Looking for the best frugal living tips for 2024? Want to save money for the future and enjoy your life in the present? If so, keep reading. Here are 50 tips on how to live frugally! Learn everything from saving money at home to managing debt, and more!
Are you looking for ways on how to live frugally to save a ton of money in 2024? If so, you have come to the right page!
No matter your financial goals—whether to pay off debt, save up for emergencies or pay for your dream vacation, here you will find lots of ideas on how to save money without sacrificing quality.
Living frugally doesn’t have to mean cutting paper towels or dumpster diving. There are many creative ways in which you can incorporate more frugality into your life while adding value to it.
What is frugal living?
Table of Contents
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!
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Frugal Living Tips to Save Money on Food or Groceries
1.Brown bag lunch
If you are spending an average of $10 for lunch five times a week, you can end up spending $2,500 annually on lunches alone!
Try brown-bagging your lunch some of the time to save at least $1500 per year! While making your lunches at home may require extra time and effort on your part, there are meals such as pasta and soup that you can make in big batches over the weekend. Meal prepping over the weekend can help you save time (and money!) during the work week.
2.Go generic
There might be some store-brand items that you just don’t want to purchase and that’s okay! But there are also lots of items, such as cleaning products, detergent, toothpaste, pasta, seasoning, and diapers, that are just as good as their c equivalents but are cheaper. Be smart when shopping and get the best value!
Try generic medicines, too. According to the FDA, which tightly regulates generic drugs to ensure they meet the same quality standards as name-brand medications, the price of generic drugs is 80-85% less than name-brand medicines.
3. Use Ibotta
Did you know that there’s a free app that pays you cash back for things you regularly buy at the grocery store, such as meats, toothpaste, yogurt, milk, bread, or detergent?
I know it sounds unbelievable, but it’s true! In fact, this free app has paid me over $1000 for buying grocery items I would buy anyway!
Ibotta partnered with over 300 retail chains in over 500,000 locations in the US and Puerto Rico, so you can always find lots of opportunities to use this app. A bonus? They’ll give you up to $20 FREE for just trying the app! Check it out here.
Related Post
Ibotta Review 2022: Is Ibotta the Best Cashback App?
4. 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’tturn 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
5. Designate a zero waste week
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.
Did you know that US households toss 150,000 tons of food each day?
You might be surprised at how much money you are actually wasting by throwing food away, letting your grocery items expire, or buying food you don’t cook or eat.
You can help reduce food waste by designating a ZERO-waste week per month. It’s one of the best frugal living tips and tricks that can help you save at least $1000 per year and helpsave the environment at the same time!
A zero-waste week simply means consuming EVERYTHING that you cook or buy for that week.
Consider re-using leftovers and using your supplies before they expire. You might also need to invest in quality food containers such as these– to keep food fresh longer.
Meal planning is also a must for a successful zero-waste week. Think of it as your plan for what to buy and eat for the week so you won’t load up your grocery cart with extra food you’ll only 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.
6. Get FREE lattes
I am sure that you’ve heard of this advice before: stop spending on coffee shop drinks.
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!
Easiest Ways to Make Money Online
- Swagbucks – Get paid to answer surveys, watch videos or shop online! Get a welcome bonus here for just signing up!
- Survey Junkie – Answer short surveys and get paid through PayPal, bank transfer or gift cards! Join Survey Junkie.
- MyPoints – Earn points to read emails, answer surveys, shop online, or play games and convert your points into cash. Get up to $10 bonus with your first purchase.
- InboxDollars – Get paid to answer surveys and more. Get $5 free for joining here.
- Buy groceries for other people and get paid for it. Become an Instacart shopper here and get paid up to $16.49 per hour!
- Branded Surveys- Get paid instantly by answering simple questions. Join now!
- Looking for a job? FlexJobs is my recommended job site for flexible, work-from-home jobs. Get an exclusive discount of up to 30 percent off with the promo code FLEXLIFE.
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.
8. Create a shopping list and stick to it!
One of the easiest frugal living tips is to only shop when you have a list. It’s so easy to get sidetracked at the grocery store, which can lead to costly or unnecessary purchases.
Creating a shopping list before you go to the grocery store can help you avoid making unplanned purchases and avoid buying food you might waste.
Try it for a month, and most importantly, stick to your list. You’d be surprised to see how much savings you can accumulateby following this simple tip!
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.
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. Plus, it saves me $5-10 a week!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
23. Use a smaller shopping cart
Large shopping carts take time to fill and the void can make you buy impulsively.
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!
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.
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.
Need extra motivation when saving money?
Use this savings challenge printable to save $5,050! Check it out in our store!
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 below so you can refer back to it later.
Joann
You don’t need as many clothes if you have your own washer. My frugal living tip.
The One Income Dollar
Always looking for frugal tips and you seem to have alot of great ones here.
Jane
Hope you’ve found helpful tips for you. Thanks for stopping by!
Esther
Hi. Thank you for the invaluable information. I come from Africa though currently vacationing in USA. Another tip can save on gas and get to exercise is walking.
For laundry, a maximum load is more efficient because it saves on the detergent and electricity used.
Same goes for dish washers.
Are the any online job sites that cover Africa?
Jane
Hi Esther,
Thank you for stopping by! I hope you’re enjoying your vacation in the US and I definitely agree with your tips on saving money on gas and detergent! These things add up quickly, too! I don’t know of any job sites that cater to workers particularly from Africa but I know there are plenty of freelance sites open to remote workers from all over the world. I started working “online” using freelance sites before I moved to America and I also made good money through them. I don’t know what kind of jobs you’re interested in but I have a lot of articles here about making money online. You can find them here: https://thismamablogs.com/make-money/mom-jobs/.
Gail Buckley
Under “Fix It Yourself” please correct plumbing to plumbing. Thank you for some valuable tips.
Jane
Hi Gail! I did not notice that error. Thanks for letting me know! Thanks for stopping by!
Lala Vibes
Any new ideas? I kind of used most of them and still need more to meet ends. The difference might stand in the fact that I am a single mom living in Romania, Eastern Europe. Tips, anyone?
Brittany Clark
Great tips! I’m working on #20! Haha – I know that my cart usually has more in it if I shop before I actually eat!
Jane
YESSS! Thanks for stopping by! I love your site BTW. 🙂
Lisa
You forgot one of the best free resources: Use your public library, don’t buy books, check them out, same for music and some movies.The library has a wealth of options, opportunities and resources…usually free.
Jane
Thanks Lisa! I def agree on this and saves you lots of money!
Rick
I find just about Anything I need Online
Jane
I agree!
gaito
more veggies less meat.:-) thank you on this.
Jhamar
A good read. Thanks for the tips
Joyce
My favorite way to save money is to use only one credit card with no annual membership fee. I purchase everything on this one card, pay it off monthly and receive points on purchases. I can see all purchases and analyze where my main spendings are and if necessary, cut back. This saves me money by not paying interest, annual fees and gives points to use for whatever I chose, usually free groceries. So much better than having many credit cards whit payments going out in all directions and makes for easier bookkeeping too!
Jane
I love your tip! Annual fees and interest do add up fast!
Claudia
I do this also. It is an important tool in my frugal lifestyle. I use free budgeting and planning software from our bank. Any purchases are automatically entered into the proper budget categories, which we have adapted to our needs.
Mohsin
Always looking for tips for frugal living, thank you for consolidating almost all of them 🙂
Emily
This is a great comprehensive list for anyone interested in frugal living. I was aware of only a few of these tips and I’m so excited to implement more of these to continue to save! Thank you for all of your hard work.
Jane
Hi Emily, thank you so much for dropping by! Good luck!
Jordan @ FIRE Your Own Way
Love the zero-waste week! It’s shocking how much food just gets thrown out. I also do a “eat through the fridge and pantry” challenge every season – helps to keep the waste down.
Thanks for all the frugal tips 🙂
Jane
Hi Jordan, thank you! It’s very helpful for me too! 🙂
g Fuel cans
Hey! This is kind of off topic but I need some guidance from
an established blog. Is it hard to set up your own blog?
I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick.
I’m thinking about setting up my own but I’m not sure
where to begin. Do you have any points or suggestions?
Thanks
Jane
Hi! It is not difficult and you don’t have to be a techie to start a blog. I was a real beginner when I started out and I had no blogging experience and no idea about many things blogging. But by reading resources online I was able to figure many things out. I’d recommend reading this guide here to help you get started: https://thismamablogs.com/how-to-start-a-blog-and-make-money/ . Good luck and let me know if you have any questions!
Ana
Great money saving tips! It does start with brown bagging lunches and watching out for the small expenses that add up. Thanks for the great list.
Jane
Thanks, Ana!
Daniel
This is something everybody should read. Especially the point about downsizing! So many people get locked into buying the most expensive products and luxuries, and it can be devastating to people with different financial situations. My parents started out with nothing when they immigrated to the US, and they only managed to get where they are by downsizing, working with what they had because they knew one day they could achieve all that fancier stuff.
It’s really inspirational to me! You really outdid yourself here Jane!
Jane
Hi Daniel, I can relate to your parents’ situation when they just moved here. I am an immigrant, too! When you move to another country, you can only take a few stuff with you. It’s really about how to live with those few things, goals, and persistence to go through the initial challenges. I always believe it’s possible to live more even with less stuff. It’s all mindset. Thank you for reading!
Richi
Hi Jane,
You just seem to have covered up every point in this post. I love reading your blogs because of how detailed they are and how awesomely you make us relate with your own life. Keep going!
Jane
Hi Richi! I am such a huge fan of your blog, too! Thank you for stopping by! 🙂
Paige
We have never had cable, and I’m very happy about that.
We watch free stuff on the internet like YouTube. Even popular shows are streamed for free on their host channels. I don’t mind the ads as long as I don’t have to pay .
Alex Endrich
Another great post. I find that if you’re intermittent fasting, you can skip breakfast and implement your brown bag lunches – you’ll save a ton of money and lose some weight in the meantime! These are fantastic frugal tips!
I also find that if you’re good with your spending – using a credit card that builds points will also work to saving you money in the long run. I have an Amex Nectar – this allows me to build points at my local grocery store with everything I spend, in turn saving me even more money in the long run. Plus earning a ton of points for spending the initial amount. Obviously don’t go crazy and buy things you don’t need – I just put everything I’d normally buy each month on it. Some cool information here- https://www.end-rich.com/save-for-a-house/
Mary Clausen
There are some really great thrift stores in my area & I’ve bought a lot of very nice clothes for a FRACTION of what I’d have paid at a mall.And I can feed my costume-jewelry habit (esp. earrings) for practically nothing.
Lisa @ Adapt Your Dollars
You included tons of great actionable frugal tips in your post! One way we save money in our house is by giving the kids haircuts ourselves. My husband shaves his head so we don’t have to worry about paying for his haircut either! I opted for an easy to maintain style (long, blunt cut) to cut back on visits to the salon. I also stopped coloring my hair 3 years ago, making my hair very low maintenance (and low cost)! Nicely written and thought provoking post! Thanks!
Casa de Wherever
Appreciate your thoroughness, thank you Jane!
Your enlightening blog inspired me to create nine
hard-hitting yet hilarious frugal food videos including
this one on bartering.
https://youtu.be/2srWVsuuVSg
Bonsa Jebra
Here is the big problem. Your frugality opens your device to Spam ! All the hookups to get free money, products…TRACK YOU. so all you non-vaxxers who think the “chip” will find you, no it’s all these programs you hook to. And GOOGLE listens to all your conversations too
Jane T
I really like your idea to sell your clutter. I have so much of that. I really need to get our home cleaned up and getting the clutter out will really help. I can even use the money I make and pay for my carpet cleaning in Fullerton. That would be so nice. When my home is clean I love being here, but when it isn’t it feels overwhelming.
Dixie
3Tbs blue dawn & 2Tbs alcohol in 1qt water makes most awesome dish soap. I tried it & it works for EVERY greasy job and EVERY dried on, hard to get off kitchen job there is.
Virginia
Ok, here’s the deal. In September 2024, we lost a huge portion of our income. Prior to that, I had been perusing Pinterest for ways to save money but didn’t apply a lot of them. Well, here we are we have an income of $2300/ month. Our mortgage payment is $2261.71, doesn’t much for anything else. Here’s how we are surviving (mortgage payments are current). Ditched cable, second car, and paper products, went through my closet and am now am capsule dressing, the other clothes I was donating, am now selling. Tried renting out the mother-in-law apartment but too many weirdo’s applied, so instead I had an indoor sale in December and just left the items in that space. I made some business cards, handed them out at sale and now have people calling to see if I have this or that. My merchandise comes from the free stuff section on Craigslist. Meal plan, budget, leftovers, and the recycling center (free paint, clean products) and Pinterest are my best friends. I did go to a food shelter, but there are people worst of than us. Never went back. Never had to be frugal and here I am and loving it.