'I lived off just £40 a month for a year - it was hard but so worth it'
A 28-year-old content creator from San Francisco Bay has revealed how she managed to live off a budget of just $50 a month for nonessentials over the past year.
Alexis Howard, who goes by the username @financiallybrave on TikTok, said that during July, she spent only $41, allowing her to roll over the remaining $9 into August.
She said: "When starting this challenge, I knew that summer was going to be the hardest season to trek through. So I'm a bit surprised that now is when I managed to underspend, especially given I was extremely busy in July.
"But what's most interesting to note was that I felt my $41 was best spent on memories with friends rather than materialistic things."
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In July, Alexis managed to spend only $41 (@financiallybrave/TikTok)
Alexis Howard said she allocated a portion of her budget for flowers as a way to bring balance (@financiallybrave/TikTok)Breaking down her July expenses, Alexis detailed how she spent $14.66 on ice cream for two, $8 on a cup of kava tea for a night out, $10 on a cover fee for a friend's birthday celebration at a bar, and $8 on a rollercoaster ride for another friend's special occasion. Additionally, she managed to enjoy a trip to a farmer's market as a free July activity.
"These purchases affirm two things for me," she said. "One is that you don't have to ditch your social life when you're on a budget. Laughs and memories can still happen with friends, even if you opt for ice cream instead of an expensive meal at a restaurant.
"And two is that gratitude can take you a long way when it comes to discipline. Fixating on what you do have access to versus the things you don't have access to helps ease the challenges of budgeting."
In her TikTok video, Alexis said she was grateful for having essentials such as clothing, housing, water, electricity, a loving family and friends, fresh groceries, efficient public transportation, and free activities in her area.
She attributed her success to prioritising experiences and socialising with friends rather than material purchases (@financiallybrave/TikTok)
In July, as part of her budgeting challenge, she spent $14.66 on ice cream for two (@financiallybrave/TikTok)Her unique approach to budgeting has gained a significant following on TikTok, with fans praising her realistic and disciplined financial journey.
Comments included: "I love this account! It's a way more realistic way to approach spending," and "Omg congrats on your accomplishment!!! This is huge, especially to do it in July," someone else shared.
Another person said: "This is so amazing! I'd love to try this but really struggling with discipline," another admitted.
Alexis originally outlined the rules of her $50 spending challenge in January and has continued to provide monthly updates. She explained her method, saying, "I'm tracking my expenses on an Excel sheet with all of my essentials laid out.
"This includes rent, groceries, bills, and any other financial dues that I must pay for. To give myself some balance and joy throughout this process, I have allocated a very small portion of my budget — $25 a month to be exact — for flowers, weekend coffees, or candles."
The $25 allocated for nonessentials does not count toward Alexis's $50 spending limit, nor does the cost of any items that need to be replaced because they are empty or broken.
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