One of the key components of your success is that you two work together! That is what drew me to this channel. I watched your teamwork and the love you have for each other. I feel it every time I watch your videos. In my humble opinion of course!

You guys rock. I literally just finished paying bills and looking over my budget, and I was feeling down and defeated because I’m not hitting my goals as quickly as I would like too, plus we over spent in July. Your video came at the perfect time, and it’s recharging me.

@UndertheMedian

2 жыл бұрын

We're so glad it was helpful to you. Give yourself some grace, take a deep breath, and start again.

I enjoy the heck out of you guys. I have no budget, I have no goals, I'm on fixed income, retired for a few years. But I make sure the cat has enough to eat. What more could you ask for?

Hope & Larry, this vid could not have come at a better time. I "live the dream" in a home on some acreage but had some health events short-circuit how much I can do (at least, for a while) around my own little homestead, and it's been daunting, seeing how many things need to be fixed/maintained/younameit around my place. I've been funding a number of sinking funds faithfully over years, but the growth has seemed slower than I want. Thanks for the pie chart/thermometer ideas and the prioritization reminder, Hope. Living alone on a big piece of land after a stroke and waiting for some broken bones to heal sucks, and I remind myself every day that I am never tasked with things over which I cannot prevail. Be well, guys - love you. - SE

And I thought I was organized! I’m impressed and will be watching this again to take notes on how I can improve my system.

Just when I think I've learned everything there is from you guys, you release a new video! 😄 well done!

You are my favorite saving money video. I love how encouraging & positive you both are....also, there are other channels out there that seem very judgemental(even hateful!) towards some groups of people. Though I know you are both believers in christianity, you strike me as being true to your religion. There are other money saving channels that I have watched that spew hateful comments towards people who have different ways (such as for instance LGBTQ or are of different minorities...etc...I can not tell you how much I appreciate watching and listening to you two. Thank you for providing a much needed service in such a non judgemental and inclusive way

Hope, your lipstick looks beautiful on you! I love that shade!

I never used to go into so much detail with goal setting, but I just paused this video and did just that! I realised some of my goals are more attainable than I thought, but others I need to direct more funds towards to meet them.

@UndertheMedian

2 жыл бұрын

That's awesome! So glad you found it helpful

I really appreciate the way you defined the concept of “goals” vs “dreams” SO helpful :-) I wish I had thought through these things years ago.

Thank you for all of these methods to make goals and meet them. We've loosely had goals, but the way you do it with a specific written plan instead of wishful thinking and we'd like to do it by... makes sense. Also reducing expenses in every way possible and adding income by decluttering and selling stuff I no longer need or want will speed up meeting goals. Nice to hear it from a family who has been there and done that and had the same struggles. Thank you for sharing!!!!

Spare change jar as well.

I love the detail you all put into this. The pie chart really helps.

Being specific with a goal, makes it visual as I move toward that goal. A set back (current CV illness) may put it on hold, but I can pick it back up & work harder to reach it.

You have one of the most useful channels on you tube. Always good information

Larry you sound like my Husband he is always wanting me to make a pie!

@ro7740

2 жыл бұрын

🤪😂

Love the pie chart idea and the suggestion that as short-term goals are met to add new short-term goals.

Yes,it is like writing up your own navigation map to keep oneself on track and to refer back to when distracted!

@UndertheMedian

2 жыл бұрын

Lisa, I love that comparison.

You guys are very generous with making the goal charts available to all. You remind me of Warren Buffet where he said that most people aren't interested in his get rich slowly advice. This is a similar principal, the goals and dreams advice. I like it.

Pie chart a very helpful tool to see goals.

I use the "thermometer" method, but instead of using a picture of a thermometer, I use the outline of whatever I am saving for. For example, I have an outline of a house, truck, and SUV (which looks more like a bus, but I'm not an artist...) and a square for the emergency fund. It feels so good to color in one of those stripes, and next week, I will color in the last one on the emergency fund! I have all of them pinned on a canvas in my office, so if there is a new goal, it's easy to add it to the board. It's visual and tactile, so my ADHD brain loves that. And I can see the progress of each goal at once which is motivating even if one goal is being met much more slowly than another.

@UndertheMedian

2 жыл бұрын

Susan! We can't tell you how excited we are that you are coloring in that final stripe on the emergency fund graphic. Well done! We love those kinds of graphics, too. I'm a visual person. So, that constant reminder is super important for me, too.

Thank you Hope and Larry for such great, practical information. Since I found your channel a month ago, I've begun to view money and saving differently. I've already begun using your valuable information for saving on groceries. My mindset has really shifted! Thank you for making a difference in my life that will assist me in raising my 5 children!

I'm so discouraged. I am extremely frugal to the point of only using daylight to read, no driving a car. ..I was making headway only to be wiped out by inflation..double property taxes, vehicle and home insurance .

I like the pie chart concept! I’m going to try it. I also like the goals and dreams delineated!

My goal this year is to pay my council tax off before Xmas in the uk everybody has to pay this if your working I’m paying double the monthly payments to get it down so when it’s low enough I can pay it off that’s my goal this year x

You guys always have good ideas. Thanks.

Thanks for sharing. I thought I was the only person who had a short term goal and there’s long term goals I been working on also. It’s good to hear others set goals like this.

Good one guys. We really have to be very specific with this kind of stuff. Writing it and tracking it every month is vital. Thanks much. I'm psyched!

I’m so grateful for your advice, I am not good at setting up goals although I am trying to look at being less impulsive. You two feel like members of my family - I find the way you talk to us is wonderful, so lots of love from Catherine in Marcham, Oxfordshire. Loads of ❤️

Thank you for this advice!

Again - EXCELLENT practical ideas! I love the pie chart. This makes it easy to see. TY💚

Thank you for making this video. It was very helpful!

To keep track of my sinking funds I use a check book ledger to keep track of the amounts in each account!

You give us hope 🌺❤️🌺

Love the pie chart! Greatly helpful video.

That's a good system. Thank you!

Thank you, love your videos, full of common sense , very helpful😇,

This was really helpful! Thank y’all so much!

Yes, the pie chart is awesome.

🔥 great video 👍🏿 thank you for sharing!

I also decided to start using old washcloths instead of toilet paper. I still use toilet paper for when I need to do the other thing. I have noticed it saves quite a bit on toilet paper and I’m hoping the savings will help out.

Hope you look so pretty tonight! Your make up is stunning on you!!😍

What are sinking funds? I think I will watch your next video to find out! Thank you so much for your time to enlighten us!

Thumbs up for the content AND for the Captain Kirk mug, Larry!! 👏🏻😎👍🏻

@UndertheMedian

Жыл бұрын

That was Larry's birthday gift this year. He loves the original Star Trek.

Hello from Wisconsin

Great tips

I always have an emergency fund of 1-2 thousand . Then I use extra money for my goals

Always appreciate your wisdom and experience on the subjects. Hope, I also loved that your coffee cup matched your shirt so perfectly! Did you plan that?

If the wisdom teeth are healthy but a dentist claims they "need" to be removed due to lack of space, then growing the jaws with expansion devices is the cure. See the Orthotropics channel. I'm doing this as a middle-aged woman. It's wonderful to see my chin come back and have plenty of room for all of my teeth. (Removing teeth accommodates the atrophy and makes it worse long term, leading to smaller airways.)

In your example pie chart, I don’t understand why you would use paying off a Visa off early, that has a goal deadline of two years after paying for a replacement vehicle, when it’s virtually a guarantee that a vehicle loan would be so much lower than a credit card interest rate. Would it be beneficial to discuss goals that are important, urgent or both and possible impacts on priority for debts? Thanks.

Good evening everyone.

Hi:) from Florida

Hope you look so nice tonight

Lets do it

What do you guys do for insurance that’s a big expense for us?

Love ❤ 😍 bless you 🙏 both God bless yoy and 👪 with joy 😊 peace and happiness always take care 🙂 joy to watch💝❤💛💚💙💛💝💕

Question! Do you put the saving into more than one bank account(envelope)?

As Maxwell Smart would say, "missed it by thisss much".

Do you keep all your goal(s) money in a single savings account or multiple accounts, or keep stg money at home in a safe place?

@katherinerichardson1767

2 жыл бұрын

I was wondering the same thing about the savings account.

@mariannepatynik9729

2 жыл бұрын

I was wondering the same as well.

💖

how can you help me plan on a goal when you're on a fixed income.

This is very helpful. Where do you keep your goal savings and sinking funds vs your emergency fund. I only have checking, savings and IRA which is my kind of emergency fund because I have a solid retirement, great health ins besides Medicare and long term ins. Enough life insurance to pay for funeral expenses. So I’m set except for one major thing. I’m in debt. A lot.

@robinsutton577

2 жыл бұрын

I keep all of my money in one account. Everything is on paper so I know how much is for bills, living expenses, and sinking funds. I don't spend a penny without it being written down. Hope this helps. Good luck on getting rid of your debt, you can do this one step and one dollar at a time!

@glendaw5221

2 жыл бұрын

@@robinsutton577 thank you for the info and the encouragement. I have so many good things going. I just let my credit card debt skyrocket. Ok so if I have say $1400 in my savings I just keep track of what makes up that $1400 right? (Like $200 savs toward a new car, $50 toward Taxes. Etc. right?

@robinsutton577

2 жыл бұрын

@@glendaw5221 Exactly, you understand it! It takes me 4 pages in a budget book each month. I have the sinking funds broken down on one, the monthly bills on another. Then I use the backs of the pages to keep track of what I spent out of each one and use the remainder of the monthly bill sheet to write down expenditures out of my monthly living allowance, which includes things like groceries, gas, etc. By the way, the monthly living allowance is listed out of my monthly bill paying. On the last day of the month my expenses are wrapped up. My account balance needs to add up to what is down on paper. I totally get it on the credit card, I have done that in the years past! We use one credit card to pay all purchases each month and the card is paid off, we don't carry a balance. If I carried a balance that means that I didn't have the money budgeted for it. Don't forget to give yourself a small allowance so that you can stay within budget but don't feel deprived.😊 If you want to see an example of what I do, I can send you photos if you provide an email.

Thank you for these videos. What does a typical week of meal planning look like for you? I always thought it was expensive to go vegan. I don't plan to go vegan or even vegetarian but was just curious. TIA

@UndertheMedian

2 жыл бұрын

Hi, JW. I have some sample meal plans on the website. Feel free to check them out. underthemedian.com/category/50-menu/

Shouldn't your living expenses be in the pie chart?

Good evening hope and larry.

@larryware1

2 жыл бұрын

Good evening!

@mimisabundantlife

2 жыл бұрын

@@larryware1 can hope answer a question i have that no one elsecan answer? I have an older non energy effientdishwasher. Probably 12 years old. Is it cheaper to hand wash my dishesor wash full loads inthe dishwasher. I need to keep all bills down as much as posdible and dishwasher uses gas water and electric.... thank you

@UndertheMedian

2 жыл бұрын

I've actually researched that question. It is my understanding that the newer dishwashers really DO cost less to use than hand-washing - at least that's what the "experts" say. (However, I have no idea what method the experts are using to hand-wash). I would suspect that it would be cheaper to hand-wash. Especially if you are very conservative in how much water you use to wash and rinse.

I am considered “low income”, and am trying to save for a trip this year to France . ( My daughter will be working there). I am finding it very difficult to put money away as I’ve had some unexpected expenses come up. Do you have any suggestions? I work multiple jobs and I am the only person working in my household as my kids are not living with me and I am single. Thank you !

@UndertheMedian

2 жыл бұрын

Is there anything you can sell? That's always our first "go to" when we are saving for something special and can't fund it from our budget. We're always finding items around the house that we no longer want or need and we sell them, putting the proceeds toward that goal. Also, I'd highly suggest creating a realistic budget for the trip now so you know what your savings goal is. Be sure to include some spending money. Even though you'll be staying with your daughter, you'll want to bring back a special momento from your trip.

@shoshannacorner8753

2 жыл бұрын

@@UndertheMedian I might have some dancewear I can sell I just have to find a place to sell it on

Is this after emergency fund and savings??

@UndertheMedian

2 жыл бұрын

That' s a great question. We suggest a beginning emergency fund of $2,000. And then building it up to 3-6 months of expenses. (We have a 6-month emergency fund). As long as the $2K is in place then you could make the 3-6 month emergency fund one of your goals. Or you could go ahead and get that in place before tackling any other goals. If debt is a part of the picture, getting that paid off ASAP is important, as well.

Credit card debt. Never a good idea and a priority to get rid of in six months or less. After you have gotten rid of that type of debt then consider Disney.

There isn't any way for us to do this..we checked our income and our bills..we don't make enough money to save any..our bills are more then our income..HELP

@UndertheMedian

2 жыл бұрын

If you cannot cut any expense, you need to bring in more income.

@silvesan9162

2 жыл бұрын

One cost savings option some people are unaware of is obtaining food from a local free or low-cost distribution. My church distributes food we obtain from a county food bank then we distribute it, every other week, FREE, to anyone who shows up. The "pantry box" usually includes rice or pasta, oatmeal, canned vegetables and fruit, canned chicken or tuna, shelf-stable milk, and other items. This can save a family $20 in groceries. We also dustribute a bag of fresh produce...more savings.

@bernadineculp5825

2 жыл бұрын

@@UndertheMedian humm , not sure how to do that since my husband works a full time + overtime job and I babysit 12 to 14 hours a day ..thank you !

@bernadineculp5825

2 жыл бұрын

@@silvesan9162 humm I'll have to do my homework on this one! Thank you!

@silvesan9162

2 жыл бұрын

@@bernadineculp5825, on our home, we regrow green onions by leaving the roots in a little water, have some herb plants growing in pots, etc., to help cut costs. Two family friends and I bulk buy rice, beans and flour (50 to 100 pound bags) 2-3 times per year and split the items) and cost proportionally. Just on the rice, I save an average of 57 cents per pound which works out to $28.50 per year. This pays my natural gas bill for 1 month. We use washable towels vs paper towels, and do many of things recommended by this channel, which helps me save 100s per year. By the way, I empathize with you. I have been in the situation where I was working multiple jobs, cutting every corner I could and the income was insufficient. That's around the time I found the food banks, etc...helped immensely.

it's a small income I'm on

Do you really ever own a home or is owning just a illusion? What happens if economy crashes and you can't pay property taxes...Greed is a bottomless pit...Reminds of this song I know...... Money Get back I'm alright, Jack, keep your hands off of my stack Money It's a hit Don't give me that do goody good bullshit I'm in the high-fidelity first-class traveling set And I think I need a Lear jet Money It's a crime Share it fairly, but don't take a slice of my pie Money So they say Is the root of all evil today

Hope ya hair looks lovely in a plat

Cell phone providers! Mint mobile is alot less cost than consumer cellular!

@UndertheMedian

2 жыл бұрын

We just switched to Mint Mobile. They will be featured on an upcoming video in early August.

@catladylife

2 жыл бұрын

I just switched also. My previous company was bought by Dish and was making changes. I got the unlimited plan for $15 a month for my first 3 months. They had a sale earlier in the month and you could even get the unlimited for $15 a month

We don’t write down any goals and therefore we are floundering…

😥

Do you have an emergency fund?

@UndertheMedian

2 жыл бұрын

We have a 6-month emergency fund.