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Lesser-Known Frugal Tips That Have The Biggest Impact, As Shared In This Online Thread
There is absolutely nothing wrong with being frugal. Who wouldn’t want to save a buck or two, especially in a world of over-the-top branding and marketing that racks up the actual price of something to a degree where you’re paying more for thin air than the actual product itself.
Now, if you want to indulge in all things frugal, look no further than Reddit, as it’s at it again with sharing advice on how to save money either by wasting less of what we already have or investing into something that requires less resources, but brings the same results. Or anything in-between that.
Image credits: Cucumberappleblizz
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
If you're thinking about or tempted to buy something, add it to your cart but don't checkout right away - come back to it a few days later after you've had some time and see if you still want it. Consider if it's something worth it for you, if you'll actually use it and get benefit from it, etc.
90% of the time I do this, I'll realize it was just an impulse and delete the item(s) from my cart.
Upstaged75 2 years ago
I have a massive Amazon list that I save things to. Every once in a while I go in to review it and delete the items I no longer want.
Bryn 2 years ago
Add the price in a comment, so you can see if it goes on sale.
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Paula Morrison 2 years ago
I've done this for many years. It's amazing how often I end up removing all items from my cart.
Stannous Flouride 2 years ago
My cart in the Biggest Loser's website has over $10,000 worth of stuff in it. A senseless, meaningless, gesture but I always smile when I add to it. (going there now)
brittany 2 years ago
most o the time its not stuff for me, its or my kids so my brain thinks that yes i can buy it right now bc my kids need/deserve this. if its for me i just look without buying bc for some reason i always think 'what if my kids need something and i cant get it bc i was selfish and bough this thing for myself'
Chris Landrum 2 years ago
on the other hand I have heard amazon sometimes will lower the price on something kept in your cart for awhile
Patricia Steward 2 years ago
I do something similar in the stores -- if I see something that interests me, I pass it by, and if I'm still thinking about it when I'm ready to leave, I double back. Most of the time I just sail right out of the store.
RELATED:
#2
I look at everything (unnecessary purchases) in terms of “how many hours do I have to work to buy this item?” Usually that makes me realize the purchase is not worth it!
VioletHunter 2 years ago
I'm not sure this works on really cheap items like fast fashion clothes.
arthbach 2 years ago
I use a similar measure of 'cost per wear'. In the same year, I bought a winter coat for £150, and a rain jacket, £15. The jacket was worn once, and then donated (I decided I didn't like the colour). The coat was worn 100 times a year for 5 years. The jacket cost me £15, the warm winter coat, 3p per wear. One was a much better deal than the other!
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Papa 2 years ago
I've been doing the same thing for years. Shortly after we married my wife was planning to buy something that she really didn't need, saying "I work hard. I deserve this." I told her to figure out how long she'd have to work to earn the money to buy it, and after doing that she decided she didn't want it after all. And before I get downvoted and called out for controlling my wife's spending, I don't. We're both adults, and don't ask the other one for permission for buying small things. For large purchases we discuss it, and and decide together, and both of our votes count the same.
Susan Betz 2 years ago
Also think about how long the item will last. Buy quality - you'll buy the item less often.
Tracy Wallick 2 years ago
This is the philosophy of the book 'Your Money or Your Life', it's *really* helped me curb my impulsive spending habit.
Barbara Kelly 2 years ago
That book helped me realize the cost of continuing to work, instead of taking a slightly early retirement. Considering the clothing, transport, accreditation fees, unpaid extracurricular obligations, etc. the book showed me that I was earning much less than I thought. Freedom 60 was the result.
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Mint Sauce 2 years ago
I also look at how much of the cost has actually gone into making the product. Too many expensive designer brands make products with poor quality materials and most of the cost is profit and marketing.
Isabella 2 years ago
I am not buying if not necessary, only if it is something which brings me a lot of joy. Joy is instant. If a have doubts about something, if I have to think if I need it or not, if I will wear it or not, I really like it, why I want to buy it etc, then the answers is clear: no.
Kaedyn Walsh 2 years ago (edited)
Doesn't work for me. I'll just be all "Well, it'll cost 13 hrs of work, but that's only a day and a half of work. I can make up for it next week when I get paid again." But usually I don't even care. We only live once and could die next minute. Why not buy silly things so we can enjoy ourselves? Payday comes again in a week (or w/e your payday is) and there will be another round of money to get thru that week. Even if I need to have zero money to my name the day before or day of payday, I can't regret buying "dumb" things. I earn my $13/hr and I'm not gonna just let it cover the same 4-5 things it covers weekly. I'm going to buy me some "you worked hard last week. Enjoy yourself for doing so. Buy the Thing." And I do.
Papa 2 years ago
If you're content to live paycheck to paycheck your whole life, then that's a fine plan. Otherwise, not so much.
Load More Replies... #3
Honestly, I always have my favourite processed foods I typically crave in my freezer. Chicken strips, French fries, pizza, etc. Cooking a frozen pizza satiates the craving for like $5 instead of $20 delivery. Frozen chicken strips hit the spot like wendys or McDonald's, and cost a fraction.
I used to not have these items at home because I wanted to "be healthier" but the truth is, I'd get cravings anyways and buy fast food for triple the cost.
I eventually saw a dietician say "add, don't restrict". So now I've added a green smoothie with 5 servings of veggies, and a healthy meal prepped lunch to my diet. I now eat chicken strips or pizza like once or twice a week each because I already get my healthy food in. A lot cheaper and I'm a lot happier!
BlackestDawn 2 years ago
This is the proper way to "diet" by looking at it over a longer time span (like weekly) rather than each day individually, or even each individual meal.
Kobe (she) 2 years ago
NOt sure if the 'add, don't restrict "really works. It might be partially true, unless you keep adding. "Since I already ate so much healthy food - I can now eat my pizza too ". Or: "I ate a pizza, now eat also the fruit for the vitamins ". The fact is, that you may end up doubling the calorie intake either way.
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In recent days, a thread popped up on r/Frugal, a subreddit dedicated to exercising the right kind of mental approach to how we consider our resources and their allocation. The subreddit has been around since 2008 (quite appropriately, during a severe financial crisis), is home to 3.6M members, and is ranked among the top 1% of subreddits on the platform.
#4
I switched to grocery delivery during the pandemic and even though there's a monthly/yearly fee, I've kept it because it cut my impulse purchases down to near zero and actually saves us money. Spending less and eating less junk.
BrownTabby 2 years ago (edited)
RIP Supie :( Our other supermarkets have online shopping too, but our other supermarkets take pleasure in wiping their asses with $100 notes while children go hungry because their parents can’t afford the extortionate prices. Edit: so you can’t say wílly on this site but you can say asses?!
Phoebe Bean 2 years ago
I always keep a shopping list when I go to the supermarket and usually am pretty good sticking to what I plan to buy. If there is a good price for a product I may need in the future, I switch one of my list for that one.
Sunshine Lady 2 years ago
Groceries are more expensive in our online supermarkets (about 20% more), so I would say it's not a good advice everywhere. I check the online leaflets and decide what to buy from which store.
Barbara Kelly 2 years ago
I consider the $15.00 deliver fee as saving me money in traveling to the store and picking out groceries. Bonus! in that the store is a local family owned one and not a large corporate one. Shopping the store's "specials" offsets the delivery charge.
GirlFriday 2 years ago
I do grocery pick up. I save $150 per month from not being the in the store and impulse buying. Kroger even lets you use paper coupons for pick up orders. I love it.
Libstak 2 years ago (edited)
My shopping list is whatever is in season in fruit and veg, followed by whatever is marked down in the deli and meats, then bread, milk, eggs, followed by best priced cheese. Then I check the can goods, freezer section and sauces, seasoning, rice, pasta for the best options to match what's in my trolley. I meal plan according to what's cheapest basically.
lawrence Andrew 2 years ago
Meal plan based on what is cheap. The delivery hack only works if you have more money than will power.
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Neill Powell 2 years ago
This has also worked for us. We have a flat monthly fee for any purchases over $20, the fee is only $6 a month. South Africa go figure. We order once or twice a week and we cut out the driving, the shopping, THE OTHER SHOPPERS WALKING AIMLESSLY AROUND, the queuing (always at the slowest till) the carry to the car, the parking fee and the drive back/putting away the car. It helps that we also live in extreme proximity to 3 large shopping centres and walk to an employer who also subsides the cost of relatively good office meals. Sometimes taking an office-meal home (with the right containers we bring), we often cannot justify making the food ourselves when calculating the time, electricity, cleanup and the chance of botching a meal.
#5
Fiscal fast once a month.
I'll fuel up my vehicle, get at least 10 days worth of groceries and the goal is to spend absolutely ZERO dollars for those 10 days. So for about 1/3 of the year I don't spend a penny.
Works for me!
Hakunamawhatnow 2 years ago
10 days isnt much. A fridge and a cabinet is sufficient.
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Barbara Kelly 2 years ago
A good goal is to "shop your supplies" and use up what you have, before doing a major grocery shop.
#6
When using EBay, put the item you’re interested in, to your “watchlist” instead of your cart. Lots of times the seller with offer you a discount to sell it quicker.
Tracy Wallick 2 years ago
Frequently works on Etsy if you add something to your Favorites and sit on it, many sellers will send you a coupon code.
Ginger Grumpybunny 2 years ago
Can be worthwhile if there are plenty of your chosen item in stock, but I wouldn't try this if it's the only one, or you could end up missing out and paying more later.
In the thread, Redditor u/Cucumberappleblizz asked folks to share their truly unique frugal tips—advice that they don’t think many people know about.
It didn’t take long for the conversation to generate 1,400 comments and another 1,400 upvotes, providing ample reason to be smarter with your resources by suggesting even ampler methods as to how to pull it off.
#7
Register for your local/state library’s online card. Check out audio and ebooks for free; sure there might be a waiting list, so choose another one while you wait. it’s saved me so much money! edit: changed theyre to there
Astrophile 2 years ago
They’re amazing! You can even borrow video games from some of them! Mine also lends out baking pans and tools like screwdrivers, hammers etc :)
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Snorkeldorf 2 years ago (edited)
Not only do they have books, I rent DVDs and borrow magazines. Now and then my library sorts thru older magazines no longer in circulation and sets them on a table for everyone to take. I always find good articles, tips and recipes. When I'm done I put them in a community bin for recycling. You can sign up for a senior program where someone will deliver books to your home every couple of weeks. They also offer free learning programs and movies, along with many events geared just for kids. You can even take out puzzles! Best resource I've found for adding some fun while keeping the budget in line.
pep Ito 2 years ago
Public libraries in Madrid and other cities in Spain have an app that allows you to watch movies, series and documentaries for free. You choose the movie and you have 36 hours to watch it. They are not blockbusters but classic and cult movies and series.
Barbara Kelly 2 years ago
This option is available in my Canadian city's public library system. Also, we can access magazines and read them online. And! the libraries offer noon hour concerts, lectures, craft demonstrations and groups, and weekend afternoon movies for in-person enjoyment
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Patricia Healton 2 years ago
Wish this worked for me. Because of where I live I have to pay for a library card.
SageHare37 2 years ago
Same. Because some dingleberry decided they didn't like libraries when they changed my area from agricultural to rural residential, my area's taxes don't fund the library (technically a shared library with the neighboring county). To offset for that not all of the houses are paying in, if an individual in my area wants a library card, it's $96 a year per person. It's a shame, as the local library is very modern with Libby, rented tools and musical instruments and free access to websites with a library card like Creativebug and Mango. I've thought about it a few times, but it's upfront instead of monthly so it's tough to budget in.
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Ange Marsden 2 years ago
Our library has a dollar amount at the bottom of the checkout receipt to show how much money you saved by not buying what you borrowed
Sonnovab Kegeles 2 years ago
My library offers Hoopla as it's audio books. The downside is unless it's an an older book (5 years or so) or new but extremely popular (top 10 list) it doesn't have them. Also, for some reason series often skip a book or so. For example I's listening to the Gabriel Allon spy series, and Hoopla has book 1 then skips to book 11. So I belong to Audible as well, but put it in hold to stop the membership fees. Books I've bought are still available to me, but no monthly charge.
#8
One thing I've started doing is putting everything that really needs to be eaten in a certain spot in the fridge to remind me that I need to eat it ASAP. I throw away far less food.
I also save every scrap of usable veg in a big plastic bag in the fridge and make stock once a month. I can't believe I threw away so many mushroom stumps, carrot peels, ginger skins and shrivelled green onions, they make incredible stock!
jdtimid123 2 years ago
Second comment to add, I just set up a compost container in the backyard that I can add veggies to, so I feel much less guilty when things do go bad cause i can just put it in there and will hopefully have some good nutrients for my plants instead.
Jessica Allred 2 years ago
We got a Lomi for composting our scraps. (bought one at half price, open box)
Load More Replies... Ange Marsden 2 years ago
An "Eat Me First" container at eye level in the fridge is great for the rest of the household to eat their leftovers!!
Catlady6000 2 years ago
If it's the once monthly refrigeration, definitely. I do the same, only with a gallon Ziploc in the freezer. Just refrigeration will get you mold and rot
Load More Replies... jdtimid123 2 years ago
I do the stock thing too. If we get a rotisserie chicken I'll also put the carcass in a bag in the freezer and throw it in to make chicken stock. I still keep bullion cubes on hand for when I decide I need broth at the last minute, but I hardly ever use them. Just look up what veggies make good stock, cause some peels will just add gross flavors.
️️Upvote faery️ 2 years ago
Mushroom stumps? Do people not eat the whole mushroom? That's wild! No part of a mushroom goes uneaten in my house! They're too yummy for that lol 😂
Tyranamar Seuss 2 years ago
What does one do with stock once one has some? Do I have to eat soup now? A La Gweneth Paltrow and her scrumptious bone broth diet?
TeenieMeanie 2 years ago
Big plastic former ice cream tub in the freezer gets all the scraps. Stock happens when it’s full of veggie bits. Meat scraps go separately, which ever I accumulate most of first gets cooked.
Barbara Kelly 2 years ago
Great idea! Our refrigerator has a large red plastic tray for Use ASAP items. Can't miss it!
#9
Never go grocery shopping when you're hungry.
VioletHunter 2 years ago
Don't take hungry kids especially. They'll be tempted enough by the sweets at the checkout even after eating.
Missy VanWinkle 2 years ago
THIS! I'm an absolute QUEEN of frugal, but this one will get me. I eventually eat what I bought, but it's sooooooo stupid to have to work in another thing I *need* to get eaten before it goes bad.
Khavrinen 2 years ago (edited)
Unfortunately for me, this conflicts with the frugality of making the fewest number of trips. I usually do my grocery shopping on my way home from work, so I'm always hungry ( I work the night shift, so I'm on my way home between 8:30 & 10:30 am, which is at least good for being able to shop when the stores aren't crowded. )
Without going too deep into the tips themselves, they all essentially revolved around a key element found in the subreddit’s description: “Frugality is the mental approach we each take when considering our resource allocations. It includes time, money, convenience, and many other factors.”
That last bit—time, money, convenience, and other factors. Reconsider them by optimizing.
#10
Sell anything you don’t use on Ebay. Make some extra money _and_ declutter your space. For example, I bought a TV and didn’t use the stand legs because I mounted it on the wall. Sold the stand legs on Ebay for $30! Also, someone is using it and it doesn’t have to go into a landfill. Win-win!
Populus tremuloides(they/them) 2 years ago
If you want to be charitable and do less work you could see if you have a local buy nothing group
jdtimid123 2 years ago
Money wise, yes this is a good idea. Buuuut only if you have enough follow through to actually post and sell it. So many of the people on that hoarders show didn't want to get rid of stuff because they were going to sell it eventually.
Tyranamar Seuss 2 years ago
Exactly. I know I'm too lazy. I've accepted this about myself.
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AW 2 years ago
After watching dumpster diving/hoarder house vids on youtube, I'm not surprised this advice sounds unique to a lot of people perhaps, many just look at stuff as possession but not necessarily as something of value.
Load More Replies... #11
Organize your stuff. Like all your stuff, including long term storage and things. If you are anything like me you collect and never get rid of anything that still has a use, or might be useful in future, and that CAN truly save you a lot of money… but only if you know you have it, and can find it when you need it. Same is true for your pantry, medicine cabinet, etc etc. If you don’t know right now where everything you own is (or at least pretty close) the odds of you thinking “I need to buy that” when you don’t, or worse, looking forever, giving up and thinking you must have gotten rid of “it” whatever it was, buying a new one… then stumbling across the old one shortly thereafter. Take it from the woman with three air compressors and only two cars.
Noel Bovae 2 years ago
Especially when you have almost 0 closet/cupboard space and no where to put stuff 😫
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Purple Sprinkles 2 years ago
I organized my spices and found 10, TEN, parsleys. Organizing is key!
Tyranamar Seuss 2 years ago
This is why I need to go through my house and throw a bunch of c**p out. So that I can see what I actually have and stop buying duplicates. For me, once something has gone into a box or deep in a drawer or cupboard it has stopped existing. Only things I can see immediately exist. It's why I hate people who "help" by putting my things away. Now I have to buy a new one bc it no longer exists. Leave my stuff alone! Everything is left out for a reason!
#12
I screenshot something I think I want to buy. I look at it every few days or so and then when the desire is gone to look at it or research it I know I didn’t really want/need it.
Russell Rieckenberg 2 years ago
I just click on what I might want to buy and trust the Internet gods will show me 172 ads for it in the next five days. Then I'm sick of it and don't buy it unless absolutely necessary.
Consider this: instead of going to the grocery store without any idea on what you need, plan it. You know, make a list, coordinate your groceries so you don’t overbuy or end up with leftover ingredients.
This also gives you an opportunity to do your research on whether there are any discounts, what stores have them, and plan several meals in advance instead of having to drive to the store seven times in a week. Yes, it demands time, but you spend less money.
#13
Don’t buy anything unnecessary for the first week of the month & make my coffee instead of buying (I get paid monthly)
Phoebe Bean 2 years ago
I have a French press for my daily morning coffee. It has saved me tons of money.
Lou 2 years ago
I love mine too. Less moving parts also means less to break down.
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Noel Mills 2 years ago
I bought a cold brew maker and it's saved me so much money. Also tastes better than most of the coffee I would get from somewhere else.
Neill Powell 2 years ago
Join a coffe-pod club. I pay about $20 for a hundred mixed pods. The whole team has about 1-2 cups a day. Buy the Nespresso machine at a 2nd-hand store, clean it up, sip and enjoy!
Jude Laskowski 2 years ago
I make my coffee and take it to work with me in a thermos. My coworker used to spend $3/day on coffee, but now he buys a jar of instant and makes it at work. He's saved a lot.
Nannychachi 2 years ago
I have a Keurig, but I also use a reusable pod instead of disposable ones. The money I save is ridiculous!
#14
Idk how unique it is, but "everything but the kitchen sink" soup, which is basically just throwing a bunch of c**p together to make a soup in order to get rid of stuff that's about to go bad or otherwise needs to be used up. You can put so much stuff into soups, and you can freeze leftover soup, too. Really helps to prevent food waste.
Bethany G 2 years ago
I do this with stir fry or "refrigerator cleanout hash" because my SO isn't a huge fan of soups. Saves so much food from being wasted!
Katie Ford 2 years ago
Yes! And refrigerator cleanout omelettes! Have a giant tub of sausage and peppers, and had some in some eggs this morning. It's amazing how many things can go in omelettes lol. I think my favorite was leftover seafood from a leftovers from a hotpot place - the spicy fish and shrimp omelette was bomb!
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Richard Michael 2 years ago
IF it's at that point, just throw it out. No point in getting sick.
Barbara Kelly 2 years ago
Just as on EHarmony and other dating apps, think carefully about combination possibilities. Some items and flavors do not play well with others.
Libstak 2 years ago (edited)
Also, medley asian sauces for chicken wing marinade. At least 3/4 of your open Asian sauces like, soy, hoisin, honey soy, sesame, meld very well as a marinade. When I see them all lined up with less than a half in each bottle, I get out some wings, mix all the left over sauces and make a pile of chicken wings marinated and oven baked. Wings last great for next day lunches and hot or cold snacks, everyone loves them and nothing goes to waste.
#15
We still mask in indoor public places and I am shocked at how much money we save each year because of it. With a kid in elementary school, we used to have at least one sick person in our house at least 12 times a year but my family has only been sick once since March of 2020 (it wasn't COVID) and we've saved probably $800-$1,000 in that time by avoiding copays, deductibles, prescription and non-prescription medications you typically need when you're sick, etc. It also means we almost never use work PTO for sick days, so all of our time off is spent on awesome vacations instead of being sick.
jason bingham 2 years ago
Or just realise as a nation (assuming this is USA) that free universal Health care is the way to go like most of the civilized world.
Anony Mouse 2 years ago
Bored Panda hasn't done a "USA is Bad" article in almost 3 days now. You must have been getting itchy. Thanks for reminding us of something that's been mentioned thousands of times on here.
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DarkViolet 2 years ago
I wear a mask because it's a permanent part of my life. Myelodysplasia (bone marrow out of whack) can easily become leukemia. I have to get the COVID vaccine every year, but I can't get the MMR vaccine (live germs). It's a total drag, but not as much as having pneumonia or COVID. Trust me.
VioletHunter 2 years ago
I don't know what sicknesses she is referring to, but for a normal cold you don't need to see a doctor or any medications really. Cough drops and tissues don't exactly cost a ton.
Beck 2 years ago
But you have to make sure that it is just a normal sick. Gotta get covid tested so you have to buy the kits or go to the doc. I have 4 I got for free through USPS. If you live in the US, just go to the USPS covid site and type in your address and they will send you 4 for free.
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Astrophile 2 years ago (edited)
No, they’re protecting themselves. You don’t need to force unprotected exposure to every single bacteria or virus in existence to strengthen your immune system. In some cases that would actually leave an immune system irreparably damaged and more vulnerable. Educate yourselves on how bodies and healthcare work, folks! It’s not as obvious as people like Richard Michael think!
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Kat Lyle 2 years ago
what doesn't kill you doesn't always make you stronger. In fact some "normal" illnesses can destroy some of your neurology, so it does actually pay to lessen the chance and impact of a rogue illness in the wild.
Load More Replies...It goes without saying that planning ahead and doing one trip instead of several also has a positive impact on the environment and your total car mileage in the end will be less because of it.
We can go on and on about it, but let’s do the frugal thing and reuse what we already have by suggesting our own reading on the small ways in which you can help the environment.
#16
Cascading meals and planned leftovers. Meals that the leftovers “lead” or cascade into another. Baked potato one night turns into potato soup the next. Chili can be repurposed into spaghetti sauce or put on top of chips for nachos. I personally roast a chicken with veggies. The carcass turns into chicken noodle soup. I get a couple meals and lunches for four for a price under $30 total.
sturmwesen 2 years ago
Chili turns to wrap filling, Gulasch to noodle sauce, chicken soup to chicken salad or wraps (any meat leftovers become wrap filling), leftover wraps become pancakes with nutella filling,left over veggies (not to spicy or salty), rice or bread are for the dog (his food needs to be stretched with veggies or carbs anyway)
Astrophile 2 years ago
I made pork chops last night - today, the leftovers are pork hoisin wraps :)
Load More Replies... Nannychachi 2 years ago
Yesterday was meatloaf and mashed potatoes (with the skins left on because why are you throwing away perfectly good potato skins?). Today was potato pancakes for breakfast and meatloaf sandwiches for supper.
#17
My best tip is get used to carrying a refillable water bottle around. We carry a yeti cup around everywhere full of drink. It saves us so much in stops for drinks.
Phoebe Bean 2 years ago
Whenever I travel I prepare a lunch box with healthy options too. Cookies and coffee too.
VioletHunter 2 years ago
This! So many people buy the expensive food and drinks at trains stations, airports and any touristy place instead of bringing at least some of what they'll need from home.
Load More Replies... jdtimid123 2 years ago
When I'm traveling I keep a full cup of water, but also pre-buy travel snacks and drinks when I'm on a budget. That way all I need to get when I stop is gas (and a bathroom).
Neill Powell 2 years ago
Office Vending machines are often a rip-off and not controlled by the company they are installed at. looking at your "snack profile" for at work and shopping in advance can really save.
Jude Laskowski 2 years ago
Do people really get so thirsty that they have to carry water bottles around all the time? What happened to filling a glass with tap water and drinking it?
DarkViolet 2 years ago
What if you're not where you can get a glass of water. Or the water tastes awful?
Load More Replies... #18
When you make dinner at home, *before you serve yourself* put some servings into plastic containers for meal prep. This helps with portion control and now you have a couple days of lunch to bring to work instead of buying.
Caro Caro 2 years ago
I do this every Saturday. Cook extra and freeze. It's nice to grab something from the freezer and put it in the fridge and let it defrost. In the evenings I just heat it up. As of now: 2x pasta sauce, 2x stir fry, chicken soup: one in the freezer and one in the fridge for tonight.
Anywho, from a material perspective, frugality is definitely about managing your resources more efficiently. But there’s more to it than that.
Frugality indirectly promotes creativity. By establishing a constraint on what folks spend money on, the constraint encourages them to start thinking outside the box. So, if you can’t buy branded clothes, you might start reusing what you already have to mix new styles. Or you say “hello” to clothing swaps and thrift stores, which brings us to our next point—social sustainability.
#19
Delete any ordering apps off your phone! I had doordash and grub hub and didn’t realize just how much i was getting delivery. For any given meal, by the time you do delivery fees, up charges, and tip, you can easily be spending $20 (or more) on DD or GH meals! Since I deleted the apps and either drive to pick up or make food at home, I’ve saved literally hundreds a month.
Rachel R 2 years ago
I like to play the game where I open the app, put together an order, and then when I see the total, suddenly remember the food that I already have at home
Astrophile 2 years ago
Yep! Also my own local pizza place, for a large “house special” pizza with added jalapeños and tax and delivery, is literally $50 😅 once I see that price it’s a lot easier to say no, get off my butt and go get a $11 frozen pizza and a $1 jalapeño from the store to satisfy my pizza craving.
Load More Replies... Sunshine Lady 2 years ago
I've recently had been to a chinese restaurant we were ordering from. We always used delivery app and this was the first time I went to get my food directly from the restaurant. The price was half! The delivery app keeps the prices higher to get their commission, there's also delivery fee and optional tip. No, thank you, I've stopped using it.
#20
Find a friend that is also frugal.
For me personally social life is the hardest thing to save money on, because many of my friends spend money quite easily, and always being the only one who insists on having a cheap night makes me feel like a total pain in the a*s.
One of my buddies is also trying to save up money, and so far it has been really nice to have a partner in crime. We made a list of frugal activities, and often do something cheap/free whenever we hang out.
And when we're with a larger group, it's still easier to be cheap together than alone.
Karl 2 years ago
We saved a fortune by only going to “Bring your own booze” restaurants. The mark up on alcohol is incredible.
Spocks's Mom 2 years ago
When my husband and I were drinking, we would always run into "cork fees" if we wanted to enjoy our own wine or liquor. We just drank at home most of the time.
Load More Replies... Kat Lyle 2 years ago
And get rid of big spender friends who insist on sharing bills when they have savaged £50 of food/wine but you have had a starter and OJ. Last week I put my foot down hard having already managed to get to a mid range steak place instead of one where the steaks start at £25. Bill for four comes to £180. Big Spender says "let's share" - nah, girl you pay for your own £40 steak. My bill actually came out at £26 including tip, so excuse me while I don't pay your bill on top of mine - you earn three times as much.
Susan Betz 2 years ago
When I lived in farm country I had friends to split a cow with. We'd all go in for a grass-fed cow and didn't have to buy the whole thing ourselves. (Grass-fed wasn't as big a deal back then, but we bought Amish cows slaughtered and frozen by Mennonites and omg you can taste the difference!)
Noel Bovae 2 years ago
Was just saying I wish I could do this! (Don't have friends, don't have money.) Better for the animal, better for the seller, and better for the consumer.
Load More Replies... #21
The power of doing your homework before making purchases. The cheapest option may not always be the frugal option if your purchase doesn’t have longevity compared to other reasonably priced options.
Phoebe Bean 2 years ago
And I think you learn by trial and error, because sometimes generic stuff is quite good vs more known brands, otherwise you better stick to quality (for example, food and hygiene products)
Neill Powell 2 years ago
Exactly our rules. if a generic brand Marie biscuit is 9/10 compared to the brand name and is 50% less you don't save that money, you use it on the high quality food you should be consuming. oh, and a VACUUM SEALER, my GOD that has saved us so much money over time.
Load More Replies... jdtimid123 2 years ago
I haven't checked prices lately, so maybe it's changed, but there was a point where the generic cereal in our local grocery store was more expensive per ounce than the name brand ones. So you buy it thinking you're saving by buying generic but you're actually spending more. It may have changed now, I don't eat as much cereal as I used to so I haven't looked lately.
Susan Betz 2 years ago
As much as I love Costco, their produce selections are so huge that I have to be honest with myself about how much my household of two will eat. We can go through 6 peppers, a huge box of mushrooms, and a few pounds of carrots quickly enough to justify their purchase. But we won't eat 10 pounds of potatoes quickly enough, for example. I get smaller amounts of other produce at Aldi.
jdtimid123 2 years ago
I had this issue at one of the two produce stands in our local (small) farmers market. One stand would let me buy just what my husband and I would actually use, but the other said they couldn't split up their buckets of produce. Which wouldn't have bothered me so much if they didn't start doing that during the pandemic (they let me do half buckets before then) and blame it on governmental regulations, even though they are the ones determining the bucket size. I'm not gonna spend my whole farmers market budget (cause it's not the cheaper option at all here) on one bucket of tomatoes. So the other stand got my weekly business (it's only held once a week for a few months in this area)
Load More Replies...Frugal innovation has potential for promoting social sustainability.
Having a socially sustainable society means having equal access and opportunities for all members in terms of survival and fulfillment of their development potential. While businesses do like to innovate, that often ends up within certain financial limits that push away those who can’t afford the innovation. However, frugal innovators seek out opportunities to serve these marginalized customers by looking for ways to provide an affordable alternative. And that’s a win-win from a societal as well as economic side.
#22
I save bread bags for all kinds of things, especially transporting shoes (perfect size) and for cleaning the cat box. Tortilla bags are also resilient ziplocks.
Gabby M 2 years ago
Back to the time when grandparents saved bits & pieces of all sorts of things like string, foil all sorts of other things that have use somewhere else. Reduce and Reuse.
Awesome At Being Autistic 2 years ago
Fr, my grandparents and great aunts and uncles lived through the Great Depression, and because of them, to this day I save all sorts of things as I know I can make use of it later. Reduce, reuse, recycle.
Load More Replies... Rachel R 2 years ago
Gonna keep this one in mind! Plastic bags are gone here, and I hate having to buy single-use bags for the catboxes. Feels counter-productive since I was getting a minimum of 2 uses out of the grocery bags
ILoveMySon 2 years ago
Agreed! I use them as garbage can liners in the bathroom.
Load More Replies... Barbara Kelly 2 years ago
Bags with foil lining (small potato chip bags, coffee bags, etc.) turned inside out and CLEANED make excellent bags for small gifts. We use them for gift jars of homemade jam or relish. No one snickers.
Awesome At Being Autistic 2 years ago
In my community, we have been encouraged to reuse chip/crisp bags (cleaned) to make blankets for homeless people. It works the same as the "space blankets" that hikers and emergency services use, whilst keeping it out of landfills. There are online tutorials for how to make the blankets.
Load More Replies... #23
Online thrift stores exist. I use ThredUP and 99% of the time I love what I get! Also learn how to sew. I sew literally everything that gets holes (backpacks, pants, jackets, blankets, pillows, etc). It saves so much money. I also started getting more into minimalism.
Daya Meyer 2 years ago
Sewing saves money is not the whole truth. Fabric ist expensive and you need a lot of other materials that aren't cheap. But it is always cheaper to know how to repair or reuse clothes instead of buying new ones.
Populus tremuloides(they/them) 2 years ago
Fabric is expensive if you actually go to Joanne's or whatever but I save old clothes that are too damaged to mend and my family gives me things too, like a whole couch cover my grandpa was going to throw away, so I only occasionally buy fabric and even then it's at the creative reuse store or scrap packs on Etsy that are both actually very cheap
Load More Replies... Barbara Kelly 2 years ago
As with other frugal tips, consider the Time , Hassle and Cost factors before embarking on a major sewing/mending project. The art mending on a vintage garment I did for a family member was enjoyable, but a major time commitment......labor of love!
Tracy Wallick 2 years ago
I gave it an honest to god shot trying to sew, but that $hit is pure torture for my ADHD. Thrifting is also very unrewarding if you're plus sized.
CM Peterson 2 years ago
I alter thrift store clothes to meet my needs: add elastic to waist bands, add pockets to sweatshirts and jackets, shorten hems in pants... saves me LOTs of $ because I demand usable pockets and an odd figure!
MrsFettesVette 2 years ago
I buy vintage/secondgand clothing from eBay and it's even less $$ than Poshmark, thredup, etc, I think bc it's not typically a clothing site.
#24
I mix Dawn dish liquid with some water in a spray bottle to clean my dishes. Just spray what I need and it really cuts down on the amount of Dawn that I use/waste.
Phoebe Bean 2 years ago
I do that too! (Never too watery because it defeats the whole purpose of cleaning the dishes properly.)
Spocks's Mom 2 years ago
I do it as well! You can clean anything with this, actually. I also mix dawn with 70% alcohol in a spray bottle (you need very little dawn) and make my own disinfecting cleaner. You just can't use it on painted surfaces, but it is great for glass, stainless steel and most hard surfaces.
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Fora Nakit 2 years ago
I keep m dish soap in an empty hand soap bottle with a pump. It's amazing how much you can wash with one pump of good soap
Kat Lyle 2 years ago
UK here, Fairy liquid is a thing of splendour because literally one little drop will wash several dishes. You can tell who has cheap dishwash in their house by the amounts they use at work. Their tag line is fairyconomy and in this case there really is nothing as good, and it's cheap.
Sylvia Schmitz 2 years ago
I can't picture in my head how one would clean dishes by spraying something on them. I would just fill the sink with hot water, squirt a bit of dish soap in, put the dishes in the water and wash them. How does spraying come into it?
It goes without saying that minimalism is a certain kind of frugality. If you want more money, spend less by buying only what you truly need and make it last.
That in turn might prove beneficial to your own health as a minimalist approach to life entails less stress and anxiety, increased productivity, greater sense of well-being and you’ll be overall happier. This is based on a number of factors, but basically the less stuff you have, the less you’ll have to worry about in the long run, and your pockets will be better off.
#25
Keep track of food in the refrigerator and freeze whatever you are not going to use in a couple of days to reduce food waste.
JJ 2 years ago
Don't know why you were downvoted. I have a board to write down the best-before-dates of stuff that expires fast (fresh fish and the like). Helped a lot to not waste any food.
Load More Replies... Lou 2 years ago
Every few weeks I challenge myself to make meals solely out if what is already in my freezer, fridge, and pantry. No net new groceries. It's amazing to find what I've squirreled away!
Kay Kelly 2 years ago
Living in Florida, my pantry is always stocked. Never know when a storm or power outage will hit.
Load More Replies... #26
After you've gotten the discount signing up for a shopping website's mailing list, unsubscribe from the emails.
Always make double or triple batches of anything you cook. Put leftovers into single portion containers and freeze a bunch. When you're so hungry you can't wait long enough to cook (like sudden low blood sugar), thaw some leftovers. It's faster than getting takeout. I've saved a ton of money doing that
Astrophile 2 years ago
Same - I also use a browser extension called Honey that searches for discount codes on whatever website I’m on. That app has literally saved me over $600 in the last year and gotten me some cool freebies!
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Any 2 years ago (edited)
Probably I starved until its thawed. Cooking vs. thawing vs. takeout - I think timewise it's almost the same.
Astrophile 2 years ago
Not at all! Microwave can help thaw food quickly. Takeout can take up to 2 hours. Most of my meals take 30-45 mins to prepare, including thawing. Saves time and money :)
Load More Replies... #27
I keep a dry erase list of what we have in the fridge and freezer so I don’t have to go looking and I can get a better idea of what to cook this way. Cuts down on food waste
Astrophile 2 years ago (edited)
I write my list directly on the fridge with a dry-erase marker (most older fridges make great whiteboards! My sister is a writer and writes novel bits on her fridge while she waits for her coffee to brew, it’s very interesting to read her fridge!)
Load More Replies... Almarako94 2 years ago
Only worth for stuff you don't use much, keeping the list up to date consumes too much time.
Penny Clifton 2 years ago
I have a magnetized pad and pen right on my refrigerator. Anything I'm low on or out of is written right away on that list so when I get groceries, it's all ready, I just tear it off. Having a shopping list has been so much easier than trying to remember what to buy or even just looking through the kitchen to find out what I need. How this saves money: I don't impulse buy because I stick to the list.
Phoebe Bean 2 years ago
Or if you have a certain menu you're fond of (I love pasta, for example) you know what ingredients are needed and how much time they will last in your fridge/freezer.
And if you’re worried about being called cheap, hey, frugal isn’t cheap. While those two terms, as well as words like thrifty and stingy, might all mean you like to save money, but in different ways and to varying degrees (good or bad).
Being frugal means you care about the quality as well as the cost. It’s a balancing game of resourcefulness without going overboard in any extreme, and as research shows above, it benefits you in more ways than not. Being cheap, however, only benefits your finances for the sake of benefiting your finances.
#28
Dollar tree. I don’t know if it’s slept on or not but it was for me. You can get the same basic necessities for cheap. And it’s great for a starter home/apartment to get those things when your short on money.
Susan Betz 2 years ago
Agreed, but learn to skip items that truly aren't cheaper, like toilet paper.
brittany 2 years ago
or spice packets. 1.25 for taco seasoning at dollar tree when you can get it for .59 cent at kroger.
Load More Replies... Richard Michael 2 years ago
You can also overspend at DollarTree. Most of those "deals" are no deal at all.
Awesome At Being Autistic 2 years ago
I don't think they do it nowadays, but for my Mom's generation (Boomer), they would throw a "Starting Out" shower for young ones or divorcees starting over. It really, really helps out.
#29
Basically anything disposable I look and see if I can do reusable. We do it all: cloth hankies instead of tissues, cloth napkins instead of paper towels, bidet, cloth diapers for the kids, reusable pouches for applesauces etc for the kids, soda stream instead of cans, etc.
Daniela Lavanza 2 years ago
This doesn't always work: you lose time and money to clean them all the time.I've tried. BTW some friends have tried clothe diapers for their kid, it was awful, very hard to wash, sometimes still stained after being washed...for their second kid, they went back to disposable diapers. In short, having reusable stuff can work for almost everything as long as it's not made of clothe.
Holly Gennaro 2 years ago
I used cloth diapers for my first-born, since I was a SAHM, and it wasn't that much more difficult. I washed them with hot water, used borox, dried them on the clothesline outside. The sun would help bleach them back to being white. The bonus to using cloth diapers was, my son would feel the wetness right after he peed, which would be uncomfortable for him and he wanted to be changed, so he became potty-trained pretty quickly.
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S P 2 years ago
Aside from the diaper debate, this is great advice. I love my reusable ziplocks. Silicon toppers for bowls instead of plastic wrap. Reusable cupcake liners and piping bags. Rags instead of paper towels. Collapsible cups for mouthwash instead of dixie cups (collapsible so they can be put away rather than out with the poo water particles). Cotton coffee filter. Individual chalk boards for homework instead of scratch paper.
Sunshine Lady 2 years ago
I've used cloth diapers with my second baby for 10 months, but he started getting rashes and I had to change him after every pee. Too much work and laundry for me. Cloth napkins with kids is also disaster, I've tried several times, but they end up so dirty and stained after being washed, so I quit. Whenever possible, they wash themselves instead of using napkins.
Naomi Nueveax 2 years ago
Our bills went up 3.00 for electricity, and 15 for water. In contrast we were spending upwards for $100 a month for disposables.
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Jo Struzik 2 years ago
but you spend so much money on washing agents, electricity ( most of these have to be washed at a highest temperature) and so much time cleaning/hanging/ folding. Whatever floats your boat i guess :)
MrsFettesVette 2 years ago
You'd need to do laundry anyway. I work in healthcare and wash my scrubs at home in a load on the hottest setting. I throw in our handkerchiefs and such with them. It's not like you do separate tiny loads for everything.
Load More Replies... brittany 2 years ago
im with you until you said cloth instead of paper towels and diapers. my kids used the floor as a potty while potty training and i can not picture putting that mess in a washing machine. same with diapers. plus if kiddos do number 2 in public with a cloth diaper, you either have to throw it away anyways or carry it around with you till you get home. and if its diarrhea, nope
Dogcat vet (retired) 2 years ago
Doggy wee wee pads: I buy the adult washable incontinence pads for my dogs. Yes, I do have to wash them...but I don't have to add disposable wee wee pads to landfills and its cheaper.
Naomi Nueveax 2 years ago
I switched to cloth diapers with my twins due to an allergy for one of them, and omg! I did disposables with my 3 older kids, and cloth saves SO MUCH MONEY! & it's so much easier and less gross than I thought it would be!
#30
I keep pickle jars - any jars actually - to use in the fridge. Things last WAY longer - probably because plastic harbors germs, while there's nothing cleaner than glass. The vertical storage is far better than the horizontal storage that you get with a tupper, and I can SEE what's in the jars!
ArodTheHorrible 2 years ago
No reason to downvote this... have an upvote!!!
Load More Replies...If you want more tips and advice on how to master that frugal life, head on over to another article of ours and learn the art of saving money.
But, before you do that, let’s make this list even better by suggesting your frugal life hacks in the comment section below!
#31
Floss!
Awesome At Being Autistic 2 years ago
I do not understand people who don't floss, I can't stand anything being stuck in my teeth at all.
Astrophile 2 years ago (edited)
I’m ashamed to admit my parents weren’t big on flossing. I didn’t really learn to floss until I was in my mid-20s. I didn’t even realize how important it was until I started to experience some mild tooth decay between a few of my teeth, despite brushing daily! Please please please please please floss if you aren’t already! You’ll never regret taking 2 mins to floss but you WILL REGRET NOT DOING IT D:
David Paterson 2 years ago
As this is a money-saving list. Reuse those 20 cent interdental brushes and plastic floss holders and disposable shavers. Each can last up to three months.
#32
I go to the grocery store right before they close and as soon as they open 2x per week (I'm a mile away so it's not difficult). Often at those times, this store will put out their "Managers Specials" Which is food about to expire. I just picked up 6 lbs of boneless skinless chix breast for $4, got 3 lbs of bacon for $6 and 3 fresh heads of cauliflower for $.75 each. They almost always have some kind of deal that I will take advantage of.
Kelly H. Wilder 2 years ago
At the store I work, our best days for markdowns are truck days (Monday/Tuesday/Thursday for us). We do markdowns every afternoon, but we also do them on mornings before the trucks come. The markdowns also are a greater percentage because of the need to sell to make room for the new stuff.
Neill Powell 2 years ago
We have "military/pensioner" days midweek mostly. I can get of at the unusual times (9AM to 11:30) there is a plethora of specials and discounts. Many of the items are semi-premium like aged steaks that are reaching their sell-by dates or salads that need to be eaten within 2 days. Having a good extra-low temp deep-freeze effectively halt the aging process of the food and can save thousands over the long run, especially when these premium foods (and they are, 32-day aged AAA-grade rump) are now listed at "normal meat" prices or even below for bulk. You're not "saving money" but you are paying everyday-meat prices for the ultra premium cuts they can't return to the storeroom chiller/freezer
#33
Stock. All those bits of vegetables that you peel off of carrots, onions and whatever go into a pot and make stock. Freeze it as you collect it. Same with bones. Whenever you have a ziploc bag full throw it into the slow cooker on low for a day. Boom stock. Needless (maybe not because some people are dumb) to say but wash the vegetables before peeling or trimming.
Steph Bombardier (Stephhhh) 2 years ago
or, if you have certain animals like tortiouses, guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens, etc. you can use veggie and fruit scraps (carrot pealings and stuff like that) can be fed to them. chickens will eat anything, and other animals will eat just about anything. (note: ALWAYS check that your animal can eat the fruit/veggie before you give it to them! dont want to poision your little babies :))
#34
Learn how to make something. It can be anything: woodworking, stained glass, quilting, drawing, etc. Not only will it keep your mind sharp and give you something constructive to do, this is now also your go-to gift. White elephant? Make something. Niece is turning five? Make something. Wedding? Make something. Stuff you make is often cheaper than anything of the same quality that you can buy, and it will mean a lot more to people. Soon enough, your friends and family will be fighting each other for one of your homemade gifts!
Phoebe Bean 2 years ago
I like to draw and have made some portraits as a gift for family/friends. They always appreciate something you do instead of buying it.
Spocks's Mom 2 years ago
You are right. If someone makes something for me, it has an instant place in my heart.
Load More Replies... #35
For anyone that needs to dress professionally for work - there are high end consignment stores where you can get beautiful, stylish, well made clothes at a fraction of the cost. Lots of items are even new, as there are plenty of addicted shoppers that then try to sell what they have purchased. Do not buy your clothes or accessories at malls.
GirlFriday 2 years ago
Consignment shops are wonderful. I have to dress professionally for speaking engagements and must attend a few fancy dinners or parties each year. I shop at consignment shops and then spend a few dollars on tailoring. I can get three good suits for about $100 total (including alterations) rather than spending $250 for just one. The money I have saved on cocktail dresses is immeasurable.
Neill Powell 2 years ago
We call them Take2 stores. Ultra rich who wear something once, or are too big, or too small for their clothes anymore. the margins are slim and you have to commit to spend at least some real money. But you'll be laughing to the bank when you walk into a regular store and see the same item at 5-6x the price of what you've paid for what is effectively the same thing. Will last just as long and who is going to tell the difference. it says Pringle, feels like Pringle, lasts like Pringle, because IT IS Pringle, just had an owner who wore it once before.
#36
Purchase a cheap air compressor (possibly at Wal-Mart) and keep it in your vehicle... Check & inflate your tires to door jamb specs at least once a month... Proper PSI saves 💰 on gas and helps prevent catastrophies (under inflation leads to "fish tailing" and blow-outs around the bead.. Over inflation leads to unnecessary wear and blow-outs around the tread)
VioletHunter 2 years ago (edited)
My personal vehicle saving advice is to not have a car at all. (If you can) Saves me a lot of money every month.
Astrophile 2 years ago (edited)
Depends! My car costs me $95 insurance and only $80 gas a month (this is $CAD and it’s an old Toyota). For $175 a month I can go wherever and whenever I please, even on the back FSR roads. A monthly bus pass here is $75 and I can barely get anywhere - lots of extra walking, lots of time wasted waiting for buses. I actually save money insuring and driving my own lil old beater car because I can work more/longer hours :) the extra hours pay for my car expenses plus an extra $200 on every paycheque. Plus on weekends I can go enjoy myself doing whatever I want! This absolutely wouldn’t work for just anyone, though - I’m quite lucky to have an incredibly cheap car and live in an inexpensive place. Point being - make sure you do the math on your own lifestyle and see what’s more worthwhile, everyone will be different :)
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#37
Get 100 hand towels/chamois/microfiber rags and use them instead of paper towels. Treat them as single use basically except you put the dirty ones in a basket and throw them in a very hot load of laundry.
I haven't bought paper towels basically ever again, and really only use paper if I'm cleaning up something really disgusting or poopy. Every once in a while I'll cycle out the rags that have gotten too nasty with some new ones.
Barbara Kelly 2 years ago
Instead of getting the 100 hand towels recommended, we cut up old terry towels and flannel sheets into desired sizes. A quick stitching around he edges with a sewing machine prevents tears and fraying. Cotton handkerchiefs are hard to find. We are using paper tissues, and happy with this because of the "Yuck" factor .
Jan Rosier 2 years ago
Just curious, does the cost of electricity, water and detergent weigh up to the cost of tissues or kitchenpaper?
Astrophile 2 years ago
No - my electric bill is $35-50 a month, but a 6-pack of paper towels is $15. I spend much less than $15 on washing JUST those cloths, they take up like 1/3 of a load of laundry a month which costs much less than $15.
Load More Replies... David Paterson 2 years ago (edited)
Some people use toilet paper and paper towels at a huge rate. For example 4 rolls of paper towels a month. I use on average one paper towel sheet a day, 4 rolls lasts about ten years. A cheap kitchen sponge suffices for other uses.
Mike Fitzpatrick 2 years ago
Can you afford a $12 package of 8 rolls of Bounty paper towels?
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#38
Dont fall into the FOMO trap. There will always be more parties, more events, more chances to go have fun and spend money. So mamy people spend hundreds of $$ per year on concerts, movie tickets, and other things that "everyone else is doing" because they see the posts on insta and feel left out. You can save up and do your handful of fun events each year, as long as you budget for it!
#39
Take care of what you got. Wash and maintain your car, and fix small problems in your home before they become big expensive ones.
Tracy Wallick 2 years ago
Most people know this, but many can't afford the preventative maintenance (especially when it comes to cars, healthcare, etc.)
David Paterson 2 years ago
Many people spend up to $20 a week on car washing and $2,000 on minor dents and scratches. Don't.
David Paterson 2 years ago
Fix small problems in your clothing before they become big expensive ones.
#40
Many foods can be frozen if you think they won’t be consumed before they turn overripe or bad: bananas, spinach, berries, grapes, etc. Freeze leftover stock/broth (i also buy the concentrated stuff in the jar which lasts SO long), wine frozen in ice cube trays for use in spaghetti/soups/dishes.
#41
Add plants to your space. It lifts mood, improves the air you breathe, easy to grow more through propagation, reduces the urge to buy stuff to fill in any empty spaces, and it gives a sense of care for yourself and your environment. All good and uplifting that prevents buying out of stress or loneliness.
Phoebe Bean 2 years ago
I don't have a green thumb, so that means even catctus dies on me. But (affordable) artwork is a nice option to lift your mood too!
g90814 2 years ago
Artificial plants! just need to dust them once in awhile :)
Load More Replies... Tracy Wallick 2 years ago
Actual frugal tip: get cuttings of plants from friends or plants in public places and propogate them that way. Don't buy MiracleGro potting soil, it'll give your plants fertilizer burns and is overpriced. You can use dishes and disposable cookware like pie tins as drainage dishes or humidity trays.
#42
Use every app you can for rewards and points. If you’re worried about being tracked, don’t. They already know or have whatever they need/want anyway.
VioletHunter 2 years ago
There wouldn't be any of these reward and points programs if they already knew everything.
Ian whaples 2 years ago
retail associate here, our rewards program tracks the zip code of customers and what they buy how frequently ect to help set prices, and sends relevant sales info via email once a week.
Load More Replies... David Paterson 2 years ago
Don't get a credit card with "rewards". You actually pay real money for those reward programs, it costs much less to buy what you want separately, and you're not going to get stuck with some white elephant reward that you don't use.
Poison Ivy/Boo 2 years ago
We save our Tesco vouchers to use at Xmas every year. They usually pay for the meal and drinks. Since our xmas' dinners have gotten smaller, we use the rest to have a wee splurge on ourselves.
Kat Lyle 2 years ago
I have had a nectar card since it dawned, I think I've had maybe 5 £5 discounts. Probably because I am a single person with no kids and an apathetic eater. Right now however I am using Clubcard for cheap meal deals for work lunch.
Load More Replies... #43
Get estimates and shop around for car insurance, internet provider, cell phone carrier, credit card rates, etc. It is work and time, but I have saved serious money. I just got my Allstate renewal and was fed up of them raising my rates. Got an estimate from Statefarm for car and rental that is $240 less. So I'm switching. I know it's only a good rate because I'm a new customer, and it will go up again, too. And you have to repeat the cycle, which is a hassle. Same goes for phone and internet. But taking the time to make that phone call saves way more money than scrimping on little things (tho I do that, as well). I just wish companies valued longtime customers.
Poison Ivy/Boo 2 years ago
Shopped around for mobile carrier. Went from £41 to £15 a month. Same with TV/internet/house phone £90 down to £43 and bonus ....we don't need a landline, so no charge for renting the phone line which we only needed for his parents and my dad to keep in contact with us.
g90814 2 years ago
US here, I use Progressive for insurance, was much less than others, and easy to manage online. I use MintMobile (uses T-Mobile towers) for phone service, $15/mo for 5GB data, unlimited txt/calls, when paid yearly, which is about $200 which includes the fees/taxes. So much cheaper than major carriers.
David Paterson 2 years ago
I found a mobile phone ISP that cost less than $5 a year. Perfect for a phone you only keep for emergencies and arranging rondevous.
Spocks's Mom 2 years ago
I just can't with this one. It would ramp up my anxiety and I'm trying to keep that ramped way down.
#44
Do your best to stay healthy/fit... Saves on healthcare AND clothing.... A plain t-shirt and jeans/shorts ALWAYS looks good on a fit person...
VioletHunter 2 years ago
An old washed out shirt and a baggy, faded jeans will look good on no one. It will just look bad on a fit body.
Astrophile 2 years ago
But a nicely-fitted tshirt and nice jeans will look good on anyone :) I’m pretty sure that’s OP’s point, they didn’t mention anything about faded/baggy/washed out clothes.
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#45
Don't sleep on Aldi's for basic necessities.
Anony Mouse 2 years ago
"Don't sleep on" basically means don't forget it exists or miss out on it. It's slang.
Load More Replies... #46
Learning to cook well! I went from living in the most diverse city in the US, where you could travel the culinary globe from one meal to the next, to a very small French town with limited options. I quickly had to learn how to prepare my favorite meals at home, and the lesson has been priceless.
#47
Find an Amazon Resale Store or "Pallet" store in your area. I have gotten brand new items worth over $100 for less than $10 a piece! Amazon will take ANYTHING back. They then load the items into trucks and sell them as a lot. Great buys can be had by all.
Astrophile 2 years ago
HEY I actually just made a stack of “mystery bags” for my work. $10 each but a couple of them have $200+ worth of items :) your comment is absolutely true but just thought I’d mention that - for 1 out of 100 people it’ll be worth it haha
Load More Replies... #48
Do your dryer on low heat. Better for the clothes and cheaper
Jan Rosier 2 years ago
If the items can stand it, high heat should be cheaper as it takes less time.
#49
Ivy detergent - I'm in the UK so we have English Ivy everywhere. You just chop up 60 leaves, boil them in 4.5 cups of water, leave it overnight to cool, strain it the next day - done! The liquid should be enough for 6 lots of laundry, but it can also be used for your dishwasher, cleaning floors and whatever else you need to clean!
Susan Betz 2 years ago
I just googled it. It's really a thing! Very cool.
Load More Replies... Jan Rosier 2 years ago
How much is a cup in normal measures? I mean, I have coffee cups of about 20 cl, mugs of of about 40 cl, and one of about half a liter... If needed, I can convert from imperial to metric...
Spocks's Mom 2 years ago
There are great and easy to use conversion charts with a quick Google search, but it's 1.065 liters.
Load More Replies... #50
I live in a 1940s building that doesn't have any washer or dryer hookups. Going to the laundromat is shockingly expensive. I would spend about $40 per month or more doing laundry. I bought a wash tub from the Dollar Store and a plastic washboard and wash my clothes that way.
Spocks's Mom 2 years ago
I have a portable washer. I LOVE it. I have a portable dryer too. I don't use the dryer that often, but it's there if I need it and it works well. I have a small house and they save a ton of space.
#51
If you use credit cards (and pay it off in full every month) that offer say 5% cash back at grocery stores, MAX THAT BABY OUT by purchasing gift cards at the grocery store. So for example, Discover credit card has 5% cash back for a certain quarter of a year, say January to March, where you can spend $1500 at grocery stores. If you can't spend that much on actual groceries, buy gift cards for other places like Target or Amazon or whatever you like AT the grocery store. Bonus tip, you can use that 5% cash back from Discover to purchase gift cards on the Discover website for added value. For example, for certain stores, you can get a $100 gift card for $80. The Discover credit card is currently 5% cash back at Target and Amazon this quarter, so make sure to change your default card on your Target and Amazon app to get the maximum amount of cash back. ($75). You can also get gift cards to other places at Target, so MAX THAT BABY OUT!
Bored something 2 years ago
Makes no sense unless you do actually shop at those places andare able to pay the card off.
Susan Betz 2 years ago
This is brilliant but requires discipline. I have a 2% rewards for every purchase card that's my default because I use it for everything without mental gymnastics.
Barry Meyer 2 years ago
Terrible advice. Spend spend spend. That's why so many people will be screwed come next year when the economy takes a dump.
#52
Learning how to cut my own hair using a 3 way mirror, years ago. Self taught with some guidance from YouTube.
sturmwesen 2 years ago
I advise a backup appointment with a stylist for your first try. You don't want to walk around with a shabby cut too long and if you don't need it you can always cancel. If you ask a friend to cut it and they say they are bad at it: trust them. I learned it the hardway and had to fix it myself afterwards
Susan Betz 2 years ago
I haven't paid for a haircut in 10 years. The main reason I started was because I was tired of coming home and fixing a bad cut. May as well cut it myself, I figured.
#53
Black coffee. Saves so much money as your daily caffeine source. Plus you learn what truly good coffee tastes like when you have it and I think it may be the healthiest way
Spocks's Mom 2 years ago
I put a little milk in mine, but only because my stomach won't get as acidy. I hate sweet coffee, though.
Bored something 2 years ago
But many people don't like real coffee,they like coffee flavoured sugar milk.
David Paterson 2 years ago
The only reason I can think of to drink black coffee is that it's so foul that you don't drink as much ... Which saves money.
#54
Know which meds stay good past the expiration dates and which ones don’t. Levothyroxine (synthetic T4/Thyroid hormone) for instance basically has no active ingredient past about 6 months. You can look up this information so that you know if your stash of meds are safe and effective or not
David Paterson 2 years ago
Have a website to look up? Some meds lose effectiveness with time, but I've never heard of one that loses safety. Can't you just keep using meds until they stop working?
#55
Double check your health insurance benefits (US specific). I know a lot of people who get health insurance through their work that have some type of "healthy incentive" program. This is some type of program where they will give you money towards something they deem as healthy, match the amount of money you make in purchases they deem as healthy, give you some type of discount in some type of healthy product or something like that. Your insurance probably won't go out of their way to tell you if you have one of these programs. If you have insurance that does this, take advantage. Get money off your produce. Get free pre-prepared healthy meals. Get a free gym membership
#56
My aunt and uncle used to reuse envelopes when they mailed letters. 🤷♀️ Only really relevant if you send mail, which they did all the time when I was a kid. I think sharing resources with others is an underrated frugality tip. Taking advantage of community, and also contributing to it. I think the most impactful frugal changes you can make depend on your reasons for caring about frugality (money, environment, simplicity, etc) and the way you interact with the world, whether by necessity or choice. You can make a lot of overall lifestyle choices that make for a frugal life: living near public transportation to avoid using a car, living somewhere that makes gardening possible, cultivating free hobbies, establishing intentional communities, etc. And then within whatever lifestyle you've set up for yourself, there are choices you can make to optimize frugality that are really dependent on your situation - what's available to you, what you care about, the areas where you're currently using the most resources and have the biggest opportunity to change. So: thoughtfulness.
#57
Use what you have. Buy food staples. Take care of what you own. Wash in cold dry lightly, follow washing instructions. Neat and clean is better than decor. Keep a sweater around. Reuse when you can. Cook once eat twice. Eat before you go into an event. Eat before grocery shopping. Buy clothes that fit your body and are traditional. Skip the fads. Bake a chicken, eat part of it and use the rest in soup. Serve both meals with taters (mashed and cubed). Add veggies to the soup like corn and carrots. If done right, I can get like 10 meals out of a 7 lb chicken for several people. Freeze. Reheat with rice or noodles. A plastic art bib for babies at mealtime. Saves the clothes from staining.
#58
Instead of buying crazy Tupperware/storage containers, use 32oz/16oz deli containers; get some painters/masking/washi tape and label your containers with tape and a sharpie to keep track of how long food has been in the fridge. They have a universal lid and can be washed in the dishwasher. Truly frugal would be to re-use yogurt/cheese containers instead of deli containers like Asian grandmas tho.
#59
Card giving, Birthdays, Christmas, Valentines day.... My spouse and I exchange cards ***in the store,*** then return them to the proper place in the rack. Saves us 10 bucks each time. Been doing it 35 years...
Barbara Kelly 2 years ago
Perhaps the poster meant 2 cards @ $5 each, in the "exchange".
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Heather Barnett 2 years ago
I'm single, but I love doing this with my grandma. We'll spend a good 20 minutes with each other in the cards aisle every time. I personally hate receiving cards because I know I'm tossing it the next day and feel mildly guilty lol
Noel Mills 2 years ago
We just don't give cards to each other anymore. The only cards we get in the house are from our old parents/my kid's grandparents.
#60
Sunday Soup Day. I use Sundays to make stock/soups/stews/chilis/rice bowls and curries out of all my leftovers from the week. I portion each out into containers for my lunches. I use 3 fresh (Mon, Tues, Wednesday) then freeze the rest, to give me more variety later on. On average - each portion is less than $.40.
Poison Ivy/Boo 2 years ago
I just batch cook for the week, leave a few in the fridge and freeze the rest. Last week I did chilli and this week I did fried cabbage and pasta. Next week I'm thinking of a chicken and veg soup. Yes, I know I'm lazy, but it's my thing......let it go.
#61
Focus on the big ticket items like housing (live in the cheapest place you can... get roommates if you must), get the cheapest most reliable car you can afford and maintain it, reduce your tax burden through your retirement funds (if you have one), raise your deductibles on insurance to lower the premiums, eat the majority of your meals at home and make them healthy, get daily exercise in to reduce your chances of health problems later in life. These are the things people who are frugal should be focusing on IMO. Not things like watering down shampoo, reusing coffee grinds, unplying toliet paper to double the roll, unless you truly like doing these small ticket items. But while we are at it :) .... a small ticket item I do is use clothes to dry my hands when cooking and cut a sponge into two to get double the life. My sponges usually get moldy and mildewy and gross before they become unusable.
Bored something 2 years ago
Why do you use clothes to dry your hands? Wouldn't a towel make more sense?
Amina Wijntje 2 years ago
Haha, lol. I think that's what OP means (like, instead of paper. Which; duh).
Load More Replies... Jesse 2 years ago
Toss your dish sponge into the dishwasher once a week to prevent it from getting moldy. If you don't have one, wash it with your cleaning cloths at a min. 60°C wash. Also, wash your cotton tote bags ffs.
David Paterson 2 years ago (edited)
I find that 90 seconds in the microwave kills all the bacteria on a dish sponge. Once every four months.
Load More Replies... #62
Before you go out to eat(fast food) bring a drink from home. With the price Increase on everything this would be a great help when the bill comes. Honestly eat at home if you can and bring your own food when you can. Keep up with car maintenance.Basic oil change and check ups go a long way. I at least do this twice a year with my older vehicles but with a brand new car we do it every 3-4months. Learn to do it yourself saves a lot honestly. If you have a Sam's club membership use it! You can get some pretty good deals on gift cards and movie tickets. Visit local thrift stores to see what they have. I know with the price of subscriptions keeps increasing and now after spending some money upfront having physical movies on hand you could make your own server with movies and TV shows you want to watch. That is so something I am working on currently. Not only is it kind of fun.
Barbara Kelly 2 years ago
Many restaurants do not allow food or drink brought from outside. Ordering a glass of water costs nothing and saves one from looking like Scrooge and perhaps not getting good service.
#63
Costco has the best prices and quality (kirkland) tp and paper towels… hands down.
#64
Eating outs a luxury and if you can’t easily afford to tip, you can’t afford to eat out. And canned beans are way less expensive than bagged, but since I use them and they’re easy as can be- way, way less expensive than both meat and eating out- and way better for my health. Experiences matter more to children than items. When I beat covid pnuemonia taking my young kid to Vegas was a magical gift for her. The dopamine of shoppings far superior not on Black Friday but from scouring online thrifting- resell items. Holding something in an online cart for 24 hours helps but isn’t enough for all of us, I now let myself online shop and leave stuff for days, and often no longer need it. Self cares not getting my hair done, it’s getting to my Drs apts, paying my bills and being kinder to future me. Real self cares not always Insta worthy, can even include crying on the bathroom floor. “Treat yourself,” is a phrase misunderstood by some (me.) Treating myself has not been buying something which I can’t afford but instead being kind to future me. Nuance of last statement, don’t understand the importance of sometimes splurging. It’s been a hard year and I love Starbucks Apple coffee thingie. Buying overpriced coffees not my jam, but when I looked up the recipe I found it way wiser to sometimes decide I’m worth my kids college fund (kidding.) Those in poverty can’t budget their ways out of it. Let them enjoy their Doritos etc and stop shaming people for finding joy in this hellscape, however they can. Black Fridays a great time to stock up on practical items. It’s when I buy my beauty/pet/home supplies in surplus.
Kelly H. Wilder 2 years ago
Canned beans cheaper than dry? Definitely not per serving where I am. Besides, I make a batch and freeze in smaller containers for several meals (chili, beans and rice, nachos, etc.).
Almarako94 2 years ago
First of all, canned beans are completely worthless, all the healthy stuff gets destroyed to make it long lasting. Get frozen stuff, it lasts long and all the vitamins are still intact.
#65
I buy used clothes and used electronics as often as possible. My oldest daughter wanted the Nintendo switch for Christmas. I found it on ebay refurbished with 2 games a case, the charger for $179. I love ebay. I also will buy the majority of their Christmas presents in the store. I'm not doing online like amazon or Walmart. It's too expensive.
David Paterson 2 years ago
"Used electronics" is a good one. I saved 50% on a smart watch. But not too old, second hand electronics that's more than ten years old is likely to be a pile of junk.
#66
Water down shampoo. Save an empty shampoo bottle, then pour half of a new bottle into that. Fill the rest (depending on how thick your shampoo brand is) of both bottles with water. Pouring shampoo from a bottle on your hand tends to make people use more than they need because its thick and concentrated. You're going to mix it with water anyway on your head. Mixing it with water in the bottle will prevent using too much.
Spocks's Mom 2 years ago
I don't like this one. I hate watery shampoo. I just use a small amount and rub it between my hands so it distributes evenly. When I used to buy laundry detergent, I would water it down a little and use a bit less than I've seen others use (looking at you, mom). I make my own laundry detergent now and it saves a lot.
David Paterson 2 years ago
One thing I don't do but saves money and does work. Is to use the household soap bar instead of shampoo. Essential to use conditioner afterwards.
Aileen Grist 2 years ago
n't use shampoo you need to really scrub at your hair to clean it with just water. it leaves you with a nice tingly scalp and bouncy hair.
#67
Wash your hair once a week Zone heat. Buy a mattress heater and don't heat the bedroom. Go in with another family and bulk buy food. Go in with another person to buy your Sam's membership. Each membership gets 2 cards with the membership. Claim to be siblings if they ask.
Bored something 2 years ago
Sorry. My hair needs more than once a week. Better to say try to stretch time between washing. If you usually wash every other day try going three days between. It may feel oily onthe third day but give it a month th or so and see if your hair adapts. Sometimes it will but not for everyone. Also teens need to wash more often too.
Spocks's Mom 2 years ago
Every other day is as long as I can go. I usually wash it daily, though. My hair starts looking depressed if I go any longer.
Load More Replies... What do you think ?
JJ 2 years ago
We started using the app "Too good to go" recently. There are not a lot of offers in my rural area and mainly it's gas stations giving away leftover baked goods for 3-4 Euros but it works well for us. One "order" serves 2 people for dinner and breakfast, plus you get creative with what you get.
Sheila Carty 2 years ago
The only place in my area on there is a cookie store! 😆
Load More Replies... Captain Awesome 2 years ago
Not unique, but we make a weekly menu. Then look up ingredients needed and only buy those. I know what is in my fridge as it's for that week's meals and we usually have leftovers that I put a strip of masking tape on to date when it was cooked and store that front and center of fridge so we know what we already have for quick work lunch or a leftover dinner
Spocks's Mom 2 years ago
I roast my own coffee beans. Cheap whole bean coffee that I wouldn't even drink costs $12.50 per pound at the grocery store. I buy Primos green coffee beans in bulk and it's $6.34 per pound and better than most premium brands from the store. I make my own cleaners and laundry detergent too. Dawn cleans everything. I buy well maintained "old people cars" and save on maintenance, car payments, and insurance since I have liability only. I bought a small house in '19 and pay $625 per month for mortgage and insurance and with all the money we save, we do home repairs, improvements and maintenance. Too bad I hate cooking. We do waste a lot of money on eating out.
Jessie 2 years ago (edited)
Have cash on hand. When I have to go to the store for something like clothes and I plan on purchasing one shirt for €20 I take €23 in cash with me to the store (3 extra in case I see something really nice and it’s a little more expensive). No cards or anything. Saved me so much money since you literally can’t spend more than you planned to spend so you can’t buy stuff you didn’t want or need in the first place.
Tracy Wallick 2 years ago
I've found that a lot of items I think I want, I really only enjoy looking at; I'll favorite things and look at them whenever I want, for free, without having to buy something I can't afford, don't need and/or have no realistic use for.
Brooke Shilala 2 years ago
They think wearing masks inside the house is why they haven't gotten sick? A mask isn't going to protect you from anything except maybe a droplet. Also you shouldn't be seeking treatment Everytime you get a cold. Home remedies are all you need. Oh and why would anyone wear a mask in their home with their families?
Jessie 2 years ago
You shouldn’t seek any kind of treatment for something simple like a cold. It’s good to let your immune system do a bit of work sometimes.
Load More Replies...
dayngerkat 2 years ago
I used to waste a lot of food before I bought my vacuum sealer. Buy in bulk, separate into smaller portions, then vacuum seal. Saved me a ton on meats. Put in freezer and it lasts for a long time
JJ 2 years ago
We started using the app "Too good to go" recently. There are not a lot of offers in my rural area and mainly it's gas stations giving away leftover baked goods for 3-4 Euros but it works well for us. One "order" serves 2 people for dinner and breakfast, plus you get creative with what you get.
Sheila Carty 2 years ago
The only place in my area on there is a cookie store! 😆
Load More Replies... Captain Awesome 2 years ago
Not unique, but we make a weekly menu. Then look up ingredients needed and only buy those. I know what is in my fridge as it's for that week's meals and we usually have leftovers that I put a strip of masking tape on to date when it was cooked and store that front and center of fridge so we know what we already have for quick work lunch or a leftover dinner
Spocks's Mom 2 years ago
I roast my own coffee beans. Cheap whole bean coffee that I wouldn't even drink costs $12.50 per pound at the grocery store. I buy Primos green coffee beans in bulk and it's $6.34 per pound and better than most premium brands from the store. I make my own cleaners and laundry detergent too. Dawn cleans everything. I buy well maintained "old people cars" and save on maintenance, car payments, and insurance since I have liability only. I bought a small house in '19 and pay $625 per month for mortgage and insurance and with all the money we save, we do home repairs, improvements and maintenance. Too bad I hate cooking. We do waste a lot of money on eating out.
Jessie 2 years ago (edited)
Have cash on hand. When I have to go to the store for something like clothes and I plan on purchasing one shirt for €20 I take €23 in cash with me to the store (3 extra in case I see something really nice and it’s a little more expensive). No cards or anything. Saved me so much money since you literally can’t spend more than you planned to spend so you can’t buy stuff you didn’t want or need in the first place.
Tracy Wallick 2 years ago
I've found that a lot of items I think I want, I really only enjoy looking at; I'll favorite things and look at them whenever I want, for free, without having to buy something I can't afford, don't need and/or have no realistic use for.
Brooke Shilala 2 years ago
They think wearing masks inside the house is why they haven't gotten sick? A mask isn't going to protect you from anything except maybe a droplet. Also you shouldn't be seeking treatment Everytime you get a cold. Home remedies are all you need. Oh and why would anyone wear a mask in their home with their families?
Jessie 2 years ago
You shouldn’t seek any kind of treatment for something simple like a cold. It’s good to let your immune system do a bit of work sometimes.
Load More Replies... dayngerkat 2 years ago
I used to waste a lot of food before I bought my vacuum sealer. Buy in bulk, separate into smaller portions, then vacuum seal. Saved me a ton on meats. Put in freezer and it lasts for a long time
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