45 People Share Which Frugal Choices Are Absolutely Worth It And Which Are A Waste Of Time

Not having children.

ALWAYS paying off the credit card bills in full every month. Knowing the cc company is floating me money and not making a dime off me in interest is extremely satisfying.

Making dinner at home every night - I get food prepared exactly the way I want it, it’s less expensive and healthier.

Buying thick curtains. One time purchase for long term savings energy bill wise. AC/Heat is very expensive these days.

Buying Christmas/Birthday gifts year round. I shop clearance everywhere I go and have a covered bin in the attic for all things gift.

Edit: this has also helped for last minute invites to birthday parties or special occasions.

Packing my lunch every day. My colleagues spend $10-15/day purchasing lunch. I bring leftovers in a microwave dish with some snacks like Greek yogurt, hummus & crackers, and fruit. It's insanely cheaper.

Allways buy the cheap storebrand grocery products if they exist for the product. Can often save between 20-60% on these items.

It isn't particular to money but being friendly with neighbors and seeking out the advice of my older coworkers has saved me so much money.

Having engine trouble?
I describe it to Dave and he'll tell me it's the throttle body gasket causing the misfire. He's been right 17 out of 17 times. He used to have the same car, he might even have some spark plugs and ignition coils for it at home. He's saved me so much time and money.

Need a tool but can't afford to buy or rent it right now?
Well, my neighbor heard me cursing about it and is really grateful that I shoveled their sidewalk all winter so he left it at the door along with some of their homegrown tomatoes for me to borrow without even asking.

My boss heard me whining about not having any counter space and gave me a cabinet we built for a product line that never left R&D.

There are countless examples of this.

Trying to save money on moving. Hiring professional movers is always the right choice for me. The stress of family, tempers, fatigue is too much.

Unplugging my electric dryer during this heatwave from hell. Putting up a rotary clothesline I had in storage. My clothes dry outside anywhere from 40 minutes to one hour and 20 minutes. Should have started this midwinter (it never really got cold). I’m not heating up my house with the dryer, thus making the air conditioner work harder. My electric bill is lower. I get a bit of exercise.

Cheap toilet paper. I can use the good Charmin I love that does the job with much less, or I can use 2-3x as much cheap toilet paper.

Meal planning/making a shopping list full of cheap ingredients that are flexible and last for a while like potatoes and celery.

I’ve gotten quite good at sewing and crafts, and have learned to do so quite cheaply. Everyone gets handmade gifts from me and they love them.

Buying a house that cost about half as much as I could “afford.”.

I learned to start plants from seed instead of buying plant starts. Bonus - you get a wider variety of plants to choose from also.

Small one, making bread. We have a bread machine and our bread tastes better, is astronomically less expensive, doesn't have questionable ingredients, and is easy with the machine. Absolute win.

So many food choices. Even fast food is outrageously expensive.

Prepare food at home. I probably paid for my instant pot in a week or two by simply using it to prepare meals ahead of time.

Buying meat in bulk and breaking it down into smaller packages at home

The cost difference is staggering.

Most small packages of meat are only a small amount list than the cost of the larger uncut meat. Like hamburger. I can buy 12lbs for the same cost as $5lbs in shall packages.

Switching out cat litter. Went from a good brand but also came with a higher price tag to the one at Costco. Deep cleaning the litterboxes became a weekly chore because of how much that cheap litter got stuck everywhere. Went back to the original litter and never again will I switch.

Eating less in general, and now what I eat is whole foods I cook myself. I had weight to lose anyway. Seems silly to eat calories that I then have to spend extra time exercising hard to burn off.

Also, I stopped drinking alcohol. That saves so much money, and I didn't really drink much.

Minimalism. I only purchase items that bring long-term value to my life, food, and consumables. "Value" is subjective and will be specific to you.

For example, I do own guitars and a drum kit, but not a television. If I think I want something, I add it to a wish list for at least 2 weeks so I can evaluate it. How often will I use it? Do I just think it's cool or do I actually need it? Will having this new thing make me happier? Why? I don't purchase immediately unless there's a need to do that.

I'm able to save a lot more. Ordering takeout less often helps, too. I cook most of my meals now.