15 Frugal Tips that are Super Simple

There are many tips and tricks out there for getting your finances under control. Learning how to implement frugal tips into a frugal lifestyle is a great way to start.

Using frugal tips can help you spend less, save more, and reach your financial goals faster! Frugal tips can help you develop the healthy money habits you need to get to a better place financially and stay there.

Frugal tips include simple things you can do every day that make a big difference over time. By learning to live more cautiously financially, you can reap incredible benefits now and down the road.

You can enjoy a healthier savings account, be better prepared in case of emergencies, and be ready for milestones later in life like buying a home or retiring. Take these frugal tips one at a time and start living frugally today.

Frugal Definition‍

The frugal definition is a finance adjective used to describe someone who is extra careful about spending less and saving more when managing their finances. It refers to someone who makes economical choices with their finances and resources.

A frugal person will manage their money carefully, spend money sparingly, look for sales, and research diligently to make the most prudent financial decisions possible. This will ensure they save more money in the long term.

Learning how to be a frugal person can help you if you have trouble overspending, overdrafting, defaulting, and building a savings account.

15 Frugal Living Tips

There are so  many ways to be more economical in your finances! So, we put together our 15 favorite frugal tips to live by that are also super simple and easy for anyone to use.  

Tip 1: Differentiate between Luxury Spending vs Necessary Expenses

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Our first tip is to learn how to differentiate between necessary expenses vs luxury spending. Being able to make this distinction in your spending money is the key to stop overspending on things you don't really need.4

Necessary expenses are a spending category that includes expenses that are essential to maintaining basic needs. Necessary expenses can include costs like rent, mortgage payments, car payments, food, gas, utilities, medicine, and any costs that are associated with taking care of children.

Luxury spending is a spending category that includes discretionary expenses that are not essential to maintaining basic needs. Luxury spending includes the costs of luxury items like fine dining, entertainment, vacations, and more.

Evaluate all of your regular expenses and categorize them into necessary expenses and luxury expenses. Then, prioritize your necessary spending and work to minimize luxury spending. This frugal tip doesn't mean you should never spend money on luxury items, just make sure you are prioritizing how you spend your money correctly to save more than spend.

Tip 2: Make Cuts in Your Spending

Sit down and make a list of the things you can cut down, cut out, or substitute. By making monetary cutbacks to your spending, you can progressively spend less and save more.  

An example of an expense you could cut down might be unsubscribing from some streaming services, so you have none or only 1 or 2 instead of 5.  

An example of a cost you could cut out might be getting rid of your gym membership and going for runs outside instead.  

An example of expenses you could substitute might include choosing a less expensive grocery brand or shopping at a less expensive store for clothes.

Tip 3: Cap Your Spending

Use spending caps to keep your spending within a budget. Prepaid cards are a great way to cap your spending so you can stay within budget easier.

You could also use a cash envelope system to divide cash funds into different enveloped budget sections. This budgeting method can organize your available funds into easy-to-understand sections using envelopes. This also helps you better visualize your budget.  

Tip 4: Keep Receipts and Track Spending

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Hold onto your receipts in order to more easily track your actual spending. Store all your receipts in an organized filing system specifically for receipts. Consider organizing your receipts even further by dividing this filing system into months, years, or types of purchase.

You could also find a useful budgeting app to track and manage all your expenses in one place. This is great when you want to keep all your spending online, but still want to better see and control where your money goes.

Careful record keeping for receipts can also help you get a better tax return when tax season comes around.

Tip 5: Think Twice Before You Buy

A foundational frugal tip is to make all your purchases with care and consideration. If you enjoy shopping, as many of us do, you might be prone to overspending when you are feeling bored, sad, or in need of celebrating.  

Learn new ways to satisfy these needs so that your wallet doesn't suffer. Instead of buying something new when you feel the desire to shop, try a new, free activity like visiting your local library!

Think about whether this purchase is truly a need or a want. Take some time to leave the store and come back later so you can think about whether you really need it.  

Only arm yourself with enough funds you are actually willing to spend that day on unnecessary expenses before you go shopping.  

Tip 6: Learn How to Bargain  

Bargaining or haggling is when you negotiate the price of a good or service with the provider of that good or service.  

There are appropriate times to bargain down a price and there are inappropriate times to bargain down a price. But when the moment is appropriate, don't be afraid to negotiate a little and use this frugal tip to save where you can.  

Bartering and haggling are also more than talking down the price of an item. Bartering can also mean using trades and exchanges instead of cash.

For example, if you have a garden then you could trade some fresh produce with your neighbors for a night of babysitting or other goods and services.  

Tip 7: Reuse and Recycle

A fun and craft frugal tip is to get creative with used items. You'd be surprised by the things you can create to make old things useful again.  

For instance, instead of tossing out old clothes, cut them up and use them as fabric for sewing projects or as cleaning rags.

Tip 8: Find Thrifted Furniture

Furniture is vital for a functional and comfortable home, but it can be expensive. Use this frugal tip to save money by getting used furniture instead of buying new.  

Used furniture often offers the same quality at a fraction of the cost. Avoid expensive home goods stores and explore yard sales, garage sales, Facebook Marketplace, or thrift stores for affordable furniture options. You could even refurbish worn-out furniture to give it a fresh look!

Tip 9: Use Frugal Fashion Tips

Fashion can be both a necessity and a luxury. To maintain comfort and affordability in your clothing choices, embrace frugal fashion tips.  

The main frugal tip here is to start learning how to mend your own clothes to extend their lifespan and avoid the constant need for new purchases. Learn how to tailor your garments to adjust the way they fit instead of buying all new clothes when your size changes.  

With basic sewing skills, you can achieve a high-end, custom fit and even breathe new life into old outfits by making alterations.

Tip 10: Start Frugal Meal Planning

Frugal meal planning is a crucial frugal tip for a healthy diet and a healthy budget. Consider using a large whiteboard in your kitchen to keep track of your grocery list and weekly meal plans.

Plan your weekly meals and grocery lists strategically to minimize purchases while maximizing variety throughout the week.

For example, a single ingredient like potatoes can be transformed into hash browns, mashed potatoes, home fries, baked potatoes, and more. Embrace a simple yet flavorful and inexpensive diet.  

Tip 11: Choose a Frugal Cell Phone Plan  

Phone plans come in various options, but they can be costly and include features you don't need. But you don’t have to spend extra on cell phone plan features you don’t need. Instead, use this frugal tip and before you choose a cell phone plan, research and compare different options to save on your phone bill.

Assess your specific needs to avoid overpaying for things you don't need. Choosing an older phone model can also save you hundreds of dollars and spare you from lengthy and expensive payment plans.

Tip 12: Save Money on Groceries

Start saving money on groceries by comparing prices at different stores in your area with your basic grocery list. Take note of prices and consider factors like store memberships, points, gas rewards, and discounts. This frugal tip will help you identify the most affordable grocery stores so you can save the most on your grocery bill.

You could also start your own garden to save even more on produce! It's also a relaxing, rewarding, and enjoyable activity. You don't need a large garden; simply grow the produce and herbs you use frequently to enjoy fresh produce while saving money.

Tip 13: Stick to Frugal Fitness Basics

Fitness trends and fads can influence us to spend a lot of unnecessary money to achieve our fitness goals. Meanwhile, you could be saving all that money by sticking to frugal fitness basics with these easy free frugal tips.

Get fit the free way by going on walks, hikes, runs, bike rides, or sports. You don't have to buy expensive equipment or gym memberships to stay healthy. There are plenty of fun extracurricular activities you can do for free!

Tip 14: Save on Travel  

Use frugal tips for traveling by planning ahead so you can get the best deals. Purchasing travel tickets ahead of time will give you more time to compare prices and find the best deals on the best days.

Compare the costs of different travel options to see if you'll save more traveling by car, plane, train, or bus. To further save on trips, consider carpooling or traveling with others to split costs of transportation and lodging. You could also travel during off-seasons to save money and also enjoy a better vacation with fewer crowds.

Tip 15: Save on Utilities  

There are tons of neat frugal tips and tricks to help you save on utility bills. You could reduce your electric bill by keeping lights off during daylight hours and going to be early instead of staying up late with the light on. You could save on AC or heating bills too by leaving a window open at night or investing in good insulation.