"It Usually Amounts To Around $200 Every 18 Months Or So": People Are Sharing The Frugal Habits They Still Do Even Though They Make A Higher Income
Growing up in a household where money isn't widely available can cause families to create frugal habits and routines. So when asked: "'Well off' people, what is the 'poorest' thing you still regularly do?" a lot of people from the BuzzFeed Community shared their go-to tricks. Here's what they said below.
1."I google household items I need and check the shopping price. Once I do this, the Amazon algorithm usually lowers the price, so I buy it from them. Not only do I get home delivery, but I save money. I’m guessing maybe $10–$20 a month."
2."You’ll need basic sewing skills for this (and might need to rent or borrow a machine), but I do nearly all of my own alterations and repairs for clothing and upholstery. (Big tip: Get a snag puller for easily fixing snagged fabric.)"
"And get a library card! Some libraries check out things other than books (movies, tools, kids’ toys, and maybe even museum or national park passes in some cities)."
3."Reuse garbage bags for dog waste."
4."I can’t resist cutting Brillo pads in half. You never really need a whole one."
5."I walk 10,000 steps a day. I still pick up any change I find while walking. I put it in a container, and once or twice a year, I take it to my bank and cash it in. I got $74.48 the last time I took it to the bank."
"My wife and I always put our spare change in a jar, and when it gets full, we roll it up and take it to the bank. It usually amounts to around $200 every 18 months or so."
6."Using lamps with 40-watt bulbs rather than the 100–150 watts times six overheads. I read using Fast Wash is the same as the regular cycle when using the washing machine, and it’s true. My clothes, towels, and bedding are just as clean as when using the longer wash cycles. I didn’t believe washing with two to four tablespoons of detergent was enough for a full load of clothes to get clean, but it works. I use very little soap, and my clothes are clean and smell good, too. When driving to another city for work, I always check out gasoline prices and fill up the gas tank when prices are lower than where I live, which is almost always true. Check out Aldi and Trader Joe’s before any other stores; these places are always cheaper with excellent products — and Dollar Tree for almost everything else."
7."Use a credit card with rewards or cash back for every essential purchase, and ALWAYS pay the balance in full. You’ll never pay interest AND save on every purchase with those rewards/cash back."
"My credit card pays 3% on purchases. When I got my last statement, I’d made almost 2k in purchases, so I received about $160 cashback, which goes directly back into my checking account to be used to pay off my bill. (I, of course, pay off my bill entirely each month.)"
8."If you don't have to live paycheck-to-paycheck, AND if you're decent at planning ahead and keeping a list, don't buy non-food things at the grocery store. Buy your shampoo, cat litter, tape, and what have you at a discount store (i.e. Walmart, Dollar Store, whatever)."
"Walmart definitely, but Dollar Store often cuts corners by selling you a smaller amount than you'd get elsewhere, meaning you're paying more per ounce than you would someplace like Walmart. Okay in a pinch, but you'll spend more in the long run."
9."My mother saves ratty, old towels specifically for touching up her roots (and uses old sheets to cover the bathroom counter and floor before opening the dye box, which helps catch any drips). The good towels stay pristine, and her hair stays dark."
10."My partner and I won't turn on the heat or air conditioning unless we absolutely have to. We live in a mild climate, so we don't have to too often. We'll still wait until it's uncomfortable even though we can easily afford the bill."
11."I go through the neighborhood trash to recycle any pots or garden items that someone throws away. It’s amazing what a little elbow grease and spray paint can do!"
12."I sell my unused clutter on sites like Mercari, OfferUp, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and the like. Instead of having the items take up space, you might as well get a couple of bucks for them and let someone who will actually use them enjoy them."
13."I buy my designer jeans at Goodwill. They even email a coupon for 20% off every month. Also, if I get a lot of ketchup packets, I open them up and squeeze them into an already-open bottle. It seems like a waste to just toss them out."
14."I gifted myself a bidet years before the pandemic-induced toilet paper shortage. Recently, I realized I was spending a lot on toilet paper, so I got reusable toilet paper on Amazon. By the way, I only use it for #1. Still, the combo saves money. I also recently bought reusable cloth napkins and plan to get handkerchiefs instead of tissues."
15."I keep my money in savings so that before I go to make a purchase, I need to transfer money into my checking account. It helps me be mindful of my spending because I have to transfer just the right amount. It also prevents unknown charges from occurring that I may have forgotten about, which can mean the difference between gas and food."
If you make more money than you did before, tell us some of the "poor" things you still do today in the comments below!
