“Cutting Out Amazon Prime”: 34 Folks Reveal Frugal Hacks They Plan to Implement In 2025

Libraries are AWESOME

Glen Ellyn

Glen Ellyn

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Except for my drivers license, my library card is the most valuable thing in my wallet. I love my library!

That surely counts as a gift. A gift doesn't have to be wrapable to be a gift.

I like that. I want to learn the hip hop stuff. Not sure my ankles or hips can hold up

Oh I have plenty of half dead plants, though they were 100% alive when I bought them

Ah yes that big hobby of selling purses.

Yet no photos of the plants, which is the hobby.

How is this considered a hobby?

I'm not sure how letting your hair turn grey is a hobby. Does that mean I am a pro at losing my hair?

No hair on top, but what I do have is grey----I just feel great about myself! (LOL)

Not a hobby but a good decision. I stopped the color during COVID. I still splurge for a good haircut.

I spent over a year growing out my colored hair. I kept having streaks added, so I wouldn't have a visible color line. Guess what? Nobody liked my gray hair. Nobody. So after all that, I started coloring it again. I have to admit, it does look more like "me".

Overachiever - okay I'm joking I just like saying that

Stop buying stuff on Amazon! As a rural dweller in a state with only one Target, this is hard for me, too. But I did it and so can you! Bezos is kissing the ring. Don't support oligarchs who' support Orange Foolius!

Not everyone can do this, but in the last 5 years I've gotten rid of credit cards and paid off all my debt. Any money I spend comes directly from my checking account via my bank/debit card. (Which is a Visa and works everywhere a credit card does) I made a mess of my finances when I was younger so I'm very proud of how far I've come. This way I never spend more money than I actually have. (I do have an emergency credit card with a low limit but it really never gets used)

I'm really bad with my money so what has helped me, and I know this isn't really that novel, but is I have a spreadsheet of all my recurring expenses every week, my income for that week, and the tracking all of my expenditures. Because I want to save it's helping me to cut down on buying things that I just want instead of need. Seeing every little purchase, even $0.50 ones, has helped me to make sure I stay more in budget and to see how much I actually spend. It makes it all real for me rather than ephemeral.

This! I decided to quit smoking in 2025 and try at least a dry January. I don't know who has been praying for me or what energy has shifted, but come January 1st, I all of a sudden had no craving for a cigarette or my daily wine after work. I don't even think about them anymore. For reference, I've smoked consistently for the past 9 or so years and hadn't gone more than 2 days without drinking. I've tried quitting both multiple times but always failed. I hope this energy and magic continues. I feel so damn good!

Even better if it can be shoved in the freezer

Part of when I'm shopping is how much does it cost and how many meals can I get out of it. I have a separate fridge and freezer from my roommates which happen to be my brother, his daughter and her husband. They all share food, which makes sense for me to stay separate since they eat things that I can't. I would buy something I could eat and instead using the food that they have, they would eat my stuff leaving me with nothing. I make most of my snack stuff, although I do occasionally splurge, if I'm having a really good month and it has to last me awhile. But I've learned to cook some things and freeze the rest. There are a lot of seriously f****d up things with my current living situation, but I'm making the most of it since I'm pretty much stuck and don't have any other options.

Good idea. But the meal in question, umm, blehhhh.

That's pretty smart.

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60 dollars in a year? Wow. That dude further up the page could almost buy his groceries for a week.

Sorry for your losses.

These sound like great ideas. And it's really proac

The Merlin bird ID app will suggest bird species based on song/sound, in real time. Audubon app has a tool to ID a bird you saw by features. Use the ebird app to keep track of the birds you see, mae checklists on each walk and it collects he data over time into a life list. As a bonus, ebird data is used by scientists and conservationists.

Same boat.

Good for you. Except for the less drinking part, but whatever works for you of course.

Nice especially when groceries are probably going to go up more.

This is not a hobby

Worked for me. Retired now and doing well.

Crocheting a blankie for my friend even as we speak. Wool from charity shops.

I went back to sewing just before Christmas, after a long break. Using a UK website called Pound Fabrics I have been able to make hoodies for everyone in the family for around £20 each. So pleased with myself.

My issue is that I have to keep making, hence eating, the bread or the starter goes bad :(

Looks good.

I use the ebird app to make bird checklists. You can make lists by trip, and the data is used to track bird species worldwide. You also get a life list, which you can sort by month, year, or area.

And what is this attractive species in the photo?

My husband and I made an agreement on the first aspect. We will go into our garage once a week and pick something out of our pile of stuff. We either use it in the house or take it to donate (or throw out if broken/unusable).

If you buy too much veggies, you can cut almost all of them up and freeze them. I'm almost down to zero food waste. Tipp: you can also freeze fresh herbs and use them during winter time.

What's CSA?

Dang zucchini - get some veggie saving bags. Definitely helps

It's easier to budget when you're using cash. You can physically see how much you have and when it's gone it's gone. It's all too easy for spending to get out of control when you're tapping your card several times a day.