Let me tell you about something wild I just discovered on TikTok. There’s this guy, Bradley (@braddie.bad), who’s either the most frugal person alive or completely insane – I’m still trying to figure out which.
Picture this: He makes $10,000 a month, lives in a studio apartment, and uses napkins as toilet paper. Yes, you read that right. While most people making that kind of money are living it up, this guy is cutting sponges in half and hoarding hotel soap like we’re heading into an apocalypse.
Here’s what’s actually blowing my mind: His monthly expenses are just $1,400. FOURTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS. In 2024. How is this even possible?
Let’s Break Down This Madness
His Monthly Budget:
- Rent: $750 (Craigslist studio apartment)
- Food: $182 (All home-cooked meals)
- Entertainment: $93 (Including a NYC trip!)
- Internet: $78 (Which he thinks is “too expensive”)
- Gas: $76
- Car Insurance: $71
- Electric: $52
- Haircut: $27
- Gym: $10 (Because fancy gyms are “a waste”)
But here’s where it gets really interesting (or concerning, depending on how you look at it)…
The Weird Ways He Saves Money
I can’t make this stuff up. He:
- Uses the same plate for 13 YEARS
- Keeps towels until they’re practically disintegrating (5+ years)
- Irons clothes on his bed (fire hazard, anyone?)
- Unplugs EVERYTHING when leaving home
- Turns paper bags into trash bags
- Cuts new sponges in half
Is This Genius or Pure Madness? (My Honest Thoughts)
Okay, let’s be real for a second. While everyone’s out here doing “what I spend in a day” videos dropping $15 on smoothie bowls, Bradley’s saving $57,000 a year using napkins as toilet paper. I have… thoughts.
The Respect-Worthy Parts:
- Saving 85% of his income is actually insane
- $182 monthly food budget is impressive
- Having fun in NYC for under $100? Teach me
- That $750 rent in 2024 is a straight-up miracle
The “Are You Okay?” Parts:
- Napkins as toilet paper (your butt deserves better)
- 13 years with the same plate (plates cost like $5)
- Collecting coworkers’ paper bags (there’s a line between frugal and weird)
- That 5-year-old towel situation (bacteria has entered the chat)
The Numbers That Actually Matter
Let’s zoom out for a second:
Monthly Income: $10,000 Total Expenses: $1,400 Monthly Savings: $8,600 Yearly Savings: $57,200
That’s more than most people make in a year. Just in savings. While using half a sponge.
Where I Think He’s Got It Right (And Wrong)
The Smart Stuff:
- Living well below his means
- Cooking at home
- Finding cheap rent
- Avoiding lifestyle inflation
The Maybe-Too-Far Stuff:
- Basic hygiene shouldn’t be a cost-cutting area
- Some things are worth replacing (looking at you, 13-year-old plate)
- Unplugging everything probably saves like $3/month
- Time spent collecting paper bags could be spent making more money
The Bigger Picture Here
Here’s what fascinates me about Bradley: He’s proving something important. You can build serious wealth without a huge salary – but at what cost? While most influencers show you how to spend money, he’s showing you how to save it… maybe a little too well.
My Final Thoughts
Look, there’s being smart with money, and then there’s whatever Bradley’s doing. It’s like he’s playing life on extreme frugal mode when he doesn’t have to.
Could I live like this? Hell no.
Do I respect the savings? Absolutely.
Would I use napkins as toilet paper? Not if I was making $10K a month.
The Takeaway:
- Being frugal is smart
- Being extreme about it is optional
- Maybe find a middle ground between $15 smoothie bowls and napkin toilet paper
- Focus on the big savings (housing, food) rather than cutting sponges in half
Remember: The goal of making money isn’t to live like you’re broke. It’s to have options.
@baddie.brad Make money but spend like you don’t
♬ Spark – Asti Fajriani
@baddie.brad Replying to @Sanjay
♬ Nice and Easy – Louis Adrien