Thanks Ultima for sponsoring this video! Stay hydrated every single day with Ultima Replenisher: Head to https://ultima.yt.link/GYuehGy and use the code THATPRACTICALMOM20 for 20% off your order! For decades we've heard the same advice: skip the latte, spend less, invest the difference. But that assumes our biggest financial problem is knowing what to do with money. For most people, it isn't. Between rising costs, endless ways to spend, and the fact that many Americans aren't really pro investors, the actual challenge is changing our spending habits. That's why I think we see today's financial advice is shifting away from investment strategies and toward helping people keep their money from disappearing in the first place. I'm sharing some of the ways we've changed our own spending and buying habits to do just that. 👋 WHO AM I? Hi! My name is Kallie Branciforte, AKA That Practical Mom™. I’m here to share practical life hacks to help you get organized realistically, find attainable productivity, and simplify some of the chaos of life. 👉JOIN ME while I challenge to write one article a week for a year! https://thatpracticalmom.substack.com/ For business inquiries: [email protected] ____________________________________________ 🙌 I’M HERE TO HELP YOU SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. Need more? 1. Check out my FREE Printables: https://thatpracticalmom.substack.com/s/free-printables 2. Grab my “30 Days To a Cleaner Person” e-book: https://caffeinateandconquerco.com/products/cleaner-in-30-days-e-book-how-anyone-can-learn-to-be-tidy 3. Become a Morning Person in 7 Days: https://caffeinateandconquerco.com/products/how-to-become-a-morning-person-e-book-and-workbook-bundle ____________________________________________ 🤝 Disclaimers and such Fair use: I believe any clips used in my video fall under the remit of fair use. Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for fair use for the purposes including criticism, comment, and news reporting. If any of the owners wish to dispute this you can always reach out. I respect all fellow content creators. FTC DISCLAIMER: Some of the links above could contain affiliate links, meaning that I get a small commission when you make a purchase using them. Music used under license from Epidemic Sound. SOURCES: Sasaki, Fumio. Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism. W. W. Norton & Company, 2017. Schor, Juliet B. The Overspent American: Why We Want What We Don't Need. Harper Perennial, 1999. Choudhuri-Wade, Ronita. "Christmas Loans and Other Ways to Borrow for the Holidays." NerdWallet, 12 Nov. 2025, NerdWallet. "2 in 5 Americans Plan to Scale Back Holiday Spending, Some Skip Gifts Altogether." Nationwide Newsroom, 17 Nov. 2025 Annamaria Lusardi, and Olivia S. Mitchell. "The Economic Importance of Financial Literacy: Theory and Evidence." Journal of Economic Literature
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It’s almost as if there were a powerful force out there that uses all of its power to keep us overworked, undercompensated, tired, overwhelmed, reaching for more expensive convenience, and medicating with overspending. All so a shrinking number of people/families can thrive while we all fight over scraps and shame each other for buying coffee. Huh.
‘The biggest financial challenge today is not learning how to invest, it’s learning how NOT to buy’ BOOM 💥 Your videos are hands down some of my most looked forward to! ❤ from Australia
My mother recently had a birthday party. The food was on shiny gold disposable paper plates or in old rubbish bowls, the food was all brought in plastic lunch boxes or wrapped up loosely on tin foil, the table cloths were old or disposable. We has air inflated balloons that we get told require helium, stuck up with big wadges of visible blutac. The garden chairs were all mismatched and people were sat on old cushions on the back steps for extra seating. The terrible pinyata was tied to the washing line and we used a random old stained stick to wack it with, and when it fell still in 1 piece we kept hitting it while on the ground (no way to hang it back up). Mismatched plastic cups and chrismas napkins. Terrible adult party game and solar lights that kept turning off. The night ended with us sitting round a dodgy garden table playing a funny card game and everyone roaring in laughter. That is a party. You dont need a load of fancy stuff to make it special.
12:30 Dave Ramsey says it well: every time you see an ad/coupon/sale/discount, they are trying to make money off of you. the presentation is that the business wants to give you something you need/want or save you money. but they are really trying to make money off of you. this doesn't make companies evil per se, but it did help me reframe how I look at every ad/coupon/sale/etc.
Last year our group of friends were at a dinner and made a decision that has worked for us. We have gone from exchanging gifts to meeting for lunch or coffee. Do not ask when a good day or time is, just send out a group email. There is not a lot of pressure and it is a lot more fun. You either show up, or you don't. So many good tips, as always. Thank you.
:30 -- or we get groceries delivered because we're disabled and can't drive (me), we pay for a house cleaner because we have mental health problems and it honestly makes a difference (my parents) , and we pay someone to mow because we're old (my parents) or allergic to grass (me). You have some amazing points, but I also encourage those of us who tend to take this to the extreme and become penny pinchers to our own detriment, remember that there are times where even "frivolous" things are worth the money for the help they offer.
Interesting perspective. For me, budgeting for things like cleaners and landscapers is intentional. I keep asking myself, "What is my time worth?" Could I mow the lawn and spend my weekends cleaning? Absolutely. But I'd rather use that time making memories with my family, taking small trips, or just being present instead of checking off another chore. To me, paying for certain services isn't about being lazy—it's about buying back time. And for this season of life, that's one of the most valuable things I can invest in.
What's the deal with party favors? I'm from Eastern Europe and i just don't get that one at all. You just gave them an experience of a party. That's already a gift. Why throw more gifts at the guests? It's definitely going over, over the top. Lol.
I am obsessed with your current content - so good and necessary since we could all stand to save a little money given the cost of everything!
The thing that helps me spend more wisely is thinking, I can have anything I want, I can’t have everything I want. Would I rather spend more on things or take bigger vacations as a family. It made not spending feel intentional and not just trying to “be more responsible”. The ultimate problem is that little purchases take away from large more important goals like security and experiences.
The ads being for DoorDash and one-upping each others parties was very on topic.
Child Care Costs Too Much Because We Gave Too Many Women Fake Jobs!
In our 12,000 person town, a local church just held their annual big give. It is a yard sale where everything is free. I looked at everything and realized at one point it was all money. And now it was being given away.
I had a little lifestyle inflation where we got a raise and I got very excited and bought my kids a bunch of things, and then decorated my kitchen (something I had wanted to do years ago but couldn’t afford it.) I ended up taking A LOT back. (Not the kid stuff. My stuff.) I ran out of money. But! I was able to find things in my house that I repurposed into stuff that I had taken back to the store! So my kitchen still looks nice. Just not with brand new things. And I’m not feeling guilty anymore with what I bought.
100%. Learning HOW NOT TO BUY is what we all need to get better at.
Sport snacks! After my son’s soccer games, people go all out. It’s insane. My husband coached one season and we said we would do snacks first (so we could set the standard). Nope. Didn’t work haha.
Child care cost is almost or the same as rent or mortgage lol
First?! I love your videos so much!!
I was just at a Sketchers outlet store yesterday, debating whether I wanted to buy a pair of hot pink rain boots on clearance for $25. As I stood there, I heard your voice in my head saying, " now you have to store these boots, what's wrong with your black rain boots that you love, how many times will you actually wear hot pink boots?" Thanks to you and all your videos, I left the boots in the store and saved $25. Thank you for all your great advice and information ❤
I like that thinking if it’s something you truly need or you want it however it’s also useful in someway. If you want it and it’s not truly useful than you don’t really need to spend the money on it.