For me January is always a 'Spend January'. That's when I buy the most of my Christmas shopping for next year, buy winter coats, winter boots. I know that next year I'm not gonna need the latest trend in coats and the fashion doesn't change so dramatically. I love discounted Christmas food too and Christmas decor. Last year our Christmas tree literally fell apart. We got a new one in January. We paid £15 down from £125.
@Sharlene-x4q I don't buy Christmas food for next Christmas 🤣 But we love gammon, turkey and pigs in blankets not just for Christmas 😁 So we buy them now and freeze them. Same goes for veg. They sell them now cheap and I have a big freezer, so what I get now will see us till February/March 😊
That lake and village are straight out of a fairy tale. Such idyllic settings make for perfect places for walking. We can almost breathe the good air just watching you walk out there.
January is technically a no spend month for us, but I will be spending $10-15 a week to restock some items in our small chest freezer. We defrosted it today and rotated some items such as bacon, chicken, milk, and breads into our kitchen freezer to use sooner rather than later. Every household should do what makes sense for that family. Happy New Year Mike and Jane.
I don’t do no spend months in the winter. Winter is when I get a lot of interior home projects done while the weather is cold outside. I wouldn’t say I spend a lot of money but the projects that I have to do, do cost something. Happy New Year!
We recently removed our bathtub and other BR fiberglass fixtures and replaced them with new vinyl/stone looking showers with sliding glass doors. Plenty of safety bars etc. Of course we had saved the $. I love home improvements especially if we don’t have to do the work. It looks like we’re staying in a nice hotel. It’s always great to have the money saved. 💙
I'm a teacher on winter break. I thought about projects to get done during this break from going out to work. Pantry has had a fresh coat of paint, and we are currently adding 6 more long shelves! I will be able to see at a quick glance what we are out of. As a working mom, I need the storage system so easy that anyone in the house can use the pantry easily. My daughter and son help cook meals and grocery shops. It's such good training on budgeting and being able to save money cooking at home. They are teenagers and have teenage friends over often. My treat was stocking up on 50% off chocolate.😂
Another perspective on the no/low buy concept is determining needs vs wants. You need to buy cleaners and you need to take care of your home. Doing so at the best possible price and time is just good economy. That money has already been budgeted to be spent and it doesn't care what month it is. The goal is best value for your resources. Regardless, we are all doing our best and cheering each other on as we go.
Was going to be a no spend January for me until a couple of my saucepans decided to have a handle wobble issue and then one side snapping the fixing bolt then the handle decided to fall off, breaking a lid on the way to the floor... bargain new set cost £54 instead of £85 so will now make it a low spend instead and February will be the full no spend month. Spring time is the bargain time for cleaning and washing supplies so I too buy a years worth of everything and stash it away. Pre Christmas is our bargain meat deals so the freezer gets filled with as much as I can fit in there. Happy 2025 everyone, may your bills be weeny and your savings grow nicely xx
We did the same when we renovated, buy the cheapest we could find to stay within a tiny budget, then as we saved, replace them one by one. We then sawed the doors lengthwise to make shelving for over doors for extra storage. 😊
I'm in the middle (still) of renovating my home. I've waited till now to order my kitchen & bathroom fixtures & fittings as I've noticed how much the prices drop after Christmas. Some of the things I've been tracking have gone down 65% that's a few pounds I think will be better in my pocket than theirs😁. Lovely video, the head 'band' really suits you. T.
We also spend in January. Everything Christmas goes on such good sales here in the US, that we buy what we need for the next year (as long as it doesn't expire before then). We buy some of our birthday and Christmas gifts for the next year while things are extremely cheap. And we have a certain fund we have filled for gifts so that we don't break the bank.
Hi Jane and Mike wishing you all the very best for 2025. Thanks for showing the lovely countryside where you live - it’s perfect. Thanks for all the help you give in helping get peoples finances in better shape 😊 x
Jane, I joined the live a few minutes late so I went back and watched the whole thing. Part of what I love about your channel is how you show that budgets/ plans change and aren’t written in stone. That’s in addition to the great ideas you offer, etc. We usually do three no spend months but this year we will be doing at least 6. Both of us have had to have surgeries in 2024 and those were quite expensive out of pocket even though we have insurance. (Nothing medical is cheap in the US) They managed to drain a good part of our medical savings so we will be replenishing. Thanks to being frugal and having the fund we didn’t have to go into debt. Though I don’t comment often I’ve watched your channel for quite some time. Thanks for all the great advice! Good luck on your projects! We wish you and Mike a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!!! Take care!
My sympathies. I had major dental expenses in 2024 even with dental insurance. January is definitely a no spend month for me. I usually do two a year, but may need to do a couple more. Best to you both and good luck on your healing journey.
I've noticed for me that the first 3 months of the year are the most expensive. Yearly bills/ syndic costs/other stuff/ somehow it all happens from January through March.
I’m not having a no spend January either! There are some diy jobs that are well over due and need to be done before they cost even more money… it is what it is! Thank you for all the work you put into your videos… they are always very informative :)
Hi Jane and Mike. What a lovely setting and those houses are beautifully placed. Must be nice waking up to that view every morning. So, a busy time ahead for you both, but at least you're retired and can slot it in as and when possible. Hope you get sorted with some good bargains. Love your head warmer by the way. Really suits you. 🤗
I like the idea of no spend January as a detox from the excess of December. But we always need to be working the long gane too. Doing what makes sense and sticking to it is best. Certain meats were on sale in US, but eggs are up to US$6 per dozen. I didn't look up if this is a local problem or nation wide. Salmonella recall for costco and bird flew outbreak at the egg farms!! Thanks for great video.
Your explanations are so good, thank you for taking us along. I'm going to have a half spend January.😂 Meaning after my bare bones budget I want to save half of what comes in and use the other half for things I've planned to get. I've got my exact sinking funds and regular savings set up for the coming year, which is a first, so, progress!😊
You sound like you have a busy year coming up. I loved doing projects like that when I was younger. I liked your idea of keeping receipts for 3 years to compare prices and so I can see what I've stocked up in the previous years during specific months. You are so on top of your finances and I'm always learning new ways to keep my money in my bank account instead of spending so much. Great view for your walks. Great video.
Hi Jane you live in a beautiful area. It would be my happy place to walk if I lived in that kind of area. I do a low spend January and February but I do allow myself to continue to buy the bargins at the supermarket. I have a second purse which always has at least £50 in it to allow me to take advantage of any of things that are deeply reduced that I know I will be able to use. At the moment this purse has nearly £300 in it so I should be able to really stock up. As I will be doing a pantry /freezer challage in January/February I will also have my food budget money to use as well. 🤞🤞🤞that the bargins are available here in the UK.
@@FrugalQueeninFrancecan’t wait to see what you manage to get to stock up and keep you yearly spending down. I total agree that using washing powder is much more economical than other forms of washing detergents. I find that I can wash most things on a 20 degree wash.
I stayed home in December and was very low spend because I'd taken my holiday with family in November. Then blizzard conditions kept pummeling our area so I simply did not go out more than i absolutely had to! So I'll be shopping for food and necessities after New Years! Hoping to hit some good sales! 🤗💜👍😌
Beautiful! I am doing no spend to force me to rotate my stuff. I did buy some stock ups yesterday on Christmas clearance. We just need to break some “wants” so they can be evaluated more reasonably. My wants have gotten carried away in the last year.
You are absolutely right to spend your money on things you need when they are on sale. I must say that I will have a no spend January and will probably also have a no spend February. I have so much food stuck up that I have to try to eat that food before buying new, except for some produce of course. And besides that I really have to declutter some of my spaces so I don’t want new things in either. Besides food I also have a lot of cleaning products, washing powder, shampoo etc so I will try to use them up first as well but if there are things on sale like deodorant e.g. I will definitely buy them. There are some of them in my stockpile but not enough to last me a year.
I have a sinking fund just for boxing day sales. This was the very first year I found no decent sales. So depending how you look at it is that a good or bad thing. Sadly the few items I was looking out for I now didn't buy. On the up side I didn't spend the money I saved. So instead of naming it boxing day spending I'm calling it when I spot a really good sale fund.
@FrugalQueeninFrance yes I have savings in many sinking funds ahead in most. Feels good. I like your channel because it's just nice to be reminded and see others who live the same. Pick up bits of things I'd not thought about. So thanks heaps
I am buying Christmas gift sets of toiletries and baking supplies- shampoos +conditioner, day + night face cream, vanilla sugar and baking powder, raisins in jumbo packiging.
Any of my attempts at "no spend" usually end up with a huge bill (like an emergency bank holiday vets visit for a very poorly dog!) So I have a "stingey all year round" apart from buying my seasonal (replacement) clothes in sales twice a year. Loving the lake dog walk.
Had the unexpected big vet bill last week for the cat! Scheduled surgery for old dog in Jan. Good thing we have chickens and can tolerate frequent quiches!
We have to do our up dates when the time is best. I was going to do a no spend January. Not going to happen. Eye appointments and glasses. My kitchen cabinets have had 20 plus years of wear. I'm going to repaint them. A few other things as well. We decided this was the best time because I don't want to be working on the house spring summer and fall, We Want to be outside. The budget is in place. I actually went below our Christmas budget.
I'm also NOT doing a no spend January. I accidentally (ie not planned in advance) did a no spend December due to having full freezers/storecupboard and being organised for Christmas in November. Thanks to your previous inspiration I also stock up when cleaning products etc are on offer. I'm also on the lookout to replace my bedroom carpet so I'll keep my eye on any January sales/deals there and use my savings if I find any. Fab video as always 🙂
Hi Jane and Mike, Thanks for sharing your walk with us. It's a beautiful area and lovely to see some lush green when all the deciduous trees in my area (southern Ontario, Canada) look dead lol. A helpful, thoughtful video as always.
Thank you Jane for the video it really make sense , I always buy in bulk whenever I have money it was good because the item was on special offer but I was overspending because that money was not budgeted for and I was left with nothing to pay bills.
I loved walking along with you and the doggies. Your reasons for spending in January make perfectly good sense, especially since you have already set aside the funds to make it happen. I have not been in the habit of saving my receipts, but I will begin doing that in 2025. I also will be doing a careful inventory of my two freezers, the intention of which is to eat up the older food first. I am very guilty of buying meat on sale and eating it then instead of rotating it with what is in the freezer. So the freezer stock gets even older. Thanks for your videos. I treasure your wisdom so very much. Diane
Make a list, stick to the front of the freezer. Then cross off what you've used. And add what you buy. Proteins/mains on left. Sides/ carbs on right. Makes meal planning slot easier
great entertainment and info as always Jane. On a personal note, your complexion looks wonderful what are your skin care secrets, will you share them with us as I guess they are all good value? Have just left France after 16 years and now on our last adventure to live in Spain so my elderly skin will need all the help it get !
My cooker has packed up after 18 years so I will be spending money on a new one and buying my son a coat in the sales so it won't be a no spend January. Meals will be simple with no treats after having treats for Christmas though. Thank you Jane and Mike, for your advice. I feel like you're mentors to me on my becoming more frugal journey. Watching your videos helps keep me on track.
You really live in a beautiful arena❤ I don’t do a no spend month, I prefer low spend months the whole year. To buy what is needed. We also want to retire early. We also don’t have a mortgage or debts. I recently found your channel and I like it especially while its European. I live in The Netherlands.
In the US January is a very tuff month for most any kind of retail. Where I am we don’t really get months w big sales. Actually, in AZ, we don’t seems to get sales on linens in January. We used to but haven’t seen any in yrs. Wishing u a good stock up. We have to do ours as we can. A few cans here n there. Happy New Year to all 😊🤗🙏🏻🇺🇸🇺🇸
AZ. as well. And I agree, we never seem to see linen sales. I haunt thrift stores for great bargains on sheets. I prefer the older heavier cotton,vintage if you will. With a king sized bed it is the only way to go. I really loved your walk around the lake.
Great video! Very candid, informative and friendly. Thanks for taking us along on your walk and chatting about how flexibility in a yearly budget is desirable. The money is there and you have the discretion to use it as makes the most sense. It reaffirms the wisdom of frugality in action all year to give you your best life. Lots to look forward to with your Winter project! Jan and Feb are dreary anyway so a project will make time fly by more quickly 😂
I have to have a no spend January because with the start of the year I have a new deductible to get past with my prescriptions. One of my scripts will be about $1,000 for 3 months! I also use the powdered detergent because it's less expensive. I crumble it through my hand to make sure there are no clumps. I appreciate all your tips. Have a wonderful new year!
Wow thank you for showing us that lovely scenery so beautiful. Sounds like you have busy times ahead but worth it in the end. Lovely video and happy new year ❤️❤️👍👍
Thanks for a really lovely video, lovely to see your environment...its pretty obvious that you/Mike spend such an amount of time working on your channel....top quality !! Im committed to a very low spend January,shopping locally,planning meals and not doing the usual online shop...i cut right back on laundry cost by substituting borax ..every couple of washes...HAPPY NEW YEAR to you both.
I am doing a low buy year. I will go on a vacation next summer, and looking at the pictures taken this Christmas - I need new curtains, or new to me.. Old worn out linen curtains, no matter how much I iron them, they will wrinkle again..
Been watching your channel for a long while now and I love it!! We’re from Nova Scotia, Canada and own a home in the 16500 region. We can’t be there as much as we’d like and your videos are a great way to keep current on the basics. Fantastic 😊
I am doing a no spend challenge hopefully for 12 weeks. Tonight I checked out Flash Food, To Good to Go, and Food Hero and got some tremendous deals. My freezers are getting low for the first rime in a long time. I have learned so very much from you. Thank you Jane and Mike.
Looks like a chilly and rainy day while walking the doggies. Enjoy 😊the wintery scenery and the birds 🐦. Great idea to swap things around, challenges the mind. ✔️ I have used laundry liquid for years and use small amounts, more economical. Just a question about the cute houses especially-why are they so cheap? Flood risk, summer insects 🦟 or modest income stream.?😮 Video the laminate flooring, sounds good 😊and that’s will make good viewing 👍 Have a fabulous New Year in Brittany ⛄️💐 Good talk and walk with the doggies. Thank you Jane and Mike for the lovely video ✔️🇦🇺.
@ Thank you for your reply. The very attractive houses 🏡 by the lake would cost considerable more than 200K euros in Australia 🇦🇺, maybe twice or even three times more. Houses and rent are very expensive and people are struggling in all states. I guess that’s why they appear to be cheap to Oz residents.
Many months ago the very inexpensive laundry powder was put on the clearance rack at Walmart. I have chemical sensitivites so I also have challenges finding cleaning products I can use. So I went ahead & bought about 10-11 bags while they were on mark down. I have used powdered detergent for years because its more economical, but its gradually becoming harder to find. Store would rather stock more pricey products (I assume they make more profit on these?)
Thanks for taking us on that lovely walk Jane and Mike, what a beautiful place! I have to avoid showing some of your videos to my other half as he’s French and wants to move back😂! Really appreciate your videos, I’ve said this before but you have really made a big difference to my life, thank you - you are appreciated!❤❤
What a nice walk and beautiful video! If I have a necessary expenditure during the "month without expenses", it is important for me to schedule a "month without expenses" at another time of year, to keep the saving routine. Sometimes I can’t save as much, but I stand firm on this "month without spending".
I also stock up on January sales on various pantry staples and meat ( ie turkey is greatly reduced after the holidays as are some pork roasts etc) and instead do a no spend February. But I have planned on at least 10 no spend days in January nonetheless. This year I also decided to do a no spend on clothing and shoes for the whole year as I have more than enough to get me through the year and same with toiletries etc. ( time to use up all those samples I got at the pharmacy or when travelling and products gifted to me!) I will stock up a bit on toilet paper and cleaners after my inventory of what I have and if the sales that usually occur in January on those products are good. I have also decided to go through all of my xmas decorations and either gift to other younger family members if they would like a few items or donate them to my mom’s care facility - decorations I don’t use that are still in great shape. When my aunt passed I got her stuff so added to my mom’s stuff now that she is in care and my stuff there is just too much. It’s my January project! Looking forward to a new year of great videos ! Wishing you and Mike and the fur babies a great 2025 filled with health and happiness.
You live in such a beautiful place ❤ It's necessary spending Jane - house maintenance , even basic stuff - is so expensive. But better quality - if you can afford it - pays off in the long run . Happy New Year
The offers in France are not as good as last year! In January 2024 I got BOGOF clothes washing liquid, fabric conditioner and Dishwasher tablets in Nettos. January 2025 its 60% off the second item. I still have some left from last year, as I did buy a years worth. I wont be rushing to Nettos as the cost of fuel for the specific journey currently negates the savings. I am holding out for the pork fest though. I have no pork left at all. Im hoping to make a years worth of sausages and chipolatas. I will also aim to get quite a few chops and a couple of roasting joints. I have made space in the freezer specially for the pork offers.
As always great content and ideas for the new year and beyond. Love your little dogs. I would love to be able to do things around the house . It costs a fortune have having everything done by tradesmen. Can’t wait to see your new floors upstairs!
👋 I don't comment much. Just wanted to say thank you for the work you put in the channel. I really enjoy your content. Have a good new year when it comes 🎉
oh wow nice projects. We may or may not have a no spend. Need some winter hats etc so will need to check out sales for that….. As for food …..depends what is on sale and if we need it. We have a 15% off total bill each on the first tue of each month. Will take that in and I have some money on my store cards as well. Again will see what there is on sale then. Thanks
For me January is always a 'Spend January'. That's when I buy the most of my Christmas shopping for next year, buy winter coats, winter boots. I know that next year I'm not gonna need the latest trend in coats and the fashion doesn't change so dramatically. I love discounted Christmas food too and Christmas decor. Last year our Christmas tree literally fell apart. We got a new one in January. We paid £15 down from £125.
Bargain!
I could go along with all that except the Christmas food. Don't know that I'd buy that ahead of time 😂😂😂
@Sharlene-x4q I don't buy Christmas food for next Christmas 🤣
But we love gammon, turkey and pigs in blankets not just for Christmas 😁
So we buy them now and freeze them. Same goes for veg. They sell them now cheap and I have a big freezer, so what I get now will see us till February/March 😊
@@Sharlene-x4q😂😂😂that’s made me laugh! 👏
@@SuperDancingDthat’s so funny imagine buying that far ahead 😂. I think you’re doing all the right things 👏🤩
Thank you for taking us along on your walk. It was a pleasure seeing your beautiful countryside.
@@paulasimson4939 thanks for watching
That lake and village are straight out of a fairy tale. Such idyllic settings make for perfect places for walking. We can almost breathe the good air just watching you walk out there.
It's adorable. When we saw the like, we knew this place was for us
January is technically a no spend month for us, but I will be spending $10-15 a week to restock some items in our small chest freezer. We defrosted it today and rotated some items such as bacon, chicken, milk, and breads into our kitchen freezer to use sooner rather than later. Every household should do what makes sense for that family. Happy New Year Mike and Jane.
Thanks for sharing
I don’t do no spend months in the winter. Winter is when I get a lot of interior home projects done while the weather is cold outside. I wouldn’t say I spend a lot of money but the projects that I have to do, do cost something. Happy New Year!
We recently removed our bathtub and other BR fiberglass fixtures and replaced them with new vinyl/stone looking showers with sliding glass doors. Plenty of safety bars etc. Of course we had saved the $. I love home improvements especially if we don’t have to do the work. It looks like we’re staying in a nice hotel. It’s always great to have the money saved. 💙
I'm a teacher on winter break. I thought about projects to get done during this break from going out to work. Pantry has had a fresh coat of paint, and we are currently adding 6 more long shelves! I will be able to see at a quick glance what we are out of. As a working mom, I need the storage system so easy that anyone in the house can use the pantry easily. My daughter and son help cook meals and grocery shops. It's such good training on budgeting and being able to save money cooking at home. They are teenagers and have teenage friends over often. My treat was stocking up on 50% off chocolate.😂
Thanks for sharing
Smart cookie!😂
Agreed to the half price chocs!!
Another perspective on the no/low buy concept is determining needs vs wants. You need to buy cleaners and you need to take care of your home. Doing so at the best possible price and time is just good economy. That money has already been budgeted to be spent and it doesn't care what month it is. The goal is best value for your resources. Regardless, we are all doing our best and cheering each other on as we go.
Thanks for sharing
Was going to be a no spend January for me until a couple of my saucepans decided to have a handle wobble issue and then one side snapping the fixing bolt then the handle decided to fall off, breaking a lid on the way to the floor... bargain new set cost £54 instead of £85 so will now make it a low spend instead and February will be the full no spend month. Spring time is the bargain time for cleaning and washing supplies so I too buy a years worth of everything and stash it away. Pre Christmas is our bargain meat deals so the freezer gets filled with as much as I can fit in there. Happy 2025 everyone, may your bills be weeny and your savings grow nicely xx
Oh I absolutely love this video and the walk around the lake. More of this please!!
We did the same when we renovated, buy the cheapest we could find to stay within a tiny budget, then as we saved, replace them one by one. We then sawed the doors lengthwise to make shelving for over doors for extra storage. 😊
I'm in the middle (still) of renovating my home. I've waited till now to order my kitchen & bathroom fixtures & fittings as I've noticed how much the prices drop after Christmas. Some of the things I've been tracking have gone down 65% that's a few pounds I think will be better in my pocket than theirs😁. Lovely video, the head 'band' really suits you. T.
Thanks so much
Good to know..we need to replace the fancy kitchen faucet..
***greetings from Minnesota, USA! And Happy New Year!***
Thank you
Looking very smart today - I like the outfit!
We also spend in January. Everything Christmas goes on such good sales here in the US, that we buy what we need for the next year (as long as it doesn't expire before then). We buy some of our birthday and Christmas gifts for the next year while things are extremely cheap. And we have a certain fund we have filled for gifts so that we don't break the bank.
Hi Jane and Mike wishing you all the very best for 2025. Thanks for showing the lovely countryside where you live - it’s perfect. Thanks for all the help you give in helping get peoples finances in better shape 😊 x
Thank you so much for the inspiration. Best wishes from Holland!
Marian
You are so welcome!
Jane, I joined the live a few minutes late so I went back and watched the whole thing. Part of what I love about your channel is how you show that budgets/ plans change and aren’t written in stone. That’s in addition to the great ideas you offer, etc. We usually do three no spend months but this year we will be doing at least 6. Both of us have had to have surgeries in 2024 and those were quite expensive out of pocket even though we have insurance. (Nothing medical is cheap in the US) They managed to drain a good part of our medical savings so we will be replenishing. Thanks to being frugal and having the fund we didn’t have to go into debt. Though I don’t comment often I’ve watched your channel for quite some time. Thanks for all the great advice! Good luck on your projects! We wish you and Mike a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!!! Take care!
Thanks and wishing for good recovery
You definitely recover better when you're not stressed out over the bills! Emergency fund - because life happens! 😊
My sympathies. I had major dental expenses in 2024 even with dental insurance. January is definitely a no spend month for me. I usually do two a year, but may need to do a couple more. Best to you both and good luck on your healing journey.
Good plan. One has to be flexible to be frugal.
I've noticed for me that the first 3 months of the year are the most expensive. Yearly bills/ syndic costs/other stuff/ somehow it all happens from January through March.
I’m not having a no spend January either! There are some diy jobs that are well over due and need to be done before they cost even more money… it is what it is! Thank you for all the work you put into your videos… they are always very informative :)
Thank you for watching
I thoroughly enjoyed your walk around the lake! Thanks for the small stroll in France while I am in Ohio.
Glad you enjoyed it
Hi Jane and Mike. What a lovely setting and those houses are beautifully placed. Must be nice waking up to that view every morning. So, a busy time ahead for you both, but at least you're retired and can slot it in as and when possible. Hope you get sorted with some good bargains. Love your head warmer by the way. Really suits you. 🤗
Thanks, it's a ten minute walk from our house
All makes perfect sense to me Jane I enjoyed the walk also ❤
I like the idea of no spend January as a detox from the excess of December. But we always need to be working the long gane too. Doing what makes sense and sticking to it is best. Certain meats were on sale in US, but eggs are up to US$6 per dozen. I didn't look up if this is a local problem or nation wide. Salmonella recall for costco and bird flew outbreak at the egg farms!! Thanks for great video.
Yes renovations or up keeping a home is $. Always love how you Reel us back into reality costs.🎉😂🎉🎉
Your explanations are so good, thank you for taking us along. I'm going to have a half spend January.😂 Meaning after my bare bones budget I want to save half of what comes in and use the other half for things I've planned to get. I've got my exact sinking funds and regular savings set up for the coming year, which is a first, so, progress!😊
You can do it!
Well done!
You sound like you have a busy year coming up. I loved doing projects like that when I was younger. I liked your idea of keeping receipts for 3 years to compare prices and so I can see what I've stocked up in the previous years during specific months. You are so on top of your finances and I'm always learning new ways to keep my money in my bank account instead of spending so much. Great view for your walks. Great video.
Thanks, you too!
Hi Jane you live in a beautiful area. It would be my happy place to walk if I lived in that kind of area. I do a low spend January and February but I do allow myself to continue to buy the bargins at the supermarket. I have a second purse which always has at least £50 in it to allow me to take advantage of any of things that are deeply reduced that I know I will be able to use. At the moment this purse has nearly £300 in it so I should be able to really stock up. As I will be doing a pantry /freezer challage in January/February I will also have my food budget money to use as well. 🤞🤞🤞that the bargins are available here in the UK.
We do that too and keep a bit aside
@@FrugalQueeninFrancecan’t wait to see what you manage to get to stock up and keep you yearly spending down. I total agree that using washing powder is much more economical than other forms of washing detergents. I find that I can wash most things on a 20 degree wash.
Great advice Jane, we love to hear when the bargains become available in France
Bonne anneé
I stayed home in December and was very low spend because I'd taken my holiday with family in November. Then blizzard conditions kept pummeling our area so I simply did not go out more than i absolutely had to! So I'll be shopping for food and necessities after New Years! Hoping to hit some good sales! 🤗💜👍😌
I agree. There are lots of GREAT bargains in January.
Thanks for taking us on your lovely walk!
Glad you enjoyed it
Lovely walk by the lake today! Thanks for taking us along. It eased the shocking news of January being a spend month!😊
Glad you enjoyed it
Glad you enjoyed it
Beautiful!
I am doing no spend to force me to rotate my stuff. I did buy some stock ups yesterday on Christmas clearance.
We just need to break some “wants” so they can be evaluated more reasonably. My wants have gotten carried away in the last year.
@@jabow1878 good luck
Put a coat of paint on the walls whilst the rooms are bare. If nothing else, just fresen up the trim.
The sales on food aren't so good here, but the sales on useless junk are limitless
😂😂
Wise and true!!!
No doubt.
Dear Jane and Mike, wish you a Happy New 2025 Year full of projects and videos.
@@Lilou-y9z thank youn
You look so cute in your coat and hat!
Thanks 😅
Lovely setting! I enjoyed your walk.
Glad you enjoyed it
You are absolutely right to spend your money on things you need when they are on sale. I must say that I will have a no spend January and will probably also have a no spend February. I have so much food stuck up that I have to try to eat that food before buying new, except for some produce of course. And besides that I really have to declutter some of my spaces so I don’t want new things in either. Besides food I also have a lot of cleaning products, washing powder, shampoo etc so I will try to use them up first as well but if there are things on sale like deodorant e.g. I will definitely buy them. There are some of them in my stockpile but not enough to last me a year.
@@carlienvandernet7902 thanks for sharing
I have a sinking fund just for boxing day sales. This was the very first year I found no decent sales. So depending how you look at it is that a good or bad thing. Sadly the few items I was looking out for I now didn't buy. On the up side I didn't spend the money I saved. So instead of naming it boxing day spending I'm calling it when I spot a really good sale fund.
It's always good to have savings
@FrugalQueeninFrance yes I have savings in many sinking funds ahead in most. Feels good. I like your channel because it's just nice to be reminded and see others who live the same. Pick up bits of things I'd not thought about. So thanks heaps
Hi happy new year...ive always got a no spend...no clothes i dont go out...my no spend will be in feb..on food..
I am buying Christmas gift sets of toiletries and baking supplies- shampoos +conditioner, day + night face cream, vanilla sugar and baking powder, raisins in jumbo packiging.
Sounds great!
Any of my attempts at "no spend" usually end up with a huge bill (like an emergency bank holiday vets visit for a very poorly dog!) So I have a "stingey all year round" apart from buying my seasonal (replacement) clothes in sales twice a year. Loving the lake dog walk.
Had the unexpected big vet bill last week for the cat! Scheduled surgery for old dog in Jan. Good thing we have chickens and can tolerate frequent quiches!
We have to do our up dates when the time is best. I was going to do a no spend January. Not going to happen. Eye appointments and glasses. My kitchen cabinets have had 20 plus years of wear. I'm going to repaint them. A few other things as well. We decided this was the best time because I don't want to be working on the house spring summer and fall, We Want to be outside. The budget is in place. I actually went below our Christmas budget.
Sounds great!
I'm also NOT doing a no spend January. I accidentally (ie not planned in advance) did a no spend December due to having full freezers/storecupboard and being organised for Christmas in November. Thanks to your previous inspiration I also stock up when cleaning products etc are on offer. I'm also on the lookout to replace my bedroom carpet so I'll keep my eye on any January sales/deals there and use my savings if I find any. Fab video as always 🙂
@@aliliveswellonless thanks Ali
Hi Jane and Mike, Thanks for sharing your walk with us. It's a beautiful area and lovely to see some lush green when all the deciduous trees in my area (southern Ontario, Canada) look dead lol. A helpful, thoughtful video as always.
Thank you
Thank you for this lovely walk and talk!
Happy New Year Everyone
Thank you Jane for the video it really make sense , I always buy in bulk whenever I have money it was good because the item was on special offer but I was overspending because that money was not budgeted for and I was left with nothing to pay bills.
@@brendavilane6183 thanks Brenda
I loved walking along with you and the doggies. Your reasons for spending in January make perfectly good sense, especially since you have already set aside the funds to make it happen. I have not been in the habit of saving my receipts, but I will begin doing that in 2025. I also will be doing a careful inventory of my two freezers, the intention of which is to eat up the older food first. I am very guilty of buying meat on sale and eating it then instead of rotating it with what is in the freezer. So the freezer stock gets even older. Thanks for your videos. I treasure your wisdom so very much. Diane
Thanks Diane
Make a list, stick to the front of the freezer.
Then cross off what you've used.
And add what you buy.
Proteins/mains on left.
Sides/ carbs on right.
Makes meal planning slot easier
@@amberatartimec2564 I love this idea! Thanks so very much. Diane
great entertainment and info as always Jane. On a personal note, your complexion looks wonderful what are your skin care secrets, will you share them with us as I guess they are all good value? Have just left France after 16 years and now on our last adventure to live in Spain so my elderly skin will need all the help it get !
@@carolkenworthy929 cerave moisturizer and a olive oil savon de Marseille
My cooker has packed up after 18 years so I will be spending money on a new one and buying my son a coat in the sales so it won't be a no spend January. Meals will be simple with no treats after having treats for Christmas though. Thank you Jane and Mike, for your advice. I feel like you're mentors to me on my becoming more frugal journey. Watching your videos helps keep me on track.
Happy to help
Good winter projects! It feels good to make progress. I never do a no spend January. That is my sale and stock up time normally.
That's a great idea!
Excited to see what kind of deals you get on your food shop!
Us too!
Beautiful! I enjoyed watching this video immensely ❤
I'm so glad!
Thats great Jane your January finds and house stuff you're doing.
@@gladyschandler6724 thank you
You really live in a beautiful arena❤
I don’t do a no spend month, I prefer low spend months the whole year. To buy what is needed. We also want to retire early. We also don’t have a mortgage or debts. I recently found your channel and I like it especially while its European. I live in The Netherlands.
In the US January is a very tuff month for most any kind of retail. Where I am we don’t really get months w big sales. Actually, in AZ, we don’t seems to get sales on linens in January. We used to but haven’t seen any in yrs. Wishing u a good stock up. We have to do ours as we can. A few cans here n there. Happy New Year to all 😊🤗🙏🏻🇺🇸🇺🇸
Thanks for sharing
AZ. as well. And I agree, we never seem to see linen sales. I haunt thrift stores for great bargains on sheets. I prefer the older heavier cotton,vintage if you will. With a king sized bed it is the only way to go.
I really loved your walk around the lake.
I enjoyed this. Lovely to see your local area. I agree with your view to stock up.
Thanks for watching!
Great video! Very candid, informative and friendly. Thanks for taking us along on your walk and chatting about how flexibility in a yearly budget is desirable. The money is there and you have the discretion to use it as makes the most sense. It reaffirms the wisdom of frugality in action all year to give you your best life. Lots to look forward to with your Winter project! Jan and Feb are dreary anyway so a project will make time fly by more quickly 😂
Glad you enjoyed it!
I have to have a no spend January because with the start of the year I have a new deductible to get past with my prescriptions. One of my scripts will be about $1,000 for 3 months! I also use the powdered detergent because it's less expensive. I crumble it through my hand to make sure there are no clumps. I appreciate all your tips. Have a wonderful new year!
Thank you
Wishing you and Mike a very happy new year. Thank you for encouraging and teaching us to be frugal.
Our pleasure!
Thank you Jane. Lovely walk and video
Glad you enjoyed it
Wow thank you for showing us that lovely scenery so beautiful. Sounds like you have busy times ahead but worth it in the end. Lovely video and happy new year ❤️❤️👍👍
Thanks
Sounds Ike a busy next few months. Happy New Year to you and yours.
Happy new year!
Thanks for a really lovely video, lovely to see your environment...its pretty obvious that you/Mike spend such an amount of time working on your channel....top quality !! Im committed to a very low spend January,shopping locally,planning meals and not doing the usual online shop...i cut right back on laundry cost by substituting borax ..every couple of washes...HAPPY NEW YEAR to you both.
Many thanks!
I buy ground pork 5.99 a pound and make a great ragu with it.
I enjoyed this walk. Happy New Year!
Glad you enjoyed it
Looking forward to seeing your projects. I had to look twice to make sure that what I saw about not doing a no spend month in Jan. was true!!! LOL
Beautiful place to walk. Thank you Dolly, Mary, Jane and Mike. Happy New Year to you and puppies.
Thank you
I am doing a low buy year. I will go on a vacation next summer, and looking at the pictures taken this Christmas - I need new curtains, or new to me.. Old worn out linen curtains, no matter how much I iron them, they will wrinkle again..
@@ibislife thank you
Been watching your channel for a long while now and I love it!!
We’re from Nova Scotia, Canada and own a home in the 16500 region.
We can’t be there as much as we’d like and your videos are a great way to keep current on the basics.
Fantastic 😊
Oh wow!
Enjoyed your walk around the lake this morning! I look forward to seeing your projects and stock ups in the new year! ❤
Thank you! You too!
Beautiful walk Jane and beautiful countryside. Good luck with your renovations. I'm sure it will be beautiful when finished.
Thank you so much!
Really enjoy your channel. Happy New year to you both
Thanks so much
You are such a joy to watch. I have learned so much. Thank you❤ Happy New Year 🎉
Thank you
I am doing a no spend challenge hopefully for 12 weeks. Tonight I checked out Flash Food, To Good to Go, and Food Hero and got some tremendous deals. My freezers are getting low for the first rime in a long time. I have learned so very much from you. Thank you Jane and Mike.
Good luck!
Pretty scenery!
That was an excellent video. It’s great to see your surroundings. Lovely.
Thank you
Thank you
Looks like a chilly and rainy day while walking the doggies. Enjoy 😊the wintery scenery and the birds 🐦.
Great idea to swap things around, challenges the mind. ✔️
I have used laundry liquid for years and use small amounts, more economical.
Just a question about the cute houses especially-why are they so cheap? Flood risk, summer insects 🦟 or modest income stream.?😮
Video the laminate flooring, sounds good 😊and that’s will make good viewing 👍
Have a fabulous New Year in Brittany ⛄️💐
Good talk and walk with the doggies.
Thank you Jane and Mike for the lovely video ✔️🇦🇺.
They're not cheap, that's the cost of housing here.
@
Thank you for your reply.
The very attractive houses 🏡 by the lake would cost considerable more than 200K euros in Australia 🇦🇺, maybe twice or even three times more. Houses and rent are very expensive and people are struggling in all states.
I guess that’s why they appear to be cheap to Oz residents.
Many months ago the very inexpensive laundry powder was put on the clearance rack at Walmart. I have chemical sensitivites so I also have challenges finding cleaning products I can use. So I went ahead & bought about 10-11 bags while they were on mark down. I have used powdered detergent for years because its more economical, but its gradually becoming harder to find. Store would rather stock more pricey products (I assume they make more profit on these?)
Thanks Jane and Mike. Happy New year 🎉
Happy new year!
Beautiful scenery. I'll not be doing a no-spend January, either. For similar reasons as you. Great tips.
Evening Jane and Mike nice to see you both looking forward to January with a lot of diy ahead - cuteys looking great
Thanks so much
Thanks for taking us on that lovely walk Jane and Mike, what a beautiful place! I have to avoid showing some of your videos to my other half as he’s French and wants to move back😂! Really appreciate your videos, I’ve said this before but you have really made a big difference to my life, thank you - you are appreciated!❤❤
@@lemonteapot1061 thank you so much ☺️
What a nice walk and beautiful video! If I have a necessary expenditure during the "month without expenses", it is important for me to schedule a "month without expenses" at another time of year, to keep the saving routine. Sometimes I can’t save as much, but I stand firm on this "month without spending".
I also stock up on January sales on various pantry staples and meat ( ie turkey is greatly reduced after the holidays as are some pork roasts etc) and instead do a no spend February. But I have planned on at least 10 no spend days in January nonetheless. This year I also decided to do a no spend on clothing and shoes for the whole year as I have more than enough to get me through the year and same with toiletries etc. ( time to use up all those samples I got at the pharmacy or when travelling and products gifted to me!) I will stock up a bit on toilet paper and cleaners after my inventory of what I have and if the sales that usually occur in January on those products are good. I have also decided to go through all of my xmas decorations and either gift to other younger family members if they would like a few items or donate them to my mom’s care facility - decorations I don’t use that are still in great shape. When my aunt passed I got her stuff so added to my mom’s stuff now that she is in care and my stuff there is just too much. It’s my January project! Looking forward to a new year of great videos ! Wishing you and Mike and the fur babies a great 2025 filled with health and happiness.
Thank you
You live in such a beautiful place ❤ It's necessary spending Jane - house maintenance , even basic stuff - is so expensive. But better quality - if you can afford it - pays off in the long run . Happy New Year
Hello from Virginia 🗽🇺🇸. On the replay, but happy for this episode.
I really enjoy your videos Jane. I learn so much. Wishing you and Mike a very Happy New Year. Love to the fur babies.❤❤
Happy new year!
The offers in France are not as good as last year! In January 2024 I got BOGOF clothes washing liquid, fabric conditioner and Dishwasher tablets in Nettos. January 2025 its 60% off the second item. I still have some left from last year, as I did buy a years worth. I wont be rushing to Nettos as the cost of fuel for the specific journey currently negates the savings.
I am holding out for the pork fest though. I have no pork left at all. Im hoping to make a years worth of sausages and chipolatas. I will also aim to get quite a few chops and a couple of roasting joints. I have made space in the freezer specially for the pork offers.
Very true! Look at super U for the best laundry offers so far.
As always great content and ideas for the new year and beyond. Love your little dogs. I would love to be able to do things around the house . It costs a fortune have having everything done by tradesmen. Can’t wait to see your new floors upstairs!
We've NEVER had enough money to pay anyone so we've learned how
Beautiful scenery. It's great to see you and the doggies enjoying it. Love your cosy knitted headband.....it really suits you. ❤
Thank you! 😊
👋 I don't comment much. Just wanted to say thank you for the work you put in the channel. I really enjoy your content. Have a good new year when it comes 🎉
Thanks, you too!
What a gorgeous area you live in❤
Thank you
Enjoyed the video. Happy New Year!
oh wow nice projects. We may or may not have a no spend. Need some winter hats etc so will need to check out sales for that….. As for food …..depends what is on sale and if we need it. We have a 15% off total bill each on the first tue of each month. Will take that in and I have some money on my store cards as well. Again will see what there is on sale then. Thanks
I love your beautiful area in France. Happy New Year!❤🎉
Thank you 😊