solar only summer

[@gaylekanak9269]

Hello from Florida. I can certainly relate to the rising cost of insurance. Ours is rising at an alarming rate. I like your hair down, looks very nice. Take care!!

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks, those bills never go down

[@ayela562]

Everyone’s insurance is rising, but Florida is a different thing altogether. Alarming is the right word for sure. You have my sympathies.

[@jjred233]

I know it. I live near the Gulf Coast and the insurance only went up by 50% last year. It is still lower than Florida.

[@kateheads887]

My biggest expense is vets bills. One of my two dogs has heart failure and her medication is very expensive. She also needs monthly painkillers and injections. Luckily we have retirement savings, but it’s creating a big hole. However, she’s nearly 13, and we are lucky to still have her, and she’s wonderful.

[@bridge7528]

I also switched to getting my dogs meds at the Walmart pharmacy. Just ask your vet for the prescription. It was $55 a month at the vet and $11 at Walmart.

[@lemonteapot1061]

I credit you for really helping me to change my attitude towards money and what I do with mine. I’m not perfect there are still things I could do better and I make mistakes, but Thankyou ☺️

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You can do it!

[@naomibarton6139]

Enjoyed this. Feels like we are all in the same boat. Will look forward to seeing how you go about tweaking that food budget.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Doing ok so far

[@janefoley5184]

Thank you for the video. We also have bought a small extra freezer. Electric costs are not so bad in New England. In a future video, could you share the details about how you are able to reduce your food cost by 25%? Shopping hauls, menu plans and recipes, please.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Every Friday, we put out a food related video, don't miss them

[@Meli_Mels]

My husband does the shopping/cooking in our house. He's like you. Knows the days new circulars are out from local supermarkets. Knows best time of day to actually take advantage of deals as inventory goes quickly.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Love that! He will get the deals

[@judimantos904]

Boy, are you lucky! My husband will drive me to the market, but he sits is the car while I shop. I’m the one that looks for sales each week + in 23 years he has only written one item on the shopping list!

[@LisaAdams-pj5gl]

I do not have a dishwasher, a tumble dryer and do not use fabric softener - all luxuries. I go to my local supermarket 7.30am when it first opens to get the bargains - half price meat, bread and buns from the day before. I visit the 2 food stands in our area regularly and take any excess I have. I only shop at Thrift stores, if it's not there I don't get it and wait until it is. I barter, reuse and grow as much fruit and vegetables myself. I look for sources of free food. I pick up the leftover school meals twice a week and hand out what we don't eat.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You're doing great

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

I have made several cuts, and plan on making more. I have to be able to continue saving. Thanks Jane.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You can do it!

[@larra07]

I have electricity with different tariff which depend on time of the day. And sometimes it can be tricky to remember when to switch on and off kettle, heating or own.

[@jackiebridgen4827]

It sounds like you have some more options on energy tariffs in France - even though they're complicated. Ours in the UK just feel like a monopoly with no wiggle room!

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

The UK market has you all stitched up. I'm either EDF which is nationalised here and they could charge less but obviously they just put it up. Cheap night rate is used by a lot of people to charge power packs to use in the day

[@sjchan3199]

You exactly what we do. I shop in several shops to get shopping and deals. We dont have a night tariff but our ecoflow only takes 70 mins to recharge( but its less than that). For 3 people we pay bout £55pw. Today instead of having a take away for valentones day we bought ready meals saving us at least £20. You just have to play the supermarkets, government and shops at their own Game. thanks jane for the ideas ,a lady after my own heart.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks, always good to meet a kindred spirit

[@sjchan3199]

Thanks, love the community of helping each other

[@myownperson8145]

The thing I have stocked up on is vege seeds. So far have not had to shop this Summer for salads...all from the garden

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Very wise

[@dorisfuchs4708]

Thank you Jane, you gave me the idea to use my slowcooker with my jackery. I Think I will invest in these small solar panel, i havent yet. Blessings from Bavaria

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

It’s a great thing to have

[@rosaestrada41]

Hi Jane Thank you for your video and sharing your ideas. A pleasure to hear your ideas. Hugs

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You are so welcome!

[@belindacopson2390]

Very few offers in my local supermarkets at the moment though we do look out for discounted bread for the freezer. A main focus for me is home cooking and aiming for zero food waste, along with growing fruit and veg. Soon be time to plant some early salad seeds :)

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Me too Belinda

[@stephanieboice8787]

I would be interested to see what the inflation rate would be if the increase in taxes was factored in the inflation index. Wonder if any macroeconomist has done this.

[@judygilbert9628]

300 euros a month is a challenge for sure. Wishing you luck

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks, we're under budget, we'll manage

[@gigihanley9757]

I wonder if you've considered making some of your cleaning products Homemade laundry works well for much less money. And using wood dryer balls work great, cut drying time a bit and are better for the environment.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

I bought a year’s worth of laundry liquid and fabric conditioner for 26€. I bought a years worth of dishwasher tablets for 10€ I use a washing line and dry the laundry over the wood stove in the winter. I thank you for watching and taking the time to comment.

[@luba-healthywithluba6866]

Thank you for your video, Mike and Jane! Our car insurance has doubled. We turn down the heat at night as well.

[@bria2596]

Great video. Every week I take away energy to "do better." Thank you.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You are so welcome

[@ingridMOD]

Same for me. Thanks Jane and Mike.

[@lauranason1822]

Another great video with timely advice, thank you!

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You are so welcome!

[@Duke_of_Prunes]

I haven't been to Brittany beyond the month of August, but I do remember French people guarding the electricity like it was gold. After googling the 2023 KW/hour cost, I was stunned -- especially since France is HALF the cost of Ireland.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

French wages are low and they have to be careful with their incomes

[@thethriftycitizen]

Slovenia has low wages also. Average monthly wage is about €1,500 before taxes.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

@@thethriftycitizen it's 1800 before tax in France, there's so many Europeans on wages too low to live properly

[@thethriftycitizen]

After Slovenia entered the EU, the prices went to Euro, but wages stayed the same. The last decade there has been small increases for minimum wage. But it does nothing when "new taxes" are added and prices increase! We just recieved a 7% increase on wages. I will see how much more my paycheck will be tomorrow! 15th is payday for most people in Slovenia.

[@chrisl418]

Good reminder regarding sale days. Reminded me to check if there are sale days for seniors.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

It can all help

[@Intentional-frugality]

Okay I must say you’re hair looks gorgeous down Jane 😊

[@mariannejoynes6541]

I haven't watched in a while but I'd like to say how lovely your hair looks! 😊

[@snapdragon2441]

I did really well in December despite Christmas and January was a good month too. Spent less and budgeted well but in Feb I have fallen off the wagon! Needed a good telling, re focus and start again for March.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Great to know that you need to refocus

[@terrypelletti8535]

Very good video. Thank you soo much

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

So nice of you

[@Trandans]

Cutest doggie! ❤️

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks

[@janetstonerook4552]

I had to buy a new tire for my car this week. It was $216 (U.S.)! Last time I'd replaced all 4 and they had been $175 each. We have very poor public transportation in our area so I have to have and maintain a car. But I drive it sparingly. So when I do go out, I try to drive in a loop and do at least 3 stops. Like doctor's appointment, bank and groceries! My brother has mobility problems so i often do his weekly shopping for him and he pays for my gasoline.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

It's a good thing to plan journeys

[@lindastone9385]

Well done you two! We are doing the same with regards to our electricity. Our house comes to life after 9pm. We have 12 solar panels on the roof to help with the electricity. We also have solar thermal for our hot water. If the sun doesn't heat the water enough, the gas kicks in. We also have a solar box. Plus two woodburners.Our bills are much less than our friends. (they are still enough!) But we still continue to try and find ways to save more. Thankyou.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks Linda, it’s faff but worth it.

[@lindastone9385]

Definitely!

[@janetstonerook4552]

Luckily, here in the U.S. where I live, electricity is not outrageously costly. But I heat with natural gas. Air conditioning can get costly by mid summer so I usually only use it in a couple rooms of my house and only on super hot days.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Great point!

[@g.a.hadley3263]

Your hair is beautiful down, Jane. The practical and wise information that you offer is a boost for everyone. Thank you so much !

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You are so welcome!

[@belinda2221]

May I ask what kind of car you drive? 60 miles to the gallon is great!

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Renault Kadjar eco diesel

[@MamaAng323]

Nice idea to adjust the utilities, it all adds up 😊

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Yes it does!