I love cooking from scratch and am fortunate to still have leeks in the ground on our allotment, so it was leek and potato soup today, with our own potatoes and onions used. Yum! Sunshine has been somewhat limited over the past week but we've had a little bit today, which was great to see. 😀🌞

Our biggest unexpected bill has always been our dog! rendered uninsurable by first crucial surgery and now age we have a “Milo fund”… the car we can live without … we waited months for a roof repair while we got the funds together but my boy has a soul so he can’t wait! He’s worth more than any treat or take away coffee on the planet so it makes saving relatively easy 😊

It doesn’t pay to be loyal customer anymore…be loyal to yourself

All great advice Vivi . We had no spend Feb, and managed to save £100. Might not seem much to some people, but when you’re on a fixed income, it’s a big help. We cook from scratch, and meal plan too. That’s a big one for us! We do the food and drink thing too! Coffee and cake for two is around £12 where we live😳 Thanks for sharing. Greetings from a very wet and windy Essex❤️

Vivi I think your videos are always so interesting and real. It gives me reassurance and some comfort as like you I’ve got to live very frugally and it’s nice to know there’s a tribe out there who speak my language. ❤❤

Oh my goodness, Vivi. In making sure my parents were all set up for my dad's cancer treatment this month I completely forgot about my contents insurance and like you I had an increase last year that I let slip and intended to jump ship this year. I had the same increase this year. £80 frecking increase 😮. So. In my resetting for 2024, I have noted everywhere to compare companies. Not doing loyalty when it comes to bills. Got my cash envelope system up and sorted. And started having fortnightly batch cooking days. Keeping life as simple as possible. Yes , I wish to opt out and go off grid. I've had enough of this clown show. Thanks for keeping me company and for being a light of loveliness 😊❤😊xx

Hi Viv, just an update. I just made your potato, leek and onion 🍲 soup. It was absolutely delicious, best soup I've had. Thank you Viv xxx

It actually pays to put that contents insurance money in your savings account instead of paying it to the insurance company. If you don't lose your belongings the money stays with you. If you lose it - your money is in your savings account (or even better if you put it in investment or bonds account) within your reach instead of having to wrestle with the insurance company that will do everything possible not to pay.

I love Comparison sites! My beloved big Astra was written off thanks to another driver’s careless action, I was considered blameless. I bought , second hand, a much smaller car, whereupon the Insurer I had been with for a very long time, doubled my premium. The girl I spoke to couldn’t give me any acceptable justification, so, like you I went on a comparison site and found a company which halved my premium. Since when I have been bombarded by letters and emails from the original insurer reminding me that my insurance is due and urging me to insure with them. It’s not going to happen !😍

It's easy to have a no spend month. After mortgage, bills ....there is no money left. Lord help us.😅

I have actually gotten rid of that particular insurance. If I'm burgled or there's a fire, I know I'll be able to source the bare essentials somehow. And no insurance will be able to replace anything that was of emotional value to me... My insurance broker was shocked. But honestly, I've cancelled quite a few insurance contracts.

Yes, a spend free life and live happily and well. I have saved money by cooking all of my meals and no eating out!! Beginning to get used to the new routine

Feel I must also add that I don’t think I’ve ver really been bored in my life….which is useful..I like reading..pottering..gardening….until I retired studying….bit of you tube etc etc. and sometimes just not doing much! X

Well, for me and my situation I always say, "You can't spend what you don't have". Lol 🤣 I actually don't spend anything for 3 months out of the year and that includes bills as well. I'd really like to do a video on it to explain my technique soon. I know I've explained it to you a while back but if it helps me, maybe it can help others like you're doing. You're absolutely dedicated, a conscious and purposeful buyer / saver. I've learned so much from you. I love that you take steps to your goals and not just go full blast ahead because that can be financially expensive and wasteful. You're methodical and patient. I am too and all the different steps towards my goal drives my dad crazy, lol. However, I can then say "I told you so!" Lol 😆 I'd say we did really good this month in all seriousness, especially with the last bit of my dad's move. I even managed to cook several crockpot's worth of beans throughout the month for our different meals.

Discovered you after watching Richard and Paul, very much enjoying your vlogs. We live in the countryside, very rural, its a different way of life here, people come out this direction for the 'day out' as we live with in a national park , say they would love the peace and quiet and the dark skies and lack of neighbours etc however, the reality is that its unlikely that they would be able to 'cope' on a day to day basis without every amenity with in touching distance.

Hi Vivi, I don't know if it helps but I've let the ads roll in full. This was another great video and reminder. Loyalty doesn't pay these days, which is a shame but we have to take care of the pennies. Much Love.

Your “old” insurance co seems to be balancing larger accounts by gouging smaller accounts. If you had a car, separate house, life insurances rolled together, they’d probably have been more competitive. You are formidable in your single focus and discipline! Bravo!!! 👏 ❤

Loyalty doesn’t count with insurance companies. It’s always better to leave sometimes leaving and going back to the same company saves the same amount. Crazy.

All your good advice reminds me of the book "Your Money or Your Life : Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence" Two techniques in that reinforce what you're saying: Display gridded graph paper on your wall that tracks your money monthly AND review your purchases each month, asking whether you REALLY got satisfaction out of each purchase when measuring it against your goals. I believe this book was written in the 1970s. It sounds as if you've read it!

I love that, it's a would you rather game........"would you rather this coffee oooooor my van for camping with my kids"...that may just help me, thanks!

We seem to think in a very similar way! It will be a good feeling when you perhaps fire off an email to your old insurers with a 'thanks but no thanks' on their renewal quote, I did exactly the same a couple of months ago. Comparison sites save a lot of money and I'm more than happy to switch now, loyalty isn't there anymore, as most companies promote their offers only to new customers. As for watching your savings grow, I too like the visual representation of it growing and keep a monthly running total in a book. When they drop because I've forked out for something I pin a little note of gratitude beside it, to say I'm grateful for being able to have bought whatever it was after saving for it. It is a visual reminder that I've gained something rather than lost anything. 👍

My January and February have been pretty much 'No Spend'. I finished a work contract at the end of the year and have been 'between jobs' for 2 months. I've now recently started a new, part time job. I found that it was better not to go into favourite shops and torment myself with seeing lots of lovely things that I never knew I needed 😂. That's one way that I cut spending. Another way has been by cutting food waste. I hardly waste anything now. I have more time to plan, prep, and cook from scratch, and then more time to deal with saving left-overs. Most of the time I plan to pad meals out so that I have the left-overs (usually my lunch the following day).

My no spend February fell apart but I still managed to put money in the bank. I am now planning on a no spend March with a goal of even more saving money in the bank.

Same happened to us Vivi with our car insurance! An increase of nearly 200! I did an online search and quotes came in at less than half our renewal quote! Bizarrely the same renewal company could offer me the same policy as a new customer at half the renewal price too! Speechless! Needless to say we didn't renew with them!

I managed all meals bar one from scratch , saves so much money and tastes so good❤

Vivi I spent a lovely afternoon outside in +14c sunshine drinking a cheeky coffee…but no pastry this time, with a friend whom I hadn’t seen for a while. Congrats on your savings prowess…you are a budget rockstar. 🌟❤️ Look forward to the hallway reveal next week!

Hi Vivi. I did a No Spend January and it was great. I always take my own food and water whenI leave the house. I don't trust other places food anymore and it costs too much. Insurance companies suck. They could careless about loyal customers. I review mine every year. Can't wait to see the hall reveal. Have a great day.

“I just want to get out of society and live off grid!” I often feel the same! 😂. I use comparison sites often, but always check reviews on the new company to make sure their customer service is ok. That’s important to me. Don’t put off doing it as they won’t start it until your current one finishes.

Oh dear Vivi! I could feel my anger levels rise when you got to insurance. I had to shop around in both November and December last year for house, then car insurance. I too have never, ever claimed. So frustrating!

Just went through the same problem with my old homeowners insurance company. After 37 years without a single claim they sent a huge raise in my premium plus a list of things I need to have fixed by March (100 year old house that I have been fixing up on my own and is build better than any new home, the roof is new, and any major items are in great shape, or they would no longer offer coverage or there would be another raise in my premiums. I did my homework and asked friends and family about recommendations for a new company and long story short, I found a new insurance company that offered better coverage at a lower price. They should’ve mess with us self sufficient ladies! 😉

We've just booked for the Grand Hotel Swanage Nov this year. Bit of a bargain - less than £100 for 2 of us, 2 nights b&b. Its becoming a yearly treat! Bit of a trek from Lancashire tho but very worth it 😊

The problem with those companies is we are totally loyal to them but they do gives us any loyalty back. Plus it usually just easier to pay the bill when it comes. I'm happy you took charge of your bill and didn't let loyalty stand in your way.

You are so lovely and I love being part of your community

I can't even start to wrap my head around a £500/mo budget...in London! Very inspiring how you live and make it work. All the best from Florida USA

Thank you for the encouragement, I appreciate you making these videos. It really helps me stay on track .

Just call up your insurance company and say that you want their best price before you call round to get a cheaper price - I guarantee they will bring the price down, I do this every single year and have paid the same year on year. Unfortunately it’s people accepting it who come off worse. Im very blunt with them (not rude) and say that if I call back to cancel and you reduce the price I won’t be renewing. Works every time!

My husband and I did this with homeowners insurance and we were able to reduce our bill by 50% for a year.

Unexpected bills ! A dental emergency extraction £79, just a month after a dental check said all was ok (£25..)! A vets bill not covered by insurance! £500! (Initially £770! ) reduced by shopping around! ! Things just sometimes happen!

I have had a very high spend February but it was planned because I moved in the first week of the month. Like you I had put aside money into a savings account to cover the costs. I have just settled the last bill associated with moving and there is still just over £200 left so that account has now become the home maintenance/repair account. I really don’t need anything at the moment apart from the company of some family and friends for much needed social time. I’ve invited them to mine and I will cook so that won’t break the budget.

I'm so glad you checked a price comparison site. I put up with my insurance company justifying a rise once then the year after went to a comparison site and halved their quote! The comparison site has also given me a choice of free gift for renewing through them so I'll be ordering a food recipe box (with actual food in it!) for nothing. And thanks for the reminder to cancel the obligatory subscription before it renews! ❤

Insurance companies are pants. With a menagerie of pets, it’s been a minefield. One company once suggested I’d had my horse put to sleep when he didn’t really need to be so I could claim the money. I was sobbing on the phone and my lovely vet had to write to them. Ever since then with pets, I join as a charity member (World Horse Welfare or BHS for horses and Dogs Trust) which gives you public liability, accident cover for horse and owner and accident related vet fee cover which is a drastically reduced price compared to most vet policies. I then keep savings to self insure for the rest, illness etc. The companies always exclude so much once you’ve claimed that it doesn’t become worth it. This way it’s hedging bets a bit and you’re covered for the absolute disaster elements. Another fab video, it’s nearly spring and the birds are singing in the mornings x x

We love your clips Vivi, thank you, thank you, thank you! OMGolly February was a bit of a blowout - we always cook from scratch, but saving for Council Rates to pay in the next few days and unexpected health issue sort of skewed the month a tad! Love your channel! ❤

You deserve all the treats, you work so hard! I too have to deal with fatigue and people that don't have to deal with it, don't really understand.. Keep up the good work and enjoy your beer!

Watched you on one of Sean’s videos of when you put your shed up, what a woman doing all that work, made me laugh so much the humour of you 3, awe an rusty getting a look in x

Great ideas and motivation for saving money! Last January (2023) I FINALLY began keeping track of expenses and budgeting. We raise chickens and turkeys on pasture for our freezer every year and there is expense involved. We used to just "figure it out" about how to pay for their feed when the time came. It was almost always a struggle to squeeze money out of our budget for their feed. Last year I estimated how much their total feed costs and divided that out and began putting back $40 a month for it. It helped IMMENSELY when the time came and we only had to pay for a small portion of feed out of our regular budget. This year I've increased that amount to $60 per month, which should bring us much closer to the sum total of their feed. I did similarly for Christmas expenses. I increased the savings for it from $50/month last year to $60/month this year. It really does help! I also relate to how you feel about wanting to shun the worldly stuff and go off grid! Joel Salatin, a regenerative farmer in the US, is known to say that the way we show big corporations how we feel is to 'opt out en masse'. While my family still lives on the grid...we have chosen to opt out, or at least lower our need for/use of many big corporations and utilities. I, for one, and bone-tired of handing my money to utility companies, insurance companies, etc. every month. I am glad that you found some more fair-priced options for insurance!

Failed awfully 🙁 Although I did pay off a lot of debt and paid off more than I needed to spend…so I’m still in the positive 😊 I love the way we justify it all 😁

Hello again! I have had a pretty low spend month , but not totally by design . Due to the frigid temps I have had zero desire to leave my house to shop. I was able to live off of my stash for awhile. Cost of living is still rising as reflected in my monthly bills , up to $20 each (bill) in some cases. I always looked forward to “happy mail” but these days - I cringe to check my daily mail ! As you say , Vivi, lately the “unexpected” bill is waiting for me! Thanks for the ongoing encouragement .❤xx

I had my lunch at home yesterday it saved me $ we brought our own water on Saturday going out for coffee only buying a muffin no magazine no newspaper hopefully no spend low spend month in march

You have motivated me to look at my insurance as I have had same experience

Sainsbury’s sell wild products and refills, £4.50.❤ I want to step out of society too. It’s getting harder and harder to be positive. The time you spend on the phone or online feels like your life is ebbing away 😤

Boots sell Wild Vivi. I use them as i've had breast cancer. They're ok. Not sure the price is justified as the refills don't last long. They do send out offers regularly. I've had 3 refills for £10 before. Good luck! ❤❤❤

Sainsbury’s also stock the refill Wild cartridges too & currently have a great deal on, if you have a Nectar card (£4.50 each, instead of £6). Worth checking them too, when you need to buy more. 😊

We just bought a summer cottage two weeks ago to find out today that they are quite unexpectedly doing lay-offs at my husbands work. But since we didn't need to take a loan for the cottage, have been putting money aside and our expenses can be managed on my wage alone, it is not as daunting as it could have been. But we sure are going to go no spend until we find out the outcome of the lay-offs.

I dont pay council tax for the first three months of a new year. So I buy Christmas and birthday gifts in the sales using that money. I have a big family 😊

Hi Vivi, insurance companies expect you to ring and query your renewal quotes as do broadband providers etc. Our broadband, phone and to package went up to £100 per month!!! A quick phone call bought it down to £63 per month for more channels. The same thing with our multi car insurance. I realise every case is different but they really do take the proverbial!!! Take care Vivi. Xxxx

Great video 😊 I had a conversation recently saying that I thought spending my savings on the thing I'd saved for (replacing my boiler) would be more fun 😂 but like you said, seeing it drop down by a big chunk when I'd worked so hard to save it was disconcerting 👀 I'm now half way through saving to replace my car and I've started looking at what I may want in the hope that it will be more fun to spend the hard saved cash this time 🤞 I have everything written down in a budget book but think I'll do a more visual thing like you've mentioned so that I can see it every day as I get closer to my goal £££

Making your goals list is a really good idea. It inspires one to save! Since I’ve paid off my credit card last fall (finally) this month i made my first automatic deposit to my savings account! Every month from now on an amount will Automatically go to savings! Yay. Cheers and good luck with the Insurance.🐇💜

Insurance companies are so greedy Vivi, Loyalty isn't worth anything to them.

Swap your insurer as soon as you can Vivi as usually the offer prices on the comparison sites will change and rise the closer you get to your renewal date

I think price rises in April are going to hit hard , I’m ready For feisty negotiations! Last year i did have some success

I use online compare markets for my home, car and pet insurance- started the year my home insurance more than doubled and when I did my first compare, found it was three times more than an equivalent elsewhere! I was appalled . Infact an hour sorting it all out online earnt me a good wage for that hour - with a cup of home coffee to hand, some relaxing music in the background. Having been brought up to save and record where the money goes it is in my genes and the habit is fixed … bit like my need to grow food every year. I tried a pet wormer/flea treatment on monthly subscription as it is cheaper than the vet but you have to manage it, cancel for winter and subscribe for spring and summer. Takes a bit of organisation and an RSPB calendar but it’s the one and only subscription that is worthwhile for me. I think your attitude is spot on - save, accept that it’s for a purpose, spend it on the purpose and feel happy about that and replace it. 👍💪😊

I too have broken my annual bills t o weekly amounts and it makes life so much easier as for a coffee out a nd about that is a very special treat . One coffee per week amounts to 208 euros half my car insurance so that speaks for itself in my book. Thank you so much for your lovely vedios.

Hi Vivi We have saved hundreds with comparison sites You need to do it every year There’s no room for loyalty anymore Think of yourself Good video as always Take care xx❤️❤️❤️❤️

We are not having a window cleaner saving five pounds and today saving money by not buying a sandwich for lunch it costs two pounds,I had toast with butter instead two pieces.

Same thing with increasing home & car insurance costs is happening in U.S. also.

Glad you got a much cheaper quote. We know all our bills are going to go up. The contents insurance was ok though thankfully. So far just the water rates and rent are together going to cost us almost £48 extra a month from April. Eek.

I have been subscribed on here Vivi x years.... really enjoy & appreciate content. Of late I thought Vivi may be taking a break as no videos popping up! So today I went 'searching' for u on KZfaq.... & found that - I'd been 'unsubscribed' ..... Very annoying & not fair on u either. I've never left rude comments etc. I have now resubscribed. 🎉

Same here....my home/auto/umbrella insurance is way way up...20% (no claims as well) and so is my medical (USA) insurance. I'm now paying $1,575 per MONTH for my medical insurance and I have a $7,050 deductible!

If I had an allotment I think I'd cook mostly vegetable dinners. I made myself a vegetable roast last night in the air fryer for the first time & it was GORgeous!

Hi viv since I have used my induction hob and airfryer oven my gas bill has comedown and my electric has too I don't use my gas stove so I only have my gas central heating love frsn xxx

Sainsbury’s offer that is!

Wild stores really well and each one lasts ages I cancelled my subscription because I was getting too many even if I mega delayed the next delivery. So I will buy locally as and when too.

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We are just a #!

I found out that my insurance company, State Farm, will let me suspend my car insurance payment while I am waiting for a replacement car, for the one I totaled, as long as I am not driving any car. This lowers my car insurance payment from around $125 a month to about $2.21 a month. If I need to drive, test drive, etc. I just call the agent and the insurance will be reinstated for the amount of time I'm driving. Just FYI My whole life seems wrapped up in insurance doesn't it?

Loyalty doesn't count for anything in the world of insurance. Just bear in mind that a lot of companies keep your debit card details on file , so they could automatically renew policy without letting you know until it has been set up ( then you will have to pay a cancellation fee)! Interesting that you obtained so many quotes online that were cheaper, as there are only about a dozen main insurance companies all the others are subsidiary firms linked to the main companies, so it is all a farce anyway. Stay warm and happy growing. Xx

Great you can reduce the insurance bill by using the comparison sites. I usually check them each year. The odd time I've just renewed if I've been really busy and the increase hasn't been much. In the past I've also called the current insurer and said I can get it for X amount, can you at least match it. They have in the past. My car insurance doubled last year but I didn't renew and got a good deal from Saga. Might be worth checking them as I'm not sure if they are included on the comparison sites. I don't think Admiral is either. When I think about it I'm not sure if I'll get contents insurance again, just buildings. I have nothing really of that much value that can't be replaced. I've never claimed on insurance despite having it in one form or another for 35 years.

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Oops, 🙋‍♀️so Holland & Barrett 3for2 is better at the momentxxx

I keep my shampoo bar dry in-between washes. That way they always last me at least 9 months each.

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Hi Viv I love your top! That colour really suits you… I recently have been watching your videos, I have tried (not successfully!) to be frugal but the bills and new flat furniture has obliterated any money I have! 😮

White Rabbits, Vivi !!!! ❤xx

I ordered those wild deodorant set after watching Mr carrington blog. I had a 20% code to get a set so did it. Didn't pay extra for a personal name on the holder case. Well what annoyed me was the fact I had email from wild to share to friends who wd get the set for 50% off! I was quite angry about the offer for a friend but I'd only got 20% off with a code. Guess what... I u subscribed straight away from that. Not tried them yet as got loads that type stuff for xmas. They're in my case ready for any short breaks we go on this year. Yes the comparison sites are good. The compare supermarket one is good too. I saved a big sum on car insurance with that site. Holland n Barrett might do a bogof offer on the deodorants so might be worth waiting for that offer maybe.

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I subscribe to Wild for the deodorant, but I only get a delivery of 3 refills every 14 weeks. That’s the most time in between deliveries that they will allow. With P&P that works out at £5.66 per deodorant. So the above offer is definitely worth getting. Maybe before the offer changes? Thanks the happy candle company xxx

Just to say my H&B doesn’t keep in stock the Wild deodorant you have to order it online from their website click and collect. Maybe because mine is only a small shop but Might save you a wasted journey xx

It is amazing how you budget the entire month on £500.So if I sound nosey,you don't get pensions? Or just decide to delay untill later in the sixties.

I think I've just seen the Wild deodorant at Sainsbury's as well (larger store) :)

No claims ...they should be paying you 😮

Contents insurance is interesting. Once we retired and I had time, I could search out the Op shops and discount stores. We have never had top end things , ordinary lounge suite etc etc. then my daughter took me to two enormous charity shops near her, one Salvos for clothes and the other a Council recycle place. I imagined if the house burned down, how much would it cost to get replacement dining and bedroom furniture, tv etc. I decided to reduce the dollar value I insure for, because over the years it has crept up and I don’t need it. In 40 years in this house I’ve never needed to use Contents insurance, why am I so scared of taking the risk onto myself?

Concidering you don’t come in contact with hordes of people, your sniffles may just be allergies as everything is starting to bloom

Just check the best day to buy your insurance on money saving expert, as those quotes may well start going up as you get closer to the renewal date...

Vivi, do you really need contents insurance? We have building and contents combined but the bare minimum cover for contents as we don't have expensive jewellery or electronics in the house. We estimated that we could replace all of our furniture, rugs, bedding, pictures etc for 10K. Burglars wouldn't be interested in stealing our sofas so we're talking about fire or flood. As you say, you're in a top floor apartment so unlikely to attract a burglar. Anyway, the stuff we would lose in a fire couldn't be replaced by money - photo albums etc.

I only wish I could say that I had my moneys worth from the NHS…paid in all my life and now had to borrow £15000 to get treatment that , without which, I would most probably have died….ie wait for cancer treatment and two year wait for a hysterectomy. Too many people in this country are taking out and have never actually paid in. Hrrrmph!

How in the world do you live on so little? 150 for food and everything else would be absolutely impossible in my world. I’m not sure if I believe that. I will go back and see what you have previously posted that gives me more insight. It just doesn’t seem possible.

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