Today is payday for our family of 4 in Changsha, central China. After paying the kids' school fees for the new semester, our balance is tight again. And last month we had the same situation due to early mortgage payments.
In this video, I try to explain how we're navigating economic uncertainty — keeping our jobs, saving every penny.
I'll take you through a typical month: the $10 grocery challenge at the supermarket, how we cook and stretch every dollar, and why we chose to pay off our mortgage early despite the financial pressure.
We save everything, but we never cut back on our kids' education.
We're just an ordinary working family trying to keep things steady in uncertain times. No fancy stuff, just real life.

📌 In this video:
0:00 - Payday & the reality of our budget
1:57 - What €1 get you for breakfast
3:02 - $10 grocery challenge at the local supermarket
6:45 - Total spent & where the money goes
8:00 - Kids' education costs
8:23 - Our mortgage story & why we paid early
10:21 - Work stress & the economy
11:22 - Cooking at home & Saving
15:37 - We are just trying our best to live

🏠 About us:
Hi, I'm Ken, a 39-year-old software engineer. I live in Changsha, China with my wife and two sons. This channel documents our everyday life as an ordinary family.

👍 If you enjoyed this video, please like & subscribe — it really helps!
💬 Let me know in the comments: how does your family budget compare?

#payday  #chinalife  #workingfamilies  #quietlife