Saving money often sounds easier than it is, even if you have disposable income once the bills are paid. That’s because nowadays, there are so many things that scream ‘buy me’ and the process of buying itself has never been easier – just a few clicks and your cart is paid off.
But what if we postpone paying for the cart and review the things we have in it after a while? Maybe even delete an item or two that we don’t actually need? Reviewing and scaling down the shopping cart was one of the tips netizens of Reddit’s ‘Frugal’ community shared after one of them asked about the easiest frugal changes people have made that helped them save money.
Today, we’d like to shed some light on their tips and tricks that might inspire you to make some frugal changes in life, too. So scroll down to find them on the list below—where you will also find Bored Panda’s interview with the netizen who started the thread, u/Peliquin—and go dust off that piggy bank.
#1
Put things in the Amazon cart but don’t buy right away. Come back a few days later and realize I don’t NEED that, remove. Repeat.
Image source: writergeek, Sagar Soneji / pexels (not the actual photo)
#2
I often met up with friends at restaurants, just by default, and that got really expensive, even when they weren’t that special. I started volunteering ideas of just meeting for dessert (instead of a drink and meal), going for a hike, or just meeting at a park to sit and chat. The whole point was to just be together, so no one really paid attention to the switch and they were actually a little glad to not have to plan the outings themselves. My budget is happy about it!
Image source: naturalbornoptimist, Monstera Production / pexels (not the actual photo)
#3
Got rid of sodas. With the prices increasing, and sodas leading to health issues down the road I definitely will save more than just money in the long run.
Image source: Sensitive_Section_98, alleksana / pexels (not the actual photo)
#4
Finally got a library card and connected to my Kindle via Libby. I haven’t bought a single book, ebook or physical, all year.
Image source: suzygreeenberg, freestocks.org / pexels (not the actual photo)
#5
Not a change this year, but one that all my friends have been shocked by as I’ve slowly converted them over time! Your local library is your best resource for a lot of things, but especially accessing books, audiobooks, magazines, manga, graphic novels, music, television shows, movies, and so on and so forth. Language learning apps? Many libraries (like mine!) have free subscriptions for their users. Doing genealogy? Tons of free resources, including, often, Ancestry.com. My library has several apps like Libby, Kanopy, and Hoopla. Free online classes, free sessions with lawyers and job search professionals, free internet, hotspots, board games, yard games, video games, puzzles…..
Also, many libraries have seed libraries and ‘library of things’ –> anything from science-y or artsy kits to car/house/etc repair.
Image source: efflorae, Element5 Digital / pexels (not the actual photo)
#6
Starting to cook my own meals more and not eating in restaurants.
Every time you cook a meal, you make it better. I’m at the point now where food served in restaurants isn’t good enough for me.
Go YouTube!
Image source: thomport, Taryn Elliott / pexels (not the actual photo)
#7
I created a gift bin. Whenever I see a great deal online or in a thrift store, bin store etc. I buy things and store them in my gift bin.
I always have nice gifts handy for kids, family members. I’m ready for Christmas
For example, we are going to a birthday next week and I have 2 brand new boxes of nice legos that I got for very cheap back in January. The kid will be happy with gifts and we only have to worry about wrapping it.
Image source: morninglight789, Helena Lopes / pexels (not the actual photo)
#8
Stopped using DoorDash etc and started using frozen chicken strips and tater tots when I need a quick fix.
Image source: Capable_Mud_2127, Karyna Panchenko / pexels (not the actual photo)
#9
Writing down every expense in an actual budgeting notebook. I’ve tried budgeting apps on/off for years and never stuck with them. Having an actual notebook where I physically write all of my expenditures has made me way more frugal in every aspect of my life. Something about writing it & seeing it made me want to stop spending it!
Image source: SaltiePopkorn, olia danilevich / pexels (not the actual photo)
#10
Quitting a 2 pack a day smoking habit. $500/mo.!!
Image source: Frankengamer, Barik5ive / pexels (not the actual photo)
#11
Started shopping at the discount grocery store. Ours has lots of things that are nearing or just past sell by dates, and I was nervous things might not be good. Haven’t had a single issue and we’re literally saving hundreds per month on groceries.
Image source: caffeinatedintrovert, Collis / pexels (not the actual photo)
#12
Cancelled cable, no one was watching ‘regular’ TV, kept prime and Hulu. No one in the house has noticed.
Image source: According-Paint6981, JESHOOTS.com / pexels (not the actual photo)
#13
One morning when I had some downtime, I went through my email and unsubscribed from basically any email list I was a part of. Wayfair, H&M, Home Depot etc etc. All of it. Not only has this completely cleared up my inbox, I no longer get tempted by sale days, coupon codes etc. It has helped curb impulse spending immensely!
Image source: javajunkie10, Solen Feyissa / pexels (not the actual photo)
#14
Drinking. I like a glass of wine or two with dinner or after. Doing it every night is expensive and unhealthy. I have started to replace it with drinking hot tea at night. I’ve never been a tea drinker but it’s fun to explore different options and it’s starting to grow on me a bit.
Image source: dsook2, Ahmed Aqtai / pexels (not the actual photo)
#15
I learned to make my fancy coffee at home. I used a cheap espresso machine we had to make sure i would stay in the habit and after a couple weeks i bought a used nicer model and have made my fancy coffee at home since. I dont have to sacrifice taste for frugality. The $250 i spent on the nice espresso machine has easily been “earned” back not going to coffee shops.
Image source: flipflop924, Sena / pexels (not the actual photo)
#16
Turned 40 and decided to quit dying my hair. I’m over a year in and have not only saved money, but my hair is the healthiest it’s ever been! I also like my natural gray sparkle!
Image source: Interesting-Put-4077, cottonbro studio / pexels (not the actual photo)
#17
I have started to go through all drawers, cabinets wardrobes etc having a clear out. Not only have I discovered things I’d forgotten and organised things in such a way that I know how much of everything that I have, but it’s illustrated to me where I was making impulse purchases that I regreted. That’s helped me stop repeating those same mistakes. For example, I am done with eyeshadow, I’ve never really “got” how to do it, I end up looking awful and I’ve chucked the lot out, it wasn’t a matter of finding the “right palette”, it’s just not for me!
Image source: ilovewineandcats, Artem Podrez Artem Podrez / pexels (not the actual photo)
#18
I moved somewhere with an Aldi nearby and my grocery budget is about half of what it used to be.
Image source: flagemoji-, Altamart / pexels (not the actual photo)
#19
Not this year but during the pandemic… we only ordered from restaurants that let us come and pick up the order. No food delivery services whatsoever. Once we slowed down our eating out from “once a week” to “once a month or two”, we started spending way less on takeout.
also giving up alcohol when my husband needed major surgery. The doctors recommended to not drink 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after… and we just never made it back into a liquor store. Going on 8 months of total sobriety now!
Image source: SurviveYourAdults, cottonbro studio / pexels (not the actual photo)
#20
Meal Prep!
I prep 5 oatmeal breakfasts, 5 chicken pasta and sauce meals and 5 chicken, rice and black bean meals.
This saves me so much money and time!
I mix in fruit cups for breakfast and lunch. I usually go with pineapple or mandarin oranges. I eat way healthier and I’m saving money.
Image source: Ibn_Khomeini, Ella Olsson / pexels (not the actual photo)
#21
Doubled my 401k contributions. Less extra money burning a hole in my pocket.
Image source: fishsticklovematters, olia danilevich / pexels (not the actual photo)
#22
Espresso machine. I was buying a 7 dollar Starbucks drink daily. Now it costs about 25 cents for the same thing.
Image source: BlackLotus8888, Melike Benli / pexels (not the actual photo)
#23
Buying bone-in chicken thighs for $0.99/ lb instead of boneless/skinless for over $3/lb. Also bought a cheap boning knife ($10) and YouTube’d how to remove the bone. It’s surprisingly easy. Then you keep the bones for stock. Takes me about 15 mins to process about 10 pounds of meat.
Image source: battahboombattahbing, FOX ^.ᆽ.^= ∫ / pexels (not the actual photo)
#24
Switching auto and home insurance. Our auto went down by two-thirds and our home by half. I don’t even want to think of the money we overpaid over the years.
Image source: Librashell, Gustavo Fring / pexels (not the actual photo)
#25
I started cutting my own hair. As a guy, paying $50-60 a month for something that only looks good for probably 2 weeks is not ideal. I’ll only pay that if I have a special event like a wedding or if I’m going on a memorable trip (once or twice a year). Otherwise, I’ll just cut it at home and spend $0.
Image source: JA-868, Nataliya Vaitkevich / pexels (not the actual photo)
#26
The only real change that we made was not ordering take out so much. We were ordering 3-4 times a week and going out about once a week. Now we are ordering out once ever other week and not dining out. It’s saving my family of 4 about $1000 a month. Honestly, I miss being able to have all the dining options, but due to certain circumstances we can no longer afford such luxuries.
Image source: Hot_Engine_2520, Antoni Shkraba / pexels (not the actual photo)
#27
Went on a “no-buy.” Sounds nuts but gamifying making do with my existing wardrobe, decor, cooking utensils, gardening tool etc has made it so easy. And it simplifies the process of figuring out whether a purchase is worth the money because it DOESNT MATTER- I’m not allowed to buy it anyway.
I did a no buy month and wondered if I would make it through but wound up breezing through it and found it so helpful and easy I am committing to a year.
Image source: peanutbutterprncess, Darina Belonogova / pexels (not the actual photo)
#28
Online thrifting for toddler clothes. They are outrageously expensive and the tots grow out of them in a year or less.
Image source: ZodiacalFury, Vlada Karpovich / pexels (not the actual photo)
#29
Setting a budget. I grew up poor and no one taught me about money. I’ve just been winging it my whole life. This year my husband and I sat down to have a come to Jesus and figure out *where was all our money going?*
We just sort of divided our money up into different accounts because we can’t be trusted. The main account is only for bills and gas and groceries, but I only spend a set amount a month on groceries. Then each of us has a fun account that we add money to each pay period. That’s the only money we have to blow. Then there is a family fun money. If we want to buy pizza or go to the movie it comes from there.
It completely changed my relationship ship to money, and I thought I was frugal. I was a single mom who raised two kids on one income before o got married. I was not good with money. I was good with stretching the last few dollars after I wasted all my money.
Image source: DontMessWithMyEgg, Pixabay / pexels (not the actual photo)
#30
NOT renewing Prime.
Image source: Greedy_Practice_5327, Karolina Kaboompics / pexels (not the actual photo)
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