How Can We Get Through The Cost Of Living Crisis?
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- Опубликовано: 23 июл 2024
- I give you the facts about how to cope with the inflation crisis we are in.
Frugal Queen in France
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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.frugalqueeninfrance.com/
FaceBook / frugalqueeni. .
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Twitter / batt_jane
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I'm about 5 years older than you guys and I remember going through some hard times with my family in the 60s but by the 70s we were totally spoiled. My father had a good job and we had central heat and AC and all the food we could want. My parents grew up during the Depression so they didn't tolerate waste, but we had it easy.
Fast forward to today and my husband and I are on a fixed income and I am his full time caregiver. This winter we dress as you did in the 70s to go to bed so that we don't have to run the oil furnace. I get up at about 5:30am and physically turn the furnace on to heat up the house and go back to bed. It does not run during the night unless it gets below 20 degrees. We don't want the pipes freezing. We get up at between 6 and 6:30am. By then the house is fairly warm and we turn on some space heaters but depend a lot on the sunshine to do a lot of the heating. Cloudy days are tough. We live in a very small place so there isn't really any area that we can't heat.
Every evening I have been wearing a knit cap while I watch TV as well as 3 layers under my bathrobe. During the day I wear 4 layers. The layer we wear next to our bodies are changed everyday, but not the other layers, just as you mentioned. I wash clothes only in cold water and when the weather allows I hang our clothes on the line outside.
When I turn the oven on I cook a couple of different meals at the same time. I do tend to rinse dishes in hot water. I should do that in cold water. I spend a lot of time cooking and we simply don't eat at restaurants. It saves so much money.
I avoid driving unless necessary. I drove so little in 2020 that my battery died and had to be recharged, lol. I drive the car, short distances, a couple of times a week to charge the battery.
We are very low income but when we got the stimulus money from the government here in the US we donated a small portion to a local food bank both times. Whenever we feel we can we try to do that. We may not have a lot ourselves, but we have more than some. Especially people with kids.
We’re the same, we donate at all the food collections, there’s hungry children out there
Barbara, I loved hearing your story, you are so inspiring! Hugs to you and your hubby!
Well done you two! Sensible advice for saving money, in good times and in bad. I was a young married mother in the mid-70's. Used cloth diapers, cooked from scratch, had cheap entertainment by going to parks, going to the library. I call those the "good old days". We all knew how to live inexpensively and were happy and less stressed. Love your videos!!!
You’re welcome Mary. People have so much now, they might have to give something up to keep the bills paid.
I too was a young mother in the mid 70’s. We had little access to credit so had no option but to live within our means. It gave us a good grounding and some of the habits I learnt in those hard times have never left me. Like everyone I was foolish enough to all the life style creep to creep in but in the 90’s when my husband was suddenly made redundant I had to quickly put them back into action. He found another job but it was what is now known as a zero contract job so income was very unreliable. Then in the late 90’s his health quickly deteriorated and this lead to me becoming a widow a few years ago. When his health deteriorated I became the bread winner, I have never be afraid of hard work but life was not easy juggling caring for him and bringing in an income. On lots of occasions over the years I have laid in bed and said a little prayer for my early upbringing and early married life because it taught me how to be frugal. I really feel sorry for the generation that followed that never experienced this. Like Jane repeatedly tells us we have had it too good for too long and for. People who have never known any different these next few years are going to be a big wake up call. The quicker people realise they need to change their ways of dealing with finances the better. Sadly we have a couple of generations of people who believe they are entitled to everything and if they can’t provide it someone else should. We all have 100 pence in our pound and people need to take responsibility for there personal financial situation and realise you can’t spend what you don’t have for too long before it all fall down around you
The only rail line (for food) into our city was recently destroyed by floods so the stores have been almost empty and prices have escalated and I don't think will go back down because of everything else. I went to the store to buy nappies for our twins the other day and found they have gone up 15% overnight, so it's onto full time, cloth nappies for us. And you inspired me tonight to buy a little egg timer for the shower, and going to invest in a little bucket for the sink to wash up in. It will be hard but I am determined that this will bring out the best in me, I'm cooking healthier already from this, and realizing how much money I have wasted in the past.
Thank you Jane and Mike. Best video so far! Full of good advice and common sense. Hard times are ahead of us, with inflation, climate change and now war. I remember in the 80s, during communism here in Romania, a lot of cold, no electricity a couple of hours every day, two(2) hours of Tv in the evening and only the national romanian post filled with praise for Ceausescu, the empty-empty shops and hunger. We mended everything, everybody helped everybody with spare food, reused everything and managed to laugh between hard days. I was a child and then teenager until 1989 but for my family it was extraordinaly hard. Now we live the best life ever, with roof, food, heat, but very very carefully watching the pennies, the bills, the war news, the local farmers'produce. Take care and God bless.
Thanks Laura, your story perfectly exemplifies that in modern times, we really don’t know what going without means. Thanks for sharing your story.
Mom would heat beach rocks in our wood stove and send me to bed with one. Not that we couldn’t afford heat, we were well off, but it was just a practical way to reduce energy costs. This was in the 70’s. I am very grateful for the frugal way she brought me up.
Heating rocks reminds me of what a little girl did with hot baked potatoes. During the winter, she would carry a hot aluminum foil covered potato in her coat pocket when she walked to school to keep warm. Later at lunch time, she would add the shredded cheese and other items she carried in her lunch kit to the baked potato. {When she got to school, she put the potato in her lunch kit.} I never did this but I did think this was cool (or should say it was hot? lol).
I love baked potatoes
This has to be your very best video "ever". Well done Jane, and we have to remember to "give" to foodbanks
I totally agree.I grew up in N.Ireland in the same time as Jane describes and everything she says is exactly how l grew up.No one l knew owned a house or had a mortgage. Council houses all the way!
One of your best videisxx
Hello! I'm new here,nice to meet you,and thank you very much!
@@mariaguadagno9483 welcome! This is a wonderful channel. I learn from Jane and other subscribers all the time. 💜
Such wonderfully helpful tips! Beautiful quilts!
Very good advice, Jane. One thing I did when faced with a desperate financial situation (divorce) was change to just two meals a day, what I called brunch and "lupper." The practice reduced energy expenditure and food expense. Brunch typically consisted of oatmeal flavored with fruit, or eggs and toast (from homemade bread) accompanied by some sort of fruit, and coffee or tea (had to switch to tea when money got REALLY tight). Late afternoon lupper was always a starch, a protein, a green vegetable, and a salad of some sort, and then I'd serve a dessert later in the evening -- seasonal fruit with cheese, homemade pudding, or homemade cookies. Cutting back to two meals a day served us so well that we never went back to three meals, even when finances were more comfortable.
"Lupper"! I call it that, too! Oatmeal/"porridge" about 9a.m., lupper at 4, snack/dessert around 7 pm.
I agree two meals a day is more than enough. Big breakfast full of nuts, dried fruits and seeds for me with a drink is more than enough to attack a full working day. A lighter dinner few hours before bed makes sure you sleep easily all night.
Same in this house.. I give my 6 foot 3 son extra, but for myself..2 x meals is plenty
Down to the basic nitty gritty, good sense choices. Not always the advice we want to hear but for many who have not lived the reality of central heating and hot water at the touch of a button, hands off laundry with steam dried clothes, and using up every bit of the oven heat with more than one item or meal, these words can help them find ways of living within their reduced means. Thank You Jane. It’s nice to have reminders and reinforcement that we are not the odd balls despite our grandchildren’s raised eyebrows about Gramma’s odd ways.
Thanks Jean. We can get through this.
@@FrugalQueeninFrance We weren't rich but my parents were experts at frugality that they made us feel rich. We got to do good stuff because they were smart. Didn't do everything I wanted but I was the only kid I knew who went snow skiing and snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef every year. I was also the only kid I knew who wore (beautiful) second hand clothes and never ever ate at a restaurant and didn't have a home phone. That's how we afforded the ski trips.
I am not a grandma by far but I do remember the 1980 as a child, my friends from almost the same age have frown upon my ways for years. ( even my sisther🤔) I hope they can embrace the old or should I just say economical ways soon enough, before they end up in even more financial trouble. It worth it to skip a "want" for a "need" .
Haha you made my Alexa set a timer and I was lost in thought plating dinner and about jumped out of my skin! Thank you for a great laugh.
Thanks Jane and Mike, you are so very right, we have had it so good for so long. A timely message about sharing what you have too, if you are able too. Cooking a meal for someone you know, buying a bag of shopping, popping a store voucher through the door, all ways we can help our fellow humans. When my kids were little, I came home to find a week's shopping on my doorstep. I never found out who left it... Little did they know we we had nothing in the bank, I was walking around with holes in my shoes and we nearly lost our home. I have never forgot that act of kindness.
I was desperately poor when I only had my son, someone left a bag of coal on my doorstep, I’ve never forgotten that warmth.
@@FrugalQueeninFrance yes, these acts of kindness mean so much when we are struggling. Thank you for the reminder to give
I cried reading your comment 😭 God bless the good hearted people, and bless everyone!
I grew up in the 60's and 70's so remember all those frugal years that we just thought were normal. Having retired in late 2019 nothing has been normal for quite some time and there's nothing like living on a limited income to bring back your frugal roots. As the stock market turned south earlier this year I started to tighten the budget and got rid of a lot of those repetitive monthly luxuries ( Netflix, Onstar, Amazon prime, XMradio) and hope they will help to save some money. I have always cooked for myself and rarely eat out so I can easily stretch a whole chicken for about 6 meals. Growing up I remember my Mom picking every last peice of meat off the bones and then making stock for soup. I always saw my Mom as frugal but now I have so much recall to help me through these horrid days of inflation. Thanks for all the great tips.
You’re welcome Nanci and thanks for watching
You sound just like me, retired early mid 2019 and our childhoods taught us how to make do. We had several meals this last weekend from a small chicken, including picking the meat off the bones for a curry, hot dinners with mash and veg and several sandwiches. We have lived through high interest rates and suffered low interest on savings while the younger generations have bought large houses on low interest mortgages. Will be interesting to see how they cope if the cost of living spirals upwards significantly.
Brought tears to my eyes, remembering nine little kids worried about where our next meal would come.
Lots of great tips in this video. I'm lucky enough to live in a mild climate, so I've stopped turning on the heating in the evenings. I wear layers and keep a blanket on my lap when I'm working, and then I do my exercise workout at night which warms me up plenty. Then it's a quick 60 second rinse off in the shower before bed and I sleep in a hoodie (like a jumper but with a hood) so no money spent on heating. I've also taught myself how to make bread and tortillas from scratch.
Great frugality there
My beloved Welsh Nian, who was born in 1900, always said I complained I had no shoes until I met a man with no feet. I’ve never forgotten it. Years later I found out it was a quote from Shakespeare and she left school aged 12 to work because she was the eldest child and needed to earn money for the family xx
She’s right, we should be grateful, compassionate and certainly not selfish
So well said...perspective. What is better than a cup of tea, a warm blanket and a good library book, with a hot stew in the crackpot? The simple things.
Absolutely right Léane.
I am 68 and you basically told the story of my life 🤣. The very hardest time for me was in the 80's when the mortgage interest rate went up to over 15% , it was traumatizing.
Hard hitting but sound advice Jane. Its tighten your belt time, the sooner the better. You do get into the swing of it very quickly. I am fortunate to have kept a lot of my frugal ways going to stretch my income but this is going to be the 1st time for many. Treat it as a challenge and keep your sense of humour.
Indeed, we’ll all find our priorities if that’s all we can afford
I was a child of the 70s too, we did have central heating and modest holidays but many of your memories sound so familiar. My mother was a good 'from scratch' baker and many of the things I make are her recipes. Gifts to children were reserved for Christmas and birthdays, how we enjoyed our paintboxes and puzzles, no electronic toys then. I agree we all need to re-examine wants versus needs. I liked that you included giving to others. Too many people in the UK are not far off destitution.
Awesome that you did. No one had any money where I lived. We were way better off than some families.
Jane and Mike thank you for that. very true that there is always someone else worse off. My dad was out of work for almost 6 yeas until 1974 we didnt have to sell the furniture but some neighbours had to and all the neighbours gave them pieces of furniture so they didnt go without. I remember" nothing" sandwiches there was no butter on them and no filling and we thought that was great as children. Yes I well remember shaving my legs in the bathroom sink lol and all the washing routines. someone gave us a bottle of shampoo in 1970 and we didnt know what to do with as we used soap for washing our hair. when washing in the bathroom in the winter you were fast doing as there was no central heating. My husband was also out of work for over 2 years and with everything I learned as a child was all there for us to cope with not a bother why? there was always others less well off and never grumble as there is always so much to be grateful for no matter what.
Well said, thanks for sharing
Some great points made. When people say they could give up their Netflix subscription to save a little money, consider those in the world that don't have electricity in the first place to power a TV to watch Netflix and have never even heard of it anyway! At 35 I am just as guilty of growing up in an age/generation of 'entitled mindset' and fully admit to 0 hardships in life. I have never had to go without food or a roof over my head. Lots to think about, thank you.
You’re welcome and many have never gone without anything at all
What a wonderful video Jane. I was a child of the 50’s and 60’s. My grandma lived with use and was the cook. My mum was also a great cook but she cooked for a living. They both were very frugal, gran knit for us all(I was the oldest of 5) mum was a sewer she made all our cloths, even our coats, trousers for the boys. It was luxury to get new underwear or shoes because they came from the shop. I married in 1970 and money was tight so I used tips from mum on stretching the money. By 1975 I was a young mum with a family to feed. My husband wanted a stay at home wife/ mother so I made keeping house and stretching the money my job. I am pleased to say apart from a mortgage we didn’t have debt, I scrimps and saved to buy things we needed. School uniforms were saved for throughout the year and handed down, even exchanged with friends who had children of different age to mine
I totally agree we have had a good life for the last few years but this has breed a couple of generations of people with an entitlement mentality. I feel sorry for these people as they really will struggle in these times of rampant inflation.
I am pleased I grew up in poorer times, it taught us to appreciate what we have. Once you have lived poor you can always go back to that. More should be taught about life skills. We were taught to sew, knit, cook at school. We had a school bank and we were taught to save. Yes we were poorer as children but we had a loving home were fed on good meals but we were taught life skills, we saw mum cooking from scratch hearty meals, dad growing veg for mum to cook.
Thank you Jane and Mike for reminding us all how lucky we are even in these time of rapid price rises. We are still much richer than all lot of people the world over.
We are lucky, we know what going without felt like
After reading all the other comment I think it would be a good idea to put your video on the bbc news to help everyone well done you
Another tip from someone in your age bracket. Turn off the oven 10 minutes before things are ready, the residual heat will finish cooking your food for free! Then, when you take the food out of the oven in winter, leave the oven door ajar to warm the room. Great video!! Love from Australia xxx p.s. also using cast iron pans. When you turn the stove off, they hold the heat for some time.
Great tip Lisa
You shouldn't leave the oven door open as you can poison yourself
@@fionauk4509 mine is electric!
In 35 and do this 😆🙈🙈🙈
Same applies for the stove top rings, ie Pasta etc, bring if to the boil, turn off and cover, veg etc...residual heat
Jane, you are a wonder! You are talking about circumstances and remedies that reflect all the ones that were/are in my own life! And I’m 80……….. I still get after my little/younger brother about his habit of turning on a minimum of 2 lights in a room and then leaving it shortly after - to actually leave the house! And he’s 78!!!!🙄🤭🙀🙁😳😳 My sisters and I have said for years that were "poor but didn’t know it". This subject is so important, so please address it frequently. Today’s youth look as though we are making these problems and solutions up! They think we should be immune to the fiscal difficulties that only happen to others. sigh….. Thank you again. Patricia from New Hampshire (US) 👵🏻 🤗 🥰
You’re welcome. We didn’t know we were poor, as a family I knew kids who were poor. Holes in their clothes and shoes, dirty and often poorly. We were always clean and well fed. As for now, if we focus on our needs, we’ll get through this.
I loved this video, I’m in my 60’s and you just described my past I remember my mother getting up at 6 o’clock to light the coal fire. We used to scrape the ice off the insides of the windows, I lived through everything you said we were very poor but happy. Now I live alone mortgage free and live a frugal life style. I have learned a lot of tips from you in all areas that you talk about. Thank you so much.
You’re welcome, if we have the lights on, food to eat, we can wash, we have a warm bed….we are rich indeed.
My mother is 96. She still collects knitted items, unravels them, and makes beautiful objects.
I am frogger too❣️
Great yarn source.
Both mending and knitting or crochet 🧶
Your mother is very resourceful
Impressive!
I do this also. I really dislike knitting with acrylics.
@@jennstovern5455 I only do it with good wools, cashmeres, mohair, alpacas and silk or interesting blends.
Special cottons
Or it must be a specific weight or color for a project…..
I also will felt them to utilize other ways than thread harvesting.
Thank you for being the only common sense voice I have heard so far on this topic.Fostering the gratitude habit is for me vital to wellbeing and to empathising and connecting with others connecting with
Thanks Una.
First time I watched you, I was making a banoffee pie myself whilst watching. Tomorrow my daughter and little granddaughter are having a treat! For the last two years I have been baking my own bread, kefir and cooking all meals from scratch with very little meat. I feel I have had excellent practice as I watched my mother carefully manage her household on coupons and limited resources directly after WW11. I make my granddaughter’s dresses and crochet her cardies and socks. I love doing it! I also grow vegetables and medicinal herbs in a very tiny garden. It just takes a bit of faith in yourself that you can do these things and pass on the skills to the next generation.
Thanks for sharing your family story
Jane, I have to say you are sooooo good in front of the camera, really natural and a joy to watch. Thank you!
Thanks for watching
Jane you are a powerful teacher wow very helpful
We are all so blessed and rich we are all spoiled as society and this is a wake up call for all.
You are amazing!
You’re right, we are spoiled, we’ve had it good and this is a shock.
Fabulous video and I will watch again. I’m the same age as you but I grew up in Australia. My parents were English and emigrated in the 50’s. Dad found work, bought a bush block of land in Sydney and built the house as he found work.. mum and dad never had any credit card. Dad called a credit card the “never, never”..
I know now things must have been tight but I never knew any hardship, mum always had a hot meal on the table.
I think things here must have been much better than the 70’s UK hardship sounded.
Dad would give mum an ‘allowance’ each week from his pay and mum made that work.
I know mum got a child allowance from the government.
My school uniforms were usually second hand but I preferred them as they weren’t scratchy.
But for me, summers were long and spent playing in the National park bushland opposite. Mum and I would walk in the bush and look for tadpoles in rock pools and I’d swing on the rope swing on the big gumtree. We had a cat who turned up one day and stayed.
I didn’t find out until years later that mum took a job in the school canteen making the sandwiches to pay for my braces. They never told me.
They are both gone now and I miss my parents. They left school, age 14 or so because of WW2 but they were both smart and made the best of things.
Thanks for sharing your lovely life
Keeping it real Jane. There's nothing like growing up in a household that's tight for money. It NEVER leaves you, but so handy in hard times..great job as always..
So true!
Wow!!! What a powerful video you and Mike have presented. Thank you for the time and effort that you have put into this. It was definitely a motivational reality check!
Thanks, no matter what we go through, there’s always someone worse off than us.
Hello Jane! I'm a new subscriber after being introduced to your RUclips channel on a Facebook page I follow. I'm totally loving your vids even though for most of my life I've followed many of your advice while living a frugal lifestyle. Your commonsense encouragment is so uplifting! You've awakened me to some things I need to re-incorporate as well as some new things to practice. I always lamented over spending hard earned money on convenience foods AND paying others to do tasks I should have been doing myself...2 of my biggest pet peeves! Recently I chose retirement as I realize my naturally frugal ways can carry me through and prevent those bad habits because I've now re-gifted myself the time I needed for them. I have a longtime personal motto
Empty Pockets, Happy Heart!
Thank you for sharing and caring!
Thanks so much for your feedback and sharing your journey
Thank you Jane, a voice of sense. I have very little spare money - I am trying to clear a hefty credit card debt whilst being on benefits. I cook from scratch almost everything. I am lucky that there is only me to think about except when my youngest daughter is home from Uni. I must be a similar age to you. My mum was remembering feeding the family on very little in the 70's and how she used to stretch everything. I just remember a happy childhood.
I don’t know how our parents did it, they must have been magicians
Wow! That is really hard work Laura- I have done this too. It can be done (after a divorce in my case) but it is hard work. My best tip for you is to be consistent. Best of luck.
I think this was perhaps one of your best videos! These were really good tips, and yes there is ALWAYS someone who is worse off. Thanks!
Thanks Gail. Even if we stripped our lives back to our needs only, we’d still be better off than millions of people
I find having to make sacrifices keeps me grounded and present. I like the feeling of creating something mindfully from very little... Usually the quality of homemade food is significantly higher than anything shop bought. And I appreciate it more.
Thanks for sharing
Wow, have you got a camera in our house...lol...everything you mentioned we do to save money..I made a left over soup this morning, cleaned out the fridge. Homemade bread tonight, soup. Dessert will be Homemade cake, jam and cream. Heats on low, sweater on, blanket on the sofa, shower only every 3 days, retired, not too dirty. I don't think people are ready for all the stuff they will need to do, too spoilt over the years, bankruptcies are going to increase. Excellent video, you read my mind.
Yep, I didn’t say people will have to make the best of it but people have had it easy.
Growing up we had one bathroom the whole family used. There was one brand of toothpaste, one brand deodorant, one brand soap and same for shampoo. These days I see young families where everyone has their own brand of everything so there are multiple items of the same thing in the household. It costs a lot of money to have separate items for every family member. Thanks for this super helpful video.
Good point Mary, we only had one toilet and bath, one tv and one fire.
Really good point !
I just do different shampoo as I colour my hair twice a year myself but when a shampoo didn’t work for me and was a large one to last a year I kept it and used it on my sons hair :) I buy one massive large bottle of shower gel for my son and I to use and that’s it ! I did buy him different shampoo as liked this life shampoo but was large bottle that last him 6 months but now I said myself I am going to use the shampoo that doesn’t work for me on his hair instead ! It costs a lot money is right ! I alway bulk buy in large sizes on sale once a year . Ever use deodorant . I do buy body cream for body and feet :)
Oh my , what a brilliant video. This should be a public service video! This really needs to be conveyed to a wider audience. I grew up in the 70s and relate to everything you've said and I believe I'm stronger for it. I've always been pretty frugal anyway but I've still gained so much from this. You and Mike should be proud of your channel, you will be helping so many
Thanks Lisa, people do know how well off they are.
Excellent, practical, frugal advice. Thank you for being honest. And some of this will be hard for some folks to even wrap their thoughts around! But it's all true if you want to make your dollars stretch. Thanks also for the list if budget friendly meals. I'm in the U.S. & there are lots of even basic items that are getting hard to come by at times. But yes, aren't we STILL blessed with so much! Wouldn't it be nice if this taught the younger folks how to be more frugal? A lot of them really don't know what doing without means- they haven't had to. Always love to see your quilts. So pretty. God bless.
Indeed, many people don’t know about going without
Love this video Jane! I also was a child of the 70’s, it was a great time to be a kid. My parents were frugal out of necessity but I learned so much from my parents and grandparents on how to be careful with your money, grow your own food and live within your means. My great grandfather came to Canada as a Barnardo boy at age 7 to work on a farm. His mother had to surrender him and his siblings to an orphanage after his father died as she couldn’t feed them. You are so right we have so much to be grateful for nowadays!
Thanks Leanne, we really don’t know what hardship is in these modern times.
Yes..very hard on those Barnardos children... we have no comprehension of hardship. I hope he did well for himself as he grew up, he certainly deserved it, best wishes from Ireland ( plenty of our children were exported also )
Great ideas and perspective. Can I add to unplug toasters, blenders, printers, lamps, phone chargers etc? It is so easy and mindless to leave everything plugged in. Plug them in when you are using them only. Same goes with gardening. Put food and flowers and herbs in pots and water them only. Water here is so expensive! And to your point if others having less…share what you have with others. I make two quiches and drop off one to a friend living on too little. Or a big batch of homemade oatmeal cookies and add some flower or veggies seeds. Hope is so important to our friends and family and everyone else. Food pantries are lifesavers for so many people here. Thank you for mentioning them as a reminder to all of us…
Hope is all some people have to sustain them
@@FrugalQueeninFrance so true Jane and critical during hard times. One added thought if I may, contribute pet food to food banks or to friends. I have two elderly friends who live alone with their cat. They struggle to make sure they can keep their companion kitty and they mean everything to them.
I remember 18-24% interest rates and my parents waiting in line to fill up the car. We ate head cheese, liver, heart, tongue, rabbit and cow's brains. We also the cheapest salad greens and generic everything.
I remember those interest rates too.
It’s not that long ago either, you ate all good food there
I also grew up in the 70's, here in Canada, but thanks to frugal parents I don't remember ever going without. There were 8 of us children and we always went on a summer holiday, usually camping or meeting up with our cousins in the States but we always had a great time. We didn't go to summer camps but we had music lessons, played school sports, swim lessons and we all owned bikes, usually a hand me down from an older sibling. We grew up on home cooked meals and treats (cookies etc) and homemade bread (the envy of all our friends). Christmas' and birthdays were celebrated but simple. We had a large garden and canned fruits and vegetables to use through the winter. My mother was a talented seamstress and knitter and made many of our clothes. I appreciate the lessons I learned from my parents.
More now than ever we need to look out for each other, help where we can. I believe in the power of a good attitude and an attitude of gratitude. Thank you for the straight talk. I think we have lived with abundance and an attitude of maybe entitlement for too long. As you say if you can have the basics life is good because there are many with much less.
Excellent content! Another factor is credit cards. As far as I know no one in my parents circle had a credit card.
No had them. I remember them coming out..,barclaycards
Another great video Jane and Mike. I think very much the same as you and reduce costs as much as possible. I was a 60's child who was raised in a coal fired house, which at that stage, had an outside toilet. We had no central heating but we was always warm in the main living room and wore layers in the cold weather. Think people were tougher in those days and yes, everyone I knew had little money and lived well within their means, often resorting to measures such as the wool unravelling you mentioned. As you also said, nobody ate out during those times and meals were made from scratch. I was lucky in that we had one holiday a year, but many didn't. With regards to now, I also spot wash clothes as you do and put the washer on, only when I have a full load. I do have a dishwasher but as I live alone now, I more often than not wash up in the bowl. During the summer months, I then use the water on the outdoor plants. I also use a combined shampoo and conditioner which works well for me and lasts ages, as I don't need to use that much of it each time. Less rinsing off. I am on a water meter and doing things like this makes such a difference. Thanks again to you both for another interesting and clearly explained video. 🤗
When I decide to make soup or stew, my husband helps by chopping veg, resulting in us enjoying cooking together. We cook with less meat substituting more lentils or beans and veg. We follow most tips you’ve shared here, a nice affirmation we’re doing our best to cut costs. Most important my spouse and I appreciate and help each other more. Don’t fight! We’re in this together ❤ 🇨🇦
That's wonderful
You've bought back such memories of a maths teacher I had in the 70s (her name was Mrs O'Carroll). She would share her wise experience, being close to her pension at the time. She would say our head was like a teapot, so cover it as you do to keep the tea warm with the tea cosy. Drink plenty of tea it'll warm even you toe nails, her piece de resistance was dress like an onion wear many layers. So funny for a teenager, but this wise lady knew it all from hard experience.
She was right, wear layers and keep warm
I was born in 1960, and remember everything you said. Waking up in the morning to ice on the inside of the windows. Freezing bathrooms. Clothes drying all around the fire, so the windows were covered in condensation. Always having to check there was hot water before you could have a ( shallow) bath. Sharing bathwater etc etc. Well done Jane. An excellent video. I do all your tips naturally: filling ovens, dishwashers etc. A big shock to my children's generation though, I think. Well done. You have stepped off the hamster wheel of full time paid work to buy things, which requires funding by more full time work...
Thanks for watching and commenting
You really seemed in your element when delivering this brilliant mid-week money chat. Lots of great tips, and especially useful perspective. Thank you.
This was great! In the 70’s I remember being in the car for hours waiting our turn for gas and praying they didn’t run out before our turn. I also want to remind people that soups stretch and will feed your family for a lot of meals.
Thanks for sharing
Jane, I love you and the lovely life you and Mike share with us all! Thank you very much for your honesty and insights... it made me think - we do have it much better than most of the world- even if things are tight... The water bills here in our tiny town on the NC coast just went up a lot... the minimum monthly charge is 130.00 a month (which I think is double the national average) but can run up to 40% higher if you go over!. To make sure we don't go over the minimum, we let the yellow mellow in toilets, (eeks but I keep the lid down!), installed a low flow shower head, keep a bucket in the tub to catch water while the water heats (which we then use to water plants, mop floors etc.,) for a "sea" shower, even then some days I take a '"sponge bath" , we have a dish pan in kitchen sink in which a small amount of soapy water goes so that we can rinse before we put into dishwasher. We wash linens and dirty clothes once a week. Years ago, before the automatic washing machine was invented, my mother used to change bedsheets (top and bottom were flat) every other week without laundering by putting the top on the bottom and flipping upside down and head to foot to save laundry! Have you mentioned making a MONTHLY menu plan with repeats for the month? It takes some serious planning but it save substantial money for sure. I do one big shopping trip at the beginning of the month and then some fill-ins when we need them. We intermittent fast from dinner time to lunch the next day. We eat a lot of vegetarian meals which saves a lot- love Mexican dishes as they have a lot of flavor and are very filling. Again, thank you for your inspiration!
Thanks for sharing your water story
I agree with you wholeheartedly, Jane, and wish more people would talk about this subject like you are - going DEEP into frugal living. There is so much superficial advice out there. I think you're wonderful for putting yourself out in the world! Bravo!!!!
Agree about superficial advise. I find most U.S. advisors on frugality haven't experienced what you have. Your perspective and advice brings me back to my roots. Now, I realize I am well off compared to my childhood conditions.
Amazing video -------so well presented, so much wisdom and so so true. I belong to the 60s and all you said resonated with me. I congratulate you Jane. Im a dedicated follower of your channel. Thank you from Eileen ,west of Ireland
You’re welcome Eileen. We have to give up luxuries, focus on our needs, eat well and stay warm. What else do we need?
If I could give you 10 thumbs up 👍 I would. This video is so needed for many people. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks very much for watching and commenting
I'm in complete agreement with all of the comments here, Jane.....I think this is one of your best videos ever. Lovingly straightforward and strengthing! Thank you not only for your wise and balanced perspective, but for these practical tips as well. I also love reading the comments....such wonderful insights!
You’re welcome. I haven’t heard much perspective just every man for himself and fill your pantry
You're perspective is so encouraging. We ARE blessed, and I hope that I can keep my eyes open to those who do need help.
Thank you
I had hubby watch your video too. The look on his face afterwards was that of stress. I asked him why he felt that way. He said we work so hard. It’s interesting that I don’t look at it as a negative being conservative of water, gas, electric. I look at it as a positive challenge to myself. How much less can I use in order to not just give our hard earned money away to these companies. It’s all about how you look at the big picture. Our bath night was on Saturday night with my sister. Then having curlers put in our hair so we were clean and curly for church on Sunday. 1965 girl here🙂 We grew up when life was simple
Best video Jane and Michael!!
Thanks for sharing
My Parents Always learned us to help other people who we're in Need .
And I'm very thankfull for that one.❤️
It’s vital right now, I haven’t heard that message on some videos, we need to give now more than ever
@@FrugalQueeninFrance It is really sad ,That there are people who have nothing to eat.And That in our luxury world here.
Thank you for sharing---it's nice to know I am not the only one who does these. Support is so important.
It is Katherine
We're experiencing now in Australia. This is a great video. Telling it like it is.
Such a great video! This so needs to be heard by so many people! Thank you!!!
Such a reality check. Thank you Jane, for your down-to-earth take. How we’ve changed over time! I am also in my fifties and remember well how we did things back then, and we were fine! So we can be fine now too. Maybe this so-called crisis may do us all a bit of good, realizing what is necessary to live a satisfying life, and what is not.
Personally, it’ll feel like a crisis to some people but it isn’t actually a crisis, it’s a pain in the neck.
I recently started watching and am catching up on all your videos. Thank you for all the useful information and for your happy, upbeat attitude. I wish you were my neighbour!
Wow, and I thought $3.20 was high for a gallon of gas. A lot of great ideas! Thanks
My Swiss father who passed away at age 87 never heated his home above 50°. He said it was 0° outside 50 as a heat wave. He would also throw coffee grounds into boiling water on the woodstove, cover, then use a sieve
Into a coffee cup so he wouldn’t have to buy coffee filters. I learned a lot from that wonderful man
Great video... we had it hard in the 60's and 70's too, my mother taught me a great deal of things to do to save money etc. then as I became an adult, then married, things were'nt quite so hard. As time went on and into the noughties we had a whale of a time, plenty of money and were able to spoil ourselves with luxuries. But, still my husband and I lived the same way as we always had. We spent our money on things we had always wanted, like my 1st brand new, top of the range sewing embroidery machine and loads of threads and everything i would ever need. My husband was the same, woodworking tools and equipment that he wanted. Life was good.. Now we enjoy looking at the fruits of our big spend and using our things to earn the extra cash which these harder times are bringing. Thanking my early experiences, for giving me forethought and teaching me how to value hard times lessons........sadly, I fear children of the nineties and noughties are going to have a difficult time. Sorry about the essay!!!! x
They are going to have a very rude awakening
Excellent video, everyone should listen to it, and reflect ! Thank you!👏👏
Very well said Jane! Congratulations, we need to go back to basics. Plain and simple.
Thank you, Jane for a great video. You are so right! We are so blessed, so much more than other countries in the world. I’ve said for years that everyone should do a mission trip somewhere so we realize how blessed we are and how thankful we should be. I am so thankful for all that I have and I enjoy your channel so much to remind me to be thankful and frugal. Hugs and happy thoughts.
Thanks for watching Wendy
I spent sometime working in a refugee camp in a war zone and it certainly calibrates the mind as to what *real* poverty is. Most in the West are very well off by comparison and many of those who consider themselves poor are architects are their own circumstances.
Amazing video. Difficult conversation. Every topic was spot on. Reminding everyone that there are so many that have nothing. And to be generous. Fabulous Jane and Michael ❤️
Thanks Jeanne
Completely agree 👍
I recognize so many of the things you have talked about in this video Jane. No central heating, coal fire in the living room and that was it. So many experiences that help me to appreciate what we have now. Thank you. 🙂
I enjoyed my family all being in one room as a child and with my children
I appreciate this courageous conversation. Excellent points of reflection. Thank you!
Brilliant video Jane and Mike! Thank you so much, your advice and straight talk is timely and needed.
Thanks for watching and commenting
Excellent Jane and Mike . Thanks so much for being real and honest .Not easy ! A sincere and informative communication 👍🌷xxx
You’re welcome, it’s not easy to say to people you have to give up luxuries and focus on needs
@@FrugalQueeninFrance No ,v difficult . I loved the way you explained we have had it easy and also how it was in 70s . Really good to balance the situation . Very tricky to present this subject but you did it so well 👏💐. So good to encourage giving too ... thank you xxx
Fantastic job. Well done both of you ❤️
Wow! I love you so much Jane. I can totally relate to your up bringing, i was raised in the 70s/80s. I never had the latest fashion, we ate when we were hungry and we only heated one room at a time. If we left the heater on in our bedrooms, boy we were in trouble. We were told to turn the light off when we left a room and I am teaching my son the same things. We haven't had central heating for 4 years and people can't understand how we exist. I can't afford to get it repaired, so we live like I used to as a child. A plug in heater for the living room, a cold bathroom and bedrooms, a blanket on top of the duvet and lots of duvet days infront of the telly. We love it. I plan our menu and did only shop for what we need, but am now starting to gradually stock up to save money in the future. I need my car to work (i'm a gardener), but we try and walk everywhere. I think that these times will be hard for a lot of people, but I think they'll come out of it fitter, healthier and wiser. I'm going to watch your next video now, can't wait.
You’re welcome and thanks for your kind comments, I wish you well
I enjoyed this video so much. Many seem to be so focused on the negative but you addressed the issue in such a positive way. It's time to roll up our sleeves and get to work making the best with what we have.
Thanks very much. If we can pay our bills, eat, keep the lights on wash and stay warm….we’re doing alright
Jane has the attitude the Brits had during the war. ❤
Thank you so much 💗 I am from the US you are so right. I lived in the 70' s I have been living this way of life for years. I lost my husband when my children were young. Never remarried. My children are still with me they have good paying jobs. 30,000.00 a year. They can not afford to move because of rising cost of rent,insurance. We all do our part. They both pay me rent and we all contribute to food cost. Loved your video. Thank you again very comforting.
Thanks for watching and your lovely story about your family
Back to basics
Simplifying your life
Needs Vs wants
Great vlog Jane and Michael x
Thanks Brenda
Only one word …. BRILLIANT … from a 71 yr old whose seen and lived through many crisis’. 👏👏👏👏
Cheers Diana
Jane you are a very wise woman . I truly enjoyed this video. You brought back so many memories...you made me laugh when you said you washed your hair and shaved yourte legs in the bathroom sink ( basin ? ) when I was a child and a teenager we had no bathroom . My mum taught me how to wash from head to toe with a big pan of hot water . I still do it once every 2 days . The second day being a less than 5 min shower .About heating when I was alone in the house I decided to go for 15 degrees ( centigrades ) which is rather low . But I remembered when I was a kid with no central heating . Only the kitchen heated with a stove like yours . Doing my homework in my never heated bedroom and we were never ill . And I was amazed that after lowering the temperature in the house I never got ill ...and I’m old ...
My house has a heated main room but the rest is warmed by rising air, too much heat isn’t good for us
@@FrugalQueeninFrance I agree . Very warm rooms are how we get ill or unhealthy . I think that people should experiment with lower temperatures inside their house
Wise words to live by. I love the quilts❤
Thank you Jane and Mike,Love your videos.
Fantastic video this week! Down to earth and delivered with kindness
Thanks so much for watching and your lovely comment
I think this is my favorite videos of yours. Because I can relate in every area. I love being reminded and adopting the way we used to do things. We are spoiled. I love the challenge.
We’ve had it good for a long time
This is a very thought provoking video and really has made me think exactly how lucky myself and my family have been. Thank you so much for giving me a very good kick up the bum. I make most of my meals from scratch but I am guilty of throwing leftovers away - I made a Thai curry tonight and while I was listening to you I was preparing to wash up and I very nearly threw the leftover curry in the food waste bin - instead I equalled out 2 portions into containers to freeze. Now I am actually looking forward to me and hubby having a lovely massamam curry during the week. Thank you 🙏
Great vlog Jane with some excellent suggestions as well as food for thought. I realised that I've been guilty of washing off something under the hot tap and boiling too much water in the kettle so those bad habits are stopping right now.
Could I suggest a future vlog about how to keep ourselves and our families entertained for little or zero cost during these tough times? I have recently rediscovered my local library and can even download audiobooks for absolutely free to my phone without even leaving my house! As the weather improves, a good walk carrying a backpack with a flask of tea and some homemade flapjack is a good outing - it's surprising just how far you can actually get without using a car at all - toilet facilities can be found behind a convenient tree or hedge! Humans are social creatures so it's important to see our friends and family (wretched virus permitting!) so instead of heading out to a restaurant or cooking vast quantities of food for everyone, why not organise a 'pot luck' lunch or supper where everyone contributes a dish or if the weather is nice, do the same with tea in the garden: getting out the posh china and tablecloths you already have costs nothing and makes it seem something special. I'm sure you've got even more ideas Jane but I just thought it might be offering something positive to people who are generally feeling quite fearful and anxious at the moment.
We do all this and share our free days out
Well done Jane and Mike! Of course, heating/cooling costs would be much lower, if non-existent, if our houses were built to efficient energy standards. We have known about the importance of energy efficiency for a long time now but on the whole have chosen homes based on their appearance and status symbol value.
Thanks for sharing
Thank you for the amazing reminder of all the good we have! Great message! ❤️
Thanks very much for watching
Another timely video and full of wisdom and truth, the world is always changing and we just need to adjust it can be done! Thanks so much!
This is a really wonderful video Jane I am going to post this on my FB and suggest people watch it especially my daughter and grandchildren who are very wasteful, things are going to change
Thanks Pam.
Thanks Jane and Mike, this is the best of your videos! The painting of your house at the end is so beautiful. I grew up in 60s, most people live frugally whether richer or poorer. We have been spoiled by the good times.
Just as I said, we’ve had it good.
Hi Jane, WOW! Brilliant video, professionally narrated and great tips. You are right in everything you have said Jane. I remember how cold our house was when I was little. Ice on the inside of the windows, hot water bottle for bed, just like you said. I realise I have been guilty of the water wasting, didn’t even realise till you said. Have shared your video on Facebook, hopefully it might bring a few more people, everyone can benefit from your channel. A huge thank you Jane. Xxx
Thanks Mo, we might have to give up luxuries but as long as we eat, stay warm, clean and safe we are rich indeed
Perfect video to bring us back to reality and get perspective . Inflation sucks but it’s not the end of the world. I’m actually making it into a game to save the most I can. I am grateful for what I do have. And I feel lucky that we are not struggling right now.
This was the best viedo of all,it was like my mother would talk to me trying to learn me to live my life well.Thank you very much
Thanks for the video Jane it really was an important message and you delivered it beautifully. We do follow through on one of your suggestions in particular. There’s no heat in two of our rooms and we tend not to use them and if we do we have small what we call space heaters in them. Also instead of turning the heat up in the whole house for getting ready in the morning, we have a small bathroom heater that heats up that space for just the amount of time that we use it and then gets turned off. Good luck to everyone and thanks for reminding us to contribute to the food banks.
Thanks very much and if we don’t use every room, they don’t need heating
I have just undone a cardigan to make myself another jumper and I have to do all my cooking don't eat out at all.
I always enjoy your videos Jane. This one is a cut above. It is wise, it is fair, and it very thought provoking. I’ll be watching it more than once for sure. Thank you.
Thanks very much
I was also raised the way you were. You are right. We are incredibly blessed. I am just working on going back to my roots. Thank you for the encouragement
Thanks for watching