Living a frugal life is very beneficial, but it also can be a challenge. You’ll have to set priorities in your life and learn how to spend money only on the things you need.
When you choose to spend your money in a calculated manner, you can save for the things you truly love. Being frugal means you are working to support your lifestyle.
Adopting frugal living ideas comes with many advantages. You can save enough money to have financial freedom and live the way you want. You can choose a career that actually makes you happy or you can invest in starting your own business.
You may also be able to invest more time into doing the hobbies you love once you’ve reached that level of financial freedom. How you spend your money is up to you, but it’s important to avoid waste and find things that make you happy without breaking the bank.
If you want to learn how to live frugally, here is a list of 100 best frugal living tips:
Frugal Living Tips for Entertainment
1. Look for discounts in your city.
If you live in a city popular for its tourist destinations, you can get discounts for many places. Entertainment facilities usually offer discounts 2 times a year.
2. Get group coupons for your family.
When you have kids, going out with the whole family is expensive. You can save a lot of money if you go to places that offer group coupons.
3. Community events.
Community events are great if you want to go out, but you don’t want to spend money. Community centers usually provide completely free events.
4. Explore the outdoors.
Maybe you can’t find anything fun to do around the house on a Sunday afternoon, and you want to go out. You can always take your bike for a ride in the park.
5. Pack some snacks or eat before you go out.
Before you visit a place, it’s a good idea to pack some food from home or eat before you leave the house. Some places have expensive food, and you can save a lot of money if you bring snacks from home.
6. Get discount tickets.
If your favorite band or artist is coming to town, and you want to see their performance live, get discounted tickets. There are many websites from which you can get cheaper tickets for concerts or other events.
7. Discount dollar movies.
There are dollar movie theaters that offer cheaper tickets than regular theaters. You just have to wait until the movie you want to see appears in a theater of this kind.
8. Check the emails from your favorite places.
Usually, museums, aquariums, and zoos have an email newsletter. Subscribe to their newsletter and find out about their next discount or special deal.
9. Visit the library.
One of the best frugal living tips for seniors, adults, and teens when it comes to entertainment, is to visit the local library. In a library, you can find lots of free entertainment materials. For example, you can find free books, music CDs, movies, and courses. Some libraries even host events like board games sessions or movie nights.
10. Don’t smoke.
Smoking is a form of entertainment, but it’s expensive and unhealthy.
11. Camping.
You don’t need to bring much stuff while camping. Nature is free.
Frugal Living Ideas for Drinks
12. Saving alcohol money.
When you want to go to a bar for an alcoholic beverage, go there during the happy hour. Many bars offer discounts on drinks when the place is crowded with customers.
13. Don’t ask for ice in your drink in a restaurant.
Ice just fills the cup unnecessarily even if you pay the full price for your drink. Cutting out the ice leaves more room for your favorite drink.
14. Reduce the number of drinks you buy when you leave the house.
For example, people are used to buying coffee on their way to work. Try to limit this number to once a week. If you need coffee every day then you should –
15. Make your coffee at home.
One of the best frugal living tips for coffee lovers is to search for the recipe of your favorite coffee and make it at home.
16. Look for coffee deals.
If you don’t have time to make coffee at home, try this tip! Some coffee shops offer perk cards. You can get free drinks or other discounts if you accumulated enough points.
17. Use gift cards.
You can ask your friends or your family to get you coffee gift cards for your birthday or Christmas. You can also save some money by purchasing unused gift cards from various websites.
18. Mix your children’s drinks with water.
Sodas and juices are expensive and usually unhealthy. You can save money by mixing the drink of your kids with water. You can also give them home-made lemonade, or juices from other fruits.
Frugal Living Ideas for Eating Out
19. Save the leftovers.
You can save half of your meal for later. This is one of the best frugal living tips, and you can save up to $5 per meal.
20. Order appetizers.
Appetizers are cheaper than a full meal. You can also split them with someone to save more money.
21. Coupons and discounts.
Check the newsletters of your favorite restaurants. Restaurants usually offer special discounts, and you can take advantage of that.
22. Drink water.
Drinks in restaurants are expensive. You can enhance your frugal life and lower your bill significantly if you order your meals with water.
23. Ignore restaurants with table service.
Places with this kind of service also require tips. Tips are usually 20% of your order. When you want to eat out, plan ahead and you can save more money.
24. Search for restaurants that offer free meals for children.
If you have a bigger family, you can make some serious savings by going to these places. Various local restaurants offer free meals for kids.
Frugal Living Tips for Grocery Shopping
25. Coupons.
As we learned already, coupons are very useful for someone who wants to adopt a frugal life. If you are signed up for a store’s newsletter, check your email coupons. The coupons they send you are usually based on the products you already bought.
26. Look for the clearance section of your store.
In the clearance sections, you can find various products. Usually, every department has a clearance section.
27. Take note when there are food discounts.
The price for food goes down when the expiration date is approaching. You can buy meat at a lower price, then you can put it in the freezer to last longer.
28. Make your favorite snacks at home.
Things like muffins, cookies or chips are quite expensive. You can save lots of cash if you buy the ingredients separately and make them at home.
29. Buy in bulk.
Some products are cheaper if you buy them in bulk. Later, you can store them in smaller containers.
30. Buy store brands.
When other products go on sale, store brands still can be cheaper. It’s a great way to save money and live frugally.
31. Look for deals.
Many stores have a sale cycle every month. During this sale, you can buy 2 products at the price of one.
32. Shop based on your pantry.
Take a look at your pantry and see what you have already. Buy only the products that are missing from your pantry.
33. Plan your meals.
Make a list of meals for the whole week. You can save money by buying products based on those meals.
34. Have a grocery list with you.
While shopping, we are tempted to buy extra things that we don’t need. Try to stick to your grocery list to save more money.
Frugal Living Tips to Save Money Using your Car
35. Wash your car at home.
It’s nice to drive around with a clean car. However, a car wash costs $6. You can save money by cleaning the car yourself.
36. Make a deal with a friend.
If you need to drive to your workplace, take driving turns with a friend who also works there. The expenses for gas and maintenance will be greatly reduced.
37. Keep the maintenance of your car.
Car repairs can cost you a lot. If you want to embrace the frugal life, but you also want to keep your car, take care of the regular maintenances.
38. Ridesharing.
Not only can you save money, but you can also make some extra cash. Ridesharing is something normal these days, and it’s a great way to be frugal.
Frugal Living Ideas for a Healthy Lifestyle
39. Don’t eat fast food.
Fast food seems cheaper, but you don’t actually save money. It’s better if you cook your own meals.
40. Frozen fruits and vegetables.
They are cheap and nutritious. You can use them to cook various meals.
41. Home-made smoothies.
Fruit-based smoothies are healthy and delicious. You can use the internet to find various smoothie recipes. You can save up to $5 weekly if you make your own smoothies.
42. Fill up water bottles.
You can use water filters and reusable bottles. You don’t have to buy water bottles every time.
43. Fitness apps.
Gym memberships cost a lot. You can exercise and improve your health by using a fitness app.
Best Frugal Living Tips Around the House
44. Don’t waste energy.
Unplug your devices when you are not using them. If you make a habit out of this, you can save money every day.
45. Rent out a room with Airbnb.
You can make some money if you rent out a room for guests who need a place to stay for a short period.
46. Set the thermostat.
You can save energy and money by keeping the thermostat at 2 degrees below or above the temperature you are comfortable with.
47. Don’t use the dishwasher.
You can save more water and energy if you wash the dishes by yourself.
48. Wash your clothes in cold water.
Not many people know about this tip. You can even save $1 per load.
49. Dilute the detergent.
Laundry detergent is not something that you should cut off. However, you can save money by diluting the detergent with water.
50. Stop using your dryer.
You will be happier with the electricity bill if you hang your clothes up to dry.
51. Move into a smaller house.
The energy usage in a big house is high. Moving to a smaller place is one of the best things you could do to live frugally.
52. Get a roommate.
Sharing the costs with someone is a great way to save money. It’s recommended to sign a contract to avoid misunderstandings.
Money-saving Tips on Banking
53. Use your credit card when you buy something.
If you pay with cash, you are missing a great opportunity to earn cash back and bonus points. Find a great credit card and make sure to always pay in full every month
54. Plan your debt.
Look for a way to transfer your debt to a card with a lower interest rate. Some deals can give you 0% interest for a few months.
Money Savings on Phone, TV, and Internet for a Frugal Life
55. Look for the best internet options.
Some internet services are cheaper than others. Make sure to find the best deal for you.
56. Listen to free podcasts.
You can learn many things from a podcast. You can save money by looking for free podcasts on various websites.
57. Free Wi-Fi.
When you find a Wi-Fi signal somewhere, take advantage of it. There are many restaurants and stores that offer free Wi-Fi.
58. Use cheaper memberships for Netflix or Amazon Prime.
You already have access to your favorite shows. You don’t actually need the higher quality or other things they provide.
59. Subscribe to Redbox Email List.
They provide discounts and free codes often. It’s better if you look for a discount before you rent a movie.
60. Ask your service providers for a discount.
This is a great way to cut out the expenses. Let your provider know that you are considering different options, and they will offer you a discount.
61. Use an antenna.
Antennas are cheap and if you use one, you don’t have to pay for cable anymore. You can still have access to many TV channels.
62. See what other TV services provide.
Give up on the services that you don’t use and save more money.
63. Plan what you want to watch.
Think about your favorite TV shows and when you want to watch them. You can cancel the memberships after you are done.
64. Cut off the watching time.
A TV is not necessary and you have to pay for the electricity bill. However, choose the most important things to watch if you still want to spend some time in front of the TV. While living frugally, it’s essential to give up on unnecessary stuff.
65. Check for discounts for your cell phone service.
Some cell phone service providers offer loyalty discounts.
66. Decide if a smartphone is important.
If entertainment is the only thing you are using your smartphone for, consider using a normal phone.
67. Protect your phone.
You must have a phone case, so your phone won’t break if you drop it.
68. Buy a used phone.
New phones are very expensive. You can find many good used phones on various websites.
69. Sell your old phone.
If you bought a phone, it means that you won’t use your old one anymore. You can sell it to make some cash that you can put in your savings account.
70. You don’t need the newest phone version.
Older versions are good too. You can avoid money-wasting if you don’t reach for your pockets every time a new smartphone comes out.
71. Choose cheaper data plans.
Consider how much you use your phone. Do you really need that unlimited everything plan? If you do, the other option is to ask your friends or family if you can go on their plan and pay the difference in cost by adding you.
Insurance Money-saving Tips to Live Frugally
72. Live healthily.
This is one of the most important tips if you want to be frugal. You don’t have to pay for treatments and hospital bills if you are healthy.
73. Assessments for health insurance.
Usually, health insurance companies offer rewards to their customers if they take their health assessments. Check out what rewards your health insurance offers.
74. Be careful when you drive.
The rates for car insurance are lower if you are a prudent driver. Some car insurance companies even offer rewards to those people who drive safely.
Frugal Living Tips When Shopping for Clothes
75. Try not to spend money for a certain period of time.
Buying new clothes can be tempting. However, you can always wear your older clothes if they are in good condition.
76. Add a zero to the price tag.
This is a nice method used by people who live a frugal life. The price tag with an additional zero at the end represents the amount of money you could make over time if you choose to invest that money instead.
77. Sign up for Amazon’s special programs.
Amazon offers discounts for every item you order each month. You can also look for shipping-free deals.
78. Wait a month before you purchase something really expensive.
Make sure you have the money you need. Also, you have plenty of time to decide if you really need to buy that product.
79. Buy clothes from online stores.
Online shopping is convenient, and you can also save money. Many online stores offer great deals.
Money-saving Tips on Beauty for a Frugal Life
80. Get makeup from drugstores.
Drugstores offer many options when it comes to makeup. They are also much cheaper.
81. Get haircuts from a beauty school.
There is not a huge difference between a beauty school and an expensive salon. The price is certainly more acceptable.
82. Drugstore face wash.
A face wash is usually expensive if you buy it from a beauty store. From a drugstore, you can get face wash at a much lower price.
83. Replace shaving cream with conditioner.
Conditioner is a great substitute, and you can get it for a good price.
84. Buy razors for men.
Razors for men are more efficient. You can also buy more for the price of one.
Gift Ideas for a Frugal Life
85. Set a gift budget.
Having a set budget will make you more selective. You want the gifts to be nice, but not too expensive.
86. Save the gift bags.
You can spend up to $5 for gift bags every time you buy gifts. So, saving them is a good idea.
87. Clearance and sales.
If you need a gift quickly, check your local store for sales. You can also buy more items for future occasions.
88. Offer alternatives.
If it’s your friend’s birthday, invite them over for dinner instead of giving them a gift. Delicious meals are always appreciated.
89. Sort your gifting list.
You don’t have to offer a gift to everyone you know. You want to give gifts to the most important people in your life.
90. Handwritten cards.
If you still want to make a gift to someone who is not as close to you as other people, you can always give a handwritten card.
91. Re-gift.
Everyone has unused gifts around the house. You can make use of them by giving them to other people.
92. Secret Santa.
You can convince your family to a secret Santa. Doing this, you don’t have to buy gifts for every member of the family.
93. Home-made gifts.
You can always learn how to create home-made gifts. They are nice and they show how much effort you put into the gift.
94. Gift cards.
You can get gift cards from restaurants, coffee shops, and much more. They are always appreciated, and it’s a great frugal gift.
Frugal Living Tips With a Big Impact
95. Enjoy yourself.
It’s important to find joy and happiness in the smallest things. You don’t have to buy expensive stuff to be happy.
96. Have an emergency fund.
It’s great to have some money for unexpected events. With an emergency fund, you are prepared if someone gets hurt for example.
97. Change your mindset.
The mindset is the most powerful weapon you have. If you believe that you can save money for your goals, that means you can do it.
98. Pay off your debt.
The first step towards a frugal life is to pay your debt. After you’ve done it, it will be easier to save money.
99. Set a monthly budget for expenses.
Make a list for everything you need to pay and make sure you keep track of your money.
100. Financial goals.
It’s always important to have an objective. Come up with a plan and consider investing your money.
If you use Some of These Tips and Ideas for a Frugal Life you can Save up to 70% of your Income.
The average TV cable bill is around $200, that is a lot! There are much cheaper alternatives to watch your favorite TV shows.
If you replace other drinks with water, depending on your current spending habits, you can save $40 or more a month.
Smoking costs you so much money every month, and it’s unhealthy. I know its a hard habit to quit, but I’ve done it, and so happy I did. Savings and health benefits are phenomenal.
It’s only $10 to replace your car’s air filter, and that can prevent damages of hundreds of dollars.
These are just some examples. Imagine how much money you can save if you purchase only the essentials. These frugal living ideas can change your life. The only thing you need is dedication and a little patience.