This Online Group Encourages People To Live Frugally, And Here Are 50 Of Their Best Money-Saving Hacks (New Pics)
We arguably live in a throwaway culture in the West: instead of fixing or upscaling things, we tend to buy new products. And many of us spend money on frivolous things, left, right, and center. That new phone that just came out? That cutting-edge fashion statement of a coat? We’ve got to have them. Here and now. However, there is a different way to live.
The r/Frugal subreddit is here to save the day (and your wallet). A community of over 2 million dedicated members, it’s a platform for people to share advice on how to live a frugal lifestyle. And it’s been active ever since 2008. We’ve collected some of their best recent thrifty hacks below.
When you’re done enjoying this list and upvoting all of your favorite pics, make sure to drop by the comment section to share any frugal living tips that you might have, dear Pandas. And if you’re in the mood for some more r/Frugal goodness, be sure to check out Bored Panda’s previous article about the online community right over here.
Bored Panda was interested in learning more about frugal living and how to save money, so we reached out to financial expert Sam Dogen to get his take on things. Sam is the author of ‘Buy This, Not That: How to Spend Your Way to Wealth and Freedom’ and the founder of Financial Samurai. He told us that the number one thing that we should be doing is saving more money. Or, as he calls it, paying ourselves first.
"We need to always pay ourselves first by automatically contributing to our tax-advantaged retirement accounts and setting aside a recommended 20% or more of after-tax earnings to save and invest. The more you can make your savings and investing automatic, the better. People are surprisingly good at living on less," he said. You'll find our full interview with Sam below, dear Pandas.
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Wanted New Fabric, Wouldn't Get New Fabric Until I Used My Old Stuff. Wanted A Rug, Didn't Want To Pay For A Rug. Two Birds, One Stone! Work In Progress. Made From New Batting (Less Than $20) And Scrap Fabric (Some 20+ Years Old). Not The Prettiest Thing I've Made, But I Like It
Hi-Vis Jackets For Dogs Are Between $40 And $80 Nzd - I Brought A Second Hand Child’s Hi-Vis Jacket For $1 And It Fits Perfectly! Frugal Win!
I Refuse To Pay The Silly Prices For A Stuffed Toy, My Son Wanted A Few Characters To Match The (British) Children’s TV Shows. So I Made Them From Felt Instead
According to author and financial expert Sam, people easily overspend on food and entertainment the most. Many of them aren't aware of how much they're actually spending.
"I was talking to one woman who thought she should only be spending $4,000 a month on food and entertainment. Yet, she always gets a credit card bill for $10,000 a month instead. She had no idea where all the money was going. When she finally did a detailed analysis, she realized she consistently overspent on food, drinks, and all sorts of automatic streaming subscriptions such as Netflix, Disney+, and more," he gave a specific example about the importance of taking a close look at one's finances.
Rosemary Went Crazy In The Garden - So I’m Using Sprigs To Freshen The Bathroom - The Steam From The Shower Accentuates The Smell Keeping The Bathroom Smelling Fresh
When you said "Rosemary went crazy in the garden", my first thought was that Rosemary sounds like a really fun person!
Crochet Swiffer Mops. Wet Refills Add Up With 2 Dogs. No More! Made 2 For $3/Ea And They Work Way Better Than The Refills
I Am Too Cheap To Buy Cuff Links And I Work In A Machine Shop
Sam personally believes that we don't live in a throwaway culture. "Overall, we are becoming more conscientious of how we spend our money and recycle products. From buying secondhand cars, to getting hand-me-down children’s clothes, to buying used luxury items on the Internet, we are making our money go farther. But I do believe there will be more revenge spending going on this year and next year as we move on from the pandemic."
According to the expert, the biggest benefit of living frugally is saving yourself time, which is your greatest resource (alongside energy). "The less you need, the less you have to work. And the less you have to work, the more time you save to do whatever you want," he said.
"As a frugal person, there is also a mental decluttering. The fewer things you have, the more free feel. Attachment is one of the reasons for suffering. To be able to let go is a wonderful feeling and ability."
I Drive Through A Nice Neighborhood On My Way To The Grocery Store. Found This Dyson Dc40 With A Free Sign With Other Household Items In The Yard. Brought It Home And The Suction Was Horrible. Watched A Single Youtube Video To Remove The Clogs - Needs A Good Clean But It Works Perfectly
Same here. I have a beautiful oak coffee table and end table that I found out on the curb driving thru a very nice neighborhood. I honestly thought maybe the residents had set them out when they were getting their carpet cleaned or something. Not the case. Items were on the curb, it was a Sunday and we had rain coming in. Items were so heavy I called my friend to have her son come to the address, then lift and put them in his van for transport. Yes, I gave him money for his help. There is a very tiny bit of paint on the coffee table. A spot, to be exact. Not sure why the previous owners abandoned them but I am very grateful.
Get A Library Card...
Instead of buying books, you borrow them, same with movies,etc. Some libraries even have limited streaming services. For movies, and most have a good selection of audibles. My son, ( an adult) accidentally asked for edibles at the counter instead of asking where the audible books on cd were, that was a giggle.
Vet Didn't Give Us Cones When They Got Neutered/Spayed So We Improvised! (We Made Sure They Could Breath And Eat Just Fine)
They don't look happy. But then, they probably wouldn't look happy with cones either.
For the r/Frugal crowd, frugality is a mental approach that people take when they think about resource allocation. “It includes time, money, convenience, and many other factors.” It’s all about wasting less and gaining more.
What’s more, the subreddit stresses that everyone has a slightly different understanding of what frugality and frugal living entails. So it’s best to enjoy the content and discuss things peacefully. Fights over semantics, on the other hand, aren’t very welcome. In short, the community is open to everyone and frowns on gatekeeping.
Don't Forget About The Abandoned Paint Can Section Of Lowe's & Home Depot. Scored A Gallon Of This Color For Only $9!! You Can't Even Get A Sample For That Price. (Sorry, No Before Picture. We Were Too Excited To Wait)
When Your Bar Soap Gets Wafer Thin, You Can Still Use It Up All The Way Be Pressing It Onto The Next Bar When It's Sudsy And Let It Dry
Since We're Doing Greenhouses, I Built This At The Beginning Of Lockdown With Reclaimed Pvc, Wood, And Polyethylene Film For Greenhouses. It Held Up To 2' Of Snow On Top Over Last Winter As Well As A Handful Of Strong Wind Storms. No Plans, Just Boredom!
Earlier, Jake Butler from the ‘Save the Student’ team that advises British students on how to make their money go further, told Bored Panda about one way to save money. He took a look at food costs and how to reduce them, with regard to saying ‘no’ to fast-food and takeaways while learning to cook at home.
My Fiancé Wanted To Flatten Her Pockets With An Iron But Realized We Didn’t Have One. Showed Her You Can Get By Using A Pot Of Boiling Water And A Spray Bottle. I Guess Growing Up Poor Can Come In Handy
Downstairs Mini Fridge Stopped Working. Wife Said To Just Toss It And Get A New One. Watched A Couple Videos On How To Diagnose/Fix Refrigerator Issues. A $9 Replacement Overload Relay Later And It Works Again
I've done a lot of this, and yes, the internet is an amazing resource. Most things really aren't that hard - once you've found out how to do it.
I Run A Small Coffee Cart; Just Discovered You Can Use Old Cartons As Coffee Trays!
Jake pointed out that you can save quite a lot of money if you choose to eat out less. However, this doesn’t mean having to wave ‘goodbye’ to your favorite meals. You can learn to cook them at home, whether with the help of a recipe book, advice on the internet, or video tutorials. The added bonus is that when you cook for yourself, you’re in total control of what goes into the meal. Nutritional control, here we come.
Garden Cart I Made For My Wife. Nearly All Reused, Upcycled Or Free Materials
My wife would love one of these and have me wheel her round all day, while she sips a strawberry daiquiri. ;o)
Finally, A Pinterest Project That Worked Well And For Not Too Much $$
Instead Of Buying A Home In Toronto We Helped Renovate My 91 Year Old Grandmothers Basement Into A Fully Self Contained 2 Bedroom Apartment. We’re Still In The City But Only Paying $700/ Month. Here’s The Master With Hand Me Down Solid Wood Furniture
“The good news is that you can easily recreate your favorites at home for a fraction of the price. It's much healthier this way too. Google is definitely your friend here as you can find fakeaway recipes from a number of sites,” he told Bored Panda.
My Sister-In-Law's Christmas Tree
I Refuse To My Buy My Baby Girl A "Feminine" Blanket When I Have A Perfectly Good One Leftover From My Son
Fall Tip - Lots Of People With Apple Trees Don't Harvest; Never Hurts To Ask!
“During the lockdown, McDonald’s even released instructions on how to make their famous breakfast egg McMuffin at home,” Jake said that some companies were very friendly in how they treated their customers, empowering them to cook at home.
Instead Of Buying New Skates I Got These Thrifting For 15$. Soaked Them In The Sink With Gentle Laundry Cleaner And Then Got A Permanent Fabric Marker From An Art Store. I Still Need To Get Laces For It Though
I Restored My Own Headlights Today And Am Pretty Proud Of The Result. Saved Over $100 Compared To Taking It To A Shop
This Cardboard Box Is Now His Favourite Spot (Super Old Towel Included)
“The good news is that the ingredients for most of these recipes aren't too pricey and you can still hunt for bargains to make the dish cheaper. Buying in bulk is always a winner too when it comes to saving money so it's a great idea to get together with friends and maybe take it in turns to make your favorite fakeaways,” he said.
Prepping The Garden For Winter. We Pile Mulched Leaves, Add Mesh Or Whatever So The Leaves Don't Blow Off. Then Before The Snow Comes, We Cover With A Black Tarp. The Beds Warm Up Faster In The Spring And The Leaves Compost Down To Make Amazing Rich Soil For Planting
Obvious But Not Obvious
Zero Cost Urban Garden Project In Northern Canada. Harvesting Daily And Planting Quick Producing Cold Weather Crops Like Radishes, Spinach, Lettuce And Chard
I love it. This has been the way since the beginning of civilization and is the way of the future. Everyone who can should do this.
The secret to good-tasting food, Jake told us, lies in the seasoning. “Salt and pepper won't break the bank, but they can make or break a meal. Don't forget that sugar can take a dish to the next level too.
Didn't Had Bread But Didn't Want To Run To The Store Only For That (We Know It's Never Only For Just One Thing). I Had To Use The Oven Anyway, So... Here Is The Best Looking Bread I've Made In My Life
My Tried-And-True, Almost Foolproof Method For Growing Endless Green Onions
Made A DIY Cardboard House For My Bunnies. I Had My Eye On A $70 One On Etsy But This Works Just The Same. Besides Bunnies Don’t Care About Aesthetics
Repurposing A Damaged Frying Pan, With A Bit Of Paint It's Now A Cool Decorative Bowl
Found $128 Free People Sweater With Dark Stain For $15! I Covered It Up With Dip Dye, New Favorite Sweater!
Genuine question, how do you lock the dye? I'm concerned with running.
Built My Own Sidewalk With Glacial Sand Dug Up From The Side Yard And Leftover Base Rocks Used During Home Construction
I Finally Understand Why People Buy Large Cuts Of Meat When It Goes On Sale. Quit Job For School, Trying To Be More Frugal, And We Got 2 Large Top Roasts For Buy-One-Get-One-Free And Processed It/Cut It Up At Home Ourselves. Now We Have Meals For Days
If You Live In An Apartment Complex Just Check The Dumpster Once In A While. Found A Working V6 Dyson And Just Had To Clear The Roller To Fix. People Throw Away Just About Anything
Someone Left This Fully Functioning 32” Lg TV Out By The Dumpster. Luckily I Snagged It Before The Rain Moved In
Does Anyone Else Love Making Frankenstein Meals? Cleaning Out The Fridge And Pantry And Using Up All The Odds And Ends Forces Me To Be Creative And Usually Results In Something Delicious And Unique
My Favorite Wool Socks Still Had Perfect Tops But Thinned Out On The Bottom, So I Patched Them Up
You can also unravel the lower part and reknit it with a different leftover wool.
Fix For Broken Lid - Drilled A Hole In A Golf Ball And Screwed It On To My Crock Pot. No Need To Dig Up A New Lid. Golf Ball Cost: $0. Screw & Washer: Found In My Tool Box, So $0. Took Me About 10 Mins. New Pot Lid: $30 Or So, Or Replace Entire Crockpot, So Yay!
Cut My Full-Size Sponge Into 3rds For Doing Dishes
I Reuse Ziploc Bags Because They Are Expensive Af
Yarn And Push Pins
Decided To Refurbish My Old Headphones Instead Of Upgrading. $8 For A Pair Of Generic Pads And They Feel Like New!
This is handy as my headphone need new pads. I'm glad I don't have to replace the whole unit!
If Anyone Lives In Central Indiana, Brownsburg Goodwill Has A Bunch Of New Wedding Dresses For $19. Rumor Is A Wedding Dress Store Closed And Donated Remaining Stock
Or wear anything else. Wedding clothes are too overpriced (not this ones obviously). My best friend bought a nice normal dress for 50 euros and used it for her wedding. I will marry this year and I am just going to wear a simple suit and a blouse. Probably the same ones that i used for her wedding.
Boyfriend And I Were Looking To Buy An Elliptical Which Can Be Hundreds To Almost 1,000 Dollars. Decided To Check Craigslist And Found This For Free! Works Great And Saved Us So Much Money
Family & Friends Went “Gleaning” At A Local Farm. $40 For A Totally Frugal 3hour Family Outing And All The Food!
Sneakers Repaired, Thank You Mom!
When sneakers get to that shape, the sole may be worn out to a point that can not be safe for your spine, and it might be worth it to get a new pair!
Reusing Jars For Individual Cold Brew Teas And Loving It!
I want to re-use ALL the glass in which I buy stuff. It seems crazy to make glass, then at best melt it to make new stuff. And even that's uncertain; a lot of it just goes to the landfill. I want a grocery store that puts everything possible into mason jars, which they take back on your next trip.
Well... I Had This "Disposable" Pepper Mill For About 14 Years And It Finally Bit The Dust. Just Refilled It Over The Years With Bulk Peppercorns. So Long Friend!
I had to order online to find peppercorns that did NOT have a grinder on top. Which is stupidly wasteful, but making the top virtually unremovable ensures that those who don't already have a pepper mill will buy the throwaway kind over and over.
I Wonder How Long This Took To Make
Instead Of Buying The Expensive One Time Use Swiffer Cloths, I Just Use A Reusable Towel And Cleaner In A Bottle
Hemmed Curtains And Used Leftover Fabric To Make Accent Pillows For The Couch. Very Happy With How It Came Out
I Wanted To Hide My Laptop Vertically Behind My Monitors. It's Not Pretty, But 30 Minutes And Some Scrap Plywood Saved Me $50 And Some Desk Space
I Had A Lovely Vintage Dress Which Ripped In The Back And Didn't Want To Throw It Away, So My Grandmother Kindly Made It Into A Top And I Love It!
I Was Looking For Something To Hold A Tealight. Yogurt Was Good, Too
I Can Confirm That Oui Yogurt Jars Are A Great Size For Starting Succulents And Cuttings
Dad Doesn’t Toss His Hoodies When The Zippers Break. Buttons Made From A Broken Broom Handle And Loops From P-Cord. This Is An Upgrade From When He Used To Just Apply A Strip Of Duck Tape
I Put A Timer On My Scent Dispenser
Save Clothes From The Trash With A $10 Fabric Shaver. Sweater Went From Fuzzy And Pilled To Like New In A Matter Of Minutes
Psa, Do Per Unit Comparison Instead Of "Value Pack" Promises
Always check price per kg. Pet food can be almost double on the bigger packs. Also confectionary.
3 Months Ago I Asked You All For Ideas To Inexpensively "Remodel" My Hideous Bathroom. Here's What I Did For Less Than $200!
The only issue I have with this is that now the tub is that kind of dirty looking shade of yellow.
Your Old Cell Phone Can Be A Capable & Old Fashioned Radio
I use my old one to watch youtub at hone, only that (maybe 3 hours a day). That way mi current celphone's battery lasts longer.
I Started Making My Own Specialty Iced Coffee At Home When I Realized My "Occasional" Habit Was Getting A Little Too Frequent
Instead Of Throwing Out Your Potato Peel, Fry It Up With Some Curry Powder, Mixed Herbs And Olive Oil
I Use The Plastic Lids Of Products As Paint Palettes. Acrylic Paints Peel Off, So I Use Them More Than Once
peeling acrylic paints... the satisfaction... !!! yes, i's strange and i love it :D
Everyone Needs To Know This! If You Work At The Local Farmers Market, You Will Get Tons Of Free Food
Ugly Used Office Chair? Reupholster With Heavy Weight Fabric To Give It New Life!
You can probably find odd cuts/scraps at the fabric store for real cheap. Mixed patterns for a funky look.
Protein Bar Recipe For Less Than $0.70/Bar Canadian
Food Doesn't Have To Be Fresh To Be Healthy - A Weird Lunch, I'll Admit, But Most Of This Was From Jars. I Always Keep Them In As It Can Pep Up A Meal And Is Low Waste And Nutritious. Tomatoes, Cucumbers, And Carrot Were Fresh, Everything Else Pickled, Frozen, Fermented, In Oil, In Brine, In Cans
This Sink Was $758 New, Plumber Wanted $650 To Replace The Old Sink. I Got The Sink Scratch And Dent For $125 And Did The Work My Self ($11 In Parts)
Before anyone says "what's wrong with the old sink," that is only the thinnest, cheapest, most tinny-sounding builders-grade sink. Premium ones feel so much more solid and are generally much deeper.
Finding A Ton Of Cheap And Perfectly Working E-Readers At Thrift Stores. Got This For $10!
Very Cheap Home Made Tree Ornament Ideas! Pinecones, Roasted Orange Slices At 150 For 3hrs, And Cinnamon Sticks
Fuzzy Baby Clothes Restoration Project!
Did You Know You Can Wash Swiffers?
Enjoying The Freebies Through Birthday Coupons & Apps
If you are wanting to do this, it's good to get a new email for junk.
All Made From Dollar Tree Items... DIY’ed... My Kids Like It
A Small Container Of Herb And Garlic Cream Cheese Was $5.49 At The Store The Other Day!!!! So I Bought The Regular Brick For $2.49 And Made My Own Herb And Garlic Cream Cheese! It's Really Good!
On Today’s Episode Of Yummy Things I Make With Help Of My Bread Machine, I Put My Skills Honed By Working At Domino’s For A Year To The Test By Making A Homemade 16” Pizza For Approximately $4.25 Rather Than Going Out To A Restaurant And Paying $14-20 For One! Sure Beats Frozen Pizza Too!
The crust looks very well made and of good quality. I'd eat it.
Polishing Your Shoes Is The Frugal Choice
Frugal Birthday Present! The Planter Was $5 And The Plant Was Propagated From One Of My Own!
Does Anybody Make Their Own Yoghurt? Takes 3 Minutes A Week And I Save Around €30 A Month, As Well As Saving Loads Of Plastic
Don’t Waste Plastic Saving Half Your Banana
We Love Our Roomba But The Replacement Bags For The Cleaning Station Add Up. The Wife Cut The Bottom Open And Uses Clips To Hold It Shut So We Can Reuse The Same Bag Multiple Times. Works Like A Charm!
Frugal Tip! Stock Up On Charcoal In The Fall! I Usually Wait For Lowes To Do A 2 For $10 In The Fall. I Hit The Jackpot This Past Weekend!
YES!!! I bought eight 20-pound bags of B&B at the end of the season last year for $6 each. That will last me for about half the upcoming grilling season. The savings is amazing.
Made Another Cake To Save Money, Love How It Turned Out!
What "Heavily Discounted Luxury Foods" Do You Buy?
A supermarket local to me switched chain affiliations, and put all the brands that weren't in common on clearance. It's how I ended up with truffle oil. It's good stuff. At $25 its a hard no, but at $4 it's a definite yes.
I Had Some Leftover Fabric Spray Paint And Decided To Freshen Up My Most Worn Hat
When The Sun Hits Your Laundry, Like You're Saving That Money, That's Amore!
Always Check The Clearance Aisle In Your Grocery Story. The Giant Bottle On The Left Isn’t Organic, But Had To Buy At $1.70. The Bottle On The Right Is $5.49
Turkeys Post-Thanksgiving
How can a once living creature be sold for five dollars? Where I live you can get so much cheap meat, it’s insanely immoral.
Bought All This For £4.95. Always Try To Hit The Reduced Section When They're Doing Final Reductions
Buy Kid Stuff For Your Pet And Pet Stuff For Your Kid
The Stealership Wanted $35 To Clean Excessive Corrosion Off My Car Battery And $55 To Replace The Corroded Positive Terminal. I Fixed The Problem For $1.99 In Pads And About 30 Labor From Wire Brushing. Didn’t Even Need To Replace The Terminal (Though I Had To Pry It Open With A Screwdriver)
My Partner Made (Quick + Charming!) Labels For My "What A Year" Hot Cocoa Mix To Send To Friends & Family...
My Idea Of Frugal Living Is Knitting Myself A Scarf For The Coming Fall/Winter. While Watching The Sunset
Not neceassarily frugal. Clothing is so dirt cheap due to exploitation, that you can easily spend more money on yarn for a scarf than on buying a new scarf.
Friendly Plastic Can Quickly And Easily Refurbish And Repair Many Broken Items
I Start A Remote Job Next Week, I Had A 20" Wide Desk, And Decided To Build A Desk Extension/Raise In Order To Have A Three Monitor Display. I Used Scrap Lumber But I Did Have To Get A New C-Clamp To Make It Work
Cheap Mason Jars, Sauce Included
Using Moving Blankets Over Windows To Help With Insulation
This works far better if you can get a tight fit to the window frame to prevent air circulation.
If You Have A Bakery Outlet Store Near You, You Can Pick Up The Same, Fresh Bread And Cakes That You Get At Your Local Store For Less Than Half The Price. I Picked Up All Of This Yesterday For Less Than $13 With More Than A Week Of Shelf Life On Everything
Bakery outlet stores are great for the budget...but not for a diet! I can get HUGE banana nut and blueberry muffins at the one I go to. Impossible to eat just one!
Setting Up My Frugal Seed Station!
Toilet roll or kitchen paper cardboard inners are great for seedlings. And you can just plant the seedlings in their jackets straight into the ground.
2nd Hand Isnt 2nd Rate. $150-200 Stainless Steel Frypan And Cover For $20 In Great Condition
Evidence Of Inflation
Used Binder Clips On Hangers For My Shorts And Skirts Instead Of Going To Buy New Hangers With Clips
$3 Dye = New Life For My Dingy Hand Towels
Hope that dye stays where it's supposed to. Towels need to be washed a lot, that's not a good thing for diy dye.
My Standing Desk
Our Mostly Free Halloween Porch Decorations, We Made Everything Except The Pumpkins
When They Start Charging 3$ A Unit For Dunkaroos
YES! When I was pregnant years ago I would dip my animal crackers in funfetti icing. The best fat kid snack ever!
A 2 Pack Of Cream Cheese Is More Expensive That 2 Single Bars. This Makes No Sense!
Frugal Shower Hack: Don't Have A "Low Flow" Showerhead, And Want To Conserve Water? No Problem. Add A $10 Ball Valve That Will Pay For Itself And More. You Can Even Stop The Shower To Use Soap/Shampoo And Turn It Right Back On Without Losing The Heat Setting.
Adhesive Remover For A Frugal Double Win! Removing The Labels From Empty Spice/ Cheese Shaker Bottles Saves You From Having To Buy New Shaker Bottles For Your Own Spice Mixes And Let’s You Buy The Cheap Bagged Spices Instead Of The Bottles!
Be careful how much you clean and reuse plastic containers. They do break down.. best to reuse glass containers and jars.
Took Detachable Long Strap From $1 Tiny Bag, Added To $15 Thrifted Leather Purse Missing Its Crossbody Strap = The Neutral Travel Bag I've Been Wanting
My Local Library Lists How Much I’ve Saved By Borrowing Instead Of Buying Each Item. $127.44 On What I’ll Read/Play In A Week
I Make My Own 'Interactive' Chews For My Dog With Separation Anxiety
Researching (Expensive!) Air Purifiers For A Foster Cat With Allergies. Watched A This Old House Yt Video And Had Everything On Hand Anyway So I’m Trying It Out. Definitely Not Attractive!
If anyone is curious to make it, you can find a diagram on NPR. I'm not an engineer, but the diagram I saw suggested pointing the fan up so air is pulled through the MERV 13 filters. Also a circle piece of cardboard over the fan to cover the corners will prevent back flow.
Meal Prep Breakfast For 1-2 Weeks. Organic Hardboiled Eggs (12 For 0.21¢ Each) Bulk Sausage 30 For 0.33¢ Each) And Gluten Free Biscuits From Some Flour I Had On Hand. All For Around $16. Yay, Frugality!
Saving Money While On Vacation!
This Breakfast Cost 35 Cents
Saved Myself From A Stupid $247 Dollar Mistake
Mechanics Wanted $1200 For Parts And Labor To Replace My Axels And Tie Rod. I Did It Myself In Two Days. Saved $873
Cat Tore Up My Couch, But I Was Able To Fix It For Free!
Um...is that Steve from "Blue's Clues" in the picture on the right?? (On the table.)
Friend Just Moved Out Of Home To Begin Med School And Is Utilising Cardboard Boxes To Save On Shoe Racks And Other Furniture
That’s all well and good, and somewhat creative! I would, however, recommend buffing it up a bit, as over time, the cardboard will lose strength, and will soften in humidity…
It’s Now The Dollar+ Tree
$5 End Table. Repainted And Repurposed
As a woodworker I find this to be sad. Wood is beautiful and that table looked better before the paint job.
Finally Broke Down And Got The Expensive Rice Cooker
Good, quality tools and appliances will actually save you money in the long run. Well done!
I Found Dupes Of Starbucks’s Banana Nut Loaf And Iced Lemon Loaf At Walmart For $1 Instead Of Over $3 And Less Calories Too! They Taste Identical.. Not A Massive $ Savings But A Big % Savings. These Little Things Add Up!
If You Need A Cheap Meat Free Protein Source, Try Getting Soy Chunks From A Bulk Food Store. At My Local Shop It Only Costs 40 Cents Per 100 Grams It's 50 Percent Protein And Doubles In Size When Cooked
My Frugal Wife Isn't Even Pregnant, But She's Not About To Turn Down Hand-Me-Downs From Her Sister
This feels as though it could turn into a hoarding situation very quickly
Just Bought A House! 24m & 24f ~ These Are Our Base Bills • All Other Money Goes Towards Savings & Unexpected Expenses
Wedding (Including Proposal, Ceremony, Reception, And Honeymoon) At $10k. Inspiration From Posts On This Sub. Hoping We Can Do The Same For Someone Else By Sharing This
10K is a LOT! My wife and I spent $20 for a marriage license, another $36 round trip on Metro North to Connecticut, with our children (it wasn’t legal in 2009 for us to get married in NY then), and $150 for the Justice of the Peace. So, under $200. Again, $10,000 is mega privilege, and NOT frugal by ANY stretch of the imagination! 🤦🏽♀️
if you click on the image source you go to the original post on reddit, normally you have instructions and people debate improvements to them there
Load More Replies...Ok guys, here is an ACTUAL money saving tip that can be used on a regular basis: THE. WALMART. APP. I have saved TONS of money doing this! When you are in the store, open the app. There is a little barcode icon in the upper right corner. As you walk through the store, scan barcodes for everything that catches your interest and it will show the actual price of that item right now. There is ALWAYS unmarked clearance items, all over the store. Even if something is marked as clearance already, scan it too, because there’s a chance that it has been discounted further, but hasn’t been stickered yet. I have 3 kids, and I am always able to find $1 deals for clothes, shoes, backpacks, toys, you name it. Just yesterday, I bought two pairs of thick rubber rain boots for myself and my husband. Normally $18, they were $1 each but not marked as clearance🤗 EDIT: even if a tag shows something at full price, it will ring up as the price shown to you in the app. No need to get an associate to do price adjustments or anything.
I find the gaps in camera coverage. It saved me a bunch and now I can save money on living expenses for the next 6 months. Just kidding
Load More Replies...Since when has spreadsheets showing how much you spent on things turned into a hack? Seriously, that's just any outline and varies drastically depending on cost of living where you're at.
I think the spreadsheet itself is supposed to be the hack because it helps you see each cost in one spot without having to hunt for the receipts.
Load More Replies...SO many of these “Tips” are common sense, or come from a place of privilege. Come on, BP, do better.
Thank you! I already feared I was the only one shaking my head at such brilliant "hacks" as mending your clothes, reusing glass containers or cooking and baking your own food instead of buying takeaway all the time. I already started to wonder if I was left over from a different century...
Load More Replies...DIY in general saves money. For example, learn to cut out drywall and how to replace it, spackle and then paint. You will save a fortune. Most cosmetic fixes homeowners can do themselves. If you are particularly handy constructing your own shelving for seriously overpriced closet construction will also save a bundle. It's really not that hard after good planning and a YouTube tutorial.
One idea started by a friend is a WhatsApp and Telegram group of Freecycling. He invited those who knew in the group. Instead of wasting money shopping something, we give away. If i have something, from books to shoes to clothes to furniture and so on and don't need it, i offer it and someone who wants it and does not mind second hand asks and collects it. If someone wants something, he or she asks. If someone wants to give away, they do. Some times we ask for things to be lent. Many asked for mobiles, school stuff, etc for their maid or help's kids. It is a win win situation for all. We get rid of stuff and someone gets things. I got a lot of books, bags and so on
That is a brilliant idea! I got many household items second hand from somebody who no longer needs them and I always give things away I no longer need. More often than not it is not really necessary to buy everything yourself if you can share with neighbours, friends and family. Not every household needs a snowplough of their own if you can arrange to have the whole street ploughed with just one...
Load More Replies...I have been repurposing things for decades. I got wicker furniture when I turned 7 yrs old. I still have it and spray paint it for whatever I use it for. Currently it's being used in our bamboo patio my husband built. The headboard made the perfect backing for a bench w cushions as a couch
I make ghetto lemonade instead of buying drink mix. Recycle a pop plastic bottle and fill it almost to the top with water. When chilled in the fridge, pour in a little lemon juice concentrate. Add sugar to taste. Saves 90% of the cost of drink mix, every little bit helps.
I didn't realize that was considered ghetto lemonade. I have always made lemonade this way.
Load More Replies...I recycled my old refrigerator to become a bulb chiller. It has lost enough freon that the freezer will not freeze. It only gets down to about 35 degF. I live on the Texas gulf coast. The darn global warming has resulted in very mild winters. There are not enough chill hours to set the blooms on tulips, daffodils, or any eastern woodlands type bulb plants. Next year I will try growing german bearded iris in pots or flats. They have to have everything chilled while remaining planted in dirt. They will not bloom at all if you dig them up like tulips. I will be the only one in the county that has german iris in bloom. The refrigerator does not take up too much room in the garage for a plant enthusiast like me. I have not seen any german bearded iris blooming around here for years. The plants grow leaves but never bloom. I am not growing them for the leaves.
I cannot recommend backyard hens enough if you have space for them and your family likes eggs. I got a small coop for free from a neighbor (and you can build one for less than $150) and 3 chicks plus 3 months of feed and a feeder and waterer came to less than $50. Eggs are about $4/dozen where I am and I get 12 in 4 days from my hens. I eat some and sell the rest for cheap to my neighbors. 1 50lb bag of feed (~$18) lasts me about 3 months in the summer because the chickens eat mostly plants and bugs and 1.5 months in the winter. Plus, they can be fed most leftovers, including meat, and they’re pretty cute and fun to have around. My family otherwise goes through upwards of a dozen eggs a week and the chickens more than pay for themselves in production.
Saved at least $500 by buying and replacing a $9 rocker switch on a three way light switch.
Some of these are clever, but most are too niche to be of use to anybody, or they're really obvious. Finding a random deal in a thrift store is not a life hack. Neither is sewing up a hole or doing a basic repair. Is line-drying your clothes really considered a hack, these days?
Lots of good ideas here, and yes, a lot of them are just basic sense things that a lot of people already know & use. But we need to keep sharing all the 'tips' so everyone can learn & grow. I was raised on a farm by parents who grew up during the Great Depression. It took 6 weeks of 3 day weekends to clear out their house of all the "perfectly good" glass jars, pieces of lumber, magazines, etc. But I still re-use, repurpose, & recycle everything I can. And I've taught my son to do the same.
if you click on the image source you go to the original post on reddit, normally you have instructions and people debate improvements to them there
Load More Replies...Ok guys, here is an ACTUAL money saving tip that can be used on a regular basis: THE. WALMART. APP. I have saved TONS of money doing this! When you are in the store, open the app. There is a little barcode icon in the upper right corner. As you walk through the store, scan barcodes for everything that catches your interest and it will show the actual price of that item right now. There is ALWAYS unmarked clearance items, all over the store. Even if something is marked as clearance already, scan it too, because there’s a chance that it has been discounted further, but hasn’t been stickered yet. I have 3 kids, and I am always able to find $1 deals for clothes, shoes, backpacks, toys, you name it. Just yesterday, I bought two pairs of thick rubber rain boots for myself and my husband. Normally $18, they were $1 each but not marked as clearance🤗 EDIT: even if a tag shows something at full price, it will ring up as the price shown to you in the app. No need to get an associate to do price adjustments or anything.
I find the gaps in camera coverage. It saved me a bunch and now I can save money on living expenses for the next 6 months. Just kidding
Load More Replies...Since when has spreadsheets showing how much you spent on things turned into a hack? Seriously, that's just any outline and varies drastically depending on cost of living where you're at.
I think the spreadsheet itself is supposed to be the hack because it helps you see each cost in one spot without having to hunt for the receipts.
Load More Replies...SO many of these “Tips” are common sense, or come from a place of privilege. Come on, BP, do better.
Thank you! I already feared I was the only one shaking my head at such brilliant "hacks" as mending your clothes, reusing glass containers or cooking and baking your own food instead of buying takeaway all the time. I already started to wonder if I was left over from a different century...
Load More Replies...DIY in general saves money. For example, learn to cut out drywall and how to replace it, spackle and then paint. You will save a fortune. Most cosmetic fixes homeowners can do themselves. If you are particularly handy constructing your own shelving for seriously overpriced closet construction will also save a bundle. It's really not that hard after good planning and a YouTube tutorial.
One idea started by a friend is a WhatsApp and Telegram group of Freecycling. He invited those who knew in the group. Instead of wasting money shopping something, we give away. If i have something, from books to shoes to clothes to furniture and so on and don't need it, i offer it and someone who wants it and does not mind second hand asks and collects it. If someone wants something, he or she asks. If someone wants to give away, they do. Some times we ask for things to be lent. Many asked for mobiles, school stuff, etc for their maid or help's kids. It is a win win situation for all. We get rid of stuff and someone gets things. I got a lot of books, bags and so on
That is a brilliant idea! I got many household items second hand from somebody who no longer needs them and I always give things away I no longer need. More often than not it is not really necessary to buy everything yourself if you can share with neighbours, friends and family. Not every household needs a snowplough of their own if you can arrange to have the whole street ploughed with just one...
Load More Replies...I have been repurposing things for decades. I got wicker furniture when I turned 7 yrs old. I still have it and spray paint it for whatever I use it for. Currently it's being used in our bamboo patio my husband built. The headboard made the perfect backing for a bench w cushions as a couch
I make ghetto lemonade instead of buying drink mix. Recycle a pop plastic bottle and fill it almost to the top with water. When chilled in the fridge, pour in a little lemon juice concentrate. Add sugar to taste. Saves 90% of the cost of drink mix, every little bit helps.
I didn't realize that was considered ghetto lemonade. I have always made lemonade this way.
Load More Replies...I recycled my old refrigerator to become a bulb chiller. It has lost enough freon that the freezer will not freeze. It only gets down to about 35 degF. I live on the Texas gulf coast. The darn global warming has resulted in very mild winters. There are not enough chill hours to set the blooms on tulips, daffodils, or any eastern woodlands type bulb plants. Next year I will try growing german bearded iris in pots or flats. They have to have everything chilled while remaining planted in dirt. They will not bloom at all if you dig them up like tulips. I will be the only one in the county that has german iris in bloom. The refrigerator does not take up too much room in the garage for a plant enthusiast like me. I have not seen any german bearded iris blooming around here for years. The plants grow leaves but never bloom. I am not growing them for the leaves.
I cannot recommend backyard hens enough if you have space for them and your family likes eggs. I got a small coop for free from a neighbor (and you can build one for less than $150) and 3 chicks plus 3 months of feed and a feeder and waterer came to less than $50. Eggs are about $4/dozen where I am and I get 12 in 4 days from my hens. I eat some and sell the rest for cheap to my neighbors. 1 50lb bag of feed (~$18) lasts me about 3 months in the summer because the chickens eat mostly plants and bugs and 1.5 months in the winter. Plus, they can be fed most leftovers, including meat, and they’re pretty cute and fun to have around. My family otherwise goes through upwards of a dozen eggs a week and the chickens more than pay for themselves in production.
Saved at least $500 by buying and replacing a $9 rocker switch on a three way light switch.
Some of these are clever, but most are too niche to be of use to anybody, or they're really obvious. Finding a random deal in a thrift store is not a life hack. Neither is sewing up a hole or doing a basic repair. Is line-drying your clothes really considered a hack, these days?
Lots of good ideas here, and yes, a lot of them are just basic sense things that a lot of people already know & use. But we need to keep sharing all the 'tips' so everyone can learn & grow. I was raised on a farm by parents who grew up during the Great Depression. It took 6 weeks of 3 day weekends to clear out their house of all the "perfectly good" glass jars, pieces of lumber, magazines, etc. But I still re-use, repurpose, & recycle everything I can. And I've taught my son to do the same.