Charlie Louise, 27, has always been frugal and is on a mission to save as much money as she can so that she can retire by the time she reaches age 40. She’s so far saved £77,000
Lucy Marshall Lifestyle Reporter
15:56, 16 Oct 2025
A frugal woman has opened up about how she has managed to save £77,000 (stock image)(Image: JGI/Jamie Grill via Getty Images)
The moment your wages hit your account, it can feel as though your cash rapidly disappears on costly bills, household essentials, food, and any social activities, as living expenses are higher than they’ve been for quite some time. Yet, one resourceful woman has revealed how she’s managed to accumulate £77,000 whilst owning three properties on a £42,000 wage.
Charlie Louise, who claims she’s always been thrifty, is determined to save as much cash as possible so she can retire before turning 40. The 27-year-old has challenged herself to put aside £27 daily, amounting to £10,000 annually.
“When I hit a new £1,000 I think how can I make my next £1,000 faster,” she revealed in a recent TikTok clip.
Charlie abandoned her three-bedroom property in a desirable location, which she cherished, for an affordable renovation project. She now owns three properties, purchased by the age of 25, and generates additional income by letting them out.
Charlie said: “People often say ‘you’re on a 42,000 salary and that’s the house that you’ve got’. The way I see it is that I could have one big house rather than three little houses, but that one big house wouldn’t be really making me any money because I’d be living in it.”
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Charlie, who insists she’ll never purchase flashier items to show off, has outlined how she succeeds in saving such substantial amounts without straying from her financial objectives.
During September, she received £2599 from her full-time employment and £1,050 from rental property earnings. She raked in £10,000 in one month from her various side hustles.
Her earnings included £550 from a brand partnership, £690 from digital products, £170 for market research, plus £476 from TikTok Creator Rewards Programme, £68.07 from mystery shopping, £52.57 from TikTok shop, and £25 from website testing.
Beyond this, she discovers simple methods to slash her spending.
1. Steering clear of restaurants and takeaways
Charlie says dining out is uncommon for her. She maintains that restaurant meals should be reserved solely for special occasions and social gatherings.
She explained: “Takeaways are a very rare occasion! Max three times a year and not just because it’s the weekend.”
Moreover, when she does dine out, she’s likely to opt for budget-friendly choices or hunt for excellent deals.
2. Investing
Charlie also champions putting her savings into a stocks and shares ISA to boost her wealth. She’s currently 25% of the way towards reaching her £100,000 target.
3. Making the most of after-work hours
Charlie maintains that using your time effectively is crucial if you want to generate additional income, invest or create strategies to reduce expenses.
The financially-savvy woman dedicates her free time away from her full-time position to activities such as mystery shopping, market research and product testing. Whilst this can be labour-intensive, it can create a substantial impact.
She explained: “My 20s are for making my money so that I have more freedom in my 30s and can barista style retire by 40.”
4. Living beneath her means
Charlie revealed that she allocates herself £200 a month for non-essentials.
She also avoids buying anything on finance and only utilises her credit card for rewards, “not because I can’t buy something outright”, she clarified.
The frugal spender is strict with her budgeting plans and refuses to exceed them just to appease others. “I say no to going out with friends if it would take me over my £200 monthly fun budget,” she stated.
“Living below my means is not just saving money but making more money,” she further added.
5. Budgeting
Every month, Charlie meticulously plans out her budget. “I allocate amounts to my sinking funds, I buy gifts and cards for everything where I can earn cashback to overpay my mortgage.”
She also advocates a strategy known as the ostrich effect. She elaborated: “People tend to avoid budgeting because they know they have overspent. I don’t bury my head in the sand regardless of whether it’s good or bad because ignoring a problem will most likely compound and worsen the problem.”