Master How to Live Frugally: Practical Tips to Save Money Every Day in 2025

Are you looking for practical ways to live frugally and save a ton of money in 2025? If so, you’ve come to the right place!

No matter your financial goals—whether it’s paying off debt, building an emergency fund, or finally taking that dream vacation—you’ll find plenty of ideas here to help you save money without sacrificing quality of life.

Living frugally doesn’t have to mean extreme measures like cutting out every luxury or dumpster diving. Instead, it’s about making intentional choices that align with your values and financial priorities.

For example, when my family and I decided to move from Puerto Rico to the Philippines, we knew we had to be strategic about managing our finances. 

The move came with significant changes: settling into a new home, purchasing a car, and preparing for our son’s schooling, which would bring new expenses. These adjustments required careful planning and a commitment to living within our means.

Fortunately, there are countless ways to set aside money for your bigger goals. If you’re ready to embrace frugal living and save more, dive into the tips below.

Let’s make this the year you reach your financial goals while still enjoying the life you love.

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What is frugal living?

But first, what is frugal living? Many people cringe or laugh when they hear the word “frugal” thinking it’s about being miserable and cheap.

Let me tell you: frugality is NOT about dropping every possible purchase so you can save as much money as possible.

Rather, frugal living is about avoiding wasteful and extravagant spending so your hard-earned money can provide you its true worth and value. 

So what does it mean to be frugal?

It means prioritizing what’s more important to you and cutting back on things that aren’t.

You want to cut back on a few expenses to free up some money for more important things, such as debt payoff or vacations and experiences that make you happy.

Being cheap is about trying to spend less on everything and buying low-quality items just to save money.  

Ready to learn more practical frugal living tips that actually work? 

Let’s dive in!

This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn from qualifying purchases at NO extra cost to you.

You’ll want to remember these frugal living tips! Be sure to save this article to Pinterest or bookmark this page so you can go back to it later!

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Frugal Living Tips to Save Money on Food or Groceries

1. Brown Bag Your Lunch

If you’re spending an average of $10 on lunch five times a week, that adds up to $2,500 a year just on lunches!

Instead, try bringing your own lunch to work. While preparing meals at home may take a little extra time and effort, you can save significantly. Opt for simple, budget-friendly options like pasta, soups, or casseroles that can be made in bulk over the weekend. Weekend meal prepping can streamline your weekdays, save money, and keep you on track with your financial goals.

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2. Choose Generic

While it’s fine to stick with your favorite name-brand products for certain items, many store-brand alternatives are just as good—and much cheaper! Everyday items like cleaning products, detergents, toothpaste, pasta, seasonings, and even diapers can offer great quality at a fraction of the cost.

Generic medicines are another smart option. According to the FDA, generic drugs meet the same high-quality standards as their name-brand counterparts but cost 80–85% less. Being flexible and opting for generic products when possible is a simple way to stretch your budget without compromising quality.

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3. Don’t skip breakfast

An effective way to curb your desire for a big, expensive lunch is by eating a healthy and filling breakfast. A bowl of cereal or oatmeal, coffee, and a bagel or scrambled eggs is easy to make and cheap, but it can fill you with energy so you won’t turn to restaurants or fast food later in the day. 

It’s one of the simplest frugal tips that work!

Related: 15 Cheap Breakfast Ideas for When Money is Tight

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4. Designate a zero waste week

If you’re looking for frugal living tips that can save you hundreds of dollars each year, start by tackling food waste.

Did you know that U.S. households throw away 150,000 tons of food every day? That’s not just food; it’s money straight into the trash. Wasting groceries by letting items expire, overbuying, or discarding leftovers can cost you more than you realize.

A great way to cut down on food waste—and save money—is to designate a zero-waste week each month. During this week, focus on consuming everything you buy or cook. This simple strategy can help you save up to $1,000 per year while also making a positive impact on the environment.

Here’s how to make your zero-waste week a success:

• Use Leftovers Creatively: Transform last night’s dinner into today’s lunch or reinvent leftovers into new meals.
• Prioritize Expiring Supplies: Check your pantry and fridge for items nearing their expiration date and incorporate them into your meals.
• Invest in Quality Food Storage: Airtight containers can help keep your food fresh longer, reducing spoilage.
• Meal Plan Effectively: Plan your meals and shopping list in advance to avoid overbuying and wasting food. Only purchase what you know you’ll use.

By adopting this practice, you’ll not only save money but also develop a more mindful approach to consumption that benefits your wallet and the planet!

If you are looking for frugal living tips and ideas that will save you a lot of money in a month, start with your food waste. 

If you need help with meal planning, I highly recommend the $5 Meal Plan. For only $5 per month, Erin from the $5 Meal Plan will help you create a delicious weekly meal plan with each meal costing only $2-$5 per family. It’s a fantastic way to save money on groceries! Try their free trial here for 14 days and receive two weeks’ worth of meal plans for FREE.

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5. Get FREE lattes

It sucks, right? You love your daily latte, and it gives you that boost of energy you need to get through the day. But you don’t always have to spend $4 on coffee! There are a couple of ways to get free Starbucks gift cards so you’ll get your favorite drinks for free! 

Trust me, it’s easy to get $5 gift cards with rewards sites like Swagbucks, Inbox Dollars, or MyPoints. These rewards sites give you free gift cards or cash (your choice!) for doing menial tasks such as watching videos ads or answering consumer surveys. 

I use these sites to get Amazon gift cards, too! 

And they also offer a $5 Sign-Up Bonus!

Important: After signing up, make sure to check your inbox and verify your e-mail address on the e-mail sent to you by these sites to get the bonus!

6. Invest in a coffee machine

If you don’t want to do surveys just to get free coffee, then invest in your own coffee machine—just like I did! With your own machine, you can enjoy freshly brewed coffee anytime without spending a fortune or leaving the house.

Plus, the best part? You can customize your coffee exactly the way you like it. Honestly, I love my own brew more than Starbucks or any fancy café drink. It’s a win-win: better coffee, more convenience, and significant savings over time!

This is the machine I use and I love it!

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7. Invest in an Instant Pot and cook more at home

If you are spending a huge chunk of money on eating out because you always have “no time” or are always tired to cook, consider investing in an Instant Pot. 

With the Instant Pot, you can cook food at the push of a button, making it a perfect appliance for busy people. Plus, there are also lots of cheap Instant Pot dump recipes online, so you’ll never run out of budget meal ideas with your Instant Pot.

Use the slow cooker option during busy days. Simply toss all the ingredients in the pot in the morning, switch it on, and come home to a sumptuous meal later in the day!

If you’re not sure ifyou should get one, I have a detailed Instant Pot review here where I talk about its pros and cons. 

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8. Create a shopping list and stick to it!

One of the simplest frugal living tips is to shop with a list — and stick to it. It helps you avoid impulse buys and food waste. Try it for a month, and you’ll be surprised how much you can save with this easy habit!

9. Buy fresh in-season produce

Create a meal plan around seasonal produce. It may also be a great idea to buy some in-season fruits and vegetables in bulk to freeze, can, or pickle for future recipes. 

This is a great trick to enjoy brussels sprouts in July or berries in the dead of winter at a lesser cost!

Check out this seasonal produce guide to know what to buy this season.

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10. Start a vegetable/herb garden

I love gardening as a hobby and for the savings I make with my little garden. I always grow tomatoes, ginger, spring onions, rosemary, and cilantro because they’re easy to grow and don’t really require a lot of garden space.

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11. Eat more vegetables

Meat is expensive. Cook less meat and more vegetables instead to save money. It’s one of the best frugal living ideas that will also help your body and add more years to your life!

Stretch ground beef by adding beans and in-season vegetables or by adding smaller portions of your meat to your tacos or salads. 

If you need more frugal food ideas, you might want to check out this list of delicious, dirt cheap meals here where most of the meals only cost $5.

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12. Buy in bulk when it makes sense

If you are sure that you will use all of an item, then buy in bulk! We buystaples such as rice, garbage bags, or tomato sauce n bulk because we know we’re going to use them. 

By buying tomato sauce in bulk at Sam’s Club, for example, I can save $0.25 per can and over $5 per box.

It’s important to remember, though, that just because you are buying in bulk does not always mean that you are saving money. 

Always, always compare prices by unit to make sure you are truly saving money.

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13. Save up to 15% on regular purchases through Amazon Subscribe and Save

Save up to 15% on regular purchases such as coffee, sugar, detergent or cleaning products through Amazon Subscribe and Save. 

Amazon not only lets you save money but also provides the convenience of having the products delivered to your home. And since you won’t be making multiple purchases at the store anymore, you also save money on gas! 

I use Amazon Subscribe and Save for things I don’t buy at our local grocery store because they are either too expensive or are rarely available. Examples of things I buy through Amazon Subscribe and Save are low-carb sweeteners or some Asian products like sweet/sticky rice. 

You can load up your cart with Subscribe and Save here.

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14. Save $50 per month and help save the environment by not buying bottled water

It costs at least $50 per person per month to drink water from a bottle and even more for large families. You can save a lot of money by investing in a good water filtering system at home and a reusable water bottle.

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Frugal Living Tips to Save Money When Shopping

15. Practice the 30-day rule when shopping

Did you ever walk into a store, see something you liked and bought the item even if you really did not need it or plan to buy it? That’s buying on impulse!

According to a new survey by Slickdeals.net, the average US consumer spends $5400 on impulse purchases each year! Impulse buying is dangerous. It can throw off your budget or create more debt. 

To avoid making unplanned purchases, master the 30-day rule when shopping, which simply means to wait for 30 days before making that purchase.After the 30-day period is up, if you still want to buy it, then go for it. 

I do this all the time, and most of the time I forget about the item after 30 days or realize that I don’t really need it.

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16. Shop Using Cashback Apps to receive up to 40% cash back from your purchases

Rakuten

When I shop online, I always do my shopping through Rakuten (formerly known as Ebates) to earn cashback from my purchases. This site has so far paid me over $160 $1000 $2000 for buying things I was going to buy anyway.

Rakuten is a cash back online portal or website that is affiliated with over 2500 stores (Amazon, Macy’s, Apple, etc.) These stores pay Rakuten for referring customers to their sites and in return, Rakuten splits the payment with you!

You could earn up to 40% cash back when you shop online through Rakuten. A bonus? You’ll also receive $10 FREE here for signing up and using the cash back site.

Please note that you only get your bonus after you makeyour first $25 worth of purchase/s. 

If you want to know the difference between Ibotta and Rakuten, be sure to read my Ibotta vs Rakuten comparison here!

RebatesMe

Another great alternative to Rakuten is RebatesMe which works just like Rakuten. Apart from the cash back you’ll receive for shopping online using RebatesMe, you will also receive a $20 Welcome Bonus for signing up through my special link here or use my RebatesMe referral code HFQUIR when signing up.

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17. Don’t miss any savings when prices drop

Ever paid full price for an item, only to find out a day or days later that its price dropped? What a bummer, right?! Well, I now use this free app called  Paribus so I’ll never miss any savings when prices drop.

The best thing about Paribus  is that it helps get the adjustment amount for you and it even helps you get paid for late Amazon deliveries.

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18. Purchase second-hand items

You don’t have to buy everything new. You can get deeply discounted finds at secondhand stores! These stores, sometimes also called consignment stores or vintage stores, sell used fashion items, furniture, books and other household items at great deals. 

For secondhand name-brand fashion items, check out ThredUp and Poshmark. 

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19. Rack up free gift cards from your regular purchases

Here’s one cool app that rewards you points each time you use your linked card when shopping: Drop. 

How does this help you save money? Well, you can redeem your points as gift cards at places such asStarbucks orAmazon gift cards. which still translates to money.

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20. Shop when your tummy is full

I know this is not new but itreally works for us and saves us money each week! Unless my husband and I have plans toeat out, we never go shopping on an empty stomach to avoid buying unnecessary edibles or fast food. 

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21. Unsubscribe 

Avoid temptation by unsubscribing from marketing emails of the stores you spend the most money at. By law, each email is required to have an unsubscribe link, usually at the bottom of the email.

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22. Analyze the sale cycles in your favorite stores to get items on discount

Most stores run rotational sales cycles to rotate their stock on their shelves. You could maximize your savings by analyzing these sale cycles in your favorite stores, so you’ll know when to stock up. 

You can do this by tracking your fave store’s ads for a few months to recognize the different cycles of items youbuy most. When the sale comes around, stock up on items you need to last until the next sale cycle. 

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23. Use a smaller shopping cart

Large shopping carts take time to fill and the void can make you buy impulsively.

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24. Avoid trendy fashion items

Is your closet overflowing with clothes but you always find yourself saying, “I have nothing to wear.” The fault isn’t with the clothes but with how you shop.

You might have more trendy clothes than staples, or maybe when you shop you don’t think of outfits you could make with the items you are buying. Or it could be because you keep buying the same items. 

How about tryig to build a wardrobe around timeless quality pieces and colors that are easy to mix and match? Or learn how to create a capsule wardrobe and get to create a lot of outfits with just a few items?

This will not only help you save money but closet space as well!

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Frugal Living Tips to Save Money on Housing 

25. Downsize and move to a smaller house

If your house is too big for your family, take some time to decide if what you’re paying for housing is really worth it to your family. 

Otherwise, consider moving to a smaller place, further from the city where the cost of living is lower, and maybe even to an area with lower property taxes. 

You might need to negotiate your rent (if renting) or refinance your mortgage to save money on the interest rate if you don’t own your home outright.

Downsizing may be a scary decision, but when done right, it can help you save a LOT of money on a mortgage, property taxes, homeowner’s association fees, and even utilities.

26. Practice preventive maintenance

Preventive maintenance is not about fixing problems but preventing those problems before they  happen. This not only applies to your vehicles, appliances, and house, but to your  family’s health as well. Being proactive is usually less expensive than waiting for problems and being reactive!

Here are a few examples of house preventive maintenance routines you should do:

• Check for leaks and fixing them.
• Renew the finish on your hardwood floors.
• Make sure that your appliances or air-conditioners are running in top condition to save money on energy costs. 
• Make sure that your gutters are not clogged.
• Check your faucets for drips.

These simple preventive maintenance tips can help avoid reactive fixes which are more likely to cost more.

27. Renovate wisely

You don’t always have to spend a lot of money on renovations. 

Instead of replacing your flooring or bathroom tiles (which can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars), maybe all you need is a fresh coat of paint to revive and brighten your space. 

Doing low-cost fixes that you can do by yourself can save you a lot of money and, at the same time, maintain or increase your property’s value.

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Frugal Living Tips to Save Money on Utilities

28. Learn ways to save energy

There are so many ways to lower your utility bills.Cleaning your A/C filters regularly, using LED lights, batch cooking to reduce use of your stove/oven, or sun drying clothes instead of using the dryer are all ways to save on utilities. 

Even something as simple as taking a walk outside your home every day cannot only help you feel better and stronger, but also reduce the need to turn on the A/C and other appliances. 

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Need extra motivation when saving money? 

Use this savings challenge printable to save $5,050! Check it out in our store!

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29.  Cut cable and save $80 per month

You might not realize it but cable is a big expense that’s really not worth the money.  As much as you find it relaxing, watching TV a lot is an unhealthy habit in itself. 

We cut the cord over 5 years ago and have never looked back since then! If we want to watch some shows, we use Hulu which starts at $5.99 per month. 

There’s also Amazon Prime which not only gives you access to thousands of movies and TV series for only $99 a year, it also provides free cloud storage with your account.

With this membership, you can enjoy unlimited FREE shipping for your Amazon purchases!

Amazon is currently offering a 30-day free trial below. If you feel it’s not for you, cancel the subscription anytime. It’s absolutely risk-free!

Amazon Prime 30-Day FREE Trial

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30.  Get a robot to save money for you

If you don’t want to cut cable, there is a free app that can help you save money on cable or internet.

Trim is an AI-driven financial assistant that can negotiate your cable bills down for you, set spending alerts, check how much users spent on ride-sharing apps the previous month, and automatically fight fees.

It works with Comcast, Time Warner, Charter, and any other provider and has saved over $1 million dollars in the last month.

It analyzes your transactions so you can easily understand where your money goes and saves you the pain of canceling services or subscriptions you rarely use.

You can download it for FREE here and start putting money back into your pocket without cutting cable.

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31. Spend $0 for internet

I’ve learned a lot of cool tips on how to get free Internet legally. If you are in the US, there are a few zero-cost options for you to get internet connection and save at least $50 per month!

Related Post: 30 Companies That Send You Products To Review For Free

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How to Live Frugally and Save Money on Entertainment and Gifts

You might think that living frugally is all about forgoing the idea of having fun or not spending on entertainment. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

There are tons of ways to live frugally and still save money on things that make us happy!

32. Find Deals on Groupon

Entertainment is a discretionaryspending category that could take a hit if you want to learn how to live frugally and save money. But that won’t happenif you know where to look for cheaper entertainment.

Check out Groupon’s website o save up to 70% off many entertainment options such as visits to museums, spas, mini-golf, restaurants, and other venues in your vicinity. Plus, Groupon has coupons for lots of non-entertainment savings!

33. Switch to cheaper hobbies or activities

You can have fun without breaking the bank. Instead of shopping, eating out, or playing sports that require expensive equipment, switch to cheaper hobbies. There are even hobbies that make money including blogging, flea market flipping,  and taking photographs. 

Switch to free or cheap family activities such as going to the park, doing barbecue at home, going to the beach, or camping in your backyard.

34. Discover community classes and facilities in town

If you’re interested in learning something such as baking, dancing or crafting, take advantage of community lessons. They are usually free! 

Most towns have nice parks or sports facilities fortennis or basketball just waiting to be used, too! Check them out so you can have fun for hours for free.

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35. Make your own gifts

You could save more money if you make your own gifts instead of buying them. Even if you think you’re not the creative type, you might be surprised to discover lots of easy gifts that you can make by yourself. 

Make homemade soap, bake cupcakes or decorated cookies, make candles or sew placemats! Search online and you’ll find lots of meaningful gifts you can make to save money. A bonus? Since you made them with your own hands, the receiver will surely treasure them!

How to Live Frugally and Save Money on Banking and Finance

36. Automate savings

Pay yourself first and automate it. I believe this is one of the easiest and best frugal living tips to help you quickly build your savings and eliminate the temptation of spending money elsewhere. It really doesn’t matter how much you save per month. Just set aside any amount and before you know it, it will add up quickly. 

37. Build an emergency savings fund

Emergencies happen. A strong storm could blow your roof off or your car could break down on the day you get fired. And there are even worse scenarios, such medical emergencies and death of a family member.

You need to have this fund so that when a real emergency happens, you won’t have to turn to your credit cards and waste money on interest!

Related: How to Build an Emergency Savings Fund with No Money

38. Invest your spare change

Did you know that there’s a micro-investing app that invests your spare change? I’ve been using this app called Acorns for a while now and have saved this much spare change from my daily/weekly purchases:

Acorns is the digital version of saving your spare change in a piggy bank,but you can earn while you save.

You can sign up with Acorns below and get $5 FREE!

Related:  How to Invest and Make Money Daily

39. Use your spare time to make money

Time is money, too! Turn your free time into money by working on side hustles such as delivering lunches, pet sitting, blogging and answering surveys via Swagbucks or Vindale Research (up to $50 per survey!). 

If you like writing, then you might want to use your free time blogging. It’s my favorite side hustle—it’s fun and you can literally start a blog in 15 minutes! 

Other ways to make money on your free time:

• Virtual assisting – Make $25-$60 per hour. This mom makes $100 per hour as a virtual assistant.
• Proofreading – Make $48,000 per year online!
• Transcribing audio files – Make $15 per hour
• Selling items on Amazon– This mom here makes a six-figures income as an Amazon FBA seller! 
• Become a flea market flipper.

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40. Freeze your credit cards or do a spending freeze

It might be easier for you to control your spending if you stopped using your credit cards. Try putting away your credit cards or doing a spending freeze for a month or so. Check out my tips on how to do a no-spend challenge here!

41. Get your credit score for free

You don’t have to pay to get your credit report. Use Credit Karma—it’s free and secure!

42. Automate bills to avoid late payments

Automate your bills so they’re always paid on time. This can help you save money otherwise wasted on interest charges or late payment fees.

Other Frugal Living Tips to Save Money 

43. Sell your clutter for cash

If you haven’t deep cleaned your home for a while now, you might not realize that there are treasures lurking in your closet, storage, and drawers. Yes, we’re talking about clothes, shoes, bags, or electronics that are still in mint condition no longer used.

Selling some of your stuff is a great way to reduce the clutter in your home, free up storage space, and make money. Sell your clutter for cash on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or at a garage sale.

To sell old electronics such as tablets, or iPhone or CDs and DVDs, try using this free Decluttr app to sell them online for cash.

I also highly recommend Poshmark for selling name-brand fashion items such as bags, shoes, and clothes.  You can download this free Poshmark app to start selling.

Related: 24 Best Websites To Sell Stuff Locally and Make Cash Quick

44. Rent out your extra space on AirBnb

Thrifty living is not just about not buying or spending less, but it’s also maximizing use of things you already have. If you have extra space in your house such as a finished basement or bedroom you can turn it into cash by posting it on AirBnb.

You can earn up to $100 a night per bedroom, depending on your location, and earn much, much more if you’re renting out a whole house!

45. Save money on accommodations

You can still enjoy your vacations and have fun while saving a couple of dollars by opting for non-hotel accommodations, such as in rental properties listed on Airbnb and booking.com .

46. Share a meal when eating out

Most, if not all, restaurants serve big portions and it’s often impossible for me to finish what I ordered. So, my husband and I usually just order one appetizer and main meal instead of ordering both for each of us. If we do order a dessert, we share it, too, saving us money and saving us from eating more unnecessary calories.

47. Cut gym membership

Paying for a gym membership is one expense that many people justify because it’s, after all, an investment for your health. 

But according to research from Finder.com , 5.1 million Americans waste a total of $1.8 billion on gym memberships each year. And of those people who have active gym memberships, 43% get to the gym less than twice a week and 6.30% never use it. 

If you don’t use your membership that often, try exercising at home. It’s free and saves you time and gas!

48. Always compare insurance policies

Shop for insurance policies every several months to see if other companies are offering lower premiums, then make the switch.

49. Use free money hacks

Did you know there are ways to get free money? It sounds unbelievable but it’s true! You can get FREE money from cash back apps, sign-up bonuses or answering quick surveys. 

To learn more about how to get money for free, I have a separate post here where I talk about my favorite free money hacks!

Related: How to Do a No-Spend Challenge

50. Fix it yourself

One of the best frugal money-saving tips that saves us thousands per year is learning how to become our own mechanic, carpenter, and plumber

Before we hire help to fix something, we YouTube it first or do a quick research online. You’ll be surprised to find lots of free how-to videos and articles online to help you fix things at home. 

A few examples of things we do ourselves:

• Plumbing issues
• Fixing our washer
• Fixing surfboards
• Car maintenance
• Fixing computers
• Fixing Christmas light bulbs
• Installing new doorknobs
• Installing floor tiles

Warning: As a reader points out, this may be a dangerous tip. And I do agree it is if you try to DIY something that requires professional help such as car maintenance and HVAC. We are only able to do these repairs because my husband has knowledge of HVAC and car maintenance. 

For such repairs, I do encourage consulting a professional instead of YouTube if you have not done it before. However, for things like painting, fixing computers, gardening, cleaning gutters, and maybe installing tiles are things that you can do “safely” and learn from the internet.

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More Money-Saving Tips!

Are you ready to live frugally and save money?

There are indeed SO MANY tips on how to live frugally and save money. Now you might be asking yourself, “Which frugal ideas should I start with?”

If you want to live frugally but meaningfully, start by determining the things in life that mean the most to you.

From there, you can start cutting back on things that mean the least. It’s not always an easy process to give up comfort and luxury, but at the end of the day, these efforts compound and contribute to a much larger goal – and everything will be worth it!

Do you have any frugal living tips and ideas? Share them in the comments below!

If you found this post helpful, I would be very happy if you shared it!

Bookmark this page or save this image below so you can refer back to it later.

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