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“What’s The Most Frugal Thing You Do?” (50 Answers)
Economy & LaborDEC 28, 2024

“What’s The Most Frugal Thing You Do?” (50 Answers)

Jonas Žvilius
Nikita Manot
Jonas Žvilius and Nikita Manot
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Saving money doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, the simplest habits can make the biggest difference. Whether it’s clipping a coupon, snagging a great deal, or finding clever ways to stretch your budget, small steps can add up over time. And if you’re looking for inspiration, the internet is full of frugal living enthusiasts eager to share their best tips.  
When someone asked online, “What’s the most frugal thing you do?”, the responses were both creative and eye-opening. These hacks aren’t just practical—they’re inspiring and might just change the way you look at your own spending. Keep reading to uncover some of the best frugal tips and tricks that could revolutionize your approach to saving money!

#1

“What’s The Most Frugal Thing You Do?” (50 Answers)
I wouldn’t say this is frugal but it helps to not spend as much - I guess it’s a form of electronic window shopping - I put stuff in my cart and go back to it days later, 9 times out of 10, I don’t buy whatever it is I was looking at. Helps to not impulse buy.
Marigold2268, AS Photography/Pexels
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112points

#2

“What’s The Most Frugal Thing You Do?” (50 Answers)
When I was a single mom and broke I used to walk to and from work even when I finished at midnight and it was 25C below. Not only did it save me the $3 each ride, but I was fit, I was healthy, and it helped pull me out of depression. Exercise for the win.
Sprinqqueen, Avijit Singh/Pexels
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91points

#3

“What’s The Most Frugal Thing You Do?” (50 Answers)
I’m an avid reader, I use the public library not only for books, but online classes, learn a new language, Libby, check out tools, & fun activities for the grandkids.
Genie_noteC, Rafael Cosquiere/Pexels
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84points

Many of us might think frugal living is all about grabbing the cheapest products off the shelf, but that’s not quite the case. Being frugal isn’t about depriving yourself or cutting corners at every turn—it’s about making smart, thoughtful choices that save money without compromising on quality.  

A blog post by Synchrony sheds light on this common misconception. “One of the misconceptions of frugal living is that you should always buy the cheapest item, no matter what,” they mention. Instead, frugality is about prioritizing value over price. Whether it’s a product or service, focus on what you’re actually getting for your money. Spending wisely sometimes means investing a little more upfront for something that lasts longer or delivers better results.

#4

“What’s The Most Frugal Thing You Do?” (50 Answers)
I cut open all my product containers and use every last drop. It's more about not wasting stuff, but it's also frugal. You would be surprised how much product can be trapped in a moisturizer bottle or toothpaste tube. It takes a lot of resources to make our daily products, using them up is an easy way to reduce my waste footprint. I'm outsmarting corporations who want me to buy more of their products!
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80points

#5

“What’s The Most Frugal Thing You Do?” (50 Answers)
I know it’s pretty common now but I am driving the same car I had when I was 22 as a mom now with 2 kids. There’s nothing like a paid off car.
SnooHamsters3342, Arthur Brognoli/Pexels
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80points

#6

“What’s The Most Frugal Thing You Do?” (50 Answers)
A habit I learned from my mom as I grew up that I still do today: we usually had protein, a carb and two side dish vegetables for dinner most nights, and she used to put the side vegetables leftover from dinner (canned/fresh/frozen peas, carrots, broccoli, sauteed cabbage, mushrooms and onions, greens, peppers, lima beans, green beans, okra [unbreaded], diced beets, potatoes, zucchini and tomatoes, corn, etc.) into a tupperware container (like a large cool whip tub) and put it in the freezer. over a couple weeks she'd add all these smidges of vegetables on top of the previous vegetable dishes in the container and refreeze it until it was full, then she'd make the most amazing vegetable soup with a pound of ground beef sauteed with some chopped onion, a can of crushed tomatoes, a small can of tomato paste and some water, and the contents of the tupperware container. frugal, super nutrious and deeeelicious! she managed to feed a family of five with those pots of soup for dinner one night with cornbread, corn muffins or saltines, and usually lunch for all of us the next day too.
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76points

One of the most important aspects of frugal living is learning to live below your means. This doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy life or treat yourself now and then—it’s about being mindful of your spending and making choices that align with what you can genuinely afford.

Credit can be a useful tool, but it should be used for convenience, not as a way to buy things that are beyond your budget. It’s a small adjustment that can have a big impact on your financial peace of mind.

#7

“What’s The Most Frugal Thing You Do?” (50 Answers)
I take my lunch to work every day and I haven’t bought coffee at Starbucks in years. I make coffee at home every day. It doesn’t even feel like frugality because I prefer it this way.
abby-rose, MART PRODUCTION/Pexels
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67points

#8

“What’s The Most Frugal Thing You Do?” (50 Answers)
I buy just about everything used.
UnBrewsual, Leticia Ribeiro/Pexels
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61points

#9

“What’s The Most Frugal Thing You Do?” (50 Answers)
I never ever get food delivered.
Upper-Discount5060, Vlada Karpovich/Pexels
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59points

One of the golden rules of frugal living is knowing the difference between wants and needs. It’s easier said than done, especially when everything seems tempting, but learning to prioritize what you truly need can save you a ton of money in the long run. 

#10

“What’s The Most Frugal Thing You Do?” (50 Answers)
I work at Starbucks, we get unlimited free drinks on the clock and 7 free food markouts a week. I usually work 6 days a week - so 6 days a week, I eat breakfast at work... and oops, someone made an extra sandwich, we don't want to waste it, I guess I'll eat it...


2 free meals a day almost every day is pretty nice.
jayyy_0113, Lina Kivaka/Pexels
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48points

#11

I make tea and bring it to work in a big thermos. I eat leftovers from last night’s dinner for lunch.
Darogaserik
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47points

#12

“What’s The Most Frugal Thing You Do?” (50 Answers)
The most extreme thing I do is camp in my car two days a week. I work out of town three days a week and so rather than drive home or rent a room I go to a campground and sleep in the hatch of my car. I save a ton of money but I also just plainly enjoy it at this point. It’s so serene out there that I get great sleep and I usually bring a portable dvd player for entertainment. Then I workout in the morning at the gym and shower. So it helps keep me consistent at the gym too.
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46points

When it comes to big purchases like houses or cars, smaller is often better. A smaller home means lower utility bills and less maintenance, and a compact car is usually more fuel-efficient. Downsizing where it makes sense can free up funds for other priorities.

#13

“What’s The Most Frugal Thing You Do?” (50 Answers)
Tear up old, worn linens into rags to use for cleaning, and other things.
CartographerKey7322, Liliana Drew/Pexels
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41points

#14

“What’s The Most Frugal Thing You Do?” (50 Answers)
We run a dehumidifier in the basement. All of the water it generates is used on plants.
p38-lightning, HS You/Flickr
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40points

#15

“What’s The Most Frugal Thing You Do?” (50 Answers)
No cable, but I think that’s typical right now. We also go a long time between haircuts and occasionally do our own. Zero salon trips - strictly Great Clips with a coupon!
Powerful-Tonight8648, RDNE Stock project/Pexels
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40points

Food is another area where frugal living can make a big impact. Planning your meals in advance not only helps you avoid last-minute "I'm starving, let’s order takeout" moments, but it also reduces food waste. A little prep work can lead to big savings over time. 

#16

“What’s The Most Frugal Thing You Do?” (50 Answers)
My clothes dryer broke 7 years ago. I've been using a rack or line to dry clothes since then. Saved $ not buying a dryer, saves $ on electricity, and saves $ because clothes actually last longer since dryers cause them to wear out faster.
Fantastic_Lady225, Dziana Hasanbekava/Pexels
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40points

#17

“What’s The Most Frugal Thing You Do?” (50 Answers)
The most frugal thing that I’ve been the most successful with and consistent with is doing my own car repairs/maintenance. Ironically my whole family and myself drive Honda/Toyota so they barely have issues but I’ve saved myself thousands over the years by now doing it myself and I transferred those skills to help my friends and family which makes me feel better knowing I can help them out financially by doing expensive work for a lot cheaper for them.
anythingfromtheshop, Julia Schmidt/Pexels
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33points

#18

“What’s The Most Frugal Thing You Do?” (50 Answers)
Pay as you go/prepaid phone plan $30 a month no complaints I'm not missing out on anything.
Kangaroowrangler_02, muhammad Shamaoon Malik/Pexels
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32points

Don’t shy away from secondhand products. Whether it’s furniture, clothes, or gadgets, buying pre-loved items can save you a fortune. Plus, it’s eco-friendly and gives perfectly good items a second life.

#19

“What’s The Most Frugal Thing You Do?” (50 Answers)
Today, I purchased a $130 air fryer for $8. I got a $50 coupon for applying for a target red circle credit card and waited until black friday, when the item was on sale for around $58. I used my $50 coupon s well as another $2 coupon to walk out with a practically free air fryer.
ThatPunkGinger, Lisa Fotios/Pexels
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30points

#20

“What’s The Most Frugal Thing You Do?” (50 Answers)
I buy my produce from a nonprofit rescues food before it heads to a landfill.

It's $2 for about 15 lbs of food, and I live in a VHCOL city. My food budget is maybe $100 / month, when I'd previously not bat an eye spending that on a single dinner.
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29points
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