Easy Frugal Ways to Cut Expenses and Build Savings

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In this video, we share some really simple ways you can reduce your expenses and build savings - fast.There are a LOT of reasons that you may need an influx of cash. Prices ARE rising and you overspent. Your emergency fund has taken a beating with unexpected expenses. Maybe, there are some goals which will need to be met sooner than you thought.
Whatever the reason, you'll find practical frugal living tips in this video for cutting expenses, and building savings.

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We're Hope and Larry and we love practical frugality. We raised our four sons, debt-free, including paying cash for our home when our income was well under the national average. For tips on saving money, budgeting, paying off debt, and setting goals (while living with a spirit of joy and abundance), subscribe to us here on YouTube and visit us at our website and on social media.

Information on Under the Median represents our opinions only. We are not medical doctors, medical professionals, nutritionists, or investment professionals. All content found on Under the Median is intended for informational purposes only. Please be sure to exercise due diligence and always contact a professional with any questions you may have regarding any information you have seen or heard on our YouTube channel. Use caution when following instructions in this video. The creator and publisher of this video will not be held responsible for any adverse effects that may arise from the use of any method on this channel.

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[kat_thefruitbat]

Growing up, my parents would make me and my brother do mental math to keep track of the grocery bill as items were put into the cart. We always enjoyed telling the cashier the total before they finished ringing everything up. 🤭 I still keep track this way as an adult! It helps you keep your brain sharp and always stay within your budget! 😊

[barbaratozzano]

Ordering groceries for pick up has saved lots! 1. It keeps a runing total for you. 2. No impulse buying!

[cgt]

I can totally relate to the grocery over-shopping. Because food is a need, I've given myself permission to buy as long as I don't let it go to waste. Like you, I also have a full freezer and pantry and have been radically cutting back until it's whittled down. I couldn't believe how much food I actually had, when I really looked at it.

[lindacgrace]

LET'S SAVE MONEY! I always consolidate my errands. I am blind in one eye, and the DMV insists that I see oncoming traffic and pedestrians on the right as well as the left, and since I can't do that anymore, I have no driver's license. 😅 Rather than pay for Uber, I hire kids from the local community college to do all my shopping. It's cheaper, I'm not stuck waiting with melting groceries for the next driver, and the kids help me out carrying everything. I have two routes (Safeway, Kroger, Big Lots, Dollar Tree, and Walmart to the north; Target, Sprouts, Trader Joes, and Costco to the east). I alternate between them. It works a treat. Love your content, guys!

[jonnaborosky]

You look so good in your new hair cut, Hope! I don't know how, but trimmings your hair has actually made you look younger! I don't know if that's something you wanted, but it sure did happen! 😊
For errands, I sit down and write out where I need to go in each direction. Let's say I need to go to the bank, grocery store and shoe repair shop, and they're all eastward. I do those together. I physically can't handle going out more than once a week. The next week, maybe I have a medical appointment and need to pick up a screen that's been repaired at the hardware store...and they're both in the same direction. I do that all in one trip. In other words, I only go in one direction per errand to save gasoline. I really rarely have to go out, though, because things can be delivered. I have to go out so extremely infrequently that I literally only bought 3 tanks of gas all last year, and the last one was in December, so it lasted into this year a long time. So far this year, I've bought one tank of gas and I still have half a tank. But when I do go out, I plan trips for only one direction at a time.
One of the things I like so much about shopping for groceries online is that I can see my ongoing total and make adjustments before I get to checkout. When I see the total bill, it's much easier to see everything I've put in my cart and remove things than if I'm at the store and have to rummage around the cart to see where I want to go back and make cuts. But, there is a cost to having groceries delivered. I have gone to the store myself for small shoppings recently. With fewer items in the cart, it's easy enough to see what to put back. Plus, I can tolerate short periods of standing up, just not long ones, like for the monthly grocery shopping.
I'm in another no-spend year. This year it's absolutely mandatory. I think I told you that because of a good COLA increase this year, I get $200 more a month, which promptly made me ineligible for $600 worth of benefits I was getting. So, starting out each month $400 in the hole automatically demands a no-spend year for me. I buy ONLY what's ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY! It's been working out (plus, I'm eating less). So far this year, I've had a little left over each month... anywhere from around $100 up to around $400 one month. I guess this is what Dave's "gazelle intensity" is like!

[robinborucki]

I always grocery shop with a list and a calculator. I never go over my money limit. Best way to shop 👍

[mutemovie]

I cut our electricity bills in half with your help .My husband understood that saving in small steps gives great effects. We live much calmer and always at the end of the month, our bank accounts are not empty . Thank you. Hope, your new haircut looks great !

[xo]

Cut the carb addiction... Saves tons of money. Promise. ❤

[stowie]

Let’s save money! One thing I do when grocery shopping is to allow only two extra items not on my list. This is because I will see something on sale or clearance that I only saw when at the store. This has kept me on track and not tossing extras in my cart. Like you, my pantry and freezer were packed. In January I finally buckled down and meal planning from what I have on hand. Grocery budget went way down. It is time for another round of freezer/ pantry meals!

[superfuntimesonline]

You both look 10 years younger in this video! Happiness looks good on you both! Love your videos and am your number 1 fan!

[xo]

I bought a sweater shaver, so i can continue using my clothes, by removing the unsightly pilling, instead of throwing them away.

[bmarieluvstheearth]

Because of medical bills, we use a food bank now. They have some organic offerings. This month. It was fresh spinach and fresh lettuce. They give eggs, brown eggs. And lots more. It's been very helpful for us with our medical costs

[kristacoffey]

Love mint mobile. I signed up a couple years ago. They had a deal to pre-pay one year (@ $15/mo) and get one year free. My gosh it has been so nice not having monthly cell phone bills. Im halfway thru my free year 😊

[hazelnutbix]

Retirement must be suiting you both! Larry looks more rested and Hope, I love the new look, softer colour lips and nails and still gorgeous long, grey hair. Classy!

[angelahayman]

As a mom of 4 boys, when they leave home, I save so much more as an empty nester! We have saved like 2/3 compared to what we used to spend at the grocery store!! And laundry soap! lol

[elizabethm]

Decluttering my pantry, freezer and house has saved me tons of $$. I was shocked to see how many items I repurchased because I couldn’t find what I had.

[johnmal]

The eating out one is huge! The best investment I made was an instant pot. Makes life so much easier and knocks out quality nutritious meals rather quickly with little clean up. The one thing I need to work on is using cash. You are so spot on with the psychological aspect of it. Great video as always.

[xo]

No eating out. Tips alone are a savings killer.

[chelseyschlutereichen]

I print out a blank month calendar at the beginning of the month, then plan meals for the month. I use my grocery store's app and order my groceries for the week to pick up on Saturdays. This helps stay in budget easily since you see the total before submitting. Started during the pandemic when I had a newborn just to make life easier and prevent exposure, but have kept doing it because it works so well for us.

[leslieboe]

I took vacation this week. A vacation from frugality also. I went out to eat twice, bought a few luxury foods, and it's not over yet.