If you want a more detailed look into how our family saves money, check out this video: Extreme MONEY SAVING Tips for Families: Living SIMPLY Saves BIG $$$! - ruclips.net/video/S7jN5kqElY4/видео.html
Terminally ill and receive 1100.00 a month. Rent is 750 a month, electric 90 a month, gas is 140. Receive snap benefits of 130 a month. Doesn't include gas for vehicles or insurance for house or cars. Without medicaid and Medicare I would be homeless, meds are 5000 a month. I thank God everyday that I have a roof over my head. I pray for you and your family 👪 🙏
I was recently widowed and living off a small life insurance policy and savings. Because I just turned 60 if I collect my husband's Social Security I will be penalized a lot. I chose to wait until from next year, my income will be about $1,700 a month and I'm thinking I'm going to need to get a part-time job because that will not be enough to live on in my current situation. How do you make it on $1,100 a month with so many outgoing expenses?#curious😊
Similar boat. I’m chronically sick, I have stage 4 endometriosis and have daily pain that cripples me. I work full time and make around 1000 every 2 weeks. Not sure how much longer I can work though, my pain is so severe I can’t walk some days.
@@Quit3Cut3 sorry to hear about your endometriosis. I had debilitating endometriosis in my early thirties. I had to have a complete hysterectomy. I was thankful that we had our son and daughter already.
Own you're home and car... no debt...food in your bellies and love in your hearts...you guys are inspirational to many of us!! Thank you for your smart and effective habits!!
The houses are SO CUTE. I really admire your ability to fix the houses up. People don't need huge houses, I wish more people normalized cute, small homes whether or not it is a financial necessity.
I agree. I think what we’re shown so much on RUclips/social media are young couples/families who are in these incredibly large homes. That’s fine, but I feel like it can cause a lot of discontentment with those of us who are watching bc we believe that’s the norm. Our parents and grandparents generations had small homes & larger families! The kitchens weren’t huge, open concept and they seemed to cook more from scratch. Normalizing “normal” life is a great thing to see on RUclips ❤️
@@lauralogan3046 Even before RUclips, TV commercials were doing the same exact thing in the 80s-2010s. Young couples living in $2-$5 million houses, smh
Where I live, you can’t even find a studio apartment for $1500. It’s getting harder and harder to survive on a lower wage these days. Thanks for sharing these tips!
Yeah, I'm in CA and our rent alone is $2750 a month! And we got a good deal because you can't find anything in our area for under 3k /month right now. Car insurance is high, our latest gas bill is over $300 for one month and we are careful with our usage, and that is not including electric! I could go on.......this video is inspiring still, I just have to adjust expectations for the cost of living where I live.
So sorry to hear that your husband lost his job. I've been in your situation and thankfully it all worked out. We didn't need to sell our house. My husband found a better job and worked with that organization for 25 years until he retired. Best of luck.
Love your videos ❤ we live a similar frugal lifestyle. Spending under $2000 with a small mortgage (paying off in the next few short years) in California. Because of that, I am able to be home right now with our toddler who was recently diagnosed with autism without the stress of needing two incomes. It’s a real blessing to not have the stress.
We're a family of 3 and our expenses are about 2000 a month and we thought to be extremely frugal!! You're my new hero!! You guys are doing a great job and teaching your children a great life lesson. Thank you for your videos!!
Can i make a suggestion only if you guys need it, I homeschool as well (5 kids) for almost 10 years and for a whole year we had a very tight budget that I needed to get our homeschool budget to almost 0, I got some notebooks from walmart for 35 cents and some good pencils, crayons, glue etc, and we used the library and khan academy as the base of our school. It was the best year we had homeschooling and lead us into never going back to expensive curriculum ever again
That's very impressive... all the things you've done, and are doing, to keep your expenses so low. Congratulations on the results of your wisdom, hard work, persistence, cleverness, etc. etc.!
Very important point you make about just not turning on the heat. A lot of frugal things I do are things I don’t do😜. Like use natural light vs turn on a lamp, make a pb&j for dinner vs use electricity to cook, use beans/lentils vs meat. We manage to live off $500 a month with no car payment and tiny mortgage. Raise a huge garden, barter, stay home vs shopping, take walks for free vs paid entertainment, garage sale for clothes, etc. I try to live with the mindset that the little I have is sufficient. It is not always easy but do able. I do live in a far north climate so air conditioning is not needed but heat is thus we heat with wood which saves money also! But kudos to you for all your efforts!! With your husbands income loss you may qualify for WIC in which case they would give you vouchers for food if you are breastfeeding. Also you may qualify for a discount on your phone with your insurance. And don’t rule out food banks or food pantries, they are there for exactly the situation you are in.
You have done amazing work keeping up the frugal living budget. We started off the same 45 years ago with our family of 4 when we bought our first home with our income at $750/month. Our gas and electricity service back then was $30/month, home phone was $14, insurance was $30, and prop taxes were $40/month and from 1974 to 1978 we did not even own a car. I became under-employed for 7 months from the fall of 1979 to the spring of 1980 and we were still able to pay all our bills and even loaned a friend $1,000. Our income is much higher now but we still live a frugal life, because it is just what we got used to when we were young and poor.
Mint mobile for phone. $15/month. 😃 Thanks for your idea on getting a house paid for and also the costs of living in Fla. I have an idea for your teens. Have them look into yacht work out of Ft Lauderdale. They could make some serious cash. Income earned offshore has a tax break of $120k a year last I looked, plus all expenses are covered. It's not easy work, energy is needed. There are career level positions if interested such as yachtmaster, massage therapist, or chef. Lower level jobs are deckhand or steward/ess. I've seen a 21 year old making $100k a year as a captain, maybe more nowadays. ☺️
I'm in Tampa Bay and I feel you there on these drivers. I've been a full time courier for 13 years. These people have lost their minds on the road the last few years. It's no joke.
My property taxes are $600 a month on a house I originally paid $131k for..property taxes here in Texas are killing us right now. I'm about to be laid off from my HR job at Amazon and have been worried about it so much. Every job I've applied to either ignores my resume or claims they've picked another candidate. I'm hoping to gain some insight in how to reel in a budget but honestly I don't eat out, I don't spend money on clothes, all I've been doing for the last year is pay bills, no vacations or traveling to see family either. I'm waiting for my youngest to graduate in May and our plans are to move out of the city into a smaller house in a smaller town and hopefully make enough on the sale to pay off the one we buy next.
@@randallland6739 she probably has the option to pay yearly, but most people can’t afford that, so the next option is to pay monthly. Her property taxes probably equal to about 7200/yr.
@@lauriekerze3461 yes, I pay $480 a year for my $180k condo in Colorado. I could only afford Texas if I was over 65 and got an old-person property tax break.
Very impressed with how you manage to make it all work with no debts, 3 kids and homeschooling! You also seem to have a great attitude. Your kids are learning a lot from your good, can-do example. 👍
You are a wise young woman with the way you handle your money it sounds like even before the job loss that you knew how to put back in case of an emergency. Good on you. Don’t see too many like you these days so it’s a very refreshing video to see this.
OMG that is a cute house you currently own! It looks like a cottage from a storybook! Also, I had no idea FL property taxes are so low. I'm in NJ with a really small house (1100 sq ft) and virtually no yard, and our taxes are 600 per month! So glad I found your channel. :)
I live in California, living off $2300 with a mortgage. We never turn on the heat or ac my average electric bill is $67. We catch 5g water from each shower when it's heating up to water our plants & give our animals. We never eat out. I plan all my stops between work & home. I've taken on a minimalist budgeting. I the only debt I have is my home which I'm paying down.
Kudos to your family ! You have done what most have not and that is keep your expenses low "just in case". Because, sadly," just in case " has arrived @ your house. I cut my electric use by 32% watching videos on my phone and not turning on the television. I figure I pay for the phone plan so make the best use of it. It will be tight but can be done prayers for you all.
Congratulations on being self sufficient. I appreciate you making the sacrifices for your family. We should all hold your standards of self reliance and not rely on others or entitlements. Hope your husband finds an amazing job.
So inspirational! I grew up poor and I’m very proud of you for fixing up that first home and having the equity to do it again with your current home. A lot of people can learn from you. Thank you for sharing. New subscriber from Texas! ❤️ God bless you and your family!
First time watching your channel and I’m extremely impressed on how much you’ve accomplished and how great you are doing with your finances. My husband and I will be paying off our mortgage in June and we are 39 years old and understand how impactful not having a mortgage can be. Looking forward to watching more of your videos!
I really love your videos,I watch out for them every week.I appreciate how down to earth you are,your minimalism and your frugality.I also appreciate the sharing of really specific information on how to survive on a low income.Thank you.
Great job of stretching your dollars! I've had Mint Mobile for over a year and am totally satisfied. You may be able to cut your cell phone bill in half if you switch to Mint.
Sorry for the job loss for your husband ❤ I am really Impressed though, and you are such an inspiration. You are doing better then so many, and you also invite us in to see and learn. I am grateful for that. I get that it also is very hard work 💚💪🏻 I pray and hope that the job situation will work out. Love and blessings from Johanne, Norway 🇳🇴
This is sooooo Amazing I bring home a variable income highest being 2500 a month lowest 1800 and sometimes I feel like I should be making soo much more but the owning your home and car is Fantastic!!!!! This helps me to want to stay on track with my finances Amazing job wishing you and your family the best!!!!!! Please continue to make videos!!!!!!
Have you looked into food stamps? With a family of 5 I am sure you would qualify. Since the children are getting healthcare already it should be an easy process. I hope your financial situation gets better really soon. Love your transparency!
It factors in more than family size. And honestly, the less help from the government the better. I say this as someone who lived in HUD housing and received foodstamps, WIC, and state insurance, plus was under the W2 program. Only thing I still have is the insurance which will be going away soon.
Hi! I applaud your creativity in making sure things are getting paid for. I’m sorry your husband lost his job. I’m curious how your grocery bill is at $400 for 5 with 2 teens? I have 3 teens and a 9 year old and our grocery bill is outrageous! Also, kudos for being smart with your money and paying cash!
They are vegan and don’t have to purchase meat, however, you can still lower your groceries. We are a family of 5 (ages 54, 50, 23, 21 and 14) and my grocery budget is $500 ($100 of that is for stock ups for the pantry/freezer per month). I do an inventory of what I have at home, look at the adds to see what’s on sale and plan my meals around that. This has saved me so much money and I usually don’t spend all the money for the week.
Oh I agree, the humidity is awful! We have a dehumidifier for when we aren’t using our a/c much. We realized soon after moving down here you need one or the other, even in winter 😆
Janet Andrews hello from Virginia: Girl you are awesome to have a budget so low and be able to maintain it. let me tell you for those of us who make more money something to consider because you never know when you can lose a job best to be prepared love it. By the way I am a first-time viewer!
God bless you and your family!! I think it’s great to be frugal and not excessive. Love is what matters most by the end of the day and it looks like you are surrounded by it😊❤
Enjoy your budget breakdown. Owning a house or mobile home will definitely save you money as well as owning a car. This is what I’ve done and I have saved a lot.
I too live in Fl... In Miami, where a 400 sqft studio is $1500 per month. Purchased a lot for 40K three years ago ,built a home in the three years. Now I must pay 15K of impact fees to move in my newly finished home. Doing serious saving to pay the fees and get out of the rat race.
You appear to be a very smart lady! Planning for the future even though you have a low income/single mom. Best wishes to you and your family and I hope your husband finds a new job soon.
Single mom here. My rent alone is 1000. I love how you bought a house and flipped it! Have you done a video on buying a foreclosure? I wouldn’t even know how to start that process.
The foreclosures will be ramping up. This is 2007 again. The amount of maxed out consumer debt is exploding. So SAVE YOUR MONEY. PAY OFF ANY DEBT. STOP SPENDING ON WANTS. That is how you will survive and prosper.
Loved your video! Our daughter and grandkids live in Florida. Cudos to yall for coping with the heat and adjusting. We're from Texas and find it to be so much hotter there with the humidity. Of course we're only there for a week at a time too. Also groceries seem more expensive there than here, but I'm sure there are things that are higher here. We live in a rural area and our internet is over $80 per month for basic package. Praying your husband finds another job soon. 🙏
New subscriber and I’m living on a 1500.00 monthly budget for 1..it’s can be done.. I’m saving little by little .. it took me over a year to save $1000.. now I’m working on another $1000 it’s not easy on a survivor SS income but I treat savings as a monthly bill.. I also do a once a month inventory of my food at the end of every month which enables me to do 2-4 week pantry challenges because I stockpile because I can’t drive and use para- transit ..which is the best transportation every created for people who are disabled….I was a single mom of 2 now adult kids and I always had to tuck a few dollars so I’m use to it..I often here people say they struggle on SS well I been on it my whole life and it’s a struggle but you must have a budget.. I’m not on welfare at all and my rent is 750.00 alone in a 2 br and that’s cheap….I’m looking forward to following you and learning more tips you may have…Blessings to you and your family .ps.. for give the spelling errors it’s late..
Just came across your channel. Sounds like you would make a great real estate investor. You know how to find fixer uppers. You can do repairs yourself which is amazing and shaves tons of money off of rehab. I know it isn’t for everyone but it was a thought as I was watching your video. You can make a great income. Money isn’t everything but it sure helps.
Debt free is key. Our bare bones budget is $2100, which includes a $715 property tax bill every month (smallish in comparison to other municipalities in our county). There is no escaping the high property taxes unless I move.
I wish. $500K value. In my state tax payers shoulder the brunt of public school tuition. $3800 of our taxes are school tax. The rest is municipal, county and library tax.
You’re in a very good position. But, I do wonder how safe your neighborhood is at those prices. I bought a house within 15 minutes of the beach in Stuart fl for 160K in 2004. It also was the cheapest house in the neighborhood and was a fixer upper. We did most of the work ourselves except for electrical and new roof. We paid it off in 15 years. But, now, though we’re mortgage free, our real estate taxes are $4400 a year and our homeowners insurance went up from $4000 to $7000 in 2022. So, though our house is paid for. Taxes and insurance are about $1000 per month. Unless we get the states garbage insurance, the insurance companies are the only option and they’re robbing homeowners. The houses are now selling for around $400k. But, if we sell, where do we go for a fairly comparable and safe neighborhood and not pay inflated prices. We’re seriously looking at cashing out a relocating to a loser cost country. Bye bye USA.
We live in a safe neighborhood. Definitely something we considered when purchasing while having kids. We needed a safe area so I felt comfortable with my teens walking places on their own.
Good that you got your first house cheaper and done it up. Also good that you don't have any debt. I to am working on having no debt. Then my plan is to save for a house deposit. I currently live in the UK. I rent a one bed house. It is over £600 per month.
Your house insurance figure really shocked me - but then it made sense when you explained about the hurricanes. I live in NZ, and we have had two major cyclone events so far this year, causing massive flooding and damage, so insurances here are probably going to see large increases.
Hi I pressed the bell but didn’t see a subscription button ? I’ve in joyed this video. 3 of us here live on 1,470.00 a month. It’s hard sometimes but we make do.
Thanks for the pointers. Lost all my retirement in divorce and became disabled at the same time, at age 50. Looking for all tips to try to survive old age.
Food is usually the biggest variable for me. I spend about 200 a month on food... my roommate probably spends 400 to 600 a month (throws a lot away and eats out a lot). I do not have a mortgage but have the Florida taxes and homeowners insurance along with the annual termite fees, and other maintenance fees. We never turn on the heat since FP&L took over the local electric company.. the rates went way up! I have to say your budget is down to the bare bones for so many people. The best thing is to be debt free.. but most people don't think two minutes beyond the end of their nose.
Here in Phoenix, we will have weather that hits afoot 115-118 degrees multiple times in the summer… we also have our heating at 80 degrees and it feels amazing when you come into 80 degrees from what is almost 40 degrees hotter. 😅 when we leave the apartment, we often keep it at 83 degrees.
Our apartment maintenance crew have often thought they misunderstood us when we said we kept it at 80 degrees, and they will often drop it down to around 73 degrees… warmer apartment is unfathomable for a lot of people
I have2 layers of clear bubble wrap on my windows. I can still see out some, the sun comes in and it saves me a TON. Twindows a supposedly double pane but they are crap. I got the bubble wrap at Dollar Tree. Took me weeks but its truly amazing .
I think you're doing great. Having no rent or mortgage is very freeing for your family just now. In Canada, the average rent is over $2000/month for a 1 bdrm apartment. (You read that correctly) Housing affordability is so unfair at the moment. I am very blessed to have been able to afford to buy our home 3 years ago as our mortgage is reasonable (for now - we are required in Canada to renew, so our mortgage will go up in 2025 if interest rates stay high).
You might be able to get ACP connectivity discount, a federal discount of $30/house hold depending on your income. It was easy to sign up. It was an official govt site.
U guys should try nys In *2000* my monthly tax and fire ins was $350 a month lol My house was worth $100-120K, never had a claim on it. The lot was large for a village lot but no more than 3/4 acre. Too small to split off the empty side space or I would have.
I live in Edgewater, not too far from you guys and ironically we’ve got some of the most expensive water. For my boyfriend and myself, our water and electric are averaging $130-$150 each per month. This month, our water was more than our electric. And girl, I feel ya when you said the drivers aren’t safe here 🤦🏻♀️
Right?! I don't understand why water is so expensive here. It is crazy. We looked at homes in Edgewater before we moved down here :) We really wanted to live in New Smyrna, but never found anything worth buying that we could afford lol.
I just watched a video telling how much insurance will be going up in 2023 in Florida. I also live in florida and my house insurance has doubled in the 6 years since I bought my home
Very cool you are tracking your spendings. I think you are on a survival budget though. To be more long term, you need to factor in replacement costs for household appliances, car repairs, some toys for kids, family vacation, etc. Those won't be too much if you average them out per month, but will push you above 1.5K :)
I’m in Arizona. I rent and this place is the cheapest I could find back in 2019. Right now I pay 1021 but will go up in April. My only income is social security. Gas just went up to $4.29/gal. I only drive to the store and back. Car insurance is horrible. I’ve never had a wreck but it’s probably high because of my age. I’ve been stocking up on food for the past year. Still, I can spend $100 easy and come home with just a couple of bags and no meat. No cable but between my cell phone and internet, it’s still $100. Electricity is very expensive. I suspect this summer will be awful. It gets 115 to 120 here and I keep it to 80. Even now with not using the heat, it’s close to $80 and projected $90 for March! I commend you folks with families. Don’t know how you’re managing! 😢Take care everyone and just do the best you can! ❤
I love your budgeting.. and yes it's a big help for you because your house is paid for but, I'm concerned about the heat not being on because you have an infant. I mean sometimes it gets cold in Florida I understand that but, how cold can it stay for how long so why not put the heat on at least 60 or 50 you're not supposed to bundle up a baby real tight with clothing and blankets they need to have loose clothing when they're young like that so they can breathe.. so actually I agree with everything you're saying except about the heat because you have an infant.. best of luck to you and your beautiful family
Don't worry, we make sure our baby is very safe. Our house is actually very well insulated and even when it is in the 30's outside, it has never dropped below 60 inside. It, thankfully, only stays cold for a day or two before warming up again here. But in an emergency, we would definitely turn on the heat if we felt like our baby was unsafe.
You should consider food banks to supplement your groceries. Can any excess food you get & can’t eat immediately, especially since you live where having food put back for emergencies is very important.
If you want a more detailed look into how our family saves money, check out this video: Extreme MONEY SAVING Tips for Families: Living SIMPLY Saves BIG $$$! - ruclips.net/video/S7jN5kqElY4/видео.html
Terminally ill and receive 1100.00 a month. Rent is 750 a month, electric 90 a month, gas is 140. Receive snap benefits of 130 a month. Doesn't include gas for vehicles or insurance for house or cars. Without medicaid and Medicare I would be homeless, meds are 5000 a month. I thank God everyday that I have a roof over my head. I pray for you and your family 👪 🙏
🙏🏼
I was recently widowed and living off a small life insurance policy and savings. Because I just turned 60 if I collect my husband's Social Security I will be penalized a lot. I chose to wait until from next year, my income will be about $1,700 a month and I'm thinking I'm going to need to get a part-time job because that will not be enough to live on in my current situation. How do you make it on $1,100 a month with so many outgoing expenses?#curious😊
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Similar boat. I’m chronically sick, I have stage 4 endometriosis and have daily pain that cripples me. I work full time and make around 1000 every 2 weeks. Not sure how much longer I can work though, my pain is so severe I can’t walk some days.
@@Quit3Cut3 sorry to hear about your endometriosis. I had debilitating endometriosis in my early thirties. I had to have a complete hysterectomy. I was thankful that we had our son and daughter already.
Own you're home and car... no debt...food in your bellies and love in your hearts...you guys are inspirational to many of us!! Thank you for your smart and effective habits!!
AND - Mint Mobile - I only pay $15 a month. It is great.🤑
@davisholman8149 if it's in your area, sure lol
Finally a regular family.
The houses are SO CUTE. I really admire your ability to fix the houses up. People don't need huge houses, I wish more people normalized cute, small homes whether or not it is a financial necessity.
Most people already don't live in huge houses...
I agree. I think what we’re shown so much on RUclips/social media are young couples/families who are in these incredibly large homes. That’s fine, but I feel like it can cause a lot of discontentment with those of us who are watching bc we believe that’s the norm. Our parents and grandparents generations had small homes & larger families! The kitchens weren’t huge, open concept and they seemed to cook more from scratch. Normalizing “normal” life is a great thing to see on RUclips ❤️
@@lauralogan3046 Even before RUclips, TV commercials were doing the same exact thing in the 80s-2010s.
Young couples living in $2-$5 million houses, smh
Where I live, you can’t even find a studio apartment for $1500. It’s getting harder and harder to survive on a lower wage these days. Thanks for sharing these tips!
Yeah, I'm in CA and our rent alone is $2750 a month! And we got a good deal because you can't find anything in our area for under 3k /month right now. Car insurance is high, our latest gas bill is over $300 for one month and we are careful with our usage, and that is not including electric! I could go on.......this video is inspiring still, I just have to adjust expectations for the cost of living where I live.
@@JanelleSalstromI realize the cost of living is higher where you are but are the wage’s higher as well?
Same. Our mortgage is ridiculous. 🥴
Move out from Demonrat state 😂😂
@@karolinak828 easier said than done 🤷🏻♀️
So sorry to hear that your husband lost his job. I've been in your situation and thankfully it all worked out. We didn't need to sell our house. My husband found a better job and worked with that organization for 25 years until he retired. Best of luck.
Wow you prove if you dont have debt you dont need alot of money to live 👏👏👏
Love your videos ❤ we live a similar frugal lifestyle. Spending under $2000 with a small mortgage (paying off in the next few short years) in California. Because of that, I am able to be home right now with our toddler who was recently diagnosed with autism without the stress of needing two incomes. It’s a real blessing to not have the stress.
We are an ASD family too 🥰 Your son will benefit so much by you being able to stay home with him.
We're a family of 3 and our expenses are about 2000 a month and we thought to be extremely frugal!!
You're my new hero!! You guys are doing a great job and teaching your children a great life lesson.
Thank you for your videos!!
It would be the same if she had a mortgage or rent
@@Lady.Luck. we don't have a mortgage, done with that!!
Can i make a suggestion only if you guys need it, I homeschool as well (5 kids) for almost 10 years and for a whole year we had a very tight budget that I needed to get our homeschool budget to almost 0, I got some notebooks from walmart for 35 cents and some good pencils, crayons, glue etc, and we used the library and khan academy as the base of our school. It was the best year we had homeschooling and lead us into never going back to expensive curriculum ever again
My husband was out of work for a year and a half so I feel for you. We had 5 kids still at home.
That's very impressive... all the things you've done, and are doing, to keep your expenses so low. Congratulations on the results of your wisdom, hard work, persistence, cleverness, etc. etc.!
Thanks so much!
Very important point you make about just not turning on the heat. A lot of frugal things I do are things I don’t do😜. Like use natural light vs turn on a lamp, make a pb&j for dinner vs use electricity to cook, use beans/lentils vs meat. We manage to live off $500 a month with no car payment and tiny mortgage. Raise a huge garden, barter, stay home vs shopping, take walks for free vs paid entertainment, garage sale for clothes, etc. I try to live with the mindset that the little I have is sufficient. It is not always easy but do able. I do live in a far north climate so air conditioning is not needed but heat is thus we heat with wood which saves money also! But kudos to you for all your efforts!! With your husbands income loss you may qualify for WIC in which case they would give you vouchers for food if you are breastfeeding. Also you may qualify for a discount on your phone with your insurance. And don’t rule out food banks or food pantries, they are there for exactly the situation you are in.
You have done amazing work keeping up the frugal living budget.
We started off the same 45 years ago with our family of 4 when we bought our first home with our income at $750/month.
Our gas and electricity service back then was $30/month, home phone was $14, insurance was $30, and prop taxes were $40/month and from 1974 to 1978 we did not even own a car.
I became under-employed for 7 months from the fall of 1979 to the spring of 1980 and we were still able to pay all our bills and even loaned a friend $1,000.
Our income is much higher now but we still live a frugal life, because it is just what we got used to when we were young and poor.
Mint mobile for phone. $15/month. 😃
Thanks for your idea on getting a house paid for and also the costs of living in Fla.
I have an idea for your teens. Have them look into yacht work out of Ft Lauderdale. They could make some serious cash. Income earned offshore has a tax break of $120k a year last I looked, plus all expenses are covered. It's not easy work, energy is needed. There are career level positions if interested such as yachtmaster, massage therapist, or chef. Lower level jobs are deckhand or steward/ess. I've seen a 21 year old making $100k a year as a captain, maybe more nowadays. ☺️
I do mint mobile too. Definitely worth it!
I'm in Tampa Bay and I feel you there on these drivers. I've been a full time courier for 13 years. These people have lost their minds on the road the last few years. It's no joke.
My property taxes are $600 a month on a house I originally paid $131k for..property taxes here in Texas are killing us right now. I'm about to be laid off from my HR job at Amazon and have been worried about it so much. Every job I've applied to either ignores my resume or claims they've picked another candidate. I'm hoping to gain some insight in how to reel in a budget but honestly I don't eat out, I don't spend money on clothes, all I've been doing for the last year is pay bills, no vacations or traveling to see family either. I'm waiting for my youngest to graduate in May and our plans are to move out of the city into a smaller house in a smaller town and hopefully make enough on the sale to pay off the one we buy next.
How are your property taxes every month? I pay once a year.
@@randallland6739 she probably has the option to pay yearly, but most people can’t afford that, so the next option is to pay monthly. Her property taxes probably equal to about 7200/yr.
@@JDjee5 Yikes!
Consider moving to a lower tax state.
@@lauriekerze3461 yes, I pay $480 a year for my $180k condo in Colorado. I could only afford Texas if I was over 65 and got an old-person property tax break.
Awesome testimony for encouraging people to get and stay out of debt. Live on less than what you earn my friends!
Very impressed with how you manage to make it all work with no debts, 3 kids and homeschooling! You also seem to have a great attitude. Your kids are learning a lot from your good, can-do example. 👍
You are a wise young woman with the way you handle your money it sounds like even before the job loss that you knew how to put back in case of an emergency. Good on you. Don’t see too many like you these days so it’s a very refreshing video to see this.
This is so amazing and so eye opening. I love how you bought and flipped your first house being a single mom.❤
OMG that is a cute house you currently own! It looks like a cottage from a storybook! Also, I had no idea FL property taxes are so low. I'm in NJ with a really small house (1100 sq ft) and virtually no yard, and our taxes are 600 per month! So glad I found your channel. :)
I live in California, living off $2300 with a mortgage. We never turn on the heat or ac my average electric bill is $67. We catch 5g water from each shower when it's heating up to water our plants & give our animals. We never eat out. I plan all my stops between work & home. I've taken on a minimalist budgeting.
I the only debt I have is my home which I'm paying down.
That’s awesome you are debt free and can live on such a low income. You were very wise with your investments.
Kudos to your family ! You have done what most have not and that is keep your expenses low "just in case". Because, sadly," just in case " has arrived @ your house.
I cut my electric use by 32% watching videos on my phone and not turning on the television. I figure I pay for the phone plan so make the best use of it.
It will be tight but can be done prayers for you all.
Congratulations on being self sufficient. I appreciate you making the sacrifices for your family. We should all hold your standards of self reliance and not rely on others or entitlements. Hope your husband finds an amazing job.
Thank you ❤️
So inspirational! I grew up poor and I’m very proud of you for fixing up that first home and having the equity to do it again with your current home. A lot of people can learn from you. Thank you for sharing. New subscriber from Texas! ❤️ God bless you and your family!
Thank you so much!
First time watching your channel and I’m extremely impressed on how much you’ve accomplished and how great you are doing with your finances. My husband and I will be paying off our mortgage in June and we are 39 years old and understand how impactful not having a mortgage can be. Looking forward to watching more of your videos!
It is so exciting to not have a mortgage anymore. Congrats!!!
I really love your videos,I watch out for them every week.I appreciate how down to earth you are,your minimalism and your frugality.I also appreciate the sharing of really specific information on how to survive on a low income.Thank you.
Thank you for teaching people you can be reasonable and frugal and do what you have to to live within your current means. Very smart!
This was so informative, and really compassionate ❤ Thank you for your vulnerability to share this with your viewers!
Great job of stretching your dollars! I've had Mint Mobile for over a year and am totally satisfied. You may be able to cut your cell phone bill in half if you switch to Mint.
You guys are doing great. Sending positive vibes that the gig work will be abundant and that your family will enjoy the freedom.
Yes! Thank you!
Sorry for the job loss for your husband ❤
I am really Impressed though, and you are such an inspiration. You are doing better then so many, and you also invite us in to see and learn. I am grateful for that. I get that it also is very hard work 💚💪🏻
I pray and hope that the job situation will work out.
Love and blessings from Johanne, Norway 🇳🇴
This is sooooo Amazing I bring home a variable income highest being 2500 a month lowest 1800 and sometimes I feel like I should be making soo much more but the owning your home and car is Fantastic!!!!! This helps me to want to stay on track with my finances Amazing job wishing you and your family the best!!!!!! Please continue to make videos!!!!!!
Have you looked into food stamps? With a family of 5 I am sure you would qualify. Since the children are getting healthcare already it should be an easy process. I hope your financial situation gets better really soon. Love your transparency!
It factors in more than family size. And honestly, the less help from the government the better. I say this as someone who lived in HUD housing and received foodstamps, WIC, and state insurance, plus was under the W2 program. Only thing I still have is the insurance which will be going away soon.
I’m proud of you. It’s not easy but you manage well !
Hi! I applaud your creativity in making sure things are getting paid for. I’m sorry your husband lost his job. I’m curious how your grocery bill is at $400 for 5 with 2 teens? I have 3 teens and a 9 year old and our grocery bill is outrageous! Also, kudos for being smart with your money and paying cash!
They are vegan and don’t have to purchase meat, however, you can still lower your groceries. We are a family of 5 (ages 54, 50, 23, 21 and 14) and my grocery budget is $500 ($100 of that is for stock ups for the pantry/freezer per month). I do an inventory of what I have at home, look at the adds to see what’s on sale and plan my meals around that. This has saved me so much money and I usually don’t spend all the money for the week.
As a fellow Floridian, I don't know how you can do it. The humidity alone is enough for me to crank the A/C down. More credit to you.
Oh I agree, the humidity is awful! We have a dehumidifier for when we aren’t using our a/c much. We realized soon after moving down here you need one or the other, even in winter 😆
Thanks so much for sharing this video. Blessings to you and your family!
Janet Andrews hello from Virginia: Girl you are awesome to have a budget so low and be able to maintain it. let me tell you for those of us who make more money something to consider because you never know when you can lose a job best to be prepared love it. By the way I am a first-time viewer!
God bless you and your family!! I think it’s great to be frugal and not excessive. Love is what matters most by the end of the day and it looks like you are surrounded by it😊❤
You are one clever lady, with Great strength of character. You must be very proud of what you have achieved. Well done 👍👍
Enjoy your budget breakdown. Owning a house or mobile home will definitely save you money as well as owning a car. This is what I’ve done and I have saved a lot.
You are a blessing to your husband.
Thanks for the video! Would you consider doing a home tour of your small home?
Yes 🙌 I love to see a tour of your small home too 🏡
Sad it's still so hard to live even when debt-free. Fantastic job!
I too live in Fl... In Miami, where a 400 sqft studio is $1500 per month. Purchased a lot for 40K three years ago ,built a home in the three years. Now I must pay 15K of impact fees to move in my newly finished home. Doing serious saving to pay the fees and get out of the rat race.
You appear to be a very smart lady! Planning for the future even though you have a low income/single mom. Best wishes to you and your family and I hope your husband finds a new job soon.
Thank you so much!
Single mom here. My rent alone is 1000. I love how you bought a house and flipped it! Have you done a video on buying a foreclosure? I wouldn’t even know how to start that process.
Here is a video I did a really long time ago on buying my first home ruclips.net/video/feQiYNg0DMc/видео.html But I should do an updated video!
The foreclosures will be ramping up. This is 2007 again. The amount of maxed out consumer debt is exploding. So SAVE YOUR MONEY. PAY OFF ANY DEBT. STOP SPENDING ON WANTS. That is how you will survive and prosper.
I hope things get easier for you and your family.
Thank you ☺️
Daytona Beach? My friends work there making $20-25/hr under the table working on a disaster relief crew. Would your husband want to do that?
Loved your video! Our daughter and grandkids live in Florida. Cudos to yall for coping with the heat and adjusting. We're from Texas and find it to be so much hotter there with the humidity. Of course we're only there for a week at a time too. Also groceries seem more expensive there than here, but I'm sure there are things that are higher here. We live in a rural area and our internet is over $80 per month for basic package. Praying your husband finds another job soon. 🙏
I definitely understand on disability I own my home and car I live modest and im grateful
New subscriber and I’m living on a 1500.00 monthly budget for 1..it’s can be done.. I’m saving little by little .. it took me over a year to save $1000.. now I’m working on another $1000 it’s not easy on a survivor SS income but I treat savings as a monthly bill.. I also do a once a month inventory of my food at the end of every month which enables me to do 2-4 week pantry challenges because I stockpile because I can’t drive and use para- transit ..which is the best transportation every created for people who are disabled….I was a single mom of 2 now adult kids and I always had to tuck a few dollars so I’m use to it..I often here people say they struggle on SS well I been on it my whole life and it’s a struggle but you must have a budget.. I’m not on welfare at all and my rent is 750.00 alone in a 2 br and that’s cheap….I’m looking forward to following you and learning more tips you may have…Blessings to you and your family .ps.. for give the spelling errors it’s late..
Just came across your channel. Sounds like you would make a great real estate investor. You know how to find fixer uppers. You can do repairs yourself which is amazing and shaves tons of money off of rehab. I know it isn’t for everyone but it was a thought as I was watching your video. You can make a great income. Money isn’t everything but it sure helps.
Believe and Keep going. Try as long as possible not selling your home.
Debt free is key. Our bare bones budget is $2100, which includes a $715 property tax bill every month (smallish in comparison to other municipalities in our county). There is no escaping the high property taxes unless I move.
Woah!!!!!!!!!! Is this highway robbery or is your home valued at over 1.5 million?? We pay about $300 with a house value of about 575,000.
I wish. $500K value. In my state tax payers shoulder the brunt of public school tuition. $3800 of our taxes are school tax. The rest is municipal, county and library tax.
@@debbieacevedo7571 Shocking!!!
Ur in NYS?
@@YeshuaKingMessiah Close.
That's my normal monthly budget, with a house payment being 1/3 of it, give or take a little.
You have made wise decisions. You live in an environment compatible for gardening.
Yes! I definitely need to start growing some edible plants!
@@raisingwildflowers some “weeds” are edible. Sorrel, lamb quarters, dandelion, etc
I respect you so much. You are one strong woman, and you have much wisdom to share. God bless!
You’re in a very good position. But, I do wonder how safe your neighborhood is at those prices.
I bought a house within 15 minutes of the beach in Stuart fl for 160K in 2004. It also was the cheapest house in the neighborhood and was a fixer upper. We did most of the work ourselves except for electrical and new roof. We paid it off in 15 years. But, now, though we’re mortgage free, our real estate taxes are $4400 a year and our homeowners insurance went up from $4000 to $7000 in 2022.
So, though our house is paid for. Taxes and insurance are about $1000 per month. Unless we get the states garbage insurance, the insurance companies are the only option and they’re robbing homeowners.
The houses are now selling for around $400k.
But, if we sell, where do we go for a fairly comparable and safe neighborhood and not pay inflated prices.
We’re seriously looking at cashing out a relocating to a loser cost country. Bye bye USA.
We live in a safe neighborhood. Definitely something we considered when purchasing while having kids. We needed a safe area so I felt comfortable with my teens walking places on their own.
Good that you got your first house cheaper and done it up. Also good that you don't have any debt. I to am working on having no debt. Then my plan is to save for a house deposit. I currently live in the UK. I rent a one bed house. It is over £600 per month.
Your house insurance figure really shocked me - but then it made sense when you explained about the hurricanes. I live in NZ, and we have had two major cyclone events so far this year, causing massive flooding and damage, so insurances here are probably going to see large increases.
Your so intelligent and very smart not to have debt your doing a awesome job ❤❤
Good for you on selling the reno and using it to buy a house in cash!! 🎉🎉🎉 That’s awesome!
Hi I pressed the bell but didn’t see a subscription button ? I’ve in joyed this video. 3 of us here live on 1,470.00 a month. It’s hard sometimes but we make do.
If you pressed the bell, you should be notified whenever I post a new video ❤️ Living on so little can definitely be hard.
I have so much respect for you!
Thank you 😊
Thanks for the pointers. Lost all my retirement in divorce and became disabled at the same time, at age 50. Looking for all tips to try to survive old age.
Also, you can use credit card rewards to further save on your expenses. (just make sure you pay off the credit cards on time)
You are a very wise woman Katie! Well done!! 👏👏👏 Very inspirational.
Food is usually the biggest variable for me. I spend about 200 a month on food... my roommate probably spends 400 to 600 a month (throws a lot away and eats out a lot). I do not have a mortgage but have the Florida taxes and homeowners insurance along with the annual termite fees, and other maintenance fees. We never turn on the heat since FP&L took over the local electric company.. the rates went way up! I have to say your budget is down to the bare bones for so many people. The best thing is to be debt free.. but most people don't think two minutes beyond the end of their nose.
You are my goals!
Watching your videos has actually moved me to look into spending half of what I spend now, on groceries. Thanks!
Yay!!!😁
Thank you soo much your family is doing a great job take us on your side hustles
Here in Phoenix, we will have weather that hits afoot 115-118 degrees multiple times in the summer… we also have our heating at 80 degrees and it feels amazing when you come into 80 degrees from what is almost 40 degrees hotter. 😅 when we leave the apartment, we often keep it at 83 degrees.
Not heating* … I meant air conditioning LOL
Our apartment maintenance crew have often thought they misunderstood us when we said we kept it at 80 degrees, and they will often drop it down to around 73 degrees… warmer apartment is unfathomable for a lot of people
I have2 layers of clear bubble wrap on my windows. I can still see out some, the sun comes in and it saves me a TON. Twindows a supposedly double pane but they are crap. I got the bubble wrap at Dollar Tree. Took me weeks but its truly amazing .
I hope you can buy new windows soon!
I think you're doing great. Having no rent or mortgage is very freeing for your family just now. In Canada, the average rent is over $2000/month for a 1 bdrm apartment. (You read that correctly) Housing affordability is so unfair at the moment. I am very blessed to have been able to afford to buy our home 3 years ago as our mortgage is reasonable (for now - we are required in Canada to renew, so our mortgage will go up in 2025 if interest rates stay high).
What is high is relative. In Singapore a 1 bedroom condo would be at least 3K USD per month. Rents have gone up globally.
You might be able to get ACP connectivity discount, a federal discount of $30/house hold depending on your income. It was easy to sign up. It was an official govt site.
I had not heard of this. Thank you!
@@raisingwildflowers It gives you money off either a cell line or an internet line. you are very welcome. lmk if you need help finding it.
No mortgage u r blessed compared to most people now days
U guys should try nys
In *2000* my monthly tax and fire ins was $350 a month lol
My house was worth $100-120K, never had a claim on it. The lot was large for a village lot but no more than 3/4 acre. Too small to split off the empty side space or I would have.
Most who can’t survive during this economy should watch your video for affordability in this current inflation in America
No house payment and no car payment is freedom.
I have no car payment but do have a mortgage.
Costs here are higher overall.
Great budget.
I live in Edgewater, not too far from you guys and ironically we’ve got some of the most expensive water. For my boyfriend and myself, our water and electric are averaging $130-$150 each per month. This month, our water was more than our electric.
And girl, I feel ya when you said the drivers aren’t safe here 🤦🏻♀️
Right?! I don't understand why water is so expensive here. It is crazy. We looked at homes in Edgewater before we moved down here :) We really wanted to live in New Smyrna, but never found anything worth buying that we could afford lol.
I just watched a video telling how much insurance will be going up in 2023 in Florida. I also live in florida and my house insurance has doubled in the 6 years since I bought my home
I remember when it was just you and your two girls!
Wow
Nice to see you back again
Congratulations on the good buy of you’re first house. I hope to get this ass well with my appartement in Amsterdam! Wish me luck 🍀
Good luck!! ❤️
Very cool you are tracking your spendings. I think you are on a survival budget though. To be more long term, you need to factor in replacement costs for household appliances, car repairs, some toys for kids, family vacation, etc. Those won't be too much if you average them out per month, but will push you above 1.5K :)
I’m a native Swede living in Sweden, and (district) heating + water is included in rent (monthly fee if you’re a homeowner) 😦
Great to see you 💛😊
Being debt free sure takes a lot of pressure off when times get tough.
Excellent detail, context and explanation of how you save money. Very helpful to anyone!
To help with your food find your local food bank and church pantry.
I’m in Arizona. I rent and this place is the cheapest I could find back in 2019. Right now I pay 1021 but will go up in April. My only income is social security. Gas just went up to $4.29/gal. I only drive to the store and back. Car insurance is horrible. I’ve never had a wreck but it’s probably high because of my age. I’ve been stocking up on food for the past year. Still, I can spend $100 easy and come home with just a couple of bags and no meat. No cable but between my cell phone and internet, it’s still $100. Electricity is very expensive. I suspect this summer will be awful. It gets 115 to 120 here and I keep it to 80. Even now with not using the heat, it’s close to $80 and projected $90 for March! I commend you folks with families. Don’t know how you’re managing! 😢Take care everyone and just do the best you can! ❤
I love your budgeting.. and yes it's a big help for you because your house is paid for but, I'm concerned about the heat not being on because you have an infant. I mean sometimes it gets cold in Florida I understand that but, how cold can it stay for how long so why not put the heat on at least 60 or 50 you're not supposed to bundle up a baby real tight with clothing and blankets they need to have loose clothing when they're young like that so they can breathe.. so actually I agree with everything you're saying except about the heat because you have an infant.. best of luck to you and your beautiful family
Don't worry, we make sure our baby is very safe. Our house is actually very well insulated and even when it is in the 30's outside, it has never dropped below 60 inside. It, thankfully, only stays cold for a day or two before warming up again here. But in an emergency, we would definitely turn on the heat if we felt like our baby was unsafe.
@@raisingwildflowers that's good to hear out here in Illinois you have to have heat.. loved your video take care and God bless you all!!
I feel lucky that my bare-bones expenses total $1600/month as ONE person! Let alone 5. You're a Rockstar and you seem very sweet!
If you have consumer cellular there, and the towers work for your area, try that. It is a lot cheaper. We us eat in Denver.
I just found your channel. Very Interesting. I'm very impressed. Thanks for sharing your information. From Jacksonville, FL
Good for you guys!
You should consider food banks to supplement your groceries. Can any excess food you get & can’t eat immediately, especially since you live where having food put back for emergencies is very important.