CuriositiesMAY 30, 2022

Clever People Are Sharing Their Tips To Living More Frugally, Here Are 30 Of The Best

Mantas Kačerauskas and Adelaide May Ross

Are you interested in getting more bang for your buck? Have you been wanting to save money and stretch your resources but just haven’t known where to start? Have we got the article for you! Okay, okay, I promise this list is not a cheesy infomercial in disguise. But it might actually teach you a thing or two about how to be more thrifty. We found two threads on the Frugal Living subreddit of users asking for "frugal life hacks" and frugal advice for families, so we've gathered the best responses from those threads for you to read down below, as well as an interview with Jen Smith, co-host of the Frugal Friends podcast, to gain some insight from an expert. There is absolutely no shame in going the extra mile to stretch your dollar (or euro or yen or pound etc.), so enjoy this list of useful tips and be sure to upvote the ones you find most relevant.

And if you’re finding yourself extra inspired after reading this post, check out Bored Panda’s last piece featuring frugal living tips right here.

#21

Clever People Are Sharing Their Tips To Living More Frugally, Here Are 30 Of The Best

I order my groceries online and it really cuts back on impulse purchases. This ties in with meal planning and cooking at home.

Find someone with a baby 6-12 months older than yours, 1 year is a good gap, and see if you can have/buy all their usesdclothing. You'll want to find someone with a close birth month so the seasonal stuff matches up.

sellyberry, mrsmaria

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62points

The internet now has dozens of blogs dedicated to frugal living, one of the most popular being Frugalwoods, which is run by two “ex-urban rookie homesteaders finding contentment on 66 acres in rural central Vermont”. In one of their blog posts, Liz, aka Mrs. Frugalwoods, details “why frugality is the best thing that’s ever happened to [her]”. She notes that it’s not always popular to live frugally when it’s not out of necessity, but it can help you identify your true priorities. “When I first began to cut things from my life, I thought of each cut as a loss. As something I didn’t get to do anymore,” Liz shares. “Now, I see them all as things I don’t have to do anymore. Things I don’t have to waste time, energy, and money on. Things I’ve freed myself from needing and from doing.”

#22

Try free entertainment. In many cities, libraries have passes for check out and/or free days at museums. Audiobooks, videos/dvds/streaming, ebooks, magazines are all available for free.

rducky26, distingue

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61points

#23

I wash ziplock plastic bags and reuse them. I don't do this for ones that store raw meat of course but they can last quite awhile. I tried those material reusable ones but my kids lose them.

We also reuse food containers for the kids lunch so when they lose those I don't mind.

We reserve movies from the library for free and have taught our kids to love read and they do it all of the time. We go to the library at least once a week.

We don't spend our money on stupid kid c**p. My kids receives gifts for birthdays and holidays. Recently I went to a store with a friend and she always lets her kids pick things out of the 1-5 dollar spot area. Over time that will add up. One tripe could cost her an extra ten dollars easy.

Like wise I don't buy myself everything I want.

I own a capsule wardrobe everything pretty much goes with everything else. I probably have under 30 items of clothing for the summer season for all occasions.

We drive older cars but keep up the maintenance.

We both have work cell phones. I know this isn't an option for everyone but as long as it's allowed use your work phone for your personal phone.

Meal plan for breakfast lunch dinner and snacks. Buy food on sale that is in season.

Work alternating shifts to avoid paying for childcare. It sucks but for awhile we had to with our daughter and it saved us so much money.

notyourzombi, MART PRODUCTION

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55points

#24

Get a returnable cost hobby. My son and I started coin roll hunting. You get rolled coins at the bank and go through them looking for any that have value. Silver coins (in US these are pre 1964 dimes and quarters) have around a 5x of face value. At worst, you find nothing and get your cash back for them at the bank... but get to have the thrill of the chase for no cost.

GonnaSurviveItAll, Pixabay

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53points

Liz goes on to mention that frugal living also “fosters lowered stress, increased peace and greater simplicity”. She provides the example of how she used to feel pressure to wear makeup despite knowing that it caused her anguish, cost lots of money and added time to her daily routine. But one day, she just decided that it was unnecessary, so she cut it out. Liz writes that it was “so much easier for me to simply say no”. “To simply not wear it anymore. To not buy it, to not need it, to not put it on. To simplify and to do without is to create a level of ease and calm.”

On that same note, Liz mentions that frugality has increased her happiness. She explains that “treating herself” less frequently allows those treats to be more exciting, and over time she’s taught her how to embrace life’s simple pleasures. “Frugality… trains our brain not to require those consumer highs. We’re happier with less and we enter a state of contentment, as opposed to a state of constantly craving.”

#25

Making your own cleaners, and using old cut-up shirts/bar cloths instead of paper towels. You'd be surprised how much you spend on cleaning supplies from the store. Vinegar is your best friend.

I also save a TON making my own laundry detergent. Took me a few times to nail it "just right", but this has been a huge savings.

bluemonetlily, Pixabay

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50points

#26

Repurposing. Take big empty containers from powdered coffee creamers or instant coffee- and reuse them with other products.

katCEO, Kym MacKinnon

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48points

#27

Buy non perishable items in bulk and on sale if possible. Also do this for things I use all the time like flour/rice

Plan meals ahead of time. Any fresh ingredients that aren't used up have another meal planned to use the. For example, I use half a head of cabbage in my stir fry so I plan another meal that uses the other half or I will forget to use it.

Replace light bulbs in low traffic areas with motion sensing light bulbs. I never worry if the utility room light was left on and it's wonderful.

AngerPancake, Marco Verch Professional Photographer

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46points

Although being thrifty may seem a bit subversive in our consumerist society, it can yield many personal benefits and help us be more gentle on the planet. Enjoy reading the rest of these frugal living tips; maybe you're even becoming inspired to grow your own garden or start shopping second hand. Don't forget to upvote your favorite recommendations, then let us know in the comments how you like to embrace frugality. You don't need to start brewing your own kombucha tomorrow, but if you're cutting back a little here and there, the Earth and your wallet will thank you.

#28

I have a family membership to a family gym + indoor pool. My whole family of 6 exercises / swims there usually 3 times a week for $90 a month. Besides having something healthily to do outside the house, it also pays for itself by having us shower there instead of the house on the days we go. Our water is very expensive.

UntrustedProcess, issuekid

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45points

#29

Cut your own hair. I've saved, at this point, thousands of dollars and my hair looks much better than the chain barber customers.

BuildingNoBookCase, Simon Law

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40points

#30

Buy from 99 cents store or something similar. I buy food, hygiene items, cleaners, etc there. Somethings aren't actually cheaper but you just need to price check with your other local stores.

theboogaba, JJBers

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35points

Mantas KačerauskasBoredPanda Staff

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