How I Save Money After Losing My Job | Frugal Life in China

comfortable and people, but how comfortable and sustainable it is for you. For me, sustainable it is for you. For me, sustainable it is for you. For me, saving money isn't about being cheap. saving money isn't about being cheap. saving money isn't about being cheap. It's about spending money on what I It's about spending money on what I It's about spending money on what I actually need instead of spending it to actually need instead of spending it to actually need instead of spending it to impress others. In my opinion, saving money is also In my

opinion, saving money is also In my opinion, saving money is also about creating more time, more peace of about creating more time, more peace of about creating more time, more peace of mind, and more control over your mind, and more control over your mind, and more control over your everyday life. everyday life. everyday life. Even though food price are generally low Even though food price are generally low Even though food price are generally low in China, I don't buy ingredients in in China, I don't buy ingredients in in China, I don't buy ingredients

in pulse, just deciding what to eat day by pulse, just deciding what to eat day by pulse, just deciding what to eat day by day. I mostly eat at home. I usually day. I mostly eat at home. I usually day. I mostly eat at home. I usually plan my groceries three to four days or plan my groceries three to four days or plan my groceries three to four days or half a week ahead. half a week ahead. half a week ahead. I choose cost effective food while I choose cost effective food while I choose cost effective food while keeping meals healthy. I also try my keeping

meals healthy. I also try my keeping meals healthy. I also try my best to use up everything already in the best to use up everything already in the best to use up everything already in the fridge. So today's brunch is pretty simple. I'm So today's brunch is pretty simple. I'm So today's brunch is pretty simple. I'm going to make a Chinese style egg going to make a Chinese style egg going to make a Chinese style egg pancake with spring onions. It has pancake with spring onions. It has pancake with spring onions. It has tastes wonderful and doesn't take

much tastes wonderful and doesn't take much tastes wonderful and doesn't take much time at all. I can get it done in about time at all. I can get it done in about time at all. I can get it done in about five or six minutes. five or six minutes. five or six minutes. In Chinese culture, we love stable In Chinese culture, we love stable In Chinese culture, we love stable foods, usually rice and weight- based foods, usually rice and weight- based foods, usually rice and weight- based foods. They help us feel full. Without foods. They help us feel full.

Without foods. They help us feel full. Without them, we tend to feel as if we haven't them, we tend to feel as if we haven't them, we tend to feel as if we haven't really ate enough. During this branch time, I checked my During this branch time, I checked my During this branch time, I checked my spending records for July. My total came spending records for July. My total came spending records for July. My total came out to 1,1.35 Chinese yen. Chinese yen. Chinese yen. There is another reason why saving money There is another reason why saving money There

is another reason why saving money feels so nature to me. Saving has feels so nature to me. Saving has feels so nature to me. Saving has traditionally been an important part of traditionally been an important part of traditionally been an important part of financial culture in many Chinese financial culture in many Chinese financial culture in many Chinese family. My parents taught me to save family. My parents taught me to save family. My parents taught me to save money when I was child because you never money when I was child because you never money

when I was child because you never know what might happen in the future. know what might happen in the future. know what might happen in the future. You might suddenly have an unexpected You might suddenly have an unexpected You might suddenly have an unexpected expense. You might lose your job. expense. You might lose your job. expense. You might lose your job. Something in your family might come up. Something in your family might come up. Something in your family might come up. So having some savings gives you a So having some savings gives you a So

having some savings gives you a little bit of security when life doesn't little bit of security when life doesn't little bit of security when life doesn't go according to plan. go according to plan. go according to plan. For me, it starts before saving money. For me, it starts before saving money. For me, it starts before saving money. It starts before I even go shopping. I It starts before I even go shopping. I It starts before I even go shopping. I actually check supermarkets apps and actually check supermarkets apps and actually check supermarkets

apps and compare price before I make my shopping compare price before I make my shopping compare price before I make my shopping list. list. list. There are about four supermarkets around There are about four supermarkets around There are about four supermarkets around my apartment. I choose the ones with my apartment. I choose the ones with my apartment. I choose the ones with better value for money to shop at. My better value for money to shop at. My better value for money to shop at. My shopping list decides roughly what I shopping list decides

roughly what I shopping list decides roughly what I will eat each day. This way I avoid will eat each day. This way I avoid will eat each day. This way I avoid wasting food and I can also cut down my wasting food and I can also cut down my wasting food and I can also cut down my expenses. This is my spending record for the first This is my spending record for the first This is my spending record for the first half of 2026 half of 2026 half of 2026 up to tier July. My total spending was up to tier July. My total spending was up to tier July. My total

spending was less than $1,100. When I buy green onions, I don't always When I buy green onions, I don't always When I buy green onions, I don't always throw away the roots. I put them in a throw away the roots. I put them in a throw away the roots. I put them in a pot and let them grow again. It may only pot and let them grow again. It may only pot and let them grow again. It may only save me a little money, but small save me a little money, but small save me a little money, but small savings add up. savings add up. savings add up. I also carry my own

water bat instead of I also carry my own water bat instead of I also carry my own water bat instead of buying drinks when I'm outside. A drink buying drinks when I'm outside. A drink buying drinks when I'm outside. A drink here and there doesn't seem expensive, here and there doesn't seem expensive, here and there doesn't seem expensive, but over a month it adds up. but over a month it adds up. but over a month it adds up. I also try to avoid wasting water. For I also try to avoid wasting water. For I also try to avoid wasting water. For example, I

reduce the water from washing example, I reduce the water from washing example, I reduce the water from washing vegetables to water my plants. I don't vegetables to water my plants. I don't vegetables to water my plants. I don't buy new clothes unless I really need buy new clothes unless I really need buy new clothes unless I really need them. If I already have something that them. If I already have something that them. If I already have something that works, I try to use it for as long as I works, I try to use it for as long as I works, I try to use it

for as long as I can. I don't need my life to look expensive. I don't need my life to look expensive. I don't need my life to look expensive. I just need it to work for me. I use the saved water from washing bed I use the saved water from washing bed I use the saved water from washing bed balls to water my muster plant. It has balls to water my muster plant. It has balls to water my muster plant. It has grown to large and large which gives me grown to large and large which gives me grown to large and large which gives me a great sense of achievement.

Recently, I've been seeing more videos Recently, I've been seeing more videos Recently, I've been seeing more videos of land slides in Tibet and Nepal. And of land slides in Tibet and Nepal. And of land slides in Tibet and Nepal. And once again, they remind me of just how once again, they remind me of just how once again, they remind me of just how fragile human life can be in the face of fragile human life can be in the face of fragile human life can be in the face of nature. We can't prevent every nature nature. We can't prevent every nature nature. We

can't prevent every nature disaster from happening. But we can at disaster from happening. But we can at disaster from happening. But we can at least start with our own daily lives. least start with our own daily lives. least start with our own daily lives. Wasting feral resources, reducing Wasting feral resources, reducing Wasting feral resources, reducing unnecessary unnecessary unnecessary consumption, and lowering our carbon consumption, and lowering our carbon consumption, and lowering our carbon footprint whenever we can. footprint whenever we can.

footprint whenever we can. I've come to believe that protecting the I've come to believe that protecting the I've come to believe that protecting the environment isn't just a slogan. It's environment isn't just a slogan. It's environment isn't just a slogan. It's also a way of showing respect for also a way of showing respect for also a way of showing respect for nature. nature. nature. Using a little less water, creating less Using a little less water, creating less Using a little less water, creating less waste and consuming fewer and waste and

consuming fewer and waste and consuming fewer and unnecessary resources. unnecessary resources. unnecessary resources. This may seem like very small things. This may seem like very small things. This may seem like very small things. One person's effort may not seem like One person's effort may not seem like One person's effort may not seem like much, but if more and more people choose much, but if more and more people choose much, but if more and more people choose to live this way, together we can reduce to live this way, together we can reduce to live

this way, together we can reduce the burbon we placed on our plant. the burbon we placed on our plant. the burbon we placed on our plant. For me, this is also one small way I can For me, this is also one small way I can For me, this is also one small way I can do my part to protect the earth. I'm not trying to teach you how to save I'm not trying to teach you how to save I'm not trying to teach you how to save money. I'm simply showing you how I money. I'm simply showing you how I money. I'm simply showing you how I live. These aren't things I started

live. These aren't things I started live. These aren't things I started doing just because I lost my job. Many doing just because I lost my job. Many doing just because I lost my job. Many of them have been part of my life for of them have been part of my life for of them have been part of my life for years. Losing job simply made me pay years. Losing job simply made me pay years. Losing job simply made me pay even more attention to them. Collecting old cardboard boxes, milk Collecting old cardboard boxes, milk Collecting old cardboard boxes, milk

cartons, and packing from my online cartons, and packing from my online cartons, and packing from my online deliveries is also one of the way I try deliveries is also one of the way I try deliveries is also one of the way I try to leave more economically. to leave more economically. to leave more economically. Instead of throw them away, I keep them Instead of throw them away, I keep them Instead of throw them away, I keep them and let them accumulate over time. Once and let them accumulate over time. Once and let them accumulate over time. Once I have

enough, I take them to a local I have enough, I take them to a local I have enough, I take them to a local recycling center and sell them. A new ord supermarket recently opened A new ord supermarket recently opened A new ord supermarket recently opened near my home in China. Some people near my home in China. Some people near my home in China. Some people jokingly call it the poor people jokingly call it the poor people jokingly call it the poor people supermarket. I was curiously, so I supermarket. I was curiously, so I supermarket. I was curiously, so

I signed up for a membership through their signed up for a membership through their signed up for a membership through their app to check the member only deals. Since they were offering some pretty big Since they were offering some pretty big Since they were offering some pretty big discounts for the grand opening and it discounts for the grand opening and it discounts for the grand opening and it happened to be Monday, I decided to go happened to be Monday, I decided to go happened to be Monday, I decided to go take a look and pick up a few things I

take a look and pick up a few things I take a look and pick up a few things I needed. needed. needed. Before going to the supermarket, I need to do going to the supermarket, I need to do going to the supermarket, I need to do my homework first. What I actually need, my homework first. What I actually need, my homework first. What I actually need, which items are good value, and what I which items are good value, and what I which items are good value, and what I already have at home and don't need to already have at home and don't need to already have at

home and don't need to buy again. So, I make a shop list in buy again. So, I make a shop list in buy again. So, I make a shop list in advance to avoid unnecessary purchase advance to avoid unnecessary purchase advance to avoid unnecessary purchase and keep my spending under control. I also checked product reviews to see I also checked product reviews to see I also checked product reviews to see what other buyers think of the good what other buyers think of the good what other buyers think of the good before I decide whether to buy them. Oh, >> keep

it in. Oh, Oh, Oh, very speech. There you go. Foreigne speech. Back there. What do you see? Hallelujah. I'll show you. Good Chicken tacos. again. Hello. I also have a few fixed monthly I also have a few fixed monthly I also have a few fixed monthly expenses. My phone bill bear is around expenses. My phone bill bear is around expenses. My phone bill bear is around 50 R&B and my duty list are usually 50 R&B and my duty list are usually 50 R&B and my duty list are usually under 100 IMB. under 100 IMB. under 100 IMB. Since I loing job, I spend

most of time Since I loing job, I spend most of time Since I loing job, I spend most of time at home and go out much less, which also at home and go out much less, which also at home and go out much less, which also saves me quite a bit on transportation. saves me quite a bit on transportation. saves me quite a bit on transportation. I don't own a car, so I don't have I don't own a car, so I don't have I don't own a car, so I don't have expenses like a car insurance or fuel. Wow. Now it smells so good. My ebike is also incredibly cheap to My ebike is

also incredibly cheap to My ebike is also incredibly cheap to run. It costs less than 1 RMB to charge. This stick cost only 23.9 This stick cost only 23.9 This stick cost only 23.9 RMBB for my dinner. It not only keeps me RMBB for my dinner. It not only keeps me RMBB for my dinner. It not only keeps me healthier but also allows my homegrown healthier but also allows my homegrown healthier but also allows my homegrown plants to come into use. These simple plants to come into use. These simple plants to come into use. These simple lifestyles make me feel

deeply fulfilled lifestyles make me feel deeply fulfilled lifestyles make me feel deeply fulfilled inside. I think as we get older, our desire for I think as we get older, our desire for I think as we get older, our desire for material things should gradually become material things should gradually become material things should gradually become smaller. If we are always thinking about smaller. If we are always thinking about smaller. If we are always thinking about buying more, no matter how much money we buying more, no matter how much money we buying

more, no matter how much money we make, it may never feel like enough. make, it may never feel like enough. make, it may never feel like enough. When there's something I really like, I When there's something I really like, I When there's something I really like, I usually look for a more affordable usually look for a more affordable usually look for a more affordable alternative, either online or in alternative, either online or in alternative, either online or in everyday life, instead of paying a high everyday life, instead of paying a high everyday

life, instead of paying a high price for it. The less we need price for it. The less we need price for it. The less we need materially, materially, materially, the lighter and simpler life can become. Money only has real value when we use it Money only has real value when we use it Money only has real value when we use it for something meaningful. Save wisely for something meaningful. Save wisely for something meaningful. Save wisely for your future self, but also spend for your future self, but also spend for your future self, but also spend wisely to

enjoy the present. Not wasting wisely to enjoy the present. Not wasting wisely to enjoy the present. Not wasting money, but not obsessing over saving money, but not obsessing over saving money, but not obsessing over saving either. For me, it's about feeling content and For me, it's about feeling content and For me, it's about feeling content and at peace with what I have. That's the at peace with what I have. That's the at peace with what I have. That's the kind of relationship I want to have with kind of relationship I want to have with kind of

relationship I want to have with money. >> >> What's