The Thrifty Guide: 50 Tips For Frugal Living (And Saving Money Everyday) (2024)

Savvy Living

Some may call it being cheap others may call it being thrifty. I prefer to call it frugal living. The reality is living frugally has helped us dig our way out of debt and save huge amounts of money. It’s not about being a cheapskate, it’s about being smart with your money. Thrifty tips and frugal living that will save you money everyday.

What Is Frugal?

Living a thrifty and frugal lifestyle is about spending less than you make. Living below your means and making smart choices with your money. It’s about doing simple things to save more money.

How To Be Frugal

Being frugal is about making choices everyday that save you more money. Because the reality is it all adds up. $2 here, $5 there, $25 a day, $100 a week, $500 a month. Discover how we save almost $1000 a month and it’s real easy. If we can change things in our everyday to save more money anyone can.

Why Live Frugally

Honestly, to save money. Frugal living can help you put more money back into your wallet, pay down your debt and help you save for your future. A frugal lifestyle allows you to spend less than you earn and use the difference to pay down your debt or add to your savings.

Spend Less

And when you spend less you can afford to earn less. Meaning you can do more of what you want to like retire early.

Being Thrifty

Thrifty living is similar to being frugal. It’s about making small changes in the greater scheme of things. Opting out of a daily latte for bringing coffee from home or brown bagging your lunch instead of doing take out.

Frugal Living Ideas

I’m not saying you have to skip the Starbucks coffee all together in fact here are some frugal hacks to help you get your coffee cheap. Plus some amazing Starbucks copycat recipes you can make at home to save more money.

Ways To Save Money

Frugal living ideas go way beyond takeout and coffee but let’s agree groceries and eating out can get expensive so finding ways to save money is important.

How To Start Being Frugal

Starting to live a frugal lifestyle is about making small choices with big results. For example planting a garden with seeds costs you a few bucks but think about all the money you save on produce. Learn how to grow all the food you need right in your city lot.

Money Saving Changes

Small changes add up. Setting a budget, opting to bring coffee and lunch to work. Wash your clothes in cold water and hang them to dry. Grocery shopping around a meal plan and buying what’s on sale.

Savings

All of these things are small everyday tasks but they add up to huge savings. The more you do the more you save.

Frugal Budget

One of the most important parts of being frugal and money savvy is about knowing where your money is. How much you are spending on groceries, the mortgage, utilities and etc. What is your income? These are all individual things and everyone spends and makes differently.

Frugal Finance

Learning how to budget and spend less than you make can help you save more money. Which in turn can help you pay down your debt, add to your savings or fund investments.

Frugal Budget Tips

Setting up a frugal budget is super easy. You can grab your free Busy Mom’s Kit here and it includes a free budgeting printable you can use each month.

To learn more about budgeting these must have money books are full of great tips.

Best Frugal Living Tips

The best frugal living tips are tips you actually use and implement in your life to help you save money. Discover 275 Best Frugal Living Tips that can help you save tons of money each month. These tips will help you cut your household expenses and save more money.

Frugal Mom

Being a money saving mom and a frugal mom is important. And I know we are all busy but making a few changes can save you more money for that vacation you want or to help you with baby step 2. Below discover some simple and easy frugal living tips that can help you live more thrifty, save more money and help you be able to afford and do more.

50 Tips For Frugal Living:

1. Become a one car family

2. Downsize your home

3. Set a budget and stick to it

4. Turn off lights that aren’t being used

5. Cut the cable

6. Cancel your landline telephone

7. Turn the heat down and save on electricity

8. Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when full

9. Unplug appliances that aren’t being used

10. Hang your clothes to dry. Use a clothesline in the summer and a drying rack in the winter

11. Make your own laundry soap

12. Meal plan

13. Invest in a good slow cooker

14. Shop local

15. Buy it in bulk

16. Discover what foods you can freeze to save money

17. Buy cheaper cuts of meat or opt for meatless meals

18. Drink more water and less pop and juice

19. Invest in a good coffee maker or teapot and bring your own coffee or tea with you

20. Pack a bag lunch

21. Grow a garden

22. Cook from scratch

23. Check the sales flyers and coupons before you shop

24. Make a grocery list and budget and stick to it

25. Ditch your single use paper and plastic items

26. Switch to cloth napkins

27. Use reusable soap dispensers

28. Save your coins in a jar

29. Do your own repairs

30. Use it, mend it, re-purpose it, recycle it

31. Cut up old shirts and use them for cleaning rags

32. Make your own cleaning solutions using vinegar, water and baking soda

33. Buy used clothing instead of new

34. Purchased used, vintage furniture instead of new furniture

35. Sell stuff you don’t use

36. Don’t buy stuff to impress people

37. Workout at home, skip the gym and use free online workout videos

38. Plan cheap but amazing dates

39. Cut back on entertainment expenses

40. Taking in free kids classes at your local craft stores, hardware stores and library

41. Plan a no spend weekend

42. Keep emergency cash handy

43. Be prepared for all seasons

44. Don’t wait till the last minute with anything, repairs, groceries, planning and etc

45. Do your own housework, baking, landscaping and maintenance work

46. Purchase items that will last

47. Learn to say no

48. Learn to knit, crochet and sew

49. Learn to use household tools

50. Do your own fixer upper projects

Living A Frugal Life

Living a frugal life and saving money isn’t hard. It’s about making small changes to your everyday activities to save more money. Starting with the 50 tips above you can make a huge difference.

Thrifty Lifestyle

Being thrifty isn’t just about shopping thrift stores and saving money. It’s about choosing to grow a garden to help feed your family. It’s about planning staycations and saving up for purchases before you buy them.

Living Thrifty And Frugal

Living a frugal lifestyle and choosing to be thrifty are one in the same. You are choosing to not give away your hard earned money. But to put your money towards the best results for your family.

Thrifty Ideas And Frugal Living

Simple thrifty things you can do today to help you save money are wash your laundry in cold water, turn off the lights when you leave a room, eat more vegetarian meals, opt to use foam soap versus liquid soap (foam soap uses less soap), and brown bag your lunch.

Frugal Living Saving Money

Living frugally can save you a ton of money. In fact the more frugal tips you actively do the more money you save. For example by bringing your own coffee during the week you could save $100 a month. By brown bagging your lunch during the week you could save $300 a month. Just those two things combined put $400 back into your wallet. What would you do with an extra $400?

Saving Money Everyday

Saving money isn’t hard it just takes small steps for a greater reward. Assess where you think you could cut your expenses or where you could go with out or opt for a cheaper brand to save more money.

Best Ways To Save Money

One of the best or two of the best ways we save money is shopping around and meal planning. Locally I have found the greatest discount grocery store and I save a ton of money shopping there. I also shop online to save more money.

Meal planning and only buying groceries that you need can also save you a ton of money and take the question out of what’s for dinner. Here are 50 Cheap Meal Ideas to help you with your planning.

Related Thrifty Living Frugal Tips Posts:

  • Frugal Living Surviving On One Income
  • Extreme Frugal Living Tips
  • Secret Must Haves Of A Frugal Home

Updated June 7, 2021

The Thrifty Guide: 50 Tips For Frugal Living (And Saving Money Everyday) (5)

The Thrifty Guide: 50 Tips For Frugal Living (And Saving Money Everyday)

The Thrifty Guide: 50 Tips For Frugal Living (And Saving Money Everyday) (2024)

FAQs

How can I be extremely cheap? ›

What are some tips for being frugal?
  1. Create a budget and stick to it. Being frugal begins with this tip. ...
  2. Shop around for the best deals. Buy what you need from the first store you see, but don't just go to the first one you see. ...
  3. Buy used instead of new. ...
  4. Make your own stuff. ...
  5. Repurpose and recycle. ...
  6. Be patient.
Aug 22, 2023

How to be super thrifty and frugal? ›

50 frugal money-saving tips
  1. Plan meals.
  2. Choose cheaper recipes.
  3. Make a shopping list.
  4. Don't shop when you're hungry.
  5. Visit cheaper supermarkets.
  6. Buy supermarket own-label products.
  7. Eat less meat.
  8. Buy in bulk – but only if you'll use it.

How do you live extremely frugally? ›

12 Tips for Frugal Living
  1. Choose quality over quantity. ...
  2. Prioritize value over price. ...
  3. Use credit wisely. ...
  4. Declutter regularly. ...
  5. Use a budget to guide your spending. ...
  6. Know the difference between wants and needs. ...
  7. Be a savvy consumer. ...
  8. Prioritize your values.
Oct 17, 2023

How to live like a cheapskate? ›

I should note that I do most, but not all, of these tips.
  1. Go with one car. Many families have two or more cars. ...
  2. Go with a smaller house. ...
  3. Go with a smaller car. ...
  4. Rent rather than own. ...
  5. Look for used first. ...
  6. Eat out less. ...
  7. Eat out frugally. ...
  8. Brown bag it to work.

What is the difference between frugal and thrifty and cheap? ›

Frugal: Waits until a certain item really needs replacing, and chooses high-quality items that will last for years. Thrifty: Thrifts their clothes, obviously! Knows the best spots for second-hand items. Cheap: Buys clothes wherever they can get them cheapest.

What does being cheap say about a person? ›

Cheap: “If you describe someone as cheap, you are criticizing them for being unwilling to spend money

How to live on next to nothing? ›

Replenish perishables such as milk and bread as needed but try to cope by eating down everything already in your cupboard, fridge, and home.
  1. Another way to do this is to not go shopping one week a month. ...
  2. Use coupons and discounts to reduce food costs. ...
  3. Drink tap water.

How to be frugal like a millionaire? ›

7 Unexpected Habits Of A Frugal Millionaire
  1. 1) They understand it's not about what you make, it's about what you SAVE. ...
  2. 2) They don't have a high income. ...
  3. 3) They don't believe in “getting rich quick” ...
  4. 4) Ignore the Joneses. ...
  5. 5) Live below their means. ...
  6. 6) Spend money on experiences and not things. ...
  7. 7) They avoid debt.

How do I stop being a cheapskate? ›

ALLOW ME TO OFFER YOU 8 WAYS TO KILL YOUR INNER CHEAPSKATE LEARNED FROM MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
  1. Acknowledge Your Inner Cheapskate. ...
  2. Admit how spending makes you feel. ...
  3. Face Your Fears. ...
  4. Celebrate Good Spending. ...
  5. Set Non-financial Goals. ...
  6. Set a Saving Budget (and Don't Go Over It) ...
  7. Set a Spending Budget (and Don't Go Under It)
Oct 4, 2016

How can I live a full life without money? ›

How to live off the grid with no money
  1. Do a work exchange. If you're new to the off-grid life, a great way to start is through Worldpackers. ...
  2. Join an off-grid community. ...
  3. Find low-cost or free land. ...
  4. Construct a cabin or tiny house. ...
  5. Grow your own food. ...
  6. Fish responsibly. ...
  7. Forage for edible plants. ...
  8. Collect and filter water.

Is being a cheapskate a disorder? ›

The American Psychiatric Association defines frugality as a symptom of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) when someone “adopts a miserly spending style toward both self and others.” Extreme frugality is an amplified version of that, and it often involves viewing spending as a bad thing no matter how much ...

How to live with hardly any money? ›

Top 10 Tips for Living with Very Little Money
  1. Mindset Shift: Reframing Your Relationship with Money. ...
  2. Budgeting and Planning: Your Financial Roadmap. ...
  3. Slash Your Housing Costs. ...
  4. Master the Art of Frugal Food Shopping. ...
  5. Ditch the Gas Guzzle: Smart Strategies to Slash Your Transportation Costs.
Dec 22, 2023

How to be a frugal woman? ›

A frugal person will manage their money carefully, spend money sparingly, look for sales, and research diligently to make the most prudent financial decisions possible. This will ensure they save more money in the long term.

What is the difference between frugal and cheapskate? ›

These concepts might sound similar, but they have some important differences. Imagine being really good at finding great deals and not wasting money – that's being frugal. But if someone takes it to an extreme and never wants to spend money on anything, even things they need, they might be called a cheapskate.

How do I get rid of being miser? ›

Stinginess for most people comes from fear that they will waste their money. Before going shopping, have a spending budget and stick to it. Also get into the habit of tracking your finances. When you get disciplined with your finances, you are able to spend without wasting.

What is a cheap kind of person? ›

If you describe someone as cheap, you are criticizing them for being unwilling to spend money. [US, disapproval]

How do I know if I'm too cheap? ›

When you judge others for their spending habits. We're all at difference places in our finances and we all have different priorities. But one clear sign that you're acting too cheap is when you start to secretly (or not so secretly) judge your friends or relatives for their spending habits.

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