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!
I don’t thingl Cabella’s is a healthy place to understand animals. A petting zoo is better and they are cheap. animals should be understood first as living creatures and not as stuffed carcasses. Children’s awareness should not be shaped in a retail establishment that glorifies hunting and killing.
Re zoo’s: They are very inexpensive and teach children good values like conservation and morality of caring for animals. It would serve these hunting people well on here to take their children to a zoo instead of murdering more animals for their own sick pleasure!
not every zoo is inexpensive, first of all. Second, not all zoos take excellent care for the animals, what does that teach your children? Third, it isn’t a sick pleasure for them to feed their family. At least they let it roam free and love life, give it a quick mostly pain free death, then use all or most of the animal; as compared to buying it from a store where it was most likely caged or tortured until a painful death which is what most animal rights protestors are against. Just because it is not your way of life doesn’t give you the right to belittle another persons.
You don’t need to be rude to express an opinion and you don’t need to be stubborn or arrogant either.
These are just suggestions and ways to save money. It doesn’t mean that you have to do all of them. There are some really great ideas on how to save money, if tbere is one that you don’t agree with than don’t do it. My main point is if you don’t have anything nice to say then don’t say anything at all.
Buy yeast at Costco or a restaurant supply store and it won’t be the most expensive item in your bread anymore. I pay just over $5 for 2lbs of yeast. It’s only expensive if you buy the jar or even worse, the packets! I did save a small jar and refill that so I don’t accidentally contaminate the large bag of yeast, and have even split the yeast and cost with a friend.
90-95% of the energy for running the dishwasher is used during the drying cycle. If you turn of your dry cycle, you still have the convenience of using the machine and getting a bargain at it! Handwashing dishes actually uses more water than most dishwashers also. 🙂 (Hubby was an energy auditor for several years so we eat and breathe this stuff) Thank you for this list! Great ideas!
Thats a really good idea! I am sure all the sanitizing the dishes would need takes place during the water stage, so the heat would only be for drying not sanitizing. That now seems like a big DUH but I would have probably never thought of that. What a good way to ‘meet in the middle’ and still get the benefit of both ends: saving money and using the dishwasher.
About the mirror one – #8 of Household – I’d like to point out that while that’ll light the room better in one fashion (sort of), it actually won’t make it seem much brighter, whereas putting a sheet of paper behind it (or something else white/ painting it white/ etcetera) will brighten the room lots. Basically, the mirror will reflect the light, but it won’t actually light things until it hits something that’s more opaque which’ll cause it to scatter. Here’s a video of the Mythbusters explaining it better than me (plus, it demonstrates): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXzuWxGNN0A . Later on in the same episode, there’s an excellent demonsstration where Jamie stands in front of the beam, letting it hit his white shirt, and suddenly the whole room they’re standing in is visible. Just thought I should mention this as an alternative means to the same end.
…and, so far as the taxidermy/zoo thing goes – I’d just like to state that there is an actual place which makes their business off of this. Gordon’s Park, on Manitoulin island in Ontario, Canada (also known as Terry’s Taxidermy and Mounted Animal Nature Trail) is a genuine park/trail, with taxidermied animals along it. Seriously. http://www.northernontariobusiness.com/Industry-News/forestry/Gordon-s-Wilderness-Park-leaves-them-howling.aspx .
So, regardless of what anybody’s ethical views are on it, it’s a viable business strategy, which validates it to some extent at least.
Personally? When I have kids, I’ll let them do what I did – grab a bucket and head to the nearest ditch or slough, and search for bugs and frogs and such. Loads of fun, costs nothing, and sometimes you get some cool pets out of it! I’ll still take them to zoos occasionally, though – but we don’t have Cabela’s or Bass Pro up here in Canada, leastways not so far as I know. Pet shops, though – I always liked those as a kid. I’d’ve happily spent hours just looking at the lizards and the birds and such.
Cool list, though! Certainly some interesting food for thought – although some of the items seemed odd to me at first, until I realized that this list was probably from the US, and Canada does a few things differently…still! Certainly an excellent thing to think about – and frankly, even for the people naysaying items, you still accomplished your goal: they’re thinking about, and acting upon, ways to save money, so…kudos, I suppose!
Thanks for sharing!
Wow, what a bunch of haters, lol. I had to comment b/c I couldn’t believe what I was reading. Thank you for taking your time to come up with a list of ideas to help people.
If you don’t agree, fine. don’t say her ideas are stupid, that’s just plain rude.
Maybe people who think cloth diapering is a bad idea should think of the environmental savings too. No plastic poop filled diapers filling up the landfill for your children to deal with later. I know that it’s not the easiest thing to do, but it’s worth it.
Thank you for sharing your ideas on saving money. Most of these comments are very shocking to me! Every person and family is different. Pick the ideas that work for you! You don’t need to bash others for their ideas!
Maybe I missed it, but our BIGGEST way of being frugal is paying off debt and living without interest payments! We have paid off and closed all our credit card accounts one by one, paid off our car in half the time, and soon will eliminate student loans. Amazing how cutting a few interest payments can cut out the next debt! Sorta #1, but we don’t reward with a purchase….
Also, I have cloth diapered for 3 kids now over 7 years and saved THOUSANDS. I saved enough with just the first CD kid to buy a super nice washer & dryer, which turned around and paid for themselves in energy, water, and detergent savings.
When I chose an out of hospital birth I saved a ton too. But that is a topic I tell people to research, research, and then research some more.
Having an emergency fund, at all times… gain interest instead of losing WHEN emergencies happen… NOT if.