I’ve been living frugally for years now and have picked up some helpful habits along the way to keep me on track. For me, frugal living means living within my means. It also means recognizing that any time I spend my money, I am giving up the time it’ll take to earn it back.
Below are the 22 frugal habits that changed my life, and will change yours too!
1. Buy Used Items Over New
The way I see buying new things is like this. If I’ve been surviving without it, I probably don’t need it. However there are exceptions. I’ll find myself buying replacements for things I use daily or gear for a new hobby I’m trying out (read about how I balance minimalism and my hobbies here). In those instances, buying used items over buying them new is a great way to save money! Going to thrift stores, flea markets and yard sales in your town is a great way to find second hand gems. If shopping online is more your style, below is a list of my favorite sites!
Poshmark, Depop and Thredup – Great for second hand shoes and clothing
Facebook Marketplace and Offerup – Find furniture, used cars, places to rent, outdoor gear, the list goes on and on! You can ship items to your home if the seller allows, or filter your search results to only display listings of items in your area.
2. Sell Stuff You Don’t Need
Selling things you don’t need instead of holding onto them is a great way to save space in your home and make a little extra money too! Although the process of selling stuff is time consuming, it might help you reconsider your next purchase. By making it more challenging to part with your things, it will keep you from buying stuff unnecessarily.
3. Use Community Resources
Taking advantage of the resources in your community is a great way to save money!
I LOVE reading but I don’t want to have to buy books all the time. A book is one of those things that you will only use once and then leave on your shelf to collect dust. Luckily, most towns have a library where you can easily check out books. Saving money on movie streaming subscriptions like Netflix by renting out movies at the library is also a great way to save a little every month!
Using public transportation is a great frugal habit to embrace! With gas prices rising and the cost of used vehicles at an all time high, switching up the way you commute will save you a TON of money. Going from driving everywhere to riding the bus is a bit of an adjustment at first, but is so easy and fun when you get the hang of it. I love the people watching and having a chance to listen to a podcast or read a book while I get to where I’m going.
If you live in a bigger city, check if you have a makers space around! Makers spaces are great if you are wanting to get into a new hobby but don’t want to buy up all the equipment right off the bat. Most spaces will have access to wood working, welding and jewelry making equipment as well as a ceramics studio.
4. Ride Your Bike!
I bought my bike during the pandemic and it COMPLETELY changed my life. I’ve since sold my car and get around almost exclusively by bike (besides the occasional ride from a coworker, friend or my partner). Not only is it a cost effective way to get around, it will also get you in the best shape of your life. Biking has done wonders for my mental health as well. It forces you to be present and get outside. I also find that I appreciate the places I go so much more because it takes more time and effort to get to them.
5. Choose Reusable Options
Using things that are reusable instead of disposable is an easy way to save money and be kinder to the planet! I can’t begin to imagine how much money I’ve saved by omitting paper towels, ziplock bags, baby wipes and so much more from my shopping list every week. Below is a list of some things you can replace with reusable alternatives.
✓ Swap out baby wipes/toilet paper for a bidet
✓ Swap out paper towels for cloth hand towels
✓ Swap out ziplock bags for reusable storage bags
✓ Swap out regular batteries for rechargeable batteries
✓ Swap out cling film/plastic wrap for wax paper
6. Make it Yourself When You Can
Making things yourself instead of buying them from a store will save you so much money. Plus, you’ll learn a new skill in the process! Take a look at the things that you use and consume regularly. From those things, what do you have the potential to make yourself?
By answering this question, I have started making my own bread, hummus, jam, kimchi, toothpaste, candles, and so much more!
7. Borrow From Friends and Family
Asking your friends and family if they have the thing you need before going out and buying them is such a great way to save money and space! When I moved into my first house I didn’t have any landscaping gear to maintain the yard space. Instead of buying my own lawnmower and weed wacker I asked my friend to borrow hers. In exchange, I mowed her lawn every few weeks!
8. Compare Prices Before You Buy
The same item can cost twice as much at one store as it can at another. Comparing prices online before you shop is such an important frugal habit to keep. I choose to go to certain grocery stores over others because the same produce is way more affordable. The marketing of the store may not be as charming (cough cough Whole Foods and your local co-op), but the selection is usually the same if not better and the prices are much more affordable.
9. Embrace the 30 Day Rule
Wait 30 days before you buy something that isn’t a necessity. Waiting 30 days will give you enough time to be sure that it’s something you really want. I have saved so much money by not making impulsive purchases! I like to keep a list of things with dates to the notepad app in my phone. That way I can make sure that I have actually waited the full 30 days. It’s also super fun and inspiring to look back at all of the things that you could have potentially spent your hard earned coin on but didn’t!
10. Take Out Cash for the Week and Only Spend That
When I became a server I started buying a lot more things with cash. That’s when I realized that using cash makes it way easier to save your money than using a credit card. Seeing the stack of bills in your wallet get smaller and smaller seems to have more of an effect on me than just handing over a plastic card. The process of counting out and handing over cash when making a purchase allows me to slow down and actually think about how much money I’m spending.
These days, I like to take out a certain amount of cash from my bank account and only use that cash to buy things. I’ve noticed my spending go down significantly since doing this!
11. Find Free Things to Do With Friends and Family
Finding free things to do in your spare time is a great way to save money. Skip going out for food or to the bar and go on a hike or walk instead! I love working out with friends because it’s a totally free and positive thing to do together. Most cities have plenty of free events to check out as well!
12. Invest in Your Hobbies
This frugal habit might seem counterintuitive. After all, doesn’t investing money into something mean spending money?
Initially, investing in your hobbies might cost you a pretty penny. However, in the long run, you are giving yourself a free activity to do instead of going out and spending money.
When I decided to start painting, I had to spend a couple hundred dollars on all the equipment I needed. Since then, I haven’t had to spend any money at all. Now it’s a super fun and free thing for me to do at home.
13. Host Clothing Swap Parties
Even as a minimalist, I can still agree that having a new piece of clothing to wear is super fun. That’s why my friends and I host clothing swap parties. It’s such a great way to get together and trade something you no longer need for something you’ll actually wear. Plus, that piece of clothing will forever remind you of the friend who owned it before you!
14. Always Alter or Fix Before You Rebuy
As tempting as it can be to just throw something away if it’s broken or ill-fitting, try to fix or alter it first! Not only will it save you a lot of money in the long run, but it’s kinder to the planet too.
15. Stay off Social Media
Social media has turned into one of the biggest marketing channels in our modern day world. Avoid the urge to buy what the influencers you follow are posting about by staying off social media as much as you can. If you do find yourself on social media, just remember that these influencers are being paid to sell you stuff. Try and resist the urge to buy. If it’s something you think you really need, wait 30 days before you buy it!
16. Plan Your Meals
Meal prepping is a frugal habit that will save you so much money! When I wasn’t planning out my meals, I would often get overwhelmed at the thought of cooking and order takeout instead. There’s nothing worse than being super hungry and not having something quick and easy to make or leftovers to reheat.
These days I like to make sure that I have plenty of meals prepped for the week.
17. Reduce Your Meal Portion Size
I have found that by putting less on my plate, I waste so much less food. You can always get a second helping! By starting with a small portion, you won’t be throwing out as much food. It will save you so much money and time cooking in the long run! I like to use smaller plates to make portioning even easier.
18. Always Pack Snacks
ALWAYS.PACK.SNACKS. It’s so important! With the cost of food rising, eating out is more expensive than ever before. You will save so much money by being prepared when hunger strikes.
19. Make Different Morning Beverages at Home
‘Just don’t go out for coffee every morning’ is hands down the most hated piece of money saving advice. This tip is different though, I promise!
Most people stick to coffee every morning. I appreciate a cup of joe just as much as the next person, but If I never switch it up, I’ll start to crave other things. That’s when I end up going to a coffee shop instead of making my drink at home. That’s why I like to have a a few different options available in my pantry. My favorites are yerba mate, chai tea, black tea, kombucha, matcha and coffee.
20. Host Potlucks Instead of Going Out
Potlucks and dinner parties are such a fun way to get together with friends on a budget. I find that these get togethers are so much more intimate as well! There are less distractions than a busy bar or restaurant and you get to share homemade food with friends.
21. Switch from Name Brand to Generic
Switching from name brand to generic products will save you so much money. The best part is that you are usually buying the same product when you buy the generic version!
I was a sales rep for a large distribution company and learned that generic products are usually just name brand products packed up in the generic company’s packaging. This is usually the case for grocery and pharmacy brand items. Don’t spend extra for a label if you can get the same thing for less!
22. Don’t Shop the Sale Section
Shopping sales is the easiest way to spend money on things you never would have bought otherwise. If I wouldn’t buy that item full price, I won’t buy it on sale. Resist the urge to justify a purchase just because of a lower price tag. If you are spending any amount of money on it, that is money you could have saved instead!
In Conclusion
These money saving habits have completely transformed my life. Living frugally shouldn’t mean depriving yourself of the things you want to do. It’s about making small changes every day that will save you a lot of money in the long run.
You can choose to spend the money you’ve saved on something that will transform your quality of life or choose to work less and live more!
Anonymous says
It is nearly impossible to find educated people about this subject, but you seem like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
barefootminimalists says
I am so glad that you found the post valuable! Thanks for reading
My boyfriend and I found this post and we would like to try many things. Thanks for sharing !
🙂
Thanks for reading! Good luck to you both 🙂