saving money Archives - Hello Brownlow

Updated on August 14, 2026August 13, 2026saving money

Consume Less – The Best Way to Save Money

We can argue all day about the best way to save money. You can clip coupons, shop sales, buy secondhand, and drive a paid off car. Those are all great ways to save money! But let’s dig deeper for the best way to save money.

Have you truly thought about the roots of frugality? To live frugally, you:

Use it up.
Wear it out.
Make do.
Do without.

All the surface level ways to save money (use coupons, shop sales) don’t actual change your habits and how you spend money. Sure, you’ll save money along the way, but you’ll still have a consumption problem. Overconsumption isn’t just limited to the “influencers” on social media. You could be overconsuming, too! Consuming less and living within the pillars of frugality is truly the best way to save money.

Updated on December 27, 2025December 27, 2025Minimalism saving money

How to Stick With a No Buy / Low Buy Year (While Fighting Consumerism & Overconsumption)

Thinking about a no buy year? Learn how underconsumption and intentional spending can save money, simplify life, and ditch consumerism.

September 27, 2025September 26, 2025Minimalism saving money

Owning More Stuff Won’t Make You Happy

Owning more stuff won’t make you happier. Once a need is met, continuing to meet that need by buying more stuff doesn’t actually increase happiness or fulfillment.

January 16, 2025January 12, 2025budgeting saving money

10 Ways to Keep Your Budget on Track This Year

With a new year comes a new budget. Hopefully we aren’t the only ones who review their budgets annually to make adjustments and see where we spent and saved! If you’re new to budgeting, have never created a budget, or just need some help with keeping your budget on track this year, you’ve come to the right place! I’m so glad you’re here to learn how to keep your budget on track this year.

Why We're Loving Deinfluencing and Underconsumption

Updated on August 14, 2026July 22, 2024Minimalism saving money sustainability

Deinfluencing & Underconsumption: Learning from Our New Favorite Trends

If you find yourself on social media very often, you may have heard of this little trend called “deinfluencing” and “underconsumption”. Deinfluencing is meant to be the opposite of influencing, or getting people to buy things or buy into things. In the same vain, underconsumption is mean to highlight a normal or minimal level of consumption, primarily in the US. In the social media world where being an “influencer” is a coveted thing, deinfluencing is rocking the boat. While I’ve been largely absent from my social media for the last two years, even I’ve been influenced to buy things online. So let’s dig into the world of why deinfluencing is so important and what we can learn from our new favorite trend.

Updated on March 18, 2024March 18, 2024saving money

Can You Actually Afford that? Changing Your Spending Mindset.

Spending money just might be one of America’s favorite past times. Huge marketing departments get us with catchy, guilt-laden ads, influencers want you to live …

"The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Frugal Living" overlaid on a photo a woman putting coins into a white piggy bank on a table.

January 29, 2023January 27, 2023saving money

How to Be Frugal – The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Frugal Living

I’ve been writing about how to be frugal for a long time and I’ve learned a thing or two along the way. Frugal living looks different for everyone as each situation is unique! So whether you’re new to frugal living or have been living a frugal lifestyle for years now, this guide on how to be frugal is for you!

"$1000 savings challenge" overlayed on white rectangles on top of a photograph of a person's hands holding a phone in the left open to the calculator app and cash in the right fanned out.

December 31, 2022December 27, 2022saving money

$1000 Savings Challenge – Kick Start Your Savings

New year, new you, new finances? Kick start your financial goals with this $1000 Savings Challenge! I’ve suggested several different savings goals if you want to up the ante. This $1000 savings challenge is a great way to establish an emergency fund if you don’t have one. Or maybe you’re looking to start a sinking fund for a future trip or addition to the family. Whatever the case, let’s get started saving money!

How to Lower Your Cost of Living on white rectangles overlaid on two hands hold an iPhone open to the calculator app and multiple dollar bills in the other hand.

Updated on January 26, 2026December 18, 2022saving money

How to Lower Your Cost of Living & Save Money Right Now

The 2020s have already proven to be years of financial struggle for many. With inflation at 7.7% and mortgage interest rates at 7.63% currently, it’s not hard to see why so many of us are feeling the squeeze of tighter budgets and increased debt. I’ve looked at dozens of blog posts, articles, YouTube videos, TikToks, and more for what we can do right now to make a measurable impact on our finances. And honestly? I found a lot of the content only capturing the low hanging fruit (i.e. stop eating out, buy cheaper stuff, look for better bargains). But is that really going to help you lower your cost of living and start saving money right now?

The answer: probably not – unless you eat out for every single meal or have a luxury goods habit. My goals is to show you what I would personally do (and have done) to lower your cost of living. I have loads of posts on how to save money and be frugal and I’ll link those throughout this post – but think of those as extra credit :)

Updated on May 11, 2024December 11, 2022saving money sustainability

Zero Waste Swaps That Will Save You Money

Reducing your waste is also a great way to save money. Part of our frugal minimalism journey includes being low waste (and just buying less in the first place). Some of the zero waste “swaps” that we’ve made over the last few years have proven to save us money. But there are also some that cost the same or a little bit more. Oh, and before I forget… my favorite zero waste swaps are the FREE ones! Yes, by using things you already own, not only can you reduce your waste but also save money at the same time.

saving money

Consume Less – The Best Way to Save Money

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How to Stick With a No Buy / Low Buy Year (While Fighting Consumerism & Overconsumption)

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Owning More Stuff Won’t Make You Happy

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10 Ways to Keep Your Budget on Track This Year

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Deinfluencing & Underconsumption: Learning from Our New Favorite Trends

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Can You Actually Afford that? Changing Your Spending Mindset.

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How to Be Frugal – The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Frugal Living

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$1000 Savings Challenge – Kick Start Your Savings

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How to Lower Your Cost of Living & Save Money Right Now

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Zero Waste Swaps That Will Save You Money

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