Number 4 was my biggest lesson. It’s not about how much money you make but how much you keep. I once was at a point where I was thinking if I could find a way to make $100 dollars more each week I would be okay. Then, I made a budget and realized all I had to do was spend $100 less per week and guess what? The results were the same. I was and am okay.
Even so theses finance people tend to save hundreds if not thousands per month so an extra 100$ might not make as big of a difference as some think....
Still in my first house, paid it off by putting every spare cent and payrise towards it, then focused on savings. Retired at 59. Living frugally but it is much better than a 9-5 grind
I save $725/month for home maintenance so I am prepared for anything. I get a new roof covered in two years, a new HVAC in just three. Right now I am saving for a new bathroom. I'll get to have that in about 3 1/2 to 4 years. 😊 I hope you are saving $700+/month to maintain your home-if not, START NOW.
I had a high-pressure Home Warrantee salesman call me. I told him no thank you, I pay cash. "But mom, imagine this. If your furnace dies you are stuck with a $20,000 fix-how are you-" I interrupted. "I can buy myself a new HVAC in three years, a new roof in two. So, NO sir-Home Warrantees are a rip off." 😂 For $725/month, you are prepared for home emergencies and maintenance.
Exactly, the 4 main items vs a cup of coffee: my wife and I as soon as we could we moved to a smaller house and no more mortage, yes we changed one of the two cars but for an hybrid, not a more expensive, and sood my motorcycle, installed solar panels, got rid of gas utility, and moved out of a gated community, no lore monthly fee. So yes, less housing, less gas transportation, less utilities.
@@ElAgustin Brother I am 69 years old and pretty successful, financially in good shape, with terrific kids, but I wish I has your wisdom now at this age. Keep it up, you will do great‼️ I learn something valuable with each video👊.
Health insurance, and even though I have chosen carefully it is still extremely expensive in Brazil. I loved this video so much!!! I used to be a teacher ( now I am a translator ) and I remember teaching furniture and appliances to my students. I started describing my bedroom and they were shocked to find out I didn' t have a TV in my bedroom. I told them I didn t need a TV in my bedroom because there das one in the living room. They told me that in their houses there was a TV in each room !!! I explained that I prefer to keep my money at the bank, working for me. They have almost fainted when they found I didn't have cable tv either.
Yes, lifestyle inflation is real, but US inflation is really causing me problems. I got a 3% raise last year and just got a 17% increase in rent. I have to move. That's a big deal. Worrying won't help but this situation is causing me much financial and other pain. I now have to live in a place I don't like. I also can't save for retirement like I feel like I need to. People can get really stuck and it's really hard to "frugal" ourselves out of bad circumstances.
So much wisdom in 13 minutes. I always think twice about spending 1 euro. And when I do, I always think of what you said once: ,,It is not about one 1000 dollar decision it is about 1000 one dollar decisions." That really stuck with me. And I always go slow with upgrading things. Nr.6 is so true. Greetings from Bratislava, Slovakia.
I have lived well below my income for years and years but all of a sudden in the past year the economic shock has caused my business' revenue to drop 50% that coupled with insane cost of living increases and massive mortgage hikes I am in a very bad place financially all come out of nowhere. I'm trying to sell my house but it's been on the market for 6 months now I am literally trapped in this situation out of nowhere, you sometimes just can't plan for these things.
Continuing this encouragement for people to save and become more frugal might get you on a list. Bankers and those pushing for everyone to spend more are cringing at your awesome presentations.
Lifestyle inflation is not a new topic, but the way you lay it out just crystallizes it for me. It reinforces the mantra that I adopted from you. "Be happy with enough."
I agree with what you're saying but these days the $$ is disappearing rapidly with inflation. I left NYC because of the cost of living (rent). I moved to a city that was very affordable but the last couple years with the rapid rise in the cost of housing has put everything out of whack again.. I live very modestly in a studio with no amenities in a not so great neighborhood. I drive a 20 year old car. I don't buy "stuff." My cost of rent has gone up 60% in the last 5 years. Add that to the rising cost of everything else, I'm struggling again. Savings have dwindled. I'm currently researching other cities with a lower cost of housing where jobs pay enough to make it... The cost of housing, food and gas is out of my control. I'm close to retirement age and while I could work 2-3 jobs when I was younger, that's no longer an option. I might as well focus on getting a van and convert it to live in to eliminate rent completely. It may be my only option at this point.
@@ezr168 Very true. Some were forced with no other option and many are choosing to live in their vehicles (cars, vans, RVs). I just want to live as simply as possibly and enjoy my older years. I've met quite a few people over the last few years that are traveling in their vehicles (and have looked inside to see their builds). I did seasonal work for a couple years that had inexpensive housing included. While I didn't have all my belongings, I had everything I "needed."
Hi Linda, I wish you all the best, the struggle is real. Hope you will find a new way to live modest but that does meet your basic needs! Good luck to you from the Netherlands
We both drive used cars. We are practicing minimalism. So our savings is increasing like crazy. We have numerous little accounts in Yotta. We refuse to use our credit cards if we don't have the money to pay for it. Dave Ramsey taught us a lot.
@@danicegewiss862 If you make more than you spend it might not matter whose advice you follow..... Now if your making less than you spend and still saving money I am all about hearing who you copy or follow!!!
It is just mindblowing the amount of insights you share in most of your videos. It should be introduced to everyone. Absolutely essential information for people who want to leave behind the unnecessary chaos of modern life today, what we are doing to ourselves. So much precious wisdom. I like slow, minimalism, and intentional living, instead of a mindless consumer mentality. You are a great great friend of ours creating value for people! You do not really talk about saving, and making money, it is much more about how to be a better human being!
I have 4 boxes of books to go to the library. I have been thinning out my wardrobe for weeks. I had over 20 winter coats. I hadn't realized I had so many until I began weeding. I don't believe I'll miss them. Yes, minimalism is a totally different mindset.
This whole video is 100% true. It's not easy, but it's important to keep an eye on expenses to prevent lifestyle inflation. I go once a year to the cable company with my father and we ask for whatever the latest promotions are. It tends to keep our cable bill about the same or a little bit less every year. I'm also looking to change my cellphone carrier due to my coverage quality getting worse and the bill keeps going up every year as well.
You should check out mint mobile, they're great. I've been using them for over 5 years with zero issues. I'm on the cheapest plan that has unlimited talk/text and 4 g of data a month, which I never use all of it due to wifi being everywhere and it's $15 a month. Their most expensive plan is $30 for unlimited everything. Check them out!
Spot on with food. I love cooking at home once you learn it's pretty easy and you don't get as much seed oil, preservatives and other artificial chemicals in the food. An additional saving tip on food is work out how much you eat and what you will do with any left overs. Throwing food away is a big no no for me. If I wanted to I could eat out every day however like you say I intentionally choose not to. Yes I shop for specials and if something goes way up in price due to say a random weather event I just don't buy it for a period of time. Bananas went to over $16 a kilo a few years ago guess what I didn't eat bananas for a few months just switch it to something else.
Thanks Austin Williams for another fantastic commonsense keeping it real video. I remember when i was younger and due to my schizophrenia i was unable to work at the time being able to save only five dollars every week which disappeared like running water in my hands on junk food. Than i read about tabletop wargaming finding myself really attracted to the whole concept. Next thing i know am saving that five dollars a week and in three months time am buying my first table top war game at the famous FAO & SHWARTZ toy shop thinking how funny it was to be in the midst of all these well to do people. Next thing i know am discovering about other war games that are even more detailed and at a lower price which am easily able to afford by just saving five dollars a week. Its as if a door had opened where things were coming my way at a cheaper price and i eventually was put on disability which after only five dollars in my pocket was like hitting the jackpot even though people are always looking at it as limited income but thanks to the valuable lesson i learned on budgeting on much less i feel very comfortable and have not forgotten the value of five or less dollars. I avoid doomsday economic prophecies. It feels like the lottery or the rantings of some religious cult. I just live my life and keep enough of an eye on things so am not bothered when i see things that actually effect me like rising food prices taking places which for me is more a cycle of life thing where just like my parents and grand parents saw the price of things go up now we are seeing the same thing occuring. I can still remember when a chocolate candy bar was only twenty five cents ha ha. This also helps me appreciate when prices have stayed the same for decades instead of getting higher like video games which have only recently started going up in price. And thanks for the very much appreciated text box full of everything that your video is about. I always copy and paste it to a text file to read when i need some positive influence alongside many other things people have posted on the internet. Have a wonderful day good guy ☕
High fuel cost is driving inflation up. The cost of transporting products is more expensive and that is passed down to the consumer. Fuel cost won't change until a different regime is in DC.
Please show your grocery shopping haul for the week. I spend so much on groceries. I’d love to see how much you spend and what you get for a week. Thank you!!
Yes, same here .. inflation has Not affected me either. And I'm living under $500 a month (actually way less) w/no struggle bc i don't need much. .. i have Not had a problem down-szing, bc all i saw was space Not being utilized & things that were No longer 'Relevant' to my life. .. I'm also Not a 2nd hand shopper, bc i like things New & in pristine condition. But again, i keep what is my favorites, esthetically pleasing, & is Relevant.
No pressure or nothing :), but I can’t wait until you are still making videos with a family, kids and all that entails. I seriously think you may be one of the only financial minimalist guys who could actually successfully make this transition.
I’ve been thinking the very same thing! I’m so looking forward to Austin’s future videos once he’s had his family. I think he will do a good job but it’ll be tough!
I went from a high end house let’s call BOA to a much smaller house. Best decision I ever made! Now I pay ME what I used to pay the interest payment on the BOA! It’s righteous!
Yea, Geico tried that with me too! I’ve never had a claim in my life but they were increasing my insurance from $126/mo to $156/mo with no additional coverage. Left them immediately and went to Progressive for way less. I’m tired of these companies being greedy
Ooh, haven’t heard that name in such a long time. I was just thinking about the name Denise the other day and how I never hear it anymore. Ok, random, but I hope you enjoy the name compliment :). I grew up with a few, and they were all beautiful souls.
@@CAGChannel1 I really love and appreciate that compliment! You just made my day 😁I’m glad you had such positive experiences with the Denise’s of the world 💛
It was a very good feeling when they asked why I was leaving and I said, "You increased my rates without any changes to my history and I found the exact same policy through another company."
@@ElAgustin That was my exact response! Not to mention, my car is a 2012 and it’s been paid off since 2016 so I already had minimal coverage. Just ridiculous.
People that keep a budget don't have a problem with inflation. I looked at my bills and took out all the stuff I wasn't using. I have a old car and I have low rent, now I'm good. I love this video, I agree with your message!
im not against owning a car, whether we consider it luxury or necessity, but where i live for example, the traffic is insane at rush hours, what do i gain by driving 10km/h?
Today,, after watching your videos past few days,,,, well ,, I like candles,,, try to buy them at thrift stores,,, at grocery store today,, there they are ( full price ),,, I almost caved !! Immediately thought of you..... Is this a want / need.....and I left them behind ....... Thanks !! You Rock !!!!!!!
This is so true, I’ve been there myself at learnt the hard way, thankfully live a much more frugal life now. The amount of people struggling at the moment due to over extending themselves when times were less expensive is shocking.
I love this! Just shared it with my sister who has been trying to get better at this but it really takes a while for the mindset shift to happen. It’s almost like you have to really feel and see the progress and positive changes long enough before you are motivated to make even more changes. Thanks for all the tips and reminders. Very valuable. 😊
Nr 6 is so true and difficult. Once you have had very good nice bread for example or excellent tea or coffee you don't want to go back to the cheapest supermarket versions. I find these developments almost irreversibele, especially with food. Not all expensive food is better than cheap food but some definitely is.
Great Advice Here. Also, I would add that I studied Inflation and especially Countries with Hyperinflation. In each case, when it would cost a wheelbarrow full of their cash for a loaf of bread, real money (silver & gold) held it's value. In Venezuela, an ounce of silver would keep a family of 4 fed & housed for 6 months. An easy way to sleep better at night is to purchase an ounce of silver a month for only $30. For the cost of 2 pizzas, you can feel safe in sketchy financial times. Keep Up The Great Work! : )
Nah. I will not get a "big raise". I would call myself lucky if I get a job at all. My problem is actual inflation. Rent/gas/electra/water/health care/groceries/college tuition/books all skyrocketed. After the pandemic, things where supossed to go back to normal. We did not. They made it worse. I even had more money during the pandamic, sometimes I wish it stayed. People and college was much more understanding and accomodading. My future was destroyed in the process. No talk about the other inflation is going to fix the issues of pay not increasing and not being able to afford to have a house and have kids...
This is a fantastic video, Austin! So many great quotes here! I'm sharing this with friends who need to hear it! You're really hitting your stride here. Great content again!
Not a single channel discuss about this "Lifestyle Inflation" and ever since I followed your frugality tips. inflation had never affected me at all! gracias Austin ☺
Money and time.. you never know how much time you have but you always know how much money you have. Make sure you have good health insurance! If you don't the older you get can eat up your savings!💰❤
Health insurance does not guarantee good health. Breathing clean air and drinking clean water and eating nutritious food is a good investment. Even then longevity is uncertain, live while you can, enjoy
@@ezr168 insurance..! You can eat clean and healthy and do everything that is right and then you come down with cancer or get hit by a bus! Then all your savings is gone!
I became disabled as a teen, so I'm a budget guru! 😂 It's wants versus NEEDS. I save over $200/month not having WiFi and TV. I consider those "luxury". I do not vacation. That is a luxury. I do not eat out. That is fattening a luxury. 😂 I don't drive new cars. That is a luxury. By doing this, I am able to SAVE the REQUIRED $725/month to maintain my home. I don't have to worry if my HVAC dies-I can cover that in 3 years. I can have a new roof in just TWO YEARS of saving. Do I want WiFi, or do I want to keep my home-right? My home is 624 square feet-all I NEED, right?
Hey Austin how do I decide if I should keep my old car or if I should save aggressively for a newer one? Current driving a 2007 pontiac G6 and it’s needing repairs every 3-6 months costing $1500-$2000 a year to repair it. I’m really tired of putting money into this car. Though all the cars I’m seeing that I want are $15K+. Is it worth it to pause investing for a year to save up? Or do I just keep sinking money into this older car?
Where du I find value? That is a great question! I love to mend my clothing, grow vegetables and go for a walk. So much better than cruising around with a fast car and trying to look cool. 🤣
Just don’t buy them. Buy food, and necessities like TP only. 😊 I don’t buy stuff much anymore. Consider saving and investing as a bill, pretty much like a utility bill. Pay yourself first.
Inflation and money varies with the individual. If you have a young family, and need to buy food, it is going to affect you. But if you are retiree who owns a modest home, the effects will be much more minimum. Minimalism might help, but it depends on circumstances
Retirees trying to live off anything to do with the stock market are struggling mightily. I just had a target delivery ( had coupon for free delivery, so I decided to try it), and the woman was 76 years old trying to make an extra buck after having her retirement plans through her 401(k) go waaaaay south. I felt so much for this woman, and I’m glad I was in the driveway when she came, and she talked to me. What she had to say was alarming.
@@pensacola321 jeez, please tell, what would you have told a 30 year old, now 72, to have allocated? Also pension plans - noooooo choice. Often early 401ks offered very little choices also. I feel so deeply for retirees right now, yikes!! You could have done the 60/40 split, expecting the four percent rule to have applied at retirement and boooooooom, anddddd…….it’s gone ( in the famous words of the South Park banker) And the FED DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY says that inflation has nothing to do with its insidious campaign to crash the market, nope! Hugs to all retirees!!
Austin, I love your mindset. It's where I want to get to and remain for the rest of my life. I have a question; how do you deal with jealous of others who have more and get to experience more life experiences than you, more luxuries, more conveniences - the finer things in life. Do you care?
$35,000 in Alabama isn't comfortable, unless you're getting welfare checks and handouts from Governor Meemaw. We do have lower cost of living though. Unfortunately, inflation has hit all of our wallets in general, especially internet shopping. That's why I don't anymore if I can help it. And half my paycheck goes into savings.
I forgot to add that we do go hiking a lot in Alabama with our balmy weather and refresh at our many craft beer breweries. Cheers! (I guess Bama and Colorado have a lot in common)
What you don't understand is that you're a young single man without family obligations etc. Rents are going up drastically everywhere. People are being forced to find cheaper housing - when their lease is up, they're being charged several hundred $$$ more per month for the same modest apartments. Inflation is a real thing. You're too young to have experienced the major Inflation of the 1970s. I was in my 20s then, in Manhattan. My husband and I lived very frugally in a very small but nice Brownstone apartment. We were Sfudents. Saving was not only impossible - it wouldn't have mattered because Savings put in a Bank actually LOST value quickly - and the Dollar never recovered. I have always lived very simply and cheaply - but one must also ENJOY LIFE as you live it. I'm 75 and alone now and living entirely on Social Security. I'm disabled. I can't afford a car - I'm not in NYC now so it's hard tonget around without a car. I spend money going to Café for a while most days - otherwise I wouldn't see people at all, and I need the exercise, walking to and from the bus. Rent alone for a modest Apartment is half my income. Plus Electric. Plus Medicare costs. Etc. I just moved to this City a couple of months ago - with no furniture sonim furnishing from scratch, via Craigslist and FB Marketplace. There's nothing to save. And I don't care because I have ZERO confidence in the stability of the US Dollar.
With rents exponentially high these days and npt appearing to go down anytime soon, good luck finding a low rent. Ask the retirees in Florida all about it..They will tell yoy their 600 a month rent went up to $2000 overnight and now they can find npwhere else to live when they make $1100 on social security. Understand that although your ideas are sound for the most part there are many who simply cant apply them because they already use them and they are not enough in todays shit society. Nobody should be homeless but there are more and more people everyday who are because low rent is no longer available.
During the recession of 2008, my neighbors were losing their homes, cars, boats, etc. Because they owed on everything!!. So grateful I had an emergency fund of $10K which kept me from foreclosing. ❤
What's one thing that's inflating your life?
My puppy definitely not the best financial move..
Buying stuff you don’t need….I no longer do this…👍🏽
Eating out, although we're trying to reduce.
Nothing I'm doing. I'm going backwards financially despite my best efforts.
@@AlexandraAnnette They are angels on earth, and repay us 100 times over…🐶💞🐶
"How you prepare when times are good, is what determines how you will live when times are bad" right on
Number 4 was my biggest lesson. It’s not about how much money you make but how much you keep. I once was at a point where I was thinking if I could find a way to make $100 dollars more each week I would be okay. Then, I made a budget and realized all I had to do was spend $100 less per week and guess what? The results were the same. I was and am okay.
Right! And you don’t have to pay taxes.
That’s great for most folks, plenty still are living on the edge so there is no ‘extra’… that’s who we need to give actual solutions to
Even so theses finance people tend to save hundreds if not thousands per month so an extra 100$ might not make as big of a difference as some think....
yep i'm working on this one
Still in my first house, paid it off by putting every spare cent and payrise towards it, then focused on savings. Retired at 59. Living frugally but it is much better than a 9-5 grind
I save $725/month for home maintenance so I am prepared for anything. I get a new roof covered in two years, a new HVAC in just three. Right now I am saving for a new bathroom. I'll get to have that in about 3 1/2 to 4 years. 😊 I hope you are saving $700+/month to maintain your home-if not, START NOW.
Paying double for groceries really sucks. Even living below your means you still feel the burn.
Being frugal with money is like having a true friend, Mr. Austin Williams: it's there when needed.
I had a high-pressure Home Warrantee salesman call me. I told him no thank you, I pay cash. "But mom, imagine this. If your furnace dies you are stuck with a $20,000 fix-how are you-" I interrupted. "I can buy myself a new HVAC in three years, a new roof in two. So, NO sir-Home Warrantees are a rip off." 😂 For $725/month, you are prepared for home emergencies and maintenance.
Exactly, the 4 main items vs a cup of coffee: my wife and I as soon as we could we moved to a smaller house and no more mortage, yes we changed one of the two cars but for an hybrid, not a more expensive, and sood my motorcycle, installed solar panels, got rid of gas utility, and moved out of a gated community, no lore monthly fee. So yes, less housing, less gas transportation, less utilities.
I felt like screaming AMEN BROTHER after THIS!!!!! This is a WORD!!
“How you prepare when times are good will determine how you will live when times are bad.” Brilliant. May I use that?😁
Of course!
@@ElAgustin Brother I am 69 years old and pretty successful, financially in good shape, with terrific kids, but I wish I has your wisdom now at this age. Keep it up, you will do great‼️ I learn something valuable with each video👊.
Health insurance, and even though I have chosen carefully it is still extremely expensive in Brazil.
I loved this video so much!!! I used to be a teacher ( now I am a translator ) and I remember teaching furniture and appliances to my students. I started describing my bedroom and they were shocked to find out I didn' t have a TV in my bedroom. I told them I didn t need a TV in my bedroom because there das one in the living room. They told me that in their houses there was a TV in each room !!! I explained that I prefer to keep my money at the bank, working for me. They have almost fainted when they found I didn't have cable tv either.
We don't have 4k TV. We still use HD TV that works.
Tell them you don't have a cell phone they may fired you 😅
Yes, lifestyle inflation is real, but US inflation is really causing me problems. I got a 3% raise last year and just got a 17% increase in rent. I have to move. That's a big deal. Worrying won't help but this situation is causing me much financial and other pain. I now have to live in a place I don't like. I also can't save for retirement like I feel like I need to. People can get really stuck and it's really hard to "frugal" ourselves out of bad circumstances.
True, and moving costs are expensive too. Govt really did a number on us with the shutdowns and failed interest rate policy
So much wisdom in 13 minutes. I always think twice about spending 1 euro. And when I do, I always think of what you said once: ,,It is not about one 1000 dollar decision it is about 1000 one dollar decisions." That really stuck with me. And I always go slow with upgrading things. Nr.6 is so true.
Greetings from Bratislava, Slovakia.
Right on! Small decisions add up!
I have lived well below my income for years and years but all of a sudden in the past year the economic shock has caused my business' revenue to drop 50% that coupled with insane cost of living increases and massive mortgage hikes I am in a very bad place financially all come out of nowhere. I'm trying to sell my house but it's been on the market for 6 months now I am literally trapped in this situation out of nowhere, you sometimes just can't plan for these things.
You are so right. I became a minimalist after I was laid off in Covid time. I should have started much earlier. Muchas gracias
Continuing this encouragement for people to save and become more frugal might get you on a list.
Bankers and those pushing for everyone to spend more are cringing at your awesome presentations.
Lifestyle inflation is not a new topic, but the way you lay it out just crystallizes it for me. It reinforces the mantra that I adopted from you. "Be happy with enough."
I agree with what you're saying but these days the $$ is disappearing rapidly with inflation. I left NYC because of the cost of living (rent). I moved to a city that was very affordable but the last couple years with the rapid rise in the cost of housing has put everything out of whack again.. I live very modestly in a studio with no amenities in a not so great neighborhood. I drive a 20 year old car. I don't buy "stuff." My cost of rent has gone up 60% in the last 5 years. Add that to the rising cost of everything else, I'm struggling again. Savings have dwindled.
I'm currently researching other cities with a lower cost of housing where jobs pay enough to make it... The cost of housing, food and gas is out of my control. I'm close to retirement age and while I could work 2-3 jobs when I was younger, that's no longer an option. I might as well focus on getting a van and convert it to live in to eliminate rent completely. It may be my only option at this point.
I hear ya, my rent has increased 50% in the last 3 years.
It is amazing how many have moved into their vehicles because of the ridiculous cost of housing,
Not sure about housing because we own our home, but gas? Where is this 50 cent increase? Ours went from less than $2 to almost $5 over the summer!
@@ezr168 Very true. Some were forced with no other option and many are choosing to live in their vehicles (cars, vans, RVs). I just want to live as simply as possibly and enjoy my older years. I've met quite a few people over the last few years that are traveling in their vehicles (and have looked inside to see their builds).
I did seasonal work for a couple years that had inexpensive housing included. While I didn't have all my belongings, I had everything I "needed."
Hi Linda, I wish you all the best, the struggle is real. Hope you will find a new way to live modest but that does meet your basic needs! Good luck to you from the Netherlands
We both drive used cars. We are practicing minimalism. So our savings is increasing like crazy. We have numerous little accounts in Yotta. We refuse to use our credit cards if we don't have the money to pay for it. Dave Ramsey taught us a lot.
Ok, but don't follow his investment advice.
@@thedoor5442 I follow Warren Buffett's advice and it's paying off beautifully.
@@danicegewiss862 If you make more than you spend it might not matter whose advice you follow..... Now if your making less than you spend and still saving money I am all about hearing who you copy or follow!!!
It is just mindblowing the amount of insights you share in most of your videos. It should be introduced to everyone. Absolutely essential information for people who want to leave behind the unnecessary chaos of modern life today, what we are doing to ourselves. So much precious wisdom. I like slow, minimalism, and intentional living, instead of a mindless consumer mentality. You are a great great friend of ours creating value for people! You do not really talk about saving, and making money, it is much more about how to be a better human being!
I deflated my lifestyle due to minimalism…it’s fantastic, and I have plenty of money left over every pay.…👌🏽
I’m on the same path. I just decluttered a bunch of clothes and books and I’m cutting back on spending
@@Denise_Cocoa Good for you….👏🏾👏🏾
I have 4 boxes of books to go to the library. I have been thinning out my wardrobe for weeks. I had over 20 winter coats. I hadn't realized I had so many until I began weeding. I don't believe I'll miss them. Yes, minimalism is a totally different mindset.
@@danicegewiss862 You will be so glad you became a minimalist…👌🏽
This whole video is 100% true. It's not easy, but it's important to keep an eye on expenses to prevent lifestyle inflation. I go once a year to the cable company with my father and we ask for whatever the latest promotions are. It tends to keep our cable bill about the same or a little bit less every year. I'm also looking to change my cellphone carrier due to my coverage quality getting worse and the bill keeps going up every year as well.
Cable/internet companies are the worst!
You should check out mint mobile, they're great. I've been using them for over 5 years with zero issues. I'm on the cheapest plan that has unlimited talk/text and 4 g of data a month, which I never use all of it due to wifi being everywhere and it's $15 a month. Their most expensive plan is $30 for unlimited everything. Check them out!
Spot on with food. I love cooking at home once you learn it's pretty easy and you don't get as much seed oil, preservatives and other artificial chemicals in the food.
An additional saving tip on food is work out how much you eat and what you will do with any left overs. Throwing food away is a big no no for me.
If I wanted to I could eat out every day however like you say I intentionally choose not to.
Yes I shop for specials and if something goes way up in price due to say a random weather event I just don't buy it for a period of time. Bananas went to over $16 a kilo a few years ago guess what I didn't eat bananas for a few months just switch it to something else.
Since you are interested in food prices, have you heard of the Save Soil movement before? It is worth checking #SaveSoil Let's make it happen 🌿🌿🌿
Thanks Austin Williams for another fantastic commonsense keeping it real video. I remember when i was younger and due to my schizophrenia i was unable to work at the time being able to save only five dollars every week which disappeared like running water in my hands on junk food. Than i read about tabletop wargaming finding myself really attracted to the whole concept. Next thing i know am saving that five dollars a week and in three months time am buying my first table top war game at the famous FAO & SHWARTZ toy shop thinking how funny it was to be in the midst of all these well to do people. Next thing i know am discovering about other war games that are even more detailed and at a lower price which am easily able to afford by just saving five dollars a week. Its as if a door had opened where things were coming my way at a cheaper price and i eventually was put on disability which after only five dollars in my pocket was like hitting the jackpot even though people are always looking at it as limited income but thanks to the valuable lesson i learned on budgeting on much less i feel very comfortable and have not forgotten the value of five or less dollars.
I avoid doomsday economic prophecies. It feels like the lottery or the rantings of some religious cult. I just live my life and keep enough of an eye on things so am not bothered when i see things that actually effect me like rising food prices taking places which for me is more a cycle of life thing where just like my parents and grand parents saw the price of things go up now we are seeing the same thing occuring. I can still remember when a chocolate candy bar was only twenty five cents ha ha. This also helps me appreciate when prices have stayed the same for decades instead of getting higher like video games which have only recently started going up in price.
And thanks for the very much appreciated text box full of everything that your video is about. I always copy and paste it to a text file to read when i need some positive influence alongside many other things people have posted on the internet.
Have a wonderful day good guy ☕
Thanks for the comment! I always write a lengthy description and glad someone reads them!! Have a good day as well!
@@ElAgustin Welcome 😇
High fuel cost is driving inflation up. The cost of transporting products is more expensive and that is passed down to the consumer. Fuel cost won't change until a different regime is in DC.
Please show your grocery shopping haul for the week. I spend so much on groceries. I’d love to see how much you spend and what you get for a week. Thank you!!
Yes, same here .. inflation has Not affected me either. And I'm living under $500 a month (actually way less) w/no struggle bc i don't need much. .. i have Not had a problem down-szing, bc all i saw was space Not being utilized & things that were No longer 'Relevant' to my life. .. I'm also Not a 2nd hand shopper, bc i like things New & in pristine condition. But again, i keep what is my favorites, esthetically pleasing, & is Relevant.
No pressure or nothing :), but I can’t wait until you are still making videos with a family, kids and all that entails. I seriously think you may be one of the only financial minimalist guys who could actually successfully make this transition.
I’ve been thinking the very same thing! I’m so looking forward to Austin’s future videos once he’s had his family. I think he will do a good job but it’ll be tough!
@@SassySkylar He's going to have to find someone with the fugal minimal mindset. Divorce is very expensive.
I went from a high end house let’s call BOA to a much smaller house. Best decision I ever made! Now I pay ME what I used to pay the interest payment on the BOA! It’s righteous!
Yea, Geico tried that with me too! I’ve never had a claim in my life but they were increasing my insurance from $126/mo to $156/mo with no additional coverage. Left them immediately and went to Progressive for way less. I’m tired of these companies being greedy
Ooh, haven’t heard that name in such a long time. I was just thinking about the name Denise the other day and how I never hear it anymore. Ok, random, but I hope you enjoy the name compliment :). I grew up with a few, and they were all beautiful souls.
@@CAGChannel1 I really love and appreciate that compliment! You just made my day 😁I’m glad you had such positive experiences with the Denise’s of the world 💛
It was a very good feeling when they asked why I was leaving and I said, "You increased my rates without any changes to my history and I found the exact same policy through another company."
@@ElAgustin That was my exact response! Not to mention, my car is a 2012 and it’s been paid off since 2016 so I already had minimal coverage. Just ridiculous.
People that keep a budget don't have a problem with inflation. I looked at my bills and took out all the stuff I wasn't using. I have a old car and I have low rent, now I'm good. I love this video, I agree with your message!
You are absolutely spot on.This is my best and most educative video from you this year. The message has really stuck with me
im not against owning a car, whether we consider it luxury or necessity, but where i live for example, the traffic is insane at rush hours, what do i gain by driving 10km/h?
Today,, after watching your videos past few days,,,, well ,, I like candles,,, try to buy them at thrift stores,,, at grocery store today,, there they are ( full price ),,, I almost caved !! Immediately thought of you..... Is this a want / need.....and I left them behind ....... Thanks !! You Rock !!!!!!!
This is so true, I’ve been there myself at learnt the hard way, thankfully live a much more frugal life now. The amount of people struggling at the moment due to over extending themselves when times were less expensive is shocking.
I love this! Just shared it with my sister who has been trying to get better at this but it really takes a while for the mindset shift to happen. It’s almost like you have to really feel and see the progress and positive changes long enough before you are motivated to make even more changes. Thanks for all the tips and reminders. Very valuable. 😊
Why they have to make more than they spend. If they don't make more how can they avoid issues regardless of problems.
Nr 6 is so true and difficult. Once you have had very good nice bread for example or excellent tea or coffee you don't want to go back to the cheapest supermarket versions. I find these developments almost irreversibele, especially with food. Not all expensive food is better than cheap food but some definitely is.
Exactly! I can't have the cheap coffee anymore!
Life needs to feel good and not look good.
Great Advice Here. Also, I would add that I studied Inflation and especially Countries with
Hyperinflation. In each case, when it would cost a wheelbarrow full of their cash for a loaf of bread,
real money (silver & gold) held it's value. In Venezuela, an ounce of silver would keep a family of 4
fed & housed for 6 months. An easy way to sleep better at night is to purchase an ounce of silver a month
for only $30. For the cost of 2 pizzas, you can feel safe in sketchy financial times. Keep Up The Great Work! : )
Nah. I will not get a "big raise". I would call myself lucky if I get a job at all. My problem is actual inflation. Rent/gas/electra/water/health care/groceries/college tuition/books all skyrocketed. After the pandemic, things where supossed to go back to normal. We did not. They made it worse. I even had more money during the pandamic, sometimes I wish it stayed. People and college was much more understanding and accomodading. My future was destroyed in the process. No talk about the other inflation is going to fix the issues of pay not increasing and not being able to afford to have a house and have kids...
When people have to have housing how can it get cheaper?
I went thru the same thing with geico. So I went somewhere else too
You're singing my song Austin. Love to hear it because that's how I basically think. It just took me a lot longer.
This is a fantastic video, Austin! So many great quotes here! I'm sharing this with friends who need to hear it! You're really hitting your stride here. Great content again!
Thanks! I'm trying!
As I've gotten thriftier over the years I've had life style deflation.
First one is me. I worry like crazy. I'm trying to convince myself that shouldn't. It's hard to break that habit.
Hard not to worry in the information age!
we didn't start the fire lol. i just saw a video about centralia, pa a few days ago.good video austin
Not a single channel discuss about this "Lifestyle Inflation" and ever since I followed your frugality tips. inflation had never affected me at all! gracias Austin ☺
Money and time.. you never know how much time you have but you always know how much money you have. Make sure you have good health insurance! If you don't the older you get can eat up your savings!💰❤
Health insurance does not guarantee good health. Breathing clean air and drinking clean water and eating nutritious food is a good investment. Even then longevity is uncertain, live while you can, enjoy
@@ezr168 insurance..! You can eat clean and healthy and do everything that is right and then you come down with cancer or get hit by a bus! Then all your savings is gone!
You are so right on! Keep on keepin’ on, Austin!
I became disabled as a teen, so I'm a budget guru! 😂 It's wants versus NEEDS. I save over $200/month not having WiFi and TV. I consider those "luxury". I do not vacation. That is a luxury. I do not eat out. That is fattening a luxury. 😂 I don't drive new cars. That is a luxury. By doing this, I am able to SAVE the REQUIRED $725/month to maintain my home. I don't have to worry if my HVAC dies-I can cover that in 3 years. I can have a new roof in just TWO YEARS of saving. Do I want WiFi, or do I want to keep my home-right? My home is 624 square feet-all I NEED, right?
In my country's inflation situation 27% .
Crazy 🤣🤣🤣. Therefore saving and Investing must.
Hey Austin how do I decide if I should keep my old car or if I should save aggressively for a newer one?
Current driving a 2007 pontiac G6 and it’s needing repairs every 3-6 months costing $1500-$2000 a year to repair it. I’m really tired of putting money into this car. Though all the cars I’m seeing that I want are $15K+. Is it worth it to pause investing for a year to save up? Or do I just keep sinking money into this older car?
Another great video Austin! When I get a raise, I increase my savings.
Where du I find value? That is a great question! I love to mend my clothing, grow vegetables and go for a walk. So much better than cruising around with a fast car and trying to look cool. 🤣
Loving these videos, keeps me focused on the long term goals , 8 months away , and my 10 year plan 😄👌.. chapeau Austin
Just don’t buy them. Buy food, and necessities like TP only. 😊
I don’t buy stuff much anymore.
Consider saving and investing as a bill, pretty much like a utility bill. Pay yourself first.
Inflation and money varies with the individual. If you have a young family, and need to buy food, it is going to affect you. But if you are retiree who owns a modest home, the effects will be much more minimum.
Minimalism might help, but it depends on circumstances
Retirees trying to live off anything to do with the stock market are struggling mightily. I just had a target delivery ( had coupon for free delivery, so I decided to try it), and the woman was 76 years old trying to make an extra buck after having her retirement plans through her 401(k) go waaaaay south. I felt so much for this woman, and I’m glad I was in the driveway when she came, and she talked to me. What she had to say was alarming.
@@CAGChannel1 Ok. But that is poor portfolio allocation, not inflation...
@@pensacola321 jeez, please tell, what would you have told a 30 year old, now 72, to have allocated? Also pension plans - noooooo choice. Often early 401ks offered very little choices also. I feel so deeply for retirees right now, yikes!! You could have done the 60/40 split, expecting the four percent rule to have applied at retirement and boooooooom, anddddd…….it’s gone ( in the famous words of the South Park banker)
And the FED DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY says that inflation has nothing to do with its insidious campaign to crash the market, nope!
Hugs to all retirees!!
Very common things yet different perspectives...very good Austin's work.
Great topic to talk about and we’ll delivered👌
Really enjoying your content and humour. Keep them coming amigo!
Thanks!
Great Video Austin...Had to watch it again. Excellent !!!
I appreciate what you do. God bless you more!
Mr. Austin Willims: another perfect video. Thank you!
Thanks!!
Cheers Austin, appreciate your take.
Thank you. Take care.
Austin, I love your mindset. It's where I want to get to and remain for the rest of my life. I have a question; how do you deal with jealous of others who have more and get to experience more life experiences than you, more luxuries, more conveniences - the finer things in life. Do you care?
Might have some of your questions answered in Friday's video...similar topic!
Money is relative---relatives want your money. 😁
Agree 👍👍
Austin you are the best 💗.
do prices ever go down? have prices ever gone down in history?
Not likely
You got the nail on the head!!!
Love to visit Colorado❤
Thanks! It's beautiful here...although not much day light anymore!
Very smart never thought about it like that
While I agree with a lot of what you’ve said, you vastly underestimate inflation and the price increases of gas.
Agreed, but the focus is to live a lifestyle that those things don't determine your life, I think.
@@cindylapp23 Nope but math has a huge impact...
$35,000 in Alabama isn't comfortable, unless you're getting welfare checks and handouts from Governor Meemaw. We do have lower cost of living though. Unfortunately, inflation has hit all of our wallets in general, especially internet shopping. That's why I don't anymore if I can help it. And half my paycheck goes into savings.
I forgot to add that we do go hiking a lot in Alabama with our balmy weather and refresh at our many craft beer breweries. Cheers! (I guess Bama and Colorado have a lot in common)
Great video again Austin!!! Thanks for the heads up on lifestyle inflation.
Spot on!!!
More money, more problems!
YES!! I agree completely, great video 😊💪
Thanks!
This video was perfectly said 👌 loved it! ❤️
Thank you. Relevant topic, as usual 🙂🙂
I'm trying!
We love all your videos... great advice
Loving this channel! Spot on info.
Thanks!!!
Great thoughts as always!
Great video as usual. I don’t simply know that’s why I am asking: Is Colorado an expensive city there Austin? 😊
Turgut, have you heard of the Save Soil movement before?
Depends on where you live!
PS your presentation is so cristal clear and hilarious at the same time, well done!
"El Agustin" gets me everytime lol
Solid advice. Thanks
I just love your voice , what you say are is so true and makes sense, please keep up with your very and amazing videos.💋
Damas y caballeros 😄, the great Agustin!
hahaha
Excelente video Chico Agustin😊
Gracias!
Viendo desde filipinas 🇵🇭 me gustan tus videos. Aprendo muchas cosas.
Agree with you on everything but $.50 is not how much gas is going up.
Great video,thank you,good night 💤💤💤
Great video as always. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
Austin, are you still able to save something every month after quitting your job? Are your spending exactly the same as when you had 9-5?
Spending about the same...I do go to coffee shops more now just so I can get out of the house!
EXCELLENT VIDEO!!!!!!!!!!! SO TRUE
Thanks!
Enjoying the content neighbor! Aaron Littleton Colorado
What you don't understand is that you're a young single man without family obligations etc.
Rents are going up drastically everywhere. People are being forced to find cheaper housing - when their lease is up, they're being charged several hundred $$$ more per month for the same modest apartments.
Inflation is a real thing.
You're too young to have experienced the major Inflation of the 1970s. I was in my 20s then, in Manhattan. My husband and I lived very frugally in a very small but nice Brownstone apartment. We were Sfudents. Saving was not only impossible - it wouldn't have mattered because Savings put in a Bank actually LOST value quickly - and the Dollar never recovered.
I have always lived very simply and cheaply - but one must also ENJOY LIFE as you live it.
I'm 75 and alone now and living entirely on Social Security. I'm disabled. I can't afford a car - I'm not in NYC now so it's hard tonget around without a car. I spend money going to Café for a while most days - otherwise I wouldn't see people at all, and I need the exercise, walking to and from the bus. Rent alone for a modest Apartment is half my income. Plus Electric. Plus Medicare costs. Etc. I just moved to this City a couple of months ago - with no furniture sonim furnishing from scratch, via Craigslist and FB Marketplace.
There's nothing to save.
And I don't care because I have ZERO confidence in the stability of the US Dollar.
Life style inflation causes cpi inflation
I get by on making less than all my friends, and have more savings and disposable income than all of them, because i am frugal
With rents exponentially high these days and npt appearing to go down anytime soon, good luck finding a low rent. Ask the retirees in Florida all about it..They will tell yoy their 600 a month rent went up to $2000 overnight and now they can find npwhere else to live when they make $1100 on social security. Understand that although your ideas are sound for the most part there are many who simply cant apply them because they already use them and they are not enough in todays shit society. Nobody should be homeless but there are more and more people everyday who are because low rent is no longer available.
Inflation is bad however, it is worldwide and ours is the least of all.
Excelente como todos tus videos!!
Gracias!
During the recession of 2008, my neighbors were losing their homes, cars, boats, etc. Because they owed on everything!!. So grateful I had an emergency fund of $10K which kept me from foreclosing. ❤