I did a no spend year. Just necessities (I had so much ) got rid of so much that year and saved 20k it blew my mind. May not sound like much but I only work part time so I thought that was great.
That is amazing savings!! And very inspiring. 💕 I think a no spend year is something I’d like to do when the boys are grown. Kids just come with so many financial variables haha. The last couple years I’ve chose 10 things or so that I choose not to buy in a year and it is helping me keep myself in check with impulse buying and developing better shopping habits. A no spend year is the ultimate challenge though. 😍
@@SimplifyingTheSatherns oh, I absolutely agree I did my no spend year when my kids were much older. I was mentally ready and determined as well. That’s when I also did a decluttering of every inch and cranny of this house. I literally felt such a load off my shoulder and felt so full of happiness. Plus the savings. Honestly since then I’ve become much more conscious of my money and quality vs. quantity. Your such a doll 🙋🏻♀️🍂🍁🍂
I swear the big freezer is a great way to waste food. For us, once something is in there and out of sight, it’s way too easy to forget. Appreciated this video and am motivated to do a similar experiment here next month!
Oh totally. 😅 Thankfully we haven’t ever had to throw away anything. But some days the garage where the big freezer is may as well be the other side of the world. 🤣 I’m glad the freezer and I got close again and I have a better idea of what’s going on in there. I highly recommend some freezer quality time haha. Thanks for watching and your comment. 😁💕
My daughter-in-law created a dry erase form we keep on each freezer for what is in it, broken down by type of meat or fruit or veg, and how much of each- we just wipe off amount and write down the new amount when we remove something and then hang it back up in our laundry room so when I meal plan each week, I can see what’s in the garage freezers, go shop in the freezer for the week and bring the stuff into the house fridge freezer for the week of meals. She’s working on our 6 month pantry also so we can keep track of what’s in that as we meal plan.
Agreed! I am in Los Angeles and a single mom. I have a very small refrigerator and freezer. I do a lot of cooking and Franklin the smaller the space, the more I use. Thanks for the video!
Very good video ! I was especially happy when you said that this no-buy challenge took you closer to the mom you want to be. See how resourceful you can be !
I’ve just done a complete reset too. I’ve spent the past month using up what I have so I can just buy food weekly. It’s eye opening what I stored in the freezer/cupboards. It’s nice to get back to basics and know everything is in date and fresh now. You did really well! 😊. You could always do a no spend before the summer holidays and use some of the money for the summer and save the rest. It’ll feel lovely not owing on the credit cards.😊
Getting back to the basics is the best! It’s mind blowing how we accumulate so many things we rarely use. I think a reset like this is going to need to happen a couple times a year. Even if it’s just focused on using up food we have. Thank you for watching!!💕😊
We do 2 “no spend month” each year- April and October. Because we have a few freezers and a 6 month pantry, it’s pretty easy food wise, it was the once a week eating out, travel, random spending especially on our grandkids and turning our swamp cooler up or heat down, we get through those months. We chose April because tax season- we generally have to pay a bit into taxes when we file in February, we like to recover from Christmas season and 6 birthdays from Jan-March, April was just the best month for us to do a no spend though I know a lot of people do it in January; it also had us go through some freezer items that needed to be used and gear up for 4 anniversaries and 9 more birthdays and trips for summer time. October, again to recover from the summer fun and helping our 3 adult children get school supplies or school clothes for our grandchildren (we choose to do this, they NEVER ask or we expect us to help as they can afford it themselves, but we have 12 grandchildren and there are still 6 in public school and 2 in college), October is also when we butcher a cow and 2 pigs and some meat chickens for all of our freezers, finish harvesting a garden and stocking up at the Farmers Markets in September and canning; October no spend also gets us ready for the holiday season and 2 birthdays before Christmas. We have a set monthly budget for pretty much every aspect of our lives along with a savings budget that we never deviate from each month but 2 no spend months kind of gives us a mental and physical break and an opportunity to gear up for holidays and summer crazy.
It sounds like you've certainly got a system down! Thank you for sharing, I want to watch your youtube channel. 😊I think September and January are going to be our for sure no spend months and I'm hoping to stock up on some bulk produce this fall and winter to preserve. I always imagine canning in the summer but there just isn't enough time in the day during that time of year. Thank you for sharing a little glimpse into your life. 💕 By the way I think it's so kind that you help with school clothes and supplies for your grandkids. I remember my grandparents doing the same for my parents, and they do that for us. I'm trying not to look too far ahead, but being a granny sounds lovely. 😅 Thank you so much for watching and your comment. 💖
Astounding! I am retired and live alone and do drive thrus almost every day!! I had planned to do no spend Sept but fell off the wagon on Sept 2. I am thinking about doing a 30 day no spend starting tomorrow.
Inspirational. Thank you! I have two freezers bursting at the seams. I know I need to clear space first Christmas so I’m challenging myself to clear min. one freezer by mid-December. Thank you for kicking-starting me!
I stumbled across your channel this morning while having my coffee and enjoying my 17 minutes of coffee before everyone wakes up (humans animals and anyone that may decide I look too relaxed). After watching this I am going to have to try a no spend challenge, it’s all those random purchases that I do too and grocery trips when I have food at home (including the freezer meat I never defrost in time for dinner). Thanks for the motivation
Your comment was so relatable. From trying to enjoy a hot morning beverage peacefully before someone decides they need you, to the freezer meat that is never pulled out in time to be used. 😅 This challenge unfortunately only helped with the second part. 🤣 But after the fact, I feel so much more mindful of the fact that there is stuff in my freezer that I need to use. I think the month exercised enough of that mental muscle that I actually remember (most weeks) to think in advance and pull a few things out of the freezer. I hope you give it a shot. It was really great. 😊 Thanks for watching! have a great rest of your weekend. 💕
I so wish everyone could see this video. Incredible journey & I look forward to your next "no spend" challenge. Having been frugal my entire life I can assure you I've never missed out on a good meal, travels or making memories. There was the one time I made stir fry with venison and my daughter will NEVER let me forget~ One thing I did to get my children involved with meal planning was for them to create menu's (illustrated of course) They could choose from the menu & I'd have everything on hand (while dad traveled & ate on the road) Retirement can also bring the same challenges, so thank you sweet lady ~ Nanna Wanda, Charleston SC
You’re so kind. 🥲 I love the idea of making menus!! What a fun thing you did for your kiddos. I had gotten Hello Fresh boxes a couple times when my husband was out of town to make things easy, and let the boys take turns choosing the dinner for the night and they loved it. I never thought of doing something like that on a regular basis. Your daughter and I are in the same boat when it comes to venison. Every once in a while my husband tries to trick me and I will always know. 😵💫 I don’t mind elk.. but venison is rough. 😅 Thank you so much for watching! I hope you have a great weekend. 💕
Love this! And I’m not even 1 minute into the video 😅 I do this every january and some years february as well… My motto for those months are ”it’s food, it doesn’t necessary need to fit together” It’s lovely to hear about how creative you were, creating not consuming makes the heart happy 🤎 Almost $3000 saved is GREAT! Wow 🎉
A no spend January and February is a brilliant idea!! It would keep me from starting any New Year’s resolutions I won’t stick to. 😅 Thank you for your comment and watching. 😊💕
I always do a pantry challenge in January and June. We vacation in June. So it’s really just two weeks. Another thing I’ve seen folks do is a no spend week the first week of every month. That’s cutting 12 weeks off your annual grocery budget pretty pain free.
That’s awesome that you have a regular no spend system! I’m shooting for September and January as our no spend months. I’d like to pop another month in, but we’ll see. Oooo! A monthly no spend week. That is a great idea! Thank you for sharing that. 😊💕
Welcome and thank you!! 😊 The tree is a Meyer lemon supposedly (I'm still waiting for some proof lol). I got from a nursery it in the spring and hopefully I'll be seeing yellow in a couple months. 🤞
That’s awesome! I think January will be a no-spend month for us as well. That way, I won’t end up with another piece of exercise equipment I don’t use. 🙈
My favorite part was when you sweetened things with onions 😂 Super interesting and inspiring video. We're in the midst of no/low spend October Thanks for sharing!
You’ve shown me lol. It’s cool! I usually make a weekly plan but it more often than not lasts a day or 2 and then things veer off course when leftovers need to be addressed. 😅
They’re not always a guarantee though. Like some days we may eat everything, or there’s not leftovers for all of us. I need a more free spirit system lol. You know me, you’re a planner lady and I’m a sticky note gal. 🤣
@@pamsmith1665 maybe, but it was still less spending than other months and I think that’s the point. I don’t anyone could go an entire month without spending a single penny. It’s just about being aware and using what you have.
The timing of this video going up is so good. 😂 I don’t know if you stayed strong but I found myself holding off on a lot of purchases last month knowing that target circle week and Amazon whatever it’s called were coming up. So while I was purchasing less last month…I ended up buying a lot of things off my list in the last four days. But I do feel like a learning tower will up my mom game…and save my sanity. 🤔 I am very proud of you for not caving on a sweater or skirt/dress purchase. 🎉
Oh girl… I have spent so much money the last 3 days. 😵💫 BUT I was very strategic and have knocked out most of my Christmas and Birthday shopping for the boys and my nieces and friends kids. And me and my husbands favorite shoes were on sale, so what was I supposed to do? 🤣 A learning tower will up your mom game and save your sanity! I’m currently working on Alec to get his own water from the fridge which can sometimes be a mess, but I’ll thank myself later. 😆 I am also proud of myself for not caving on a dress, but now I have to withhold on buying every sweater in sight. 🤪
😂 It’s so hard when you see a good price on something you’ve had your eye on. Target really got me with their daily deals this year. Some of that was stocking up on diapers and wipes and some of that was finally treating myself to some new lounge clothes so I don’t feel so grubby on the days I’m working from home and my mother in law babysits. Plus I’m my most productive when I change out of what I slept in but am still comfortable. (This is how I’m justifying this) My son is obsessed with water and he’s already trying to get to the water dispenser. It is cute when I ask if he needs more water and he toddles over to the fridge and holds his cup up. It will be slightly less cute when he gets a few inches taller and there’s water everywhere. I oddly have also been contemplating a maxi skirt to wear with sweaters and boots. I decided to hold off this year and leave a maxi dress in my closet. I figure if I reach for it at least twice I can justify a skirt next year if I still want one.
WOW😳 Impressive! Maybe November could be that month for me...but I only have a small freezer and no chickens, so I'd have to create a small grocery budget. (And a little something for my birthday on the 12th 😁)
Oooo! Yes! Having a birthday surprise would be a nice thing to look forward to during a no spend month! It would probably even feel more special. I hope it works out for you! 😊💕
New subscriber here. I loved this vlog and concept. I like the comments in categories, easy to follow. It sounds like every category was successful in its own way, including lessons learned. I am going to investigate more info to be successful for January/February. Thanks again.❤
Thank you so much! It was a great month! Im on board with you for January and possibly even February. I’m notorious for spending too much money on New Year’s resolutions. 😅 Thank you for watching and your comment. 😊💕
That's awesome! That is the ultimate goal for us... a half empty fridge/freezer on a regular basis and focusing on using what we have, I just get sick of fish after a while. 😅
@@SimplifyingTheSatherns hi I have tried to write out a recipe for you but it keeps disappearing!, however if you Google Tesco Rhubarb crumble recipe - that is what I use and it is yummy. (Tesco - if you don't know are a UK supermarket). We serve either with hot custard which is a British thing or fresh cream or vanilla ice cream. Hope you can use some of your lovely rhubarb up making a crumble soon and another lovely idea is Rhubarb Fool - look that recipe up too if you can. Best wishes.
@@SimplifyingTheSatherns hi I have tried to write out a recipe for you but it keeps disappearing!, however if you Google Tesco Rhubarb crumble recipe - that is what I use and it is yummy. (Tesco - if you don't know are a UK supermarket). We serve either with hot custard which is a British thing or fresh cream or vanilla ice cream. Hope you can use some of your lovely rhubarb up making a crumble soon and another lovely idea is Rhubarb Fool - look that recipe up too if you can. Best wishes.
Okay, If you have debt, every month should be no spend until your out of debt. No spend months are fun but only if you have a why of doing it. Like putting the money saved towards debt.
I hear you. It went from a no spend month to low spend and being VERY intentional about what we do buy. September was such a great financial and mental reset! Unfortunately, a no spend month like we did in September just isn’t achievable or realistic long term with two young kids. I am planning a no spend January regardless of what debt it looking like, and I’m really looking forward to that! 😊 Thanks for watching!
🤣 I love that. I ALMOST cut that part out to save some time in this longer than normal video, but I’m glad I didn’t because it seems like it provided a few belly laughs to some of the viewers. 💕🤓
Your taking about companies tactics to get consumers to buy things and I’m sitting here wondering if I ran out and bought a small citrus tree for inside did I have suitable light to keep it alive…..
Now I’m not condoning any frivolous purchases here. 😅 BUT… If you’re an avid lemon/lime consumer, maybe it could be an investment that pays itself off over time. 🤷🏻♀️ Maybe with some extra artificial lighting you could have a successful little tree! I got this Meyer lemon for $30 in May and it has 10 lemons on it (they’re still a few months away from being ready). Assuming I keep it alive, it should pay itself off in a few years. 😅
What a beautiful place to live. 😍 I remember one of my favorite childhood vacations was in that area. A river boat tour on the Rogue River was the main event. All the hiking we did, I had mixed feeling about lol. Thank you for watching and your comments. 😊💕
@@SimplifyingTheSatherns I’m loving your channel. Tomorrow I’m going to binge watch your videos. Your so fun! Plus I’m loving being able to keep up with you as you speak quickly. I love it lol. I think it’s called the jet boats now they take you through Rogue River. Oh I subbed
I am a fast talker when I’m on a roll. 🙈 I do edit out the long bits where lose my train of thought (probably because I’m oxygen deprived lol) and that’s always a good time to catch up on breathing. 😅
It's so true. Everything is new and exciting when they're little. I remember when my oldest stopped being entertained with the cans in the shopping cart at the grocery store, it was a sad day. 😢 His current favorite pastime is creating with LEGOs and hot glue. A interesting combination, but I admire his creativity. 😅💕
It’s a Meyer lemon tree. I’m not sure if I’m convinced of that yet because they look like limes if you ask me. 😅 A couple months and hopefully they’ll start turning yellow! 😊
I hate to tell you this but a no buy month means no buy no matter what kind of deal you get. It also means you don’t have other people buy things for you.
Our no/low buy month was still a huge success in my eyes. 😊 Regardless of the lawnmower, treats etc, or the generosity of my parents that would have been there regardless of our goals for the month. I think challenges like these will look different for different people. 🤷🏻♀️ Thanks for watching!😊
We buy a lot in bulk and my husband some how ends up being given a ridiculous amount of fish each year lol, so freezing is the best option for us to reduce waste. But, learning that we need to actually use what we freeze is something that I’m realizing as I become a real grown up haha. This month was very eye opening when it came to my relationship with my freezer. 😆 I think we’ll be closer moving forward lol.
We do. I am curious what that number would have looked like a couple years ago. I feel like I’m getting to that point in my life where I’m starting to say things like my parents and grandparents along the lines of “I remember back when a bag of pirates booty was only $3 at Costco.” 😭🤣 Thank you for watching. 😊💕
When watching a video on RUclips there is a button for video settings, and you can adjust just playback speed of a video. So in the future there is an option to slow it down. For me I go the opposite direction because I find some people talk painfully slow haha. There’s options for everyone! 😁 Thanks for watching.. or trying to. 💕
I did a no spend year. Just necessities (I had so much ) got rid of so much that year and saved 20k it blew my mind. May not sound like much but I only work part time so I thought that was great.
That is amazing savings!! And very inspiring. 💕 I think a no spend year is something I’d like to do when the boys are grown. Kids just come with so many financial variables haha. The last couple years I’ve chose 10 things or so that I choose not to buy in a year and it is helping me keep myself in check with impulse buying and developing better shopping habits. A no spend year is the ultimate challenge though. 😍
@@SimplifyingTheSatherns oh, I absolutely agree I did my no spend year when my kids were much older. I was mentally ready and determined as well. That’s when I also did a decluttering of every inch and cranny of this house. I literally felt such a load off my shoulder and felt so full of happiness. Plus the savings. Honestly since then I’ve become much more conscious of my money and quality vs. quantity. Your such a doll 🙋🏻♀️🍂🍁🍂
I swear the big freezer is a great way to waste food. For us, once something is in there and out of sight, it’s way too easy to forget. Appreciated this video and am motivated to do a similar experiment here next month!
Oh totally. 😅 Thankfully we haven’t ever had to throw away anything. But some days the garage where the big freezer is may as well be the other side of the world. 🤣 I’m glad the freezer and I got close again and I have a better idea of what’s going on in there. I highly recommend some freezer quality time haha. Thanks for watching and your comment. 😁💕
My daughter-in-law created a dry erase form we keep on each freezer for what is in it, broken down by type of meat or fruit or veg, and how much of each- we just wipe off amount and write down the new amount when we remove something and then hang it back up in our laundry room so when I meal plan each week, I can see what’s in the garage freezers, go shop in the freezer for the week and bring the stuff into the house fridge freezer for the week of meals. She’s working on our 6 month pantry also so we can keep track of what’s in that as we meal plan.
Agreed! I am in Los Angeles and a single mom. I have a very small refrigerator and freezer. I do a lot of cooking and Franklin the smaller the space, the more I use.
Thanks for the video!
@@jkp62 Great idea, thanks for sharing!
What does being a single parent have to do with anything? @jennifermizrahi98
Very good video ! I was especially happy when you said that this no-buy challenge took you closer to the mom you want to be. See how resourceful you can be !
It was really a really wonderful month. 😊
I’ve just done a complete reset too. I’ve spent the past month using up what I have so I can just buy food weekly. It’s eye opening what I stored in the freezer/cupboards. It’s nice to get back to basics and know everything is in date and fresh now. You did really well! 😊. You could always do a no spend before the summer holidays and use some of the money for the summer and save the rest. It’ll feel lovely not owing on the credit cards.😊
Getting back to the basics is the best! It’s mind blowing how we accumulate so many things we rarely use. I think a reset like this is going to need to happen a couple times a year. Even if it’s just focused on using up food we have. Thank you for watching!!💕😊
We do 2 “no spend month” each year- April and October. Because we have a few freezers and a 6 month pantry, it’s pretty easy food wise, it was the once a week eating out, travel, random spending especially on our grandkids and turning our swamp cooler up or heat down, we get through those months. We chose April because tax season- we generally have to pay a bit into taxes when we file in February, we like to recover from Christmas season and 6 birthdays from Jan-March, April was just the best month for us to do a no spend though I know a lot of people do it in January; it also had us go through some freezer items that needed to be used and gear up for 4 anniversaries and 9 more birthdays and trips for summer time. October, again to recover from the summer fun and helping our 3 adult children get school supplies or school clothes for our grandchildren (we choose to do this, they NEVER ask or we expect us to help as they can afford it themselves, but we have 12 grandchildren and there are still 6 in public school and 2 in college), October is also when we butcher a cow and 2 pigs and some meat chickens for all of our freezers, finish harvesting a garden and stocking up at the Farmers Markets in September and canning; October no spend also gets us ready for the holiday season and 2 birthdays before Christmas. We have a set monthly budget for pretty much every aspect of our lives along with a savings budget that we never deviate from each month but 2 no spend months kind of gives us a mental and physical break and an opportunity to gear up for holidays and summer crazy.
It sounds like you've certainly got a system down! Thank you for sharing, I want to watch your youtube channel. 😊I think September and January are going to be our for sure no spend months and I'm hoping to stock up on some bulk produce this fall and winter to preserve. I always imagine canning in the summer but there just isn't enough time in the day during that time of year. Thank you for sharing a little glimpse into your life. 💕 By the way I think it's so kind that you help with school clothes and supplies for your grandkids. I remember my grandparents doing the same for my parents, and they do that for us. I'm trying not to look too far ahead, but being a granny sounds lovely. 😅 Thank you so much for watching and your comment. 💖
Astounding! I am retired and live alone and do drive thrus almost every day!! I had planned to do no spend Sept but fell off the wagon on Sept 2. I am thinking about doing a 30 day no spend starting tomorrow.
You can do it! It’s challenging but it gets easier as you go! 💕
Of course you are
Inspirational. Thank you! I have two freezers bursting at the seams. I know I need to clear space first Christmas so I’m challenging myself to clear min. one freezer by mid-December. Thank you for kicking-starting me!
You can do it! 😁 Freezers are full of good intentions and it seems to take the ultimate motivation to get through. Thanks for watching! 😊💕
Very inspiring. Love hearing how you fed your family. It sounds so wholesome and healthy!
Thank you. 💕 I felt really good about the food part. I strive to cook like that, but goodness it can be exhausting. 😅
I stumbled across your channel this morning while having my coffee and enjoying my 17 minutes of coffee before everyone wakes up (humans animals and anyone that may decide I look too relaxed). After watching this I am going to have to try a no spend challenge, it’s all those random purchases that I do too and grocery trips when I have food at home (including the freezer meat I never defrost in time for dinner). Thanks for the motivation
Your comment was so relatable. From trying to enjoy a hot morning beverage peacefully before someone decides they need you, to the freezer meat that is never pulled out in time to be used. 😅 This challenge unfortunately only helped with the second part. 🤣 But after the fact, I feel so much more mindful of the fact that there is stuff in my freezer that I need to use. I think the month exercised enough of that mental muscle that I actually remember (most weeks) to think in advance and pull a few things out of the freezer. I hope you give it a shot. It was really great. 😊 Thanks for watching! have a great rest of your weekend. 💕
I so wish everyone could see this video. Incredible journey & I look forward to your next "no spend" challenge. Having been frugal my entire life I can assure you I've never missed out on a good meal, travels or making memories. There was the one time I made stir fry with venison and my daughter will NEVER let me forget~ One thing I did to get my children involved with meal planning was for them to create menu's (illustrated of course) They could choose from the menu & I'd have everything on hand (while dad traveled & ate on the road)
Retirement can also bring the same challenges, so thank you sweet lady ~ Nanna Wanda, Charleston SC
You’re so kind. 🥲
I love the idea of making menus!! What a fun thing you did for your kiddos. I had gotten Hello Fresh boxes a couple times when my husband was out of town to make things easy, and let the boys take turns choosing the dinner for the night and they loved it. I never thought of doing something like that on a regular basis. Your daughter and I are in the same boat when it comes to venison. Every once in a while my husband tries to trick me and I will always know. 😵💫 I don’t mind elk.. but venison is rough. 😅 Thank you so much for watching! I hope you have a great weekend. 💕
Love this! And I’m not even 1 minute into the video 😅 I do this every january and some years february as well… My motto for those months are ”it’s food, it doesn’t necessary need to fit together”
It’s lovely to hear about how creative you were, creating not consuming makes the heart happy 🤎
Almost $3000 saved is GREAT! Wow 🎉
A no spend January and February is a brilliant idea!! It would keep me from starting any New Year’s resolutions I won’t stick to. 😅 Thank you for your comment and watching. 😊💕
I always do a pantry challenge in January and June. We vacation in June. So it’s really just two weeks. Another thing I’ve seen folks do is a no spend week the first week of every month. That’s cutting 12 weeks off your annual grocery budget pretty pain free.
That’s awesome that you have a regular no spend system! I’m shooting for September and January as our no spend months. I’d like to pop another month in, but we’ll see. Oooo! A monthly no spend week. That is a great idea! Thank you for sharing that. 😊💕
As someone who has taken great comfort in the Little House on the Prairie books over my lifetime, the pumpkin, berries and turkey felt so nostalgic.
Oh I loved those books. Well.. I actually never made it past By the Shores of Silver Lake haha. But I always found those books so inspiring. 💕
The lime tree behind you is gorgeous!!
It’s supposedly a lemon tree. But I’m not convinced yet. 🤣
It is lovely though! It’s so cheery!
Simplicity Parenting is the best book for realizing how kids thrive with less!
I just added it to my to my holds list at the library. 😊 Thank you for the recommendation!!
New subscriber here! I’m loving everything you represent. I strive to start some of your tips. Pls tell me how you started your indoor lime tree.
Welcome and thank you!! 😊 The tree is a Meyer lemon supposedly (I'm still waiting for some proof lol). I got from a nursery it in the spring and hopefully I'll be seeing yellow in a couple months. 🤞
Love this! I try to do a no/low spend each January and July. The January reset is especially helpful right after the holiday season.
That’s awesome! I think January will be a no-spend month for us as well. That way, I won’t end up with another piece of exercise equipment I don’t use. 🙈
Your son seemed very happy with the games/learning activities you made!
He really was! That made it even better. 🥲💕
My favorite part was when you sweetened things with onions 😂
Super interesting and inspiring video. We're in the midst of no/low spend October Thanks for sharing!
I haven’t the slightest clue how my mind got there. 🤣 cream and onions in your tea anyone? 😅
Thanks so much for watching! 💕
I need to show you my weekly food calendar! It’s super helpful! I create a “menu” for the week and it’s really helpful!
You’ve shown me lol. It’s cool! I usually make a weekly plan but it more often than not lasts a day or 2 and then things veer off course when leftovers need to be addressed. 😅
@@SimplifyingTheSathernsthat’s why you add left over days on the schedule silly!
They’re not always a guarantee though. Like some days we may eat everything, or there’s not leftovers for all of us. I need a more free spirit system lol. You know me, you’re a planner lady and I’m a sticky note gal. 🤣
Doesn't sound like everyone was on board for no spend September. Lot of actual spending..
@@pamsmith1665 maybe, but it was still less spending than other months and I think that’s the point. I don’t anyone could go an entire month without spending a single penny. It’s just about being aware and using what you have.
That's a much larger number than I expected! Well worth the effort ...
Same here. 😅 It was VERY eye opening. Thanks for watching. 💕
Very motivating. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for watching and your comment. 💕💕
The timing of this video going up is so good. 😂 I don’t know if you stayed strong but I found myself holding off on a lot of purchases last month knowing that target circle week and Amazon whatever it’s called were coming up.
So while I was purchasing less last month…I ended up buying a lot of things off my list in the last four days. But I do feel like a learning tower will up my mom game…and save my sanity. 🤔
I am very proud of you for not caving on a sweater or skirt/dress purchase. 🎉
Oh girl… I have spent so much money the last 3 days. 😵💫 BUT I was very strategic and have knocked out most of my Christmas and Birthday shopping for the boys and my nieces and friends kids. And me and my husbands favorite shoes were on sale, so what was I supposed to do? 🤣 A learning tower will up your mom game and save your sanity! I’m currently working on Alec to get his own water from the fridge which can sometimes be a mess, but I’ll thank myself later. 😆
I am also proud of myself for not caving on a dress, but now I have to withhold on buying every sweater in sight. 🤪
😂 It’s so hard when you see a good price on something you’ve had your eye on. Target really got me with their daily deals this year. Some of that was stocking up on diapers and wipes and some of that was finally treating myself to some new lounge clothes so I don’t feel so grubby on the days I’m working from home and my mother in law babysits. Plus I’m my most productive when I change out of what I slept in but am still comfortable. (This is how I’m justifying this)
My son is obsessed with water and he’s already trying to get to the water dispenser. It is cute when I ask if he needs more water and he toddles over to the fridge and holds his cup up. It will be slightly less cute when he gets a few inches taller and there’s water everywhere.
I oddly have also been contemplating a maxi skirt to wear with sweaters and boots. I decided to hold off this year and leave a maxi dress in my closet. I figure if I reach for it at least twice I can justify a skirt next year if I still want one.
Really enjoyed your video. You have a lovely manner. New subscriber.
I’m glad that you enjoyed the video! Thank you for watching and subscribing. 😊💕
WOW😳 Impressive! Maybe November could be that month for me...but I only have a small freezer and no chickens, so I'd have to create a small grocery budget. (And a little something for my birthday on the 12th 😁)
Oooo! Yes! Having a birthday surprise would be a nice thing to look forward to during a no spend month! It would probably even feel more special. I hope it works out for you! 😊💕
You did so amazing with this challenge... inspirational even!
Thank you! It was a really great month.
New subscriber here. I loved this vlog and concept. I like the comments in categories, easy to follow. It sounds like every category was successful in its own way, including lessons learned. I am going to investigate more info to be successful for January/February. Thanks again.❤
Thank you so much! It was a great month! Im on board with you for January and possibly even February. I’m notorious for spending too much money on New Year’s resolutions. 😅 Thank you for watching and your comment. 😊💕
Love this! Maybe I’ll do it in January! Thank you
I’m on board with you. I get a lot of wild ideas in January . 😅 Thanks for watching! 💕
👏 👏 👏 proud of you! ❤
Thank you! It was a great month. 😊
This is awesome!
Thank you! 💕 It was awesome! 😁
Love your approach to life. Are those real limes?
Thank you! It's a meyer lemon tree (supposedly). I'm still waiting for the proof. 😅 Thanks for watching!
We eat out our entire freezer and pantry every 6 months. The pantry really stays quite bare most of the time now. The fridge is always half empty now.
That's awesome! That is the ultimate goal for us... a half empty fridge/freezer on a regular basis and focusing on using what we have, I just get sick of fish after a while. 😅
Rhubarb crumble every time for me! Yum
If you have a recipe that you love, and if you don’t mind, please share. 😊💕 Thanks for watching!
@@SimplifyingTheSatherns hi I have tried to write out a recipe for you but it keeps disappearing!, however if you Google Tesco Rhubarb crumble recipe - that is what I use and it is yummy. (Tesco - if you don't know are a UK supermarket). We serve either with hot custard which is a British thing or fresh cream or vanilla ice cream. Hope you can use some of your lovely rhubarb up making a crumble soon and another lovely idea is Rhubarb Fool - look that recipe up too if you can. Best wishes.
@@SimplifyingTheSatherns hi I have tried to write out a recipe for you but it keeps disappearing!, however if you Google Tesco Rhubarb crumble recipe - that is what I use and it is yummy. (Tesco - if you don't know are a UK supermarket). We serve either with hot custard which is a British thing or fresh cream or vanilla ice cream. Hope you can use some of your lovely rhubarb up making a crumble soon and another lovely idea is Rhubarb Fool - look that recipe up too if you can. Best wishes.
Hashbrowns and butternut squash would make a good breakfast hash with a couple of fried eggs and bacon.
And just like that, I’m ready for a second breakfast. 🤤🤣
Okay, If you have debt, every month should be no spend until your out of debt. No spend months are fun but only if you have a why of doing it. Like putting the money saved towards debt.
I hear you. It went from a no spend month to low spend and being VERY intentional about what we do buy. September was such a great financial and mental reset! Unfortunately, a no spend month like we did in September just isn’t achievable or realistic long term with two young kids. I am planning a no spend January regardless of what debt it looking like, and I’m really looking forward to that! 😊 Thanks for watching!
My dad did frugal February 😊
Frugal February has a nice ring to it! 😍
Go you!🎉
Thank you! 😊
I can’t explain it but only sweetening things with onions made me laugh harder than I have in weeks
🤣 I love that. I ALMOST cut that part out to save some time in this longer than normal video, but I’m glad I didn’t because it seems like it provided a few belly laughs to some of the viewers. 💕🤓
He is so precious your baby
Thank you! He’s a wild one, but he is so precious. 😊
@@SimplifyingTheSatherns oh goodness those cheeks …. I’m not a grandma yet and I just love children…so precious
Your taking about companies tactics to get consumers to buy things and I’m sitting here wondering if I ran out and bought a small citrus tree for inside did I have suitable light to keep it alive…..
Now I’m not condoning any frivolous purchases here. 😅 BUT… If you’re an avid lemon/lime consumer, maybe it could be an investment that pays itself off over time. 🤷🏻♀️ Maybe with some extra artificial lighting you could have a successful little tree! I got this Meyer lemon for $30 in May and it has 10 lemons on it (they’re still a few months away from being ready). Assuming I keep it alive, it should pay itself off in a few years. 😅
@@SimplifyingTheSatherns actually I agree with you. That’s an amazing investment!
@@SimplifyingTheSatherns
I love Meyer lemons but I can only grow weeds! 😂
Lol I’m in Mt. Ashland Oregon
What a beautiful place to live. 😍 I remember one of my favorite childhood vacations was in that area. A river boat tour on the Rogue River was the main event. All the hiking we did, I had mixed feeling about lol.
Thank you for watching and your comments. 😊💕
@@SimplifyingTheSatherns I’m loving your channel. Tomorrow I’m going to binge watch your videos. Your so fun! Plus I’m loving being able to keep up with you as you speak quickly. I love it lol.
I think it’s called the jet boats now they take you through Rogue River. Oh I subbed
Great.
It was a great month. 😊
Haha 😂the expiration date… I forget the year too. It’s fine. Glad you all are fine!
I feel like my grandma now, believing in the “best by” dates less and less. 😅
lol do you breath when you talk I’m 63 and I’m keeping up but wow yes go you
I am a fast talker when I’m on a roll. 🙈 I do edit out the long bits where lose my train of thought (probably because I’m oxygen deprived lol) and that’s always a good time to catch up on breathing. 😅
@@SimplifyingTheSatherns 🤣🤣🤣
Entertaining kids gets a lot harder when they are no longer toddlers
It's so true. Everything is new and exciting when they're little. I remember when my oldest stopped being entertained with the cans in the shopping cart at the grocery store, it was a sad day. 😢 His current favorite pastime is creating with LEGOs and hot glue. A interesting combination, but I admire his creativity. 😅💕
Is that a real lime tree?
It’s a Meyer lemon tree. I’m not sure if I’m convinced of that yet because they look like limes if you ask me. 😅 A couple months and hopefully they’ll start turning yellow! 😊
wait......... A FIRE TRUCK???
To keep the dust down on the dirt bike track. 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️ Thankfully more realistic options were considered first. 😅
I hate to tell you this but a no buy month means no buy no matter what kind of deal you get. It also means you don’t have other people buy things for you.
Our no/low buy month was still a huge success in my eyes. 😊 Regardless of the lawnmower, treats etc, or the generosity of my parents that would have been there regardless of our goals for the month. I think challenges like these will look different for different people. 🤷🏻♀️ Thanks for watching!😊
Bettykroll should be bettytroll
I do think you may not want to freeze so much
We buy a lot in bulk and my husband some how ends up being given a ridiculous amount of fish each year lol, so freezing is the best option for us to reduce waste. But, learning that we need to actually use what we freeze is something that I’m realizing as I become a real grown up haha. This month was very eye opening when it came to my relationship with my freezer. 😆 I think we’ll be closer moving forward lol.
@@SimplifyingTheSatherns lol 😂
Susanvelez6534 why do you care?
@@MyrtGyrt why do you care what my thoughts are? Who are you?
I’m a person who doesn’t feel like they have the right to tell others what they should and shouldn’t do 🙄 I don’t really care who you are
I appologize, but groceries 900 USD + eating out 400 😮😮😮 you have a good life
We do. I am curious what that number would have looked like a couple years ago. I feel like I’m getting to that point in my life where I’m starting to say things like my parents and grandparents along the lines of “I remember back when a bag of pirates booty was only $3 at Costco.” 😭🤣 Thank you for watching. 😊💕
You talk too fast and the captions go away too fast
There are video settings where you can adjust the playback speed to slow things down. I hope that helps. 😊
Talking way to fast !! Gave me headache
When watching a video on RUclips there is a button for video settings, and you can adjust just playback speed of a video. So in the future there is an option to slow it down. For me I go the opposite direction because I find some people talk painfully slow haha. There’s options for everyone! 😁 Thanks for watching.. or trying to. 💕
I’m with you, I speed people. Just you need to pay attention as she speaks, she speaks well