In the world’s economy we live in today, saving money is something that everyone should try to do.
Implementing one or two frugal habits might save you thousands of dollars annually. However, when you combine a load of frugal habits, you might be surprised by just how much money you can save!
Depending on how determined you are to live a frugal lifestyle, you can expect to save a few hundred dollars every year, if not even every month.
Many of us might not think that we do a lot of spending, but when we look at our bank account, the numbers don’t lie.
Truth is, we all do a lot of unnecessary spending every month. This can be for personal things or family-related things! All in all, there are lots of surprising ways that you can actually save money by barely doing anything!
Some of the things listed in this article are a little more difficult to do, but most of them are incredibly easy. They can be implemented into daily life and be aware of.
You can make a huge difference by implementing a few simple things. If you want to learn what exactly you can do starting today, keep reading!
150 Frugal Living Tips to Help You Save More Money
Before We Begin
We should clear something up before getting into the good stuff. Being frugal is not the same as being cheap. A frugal person is simply more conscious of where their money is going and seeks to cut unnecessary expenses.
If you’re frugal, you will look for quality products at the lowest prices you can get whenever you’re in need of them.
That way, you can spend more money on important things, such as early retirement, traveling, and paying off debts.
It’s all about tailoring your spending habits around both your current and future priorities.
If you’re being cheap, you’re simply cutting expenses at any cost, no matter how small.
You might sacrifice time and energy into doing this and end up saving little money anyway. A lot of cheap people also like to try and mooch off others in an attempt to save their own money.
There’s no point in focusing only on the price of something if the quality of that thing is bad.
Something of bad quality will break or fall apart in no time, whereas a quality item will last much longer. As a result, you will end up spending more money in the long run!
Why Is Frugal Living Beneficial?
By living a frugal lifestyle, you can focus on what really matters and make the most of your hard-earned money! There are so many benefits to doing this, including the following:
- You can travel more often
- You will have more emergency funds
- You can build a good retirement fund
- You can have more money to give to your favorite charities
- You can focus on family and friends more
- You can save money for bigger purchases and pay them in cash
- You can pay off your debts
In recent years, saving money has become more important than ever. The world isn’t what it used to be, and there are costs around every corner.
In a recession, saving money can be a lifesaver. As such, the sooner you get started, the better off you will be and the less stressful your life can become.
So, without further ado, let’s get into 150 easy and ethical things you can do to live a more frugal life.
The Tips For Living A Frugal Life And Saving Money
Check out the tips below to find out many easy ways to live a more frugal life!
Tips To Save Money On: Food
1. Eat Meals At Home
Starting with one of the easiest and fastest ways to save money: eating at home!
It’s nice to have a meal out, but the cost really racks up, even after one outing. Save the restaurant for special occasions rather than a weekly occurrence.
2. Don’t Leave Freezer And Refrigerator Doors Open
This should go without saying, but leaving the freezer and fridge doors open lets the cold air out, so your machine has to work harder.
Not only that, but doing this increases the risk of the food inside the devices going off. Either way, it’s eating money.
3. Drink Water
First off, drinking water is just good for us. However, drinking more water means that you won’t need to drink all the other stuff like juices and sodas.
If your water tastes bad, invest in a filter to make you drink more to save money in other areas.
4. Cook Inexpensive Meals
There’s a difference between inexpensive and cheap, remember? A meal can be inexpensive while still being nutritious and healthy! The food budget is often the most expensive part of living after rent, so try to make your food last longer.
5. Keep Your Freezer Full
Did you know that a full freezer is actually more efficient than an empty one? If you don’t have a lot of food in there before doing a shop, place gallon jugs of water in there instead. They will help to keep the device running properly.
6. Unplug All Small Appliances
Small appliances can eat up electricity even when they aren’t being used. Unplug your kettles and coffee machines when you aren’t using them!
7. Use Your Leftovers
As much as 40% of US food is wasted every year. Try to bring that number down by using your leftovers instead of immediately throwing them away for forgetting about them. This can save so much money; it’s almost a joke.
8. Create A Meal Plan
A meal plan will significantly reduce your spending when it comes to food. If you have a meal plan, you will know exactly what you need to buy that week.
So much money is poured down the drain by not knowing what we’re going to eat in an upcoming week and not planning ahead. Don’t be one of those people.
9. Brew Your Own Drinks
We all love a good Starbucks; you don’t need to ditch them completely! However, it’s way cheaper if you make your own drinks at home. Invest in some tools to help you do this, and find some coffee you love.
10. Eat Healthy And Whole Foods
This is another double whammy. Junk food, though delicious, isn’t usually very nutritious. Not only that, but it isn’t exactly cheap, either.
Whole and healthier foods give you the nutrients you need and are usually reasonably priced. Shop around and find some good deals.
11. Limit Or Stop Using The Oven In The Summer
It’s not enough in the summer, so why add to it? Limit or stop all use of the oven in the winter to save money on electricity and heating. You will need to use your AC less without your oven contributing to the heat.
12. Wash And Reuse Kitchen Items
This goes for things like plastic baggies, containers, and so much more. Do you know how much money we spend that we could save just by cleaning?
You could also invest in food storage containers made from glass to go the extra mile and save in the long term.
13. Make Use Of A Slow Cooker
Slow cookers or crockpots make incredible meals, especially for the winter, which are way more inexpensive than an oven. Let’s face it; slow cookers are also a great way of getting cooking done, but lazily.
14. Use Your Oven In The Winter
You want to add heat to your home in winter, right? Why use your home healing if you can get at least some heat from using an oven? No, you shouldn’t just leave your oven on for no reason; make the most of it when you’re cooking!
15. Skip The Store-Bought Cleaning Supplies
Realistically, you can use good dish soap to do most of your cleaning! You will need a degreaser and things like that, but you don’t need to buy a hundred different polishes and cleaners constantly!
It’s a waste of money when most of them do the exact same thing.
16. Fill Your Dishwasher
Don’t do half-loads! Although dishwashers have been proven to save money compared to washing by hand, it’s still best to get the most out of a load. Wait until you have a full load before starting to run it to save some money.
17. Make Use Of An Instant Pot
An Instant Pot is definitely something you should invest in. This will save you time, money, and energy in so many ways. It’s fast and effective and will keep you from ordering a pizza.
18. Keep Your Freezer And Pantry Well-Stocked
Why do we end up going to a drive-thru? Because our house isn’t stocked! To avoid this problem, ensure that you always have good food in the fridge and freezer, and keep stuff in the pantry. Doing this will save money without even realizing it.
19. Avoid Using The Heat Dry Dishwasher Setting
Anything that uses a heat setting will cost more money with appliances. You can just let your dishes air dry once they have been cleaned and save so much money.
It’s free and so worth it if you aren’t in a rush. You could also hand-dry the items if you’re in a rush!
20. Get Cloth Napkins
Why keep spending money on disposable napkins when you can buy cloth ones? These cloth napkins can last for years, and they can be cleaned over and over again. Plus, they look really nice, don’t they?
21. Don’t Use Disposable Products
Disposable products will waste money, and there’s no way around it. Costs will add up over time, and you won’t even realize it! Avoid using disposable cups, plates, and utensils to save some money in the long run.
22. Cut Back On Water When Hand-Washing Dishes
You don’t need to fill the sink when washing dishes! Try using just half a sink to get the job done, and don’t waste your dish soap.
Remember – the more water there is, the more the soap is being diluted. Don’t leave the water running as you wash, either.
23. Don’t Use Paper Towels
Paper towels are a crutch many of us depend on! However, there are more environmentally and cost-friendly methods to use! Microfiber cloths or other washable methods will last longer and save you so much more money.
24. Cook Food from Scratch
Let’s face it, some foods from the store are just expensive! If you want cakes and brownies, you will be better off making them yourself. It’s cheaper, but it’s also a lot more sun, so it’s a win-win, right?
25. Buy More Generic Foods
Brand foods are often nothing more than just a brand. Sure, there are some exceptions, but if you look for more generic options, you can have hundreds every year!
Expensive isn’t always better, so do some testing and see what you can easily switch out.
26. Finish Products Before Opening Another One
Brands want us to buy and buy and keep buying. Don’t fall into their trap too soon; instead, finish the products you have. You can make things like shampoos and toothpaste go even further if you’re smart with it.
Add a little water when you get near the end of a shampoo bottle to get everything out of there – it will still do the job!
27. Make Bulk Meals
You can save so much money if you can cook a meal once and have it for 2-3 days every few weeks.
It will substantially reduce the overall cost of the monthly and weekly shops. Just make sure it’s something that will actually work, like stews and curries.
28. Use More Pantry Food
You can try doing the pantry challenge and make some creative meals only with things you have on hand if you want to make food last! think Eddie’s Million Dollar Cook-off.
Come up with something fun using only pantry items or anything you already have in the house instead of going shopping.
29. Have More Meat-Free Meals
Meat is probably the most expensive element of any meal. If you really want to save money, consider trying to have a few meat-free meals every week.
Alternate between meat and meat-free if you can! Use beans, chickpeas, and potatoes to add substance to any meal and make it a winner.
30. Create And Use A Grocery List
This goes hand-in-hand with having a meal plan. Using a grocery list will help you keep track of things you need and stop unnecessary spending. Just remember to actually use it and keep things written down for when it’s time to do some shopping.
31. Start A Vegetable Garden
Being partially self-sufficient by having a vegetable garden is an amazing way to save money! You can grow some of your favorite vegetables, fruits, and herbs.
It can be a learning curve if you’ve never done it before, but it’s also very fun and so rewarding. If you’re able to, this is something we recommend everyone does.
32. Do Grocery Shopping Less Frequently
It goes without saying that if you go out to shop less frequently, you will spend less money! To do this, you will need to make your shops and meals last longer.
Bulk meals will help, but so will portioning. If you don’t need to cook all eight chicken breasts for one meal, separate them and freeze the other for another day.
33. Use Ibotta For Grocery Stopping
Using apps and services like Ibotta can help you save so much money with grocery shopping! It’s a cashback service that you can use in your everyday life to save and make money. Who doesn’t love some cashback?
Tips To Save Money On: Bathroom Items And Habits
34. Try Military Showers
You can try to implement military showers for everyone in the house to help save money! This isn’t nearly as bad as it sounds – we promise.
To take a military shower, you will turn on the shower and wet yourself, turn it off, lather up, rinse off, and you’re done! It’s really simple and easy to do, and it will save a lot of money in the long run.
35. Finish Toiletries Before Opening Another
Get the most out of everything you already have! Scrape the toothpaste tube by cutting the end off before buying or opening another. You’d be surprised by how much product can be left in there if you don’t make the effort to use it.
36. Never Leave The Water Running
Running water is your money going down the drain. This applies to when you’re washing your face and hands or brushing your teeth. Turn it off and turn it on as and when needed rather than wasting water.
37. Use Simple Products And Avoid Pink Tax
We all know it – the pink tax is all about capitalism. Use “men’s” products to get around this issue. From body wash and soaps to shampoos and shaving gel. And let’s face it, men’s razors are pretty amazing, so there is no real loss there.
38. Dry Your Razor To Make It Last Longer
If you want to extend the life of your razor, dry it after every use. You also don’t need to replace the blades every two weeks if you don’t need to!
As long as they aren’t hurting you, get the job done, and aren’t dangerous, there’s no reason to replace them needlessly.
39. Install A Low-Water Toilet
You can save up to $25 every year by just using less water in your toilet! Upgrade your current toilet to a low-water toilet to save some money easily.
40. Install Low-Flow Shower Heads
These low-flow shower heads will also save you incredible amounts of money every year. It’s a simple thing, but it can make a huge difference.
41. Share Toiletries
So, we don’t mean you should share your roll-on deodorants and toothbrushes. Instead, use the same toothpaste, soaps, and shampoos, unless there’s really a reason not to.
You can get products with neutral scents or even unscented ones and use perfume or cologne.
42. Fix Your Leaky Faucets
Leaky faucets can add an extra $20 or more to your water bill every month. Get them fixed to save money quickly and easily.
43. Bathe When Needed
If you aren’t dirty or smelly, is there really a need for a full 20-minute shower? A good wipe-down is more than enough for everyday life if you’re intent on saving money.
Of course, a proper shower is always necessary at points, but it’s a sacrifice you can make if you want.
44. Turn The Water Heater Down
Set your water heater to somewhere between 120-140 Fahrenheit, just don’t overdo it.
45. Buy Bulk Toiletries
There are often great deals on bulk toiletries. They don’t go off, and you know that you will always use them. What’s the problem?
46. Use Homemade Cleaners And Toiletries
You can use the same cleaner for just about the entire bathroom and make it yourself with some simple products around the house!
47. Use The Smallest Product Amounts As Possible
Take it easy with how much you use! No one needs a whole handful of conditioner, and you don’t need to overdo it with cleaning products.
48. Install A Timer On Your Hot Water Heater
This will help you save a lot of money, so just do it!
49. Opt Out of Fancy Toiletries and Go Generic
Generic toiletries are just as good. No one needs those teeth-whitening kinds of toothpaste, right? Or the fancy soap bars? Go generic; it gets the job done and saves you loads of money in the process.
50. Make Use Of Foaming Hand Soap
Water your soap down a little, and it can last twice as long! Bear in mind you will still get all the germ-killing properties by doing this, so don’t worry! Buy regular hand soap and dilute it to stretch it further.
51. Use A Bidet
Toilet paper can rack up the bucks over time, especially if you have a family. A bidet gets the job done, and it can save so much money in the long run. Consider making this investment!
52. Get A Basic First-Aid Kit
Unnecessary trips to the ER are no joke. Hundreds of dollars down the drain for simple things like minor cuts. Get a basic first-aid kit so that you can deal with the issues yourself. If you have kids, you will know exactly how important this can be.
Tips To Save Money On Shopping
53. Use A Cash-Back Credit Card
Cashback credit cards can really bring in the bucks! Use them wisely, and always be sure to pay them off before the end of the month if you want to avoid interest fees. There are lots of great options for these, so find one that works for you and get earning!
54. Use Money-Saving Browser Extensions Like Rakuten Or Honey
There are so many money-saving browser extensions to make use of! If you’re in North America, Honey and Rakuten are great options that can automatically give you discounts.
If you’re in the UK, then extensions like Karma can save you so much money when you’re doing online shopping!
55. Never Pay For Banking
Even if you’re someone with bad credit, there’s no reason to pay for banking. We’ve come so far with technology; we should start being smart about this kind of stuff, too.
56. Work On Negotiating Your Bills
You can pay someone to do this for you, actually! This can bring your monthly costs down anywhere between a few cents and a few hundred dollars.
It’s amazing to do with every new company you need to work with. Try doing this for electricity and similar costs.
57. Return Unused Items
If you still have time to return an unused item, do it! You won’t even miss it, and you will be adding some money back to your account.
DIY As Much As Possible
This can be a tough one if you have no DIY skills. However, it’s never too late to learn! Learn to use a couple of tools and learn how things work. Whether you need to repaint a room or replace a faucet, doing it yourself will save you a lot of money.
59. Negotiate Anything You Can Think Of
Negotiating with a person can be intimidating, but it’s often rewarding, too! Always be polite, and never demand a lower price.
Just be courteous and at least ask them about different prices. You’d be surprised by how many people are willing to negotiate with you so that everyone is happy.
60. Try Doing A No-Spend Month
If you want to save hard money, try having a no-spend month! This is where you don’t spend any money outside of all your necessary bills and shopping.
You can save hundreds of dollars. It could make you rethink a lot of impulse buying you do, too.
61. Cancel Unused Subscriptions
We’ve all signed up for something at some point and forgotten about it. Check to see if you have unused gym, magazine, or any other kinds of subscriptions you may have forgotten about. They’re leeching your money!
62. Buy Used Items In Good Condition
Do you know how much you can save just by buying used items in good condition? This can apply to some tech, as well as clothing or furniture!
New isn’t always better; it’s just more expensive. Just make sure that what you’re buying is in good condition – or else it won’t last as long as you hope it will.
63. Try To Fix Things Before Replacing Them
You know when they say, “if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it”? Well, we say, if it is broken, at least try to fix it! Fixing stuff before buying a new one can and will save you a lot of money throughout your life.
Sometimes all you need is a little superglue to stick something back together, and bam – it’s good as new.
64. Educate Yourself With Inexpensive Or Even Free Online Courses
Places like Coursera and Skillshare have so many free and cheap courses you can take. Do it if you want to learn something new or expand on preexisting skills! Taking courses can also help you get a better job if that’s something you’re looking to do.
65. Create A Budget To Follow
Budgeting can and will save your life. If you create a budget, you need to make sure to stick to it.
This will cut all the unnecessary costs and show you how much you’re actually spending. It can be hard to swallow, but it’s necessary if you want a good financial future.
66. Find Ways To Entertain Yourself For Free
Believe it or not, there are plenty of ways to entertain you and the whole family for free. You can have free fun by visiting library events or checking out museums. It can be an educational experience as well as a fun one.
67. Ask for Price Matching
If it doesn’t hurt to ask, why not do it? Asking for price matching on a lot of big purchases like cars or furniture can save you so much money. It’s free, and it can save you hundreds. Why not do it?
68. Shop From The Clearance Racks
If you’re looking for clothes, shoes, or anything else you can think of, make a beeline for the clearance racks! There, you can find some amazing steals and discount prices.
We can’t promise that you will always find something that you love, but it’s always worth a shot!
69. Set Up Automated Savings
Automated savings will save you time and money and make your life a lot easier. You can set it up in no time and see and feel the benefits instantly. You will live a stress-free life while still saving money by avoiding late fees!
70. Pay All Bills On Time
Late fees are common if you don’t pay your bills on time. No one wants to rack up a bunch of late fees, so stay organized or get things automated.
71. Pay Off Your Debts
By paying off your debts, you will be paying less interest! Doing this can be a huge relief because no one wants a debt hanging over their head. This is amazing for relationships, so you should if you can do it.
72. Refinance Loans
You can refinance loans on your home, vehicle, or anything else! This can earn you hundreds of dollars, so it just makes sense, right? Pick your times, though, because rates will rise and drop over time.
73. Buy Things In Bulk
If you know that you use a lot of something, and it won’t go off, what’s stopping you from buying it in bulk? This is great for things like toiletries, canned goods, or anything else that isn’t perishable. Stores often have bulk deals, so it’s just a logical choice.
74. Have A 10-30 Day “Cooling Off” Period Before Making Large Purchases
This will give you time to think your decision through and make sure you’re making the right choice. It also means that you won’t be making large purchases back to back or too quickly.
75. Look For Smaller Homes
If you’re in the market for a home, think small. Not tiny, but just large enough for everyone moving in to manage. The smaller the house, the cheaper it will be to run and take care of. Long term, this is an amazing way to save money every month.
76. Purchase Discounted Gift Cards
You can buy unused gift cards at a discounted price… Did you know that? This will allow you to get so much more for your money, and you can really do a lot with them. You can get up to 35% discounts on these cards at online stores like raise.com and giftcards.com!
77. Only Do Off-Peak Travel
Traveling during peak times will result in steep payments that no one wants to pay. If you want to be smart about traveling, only travel at off-peak times.
78. Avoid Convenience Stores
Convenience stores are… convenient. However, they are amazing places – for owners. Convenience stores often perishable items by up to potentially 45%.
In other words, they’re ripping you off. Plan ahead, and only do your shopping at grocery stores when things are more fairly priced.
79. Put All Bills On Auto-Pay
Late fees can cost you an arm and a leg. How do you avoid this? Yeah, you can be organized and remember, or you can put your bills on auto-pay! One of these sounds a lot easier than the other, right?
80. Go To A Cosmetology School For Haircuts And Nails
Salons are expensive! If you still want to look like a million dollars, try going to a cosmetology school instead. You still get great results, but it’s so much cheaper.
81. Eliminate Or Cut Back On Bad Habits
Bad habits like alcohol consumption, smoking, and gambling are all things that can cost a lot of money, and they aren’t good for you. Everything in moderation, but be aware of how much money each of these things can cost, and the cost will pile up.
82. Maintain What You Have
Taking care of what you already have is so important. It will make things last longer, so you don’t have to spend loads of money on something new! It just makes sense. Sure, it’s nice to get something nice sometimes, but wait until the right time to make a purchase.
83. Pay With Cash
By paying for things with cash, you will have a better idea of how much you’re actually spending. Some people like to use the envelope system to keep track of things, but find what works for you.
84. Increase Your Monthly Income
If only it were that easy, right? Truth is, there are lots of ways to increase your monthly income. Some people take to the internet to sell feet pics, while others open an Etsy store or make candles.
Find something you love that’s lucrative, and have at it! Just make sure it’s legal and read up on all the rules and regulations beforehand.
85. Don’t Buy On Impulse
Impulse buys can sneak up on you. You might not feel like you’re spending a lot of money, but those few purchases throughout the month really add up. Take your time with buying things, and think them through!
86. Always Check Credit Card Statements And Bills
Finally, making a point to check your bills and credit card statements is a must. Unfortunately, mistakes can happen, and we must catch those mistakes and get our money back.
Every month, check all the paperwork to make sure everything is in order. If you see payments, you don’t recognize, investigate!
Tips to Save Money On: Transport
87. Use One Vehicle
Too many people have two or three vehicles. It’s understandable if one is a company vehicle, but you should only have one family car if you want to save money. You’ll save money on gas, checks, repairs, and insurance, which is exactly what you want!
88. Ride A Bike Or Walk Short Distances
Using your car over short distances can use a lot of gas. Instead of doing this, you should try walking or cycling there! You will save that money on gas but also get some physical activity, which we could all probably do.
89. Work From Home
This obviously isn’t possible for everyone. However, working from home has become increasingly common over the last few years.
This allows you to save money by not having to buy meals or travel daily. That’s a lot of gas you’re saving!
90. Combine Errands
If people in your family have errands to run, why not do them together? Take one car instead of forking out money on several trips, and get everything done efficiently! This is a time-saver as well as a money-saver.
91. Look For The Best Insurance Rates
Insurance is important, but so is finding good insurance rates. If you can find good insurance rates, you will be helping yourself and your finances in unbelievable ways.
92. Ensure Your Car Tires Are Inflated
Underinflated tires will cause your vehicle to be less efficient, and you will be throwing gas down the drain. If you aren’t sure what the psi of your tires should be, consult your car’s manual to find out. It can save you loads of money in the long run without even realizing it!
93. Keep It Slow When Driving
Not too slow, obviously. Always stay within the speed limit, and never go at a snail’s pace since that’s potentially even more dangerous than speeding! However, driving fast will cause your car to guzzle gas in no time, and no one wants that if they’re trying to save money.
94. Carpool With Colleagues And Friends
Carpooling can save so much money! If you have colleagues that live near you, wouldn’t it just make sense to carpool to work with them?
The same goes for friends and family members – it makes sense to get together and pay less money for travel overall.
95. Avoid Tolls
Tolls can add up a lot over time. It’s best to avoid them whenever possible.
96. Keep The AC Off
UC uses a lot of power, no matter where it is. As such, only use your AC when you really need to. Using it when you don’t have to can result in you wasting potentially hundreds of dollars over the course of a year.
97. Find The Cheapest Gas
This goes without saying, really. It’s no surprise that gas prices have reached unprecedented highs lately, so finding a good deal is more important than ever. Look for the best gas deal in or around town to save as much money as possible.
98. Lighten Your Vehicle’s Load
The heavier a vehicle is, the more fuel it needs to run. As such, try to keep unnecessary items out of your car, especially heavy ones!
Keep the load as light as possible whenever you’re able to – this also includes not always bringing people with you when you’re driving.
99. Use Public Transportation
Public transportation, such as buses, is usually way cheaper than cars. If this is the case where you live, why not opt to make use of it? It saves money, but it’s also more environmentally friendly.
100. Do Cheap Travel
Opt for cheaper modes of transport like your car instead of trains and planes. If you’re able to, stay with friends or family instead of renting hotel rooms, or even get an Airbnb. It’s all about being smart with travel, not cutting it out entirely.
Tips To Save Money On: Supplies And Laundry
101. Wash Your Clothes With Cold Water
Cold water won’t work on everything, but most things wash well in cold water! You can save up to $60 a year just by doing this. It ain’t much, but it’s honest work.
102. Use A Clothesline For Drying Clothes
Instead of using your dryer to dry your clothes, try using a clothesline! You could save around $200 annually just by doing this. This is great for summer, since rainy days aren’t ideal for, you know, drying clothes.
This will save you a lot of money, but make sure the sun doesn’t bleach the fabric! Turn them inside out to avoid bleaching.
103. Get High-Quality Used Clothing
Getting high-quality used clothing won’t only save you so much money but also be more environmentally friendly.
Clothes are incredibly expensive, so why spend the full price when you can get it second-hand when it looks brand new?
104. Wear Your Clothing More Than Once Before Washing
This doesn’t apply if the clothing in question is gym clothing you got all sweaty in.
However, everyday clothing can be worn more than once if you don’t do a lot in it! Have an office job? You probably didn’t work up a sweat in there, so wear it again.
105. Only Wash Full Laundry Loads
This may go without saying, but don’t bother doing half loads of laundry! You will just waste money. Wait until you have a full load of laundry to get done so that you can make the most of the energy that will be used.
106. Ensure The Dryer’s Lint Filter Tray Is Clear
Did you know that your dryer will run way more efficiently if the lint tray is empty?
Cleaning your lint tray after every use will also prevent fires (or at least reduce the fire risk). It’s free, and it only takes five minutes. There’s no reason not to do it.
107. Get Generic Laundry Products
Using generic laundry products will save you so much money! Named brands aren’t always the best, as we’ve already established.
As long as a name brand and a generic brand have the same ingredients, they’re going to do the same thing! You can still use some fancy stuff occasionally, but you really don’t need to for everyday items.
108. Insulate Hot Water Heaters
You could potentially save up to 16% on water heating expenses by insulating your water heater. You should insulate the water heaters by using a water heating blanket if it is warm to the touch.
109. Create Your Own Laundry Detergent
Yep… it’s possible! However, the process can be time-consuming, so it might not be worth it to everyone. It would save money but not necessarily time. And as you know, time is money!
110. Don’t Use Fabric Softener
As nice as fabric softener might be, it isn’t necessary. If you want a nice-smelling product, some pretty cheap options out there will last you a lot longer. It’s just money being flushed down the toilet.
111. Use Less Detergent From Named Brands
If you really need to use your named brand laundry detergents, save money by using around half of what manufacturers recommend.
Remember, they want you to spend more money buying their products! Make it last as long as possible.
112. Don’t Over-Dry Laundry
You don’t need to “fluff” your laundry before you fold it! This will waste money that you could easily save.
You should time when your laundry will be done so that you can quickly fold it and conserve energy. This also means that you don’t need to iron all your clothes… win-win, right?
Tips To Save Money On: Entertainment
113. Use Your Hobbies To Make Money
The amount of money you could potentially earn just from enjoying your hobbies is amazing! The possibilities are endless, from macramé and painting to Cricut and candle making.
Open up your own Etsy store and get selling to bring in some extra cash!
114. Go Camping
Camping is an inexpensive way to have fun while spending time with loved ones. You can get some cheat food and hang out in the woods with nature. It’s basically a free holiday.
115. Go To College And High School Sporting Events
Going to big sporting events can be expensive, so why not just check out the high school or college sporting events? They’re loads of fun, and you will be in for a good time.
116. Fund Fun With Credit Card Rewards
Some credit cards can give you loads of rewards to enjoy and explore! Make the most of those and save up to do fun things like eat out or visit places. It’s basically a load of free experiences, so why wouldn’t you?
117. Enjoy A Staycation
A staycation is a vacation that’s close to home. This can save so much money and be way less stressful.
You can try to replicate all your favorite things and treat yourself to something different and new. It’s so much fun, but with half the stress and funding costs.
118. Get Early Bird Deals At Restaurants
If you want to save money while also avoiding the crowds, the early bird specials can be great! A lot of bars and restaurants offer these, but you should double-check before planning anything.
119. Host A Game Night
Get your family and friends over for the game night and have fun! This is a great way to spend time with loved ones and avoid using a whole load of electricity or money.
Keep the food and drinks simple, get a good mystery game, and have a good time!
Tips To Save Money: Throughout Your Home
120. Unplug Your Electronic Devices
Even if an electronic device isn’t being used, if it’s plugged in or the switch is on, it’s still using energy! You don’t need to do this every day, because that would be a little ridiculous.
However, if you’re going away for a while, unplug everything to conserve energy. Just leave things like the refrigerator and freezer plugged in and on if there’s stuff in there!
121. Install LED Bulbs
LED bulbs are way more energy efficient, so that they will save you lots of money! Some homes still have energy-heavy bulbs that are ancient. Switch them out when you get the chance to save money.
122. Keep Your Fans And Lights Off When Not In The Room
What’s the point in actively wasting money to heat or cool a room that you aren’t in?
If you leave a room and don’t intend to return to it within three minutes, turn the lights and fans off! You’d be surprised by how much this can save.
123. Use Surge Protectors
Surge protectors can be a lifesaver! They will protect all your electronics from getting fried during storms.
They can also be handy as they have switches that allow you to stop the flow of electricity. This will help you save money when the electrics aren’t in use.
124. Get A Programmable Thermostat
A lot of people will set a thermostat and forget about it. If this sounds like you, a programmable thermostat is amazing. You can program when it turns on, off, or turns up or down. Very handy if you’re prone to forgetting about this stuff.
125. Stop Cleaning Clean Things
If something isn’t noticeably dirty, why clean it? Of course, this doesn’t necessarily apply to everything, like utensils and most things in the kitchen, but you don’t have to follow a schedule if it doesn’t work. This is also just a great way of wasting time doing unnecessary housework.
126. Set Your Ceiling Fans Clockwise In The Winter
Did you know that you can save up to 15% on your energy bill just by setting your fan to go clockwise in the winter? Doing this will cause an updraft, which will then redistribute the warm air evenly throughout the room!
127. Set Your Ceiling Fans Counterclockwise In The Summer
In the summer, you should set your ceiling fans counterclockwise! This will cause them to suck in the warm air, then redistribute it as cold air. Pretty amazing, huh?
128. Close Off The Rooms You Don’t Use
You don’t need to close off heating and cooling vents, but closing a room off when you aren’t using it will save you good money! This is because machines won’t have to work hard to maintain temperatures in there.
129. Sell Unused Stuff
We often buy stuff just to let it sit around untouched for weeks. If you recently bought something that you haven’t bothered to use yet, return it if you’re able. Get your money back, and you will probably realize that you won’t even miss it.
130. Negotiate Lower Phone, Cable, And Insurance Bills
The power of negotiation is too often untapped! You can bring so many costs down just by talking to providers. Try having a conversation or paying someone to do it for you, and get your bills lowered to help you save money.
131. Keep The Shades Drawn In The Summer
Want to keep the house cool? Keep the shades on the sunny side of your home drawn in the summer to keep things cooler.
132. Open The Windows In The Morning
Got hot summers? Try leaving your windows open overnight and closing them early in the morning.
Doing this will help you to trap cooler air in the house in preparation for the warm day ahead. This can be problematic if you have a mosquito problem, though, so take precautions.
133. Keep The Shades Open In The Winter
You probably have a spot you hate in the summer because of the heat, but that’s a great place in the winter! Take note of this spot, and keep the shades open in the winter to get some warmth and sunshine in that spot.
134. Cut Back On The Cleaning Products
The amount of unnecessary cleaning products that we as a country go through is immense. The cleaning industry is worth billions, and too many of us listen to the commercials that tell us that every item needs a different cleaning product.
There are rules, of course, but you only need a handful in small quantities to get the job done. Don’t be sucked into the lies of capitalism.
135. Use Blackout Curtains
Blackout curtains will keep the heat in the house during the winter and allow you to save so much money.
This is because a lot of windows are actually pretty inefficient and allow warmth to go right through them. Not to mention, blackout curtains are great if you’re someone who needs to sleep during the day for any reason.
136. Use A Space Heater
Instead of turning the heating on in every room of the house, get a space heater to warm up specific rooms. This will save so much money, especially in winter, and space heaters are usually pretty affordable.
Get a quality product to last you for years to come instead of spending hundreds on heating around the house.
137. Insulate Your Attic Space
Did you know that you could potentially lower your heating costs by up to 50% percent if your attic is properly insulated?
If you have a noticeable cold ceiling, you should add more insulation to the attic to keep the warmth in the home and save money on heating.
138. Weatherstrip
If you want to keep your home insulated, you need to weatherstrip! This involves sealing any and every gap or hole in the buildings where air might escape.
This is especially important in the winter, as all that warm air will seep out, causing you to waste your money.
139. Turn the TV Off
TVs are big electricity wasters. If you aren’t actively watching TV, then turn it off!
Leaving these devices on as “background noise” will waste so much money, and it can also pick a hole in your brain trying to convince you to buy useless products.
140. Use Multi-Purpose Cleaning Tools
There’s one rule when it comes to cleaning tools: only the toilet brush stays in the bathroom. Every other cleaning tool can be used for multiple things to help keep costs down. It just makes sense, doesn’t it?
141. Don’t Use Single-Use Products
At this point, this kind of goes without saying. Single-use products aren’t only bad for the environment, but they’re also bad for the bank.
Get quality items that you can use for months or years to come instead of wasting time and money on cheap and useless ones.
142. Insulate The Exposed Pipes
You’re wasting money when heat and cold escape from pipes. As such, insulating all exposed pipes is an absolute must in order to help you save money.
It’s a small thing, but it can make a huge difference. Pipe insulation looks like tiny pool noodles, so keep an eye out!
143. Keep The Ducts And Filters Clean
You’d be surprised by how much money you can waste by having dirty ducts and filters. Having an efficient HVAC system will not only keep things running smoothly, but it will save you money in the long run.
144. Don’t Use Table TV
Cable TV is overrated and pretty expensive. Instead, you can pay for a much cheaper subscription service like Netflix or Amazon and be entertained non-stop. Think of what you watch on Cable TV, and decide for yourself.
145. Play Board Games
There are so many great board games out there, and guess what? You only have to buy them once! Some board games, like Cluedo, Rummikub, and so many more, can offer hours of fun.
It’s a great way to spend time with friends and family while not spending too much. You can even play these games without electricity!
146. Get Rid Of Your Landline
Landlines used to be great, but they aren’t really a necessity anymore. If you live in a place that has good cell service, you can save money by getting rid of your landline! It’s easy to do and can save a little money in the process.
147. Use Amazon Prime
You can use Amazon Prime for anything from entertainment to shopping. It’s an amazing option to get an all-in-one money-saving subscription. They even go Amazon grocery deliveries, so it might be a better fit than you initially thought!
148. Sign-Up For Netflix
Netflix has loads of movies and series to watch at reasonable prices. You might want to opt for the cheaper plans to keep costs down, but that’s up to you!
Prices usually range from $9.99 to $19.99. Prices are subject to change, though, so always keep an eye out!
149. Try Out Hulu
Hulu is another great subscription that you can enjoy for affordable entertainment!
There are plenty of great things to watch on this subscription service, and you can cancel it at any time. Prices range from $6.99 to $12.99, but these prices are subject to change.
150. Set Thermostat Settings To Comfortable, But Money-Saving Settings
Thermostats can be expensive, so ensure that the temperature you set is reasonable! You shouldn’t have to go cold, but you also don’t need to use super-high settings to be comfortable.
Can You Get Rich By Being Frugal?
Being frugal alone won’t make you rich, but it sure helps. Many wealthy people live frugal lifestyles and live below their means, but that isn’t why they are rich!
There are six “wealth factors,” according to Sarah Fallow (author of The Next Millionaire Next Door: Enduring Strategies for Building Wealth). In this book, she noted that these factors are common in many people who earn six figures or more. These factors are:
- They live below their means (they’re frugal)
- They accept responsibility for both good and bad financial decisions
- They have confidence in their financial goals
- They are able to budget and plan for their financial goals
- They are socially indifferent to lifestyle creep
- They are laser-focused on their financial future
So, while being frugal doesn’t automatically make you rich, it definitely helps. It’s just one component of the whole picture, but it is an important part.
In other words, it’s a great start if you really want to improve your financial standing.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this article has helped you out! You now have 150 great ways to start saving money in your everyday life that you can start implementing in no time.
Please bear in mind that some of the ways of saving money we’ve discussed are much more difficult to achieve than others. Many factors can impact these, but it’s up to you to decide which ones are possible.
If you are someone who struggles with saving money, you can start doing things one by one and gradually implement more things into your lifestyle.
Sometimes, jumping in head first can be overwhelming, which can put you off. As long as you progress, even if it’s slow, you will start to save money and learn a lot.
