Frugal living isn't for everyone, but it does appeal to many! Whether your frugality applies to just one area of your life, like your food, your home, or your shopping habits, or the idea appeals to you but you're just not sure how to start and make is sustainable, I've got a few tips that might be helpful. I'll admit tiny houses, like the one above, really appeal to me, but would living in one be realistic? Hmmm, my family and guests would really five or so tiny houses, so maybe we'll just stay put, but start by putting into practice decluttering, which is certainly a great thing to do right now, especially as cleaning for Passover approaches, and our yearly spring cleaning gets underway!
While frugal living might be an ethical decision for some, to reduce their "footprint", others may choose the path of frugal living out of necessity or the desire to have the money to do the things of their dreams, like travel or even fund an expensive education of some kind. Of course, a lot of people are doing their research and comparing the many types of retirement accounts, ultimately preparing for the inevitable departure from the workforce. By living frugally, more money can be dedicated to these long-term savings goals.
At the core of frugal living is the managing of your finances so that at the end of the day, your hard-earned cash goes towards the things that are the most important to you! That does sound really smart, I must say, so lets take a look at seven creative ways to start a frugal living lifestyle. Let's do it.....
Plan your meals ahead of time and make them at home.
Frequently eating out and ordering food can easily drain your wallet and hurt your budget. Sometimes you might find yourself too tired to cook after a long day, or you are so busy with errands that you do not have enough time to prepare yourself some nice meals. In cases like this, resorting to fast food seems like the easiest and most obvious option, but it is not.
Instead, plan what you are going to eat in advance and make your meals at home, including lunch that you would take with you to work. Not only do home-cooked meals help you save money, but they are also healthier than fast food because you tend to consume less sugar, fat, and carbohydrates. There are also plenty of quick and easy recipes online that only take a few minutes to prepare, so look into that if you have limited time to spare when making food, and certainly batch cook your meals so there is always something available, in the fridge or freezer! Buy yourself some nice containers and have fun filling them up!
Take advantage of coupons when grocery shopping.
Coupons are a lifesaver and can help you score great deals and discounts. You just have to know where to find them. If used correctly, the few dollars you save from that might not seem like much can easily add up over time. To find coupons, check out store weekly ads, browse newspapers, sign up for loyalty rewards programs, or visit merchants’ websites and mobile apps.
Retailers usually have a dedicated section in their website or app for coupons, send announcements to their mailing list about ongoing and upcoming promos, and promote deals and discounts on various platforms—both in physical copies and digital forms. So make sure to be on the lookout for these offers and grab the opportunity so you can use them on your next grocery trip. People who are particularly frugal may do their shopping at several stores in order to find the best deals.
Buy and prepare food in bulk.
Coupons work best when buying groceries in bulk. When you purchase in larger portions, the cost of individual items is at a lower price point. Not only does bulk buying save you money, but it also helps you avoid frequent trips to the grocery, which can tempt you to overspend and pick up stuff you do not actually need.
As for cooking food in bulk, you can do this by scheduling one day in your week when you have lots of available time to prepare meals for the next couple of days. Then freeze the rest of the food you've prepared and reheat it when needed. This will not only save you money but also time and effort in preparing your food, and keep you on track with your frugal living!
Declutter your home by putting unused items up for sale.
Sometimes you may find yourself buying things on impulse, which can lead to a pile-up of items you will rarely or never use. Instead of throwing or giving them away, you might want to consider putting them up for sale to recoup some of the money you spent, and save it or use it to buy things you actually need.
Platforms like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist can help you find potential buyers, and turn your clutter into cash.
Reuse things for other purposes.
Every item can be repurposed with a little bit of creativity. Have some clothes that are too small for you? You can turn them into pillowcases using some basic sewing skills. Got empty containers and cardboard boxes gathering dust somewhere? You can use them for storage.
Repurposing saves you money and also benefits the environment by reducing the amount of solid waste put in commercial landfills. So next time you think of tossing away something you find useless, consider finding a creative use for it first!
Downsize your living space.
A spacious living area allows you to do more things, but the maintenance costs of being in a larger home can put a big dent in your wallet in the long run. If you feel like you can barely spend on other necessities like groceries because your rent or mortgage is too expensive, you might want to consider moving into smaller and cheaper yet can still accommodate your lifestyle. Tiny houses and mobile home living are quickly gaining popularity, something to think about!
Challenge yourself to have minimal to no spending every month.
People tend to be more motivated and careful with their spending habits when they participate in a savings challenge. Challenges, like not eating out for a week, practicing minimalism for 30 days, and keeping a certain amount of money every day for a specific duration, are just some of the most common and popular ways people try to save. You might want to try doing this and see if it will be effective for you.
But remember that a savings challenge also needs to be realistic. So before participating in one, be sure that it is attainable and aligns with your goals.
Takeaway
It is not easy to unlearn unhealthy money habits, and it could take a while before you develop effective savings practices and actually start to think like a frugal individual. But the important thing is to start, stay committed, and keep motivating yourself to improve. Don't become a miser, instead, plan to use the money you save for something life enhancing, like a trip, and that in itself will hopefully keep you on track. Good luck!
