Looking for frugal living tips and ways to save money? We have a huge list to show you an easy way or two to save extra money. Whether using gift cards to save money, saving money at the grocery store, at thrift stores, we have creative ways and the best frugal tips.
Tips For Frugal Living
Would you love to know 50 ways to save money?
Here are some general tips on how to be frugal, ways to save money in your household, with your kids, and when feeding your family. Do you have a tip for frugal living?
What does it mean to be frugal?
Frugal living is a lifestyle where you actively learn ways and go out of your way to not spend as much money and save money through the different aspects and areas of their lives. Through budgeting, using less, going without, or changing how you use things and spend money will allow you to live a more frugal lifestyle which will make more comfortable in the long run.
How To Be Frugal
To be frugal means use less money. Whether it’s a good deal or learning to use what you have, like they did in the great depression, a frugal person will avoid spending a lot of money, avoid food waste, and learn basic life skills that will help them buy less.
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Best Frugal Living Tips
1. Goal Chart
Make a goal chart and as you save the amount of money or pay off debts, mark them off and reward yourself. (Ex: we can’t get that camera until our car is paid off). The expense of the camera is minor compared to the interest I’ll save by paying off debts early.
2. Budgeting System
We do the packets budgeting system. All spending money we take out at the beginning of each month. We then pay for everything with that cash, when it is gone there is no more till the next month. This budgeting method works for us, find one that works for you!
3. Wait Before Making Large Purchases
Wait for a minimum of 24 hours before purchasing any pricey item. Oh, and see if you can find something comparable used first!
4. Fix It Before Replacing
If something breaks try to fix it or do without before going out and purchasing a replacement. Try not to hire someone to fix things, rather swap services (see Craig’s list).
5. No More Impulse Buys
To curb impulse buys, create a 30-day list. When you want to buy something, other than a true necessity (medicine or food, for example), put it on this list, with the date you added it to the list. And make it a rule that you can’t buy anything for at least 30 days after you put it on the list. And stick to it. You’ll find that you buy a lot less with this system.
6. Surround Yourself With Frugal Minded Friends
Surround yourself with frugal-minded folk. If you don’t have any friends who are willing to make a frugal journey with you try looking online, maybe get a great frugal book, or browse the websites One Income Dollar or the Prudent Housewife. Both great inspirational blogs. We found it is easier to save when we’re not surrounded by spend-happy folks.
FRUGAL TIPS FOR GROCERY SHOPPING
7. Price Sheets Comparing Prices
Use a price sheet so that you can know if a sale is really a bargain or if you can find it cheaper elsewhere.
8. Buy Manager Special Meat and Freeze It
Buy meat that is on Manager Special (expiring that day or shortly after). Cook that day and eat/freeze.
9. Make Meat Go Further
Mix ground beef with an egg and several handfuls of quick oats (makes the meat go farther). Use in meatballs, meat loaf, etc.
10. Bake Your Own Bread
Bake your own bread “ let the yeast sit in sugar water till it smells fermented and use half the yeast (the most expensive ingredient in bread). Artisan bread is the cheapest to make per loaf.
11. Make Your Milk Last Longer
If you are big milk drinkers, buy whole milk and a box of dry milk and make your own mock-2% milk by mixing half whole, half non-fat dry reconstituted milk. You have two gallons for a fraction of the cost.
12. Go Meatless A Couple Nights A Week
Go meatless 1-2 nights a week. You can substitute dry beans. They are VERY cheap and filling.
13. Make A Meal Plan
Meal plan and coordinate so that leftovers can be utilized fully, yet keeping variety. (Ex: Tacos day one, use left over taco meat day 2 for stuffed peppers).
14. Stretch Your Groceries
Try to stretch as much time between shopping trips. The fewer times you go shopping, the fewer chances you have to impulse buy.
15. Make A Shopping List and Stick To It
ONLY shop from a list. If it is not on the list DO NOT BUY IT. It is best to make a check off inventory list of all things you could need and highlight what you’re out or low on.
16. Eat Before You Shop
Eat something small before you go. It is harder to resist the temptation to over buy when you have an empty tummy.
17. Keep Your Change
Keep your change (dollar bills and coins) use this as your fun fund.
18. Buy Generic
Buy generic “ many times this is considerably less than the alternative even if you have coupons.
19. Use Coupons
Use coupons if you prefer something name brand and only if you buy that item regularly. Also, ask if your grocery shop has double days.
20. Ask If You Can Clip The Coupons From Library Newspapers
Rather than buy a newspaper for the coupons, go to your library, usually they do not mind allowing you to clip the coupons you need ¦ and your kids can attend story time at the same time! If you are new to couponing, then this book is a helpful start.
CLEVER WAYS TO SAVE MONEY AROUND YOUR HOME
21. Do You Dishes By Hand
Wash your dishes by hand. I have a hard time with this one, I know it saves water/energy, but I love the convenience of my dishwasher!
22. Air Dry Your Clothes
Wash clothes in warm water and only if you have a full load to do. Dry your clothes on the line and if you don’t like the crunchy feel, stick them in the dryer for 5 min with a wet rag after they’ve hung out.
23. Wash Your Clothes Less
Wash your clothes inside out so they will look nicer longer and only wash if something is truly dirty.
24. Save Fabric Softener
If you like fabric softener, put some on a towel and throw it in with the dryer. A quarter size spill on the towel can do about 3 loads “ a great way to save softener! Also, to make your detergent go farther, add a tablespoon of baking soda to the load and use half the detergent. Baking soda is a soap booster and is cheaper than Arm & Hammer.
25. Use Your Dryer/Stove To Help Heat Your Home
In the winter, use your dryer and stove during the early evening to help heat your home. In the summer, use them in the very early morning (or not at all) to help keep your home cool.
26. Long Term Meal Prep
Cook all your meals for a 2-week period (esp. in the summer) so that your oven only has to do the work one time for multiple meals. Keep meals in the freezer and re-heat with the microwave “ uses less energy, and you save time. Also, having home-cooked freezer meals cut down on the tendency to order take-out when you’re having an exceptionally busy day. It is possible to do this with a refrigerator’s freezer.
27. Turning Your A/C Up
In the summer take a cold bath/wash rag to help you feel cool before bed, and keep the thermostat as high as possible or the A/C off if possible (we live in TX “ its not possible). Each degree change can save up to 3% on your energy costs!
28. Lighting A Room With A Mirror
In a room that has a tendency to be dark, put a mirror near the light to refract the light around the room. One light bulb has the power of two with this trick!
29. Unplugging Appliances
Unplug items (toaster, shaver, cell phone charger, TV) when not in use. Small amounts of electricity are still being used even if they are off, but plugged in.
30. Buy From Garage Sales Or Places That Sell Used Items
Use Craig’s List to purchase used items (furniture, etc.) or freecycle or go to garage sales. We’ve even gotten a number of items from the curb on trash day!
31. Buy Paint From The “Oops” Counter At Home Depot Or Lowes
Buy paint from the oops counter at Home Depot or Lowes. Also, if the color of your walls allows, add a faux finish over the existing color. This uses a lot less paint and allows you to spruce up more rooms at a fraction of the cost.
32. Use Cell Phone Or House Phone Not Both
Cut your cell-phone or house phone, you don’t need both. If possible, become a single-phone family. For long distance, calling cards are great! You can usually find cards with under 2 cents a min! Pay-as-you-go cell phone plans are great if you are not a big phone user.
33. DIY Cleaners
Make your own household cleaners. Vinegar, baking soda, Hydrogen peroxide, borax & bleach are all really cheap and you can make any and every household cleaner from laundry detergent to the equivalents of Windex and Comet from mixtures of those ingredients.
34. Shop Around For Insurance
Check your insurance. We were able to save $600 a year when we switched companies, combined our house and auto onto the same plan, and added $500 to our deductible.
35. Get A Programmable Thermostat
Get a programmable thermostat for your household heat and water heater. You can turn the temps down an hour or two after you go to bed, or during the warmer times of the day, or the times when you typically don’t use your hot water. No reason to heat what is not being used!
Frugal Living: Saving Money on Personal Errands
36. Learn To Cut Hair
Get a hair cut kit and cut your hubby’s hair. I have been cutting my husband’s hair for over 20 years which has saved us conservatively $5000. Cut your kid’s hair! For yourself, if you don’t trust your husband or friend to cut your hair {I don’t}, be aware that longer hairstyles do not need to be maintained as frequently as shorter ones.
37. Buy Used Clothes
Buy clothes for your kids used “ they grow out of them so fast new is not worth it! And used usually look just as good!
38. Buy Less Toys
Limit the number of toys your children are able to have in the house. This will lower the clutter, increase the value of the toys you currently own, increase your children’s creativity as they learn to play with less, and also will decrease spending on toys.
39. Try Home Remedies For Minor Illnesses And Injuries
Try home remedies before Doctor visits. Those co-pays can add up and its amazing how a humidifier, Vitamin C & some good ole ™ rest will make the bugs go away!
40. Make Gifts For Holidays
Make gifts for holidays and birthdays, often these mean more than ones purchased at the store as they show you put time and effort into the recipient.
41. Make Your Own Personal Hygiene Products
Make your own personal hygiene products (or do without).
42. Use Cloth Diapers
Cloth diaper your kiddos. If you use this cloth diapering method your whole stash can cost less than a hundred dollars and can potentially be handed down to future kiddos. Cloth diapering also encourages early potty-training!
43. Make Your Own Baby Food
Make your own baby food by pureeing what the rest of the family is eating, or you can use dehydrated and powdered veggies “ if you like the convenience of those pricey jars.
HOW TO BE FRUGAL WITH ENTERTAINMENT
47. Don’t Eat Out
Eat out rarely if ever! If you do eat out, only drink water. Also, check your newspapers for discounts and grand openings; you can usually get more for your buck then.
48. Have Get Togethers At Home
Invite people over to your home rather than meeting them at a restaurant. You’ll have more time to chat and if you plan your meal well, will save a bundle too!
49. Watch Movies At Home
Get movies for your Friday night from the library or Netflix. They are free or a small monthly charge much less than cable/satellite. Amazon has many movies to stream for a dollar.
50. Make Popcorn At Home
Make your own homemade microwave popcorn bags! They taste better and are both cheaper and healthier!
51. Eliminate One Of Your Bills
Either eliminate or see if you can combine any of the following: Internet, Television, Long-Distance, Cell Phones “ We found that a calling card saves us tons on what would have been a long distance phone bill, and we get the TV shows we want through online streaming for free.
52. Baby Sitting Swap
Set-up a baby-sitting swap with a friend who has children. You’ll save money and know that someone experienced is watching your kids.
53. Find Events For Date Nights
Find dates that are more events than just going out to eat. These can sometimes save your budget and are usually more memorable.
54. Skip The Zoo Go To Cabella’s
See if you are near a Bass Pro shop or Cabella’s. We take our kids there instead of the zoo. It’s free to walk around and the stuffed animals don’t move so you actually get to see them! Call ahead of time and be there for the fish feeding.
BENEFITS OF BEING FRUGAL WITH MONEY
What are the benefits of frugal living?
- Less debt
- More money saved for emergencies
- Learn to choose experience over stuff
- Learn to appreciate what you have
- Waste less
- Practice life skills
- Will learn how important a budget is
- Will have a tendency to be more generous
And there are many other benefits as well!
FRUGAL LIVING FAQS
The 50/30/20 saving method is a budgeting technique that divides after-tax income into three separate spending categories:
1. 50 percent of income should be spent on needs like rent or mortgage payments, groceries and utilities.
2. 30 percent of income can be spent on wants like dining out, entertainment, travel, and clothing.
3. 20 percent of income should be saved for long-term goals like retirement or saving for a down payment on a house.
The 30-day rule helps people avoid impulse purchases. The 30-day rule is a strategy to help you save money by creating a buffer between the purchase decision and your actual payment. Under this method, when you want to make a big purchase, stop and wait at least 30 days before pulling the trigger. The 30 day time frame allows you to assess if they really need or want the item, if there are cheaper alternatives, and if you really can afford to make the purchase.
Yes! You actually can save money even if you already are leading a frugal life. Here are some things that might have been overlooked:
-Sticking to your budget.
-Cutting back on luxuries or finding cheaper alternatives.
-Automate your savings with automatic transfers.
-Maximizing your use of discount and loyalty programs.
-Cut out unnecessary recurring expenses like gym memberships, cable subscriptions, etc.
-Barter, negotiate and shop around for things you do want to buy.
-Find extra money with a side hustle or freelance gig.
Frugal behavior involves making informed decisions about spending and managing money.
MORE FRUGAL LIVING TIPS FROM KIDS ACTIVITIES BLOG
Looking for more money saving discounts and tips? We have some more! We hope these tips help you and your family save money this year. We have a few more ideas on how to be frugal. Take a look at these additional ideas for frugal living:
- Save Money on Free Educational Apps for Kids
- How to Be Frugal on Vacation
- Teach Kids about Frugal Living
- Meal Planning can save you so much money.
- 12 ways to save money with kids.
- How to save money as a stay at home mom.
- These budgeting tips can help you save money.
- Save money while school shopping!
- Check out these piggy bank tips for kids!
What money saving tip do you have? Share it with us in the comments section!
It does not save water to use your dishwasher at all. A dishwasher uses way less and the dishes are sanitized way better than we could do it.
Well although not all these are possible for everyone, for those of us that are barely surviving,
every single penny. counts. Any time I can get more ideas on how to save anything, I’ll take it. I am not looking to save more for more entertainment. I do these things and others to keep me going.
Have you tried cutting your family’s hair at home? Lowering your utility bills by using less? Making your own bread? Buying foods in bulk, such as 25 pound of oats for $9.50 or 35 pounds of beans for $17? Eating more soups, beans, and meatless meals? Being a one-car family? Not eating out? Getting rid of your cell phone?
Hey, how about save money by canceling the Internet you’re using to read this???
She could be at the library using the free internet that is available to the public.
I really didn’t learn much new that I don’t already do! A lot of common sense to me and my husband.
Yours was a totally useless and arrogant comment. Evidently some folks find these tips useful. But congratulations on your abundant common sense, anyway.
what does that make your comment??
Thanks for the tips. I make a decent wage and years of steak and shrimp, and driving gas hogs has had me living right on the edge only saving twenty five dollars a week. Now at 49 years of age I find my health issues catching up with me and I now no longer have the twenty five bucks to put into savings but over the last ten years, layoffs and illness have eaten away at my savings as well as major losses in the markets, now I am broke and facing bankruptcy if I dont do something now. I greatly appreciate the tips and will be implementing them into my life as quickly as I can.
AWESOME TIPS!! I need to print out & refer to..esp when im tempted to eat out when I really dont need to..plus I really cannot afford it! Dont listen to those nay sayers either..they dont need ur tips OBVIOUSLY!!
Or they REALLY need them, but can’t see the truth yet…let them keep lying to themselves.
If you use entertainment.com or restaurant.com coupons, you can afford to eat out on special occasions without breaking the bank. My husband and I run away once a month for a nice dinner and rarely spend more than $25. It is an expense that is easily managed with the right coupons.
I actually read once that they did a study on whether washing dishes by hand was really cheaper than by dishwasher and it wasn’t, especially if you have an efficient dishwasher. just fyi.
I wonder I’d that study included the cost of the expensive dishwasher detergents.
There are receipes online for dishwasher detergent. It’s not hard to make.
yeah, my sister was researching dishwashers for a kitchen remodel and found that hand washing wastes the most water, even compared to older dishwashers.
If you wash and rinse the dishes under running water, then a dishwasher probably uses less water. I generally handwash my dishes because it’s just me and my husband. My pots and pans don’t go in the dishwasher anyway, so that’s just a couple of plates, silverware, and glasses. It takes a week to fill the dishwasher!
This is an amazing post! I want to repost this on my blog for some to read! Let me know how you like my blog.
Enjoy the day!
Alison
soiledrotten.blogspot.com
I love your blog….every day you have such creative and wonderful ideas to share…thank you!….Will forward “Pinch those Pennies” to my daughter! Have a great and rewarding day! Hope to see you soon!
Anyone else feel like this was a complete waste of time to read?
I agree. Some of these tips actually cost more money than save. For example, hand washing dishes uses more water than a dishwasher.
Completely agree. My dw uses a mere 4 gallons! It’s instructions tell you NOT to rinse. It’s best to find a good dw soap and read your manual.
Yes, this is a joke. Turning things on and off, changed temps up and down costs more than keeps a constant teml. It truly is pinching pennies. I am surprised they didn’t put, got to grocery stores and eat samples in place of meals.
I wonder do they do anything with all this money they supposedly save? I’m sorry, but this is one life & I’d like to enjoy it. Everybody has their own way of doing things & I respect that. But MOST of these ideas are a bit much.
Yup!!! Part of enjoying life, is not worrying so much about spending the money we earn TO ENJOY AND INDULDGE!!!! This is overboard to say the least!!
If you’re not worried about spending the money you earn, then why are you reading this article in the first place? Some of us are on a very tight budget and tips like these help stretch our dollars so that we can do enjoyable little things. Not all of us have the luxury of being able to indulge and not worry about the money we spend.
Amen , Some do not want to think of anybody but self.I want to save & love the hint. Kathy
You just haven’t been “Broke Enough” to understand. Usually people who don’t watch what they spend have the most debt! Just sayin’!!
there is a value to the time you are wasting hand washing dishes…..how can you say your saving money? one person said they save 2 dollars by doing this. i have a hard time believing that this is using your time productivly .. I would go on more but just typing this has lost me like 20 bucks in doing something where i am making money
When my apartment size dishwasher broke, it took several months to replace it. During that time my electric bill went from around 130.00 a month to 75.00 to 80.00. To our family that was a nice savings. Also a great benifit was extra time I had with my daughter that helped. So I think that hand washing dishing was very productive. Not every thing of value can be measured in “making money”
I found this article to be very informative, and you sitting on the internet is wasting you money, not reading this article, but what else are you gonna do? You’ve obviously already weighed the opportunity cost of reading this article and actually going out and making yourself 20 bucks and chosen the option to read this article. You’ll probably go back to watching your overpriced cable instead of “making money.”
Completely! Some of these things were a bit too much!! Some things are good ideas, but others are just ridiculous. Going to a store and looking at stuffed heads of dead animals is not the same thing as going to the zoo…
i think that last one was a bit of a joke
Have you ever been to Bass Pro Shop? I don’t even like fishing and hunting and we spent nearly 2 hours there. And we did get to see them feed the fish! ( The fish are big ) No, not the same as the zoo but fun on a rainy cold day.
In our area we have a grocery store named “Jungle Jim’s International Market”. People go there for fun. Again, we spent hours looking at all the stuff. I know, I know. I lead an exciting life!
My kids used to LOVE going to Bass Pro Shop!!! We didn’t go often because it was an hour drive. My grandkids love going to Cabela’s. I learned of Jungle Jim’s when we moved to Ohio, but haven’t been there yet. I think it’s about 1 1/2 hours away. I really need to take the grandkids there next summer when they visit.
I agree it’s fine on a rainy day OR once in a while, but you’re only going to apease the kids a few times, before it’s a bust.
did you read her little bio at the end? she has SIX children. little children under the age of six.
it would be difficult to parade them all around a zoo and get your money’s worth.
and i am quite sure very young kids would enjoy the taxidermy animals as much or more than trying to see over the guardrails and walking around getting tired and hungry and cranky at the zoo.
Bass Pro Shop is pretty neat. They also have free activities, where children can shoot bows and arrows, go fishing in the store, etc. You can walk right up to the stuffed lions and giraffe (they’re not far away like they are in the zoo). Plus, not every place has a zoo.
no…I thought it was very green!
I found it extremely depressing more than anything!
Maybe an article about how to make extra cash (focus groups, etc) would be more empowering.
To each their own, though, I guess? This woman seems happy with her system.
I think this article is great. We have prepaid electricity & I did my own experiment. It cost me $2 in electricity every time I used my dishwasher. Since I started handwashing my dishes I save that $2. The phantom electricity thing, unplugging everything when you aren’t using it, that saved me another $1 a day in electricity. We do all our laundry once a week now & that saves water & electricity, do slow accelerating in our car that has cut our has usage dramatically. You may not think saving $3 a day is a lot, but that’s $90 a month & that can buy groceries for almost 3 Weeks. I’ve still got a long way to go, but I’ve decreased our books by about$250 a month just using these tips. Thanks.
You have got to be kidding me
Wow, that’s impressive. I drink more than$250 a month just in alcohol!
$90 for 3 weeks of groceries? Uh, no way unless you eat crap. My milk and eggs alone cost $20 a week.
Most of these tips are not helpful. Boxed dried milk?! No wonder there is a Health epidemic in this country. That’s crap!
How does organizing my kids toys save money? It doesn’t. Hanging close out to dry is against our housing regulations. Not to mention that its winter nearly 8 months a year here. We also have a HE dryer that drys clothes fast. And an HE washer.
Just silliness. Really.
Don’t judge unless you are in the situation where you need to be frugal. It seems a lot of people here don’t understand concept of being frugal. I don’t agree with everything the blogger wrote, but she had some good ideas. And I’m not sure where you live or shop, but I never spend $20 a week on eggs and milk, and I have 7 kids. I only buy milk at Sam’s Club or Aldi for under $3 a gallon and try to find sales for eggs at $1a dozen. I can’t always find them at that price, but I stock up when I do. These tips are not written for people wanting to be green or feel good about themselves but for people trying to make ends meet, people who are being responsible.
Have you not heard of a in-door clothes line. Washing after 7:00pm and weekends really saves on electricity .
Hello! Have you ever heard of a garden? Most families watching their spending get their eggs, fruit and veggies from the back yard. My groceries do cost less than $30 a week. I plan smart, don’t buy ‘crap’ which is expensive anyway, and use tons of coupons. I don’t have a garden at my house, but I did go to a local market and get fruit and veggies for two weeks for less than $40. Some of this boils down to simply getting the right education. By taking the time to find out what locally grown foods are nearby and how organic they are can save a lot of money and time at the doctors. I also wash dishes by hand and make my own household cleaners, because in the end I have money needed for what’s most important. We have taken it a step further than listed. We buy in cash or debit card only. This is another great way to avoid over spending. If I didn’t bring it, I can’t spend it. I have been able to go on vacations with 4 people for 4 nights for under $100 total for hotel rooms in a nice hotel. I have went to 5 star restaurants on a date with my husband and walked out with full tummies for under $30. I have another vacation planned this year that will cost me $35 for a 2 night full service stay (includes all meals) in a lakeside resort with a view. There are discounts, bagins, etc if you are willing to be educated on where to find it, however if you decide that you know everything and don’t need any advice then you can live happy in the debt trap you enjoy.
I already use some of these tips, well apart from the one you are complaining about i just use blankets to avoid using too much gas heating the house, so this didnt help me, but the things apart from switching on and off do help to save money so for the people who don’t already do these things it will help them.
Some of these are pretty good. I use some of these, and they’ve really helped. They also allow me to splurge in other areas.
I’ve gotten rid of my cable and just get over the air digital channels on my TV, but I live in a city, so I get good reception and a lot of channels. If there is something that is normally on cable that I want to watch, I can usually find it online though sometimes I do have to wait for it to come out on DVD, but that’s not that big of a deal.
I’ve always read that washing clothes in cold water is cheaper than warm or hot water. I rarely wash anything in warm or hot water (usually just sheets and towels).
As for the zoo, I have a membership, but I go to the zoo a lot, so a membership is more cost effective for me (it’s an individual one, but I get in a guest free). Same with museums as well. You have to decide how often you go to these places and if it would be cheaper to have a membership (and what that breaks down to per visit) or to just pay for each visit. The nice thing about having a membership too is that I don’t feel the need to pack in as much as I can at the zoo each trip (which can be exhausting for an all day trip). One trip I may focus on one part of the zoo and on another trip, I’ll go to another area (same with the museums). It’s not an all day excursion which can be nice. Even in the Texas heat, I’ll go in the early mornings in the summer when it’s still cool out, and I can leave when it begins to get too hot.
I can attest to washing everything cold being cheaper. Once I got my husband to start washing everything in cold water instead of incredibly hot we very dramatically cut our gas bill down. (gas water heater)
Also, they say that cold water helps your clothes last longer and take much longer to fade, especially dark colors.