Wow, this is so totally awesome! I am old enough to be your mother, but we are just so alike that I feel we are almost mother & child separated at birth! LOL I too am minimalist, vegan, live in a 600 sq.ft. studio apartment in a senior village near the Jersey shore (opposite coasts!), do not use credit cards, drive a 12 year old Toyota Scion with no car payment, do not own a tv, & have no internet service besides my phone! There are more similarities but not to overwhelm you. I guess some people just gravitate to a much simpler life style, & that’s how it’s been for me. Just wanted to let you know how much I’m enjoying your channel & look forward to your next upload!👍✅💯♥️🌸🌺🧘🏻♀️🏖️☮️
Thank you for your sharing. I only have 4 bills: my phone, car insurance, my website and my rent monthly. I live in Sausalito CA, in the middle of the millionaires and I got a little cottage for $1550 includes everything wifi, water, electricity in someone 's backyard. I negotiated the price because it was too much and my landlord agree.I'm 2mn from the Bay, so magical and beautiful.I like to keep simple, I feel free and abundant that way. My phone is $40 per month and it's unlimited includes everything. My car Insurance is $58 per month. Also I have a website for my Feng Shui business and it's $34 per month and that's it. I don't eat out but I eat organic , I eat the same food everyday, so its easy.💖
Yes it can be so expensive- I’m very fortunate my job offers such an affordable plan. (I chose a plan with low monthly cost and a high deductible since it’s mostly for emergencies)
idk what it was maybe my frontal lobe fully forming but as soon as i turned 25 i’ve flipped a switch and have been so inspired to change my lifestyle to minimalism everything about it is so appealing over consumption has gotten way out of hand and i’m glad i opened my eyes saving money is just a small portion of how great this lifestyle is
I’ve never commented on a CZcams video before but I absolutely love your videos. I get really excited when I see a new one! I love real and raw you are. Your simplistic lifestyle is so inspirational. I’ve been on a minimalist journey for years now. My childhood home had SO much clutter, so naturally I did as well going into adulthood. Spent the first few years of my 20s realizing the negative effect this stuff was having on me. Constantly anxious and overwhelmed. Of all the minimalist content out there, I have found yours to be the most relatable to where I’m at in my life. Thank you for being so vulnerable with us and letting us into your peaceful world. Hope you continue to keep sharing!
Thank you for these very kind words, and I’m glad you are finding some inspiration here. It’s natural to take on clutter habits from our parents, but that’s great you were able to break the pattern! Keep going on your journey ✨💚
I hope your channel continues to grow as your content is definitely worth listening to. The honesty, transparency and different perspective is what I look forward to. I always leave inspired after one of your videos to be my BEST version. A big thank you as always!!!
Thank you for sharing your finances. I’ve become very mindful of money and how it can control you. I’ve cut my bills to my $353 car payment, 5.99 for Spotify (student), Netflix which is like 20 and my gym which is under 30. I live with my mom and her roommate and I helped with the purchase of the home with a 40k down payment so I essentially live rent free until my garage apartment is finished then I’ll be paying for the excess consumption of utilities. We bundle our car insurance and I pay her 500 per month for insurance and current consumption as a roommate (food & utilities). I’m 24 btw which I know for some is strange but I’m Latina and it’s not common for us to move out until we are married off and while I’m dating I live here as a part of my culture. I’ve transitioned from being an over consuming human to an eco-minimalist. It’s been an amazing journey so far and I’m loving the freedom from the box that over consumption puts you in. 😊
For just 24 you have an amazing head on your shoulders- well done. And I think it’s great you live at home if it’s a healthy and supportive environment. In America we tend to live so isolated and the lack of community has been really detrimental to our mental and emotional health. Keep shining your light you are a great example for younger people your age 🌟
@@Exploravore thank you! I’ve tried very hard to change my old unhealthy habits for a better future. I agree in America we are very isolated and the push for individualism destroyed the potential for community and social interaction and the pandemic only worsened that. We need to work on being better together
Thank you for sharing! You never know what inspiration your videos might give! Since watching this, I’ve rearranged and streamlined how I pay my bills, so that now everything will be much easier. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing this video, I don't feel alone anymore!😊 Yes, you definitely have to prioritize what you need to spend money on. For where you have chosen to live, with utilities included, sounds about right. Being in a place that is beautiful and nourishes your soul is priceless.
Thank you for sharing! I absolutely love your channel. You are the only channel I have ever waited for new episodes to come out :). Your lifestyle is so minimal yet powerful and I love hearing about it.
I’d love to hear about your travels. I love road tripping! I’m a nurse and I have my schedule arranged where I have 5 days off in a row every two weeks so I try and fit my outings in there.
Recently discovered your videos and every single one I’ve watched so far is excellent. Love your straightforward style. I’m 68, on a fixed income, and envy your nice lifestyle. I consider myself minimalist for 5 years now but you truly inspire me to be more like you. No big furniture, no unnecessary spending etc. So I’m glad I am finding inspiration from you. Guess it’s never too late, right? 😊
Thank you for yet another great video! I am trying to live as simple as possible so that I can have the freedom to work as little as possible. I do love my work, but I like my life and free time more. The money that I manage to save, goes to traveling. I don’t need a car where I live, I can walk or bike everywhere, and that saves alot of money ❤
I would love to hear about what you do in your free time! I found that once I simplified my life by getting rid of my clutter, deleting social media, and automating my finances, I now have so much free time I don't know what to do with myself. I've gotten into reading, walking, yoga, piano, and learning french and I STILL have more free time left over than most people I know. I'm very happy with all of the mental space I have now but my new problem is boredom.
So coming face to face with the boredom is the next step- sitting with that discomfort until it transitions into a beautiful peace that you actually crave nothingness. We are programmed in modern society to always be doing chaotic shit nonstop, but this has made us very ill. Look at Nature~ she is slow, and still, but magnificent. This is our teacher..
We are so much alike. I, too, am old enough to be your mom. It's really good to see someone younger who gets it. I drive a 2003 Honda Accord with close to 300,000 miles on it. I take care of it and will drive it till it dies. I'm hoping to travel overseas sometime this year or beginning of next year. Experiences over needless stuff anyday😀
Wow 300k that’s amazing!! That gives me hope for little Herbie 🥰 Glad you are finding resonance here Melanie and yes Amen to experiences over stuff!! 💖💖
I really appreciate this video , it helps me see where I can save money. How often do you think you spend money on replacing clothing that gets worn out? Sending love and peace your way❤
Thank you for this video! I love your content.❤️ I am just really shocked about how high the cost of living is in the U.S. Inflation is very high here in Austria at the moment, but that is just a little less than our costs of living as a family of 3 in a very nice, central district in Vienna. We have also cut down a lot of our bills, but still have 2 or 3 "unnecessary" extras per month. That's the thing when you have 3 people and three different "concepts" of minimalism in one household.😁
lol yes the more bodies in one home the trickier things can get with how that home should be! Sounds like you found a good balance though. And yes I’m in the most expensive part of America 🤪
Hi :) It would be nice to see a video from you about how you organize all your papers and also a video of what you use for cleaning your home and clothes. That would be interesting.
Hello beautiful Alicia😇, I think you're doing everything right. The rent is very high, but you're still saving money every month. Just saving doesn't make sense, that's why you travel a lot. Food is quality of life, I wouldn't save on that either. You have very clear ideas about your life, I think that's great. In Germany/Switzerland we have 6 to 8 weeks of paid vacation and health insurance is not as much of a problem as it is in America. I'm looking forward to your next videos, Felix 😊🇨🇭
Thank you for these kind words Felix, and nice to see you here as always. Yes Europe is a lot more humane with time off and health care and general work life balance than America- something we in America should definitely shift as so many people here are so mentally ill and emotionally distressed :/
This is amazing! You are such an inspiration, thank you for every video you make! And also your hair looks stunning here, did you style/dry it in a special way? We have a similar texture 😃
Thank you so glad you are finding some inspiration here 💜💜 And this was day 1 after washing it- it was unbrushed and in a messy bun all day, this is what it looks like when I take the bun out 🦁
We have condo payment: $1000; Electric bill: $50; Gas, food, spending/misc $550. Internet: $40 & cell phone pay as you go with Tracfone that averages about $10 a month, including a few gigs of data occasionally, for when not in WIFI or traveling. We also put money away for our car/renters ins, vacations, AAA membership (we too drive older cars), and our campground membership rent. We squirrel away the rest toward retirement, as we are both 60. I work pt and my hubby still works ft, but we would be considered a very low income family - despite us not feeling so. I DO use coupons, rebate/shopping apps and store loyalty programs to pay almost nothing for our laundry, cleaning, paper and personal supplies/needs. It doesnt take as long as you think. Im also considering donating plasma as its the right thing to do and you can earn a good travel budget by doing so. I dont think I would do it twice a week, as they recommend, but rather once or twice a month.
well done video with great infos how to do it! Thanks! How do you pay for energy, like electricity or/and gas/oil for heating? (or cooling) Lovely regards from Vienna/Austria
Hello to Vienna! So my last place (where I was when I filmed this video) was a studio attached to someone’s home so those fees were just included in my rent. My new place I just moved to is an apartment complex, so I will have a bill for utilities and a small bill for trash 🩷
Cool video So do not want to own a house or don’t need the stress of a mortgage So what music artists/ bands do u like and if u read books is it online or from the library
I love a huge range of music- depends what I’m in the mood for. I like physical books. I try to get my books from local shops, and when I’m done reading them I donate them :)
Great breakdown..Besides food, shelter and car insurance/gas my my monthly extra expenses are gym $10.66, Netflix 12.78, and hand and stone spa membership $85 + 25 tip ..work reimburses me for cell phone and internet.. I am able to save approx 2500 a month..
Thank you for keeping it real! How do you edit your videos? Got to hand it to you for not having a laptop, but I would find it a challenge to edit on a phone --- your editing must be ultra minimalist as well. Maybe you talk about it elsewhere, but I would love to hear if you had more than a phone as a computer So smart to save as much money as possible. I appreciate your not wasting your time searching "deals." You have been inspiring me to go ultra minimalist.
Glad you are finding some inspo here! A lot of my videos require no editing as I am just doing a one take start to finish talk. I hate jump cuts and flashy edits as they feel fake and overstimulating to me. For the ones that do require editing, I just use iMovie because it’s free and easy to use- and yes I just edit straight from my phone :)
I have had a chance to watch more of your videos and my respect for how you treat your content and audience grows! I have a hunch your channel will keep growing and your monetization. As humans we can still discern the real from the fake and are craving real. Sure, the paradox is that the delivery system is the internet, but that’s reality. I hope that you have found a new home with plenty of natural light. Best, Jane
I pay $1700 for a 700sq ft 1bed 1bath in the Salt Lake City area of Utah. It’s expensive for this area but I’m choosing to pay for the comfort of having a garage since my car has been broken into multiple times in previous apartments. I’m also choosing to pay for the luxury of having nobody above me and nobody below me. I have an amazing view of the mountains and it is the best apartment I’ve ever rented. People think I’m crazy for paying that much here, but in reality it’s only a couple hundred over the average rent so it’s not much to pay for comfort and security. I would love to live by the beach. Used to live in the Bay Area and miss it so much.
I used to live in the Bay too! And life is all about choices. You can’t put a price in wellbeing- it’s the most important. Paying extra to have a quality of life that nurtures you is a good thing 💜
I’d like to hear more about how you quit frivolous spending in your 20s. I’m in my 40s and still struggling. I’m also curious if your sister’s family is also minimal, and if so, what does minimalism look like for their family. Thank you for your videos!
I have 2 videos that would likely help: “How I cured my shopping addiction to become an ultra minimalist” and “how I became an ultra minimalist, my story”. And my sister and her husband are absolute MAXIMALISTS. We couldn’t be more different 😅😅 I have a huge family- my dad has four sisters and I have a bunch of cousins that are all married with kids now- NO ONE is a minimalist and not even close lol. For some reason I just came this way 😄
@@Exploravore Thank you for the recommendations. I guess our family will find its way! I also come from a family who has all the things and keeps the things from the last generation. I’ll keep working on it. 😅
I’ve really been enjoying your channel the last couple of weeks (and told some people about it, too 📣). This feels like a personal ask so feel free to “opt out” if so but I noticed no mention of healthcare/health insurance. For a lot of people in the US, particularly artists/freelancers and other self-employed people who don’t get care provided through an employer, this can be a complex (and income-based, tax-based) financial quagmire. Even when people are in good health with no current issues or medications, it can be challenging. If you feel comfortable sharing, I’d be interested to hear whether there’s a philosophical reason why healthcare isn’t a financial consideration or whether as a Canadian (I think?) this works out differently for you. Thanks for sharing a bit of your life - as someone with some similarities, I’ve found your approach (and coastal life) inspiring. 🌊✌🏼
So glad you have been enjoying the vibes here and thank you for the shout outs!! 🤗 So I am actually American- I live in California. I forgot to mention healthcare (whoops) because it’s not a bill I see but I do have it. I am full time at my restaurant and it is a large corporation so I thankfully have full coverage through them- it’s just $20 automatically withheld from each paycheck. The reason it’s so low is because I chose a plan with a high deductible, since it is mostly for emergencies. Healthcare in the U.S. is outrageously expensive, and for quite a few years I had to gamble without it as an artist. There are some good companies out there like the restaurant I work at that do offer health insurance for full time hourly employees 💜
Thank you so much for responding! I don’t know why I thought you were Canadian - somewhere along the way in watching (almost) every single video you’ve shared 😂 I wove that into the story of who you are (although I knew you were in San Diego). No more, fellow American! That’s wonderful you have care through your work - it’s been a long time since I was in that spot, I miss that small deduction out of the paycheck life! I’ve been freelance/self-employed for over a decade now and while it suits me in many ways, I find the healthcare/income-qualifying part (even though I’ve thankfully had no major issues and at times let it go all together) stressful af. I was wondering if maybe you’d have a buck-the-system approach (similar to your no credit card/no investments philosophy) that would offer me another way to look at that area of life. But here in the US, it’s not so easy to be carefree about it, except when it is. Thanks again - I love your channel and vibe!
@emberworks I’ve mentioned a few times that I grew up in Canada so that’s likely where you made the connection ;) And yes Im not a big doctor person as I’m much more into natural healing, but for trauma emergencies we can’t predict its good to have, and is unfortunately outrageously expensive in this country :/
Thank you, for being so open about your living expenses...i myself, live on 665 a month. No car....i have to sleep on the floor of my former husband's small apartment.... I have no debt...there is no rentals in the cookie cutter community i live....deatra
Same as you. Rent 840€, electricity 130€, cellphone 10€/month, car insurance 320€/year, car taxes 100€/ year, insurance 80€/year. That’s about it . Don’t count how much I pay for food. We live in Germany and Germans don’t earn as much as Americans but our bills are much cheaper at the same time . Love your content !!! We are so much alike !
@@Exploravore Oh yes, they are . I used to live in the states for eight years and I was shocked to see how much there is of a price difference. Your videos inspire me a lot because there are days when I drift away from my values and believes due to being a mom of two …
@YOLO33382 Life is definitely harder when you are raising small humans! Simplicity will look different for you than for me, but it’s still possible. You are giving your children and the world they will encounter a great gift by instilling values that focus on the truly important things 💗
200k on your Beetle is heartening! I have 105k on my 2012 Beetle and I want her to last, well, forever! I feel like no one even makes small cars these days, except for Minis. Do you get health care through work (I realize that’s sadly rare for the service industry)? That is definitely my biggest expense, now that my son is out of daycare.
I'm interested in your no-laptop life! Were you ever using a computer regularly, and if so, what was the transition like without? I know you said you like doing everything on your phone :)
So I’ve never had a job where I needed a computer regularly- I was a performing artist, and then a synchronized swimming coach and choreographer and now I work in a restaurant. So it was a very easy transition. Once in a blue moon I’ll need one to say update my resume, in which case I’ll just borrow a friend’s or go to the library. But that’s very rare. I love not having one and don’t miss it at all :)
Hello ! I'm really amazed!! Here in France we already have compulsory home insurance, in the event of a disaster, and then mutual insurance which is practically compulsory to reimburse medical costs... and which is very expensive! and in the US this does not exist? Thanks again for your videos!!!!
Some places have mandatory insurance for renters- I’ve had it before it’s just typically not that expensive (mine was $90 per year). I have medical insurance through my work- it’s $20 withheld from each paycheck. The number is so low because I chose a plan with a high deductible, since it’s mainly for emergencies anyway. 💜
@@Exploravore oh thank you for your response!! Here the insurance is much more expensive for an apartment, I pay 150 euros per year for a 30m2! and for medical expenses we have the social security system that we pay every month out of our pay and in addition it is advisable to take out mutual insurance which reimburses what social security does not reimburse, and you have to pay at least 70 euros per month !!! This is theft ! especially since most of the time the mutual fund does not reimburse because it is not taken into account in the contract... In short, we are being ripped off from every point of view. For my part, I prefer to be in good health and for that to do sports, eat well, etc.
I enjoyed this! As someone who does pay utilities, I do not use autopay, because I like to keep track of when things go higher and lower. My water meter had a leak and the city I lived would have charged me upwards of $4K if I hadn't withheld funds and repeatedly filed claims and called the city. I know this is a rare case, but it's happened twice to me in the last 20 years, so I like to keep tabs and check when things seem out of whack. The only other monthly bills I have that you didn't mention are real estate taxes, estimated taxes for my business, and monthly contributions to my retirement. I love that you do support a child -- I'm a fan of a few local charities and I think it's important, regardless of budget, to remember to give back
Wow. I have a question. Why is a phone plan so expensive in the us? 130 dollars per month? Is that normal? I’m from Germany and I pay like 20 euros per month for unlimited data, minutes etc. love your content and thank you for sharing.
I have the following expenses. Mortgage, electricity, water, heat, property tax, unemployment insurance, car insurance, house insurance, accident insurance. I have this in a spreadsheet that is automatically updated with some software I have written. If I buy an icecream with my card it will be captured into the budget. By copying budget2023 to budget2024, I can simulate a year into the future. During 2024 budget2024 will be completed and copied to budgeted2025 and so on. And.... of course I have a laptop.
The rent might be high- but in addition to utilities- you don’t pay property taxes and house insurance…among other house expenses. We live in an area that can produce taxes upward of 20k a year. It’s a trade off…🤷♀️
This was very interesting! Im not ultra minimalist (yet!) But I think my bills are already minimalist! This is how it looks in the UK: Income 1500, rent 350, bills 60, internet 12, phone 6, food 50, transport 30, healthcare is free, and I use a savings account to save for trips home on the train to see family and cheap ryanair flights to see friends in EU :)
Gas and electricity 60? Where you live? Haha I pay 125 per month (me and my son) internet 12 ? How? I have 23 I never find anything cheaper food 50? I don't think soooo
Yeah unless you’re relying on food banks there’s no way one person can be spending only £50 on groceries per month, especially since all the prices have increased.
Yeah unless you’re relying on food banks there’s no way one person can be spending only £50 on groceries per month, especially since all the prices have increased.
@peri252 I dont understand why I would need to spend more than £50 as a single person? I am Cornish and live in Scotland. I cook traditional food from scratch as well as nice things like curries, salads and pastas. I eat 3 healthy meals a day and sometimes feed friends. I think that having solid cooking skills and being able to cook from scratch is key. Flour & oats are pennies. Being open minded to shop at Asian shops for rice, spices etc is important. Knowing how to cook with cheap seasonal veg that isnt trendy. Bulk making stuff and freezing. I gave MY expenses, not the average expenses. If you have dietary issues or make a choice like veganism, it will be more expensive. You didnt need to be rude.
Alicia, thanks for sharing this. I love the name of your car. My favorite Disney movies are about a car named "Herbie". I love the way you are willing to pay more on your rent to get the benefit of living there. Prioritizing what's important. I am paying off my van this next month after 3 years of payments. This will free up some money for other things. After that is paid off I will have just 4 bills paid monthly. One of them is full car insurance because the loan holder required it. I will seek cheaper insurance after payoff and I am hoping to pay it every 6 months. I am curious as to why you don't believe in negotiating better deals or using coupons or discounts. I may have misunderstood you on this. I get paid once a month and I don't budget either, since I know what the total is on my auto pay bills every month I just subtract that from the amount I get paid and that tells me how much money I have left for the rest of the month to pay on other expenses. I am trying to get my bills down to fewer than 4 per month. My rent is $1200.00 per month for a 2 bedroom, 2 bath that i share with my oldest son. We live in Spokane washington. I
Wow you definitely have more reasonable rent out there!! Sounds like your expenses are very streamlined- that’s great! I will do a video about “deals and coupons” :)
Have you heard of Helen and Scott nearing? They were a homesteading vegetarian couple who homesteaded in the state of maine. They started late in life and Scott lived to 100 still chopping wood and doing chores. I think Helen died in 1995 at the age of 92. They were married 50 years and Scott was 20 years older than her. They chose not to have children. They inspired the back to the land movement in the 70s and 80s
For many years I was also a competitive synchronized swimming coach- I retired from that last year so that I could focus on other creative pursuits and travel more.
Holy wow girl you’re spending almost as much as my family of 4 is on $82 k income. We spent about as much on food $450-500 a month, $2600 month on mortgage for 3bed2bath in Maryland on the beach we bought last summer. No car payment either we drive small Honda Fit. Have health insurance payments too covered partially by his job. We went to Disney and a wedding a few months ago for travel and I also have only a phone no laptop but it’s paid for by parents still since they get discounts as do his parents. We have Disney plus as only subscription and occasionally pick up a diff subscription once a year or so and then cancel them based on what we want to watch/ if we need Amazon prime to order supplies usually around Christmas or home projects. We use credit cards strategically and have investment accounts and high interest savings accounts and CDs that grow over the course of the year. We love Indian and Thai food too but get them maybe once a month and buy Indian simmer sauces at the store to get that fix over some basmati rice. You can use chickpeas and sweet potatoes or lentils instead of meat since you’re vegetarian in the simmer sauces they always end up delicious.
I left t mobile was too expensive. You can keep your same phone number and switch to Mint mobile I pay $360 per year for unlimited with my iPhone 13 Pro Max.
@@ExploravoreYou might be interested in “Total by Verizon”. I pay $25 a month with unlimited talk and text. Great phone service and they use the Verizon cell towers. I live in California also. I believe they were originally called “Total” and then Verizon bought them. Definitely worth googling “Total by Verizon” and checking out their phone plans.
Eventually. My dream is to travel full time for at least a year, maybe more, and then eventually buy land and build a sustainable off grid home. I want to do this with a partner though, so we shall see when the right man shows up 😄
I never waste my time on coupons, bargains, loyalty cards, buying stuff with certain cards to get points, switching energy supply companies every month - NO! I've lived long enough to know that there are NO deals out there. Companies will make their money. DOn't waste your tine and sanity. Stick with the SIMPLE life.
You didn’t mention any sort of investing. Is that something you don’t do, or just didn’t discuss here? Even small investments of money you won’t “miss” can add up! I recently logged into a 401k from a previous employer that I contributed to for like 1-2 years. It’s been about two years and the investment doubled. It’s definitely not life-changing money bc I ended employment there, but even things like CDs can have a nice little return.
I go over this in a video titled “how I keep my finances ultra simple as an extreme minimalist”. In short, no I don’t invest, and I have no interest in it. I go over my reasons for this more in depth in that video ;)
Welcome to the family here! 🌸 And I actually don’t use any filters at all- I film in completely natural light. So depending on the time of day, and if the sky is grey (we get a lot of grey in San Diego) the coloring will vary drastically in each video. 🩵
My mom's car when I was a kid was named Herby! Herby the Honda. He was also a boy, because he was a standard transmission so had the gear shift as part of his anatomy. As a student I live pretty simply and my bills are simple (I live on campus so rent and utilities are all included in one bill for living in residence), but I do have student loans that I know will be in the back of my mind until I get a job (in this economy!?) and pay them off. One expense that isn't typical, is that I pay for a tiffin service. This is vegetarian Indian food dropped off at my building every week day. Each day's tiffin is enough food for two meals, and it costs $165 for four weeks (20 tiffins). I sometimes buy things that I don't need when I'm feeling down, which I'd like to stop, but I don't do it a lot so it's not a big problem or anything. Something I really appreciate from your videos is that you are an example of an adult who is present and calm, curious, creative, etc (C words from IFS therapy). A lot of things have helped me in my healing journey (I had a rocky start to adulthood, mental-health wise), but I think the final piece in my quarter-life crisis is seeing a variety of examples of adults who are living lives they are happy with, which has helped me see that adulthood is not so bad!
Hahaha stick shift boy anatomy that’s hilarious 😂😂 That’s great you are keeping things simple and that Indian food delivery service sounds cool!! Yes adulthood doesn’t have to be so bad, and can be great if you decide- it’s your life and up to you! My 30s were better than my 20s and I think my 40s will be better than my 30s :). Student loan debt can be scary, but if you continue to live smart and simple you can tackle it 🙏🏻
@@Exploravore anything really. For context: im interested cuz i personally have been all over the scale, feeling very mature, to then immature and easily offended, and now oftentimes my mind, body, and heart dont agree about what I want or when. I know a lot of people are struggling with sexuality these days. You seem pretty comfortable in yours, and also youve called yourself a loner. Im curious how those elements of your personality connect for you, and if or how they extend to others.
Yearly car insurance + tax, monthly rent, gas, electricity and water, internet + phone. That's it. As a European, I can't even grasp the concept of "credit card bill". Why would you pay money for money?
Hahah that’s such an awesome way to put it- I’m going to borrow that quote thank you! 😄 Yes America is so wacky with cc brainwashing 🙄🙄 Glad to hear you have such simplicity with your finances 💓💓
@gosiaq87 not sure what the current exchange rate with the Pound is but sounds like your rent is wayyy more affordable than mine hehe. Glad to hear you have found simplicity in what also can be a very expensive area 💕
I own a debit card which I rarely use, I like to use cash for my grocery shopping & shopping in general (rarely). Me and my elderly mother have a few monthly bills : water, gas for cooking & heating, electricity, internet as I have a computer at home I use for work and her Sky subscription on TV, she spends her time watching telly so can't say no to that but no Netflix or similar stuff, it's only 20 Euros a month. I don't own a car so no money spent on that. We own the apartment we live in, so no rent. Healthcare is universal in Italy so we don't need an insurance at least for now. And our phones, mine is 9 Euros monthly all included, hers is 8 Euros. When I'll be on my own again I'll cut down the expenses though, as I don't watch TV, haven't watched it for 20 yrs, and I'll probably sell this place and move to a small village by the sea, dunno know whether in Italy or not yet, but I dream about living in a fisher's house or sthg similar. A small place, a life even more basic than now (and my life IS very basic, no movies, rarely eating out, no nights out) with cats & dogs. I don't need anything else to be happy 😊
We forget that life/money/habits are only as complicated as we make them! 🙈🤗
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Wow, this is so totally awesome! I am old enough to be your mother, but we are just so alike that I feel we are almost mother & child separated at birth! LOL I too am minimalist, vegan, live in a 600 sq.ft. studio apartment in a senior village near the Jersey shore (opposite coasts!), do not use credit cards, drive a 12 year old Toyota Scion with no car payment, do not own a tv, & have no internet service besides my phone! There are more similarities but not to overwhelm you. I guess some people just gravitate to a much simpler life style, & that’s how it’s been for me. Just wanted to let you know how much I’m enjoying your channel & look forward to your next upload!👍✅💯♥️🌸🌺🧘🏻♀️🏖️☮️
Soul sisters ✨💖✨ Glad you know the freedom of simplicity and are finding resonance here 💜💜 And I used to have a Toyota scion too lol
I have a toyota scion..lol@@Exploravore
Thank you for your sharing. I only have 4 bills: my phone, car insurance, my website and my rent monthly. I live in Sausalito CA, in the middle of the millionaires and I got a little cottage for $1550 includes everything wifi, water, electricity in someone 's backyard. I negotiated the price because it was too much and my landlord agree.I'm 2mn from the Bay, so magical and beautiful.I like to keep simple, I feel free and abundant that way. My phone is $40 per month and it's unlimited includes everything. My car Insurance is $58 per month. Also I have a website for my Feng Shui business and it's $34 per month and that's it. I don't eat out but I eat organic , I eat the same food everyday, so its easy.💖
Sounds like a beautiful, simple and abundant life 🦋🩵🦋
What about health insurance and deductibles?
@amylee9 I have health insurance through my work- it’s just $20 automatically withheld from each paycheck :)
@@Exploravorewow, that’s great. We pay an arm and a leg and it’s one of those big expenses we can’t seem to be able to reduce.
Yes it can be so expensive- I’m very fortunate my job offers such an affordable plan. (I chose a plan with low monthly cost and a high deductible since it’s mostly for emergencies)
idk what it was maybe my frontal lobe fully forming but as soon as i turned 25 i’ve flipped a switch and have been so inspired to change my lifestyle to minimalism everything about it is so appealing over consumption has gotten way out of hand and i’m glad i opened my eyes saving money is just a small portion of how great this lifestyle is
Glad to hear you have escaped the matrix 😎😎😎
I would love to hear more about the food you prepare. (Could you please share some recipes.)
I’ve never commented on a CZcams video before but I absolutely love your videos. I get really excited when I see a new one! I love real and raw you are. Your simplistic lifestyle is so inspirational. I’ve been on a minimalist journey for years now. My childhood home had SO much clutter, so naturally I did as well going into adulthood. Spent the first few years of my 20s realizing the negative effect this stuff was having on me. Constantly anxious and overwhelmed. Of all the minimalist content out there, I have found yours to be the most relatable to where I’m at in my life. Thank you for being so vulnerable with us and letting us into your peaceful world. Hope you continue to keep sharing!
Thank you for these very kind words, and I’m glad you are finding some inspiration here. It’s natural to take on clutter habits from our parents, but that’s great you were able to break the pattern! Keep going on your journey ✨💚
I hope your channel continues to grow as your content is definitely worth listening to. The honesty, transparency and different perspective is what I look forward to. I always leave inspired after one of your videos to be my BEST version. A big thank you as always!!!
Thank you Carmen- I truly appreciate these words. And it is awesome people like YOU that inspire me to keep going 🔥🔥
Thank you for sharing your finances. I’ve become very mindful of money and how it can control you. I’ve cut my bills to my $353 car payment, 5.99 for Spotify (student), Netflix which is like 20 and my gym which is under 30. I live with my mom and her roommate and I helped with the purchase of the home with a 40k down payment so I essentially live rent free until my garage apartment is finished then I’ll be paying for the excess consumption of utilities. We bundle our car insurance and I pay her 500 per month for insurance and current consumption as a roommate (food & utilities). I’m 24 btw which I know for some is strange but I’m Latina and it’s not common for us to move out until we are married off and while I’m dating I live here as a part of my culture. I’ve transitioned from being an over consuming human to an eco-minimalist. It’s been an amazing journey so far and I’m loving the freedom from the box that over consumption puts you in. 😊
For just 24 you have an amazing head on your shoulders- well done. And I think it’s great you live at home if it’s a healthy and supportive environment. In America we tend to live so isolated and the lack of community has been really detrimental to our mental and emotional health. Keep shining your light you are a great example for younger people your age 🌟
@@Exploravore thank you! I’ve tried very hard to change my old unhealthy habits for a better future. I agree in America we are very isolated and the push for individualism destroyed the potential for community and social interaction and the pandemic only worsened that. We need to work on being better together
@Cristina2072. 💯💯💜💜
Every video of yours is very valuable! Thank you💜
Thank you Nika I appreciate you being here 🙏🏻
Much Gratitude for being so transparent and honest about your finances. I just absolutely love it and trying to be like you. :)
Thank you for watching and glad you are finding some inspiration here. Sending light ✨💖✨
Thank you for sharing! You never know what inspiration your videos might give! Since watching this, I’ve rearranged and streamlined how I pay my bills, so that now everything will be much easier. Thank you!
Awesome I am happy to hear that! Nice work 🌟🌟
Thank you for sharing this video, I don't feel alone anymore!😊 Yes, you definitely have to prioritize what you need to spend money on. For where you have chosen to live, with utilities included, sounds about right. Being in a place that is beautiful and nourishes your soul is priceless.
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Thank you for sharing! I absolutely love your channel. You are the only channel I have ever waited for new episodes to come out :). Your lifestyle is so minimal yet powerful and I love hearing about it.
Thank you so much for these kind words- I truly appreciate them. I’m blessed to have awesome people like you be part of the family here ✨💖✨
Thank you! I’m really inspired to try to simplify my finances and save more.
Awesome Kerry let me know how it goes! 🌟
Yes, 🙌 please would love to hear your travel stories!
I am new to your channel and I enjoyed it so much!
Love 💕 from Colorado
Welcome to the family here! ✨💜✨ Glad you enjoyed, and travel vid added to the list! 🫡🌟
Very interesting and inspiring way of living and taking care of yourself.Be blessed and stay healthy! One love ❤️
Thank you 🙏🏻✨🦋
I’d love to hear about your travels. I love road tripping! I’m a nurse and I have my schedule arranged where I have 5 days off in a row every two weeks so I try and fit my outings in there.
Oh that’s an awesome setup Zoey!!
Would love to hear your thoughts on deals, bargains and time spent changing plans etc. Loving your content.
I will add this video to the list Debbie! 🫡🫡 Glad you are enjoying the vibes here 💓
Recently discovered your videos and every single one I’ve watched so far is excellent. Love your straightforward style. I’m 68, on a fixed income, and envy your nice lifestyle. I consider myself minimalist for 5 years now but you truly inspire me to be more like you. No big furniture, no unnecessary spending etc. So I’m glad I am finding inspiration from you. Guess it’s never too late, right? 😊
Never too late- all we have is this eternal present moment 😉 ..welcome to the family here and glad you are enjoying 💙💙
Thank you for yet another great video! I am trying to live as simple as possible so that I can have the freedom to work as little as possible. I do love my work, but I like my life and free time more. The money that I manage to save, goes to traveling. I don’t need a car where I live, I can walk or bike everywhere, and that saves alot of money
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Ahh that is so great you don’t need a car! My goal is to get there someday 🙏🏻
I would love to hear about what you do in your free time! I found that once I simplified my life by getting rid of my clutter, deleting social media, and automating my finances, I now have so much free time I don't know what to do with myself. I've gotten into reading, walking, yoga, piano, and learning french and I STILL have more free time left over than most people I know. I'm very happy with all of the mental space I have now but my new problem is boredom.
So coming face to face with the boredom is the next step- sitting with that discomfort until it transitions into a beautiful peace that you actually crave nothingness. We are programmed in modern society to always be doing chaotic shit nonstop, but this has made us very ill. Look at Nature~ she is slow, and still, but magnificent. This is our teacher..
Hey, thanks for another fab video ❤️🇦🇺
Thank you for watching! 🌸
We are so much alike. I, too, am old enough to be your mom. It's really good to see someone younger who gets it. I drive a 2003 Honda Accord with close to 300,000 miles on it. I take care of it and will drive it till it dies. I'm hoping to travel overseas sometime this year or beginning of next year. Experiences over needless stuff anyday😀
Wow 300k that’s amazing!! That gives me hope for little Herbie 🥰 Glad you are finding resonance here Melanie and yes Amen to experiences over stuff!! 💖💖
You are very inspiring!
Thank you 🙏🏻
I really appreciate this video , it helps me see where I can save money. How often do you think you spend money on replacing clothing that gets worn out? Sending love and peace your way❤
Glad you enjoyed Katy 🙂 And not that often- maybe 3 ish pieces per year
Thank you! So great that you share. I appreciate ❤ You are beautiful 🤗
Thank you, and glad you enjoyed 🙏🏻✨🦋
you are my inspiration ❤
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Loved this video 🤍
Thank you Anastasia 🌷💕
Thank you for a super good video as always so fun listen to you! Interesting to hear about your finance as I am in another country. 😊❤
Thanks for tuning in Elisabeth! What country are you in?
I am in Sweden. 😊
@elisabetheriksson2350 Hugs to Sweden ✨💖✨
Hugs to you and San Diego! 🩷🤗
Thank you for this video! I love your content.❤️
I am just really shocked about how high the cost of living is in the U.S. Inflation is very high here in Austria at the moment, but that is just a little less than our costs of living as a family of 3 in a very nice, central district in Vienna. We have also cut down a lot of our bills, but still have 2 or 3 "unnecessary" extras per month. That's the thing when you have 3 people and three different "concepts" of minimalism in one household.😁
lol yes the more bodies in one home the trickier things can get with how that home should be! Sounds like you found a good balance though. And yes I’m in the most expensive part of America 🤪
Love your hair in this video!!
Thank you! She was feeling extra wild today 😄🔥
Hi :) It would be nice to see a video from you about how you organize all your papers and also a video of what you use for cleaning your home and clothes. That would be interesting.
Hello! So I have a video titled “every single household product I use as an extreme minimalist” that goes over all cleaning :)
Love your videos! Thanks for being transparent! Less stress life! How young are you?
Glad you enjoyed! I am 39 years young ;) I turn 40 this June ✨
Thanks for sharing ❣️
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Thank you for another great video, i also have a Cute VW Beetle Convertible, All paid for 😊xo
Glad you enjoyed Debbie, and yay team Beetle! 🤗💜
Hello beautiful Alicia😇, I think you're doing everything right. The rent is very high, but you're still saving money every month. Just saving doesn't make sense, that's why you travel a lot. Food is quality of life, I wouldn't save on that either.
You have very clear ideas about your life, I think that's great.
In Germany/Switzerland we have 6 to 8 weeks of paid vacation and health insurance is not as much of a problem as it is in America.
I'm looking forward to your next videos, Felix 😊🇨🇭
Thank you for these kind words Felix, and nice to see you here as always. Yes Europe is a lot more humane with time off and health care and general work life balance than America- something we in America should definitely shift as so many people here are so mentally ill and emotionally distressed :/
@@Exploravore Thank you for your answer, I think it's so cool that you answer every time, thank you very much 😀
Of course! You all are my people! I want this to be a family here where we all uplift each other 🌟🩵🌟
This is amazing! You are such an inspiration, thank you for every video you make!
And also your hair looks stunning here, did you style/dry it in a special way? We have a similar texture 😃
Thank you so glad you are finding some inspiration here 💜💜 And this was day 1 after washing it- it was unbrushed and in a messy bun all day, this is what it looks like when I take the bun out 🦁
🩷🩷 Thank you very much, wonderful how simple it can be! I'll try that out 🙂 Much love from Germany ☺️
@callmeleni2750 Sending love back to Germany 🌸💕
I love Cardiff!!! San Diego is my hometown and I’m always cruising around Cardiff!! ❤🎉
It’s rad here 🌸😎💜⚡️
I can't wait for more vlogs from you
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We have condo payment: $1000; Electric bill: $50; Gas, food, spending/misc $550. Internet: $40 & cell phone pay as you go with Tracfone that averages about $10 a month, including a few gigs of data occasionally, for when not in WIFI or traveling. We also put money away for our car/renters ins, vacations, AAA membership (we too drive older cars), and our campground membership rent. We squirrel away the rest toward retirement, as we are both 60. I work pt and my hubby still works ft, but we would be considered a very low income family - despite us not feeling so. I DO use coupons, rebate/shopping apps and store loyalty programs to pay almost nothing for our laundry, cleaning, paper and personal supplies/needs. It doesnt take as long as you think. Im also considering donating plasma as its the right thing to do and you can earn a good travel budget by doing so. I dont think I would do it twice a week, as they recommend, but rather once or twice a month.
Awesome! True abundance is having the freedom to live the life you want 🩵🩵
well done video with great infos how to do it! Thanks! How do you pay for energy, like electricity or/and gas/oil for heating? (or cooling) Lovely regards from Vienna/Austria
Hello to Vienna! So my last place (where I was when I filmed this video) was a studio attached to someone’s home so those fees were just included in my rent. My new place I just moved to is an apartment complex, so I will have a bill for utilities and a small bill for trash 🩷
Cool video
So do not want to own a house or don’t need the stress of a mortgage
So what music artists/ bands do u like and if u read books is it online or from the library
I love a huge range of music- depends what I’m in the mood for. I like physical books. I try to get my books from local shops, and when I’m done reading them I donate them :)
Smart person !😊
I am saving my money too for off grid living and growing my vegetables
That is so awesome 🌟🌟🌟
I let you know when I buy my off grid property@@Exploravore
Great breakdown..Besides food, shelter and car insurance/gas my my monthly extra expenses are gym $10.66, Netflix 12.78, and hand and stone spa membership $85 + 25 tip ..work reimburses me for cell phone and internet.. I am able to save approx 2500 a month..
That is awesome! And love that you work self care into every month that is so important 💓
Thank you for keeping it real! How do you edit your videos? Got to hand it to you for not having a laptop, but I would find it a challenge to edit on a phone --- your editing must be ultra minimalist as well. Maybe you talk about it elsewhere, but I would love to hear if you had more than a phone as a computer
So smart to save as much money as possible. I appreciate your not wasting your time searching "deals." You have been inspiring me to go ultra minimalist.
Glad you are finding some inspo here! A lot of my videos require no editing as I am just doing a one take start to finish talk. I hate jump cuts and flashy edits as they feel fake and overstimulating to me. For the ones that do require editing, I just use iMovie because it’s free and easy to use- and yes I just edit straight from my phone :)
I have had a chance to watch more of your videos and my respect for how you treat your content and audience grows! I have a hunch your channel will keep growing and your monetization. As humans we can still discern the real from the fake and are craving real. Sure, the paradox is that the delivery system is the internet, but that’s reality. I hope that you have found a new home with plenty of natural light. Best, Jane
@janeorganizes6295 Thank you so much for these kind words of encouragement Jane- I truly appreciate them 🙏🏻💕🌸
I pay $1700 for a 700sq ft 1bed 1bath in the Salt Lake City area of Utah. It’s expensive for this area but I’m choosing to pay for the comfort of having a garage since my car has been broken into multiple times in previous apartments. I’m also choosing to pay for the luxury of having nobody above me and nobody below me. I have an amazing view of the mountains and it is the best apartment I’ve ever rented. People think I’m crazy for paying that much here, but in reality it’s only a couple hundred over the average rent so it’s not much to pay for comfort and security. I would love to live by the beach. Used to live in the Bay Area and miss it so much.
I used to live in the Bay too! And life is all about choices. You can’t put a price in wellbeing- it’s the most important. Paying extra to have a quality of life that nurtures you is a good thing 💜
I’d like to hear more about how you quit frivolous spending in your 20s. I’m in my 40s and still struggling. I’m also curious if your sister’s family is also minimal, and if so, what does minimalism look like for their family. Thank you for your videos!
I have 2 videos that would likely help: “How I cured my shopping addiction to become an ultra minimalist” and “how I became an ultra minimalist, my story”. And my sister and her husband are absolute MAXIMALISTS. We couldn’t be more different 😅😅 I have a huge family- my dad has four sisters and I have a bunch of cousins that are all married with kids now- NO ONE is a minimalist and not even close lol. For some reason I just came this way 😄
@@Exploravore Thank you for the recommendations. I guess our family will find its way! I also come from a family who has all the things and keeps the things from the last generation. I’ll keep working on it. 😅
@LesliePearson-qi4ed Life is always a process 😉
Happy St Patrick’s day! 🍀🍀
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could you please do a video on deals/coupos?!
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Thanks for sharing child fund!!
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I’ve really been enjoying your channel the last couple of weeks (and told some people about it, too 📣). This feels like a personal ask so feel free to “opt out” if so but I noticed no mention of healthcare/health insurance. For a lot of people in the US, particularly artists/freelancers and other self-employed people who don’t get care provided through an employer, this can be a complex (and income-based, tax-based) financial quagmire. Even when people are in good health with no current issues or medications, it can be challenging. If you feel comfortable sharing, I’d be interested to hear whether there’s a philosophical reason why healthcare isn’t a financial consideration or whether as a Canadian (I think?) this works out differently for you. Thanks for sharing a bit of your life - as someone with some similarities, I’ve found your approach (and coastal life) inspiring. 🌊✌🏼
So glad you have been enjoying the vibes here and thank you for the shout outs!! 🤗 So I am actually American- I live in California. I forgot to mention healthcare (whoops) because it’s not a bill I see but I do have it. I am full time at my restaurant and it is a large corporation so I thankfully have full coverage through them- it’s just $20 automatically withheld from each paycheck. The reason it’s so low is because I chose a plan with a high deductible, since it is mostly for emergencies. Healthcare in the U.S. is outrageously expensive, and for quite a few years I had to gamble without it as an artist. There are some good companies out there like the restaurant I work at that do offer health insurance for full time hourly employees 💜
Thank you so much for responding! I don’t know why I thought you were Canadian - somewhere along the way in watching (almost) every single video you’ve shared 😂 I wove that into the story of who you are (although I knew you were in San Diego). No more, fellow American! That’s wonderful you have care through your work - it’s been a long time since I was in that spot, I miss that small deduction out of the paycheck life! I’ve been freelance/self-employed for over a decade now and while it suits me in many ways, I find the healthcare/income-qualifying part (even though I’ve thankfully had no major issues and at times let it go all together) stressful af. I was wondering if maybe you’d have a buck-the-system approach (similar to your no credit card/no investments philosophy) that would offer me another way to look at that area of life. But here in the US, it’s not so easy to be carefree about it, except when it is. Thanks again - I love your channel and vibe!
@emberworks I’ve mentioned a few times that I grew up in Canada so that’s likely where you made the connection ;) And yes Im not a big doctor person as I’m much more into natural healing, but for trauma emergencies we can’t predict its good to have, and is unfortunately outrageously expensive in this country :/
San Diego is the gem of California. 💕💕
Mon inspiration 🙏🥰
Thank you, for being so open about your living expenses...i myself, live on 665 a month. No car....i have to sleep on the floor of my former husband's small apartment.... I have no debt...there is no rentals in the cookie cutter community i live....deatra
Wow that is very simple living Deatra! How is sleeping on the floor for you? I have heard this can actually be better for your back..
Same as you. Rent 840€, electricity 130€, cellphone 10€/month, car insurance 320€/year, car taxes 100€/ year, insurance 80€/year. That’s about it . Don’t count how much I pay for food. We live in Germany and Germans don’t earn as much as Americans but our bills are much cheaper at the same time . Love your content !!! We are so much alike !
Hello my German friend! Wow cell phones are much cheaper in Germany 😄 Glad you are living the simple life 💙🌻
@@Exploravore Oh yes, they are . I used to live in the states for eight years and I was shocked to see how much there is of a price difference. Your videos inspire me a lot because there are days when I drift away from my values and believes due to being a mom of two …
@YOLO33382 Life is definitely harder when you are raising small humans! Simplicity will look different for you than for me, but it’s still possible. You are giving your children and the world they will encounter a great gift by instilling values that focus on the truly important things 💗
@@Exploravore you said that beautifully. I agree with you and thank you for vocalizing what I feel. ♥️
Phone bills are so high in the US and Canada. In Europe it like15€ a month.
Oh what? Damn lol..
@@Exploravore I pay £6.65 per month in UK unlimited text and calls 20Gb Internet
200k on your Beetle is heartening! I have 105k on my 2012 Beetle and I want her to last, well, forever! I feel like no one even makes small cars these days, except for Minis.
Do you get health care through work (I realize that’s sadly rare for the service industry)? That is definitely my biggest expense, now that my son is out of daycare.
Yay team Beetle! They are the best 💖💖 Yes I get health insurance through my work- it’s just $20 withheld from each paycheck :)
I'm interested in your no-laptop life! Were you ever using a computer regularly, and if so, what was the transition like without? I know you said you like doing everything on your phone :)
So I’ve never had a job where I needed a computer regularly- I was a performing artist, and then a synchronized swimming coach and choreographer and now I work in a restaurant. So it was a very easy transition. Once in a blue moon I’ll need one to say update my resume, in which case I’ll just borrow a friend’s or go to the library. But that’s very rare. I love not having one and don’t miss it at all :)
Hello ! I'm really amazed!! Here in France we already have compulsory home insurance, in the event of a disaster, and then mutual insurance which is practically compulsory to reimburse medical costs... and which is very expensive! and in the US this does not exist? Thanks again for your videos!!!!
Some places have mandatory insurance for renters- I’ve had it before it’s just typically not that expensive (mine was $90 per year). I have medical insurance through my work- it’s $20 withheld from each paycheck. The number is so low because I chose a plan with a high deductible, since it’s mainly for emergencies anyway. 💜
@@Exploravore oh thank you for your response!!
Here the insurance is much more expensive for an apartment, I pay 150 euros per year for a 30m2! and for medical expenses we have the social security system that we pay every month out of our pay and in addition it is advisable to take out mutual insurance which reimburses what social security does not reimburse, and you have to pay at least 70 euros per month !!! This is theft ! especially since most of the time the mutual fund does not reimburse because it is not taken into account in the contract... In short, we are being ripped off from every point of view. For my part, I prefer to be in good health and for that to do sports, eat well, etc.
I enjoyed this! As someone who does pay utilities, I do not use autopay, because I like to keep track of when things go higher and lower. My water meter had a leak and the city I lived would have charged me upwards of $4K if I hadn't withheld funds and repeatedly filed claims and called the city. I know this is a rare case, but it's happened twice to me in the last 20 years, so I like to keep tabs and check when things seem out of whack. The only other monthly bills I have that you didn't mention are real estate taxes, estimated taxes for my business, and monthly contributions to my retirement. I love that you do support a child -- I'm a fan of a few local charities and I think it's important, regardless of budget, to remember to give back
Thank you for watching and yikes that sounds like a nightmare with your water meter 😳😳
Herbie!!!!❤❤❤
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Wow. I have a question. Why is a phone plan so expensive in the us? 130 dollars per month? Is that normal? I’m from Germany and I pay like 20 euros per month for unlimited data, minutes etc.
love your content and thank you for sharing.
Just another dumb American markup- like why is our healthcare outrageous and our University system completely unaffordable 🙄 lol glad you enjoyed :)
Thank you for this...i have no debt now, own not even a car. Income, 665 a month... sleep on the floor. Thank you....deatra
Simple living 💖💖
Same here for sleeping on the floor! Love it! 😊
I have the following expenses. Mortgage, electricity, water, heat, property tax, unemployment insurance, car insurance, house insurance, accident insurance. I have this in a spreadsheet that is automatically updated with some software I have written. If I buy an icecream with my card it will be captured into the budget. By copying budget2023 to budget2024, I can simulate a year into the future. During 2024 budget2024 will be completed and copied to budgeted2025 and so on. And.... of course I have a laptop.
Sounds like you have got a good system for yourself!
Do you have a retirement plan? Thank you for sharing!
I do not- just saving money the old fashioned way. Knowing myself I definitely won’t want to retire at 65 anyway- I’d be bored!
The rent might be high- but in addition to utilities- you don’t pay property taxes and house insurance…among other house expenses. We live in an area that can produce taxes upward of 20k a year. It’s a trade off…🤷♀️
Oof that is steep! Yes there are always opportunity costs..
This was very interesting! Im not ultra minimalist (yet!) But I think my bills are already minimalist! This is how it looks in the UK:
Income 1500, rent 350, bills 60, internet 12, phone 6, food 50, transport 30, healthcare is free, and I use a savings account to save for trips home on the train to see family and cheap ryanair flights to see friends in EU :)
Gas and electricity 60? Where you live? Haha I pay 125 per month (me and my son) internet 12 ? How? I have 23 I never find anything cheaper food 50? I don't think soooo
Yeah unless you’re relying on food banks there’s no way one person can be spending only £50 on groceries per month, especially since all the prices have increased.
Yeah unless you’re relying on food banks there’s no way one person can be spending only £50 on groceries per month, especially since all the prices have increased.
Nice! That is impressively low for your bills!
@peri252 I dont understand why I would need to spend more than £50 as a single person? I am Cornish and live in Scotland. I cook traditional food from scratch as well as nice things like curries, salads and pastas. I eat 3 healthy meals a day and sometimes feed friends. I think that having solid cooking skills and being able to cook from scratch is key. Flour & oats are pennies. Being open minded to shop at Asian shops for rice, spices etc is important. Knowing how to cook with cheap seasonal veg that isnt trendy. Bulk making stuff and freezing. I gave MY expenses, not the average expenses. If you have dietary issues or make a choice like veganism, it will be more expensive. You didnt need to be rude.
what concerts did you go to?
Heilung- twice 😝
Alicia, thanks for sharing this. I love the name of your car. My favorite Disney movies are about a car named "Herbie". I love the way you are willing to pay more on your rent to get the benefit of living there. Prioritizing what's important. I am paying off my van this next month after 3 years of payments. This will free up some money for other things. After that is paid off I will have just 4 bills paid monthly. One of them is full car insurance because the loan holder required it. I will seek cheaper insurance after payoff and I am hoping to pay it every 6 months. I am curious as to why you don't believe in negotiating better deals or using coupons or discounts. I may have misunderstood you on this. I get paid once a month and I don't budget either, since I know what the total is on my auto pay bills every month I just subtract that from the amount I get paid and that tells me how much money I have left for the rest of the month to pay on other expenses. I am trying to get my bills down to fewer than 4 per month. My rent is $1200.00 per month for a 2 bedroom, 2 bath that i share with my oldest son. We live in Spokane washington. I
Wow you definitely have more reasonable rent out there!! Sounds like your expenses are very streamlined- that’s great! I will do a video about “deals and coupons” :)
Our rent includes, sewer, water, garbage. We pay our own electricity and Internet.
I am hoping to buy a small piece of land north of here to get off the grid and live more sustainably.
@markhines192 hell yes that is awesome- I am hoping to do that someday too
Have you heard of Helen and Scott nearing? They were a homesteading vegetarian couple who homesteaded in the state of maine. They started late in life and Scott lived to 100 still chopping wood and doing chores. I think Helen died in 1995 at the age of 92. They were married 50 years and Scott was 20 years older than her. They chose not to have children. They inspired the back to the land movement in the 70s and 80s
She is pretty
do you only work in the restaurant? or other odd jobs?
For many years I was also a competitive synchronized swimming coach- I retired from that last year so that I could focus on other creative pursuits and travel more.
Holy wow girl you’re spending almost as much as my family of 4 is on $82 k income. We spent about as much on food $450-500 a month, $2600 month on mortgage for 3bed2bath in Maryland on the beach we bought last summer. No car payment either we drive small Honda Fit. Have health insurance payments too covered partially by his job. We went to Disney and a wedding a few months ago for travel and I also have only a phone no laptop but it’s paid for by parents still since they get discounts as do his parents. We have Disney plus as only subscription and occasionally pick up a diff subscription once a year or so and then cancel them based on what we want to watch/ if we need Amazon prime to order supplies usually around Christmas or home projects. We use credit cards strategically and have investment accounts and high interest savings accounts and CDs that grow over the course of the year. We love Indian and Thai food too but get them maybe once a month and buy Indian simmer sauces at the store to get that fix over some basmati rice. You can use chickpeas and sweet potatoes or lentils instead of meat since you’re vegetarian in the simmer sauces they always end up delicious.
Awesome to hear you are keeping things simple even with kids- that is inspiring!! 🌷 Keep up the great work 💚
I left t mobile was too expensive. You can keep your same phone number and switch to Mint mobile I pay $360 per year for unlimited with my iPhone 13 Pro Max.
I really don’t mind paying a bit more to make sure I always have reception- Verizon has the best coverage on the west side of the U.S. :)
@@ExploravoreYou might be interested in “Total by Verizon”. I pay $25 a month with unlimited talk and text. Great phone service and they use the Verizon cell towers. I live in California also. I believe they were originally called “Total” and then Verizon bought them. Definitely worth googling “Total by Verizon” and checking out their phone plans.
Do you have any roadside kit or AAA?
My car insurance includes roadside assistance :)
That’s a smart choice. One less thing to have to think about. Great videos
@DanLinehan-kp8pq Thank you- glad you are enjoying 💜💕
I am from Stockholm . If you like "Heilung " you are going to love "Sigur Rós "
Sigur Rós has been a favorite of mine for years. Otherworldly beautiful 💜✨
they have been my favourite too and they have suck a mystical sound and voice. Listen to festival@@Exploravore
@Exploravore Have you seen/heard Eivor - Tròdlabùndin, the version live in Aurland or with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra?
@RobShemeley ooh I’ll have to check that out thank you!
Conquering Animal Sound is also amazing and similar!
Oh! And Ólafur Arnalds
do you think you will move to somewhere cheaper?
Eventually. My dream is to travel full time for at least a year, maybe more, and then eventually buy land and build a sustainable off grid home. I want to do this with a partner though, so we shall see when the right man shows up 😄
That's exactly my dream too...
Your shirt is blue
It’s teal- greenish blue ;)
I never waste my time on coupons, bargains, loyalty cards, buying stuff with certain cards to get points, switching energy supply companies every month - NO! I've lived long enough to know that there are NO deals out there. Companies will make their money. DOn't waste your tine and sanity. Stick with the SIMPLE life.
Yup amen to that ⚡️⚡️
You didn’t mention any sort of investing. Is that something you don’t do, or just didn’t discuss here? Even small investments of money you won’t “miss” can add up! I recently logged into a 401k from a previous employer that I contributed to for like 1-2 years. It’s been about two years and the investment doubled. It’s definitely not life-changing money bc I ended employment there, but even things like CDs can have a nice little return.
I go over this in a video titled “how I keep my finances ultra simple as an extreme minimalist”. In short, no I don’t invest, and I have no interest in it. I go over my reasons for this more in depth in that video ;)
@@Exploravore oh sorry, I’m new here. 😂
@Thetinyfit Don’t apologize! All questions are welcome here :) And welcome to the family here! 🦋🩵🦋
New subscriber here, great channel but why do you use so many filters? I'm watching your old videos and you don't look like this
Welcome to the family here! 🌸 And I actually don’t use any filters at all- I film in completely natural light. So depending on the time of day, and if the sky is grey (we get a lot of grey in San Diego) the coloring will vary drastically in each video. 🩵
Wait, in the beginning you said you have a green shirt on. That's not green lol. Are you playing mind games with us? haha
Teal- green ish lol
I totally thought that too! It looks very blue to me.
@shinetta87 lol it’s teal~ maybe looks more blue on screen ?
Blue to me as well. Reminds me of “the dress” on the internet several years ago, some saw it as blue & black and others said it was white & gold. 😉
@ajt0319 Well if my shirt color is my biggest Internet controversy so far, than I think I’m doing alright 😅😅
My mom's car when I was a kid was named Herby! Herby the Honda. He was also a boy, because he was a standard transmission so had the gear shift as part of his anatomy.
As a student I live pretty simply and my bills are simple (I live on campus so rent and utilities are all included in one bill for living in residence), but I do have student loans that I know will be in the back of my mind until I get a job (in this economy!?) and pay them off. One expense that isn't typical, is that I pay for a tiffin service. This is vegetarian Indian food dropped off at my building every week day. Each day's tiffin is enough food for two meals, and it costs $165 for four weeks (20 tiffins). I sometimes buy things that I don't need when I'm feeling down, which I'd like to stop, but I don't do it a lot so it's not a big problem or anything.
Something I really appreciate from your videos is that you are an example of an adult who is present and calm, curious, creative, etc (C words from IFS therapy). A lot of things have helped me in my healing journey (I had a rocky start to adulthood, mental-health wise), but I think the final piece in my quarter-life crisis is seeing a variety of examples of adults who are living lives they are happy with, which has helped me see that adulthood is not so bad!
Hahaha stick shift boy anatomy that’s hilarious 😂😂 That’s great you are keeping things simple and that Indian food delivery service sounds cool!! Yes adulthood doesn’t have to be so bad, and can be great if you decide- it’s your life and up to you! My 30s were better than my 20s and I think my 40s will be better than my 30s :). Student loan debt can be scary, but if you continue to live smart and simple you can tackle it 🙏🏻
Not sure where to ask you this but can you do a video about sexuality?
In regards to what? Like dating or something else?
@@Exploravore anything really. For context: im interested cuz i personally have been all over the scale, feeling very mature, to then immature and easily offended, and now oftentimes my mind, body, and heart dont agree about what I want or when. I know a lot of people are struggling with sexuality these days. You seem pretty comfortable in yours, and also youve called yourself a loner. Im curious how those elements of your personality connect for you, and if or how they extend to others.
@fabjustfab3264 ah I see. I will consider a video on this 🩵
@@ExploravoreThank you ❤
Yearly car insurance + tax, monthly rent, gas, electricity and water, internet + phone. That's it. As a European, I can't even grasp the concept of "credit card bill". Why would you pay money for money?
Hahah that’s such an awesome way to put it- I’m going to borrow that quote thank you! 😄 Yes America is so wacky with cc brainwashing 🙄🙄 Glad to hear you have such simplicity with your finances 💓💓
450 m' apartment or 45m ???
450 square feet- not sure what that would translate to in meters
Aaaaaa ok I thought meters hahaha ok thanks honey
@Exploravore my 2 bed house in UK is the same size like yours :) I pay mortgage £ 370. All my fixed bills are about 630 per month 😊
@gosiaq87 lol that would be like a castle compared to what I have 😅😅
@gosiaq87 not sure what the current exchange rate with the Pound is but sounds like your rent is wayyy more affordable than mine hehe. Glad to hear you have found simplicity in what also can be a very expensive area 💕
I own a debit card which I rarely use, I like to use cash for my grocery shopping & shopping in general (rarely). Me and my elderly mother have a few monthly bills : water, gas for cooking & heating, electricity, internet as I have a computer at home I use for work and her Sky subscription on TV, she spends her time watching telly so can't say no to that but no Netflix or similar stuff, it's only 20 Euros a month. I don't own a car so no money spent on that. We own the apartment we live in, so no rent. Healthcare is universal in Italy so we don't need an insurance at least for now.
And our phones, mine is 9 Euros monthly all included, hers is 8 Euros.
When I'll be on my own again I'll cut down the expenses though, as I don't watch TV, haven't watched it for 20 yrs, and I'll probably sell this place and move to a small village by the sea, dunno know whether in Italy or not yet, but I dream about living in a fisher's house or sthg similar. A small place, a life even more basic than now (and my life IS very basic, no movies, rarely eating out, no nights out) with cats & dogs.
I don't need anything else to be happy 😊
That all sounds wonderful 🙏🏻✨🦋
Thank you so much for the video! I really appreciate how transparent you are. 🤍
Glad you enjoyed Molly 💓