30 Changes People Applied To Their Lives That Help Them Save The Most Money

To learn more about which frugal habits will have the biggest impact on our finances nowadays, we reached out to some budget-friendly experts to hear their tips.

According to Lydia Beiler, aka Thrifty Frugal Mom, some of the habits that have saved her the most money in recent years are "making things from scratch (like homemade Bisquick Mix, caramel frappes, chocolate cake and chocolate syrup); buying things like furniture, toys and baby items used; and avoiding impulse purchases."

"If you wait several days before buying something, you'll often realize you don't really need it that much," she explained, noting that she's always tried to live pretty frugally. "And especially so, since my husband and I got married nearly 18 years ago," she added.

We were also lucky enough to get in touch with Caitlin Self, MS, CNS, LDN of Frugal Nutrition to hear how she likes to live frugally. "In my experience, cooking at home is an amazing way to significantly save on your food budget each week. Ordering delivery and dining out can typically cost around $20 or more per portion of food, but you can easily make dinner at home for $5 per serving," Caitlin told Bored Panda.

"The key is to do it consistently, so you can buy more things in bulk and so you use everything you purchase - rather than letting some of it go bad. Learning to cook is one of the best things you can do for your budget, and for your overall health! I've been cooking the majority of our meals at home for over a decade, and when we have to tighten the purse strings on our own spending, my food budget is the easiest area for me to quickly modify," the nutritionist shared.

Melissa Vera of Adventures of Frugal Mom also detailed some of her best money saving tips for us. "Establishing a budget and adhering to it is essential for understanding your financial flow and making informed choices about where to cut back," she shared. "Opt for meal planning and cooking at home to save money compared to frequent dining out. Avoid impulsive purchases by implementing a waiting period before buying non-essential items."

"Always compare prices and seek out deals, discounts, and coupons before making purchases. (Just because you have a coupon doesn't mean that you should have multiple items because, seriously, how many bottles of mustard does your family really need?) Utilize credit cards with cashback or rewards programs, ensuring you pay off the balance monthly to avoid interest charges," Melissa continued.

"Negotiate bills with service providers and inquire about available discounts or promotions," Melissa recommends. "Evaluate subscriptions regularly and cancel those that are not frequently used. Plus you can always read the magazine or borrow videos from your local library. Learn basic DIY skills for household maintenance tasks instead of hiring professionals."

"Embrace minimalism to focus spending on what truly matters while reducing unnecessary material expenses," the frugal mom added. "Prioritize saving and investing by automating contributions to savings or investment accounts for long-term growth through compounding interest. Reduce transportation costs by utilizing public transport, biking, walking, or carpooling when possible instead of relying solely on personal vehicles."

Melissa also recommends looking for free or low-cost entertainment options, such as community events, parks, libraries, or cultural activities, rather than expensive alternatives.

And she says she did lots of secondhand shopping when her daughters were little. "I always got compliments on their clothes because they were so unique," she shared, noting that she's been using most of these frugal habits since she started staying home when her oldest daughter was 2 and a half. "She will be 29 this year," Melissa says.

Caitlin also noted that she sometimes has her clients audit their grocery bills to see what is costing them the most money, and then they review how essential their bigger ticket items are. "Consistently among clients, it is snack foods and convenience items that are busting their grocery budgets!" she shared. "Choosing super simple snacks like nut butter and rice cakes with banana slices, or making your own homemade snacks, like muffins, can save families $10-$25 per week."

Caitlin also recommends keeping an eye on unit prices to see how much you're paying for branding. "Name brands spend extra money on marketing and shelving costs, and they pass those fees onto the consumer by charging more per unit," she explained. "So compare the unit prices for store brand items vs. the big brands. You may save a few bucks by choosing the store brand!"

"Of course, reducing discretionary spending on non-essentials such as travel, alcohol, and fashion can make a big difference as well, depending on how you spend your money and your personal preferences," the expert added.

But not every frugal tip is worth it. According to Lydia, "trying to plan electricity use around off peak hours to get a lower rate" and selling small dollar items on Facebook Marketplace just aren't worth the time if you are busy.

But she does believe it's wise for all of us to live frugally, regardless of the state of our finances, because none of us know when our financial situation might change.

"Continuing to live at least somewhat frugally will make it easier if we need to adjust to spending less again at some point. Also, I'm a big proponent of giving generously," Lydia says. "If we aren't spending extravagantly, we have more to share with those around the world that haven't been as privileged as we have been. And often living frugally means less waste too, which is better for the planet and all of us!"

When determining if a frugal habit is worth it, Caitlin notes that sometimes you have to weigh the savings against the time you're spending preparing meals. "If you don't have a lot of time, cooking your beans from scratch, making homemade bread, or making a homemade dessert might not be worth the effort," she explained. "I think it comes down to a cost-benefit analysis of your time, your stress levels, your energy, and your financial flexibility."

Caitlin also pointed out that you might regret choosing the cheapest option for something that you really enjoy. "For example, a $4 pastry from a coffee shop chain is going to be mediocre at best, whereas a $5 pastry from a local bakery or coffee shop that makes everything in house is likely to be excellent! So when the cost savings aren't hugely significant, but will impact your enjoyment immensely, I recommend you go for the splurge every once in a while rather than settling for something sub-par," she shared. "Something mediocre might not satisfy your craving and could leave you reaching for something else to feel more satisfied!"

"I think it is important to have some kind of a 'why' associated with frugal habits," Caitlin continued. "Spending within your means is great for you and for society, and saving for retirement and possible illnesses are essential habits in the US based on our policies. But, cutting costs just for the sake of it can also be restricting pleasure and joy - and what is life without those things?"

"So if you're choosing to avoid hanging out with friends and family because of the cost of dining out or the cost of gas or travel, without actually having a good reason to save that money, well, I'm not sure if that is really worth it in the grand scheme of things," the nutritionist says. "It's important to bring balance, even to the concept of frugality!"

Melissa shared that some of the frugal habits that aren't always worth it for her are developing DIY skills and taking advantage of rebate programs. "Sometimes, you get overconfident with the DIY and end up making more of a mess and costing you more money than the actual repair," she noted. "And rebates and cash back programs are awesome, but not if you justify the purchase with 'Oh, I am okay with spending this much money because I am not technically spending all of it.'"