10 Essential Frugal Living Tips
1. Meal Plan
One of the things that have helped me most to cut down grocery spending, is to meal plan. Do it the way you like it!
Some weeks I go to the supermarket and think about what I want to eat from the top of my head. There are weeks I go to the supermarket with a list of things I want to eat and what I need for it. Some weeks I just wing it and go to the supermarket multiple times a week, but that’s really upping my grocery bill.
Try to meal plan! Think about what you want to eat for the week, and buy only those things. Go to the grocery store once per week and buy the things you need in bulk.
This way, you’re saving on grocery costs, but you’re also less tempted to go out to eat during the week, and you can bring your lunch to work on days you’re going to the office.
If this is a week where you need more food inspiration, try these 11 cheap, easy meal ideas!
Win-win-win!
Other ways to save on food are: make your grocery list based on what you have in your pantry, never shop hungry, skip the expensive brands, cut your veggies, and make your meals.
[Related Read: 25+ Easy Money Saving Tips]
2. Stop Trying To Impress Others
One of my favorite movies, Fight Club, has a great quote: ‘We buy things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like.’
Let that sink in. The first time I heard that my mind was blown, they have a point!
It is a common theme in this post, but I wanted to make it a separate point to let it get through to you and stretch the importance of this.
You have to stop caring about what others think about you. You’re probably thinking now: I don’t care what others think of me!
Then be honest with yourself, do you really want that expensive car? Do you really want that big house? Do you really want that designer purse?
If it is something that you truly want, no problem, please go ahead. I am not saying you can’t buy nice things. I am saying that you need to be honest with yourself and ask yourself: do I really need & want this item?
If I’m honest, I have bought many things during high school to impress my classmates. Designer clothes, designer shoes, the newest bag. I didn’t care so much, but everyone else was doing it, so to fit in, I was doing that as well.
In the end, it doesn’t matter. It’s not about your outer appearance, but it’s about your inner world.
Stay true to yourself, and you’ll be a happier person.
3. Stop Your Bad Habits
Everyone has bad habits, no worries you’re not alone! Some people are smoking, drinking, and gambling. Others are going to tanning beds, (online) shopping, spending way too much time with television or social media, speeding their way to work, or rushing to get things done. These are the habits that are bad for your wallet, but they may also be bad for your health.
My #1 bad habit is rushing, I’m always in a rush, and then I forget things. I’m in a rush sending an email out and forgetting the attachment, I’m rushing out the door in the morning and I don’t think about my keys, I’m rushing to the supermarket and I’m not getting everything I want.
These are just a few examples that happen to me daily when rushing, which I want to improve. They cost money as well, for example;
I hit a parking pole with my car
In the store, I buy poor-quality products because I decided to buy them in 5 minutes
I am bumping over things on my way out, and more.
[Read More: 8 Habits that are Terrible for your Wallet and your Health]
4. Don’t Pay For Things You Don’t Use
Don’t be that person to has a gym membership and never goes or that person who has Netflix + Hulu + HBO and only watches one. If you don’t use it, don’t pay for it!
If you have 3 different magazines coming in every month, but you only read one, it doesn’t make any sense to keep the other two.
Personally, I only like to pay for things that I use, and so should you if you want to live frugally!
5. Negotiate
Always negotiate, seriously always!
Things you can negotiate about:
When you have a plan of some sort, and you want to switch. So, for example, your phone plan – call your provider and see what they can do. Some will do it, some will not, it’s an easy way to save money!
In every store where you’re buying expensive items – for example, when I bought a vacuum and a washing machine, I got a fan for free.
When you’re on holiday – in a lot of countries, it’s normal to negotiate when you’re buying something.
When buying things secondhand
A lot of times, when you want to switch, and they risk not having you as a customer anymore, they will be able to give you some sort of discount.
6. Sell Things You Don’t Use
When you have decluttered and identified what items you don’t use anymore, you can sell what you don’t use anymore. I love how things turn into cash very quickly when you list them online.
If you think you don’t have anything to sell, my experience is that there are always things to sell. Here is a quick list for some inspiration.
Don’t want to hassle listing the items and dealing with people coming over to pick them up? Use Decluttr for any CDs, DVDs, games, cell phones, or LEGO you have lying around. You don’t even pay for shipping! You print their label, send it to them, and get paid once they receive the item!
7. Go To Your Library
A library is a genius place where they have all kinds of things. From books to movies to magazines. Everything you could ever need to live a frugal life, you can find there.
8. Save On Your Electricity Bill
There are a thousand ways you can save money on your electricity bill. You can put down your thermostat, use LED lights, or switch things off completely.
Do you want to hear more tips to save your utility bill? Check out this article!
9. Return Things You Don’t Need
Everyone had a purchase that they completely regretted once they came home. Know that you don’t HAVE to keep it. You can simply return it to the store.
It may cost a little extra effort, but it’s better than keeping something you don’t even want.
10. Start A Side Hustle
If you really want to level up your savings, starting a side hustle is a surefire way to do that.
When you’ve already lowered your expenses and know where your money is going, making more money will speed up your financial freedom process.
Here are the very best side hustle ideas.
The best side hustles out there are:
Are you looking for fast cash, check out these under-the-table jobs that will pay cash daily.
11. Earn Gift Cards
Getting gift cards is a great way to buy things for a discounted price. There are dozens of ways you can use to get free gift cards.
Swagbucks – get $5 free when you’re creating a new account and collecting enough points. Get paid in gift cards or cash. Also, make money through shopping, playing games, or watching videos. Read our entire Swagbucks review.
Inbox Dollars – free $5 sign-up bonus, plus you can just surf the web and get paid. Check our full InboxDollars review here.
MyPoints – get $5 free when you finish 5 surveys. Read the full MyPoints review here for more details.
Survey Junkie – make up to $45 per survey.
Find 15 additional ways to get free gift cards and get yourself the things you need.
Pro Tip: Buy Second Hand
If you need something – when I say this, I mean need it, not simply want it – ask someone else if they have this item that they don’t use anymore. Ask friends and family, you will be surprised!
When I moved into my new apartment, I needed the basics. Furniture, hangers for my clothing, and more. I asked around and looked at the Dutch Craigslist. I got chairs from my grandmother, a table from my aunt, a shoe rack for my birthday, a dresser, and a coat rack from Craigslist, and I took over the floor and curtains for the previous resident.
This means that actually, I didn’t buy anything new when moving into my new apartment!
I still want to shop more secondhand, but I’m getting there. I didn’t buy any new clothes since October 2018, and I’m not even missing them! When I buy new clothing again, I’ll go and find something second-hand.
Marjolein Dilven Founder Spark Nomad, Radical FIRE, Expertise: Personal finance and travel content
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