24 Frugal Tips that Actually Work!

Frugal living is a term that we hear or read about often these days. Frugal living is nothing but mindful spending. Being aware of your expenses and only buying the things you need, as opposed to the things you might need.

This is a great way to save money by only spending on the necessities.

When I used to shop, I never had a shopping list instead had “an idea” of things I need to buy. I used to buy additional things to stock up – only to never use them.

There are often times we think its good to be prepared and buy extra things in case of an emergency. But the truth is, it might just sit in your pantry and go past its expiry date, never to be used.

How can I become very frugal?

If you are wondering how to live a frugal life, we are going to take a look at little lifestyle changes that will help you reach your money goals. For instance, if grocery shopping costs you more than expected try using a shopping list and stick to what on the list. Paying cash also keeps your spending in check.

So if you take $100 to the supermarket, you will make sure you don’t buy over the limit. You will be surprised how much you save just by using a shopping list and paying cash. This is the first step.

Before we get into the best frugal living tips of this year, here are two posts worth checking out to help you save some money. The first is ways to get hold of free Amazon gift cards and some free to install money making apps that have an earning potential of up to $100.

Are you ready to learn how to live frugally and save money, even if you have very little or nothing to spend?

*This post may contain affiliate links. Disclosure here.

Frugal Living Tips

1. Plan Your Finances

This is the perfect starting point. For you to save money you need to have a budget. With a budget in place, you will be able to keep your finances in order and be able to identify the areas you can cut back on your expenses.

It can be as easy as writing out your monthly income and expenditure and see if you can eliminate any unwanted expense.

Another fantastic way is to save a little percentage (say 5%) of your income and put it aside as “emergency savings”. This way you are forced to make do with the 95% of the income you keep for yourself each month. This really helps avoid those impulse shopping sprees and builds up your savings.

2. Hidden Savings

Three ways to do this is:

1. Coupons and loyalty cards
2. Cashback
3. Make money with your shopping receipts

While you may already know the importance of using coupons and loyalty cards to slash you bills, the last option may sound new to you. There are apps like Swagbucks that actually reward you for scanning and uploading a photo of your recent shopping receipt. You can also get cashback rewards and earn money for completing short tasks with this website. Swagbucks is one of the best apps used by those who are ready to embrace a frugal lifestyle.

3. Grocery List App for Moms

There are two big reasons I always carry a shopping list.

1. I only buy what we need

2. Not spending too much time shopping

You can consider using a free app like Cozi that allows the entire family to add their shopping items to the app. Once you open an account, you can add other members of your family to the app and they can contribute to the list.

And it’s not just shopping lists, you can create recipe cards, schedule daily reminders and a lot more.

4. Cook at home

Back in the days, eating out wasn’t really a thing. People stuck to simple, hearty meals built from basics—beans, potatoes, bread, and whatever veg was in season.

These days, it’s more about staying prepared: batch-cook when you can, freeze extras, and keep a couple of super-cheap, low-effort “backup meals” ready so you’re not tempted by takeaways.

Try planning your food week by week using what’s already in your kitchen, plus any deals you find. Map out breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and a couple of snacks each day. A quick template or notes app list can make a big difference when it comes to avoiding impulse buys.

5. How to Book Cheap Holidays

Needless to say, Groupon is one of the best places that offer deals and discounts for holiday breaks. Make sure you sign up to Groupon and check their website for deals before booking your next holiday.

Groupon deals are normally valid during certain days, so make sure to check if the days of availability suit you. 

6. Buy in Bulk

Buy only non-perishables in bulk. But avoid bulk purchases of perishables unless you can freeze, preserve, or consume them before spoilage.

Split bulk buys with friends or family for items you won’t use quickly to get the lower unit price without waste.

7. Make Use of the Internet

There are a number of ways you can get a few extra dollars in cash to use the internet. And the most popular side hustle for this is online surveys. When you are on a budget, it is not a bad idea to try and score in some money whenever possible. While most survey sites pay by gift cards, Kashkick offer to pay cash into your PayPal account. You can create an account with Kashkick by using your PayPal account, this way there is no hassle in redeeming your earnings. 

8. Swap your credit card

With a credit card, you end up spending money you don’t have. Instead of relying on a credit card, use cash only. That helps you to stop overspending and in the end, you will notice that you are saving more.

On the same note, have you checked your credit score? Having a good credit score can reduce the interest rate on mortgages and loans. The best way to improve your score is to get a credit card with a high-interest rate, and when you pay it in full each month your credit improves.

Related post:

Get free money right now

9. Carry lunch to work

This goes for the same as snacks. If you calculate the amount you spend on lunch and snack per month you will be surprised.

Get into the habit of taking your lunch and snacks to work, it doesn’t have to be something so fancy. Could be a sandwich, salad or leftovers which won’t take you more than 10 minutes to make. You can easily do so in the morning or the previous night before going to bed. Here are some great budget-friendly lunchbox ideas for work.

You can save at least $6 per day. That is a monthly spend of over $120 on lunch.

10. Cheap meals

Plan meals ahead! Not only is this healthy but it will help you to stop making last-minute runs to the restaurants or any order in.

Last-minute grocery shopping will leave you buying unnecessary things which you don’t even need and might end up getting spoilt.

Don’t throw your leftovers, you can reheat and do a bit a little magic on them and it will be like you are having a fresh meal.

11. Make use of email sign-up rewards

Why not sign up to the email list of the companies you shop from often and get all the updates on things likes bonuses. Most companies send exclusive offers to their email list subscribers which can help you save money. Also, take advantage of sign up bonus offers.

Some offer freebies or even like 30% off your first order.

12. Rent out a room

Do you have an extra room in your house? Why not make some money out of it.

You can either choose to rent out your room on a daily basis or for short stays on Airbnb. 

13. Cancel out subscriptions

Start by listing every subscription you pay for—streaming, apps, gyms, even small monthly tools. Go through your bank statements or apps and cancel anything you haven’t used in the last month.

For services you still like, check if there’s a cheaper plan or shared option. Set reminders before free trials end so you’re not billed unexpectedly. Finally, revisit your subscriptions every couple of months—costs creep back in quietly, and a quick audit can save you more than you expect.

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14. Compare cell phone plans

Do thorough research on the other available cell phone plans. You can either switch to a cheaper plan or try to negotiate a cheaper plan with your current provider.

If you still have a home phone, do away with it. With a cell phone then a home phone is not necessary. It’s just an added expense which you can do without.

15. Buy food that is in season

Buying food in-season will help you save money because it’s obviously cheaper. Another advantage is that you get to eat healthy food on a budget.

Here is how you can save money when you grocery shop.

16. Budget your coffees

Spending like $2 or $3 daily on coffee doesn’t seem a lot but when you calculate it per month, it’s a lot of money that you can save and spend it on something else. Invest in a coffee machine which will be super economical in the long run and all you have to do is buy the beans which can last you for months.

If you enjoy your coffee, I would highly recommend you check out this post on how to get yourself free Starbucks drinks!

17. Swap to save

Disposable items such as paper wipes, plastic cups, forks, and spoons are expensive for no reason. To top it all, they are not environmental friendly. Instead of paper wipes invest in a cloth, which is reusable and you end up saving money from it.

18. Buy in bulk

Buying essentials such as toilet paper in bulk will be cheaper. Another trick you can use which will help you save money is stocking up when things go on sale. When you see your favourite items on offer take advantage of that. When shopping use coupons as much as you can which you can get at Coupons.com

Make sure that every time you go shopping you have a list. A list will stop you from impulse buying and it will also keep you organized.

Here are a few quick reads that will also save you big!

19. Here is a list of productive ways to have a no-spend month or weekend with family and get the kids involved.

2o.  Frugal tips for a family holiday. 7 money hacks to plan your next budget-friendly vacation with the kids.

21. And finally, 4 simple ideas to save money on gifts.

And if that’s not enough here 16 ways you can get free money. Don’t lose out on money that can be yours.

Some of these money-saving tips may sound very small but they can make a big difference. It is impractical to try all of them, so choose a few of your favourites and work on them.

Frugal Living Tips