"I Saved An Embarrassing Amount Of Money": Frugal People Are Sharing The Habits They Stick To Year-Round
Being frugal isn't just about saving money. It's also about wasting less resources so you can get the most out of what you have. Recently, I came across this Reddit thread where people shared the frugal habits that they're sticking with for richer or poorer, and it's full of great ideas. Here are some of the top comments:
1."I'll always use the library to borrow audiobooks, Kindle books, etc. If you don't already use the Libby app, check to see if your local library participates. I easily read/listen to at least $4,000 worth of books a year."
2."Only subscribe to one streaming service at a time; once I sign up, I immediately cancel and use it until the month is up. If there are still a few things I want to watch, I'll go another month. If not, I move on to a new one!"
3."Save and reuse gift bags and tissue paper."
"Gift boxes, too. I buy them when they are on clearance after Christmas and use the plain ones for birthdays. I don’t throw them away until they are just completely torn up, and I can’t tape them back together."
4."I'll never pay to withdraw my own money from a cash machine. It would have to be life or death before I paid even $1."
"I have a credit union, so I get reimbursed every month for any ATM I use."
5."I always make sure to meal prep. It's such a small effort upfront but it saves me a lot of time and money throughout the week. Plus, it helps me avoid those tempting fast food runs when I'm busy or stressed."
6."Be nice to people. I smile and say hello to cashiers, servers, and mechanics that I encounter and ask how they’re doing. It’s such a simple thing, really, but I’ve gotten many items discounted just by not being a rude asshole."
7."Eat leftovers and try my damnest not to throw food away."
8."THRIIIIIFT! If I’ve got a butt-load of money, maybe I’d frequent the higher-end vintage stores, but I love thrifting! You can find some amazing items at a bargain, and I’ll take unique, vintage clothing over designer garbage any day."
9."Get water instead of soda when eating out. Both because it's outrageous to pay $3-4 for a glass of soda, and to cut out extra calories because restaurant food is already high calorie."
10."Squeeze every ounce of toothpaste out before replacing it."
11."I will always return an item that is made poorly. I will literally return anything. I am so tired of companies taking my money and giving me junk in return. I worked hard for that cash! I hear so many people say how they didn't want to bother with a return and just toss something. I don't care if it was five bucks; it's going back!"
"This is a matter of principle. I didn't earn money to be swindled out of it, and any company that sells a poor product is a swindler.
I'm also an animal trainer, and I know not to reward bad behavior, or it will continue."
12."Add water to the end of the shampoo, conditioner, body wash, etc., to get that one last wash."
13."Buy in bulk. We had a snow/ice storm come through, and I had everything I needed without leaving the house. Lots of choices for meals as well!"
14."Cut my kitchen sponges in half. They fit better in some glassware like that."
15."Cleaning my own apartment. I know how to do it, and it takes very little time to maintain. I'd be more anxious about someone else doing it for me than I am about spending about 20 minutes a week on it."
16."Budgeting! I use my phone calculator while grocery shopping to ensure I don't overspend, and I have a checklist beforehand. I also buy the generic versions of most items since they're as good as the more popularly-branded ones most of the time. Not a fan of grabbing items without checking their prices."
17."Save every single to-go napkin and sauce I am given. I have an entire drawer for them. One time, I bottled all my soy sauce packets."
18."I make coffee at home and do not buy bottled water."
19."Turn off lights in the house."
20."I make good money now. I even went to culinary school and can truly enjoy some expensive food, but I still love cheese sandwiches and canned vegetables."
21."Live as minimalist as possible and don't buy things you don't need. I grew up with little but became wealthy as an adult. At first, my instinct was to buy everything, all the things that were unattainable. What I ended with was clutter and anxiety. When I moved, I took the opportunity to downsize massively and not only have I saved an embarrassing amount of money annually, I'm happier."
22."Try to mend and repair things instead of throwing them away!"
23."Buy store brand groceries."
24."Homemade meals are healthy and frugal."
25."I’ll always shop around for the best price, no matter how much money I have. Whether it’s for groceries, clothes, or household items, I’ll look for discounts, use coupons, or wait for sales. My friends call me cheap, but I'm just making sure I’m not overspending on things I can get for less."
26."Having a 'do I really want this?' note where unnecessary purchases stay for at least a month before I decide on purchasing it."
27."Reuse Ziploc bags. Drives my husband insane but for me, it’s a money thing as well as an environmental thing. No sense in throwing away a bag you used once."
28."Summer vacation is always camping at the state park!"
29."Gardening and home canning/food preservation. I love knowing exactly what is in my food and where it came from."
30."Cook at least one cheap meal a week, like red beans and rice or pasta olio with chicken and a veggie. I feel like it keeps me grounded no matter how much money I have. I'd rather keep it in the bank for later use."
31."Take public transportation."
32."Take in our recyclable bottles and cans for the cash."
33.And finally, "Reuse food containers like yogurt or sour cream tubs. It's just an instinct at this point. I seriously doubt any amount of money would break the habit."
What's your "yeah, I doing this no matter what" frugal habit? Tell me all about it in the comments.
