1. Cable and Netflix 2. Spotify 3.clothes 4. Impose shopping and sales 5. Amazon prime 6. Bank fees/credit fees 7. Investment broker 8. Supplements 9. Fast food/take out coffee 10. Take out lunch 11. Meal delivery 12. Bottle of water 13. House cleaning and yard work 14. Simple car maintenance 15. Install light fictutes 16. Pet insurance 17. Dog grooming 18. Pet sitting 19. Animals products 20. Fabric softer 21. Dryer sheets 22.Car wash 23.Holiday decor 24. Smart watch 25. Alexa 26. Recreational substances 27. No alcohol 28. Cheep furniture 29. Make up 30. Nail Polish 31. New car 32. Generic Art 33. Video games 34. Extended warranty 35. Used clothing 36. Fast fashion 37. Gym membership 38. A bunch of cleaning products 39. Spice blends 40. Salad dressing 41. Cheap kitchen gear 42. Organic groceries 43. Gifts 44. Candles diffusers 45. Purfum 46. One time items 47. New books This is what I managed to get written ❣️

I stopped watching telly 30 years ago, threw my television in the bin 30 years ago.

I'm a 65 year old guy, my parents lived thru the great depression and WWII. I was raised to be frugal by example. It's nice to see someone of your generation embracing a minimalist life style, appreciating it, and sharing it. I've watched a few of your videos. I don't agree with everything you say, but I do appreciate your point of view and the message you are sharing with your viewers. Keep it up!

@curmudgeon1933

4 ай бұрын

I'd love to know which things you don't agree with? Being a 67year-old guy, it would be interesting to see if there are any similarities.

@wildbill562

4 ай бұрын

I am 68 and feel like I found my soul mate when I listen to Nicole. No physical attraction, but she sounds just like me. No insurance, my SUV is 1997, my refrigerator is 1997, no money manager. One thing I disagree with is veganism. We are omnivores and need animal products, especially healthy fat and protein. I don't waste money on a gym membership, but I do my stretching, exercise and walking every day.

@bondpit8750

2 ай бұрын

Nicole seems to have a lot of older fans. She has her stuff together.

@Ericaaaaaaaaaa

Ай бұрын

​@@wildbill562 You just *had* to mention that you don't find her attractive. 🙄

@goombah226

Ай бұрын

@@bondpit8750 I'm 73 and I think she is an absolute doll. A natural beauty.

When she was talking about giving and receiving gifts I totally agree. I actually told one of my friends to stop buying me gifts for my birthday and Christmas cause she would give me so many small gifts, nic nacs, stationary, cheap jewelry etc and I hate accumulating that stuff so I would give it away and she’d get offended so we agreed that we would go for lunch or dinner as gifts to each other instead.

@b4rs629

4 ай бұрын

Totally agree. I had to tell my family to not buy me anything because I'm already content with what I have. If I truly need something I'll let them know.

@MsKatalind

4 ай бұрын

My best friend is big on gifts. I love her but she goes overboard and spends too much on me. I could never repay her generosity bc I don’t make much money. It makes me feel bad. Not just that I’m trying to get rid of things to live more simply. I don’t mind getting gifts like gas cards or grocery gift cards (things I need). I’ve tried several times talking about how I want to live minimally and how I have too much. But gift giving is her “love language” and she’s not taking the hint, and I don’t want to hurt her feelings by coming out and saying no gifts and hurt her feelings.

@nicolewaithera1814

3 ай бұрын

@@MsKatalindif she’s a true, mature friend she’ll want to make you happy. Otherwise her giving you gifts is just a way to boost her ego. Tell you you prefer practical gifts, or just outright stop accepting gifts from her if she won’t respect your preferences.

@tia904

19 күн бұрын

@@nicolewaithera1814 @nicolewaithera Got to love pop psychology and an internet analysis of a stranger. It's called mutual respect, not just one sided.

@tia904

19 күн бұрын

@nicolewaithera Got to love pop psychology and an internet analysis of a stranger. It's called mutual respect, not just one sided.

I use dawn liquid dish soap for everything. I clean my toilet, tub, sink, stove top, etc. I add a little white vinegar and baking soda for extra scrub power.

@byDsign

3 ай бұрын

Amazing, right?

@herculesrockefeller8969

3 ай бұрын

I tried some specialty cleaners for my floors and countertops, but they didn't work very well, and left streaks, no matter what I did. Now it's Dawn for almost everything.

@ThePsychicStylist

2 ай бұрын

What do you recommend for mirrors and windows? I 'm frustrated with haze.@@herculesrockefeller8969

@lewis2553

2 ай бұрын

Dawn will dry your skin severely.

@byDsign

2 ай бұрын

@@lewis2553 ... Wear protective gloves.

I simplified my life by selling stuff i didnt need, not paying for things and services i dont use or need and i managed saving little over 20k last year by doing this. I have done the same thing several Years in row. Btw, i have a suuuper low income, so this is kinda big that i managed this. 🙌

@AccordingtoNicole

4 ай бұрын

Amazing!!!

@Sapientiam

4 ай бұрын

​@@AccordingtoNicoleThank you ❤😊. Im actually saving up for a new and better apartment. I still have more stuff to sell though 😌

@reconstructingleslie4597

4 ай бұрын

Awesome! I'm getting ready to retire and will be living on Social Security which isn't alot so I need to get better at being frugal

@Sapientiam

4 ай бұрын

​@@reconstructingleslie4597I have Social Security myself, and i know its difficult, but if i can do it so can you 😊❤. I wish you good luck🙏🌺🌿

@b4rs629

4 ай бұрын

Yup the more you own the more you spend. I noticed after slowly giving up everything. I was able to work more or less as well. Paid my rent, electric, phone bill, food, gym membership, gas, & car + rental insurance. I put that money into better self-care products & better food.

Nicole, I think you are the most sensible person I have come across for a long time. Power to you.

I think I can one-up you, Nicole, on house cleaning products. I buy 100% alcohol. First, I dilute some of to 10% in a really good spray bottle from really cheap window cleaner, add a small squirt of dish detergent (the blue Palmolive is my favorite) and use that as an all purpose cleaner. Then, I dilute more of it to 10% and use it, with a flat mop, on my floors. I put the mop pad down, pour 10% alcohol on it, add the mop on top, and it cleans great. It cuts through grease, evaporates fast, and leaves no hint of soap. Soap, by contrast, leaves a sticky residue that makes the floor attract and hold dirt fast. Alcohol leaves the surface so clean, nothing wants to stick to it, so dry mopping or sweeping between washes is not only possible but more effective. Finally, I dilute some of the alcohol to 70% and use it as a spray disinfectant. Each of my spray bottles (for general cleaning and for disinfection) were free, as they came with some product in them. I found the alcohol cheapest at a hardware store. Instead of BarKeeper's Friend, I use the plastic mesh from an old Dobie to scrub my sinks. Straight dish soap plus that mesh as a free scrubbie works great and the scrubbie lasts forever, for this.

9:50 I felt that deep in my soul. “If someone were mean to him I would have to dispose of a body.” My kids are grown and yes I have grandchildren, but they live with their parents, and I don’t get to see them daily. So therefore my dogs are extremely loved and cared for by me, just like my children and grandchildren.

@gatekeeperboxing5898

6 күн бұрын

As a guy i've never felt the need to have pets. I like other peoples pets (well dogs or cats at least) but do not want the responsibility of looking after them myself, and definitely don't want them destroying any of my stuff.

You make my day with your vids XX it's so refreshing to hear someone that thinks for themself and doesn't blindly follow the herd

"if anyone hurt him I would have to dispose of a body.." Lol! My sentiments EXACTLY.

@danzbutrfly

14 күн бұрын

yes,,,,lol

I’m tripping out on how much we have in common. If we met in person we would be really good friends. I rarely meet people who are my kind

I gave my son a 55” tv and 36” tv. The ex husband was a tv lover. I call wearing the same thing “my uniform “. Before I retired I wore a uniform everyday. It really simplifies things for me.

@reconstructingleslie4597

4 ай бұрын

I do that too! I wear pretty much all black daily

@ronirony2122

4 ай бұрын

Black leggings are my uniform

@reconstructingleslie4597

4 ай бұрын

@@ronirony2122 mine too

@grannyprepper1181

4 ай бұрын

@@reconstructingleslie4597 gray or black yoga pants and a plain top.

@grannyprepper1181

4 ай бұрын

@@ronirony2122 gray or black yoga pants and a plain top.

I agree with the car wash statement. I also drive a vehicle from 1998 and 1986, and the way I keep them from rusting is I do wash them once per year once I am confident the road salting is done. Then I spray or paint brush on, used oil from old oil changes that I do myself.

Completely agree about gift giving. I ask people not to buy me presents. If they are coming to dinner, I ask they bring the wine they want to drink instead of a hostess gift. When someone wants to give me a birthday present, I ask for flowers. I hate it when people bring me trinkets or candles that I will never use. Candles are the worst: they use up oxygen and produce carbon monoxide.

@tonyp9313

4 ай бұрын

I won't be your friend if I have to buy an expensive bottle of wine. What's wrong with a 2L of Coco Cola that I pay maybe $1-2?

@MilaN-lt2mq

4 ай бұрын

@@tonyp9313 I just ask them to bring what they drink. I didn't mansion the price of the wine. If they drink "Coco Cola", they can bring that.

@tonyp9313

4 ай бұрын

@@MilaN-lt2mq Oh ok then.

@sjchan3199

2 ай бұрын

My parents stopped buying presents for the kids when they reached their teens by mutual agreement. On birthdays we might have a takeaway and ill make a birthday cake.

Levi is sooo cute! I became mom to a 14 y.o. terrier last year, 15 now and living his best life, he's my world!

@bridge7528

4 ай бұрын

Bless you for having an older dog. 😊

@davisholman8149

9 күн бұрын

Agree - anyone who opens their home & heart to a sweet elderly dog is a hero. So wonderful that your furbaby’s last years are with someone who loves him.🐶💕

In Australia we have street book libraries that look like a large letterbox. They are for taking and donating books. Works so well!! More fun than shopping and it's free.

@spaceballs44

3 ай бұрын

I’m in Nebraska, US and down the street from my home I have a library box and people put their books in and a lot of the books are for children 🧒

@herculesrockefeller8969

3 ай бұрын

In the US, people put up "little libraries" in front of their houses, and they are usually a little house-looking box on a post, and full of books. The idea is that you take a book and leave a book. Some of them are starting to show up on Google Maps.

@sjchan3199

2 ай бұрын

In uk we have them in various places but a common one is railway station waiting rooms

@IzzyOnTheMove

Ай бұрын

They're everywhere 😊

@HaydenAndrewScott

27 күн бұрын

I live in Australia too, they’re not that common throughout the country

You make a great point about paying more to invest in good quality things like furniture and kitchen gear. I recently heard a quote from someone’s grandmother, “We’re too poor to buy cheap things”. Buying quality ends up saving money in the long run.

Here’s the thing about pet insurance: do you want to have to decide whether to pay for $25,000 in cancer treatments? I’d rather pay $1,000 per a year and know that I’ll never have to make that choice.

@Rose_is_a_Rose_

6 күн бұрын

In holland, you pay a lot insurance, but get hardly anything for it, if needed. There are a lot of exceptions, as to illness, (cancer is not an option) and even to the age (from-till) you can insure your animal.

@Rose_is_a_Rose_

6 күн бұрын

In holland, you pay a lot insurance, but get hardly anything for it, if needed. There are a lot of exceptions, as to illness, (cancer is not an option) and even to the age (from-till) you can insure your animal.

Lots of good advice and habits here. I will say the older you get and the more wealth you accumulate, your time becomes more valuable than the money you save doing everything yourself. When you are young absolutely you should learn how to do everything you can and avoid paying people to do things for you that you can do yourself. Learning those things will help you make better decisions on what's worth paying for as you age.

Other frugal people: 24 things I don't buy in 2024 Nicole: 50 things I don't buy in 2024

@seltzermint5

4 ай бұрын

Yessss love this. She is like "hold my beer"

@theeclectic2919

4 ай бұрын

@@seltzermint5 Actually, it's more like "hold my filtered tap water."

@TS-xi4io

2 ай бұрын

Millions things I wouldn't buy , I am writing a never ending list lol 😂

I found a good shift of habits was the rule that I had to use what I had before getting more. I amassed lots of hair products while learning to care for my curly hair. I haven’t bought any unless running out in 2 years. We’re all the products great- no. But as long as they didn’t cause damage I used them. And now as I’m finally running out of things I can buy quality things I will enjoy more

Back in the early 80s I watched everyone buy into “kill yourself to succeed” trap, but I wouldn’t play. My idea of success was different. I just wanted to be there for my young kids. Others people may have had more material possessions, but my kids had me. It’s all about values, and about what is really important in your life. For me that’s time. Kids grow up, stuff is just that.

@ADadSupreme

4 ай бұрын

Back then our motto was "Greed is good" and all that. It's still here. People just call it 'chasing the bag' or 'getting a hustle on'. They really don't mean 'regular jobs' anymore. They mean lucrative jobs that give them A+ lifestyle. Greed is good is still the motto, just re-packed into 'things' like pets, 'giving', and living one's 'best' life.

@jeanieolahful

4 ай бұрын

@@ADadSupreme and then let look back and really none of it was was worth it. I’m grateful my adult daughter also has adopted my attitude, and her daughter is benefiting. She and her husband actually do have a very successful at home business, but everything they do is focused on their child (who is 7) first. They don’t live in a huge house, it they love the adorable one they do have, and they definitely know how to avoid a lot of the money sucking traps while hacienda lots of fun. They take advantage of lots of free events and activities, and they really just enjoy unwinding at home as a family. Everyone need to take a deep breath, slow down, do a gratitude inventory, and just enjoy the good things more, especially our loved ones, and especially our children.

How refreshing! I’m probably twice your age and it’s taken me a lot longer to figure out exactly what you know to be true. Keep making videos like this! ❤

@seltzermint5

4 ай бұрын

I agree, I'm 47 and I feel like I could have been so much like Nicole earlier in life but literally thought through my whole 30s that the point of everything was to earn money and spend money like the Joneses. Nope.

New car vs. used: post-pandemic, things are still not normal in the world of car-buying. I've been looking for several months now, and can't justify buying used at the prices I've seen.

Maybe the *only* good thing about cheap(er) furniture is if you have to move every few years. I moved about 2,000 miles from where I lived the past 30 years. I had no problem parting with some pieces that were Pottery Barn knockoffs I got from Target. The pieces I had from Restoration Hardware ended up making the the moving truck ($4,200) along with my other stuff, and now sit in a storage unit at $125 a month collecting dust. I would have been better off posting an advertisement and giving those away also.

Second video I have watched and again - you are singing my tune. I bought a 3 year old car 12 years ago and it still does me just fine. If I was younger or you were older, we could honestly be sisters. People choose to do things just because they have always done them, thinking outside of the box isn't common.

I had to stop the video to make this comment. When you said if somebody ever hurt your dog, you'd have to dispose of a body, your dog makes a face/looks at the camera as if it had already happened at least once 😂 What a cute doggo btw! ❤

I live in apartments and you’d be shocked at the amount of useful things people put by the dumpster. I’ve gotten free barstools, shoe rack, shower caddy and Victoria Secret hoodies. That’s just the beginning

@AccordingtoNicole

4 ай бұрын

I totally believe you, but there’s also probably roaches in that dumpster 😬😬😬

@colleenmarin8907

4 ай бұрын

It's a common thing in my area to "shop" the night before trash pickup by driving around looking for free stuff at the curb

@andreabellini6796

4 ай бұрын

@@AccordingtoNicole they put it near the dumpster not in lol, I’m not that gross 😂

@Europa1749

4 ай бұрын

That stuff sounds fine. I wouldn't take fabric furniture probably. Clothes 20 minutes in the dryer high heat would kill everything.

@LinktoSonic

4 ай бұрын

Yess! This right here! I've gotten so many great items and furniture that people threw out in my apartment! A lot of times, the stuff isn't even broken or dirty, people just upgrade to newer stuff and don't have the space to keep the old stuff. One man's trash is another man's treasure

Re wall art - my sister went to the Grand Tetons and took some beautiful pictures. We’ve had prints made of those to hang on the walls.

@bryonyvaughn2427

4 ай бұрын

I love personalized art that way.

My neighbor brought me and my husband Easter baskets- it was really thoughtful but I can’t even remember if there was anything useful in either. Now residing in the Goodwill box to be delivered. Wish she had saved her money.

I do almost all of this. I gave up cable tv in the early nineties and have never paid to watch tv since. Part of the reason I gave up eating out is the obnoxious noise of a tv in a restaurant or lounge. I bought a high end stereo in 1981. I still have it. I paid about $3000.00 dollars for it. That is about 20 cents per day until now.

@ginamarie1920

4 ай бұрын

Ugh! I agree with you re: the loud music or televisions in so many establishments! It's mystifying. I understand TVs in a sports bar, but I've noticed a trend of adding screens in elevators to broadcast stock market and other news. NO! I do not need the constant noise (in all senses) and visual stimulation.

@LadyCaroline123

4 ай бұрын

@@ginamarie1920. I was pumping gas and I hear this person talking. It’s a damn screen on the gas pump. Can’t even pump your gas in peace.

@aurograce2983

4 ай бұрын

​@@LadyCaroline123 these pumps make me so angry. There are some without a mute button and I had to find a new gas station.

I'm really enjoying your content! You strike me as wise beyond your years and I love your 'don't give a f**k' vibe!!

I love the workout I get from a good proper houseclean a few times a week, and mowing my lawns every 2 weeks. Who needs a gym?!

I adore you 😂 “I’d kill somebody if they hurt you!” EXACTLY how I feel!!

Reminds me of the depression era comment "Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, Or do without." Hey, I'd love you to make a video outlining your LP Record player and speaker system and how you set it up. I'm 70, but still have all my LP albums from the 60's and 70's.

If you're dining out, you're paying for food, ok, but you're also paying for the experience of it all: visiting a new place, hanging out with other people, trying out new combinations of flavors, the idea of having food prepared for you etc. I don't do it often, but I find it's not that much of a wallet drainer, if you consider the cost of electric power you'd need to prepare the same dishes for your friends (Greece, where I am atm, has the 2nd most expensive electricity in the EU as we speak, so that's something to take account of as well)

@tonyp9313

4 ай бұрын

She lives in Canada where electricity is a lot cheaper than when you live in Europe. Our Country is a main source of electricity unlike Europe where they have to buy it from other countries that's why your electricity is really expensive.

@Grybop

4 ай бұрын

@@tonyp9313 Please tell me then, why is it so pricey in Greece? Way higher than the EU median?

@tonyp9313

4 ай бұрын

@@Grybop I live in Canada. I don't live in Greece or Europe. My relatives live in Europe, I have been there. Well the Euro currency is a lot higher in Europe, when in Canada the currency is really low. In Canada we supply most of our things & export most things. I would say in Greece things are expensive because of the Euro dollar & that your country has to buy things from other countries to supply you with things such as electricity being one of them.

@Grybop

4 ай бұрын

@@tonyp9313 That was a semi-rhetorical question, I blame our government of clowns actually, but thanks for your reply 😁

@tonyp9313

4 ай бұрын

@@Grybop Ah ok. cool.

I don't have Amazon prime either. My fiancé uses a dvd subscription service which is not too expensive. He used to order 2 at a time but he has reduced it to 1 dvd at a time. As he realised that he didn't have time to watch both anymore as he works 2 jobs now and never has a day off unless he's covered a shift and has been offered a day off.

My entire sartorial style is uncertain fashion LOL which at this point makes it a classic in my case 🧡

I relate a million percent about your doggie. I laughed out loud about disposing of the body. lol. When I saw the KZread video of the man fighting an alligator in Florida while getting his dog out of its mouth, I saw myself doing that. Ha ha.

I love and respect how much you love and care for your dog. 🐕 ❤

Look for good quality furniture at thrift stores which benefit from donations of furniture from estates of old people. If an old person dies, any kids/grandkids already have furnishings and expect to replace cheap with cheap periodically, so they donate their parents/grandparents "old stuff." That "old stuff", if quality, gets resold for cheap! Solid wood dressers/bureaus/cabinets/etc, with dust covers between the drawers, for example. And with detail work that is tasteful, classic, and lovely.

Thank you, Nicole, for validating my choices. What you say makes so much sense !!!

@AccordingtoNicole

4 ай бұрын

You're welcome, but also you don't need anyone to validate your choices. Be who you wanna be.

@JohnSmith-4U

4 ай бұрын

Nicole is a common sense bad ass…..

@johnepperson8867

4 ай бұрын

@@AccordingtoNicole 😊😊!

Loved you pointing out that some things can be useful for people who have a disability that you don't require.

Ya, these videos helped me to save a decent amount of money. Not as much as Nicole yet but I'm getting there. I am almost 50 years old and for years I was poor. I am not in poverty anymore! Thank you Nicole here from Canada BC!

I love how minimalism is just a fancy kind of word for being old school.... This is the only school I can relate to as I usually disliked going to school as a kid. Being an OGG (old Greek guy) I have been doing pretty much everything that you do as far as keeping one sense of reason and boundaries when it comes to buying stuff and doing things that really accomplished nothing except for keeping my wallet emptier. What I save on several things I can maybe buy one or two things to even out this gig called living I guess. 😎🤙

@santisanti8386

4 ай бұрын

So true. I do most of the things Nicole does by default.

@bridge7528

4 ай бұрын

This is old school for me as well being an OGG( old Greek gal)😂

I agree enthusiastically with most of these. I find most of my cleaning needs are taken care of with dish soap, and Pine-Sol. I would also say that if you want a dog and want to avoid grooming costs, always go with shorthair breeds. Boston terriers are small and have a lot of personality; you can’t go wrong with them. I actually like having lots of books around, and I don’t mind storing them on cheapo bookshelves. I buy most of them used, however. The average price of a used book is 2 or 3 bucks. Not a huge expenditure. And I’m also not a fan of having to figure out a gift for someone when some particular day rolls around. I call holidays “speed bumps” for that reason; having to interrupt my flow in order to brainstorm some silly trifle to go out and buy in order to avoid offending someone. Etiquette can be really stupid sometimes.

My furniture is older than me and it's not heavy heirlooms but just hand me downs from my parents' house. Simple, but really well made, and I repainted them myself. My desk was my dad's and I love it

Our local municipal water is prone to contain giardia. I picked up a case of it in 1990 from drinking contaminated water in the wilderness so I am intimately acquainted with its effects. I will spare you the details but I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Suffice it to say that I experienced indescribable agony for several weeks until I was able to get back. to civilization and hit the clinic. They prescribed a course of antiflagellants and they knocked it down, and boy was I happy. Fast forward to 2011 and I now live in a different state, with access to the local water. One fine day I experience some familiar symptoms, and this time I don't delay, go right down to the clinic, and the nice doctor lady says ah yes, we've been getting a lot of these in here recently. She prescribes me my old favorite antiflagellants and in a few days I was good as new again but baffled: since I've been drinking only the water from the local hydrant, where could I have acquired the creatures? Then the next day I went to fill my containers and noticed the water flowing from the tap had an intense smell of chlorine, like the pool at the YMCA. My cat wouldn't drink it. This was my ah ha! moment. I have been buying and drinking only bottled water ever since. It sucks because it costs a ton of money, is really heinous for the environment, and I'm ingesting micro plastics but I learned my lesson from the protozoans...

@kaythegardener

9 күн бұрын

Gee, out local water supply company puts out a yearly health report available to the public for its benefit!!

@dingusdingus2152

9 күн бұрын

@@kaythegardener well good for you but our local water company puts out occasional lethal doses of intestinal parasites/random protozoa and never says a word to anybody. If you drink a contaminated batch of it well, that's just tough patootie eh?

I share a ton of these, Nicole! Easily 3/4 of the list. My only big differences are stuff like makeup, nail polish, etc. But I'm frugal even with those and choose to buy higher end stuff less often than just a ton of products and everything new on the market. Something I have noticed about a lot of the items on your list is how little happiness they seem to bring to those who buy them all. I do have friends who really seem to love watching shows and movies on Netflix and I say good for them, even though I don't feel the need for any of that. But the people who eat fast food and coffee out every single day never seem like they even like it that much. I don't understand spending money that way. I also think it is underrated doing things for yourself, whether cleaning house or pickup up groceries and takeout yourself. I also see so the use of so many of these services as absolute laziness and to be reserved for special situations like people with disabilities or when your car is in the shop but it's your birthday and you're craving a treat - special situations, not a random Tuesday. I know a lot of people who switched over to having everything delivered or picking up curbside and I just don't get it. I am old school and even consider that a form of exercise, albeit very mild exercise. I would always rather pick up my own stuff than pay for delivery unless something huge that won't fit in my car - like a fridge or sofa.

I hate germs too, but 2nd hand clothing is no problem for me as I don't think about it once I have put it in the washing machine.

Removing supplements but not replacing with real nutrition is something you really should fix. I recommend one big healthy cook and package everything for the week.

My family uses Amazon wish lists for gifts. We each make a wish list then share the lists with each other. We normally put things we need for our house/apt in our lists. Tools, dishes, towels, storage items, etc. That way we know we are gifting something the person will actually use and vice versa. (we also don't use Prime)

I agree with a lot of what you said, and I love how logical your reasoning is for most of it. (you can reason your way into using second hand clothing easy, just put stuff in a bag in the freezer for 4-5 days and everything dies. It's not anymore gross than touching a public thing) I have a problem with your organic food argument though, it's not supposed to be better for "you" (albeit it probably is in the long run), it's agriculture that tries to not mess up the planet. For example, the insecticide neonicotinoids is so cheap that you have to use it, but it spreads in the environment and can destabilize an entire ecosystem. A broken ecosystem is gonna come bite you sooner or later, even if it's in a different part of the world.

smell, for many people, helps put people in the right state of mind; everyone is different.

I solved the birthday gift stuff decades ago by simply not telling anyone when my birthday is. To this day, no one at any of my jobs know my birthday and it's become a guessing game that they simply cannot win. Exception is my wife and parents, who I ask to simply get me a new t-shirt each year when the other one wears out. I also avoid buying gifts for others (except for my kids birthdays and xmas) as I'm crap at it.

I like your attitude, you think like how i think, i am glad my tribe is out there.

About the gift-sending thing, I totally agree with you. I don't even like my husband to buy me some gifts that I won't use; it is a waste of money.

I'll never pay for subscriptions unless it becomes a necessity for some reason. There's almost no value to something you don't really own. About iPhones, you should check for a middle ground: not the newest, but also not the oldest, because the oldest will become obsolete and incompatible very quickly. About "on sale" items: I have a list of things I want/need to buy and wait for it to go on an actual good sale. Another type of sales I sometimes buy in to are those that actually offer something so cheap, that I know I'll likely be able to sell it for a profit within a few months time. About DIY, if you don't know a lot about electricity - leave it for the professional - don't create a safety hazard by doing electrical installations yourself. I've seen way too many fire hazards in my life....

I do like working out but realized that everything I was doing in a gym, I could do on my own for free. Treadmill? I go for a walk. Stair Stepper? I just climb flights of stairs. Stationary bike? I go for a bike ride. Weights? I garden and house clean and if I really want to work on muscles specifically I do body weight exercises at home.

@seltzermint5

4 ай бұрын

Agreed! I do so many workouts with free YT videos and then outdoor hikes and such. My husband has spent MAYBE $600 on all his weightlifting & home gym equipment secondhand and he has an excellent setup he actually uses, at home and in all weather.

@seltzermint5

4 ай бұрын

@@tonyp9313 hope it enriches your life

@rodgerlang884

Ай бұрын

My problem is I somply won't do the stuff at home. When I'm in the comfort of my home I find it's really easy to put off going for that long walk (I also hate being really hot and being really cold), or getting sidetracked from those body weight exercises. I have to go to the gym because there's one sole purpose of being there.

@jainthorne4136

Ай бұрын

@@rodgerlang884 That makes sense. It's important to know what works for you.

I haven't paid for cable & internet for several yrs now. When I get a new phone I refuse to pay over $200 for it. My phone bill is barely $50/month. I've had the same carrier for a few yrs. I only buy what I actually need.

I do zero holiday decor. I used to put stuff out at Christmas but didn't enjoy it because it just reminded me of the nagging future task of having to take it down and store it. Much happier with a minimalist house year round!

@LadyCaroline123

4 ай бұрын

I just put out my favorite things and a ceramic Christmas tree.

1:53 Planned Obsolescence is the name of the game now and most tech companies have ramped up their timeline for this business practice. Car companies do it too.

I just cancelled my Amazon Prime with immediate effect, immediately after watching your video! (Despite working for them...) Thanks so much... (I do buy organic if I can, though). Thanks again, Nicole ! X

Here is a library hack to be the first person to read a new book. After you login to your local library, go to the preorder section, usually under new section. Put a hold on any new, not released yet books that the library has ordered. It will tell you your place in line. Often, I am the first or second person to get the book. Also, if there is a book you want that they don’t have, often they will order it in for you for free, and you will be first in line.

@seltzermint5

4 ай бұрын

great hacks, I do this all the time. Not necessarily trying to be first but it often works out that way. I do think from talking to people in other areas than my own that libraries really vary though. Like at mine every single book looks and smells new and they get hundreds of new titles per month. Not every library is as good.

@Victoria-kl7su

4 ай бұрын

My library always has piles of new and very nearly new books too, gone are the days of getting a tatty musty old book, and any newer ones we notice damaged we also take out of circulation

In 2023 we canceled Amazon Prime, got different home & car insurance, switched to Mint Mobile, and put new batteries in our iPhone 6s‘s. We do our own cleaning and repairs because it’s kinda satisfying. We got the house sided with Hardie board and painted and paid cash. It is good to be weird. Keep it coming Nicole.

@user-mp7jo1qn3l

4 ай бұрын

Yes. It’s crazy how much cell service costs in Canada vs. the US!@@tonyp9313

@LadyCaroline123

4 ай бұрын

It is good to be weird. It is good to have no debt.

Coffee outside home. it's the one thing that I still do, for mental reasons. I am a very busy daughter that takes care of my old mum, and she demands attention like a three year old toddler. Having my cup of coffee in the morning, in a quite place, is a good way to start a day. It's MY moment and I don't give up on it. Besides that, i am already taking the same decisions :)

Book swap--i live in chicago and in the nicer neighborhoods, there are "free library" boxes just littered throughout the residential blocks. They're repurposed newspaper boxes that get rebuilt with new doors and you can just drop a book or take a book. I found a REALLY old copy of The Wind in the Willows that i gave to my friend's 7 year old. Some people abuse the system and will steal an ENTIRE BOX, like straight up out of the ground, but that's to be expected I guess. But that's how I get to read a lot more than I probably would have without them.

Agree with many many many, virtually all, of these tips!! I do supplement my vitamin D & K. Already bought a Garmin's smartwatch to get me in the habit of walking everyday. But I won't be buying another one. And I drink zero alcohol or sugar drinks.

Also for clothing I have a great tip for you. *Military surplus!* It's cheap, it's made to be durable and it's generally pretty locally made. I especially recommend anything wool, it'll last forever if you wash it properly, and it has magical properties! I feel like this is the ultimate clothing hack, you're not paying for a brand, you're getting the highest quality clothing money can buy and it's made to last! Well, your miles may vary - but for me it's golden. Only downside; everything is green and looks military.

I've never used Amazon Prime either-I don't use Amazon as much & 99% of the time, the items I'll buy qualify for free shipping over $35. One or two items often totals that much.

@tonyp9313

4 ай бұрын

I work at Amazon & I never use Amazon Prime either. Don't want these incompetent workers seeing me so I have my friend buy me things at Amazon.

@maryannspicher

4 ай бұрын

The benefits aren’t there to justify paying for it. My ex had it and anything I ever would’ve wanted to watch, read, or listen to, I still had to pay for. So what was the point?

Bar Keepers friend----Yes works great on a stainless steel sink and your pots and pans look brand new--I hate that non stick coating

I would add that I try not to use paper towels. I use them to wipe out gunk. I am using cloth towels that I can wash.

@seltzermint5

4 ай бұрын

Love this one. People always think it's weird when I say we go through about 2 rolls of paper towels in 1 year but it is true. We use cloth napkins and kitchen towels and rags and just wash them with our bath towels (except oil and grease stains of course), they last for literally years and are easy care.

@tonyp9313

4 ай бұрын

@@seltzermint5 Not sure about cloth napkins.

For my phone I purchased the Fairphone 5, it's the latest an costed me little over $800 (USD) I bought it as a longterm purchase though since it has a replaceable battery, which is a rare thing in a smart phone these days. It is a European phone and is only recommend to use with providers on the T-Mobile network (like Mint Mobile), but it works fine for me.

One of children of the families I'm friends with asked me why I didn't spend money on "stuff" for myself. I told her because I save some & donate some to various charities.

@mettamorph4523

3 ай бұрын

Judgey. Another answer is "I like to do other things with my money."

@Missy-Missy1111

3 ай бұрын

@@mettamorph4523 Children need to be taught about empathy & giving to others. The best way to do that is by example.

I used to think the same about pet insurance but now it’s a priority. It has saved me so much money, and more than that, it gives me peace of mind knowing that if the vet bill starts racking up, I am going to get 90% reimbursed. Putting money into a savings account is great and a good alternative, but if you have a big vet bill that gets drained quickly and needs to be replenished, and something could happen in the interim. It’s also a better option if you can’t afford to save several thousand dollars quickly. Also grooming really does depend on the dog - my dogs don’t have high grooming needs, but many dogs do and a neglected coat can be very painful for dogs.

@CharlotteLehman

4 ай бұрын

That’s not to say that you’re wrong Nicole, but especially when these things are affecting the wellbeing and safety of another creature, I think people are morally obligated to really think through these issues and make an informed decision that is realistic to their financial situation.

@PatchiKnowledge

4 ай бұрын

@@CharlotteLehman just like with organic food, nicole calls it scammy but my mom has a lot of health issues and intolerances in regards to chemical toxic stuff and we've found out that getting organic food is a key factor for her to be able to eat without secondary harmful effects in her body (using crystal utensils instead of metallic ones is also helping), so a few things that nicole says are definitely subjective and you should always take your personal circumstances into account when taking decisions

@snowfoxxie

4 ай бұрын

I also think pet insurance is a good deal at least at first. When I adopted my cat he was vet-checked from the shelter! But they didn’t know he had lymphoma and cancer. I can’t blame them. He was only 2.5 years old. 6 months passed and 10k in vet bills later I leaned my lesson. I didn’t have time to put money aside like I intended! I think if you are adopting a new pet or haven’t already saved that money and put it aside- GET IT NOW! (And save while you pay then you can exit the insurance)

@snowfoxxie

4 ай бұрын

I want to add to some vet bills in my country go past 20k! Especially if you have to do a surgery.. It’s so ridiculous the amount vet care costs and pet insurance is $10 a month..my vet bill again was 10k. I think your pets life or your financial stability is a never a decision a pet owner should need to make. If you haven’t saved enough for the worst circumstances you need pet insurance. Lucky I could afford it, but it did make me regret my decision not to get it because it would have saved me a lot.

@Andrew-rc3vh

4 ай бұрын

@@snowfoxxie Travel insurance may have been a better example. 10k for a pet tends to reach into the realm of unaffordable for many. Only insure what you can't afford to lose.

I am absolutely on the same page as you with gifts.

4:14 Investment advisers. If these people were any good, they wouldn't be working any more - or they'd be borrowing money from you at 20% so that they could make a lot more on the markets. I agree with this, along with all your other choices. The main thing is to reduce your overheads, or regular payments for things that you don't really need, to as close to zero as possible. I see that this is basically what you're doing.

Hahaha “ it’s free to subscribe”got me. This is the kind of modern wisdom We need as individuals in a consumer driven world. Thanks.

Kudos for listening to music as an actual activity instead of background noise.

You make great points 🙌🏽 Thanks for sharing

Great content, thanks for posting!

I agree with most of what you said I think some people spend on those things and don’t think about where you do spend. But I love by the rule spend on what you LOVE cut mercilessly on what you don’t. I’m not a coffee drinker I can’t fathom spending $10 on coffee a day some people find it a beautiful part of their morning ritual. Who am I to judge. I’d rather see fewer counties in luxury than see more by back packing that’s my choice. What I liked about this video is it makes you think about what you spend on and if it really matters to you 😊

Happy New Year! Miss watching you!

Yeah I'll DIY things except plumbing and electrical work

Love your candidness!

I’m with you on the holiday decor

Great Video, straight to the point delivery, like that. Totally agree with your list. TY.

I agree with you 98% Nicole 😂, only one thing we are different, I have gym membership and I do use it. I like the way you live your life😊

I am saving money for a used SUV. I intend to curtail my spending all year.

The trick with hiring anyone to help with financial advising is to never give a percentage just hire them hourly for the help you may need with managing your portfolio ❤. Paying with a percentage is bonkers 😅 I heard this tip on a finance show. A woman was paying with a percentage who had so much money and she didn’t seem to care although the advisor recommended an hourly pay which would have saved her so much…. Unfortunate but good to know it’s an option!

Great video !

Agreed with all, and live the dream. Thanks for the video.

I do probably 95 % of what you mentioned. Except for food... 'organic' is a must for me. I just want as little herbicides, pesticides, gmo, etc. in my body. I am aware, that I can't avoid them completely, and some might be a scam, but if I can reduce it by maybe 80% it's worth it for me. I've done this for appx. 40 years, and I am very healthy. It pays off in the long run, believe me. And I don't have a pet.

Loving the tips.

Great video Nicole! ✨💖

I have indoor cats, and I stopped buying cat litter. I bought (invested in, really) litter boxes that have a sifting layer over a basin, and I put a bit of soapy water in the basin. When my cats pee, it flows through the sifting layer's grid into the soapy solution, neutralizing odor. When they poop, it stays on top the grid, where it can be reached with tissue and flushed down the toilet. Daily dumping, rinsing, and it's done. No litter to buy, no litter to dispose of, no dirty litter tracked out of the box all around the house, and it's cleaner, so it's better for my cats, too.

Love your thought process. Keep the good work🎉

I nodded my head “yes” to 90-95% of everything you said. It’s interesting that for some things…I made a conscious decision not to buy anymore and some things…I just naturally lost interest in buying. As for gift giving, I often dont give at all or limit it to an inexpensive “thought gift.” But, like you, I really enjoy learning of something someone really wants or needs…and I give it to them because I want to…but not because I feel obligated. And you know what? The world has not come to an end because I didnt comply with certain social norms.

Frim Québec and New on your channel!