NEVER SETTLE. I am proof!!! My husband and I were in debt and one day I said ENOUGH. After watching videos such as yours and reading many books- I realized that no , life doesn’t have to be this way. Believe me -eat at home. Automate savings. Say no to things you can’t afford right now. We are debt free now. We are generous when we tip now as we can afford to be. There is so much less stress. We are even taking a nice vacation later this year. It is going to be a great vacation as it is paid for in cash. The last vacation was 10 years ago and so stressful because I took a loan for it. FOOLISH!! But I learned !!! You can do it too!!

Never settle! As someone who came from generational poverty, I knew I would have to make different decisions to have different results. I didn’t understand that until a bit later in life and it wasn’t easy to change a learned mindset but I am so happy today that I went through the hard work and “missed out” in some of the things I thought I wanted then to have what I really want now. No debt, no bill collector phone calls, no insufficient funds…

We have no debt except the mortgage. I have a written budget each month plus sinking funds to save for future expenses (dental, vision, Lawndale, Christmas/Birthdays etc. Savings is a line item in our budget o we regularly save $200 each month. We are retired and on a fixed income so our budget is important.

Never Settle!! I’m debt free except for my mortgage. I’m paying extra towards principle each month. It’s a slow journey but everyday I’m moving forward. I’m on a low spend year with the exception of travel experiences. I’m over 60 years old so I want to travel now when I’m still physically able to. Thank you for keeping me motivated!!

Never settle! This year we are making the sacrifice to not go on vacation and we will be paying off our house by January 2025… and next year we are going to do one of my bucket list spots!

Twelve month calendar book. Write in each expense on the day it is due. In your banking, online, accounts …checking (bill pay account), savings, tax & insurance savings, debit account, Christmas savings. Set up your auto save for these accounts. Bill Pay … plug in your bills for the month. Use your Debit Account for your PLANNED discretionary spending. IF you use credit cards Pay Them Off at the end of the week! Stay Debt Free! 🤗

Never Settle! Everyone should have a best friend like you Kate ❤

"treat your savings like a bill" - Ive pretty much always called it "spending" just like all other spending.

Thanks for the weekly dose of inspiration Kate! I paid off my car this week! 🚙

Never settle! I quote from you Kate! Your credit card is NOT an extension of your income. That was a wake-up call to me. Now I look at credit cards differently. Thanks Kate!!

A detailed monthly budget is the key.❤

NEVER SETTLE. What used to trip me up with budgeting was planning for monthly bills but forgetting about yearly bills and accidents, like the fridge suddenly failing or a car repair. It is so wonderful now to really know what my full expenses are so that i have a more realistic budget -i.e., need to save a lot more and spend a lot less. Now I'm so much happier to know emergencies are handled. It's worth it to go without that top that I wanted, or that specialty coffee, just for the peace of mind.

Never settle.. I'm working on it, and it is very tough to stick to it, but I just start over, and keep going.

Never settle! A great mantra. I’m on a no-buy year and my theme is “Freedom.” I’m a year and a half from retirement and I want to feel secure and safe when I do. You are a great resource for me.

Never settle! Last year I started seriously budgeting, based on your four category suggestions: savings, household, giving, and lifestyle. I tracked expenses and managed to live well below my means (with a savings rate of close to 40%). Thank you for your encouragement and guidance!

NEVER SETTLE! I have always earned below the average salary. Slowly dug out of debt, and along the way I realized I didn't want as much as I used to, yay! I truly think as the debts go away, it has empowered me not only to becoming debt free - but also financially investing in my future. This spring I put money into improving my vegetable garden. I had the cash to do this, and I'm so excited! Funny story - I work at a place that requires wearing uniforms. This alone has saved me so much money not buying clothes for work :-). You can do this!

Never settle!! 🎉

Never settle. I hate being in debt or even owing someone money. If someone gets something for me I am chafing at the bit to pay for it so that I don't owe them. My biggest debt right now is my mortgage and if I could pay it off today I would and I am trying to how to pay it off as soon as possible. I love watching your videos, they are so encouraging. Thanks.

Never Settle!

NEVER SETTLE It feels so good to be debt free!

I've been in that place where I didn't think I could save. Through tough love, I am no longer in that dark space. To everyone currently in that place, feeling hopeless, YES YOU CAN! There is light at the end of that tunnel. Keep going! Hugs to you! ❤

No savings is too small. Always save!

Grocery shopping can get us into trouble. We go weekly, some are full shops and some are filler only. I try to go just myself for at least once a month. We spend less if it's just me! Husband is the spender of the two. Also don't settle! I'm done with having debt. I'm doing challenges that are going towards debt. End of the year we'll be 1 card away from debt free (it's a biggie). After next year, we'll have that one done and loan from the in-laws paid off too! Looking forward to that moment to then tackle student loans...

Inspiration for your frugal lifestyle, thanks to our beloved Kate. 1. Know what you owe. 2. Budget for the real you. 3. Make savings a habit. 4. Master your triggers. 5. Refuse to settle.

Never settle! Thank you

NEVER SETTLE! Watching this channel has changed my habits and my husband's too! Thank you! Life is getting better all the time.

Never settle!!

Never settle. Budget for the REAL You is such a great tip. Thank you.

I am saving to purchase a used 2004 Honda Accord sedan with mileage under 100,000. I am budgeting. I have almost half the money. I get a check on May 3rd. I will continue to save and budget on my own for three months 'til fourth of July weekend. I can do it! The vehicle is $7,995 before taxes and fees.

Never Settle Thanks Kate

That's so good to hear because I know I sometimes throw in the towel when I feel discourage but I just need to remember I'm doing this to live a stress free life. And that'll come sooner then later if I don't give up.🎉

Never settle!

Knowing what you owe can be the issue ! We fear what we don’t know … I am so grateful now !! I know what I owe and it’s just the monthly expenses and the sinking funds ! Glenda

G.I. Joe said Knowing is half the battle.😊

Having a rough week with some financial changes. Gotta regroup and rebudget. Change of goals, but still having goals!

Never settle. My goal was to be debt free in retirement. That didn’t happen. Working on getting debt free. I love plants. No new plants every week. Trigger identified. Meal planned this week so I don’t overspend at the grocery store.

Never settle! I've found budgeting to be harder since getting rid of our debt and building the emergency fund. The budget is in place and we know what we owe and when. It's going to sound silly, but the adrenaline and excitement of paying down one more debt and snowballing it onto the next has gone! It's become easy to fall into "sure we can afford that" Which has made us more frivolous than when we were paying off debt. We do automatically save "pay yourselves first" but I feel like we're not saving at the rate in which we were paying our debt. I need something to help shift my mind set and get us back on track. Not as strict as when we were debt busting - but more conscious of our spending vs saving I guess.

Never Settle! I swear I always get at least one stellar takeaway from each video. Today was to make savings a bill. For some reason that hits me better than “pay yourself first.” Love it!

Never settle 💖💖

Today in my local community pantry, they had a whole bunch of pot noodles. Made me happy. With the contribution i made in total, they came to 25p each for me.

Never settle - I don’t want to choose what I want right now for what I want most later (Financial Peace.) We are on Ramsey Baby step 7- your videos really helped not just get me there Kate, but help stay financially frugal. We become who we hang out with and love the community you created and of course you :)❤ thank you

NEVER SETTLE!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!

Never settle❤️

Never settle! That phrase applies to all areas of life! I've learned that the hard way but- lesson learned! And memorized! 😊😊

Never Settle!! Good morning! Love your content. As a Canadian I have read Gail Vaz-Oxlade’s every book. You are a great resource on KZfaq. Hope you have a great weekend!!

Never settle. This inspired to rework my April budget. It needs a dose of reality.

Started using every dollar from Ramsey. My challenge is how to track/budget for work travel expenses. Different from week to week. Sometimes just mileage-but this week longer trip with 3 hotel nights and meals. I do keep my meals under per diem so make $-but how to track? I made line items for expense income, work restaurant, and work hotel. It is gas to work mileage how to keep straight? I also use a travel rewards cc for work trip expenses-for as much as possible and pay off so no interest charges. Rewards points for flight and hotels has allowed for personal trips for free or low cost. Does anyone else have work expense budget tips?

Never Settle 😊thanks Kate

NEVER SETTLE! Kate, I listen to you and tweak my budget spreadsheet and balance my bank account pretty much weekly! Thanks for the community here. 🌻

NEVER SETTLE! I just discovered your video Kate! I'm 26 and currently in 6k debt from poor budgeting and severe impulse spending. My goal is to rebuild my savings once I implement all the things you touched on , in addition to figuring out what my spending triggers are. Thank you so much for making this video. You make it seem possible ❤

Never settle!!!!!!!Thank you so much Kate you’re so awesome ❤🎉seriously you do a lot of hard work for us and it’s so appreciated 🎉❤🎉🎉❤

Never settle! Great video Kate. Good points for those getting started and taking control of their finances, and for those of us who have been mindful of expenditure for most of our lives. I especially liked that you recap at the end if the video. So useful. Thank you.

Wow what a powerful sentence. Treat your savings like a bill. I love it. This will really help me to never forget to save money ❤❤

NEVER SETTLE!!!

Never settle!!! I love your videos so much. I’m retired and enjoying it, but even me have to look after my money. ❤️

Never settle for

Never Settle. Thank you for sharing, you have given us a wealth of information. I look forward to your videos & have learn a lot about budgeting.

Never Settle.

Kate, this is excellent. I needed this. I am currently increasing debt because I am helping my father and we are moving him to a new apartment next month, which requires a large deposit and I will have to go further into debt for that, but after he is settled the bleeding should stop so that is the goal. By July we should be able to live on our budget (my father is elderly so I combine budgets with him as he is on social security only) but there are days when I see that debt increasing and i want to throw in the towel! You are right; it is hard! I am so stressed I have gained 30 pounds that I lost two years ago. My cortisol is through the roof, I am sure. I am resilient, though, so I will find my way through this. Again, thank you! Never settle!

I buy 2 big quaker oatmeals and use bananas for sweet flavor and other fresh fruit and evaporated milk diluted with water in a pitcher,saves money,cans of sweet potatoes, applesauce as loss leader stretching my food budget, I quit buying snacks and buy fruit and mark down vegetables also bake cornbread avoid sliced bread. The small cuts of meats and splurge on a large fish, it helps alot. Thanks for reading this

Never Settle!!! Thank you so much for all of your hard work putting these videos out! You have been such an encouragement during challenging financial times❤

Never settle! Great video, Kate! 🙌

Boy do I ever have debt. I went crazy in Nov and Dec I'm sure having a great time trying to pay my mess off. Got a new card (no interest for 18 months) that will help. Keep your fingers crossed.

NEVER SETTLE!!! So glad I got my weekly KSquad fix! Sets my weekend on the right tone. ❤

I've been keeping track of EVERY penny spent the past year, so I do know exactly how much I spend/need. It helps alot.

Never Settle!💪

Never settle. Savings like a bill, hmm, awesome!

I'm debt free now after going thru a bankruptcy back in 2009. I told myself that I will never EVER go into debt as I did b4 then. Now I use the envelope method and I use the cash method to being a zero based budget....But I will never go into debt for nothing....now I can afford the things I pay 4....😊😊😊

Very happy to see this particular episode! I saw one of your videos about Side hussles and extra jobs and it triggered a very stressful recent failed attempt where I took n a part time job (many places require at least 2 datys/week committal),and this was added to my current job of five days. So I did a stretch of working 45 plus days in a row until I caught pneumonia and was hospitalized. But at that time I stressed so badly about my bills, and I did not really look at living below my means and budgeting. Since then, I live using the Envelope Cash method, and have never felt so content. Long story short, I saw this " Living below your means" episode, and I realize I can do this without living in fear.

"Budget for the real you" - what a great way to start a budget! 👍

NEVER SETTLE -- WE GOT THIS!!

Never settle and track your spending which has really helped me. Love your videos Kate x

Never Settle. Thank you.

Never settle!! I am still hoping to be debt free (minus the house) in about 4 or 5 years. One of my next 12 week year goals is to pay off two debts completely. I did have some issues over the last month and a check bounced 😞 Luckily, the company was very understanding and I am just increasing the payment to them to have that debt paid off quicker! I did have a win, though, recently! I was looking at my car insurance (USAA) and it is lumped with my home owners insurance. I had never changed the primary driver (when we moved) and I changed it the other day and my monthly bill went down by $2.50 😲 I do have to call AT&T to negotiate that bill, but if you never ask, you never know 🙂

NEVER SETTLE....VERY TIMELY VIDEO Kate❤ thank you for all you do for us!!!

🤗🤗 Kate .. moving to new house soon this is helpful .. to get on track from get go .. I will make note of it all 😊

Never settle

There are 2 places i can over slemd and they are Costco, even when we had our own card and went often, and a particular craft store (not Joanns). For each, i only take cash. At Costco i put stuff in the basket, then take it out so i can replace it with something else the entire shopping trip. And yes, when we had our own card we tried seeing if going more often would reduce what folks around here call "Costco fever" and it didnt reduce the fever enough to not also go with a budgeted amount of cash only, a list of definites, often some rules like food-only, and the realization that if the rules were broken there would just be less food. There was only one time we happily-ish broke that rule and that was for a jacket type had been shopping for elsewhere at between $60 to $120; they had one along the same lines with a little less detail for $19.99, i rounded to $25 for tax and essy math on the fly. It meant we put back the second big bag of chocolare chips and something else; there are somethings you just remember all the details on. For the craft store, i like to pre-shop it looking at All the things with NO money or way to pay for anything. Sometimes i make a list or even just a mental list. In times of flush, i estimate how much money i will "need"; truth be told ive seldom needed anything there. In leaner times, i make my selections fit within the budget. I give myself permission to change my mind when there 24 to 48 hoirs later when i enter with a fixed amount of cash. Some of those things don't glitter as much at second look. For actual crafting stuff i ask myself just when are you going to get to what youre buying and complete it. Also, just where are you going to store it if you dont get to it right away. - It took me a while to ask these questions first but that's a different story.

Never Settle

Never Settle! I’m still in Baby Steps 1, but I really appreciate you and your videos! ❤️

Never settle!! Wise words

Hi from Spain. Never settle!

I write my bills down on a calendar every month so I know what’s what !!!

Woohoo! NEVER EVER SETTLE!!!

Never Settle. I made a video on what true self care is and one of those things is paying bills on time and having the means to pay those bills. I started out saving just $25 years ago and you are right when you say start when you can, because it gets you into the habit of saving until you can save more!

NEVER SETTLE!!

Never settle!!! love watching your videos Kate!!

Thank you, thank you Kate!!!!! Have a wonderful weekend 🥰🥰🥰🥰

Never Settle! Great inspiration Kate.😊

So sensible Kate!

Thank you ! You are literally improving my life!

Never settle. This was a really helpful video. Thanks

Never settle! Love your content Kate!

Great thanks Kate

Thank you Kate, always enjoy your channel

Great video. Very inspiring.

Hi Kate, you are spot on!!! Love ya girl!! Sher. Never settle!!

Never settle for! Thanks for the daily dose of inspiration Kate❤

Never Settle!! 💜

Never settle! Have a great weekend Kate! 😊