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!
#21
Try to use up any item until it’s empty, broken or has no use anymore, then I can buy a replacement.
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28points
DIY projects are a frugal person’s best friend. From home decor to fixing things around the house, doing it yourself can be surprisingly fun and satisfying—not to mention it saves you from shelling out cash for things you can easily handle on your own.
#22
Save all of your vegetable scraps, peelings, tops and bottoms of veggies etc and place them in a bag in the freezer. When the bag is full, place all these peelings in a pot, cover with water, add salt and pepper, a bay leaf etc and simmer for an hour or so. Let it cool completely then strain. Now you have homemade vegetable stock.
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28points
#23
Reuse ziplock Sandwich bags and freezer bags.
25points
#24
I work construction. We often throw out a disgusting amount of cut offs and leftover lumber. Between that and landscaping cast-off that I stumble across, I have not had to buy firewood for many years (I also have a natural gas furnace but usage is reduced to less than 1/4).
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25points
And of course, let’s not forget about coupons! They’re an absolute lifesaver when it comes to cutting costs on groceries, services, and even big-ticket items. With a little effort, you can snag some incredible deals and stretch your budget even further.
#25
Use solar panels, power stations and camping lanterns/rechargeable flashlights/etc for almost all electric in my house. It's greatly saved on my power bill, and i had all this stuff just sitting around anyway for camping, now im just making use of it around the house. I basically havent touched an actual lightswitch in over a year!!
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23points
#26
I make my own pizza dough from scratch - flour, yeast, water etc. Buying pizza from a shop or having it delivered has gotten way too expensive.
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23points
#27
Fun thing to do is to get a small compost bin. Turn your coffee grounds,eggshells, and other organic stuff into excellent soil for plants. If you aren't into plants, there are people who would like what you have done.
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22points
So, which of these tips do you think is the most practical—or maybe the most challenging? Do you have your own frugal living advice to share? Let us know—we’d love to hear your thoughts and learn from your experience!
#28
I dumpster dive to supplement my grocery budget.
Rules of thumb: I don’t do meat unless it’s refrigerator temperature outside (so, rarely, as it’s still annoyingly warm in the Boston area)
Never take anything with a compromised packaging/seal
Only take produce you will eat within 2-3 days, and wash thoroughly before eating.
Have found loads of shelf-stable almond milk, cereal, cheese, yogurt, pre-made meals, snacks, chips, etc.
Just use common sense. If it looks, smells, or tastes off don’t risk it. Been doing it for years now and not once did I get sick.
Rules of thumb: I don’t do meat unless it’s refrigerator temperature outside (so, rarely, as it’s still annoyingly warm in the Boston area)
Never take anything with a compromised packaging/seal
Only take produce you will eat within 2-3 days, and wash thoroughly before eating.
Have found loads of shelf-stable almond milk, cereal, cheese, yogurt, pre-made meals, snacks, chips, etc.
Just use common sense. If it looks, smells, or tastes off don’t risk it. Been doing it for years now and not once did I get sick.
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22points
#29
Getting into sport. All the activities I like doing are free. I usually go hiking, cycling (okay you need a bike) etc. Take a sandwich with me. I usually set off from my house, so no transport fees either. I invested in a tent, so now when I go on holiday, I hike and wild camp in the tent. Makes for a very cheap holiday.
The other thing is asking yourself ‘do I really need this’ before buying something. Usually it’s a no.
The other thing is asking yourself ‘do I really need this’ before buying something. Usually it’s a no.
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22points
#30
I buy small cucumbers and put them in my pickle jar when I run out of pickles.
21points
#31
Friday in the US next week everyone else storms the electronics at Walmart but I'm grabbing 1/2 priced Turkey's and other food. I spend half of what I would for two months of cooking at home. Then I go back in throughout the following weeks for more good deals. My deep freeze is 1/4 full today...next week it's full.
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21points
#32
I used to be trigger happy with my debit card, but now I take out money for expenses for the week.
The first month was the hardest because you're breaking old habits. That and I had to get ahead of the curve with the bills.
The first month was the hardest because you're breaking old habits. That and I had to get ahead of the curve with the bills.
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20points
#33
I bring home half used soap bars from hotels that I already opened. Mostly for the environment but most people won’t bother.
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19points
#34
I use fallen tree limbs as garden bed borders. They bank water and when they decay they make new soil.
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19points
#35
I shower at work for convenience and to save money. There’s a soap dispenser in the shower and fresh towels. I also take home things that are opened but not used and will be disposed of (we are allowed to). I wear clothes more than once if they aren’t dirty. I eat expired food as long as it smells and tastes ok. I pick and eat wild berries in late summer. I want to get into harvesting mushrooms too.
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18points
#37
Me and my wife have been splitting a soda when we eat out for over 30 years. Here recently we usually split a meal. They give you so much food we both end up full anyways.
17points
#38
Pick up cans I find on the ground and recycle them for 10 cents.
17points
#39
Every year in winter time I give myself a budget of around €40,- and spend it on vegetable seeds. This usually gives me a season worth of produce and more. The excess is shared between our neighbors, one neighbor had terrific strawberry plants, another great brambles, and so the exchange begun. I’d give them tomato seedlings and they would give me theirs. Now I can safely say my frugal treat is not spending any money on fruit and veg from may up to oct/nov. 😁
(I currently buy produce again, which adds up to about 25-30 euros a week… so I guess the €40,- worth of seeds for a season is a pretty good investment.).
(I currently buy produce again, which adds up to about 25-30 euros a week… so I guess the €40,- worth of seeds for a season is a pretty good investment.).
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17points
#40
I bought a few foaming hand soap dispensers a few years ago. I refill them with a quarter inch or less of Dawn dish soap in the bottom and fill the rest with hot water at a slow rate so it dosent foam, then I shake it a few times to mix it. It gives you a nice thick foam that lifts dirt and greasy goo easily. I think it is a waste of money buying the overpriced foaming hand soap every time you run out and the regular hand soap isn't as good.
16points