Fun For The Good | Blog #8

My favourite community-centred YouTube channels

Where slow living, and living within your means, is the order of the day…

Images from YouTube (links below)

Last month, we celebrated Easter, commemorating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Churches reported record-breaking attendance, and a recent survey dubbed “The Quiet Revival”, commissioned by Bible Society and conducted by YouGov, shows Gen Z (people born between 1996 and 2010) is leading the rise in church attendance.

While Easter egg hunts and the Easter bunny do have links to Pagan origins, as well as Christian, this year I’ve seen videos that show this religious holiday, like Christmas, has been monopolised by some social media influencers, in order to promote grossly excessive hauls and “perfect” lifestyles.

Usually done under the guise of “showing love”, content creators used Easter to sell a life of consumerism and excess – and it’s just one of the millions of ways social media users are encouraged to spend money.

The University of Plymouth recently published a study titled “The Dark Side of Social Media Influencers: A Research Agenda for Analysing Deceptive Practices and Regulatory Challenges”.

In it, the authors highlight how, amongst other things, influencers have revolutionised marketing and shaped consumer behaviour.

James Curry, Senior Vice President, Director of Wealth Management at Greenleaf Trust, told Forbes last year: “As individuals strive to maintain appearances consistent with the inflated standards set by social media, debt often becomes a consequence. The pressure to live up to unrealistic standards can drive individuals into debt traps.”

With all this in mind, I started thinking about some of the YouTube channels I watch and realised that they delivered messages that were the exact opposite of the aforementioned consumerist content.

They all have similar narratives of living more slowly and within your means, creating a community of subscribers who share their own tips, experiences and concerns about the cost of living.

I’ve shared three of my favourite channels below, which include many ways to make the most of your money in these ever more financially burdensome-times (I’m looking at you, Southern Water, with your 50% price increases…).

Frugal Money Saver

Images from Frugal Money Saver| YouTube | Information below as of 14 May 2025

Based in: Upstate New York, USA

Subscribers: circa 70k

Total video views: circa 11M

My channel summary

Creator Emmy, with guest appearances from her husband Paul, started Frugal Money Saver back in April 2019.

The premise of the channel was about them having to lower their expenses after Paul retired – they planned to do this through living frugally, so that they could still enjoy the things they loved.

Emmy uses this concept as a springboard for sharing financial tips and tricks, as well as focusing on ways to reduce waste and to live with gratitude for the big and little things.

What I enjoy about the channel

I’m pretty sure Emmy said that she used to be a teacher and I think her calm, clear and reassuring delivery fits that role.

She shares her thoughts in a non-judgemental way, often linking her advice to real experiences she and Paul have had and highlighting when things haven’t gone perfectly.

Paul often appears in videos, usually offering practical advice on things like maintenance and garden care, as well as giving a “Paul approved” thumbs up when Emmy’s done a low budget or low waste cooking demonstration.

Emmy’s love of family and appreciation of visiting different communities shines through in her videos. Her enthusiasm for life and gratitude for all of the things she has is contagious and it does make you consider what you have and whether you take it for granted.

Real Vintage Dolls House

Images from Real Vintage Dolls House| YouTube | Information below as of 14 May 2025

Based in: Nottingham, UK

Subscribers: circa 121k

Most popular video: I followed a 1940’s bedtime routine: And it changed the game! | 1M views

Total video views: circa 10.3M

My channel summary

Hannah is a vintage-enthusiast, with a particular focus on the 1940s and World War 2. Her videos are a mix of slow-living, 20th century history, sustainability and life on a low income.

What I enjoy about the channel

Unlike most of the other YouTube creators I watch, Hannah is from England, living in a city not a million miles away from me.

This makes her very relatable and she mixes a no-nonsense attitude with an appreciation for what she has.

She openly shares her past struggles of living in rental properties and the instability having a landlord can present. She now lives in an old house she bought with her mum, and this house, decorated in a 1940s style, features in most of her videos.

As you’ll know if you’ve read my blog post My top six favourite examples of community in books and TV, I enjoy WW2-based content, so I like Hannah’s videos that focus on 1940s culture.

But her content is more than nostalgia – she creatively weaves well-researched historical information into her videos, often using it as the basis for promoting a lifestyle that doesn’t rely on consumerism. Instead, she focuses on finding meaning and joy through conscious living.

Under the Median

Images from Under the Median| YouTube | Information below as of 14 May 2025

Based in: Illinois, USA

Subscribers: circa 210k

Most popular video: 10 Cheap, Healthy Pantry Foods that Last a Long Time | 2.8M views

Total video views: circa 23.1M

Channel summary

The name “Under the Median” comes from creators Hope and Larrys’ experience of living on less than the median income in the USA (approximately $40,000), whilst raising four children.

They share the financial tips and tricks that helped them succeed on a low income, without feeling deprived.

What I enjoy about the channel

Under the Median is the most practical of all the YouTube channels I watch, with each video clearly broken down into actionable steps, making them easy to digest

Hope and Larry are probably the most commercially-minded of the creators I’ve mentioned in this post – if you visit their website, you’ll see they’ve spent a lot of time positioning themselves as experts in frugal living, with blog posts and downloadable plans, some of which are available to purchase.

But you don’t need to spend money to benefit from the money-saving tips they’ve shared in over 500 videos on YouTube. Hope and Larry are unashamedly frugal, which is refreshing and encourages you to be braver in your financial choices, particularly in the face of pressures not to look “cheap”.

I have implemented a number of their tips into my own life and they actively engage their YouTube community, by asking them to share their own frugal living tips, which gives a nice representation of different points of view.

What are your favourite YouTube channels?

Do you enjoy community-focused, slow living content? How do you feel about religious holidays being commercialised? Let me know on LinkedIn, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Let’s connect!

If you think Steph Martin Creative (that’s me!) can help your business, charity or community-focused organisation with their communications, please drop an email to hello@stephmartincreative.com.

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