Not everyone has the resources to splurge and live big. For most people, money is a precious commodity, and each one has their own way of saving for a rainy day.
Some of these folks shared their creative approaches to frugality in their answers to this Reddit question: “What’s the little effortless, stupid thing you do that TECHNICALLY saves you money?”
One person revealed they were saving their chicken bones to make stock. Another user uses soap bars because they “last far longer” than shower gels.
Many of these answers may seem laughable, but they technically get the job done, as the question asks. Scroll through and see which ones make the most sense to you.
#22
Write every transaction down in a spiral notebook using a pen.
The process makes every purchase feel tangible and immediate. It also gives me time to reconsider buying something.
The process makes every purchase feel tangible and immediate. It also gives me time to reconsider buying something.
18points
#23
I saw a video in a store like TJ Maxx or whatever and it described all the items in there as waiting to become goodwill donations and it really made me rethink how I view stores and how much new c**p I need.
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18points
#24
I keep my cell phones for several years. I use apps like ibotta , fetch and honey and save all my points /money for years and use that to buy a new cell phone in full. Haven't paid for a phone in a very long time.
Learned to do oil changes & tire rotations on my car. Use credit card points to buy the oil. Free oil change.
I use the Amazon credit card for everything I buy on Amazon and select the "slower shipping" option to get 6% cash back. My points pay for my prime membership now.
Learned to do oil changes & tire rotations on my car. Use credit card points to buy the oil. Free oil change.
I use the Amazon credit card for everything I buy on Amazon and select the "slower shipping" option to get 6% cash back. My points pay for my prime membership now.
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18points
#25
Eat at home and meal prep.
Shop the sales
I don’t buy coffee, water or drinks out. I carry a small thermos.
Shop the sales
I don’t buy coffee, water or drinks out. I carry a small thermos.
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17points
#26
I take the tops and tails of the sliced tomatoes from work with blessings from boss. Haven't bought a tomato in years.
I get 3 free coffee a day at work so I take one home in a yeti. Haven't bought one in years.
My coffee mug at home us a mug from work we're the handle broke off so I took it and glues it back on, same with my teapot.
I get 3 free coffee a day at work so I take one home in a yeti. Haven't bought one in years.
My coffee mug at home us a mug from work we're the handle broke off so I took it and glues it back on, same with my teapot.
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17points
#29
Ride the bus. It drops me off a few blocks from my job in downtown. Driving gets expensive and a bus fare is a lot less than paying for parking and gas.
15points
#30
I have my tv and cable box/apple tv on a timer plug so that it switches off all night and almost all day and comes on at 6pm when I get home from work. So saves me 18~ish hours of appliances on standby.
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12points
