To live frugally is to live a simple life and save money no matter the income. Learn how you can live frugally and save your money starting today.
It's no secret that the economy is in a tough spot. Many people are trying to work with a pandemic, and many others see their paychecks shrink due to inflation.
It's more important than ever to learn how to be frugal and save money. This blog post will discuss tips and tricks to help you live a frugal life and save money without making too many sacrifices.
Why doesliving frugally and saving moneymatter now more than ever?
For one, frugality can help you stay afloat during tough economic times. If you're not used to living frugally, the current economic climate may be a wake-up call that it's time to start saving money.
Living frugally can also help you reach your financial goals sooner. For example, if you're hoping to retire early, you'll need to save as much money as possible.
Finally, frugality can give you peace of mind. It's easier to relax and enjoy life when you know that you're not spending more than you can afford.
3 Tips to Help You Start A Frugal Lifestyle In 2022
Watch our top three tips to start living a frugal lifestyle.
How to start living a frugal life
The best time to start living a frugal life is now. So start now and start slow. Here are some tips to help you:
1 – Why do you want to do this?
The answer to this question is going to be essential. You see, you need to understand why you want to live a frugal life. There will be sacrifices made and things you will do without that you usually buy or use. So answering this question will help you stick to your frugal journey.
2- Live thriftily
Use it, make it, get by with it, or do without. During your frugal journey, you will learn that sometimes you are going to be crafty! You are going to learn to repair things to keep the cost down. Learn to stretch things when you usually would have tossed them out.
3- Start now!
Start making changes right now! Implement what you can today make significant changes in the future. Frugality is not about what you can save now but about your future. There is no plan or research about it. Just start living frugally today.
Now that we established that let's continue.
How to Live Frugally
As mentioned above, you have to question why you want to live frugally. But, first, you must accept what being frugal is because definitions vary depending on who you ask.
Mydefinition of frugal is being in control of your money, your family living life, and not letting money control you.Being frugal, or how frugal you live, depends on you. You and your family define how frugal you want to be.
Frugal is not a contest; it's a lifestyle.Each individual defines it differently and lives it differently. So first, you must consider how frugal you want to live, which takes time; the struggle will come with accepting and adjusting to the new frugal life you set for yourself and your family.
Of course, leaving room to adapt to today's economic changes will affect your frugal living, but it's how you adapt to these critical changes.
Now let's continue talking about thebest frugal living tipsyou will learn, shall we?
Communicate
Communication is key to success when it comes to living a frugal life! Therefore, it is crucial to communicate how this increase will affect you as your income grows.
Here's what happened to us. When our income increased, we failed to communicate about it. We each had different ideas of what frugal meant and how we should use the extra money.
After some discussion (and some arguing), we finally agreed on what frugal living meant for us and how we would use the extra money.
If you're in a relationship, it's essential to talk about money with your partner. You need to be on the same page regarding your finances.
Failing to communicate will only lead to arguments and financial stress. So make sure you talk about money often and agree on how you'll live frugally.
You Are Weird
I have repeatedly said this, and you have toaccept the “I don't give a crap” attitudein your frugal life. You have to be okay with being weird.
What do I mean by that?
During your frugal journey, you will start doing things that people think are weird. You'll begin to change how you live and how you spend money. And people are going to judge you for it.
You have to be okay with that.
Don't let other people's opinions of you stop you from living the frugal life you want to live. If they don't understand your decision to live frugally, that's their problem, not yours.
So embrace your inner weirdo and be proud of the frugal choices!
Be Open
Always be open about your finances, and this goes hand-in-hand with communication. It would help if you were honest about your financial situation, both the good and the bad.
Being open about your finances will help you stay accountable and on track. It will also help keep you from making impulsive decisions with your money.
If you're not used to being open about money, it can be uncomfortable at first. But the more you do it, the easier it will become.
Start by being open with your partner about your finances. Then, you can start sharing your financial goals and progress with close friends and family.
Eventually, you may even want to share your frugal journey on social media or with the world via a blog or podcast. But that's totally up to you! Hey, this could lead to a side hustle and even a career change.
Listen
Always listen to your gut. It probably is for big and small financial decisions if something feels off. So if you're ever unsure about a purchase, take a step back and listen to your gut.
It will tell you to save your money and walk away from the purchase more often than not.
Of course, there will be times when you make a purchase, and it doesn't work out. That's okay! We all make mistakes. Just learn from them and move on.
But if you listen to your gut, it will help you stay on track with your frugal goals.
Support
It is always a great idea to have a support system when working on any goal, which is especially true for living a frugal lifestyle.
Your support system can be family, friends, or even a group of like-minded individuals. These people will help to encourage and motivate you on your frugal journey.
Having a support system is essential when sticking to a budget or making changes to your spending habits. They will help you stay accountable and on track.
So if you're serious about living a frugal life, make sure you surround yourself with supportive people!
Learn to SayNO
Learning to say no is one of the most important things you can do on your frugal journey.
You have to be willing to say no to impulse purchases, expensive nights out, and anything that doesn't align with your financial goals.
Saying no is hard, but it's essential if you want to save money. You're one step closer to reaching your financial goals every time you say no to purchase.
So the next time you're tempted to go shopping because you are bored, or going out to spend money, just say no! It's not worth it in the long run.
Enjoy the Journey
Living frugally and saving money can be a lot of work at first. But it's also a lot of fun!
Sure, there will be times when you feel like you're sacrificing and missing out. But that's just part of the journey.
Remember to enjoy the process and focus on your long-term goals. The more you save now, the better off you'll be in the future.
How to Save Money When Living Frugally
Now that you know how to live frugally, let's talk about saving money. Here are tips and tricks to help you save money while living frugally:
Create a budget
Without a budget, there is no frugal life! So start by creating a budget, a spending plan that will help you see where your money is going.
A budget is a blueprint for your finances, and the first thing you need to start doing if you want to live frugally and save money, my friends.
Check out my free budget template if you don't know where to start. It will help get you started on the right track!
Make a list before you shop
One of the best ways to save money is to make a list before shopping. And doing this will help you stick to your budget and only buy what you need.
I like to make a list on my phone, so I always have it with me when I go to the store. This way, I can avoid impulse purchases and stay on track with my budget.
Plan your meals
Another great way to save money is to plan your meals because it will help you save money on groceries and eating out.
I like to meal plan on Sundays. First, I sit down and plan out all the meals we will eat for the week. Then, I make a grocery list and head to the store.
Planning your meals may take some extra time upfront, but it will save you money in the long run.
Plus, it takes the guesswork out of dinner every night!
Cook at home
Cooking at home will save you money and is another way to live frugally. Cooking at home is cheaper than eating out, and it's also healthier! Plus, it's a great way to spend time with family and friends.
If you're not sure how to cook, there are plenty of resources out there to help you. Start with a simple recipe and work your way up.
You'll be surprised at how much money you can save by cooking at home.
Limit your eating out
If you want to save money, you need to limit your eating out. However, this doesn't mean you have to give up restaurants altogether.
But, it would help if you only ate out for special occasions or when you're traveling. Eating out can be expensive, so it's best to save it for a treat.
If you want to save money on restaurants, you can do a few things. First, look for coupons or deals.
You can also eat at a cheaper restaurant or order from the appetizer menu.
Whenever possible, try to cook at home and limit your eating out. It will save you money in the long run!
Buy in bulk
Buying in quantity is one of the most effective ways to save money, especially true for items you often use, like toilet paper or laundry detergent.
Buying in bulk can be a great way to save money. But, it would help if you were careful not to overbuy. Instead, only buy what you need and use it within a reasonable time.
Otherwise, you're just wasting money!
Shop around
Shoppers who compare prices will save money. It entails comparing costs between several merchants or even multiple websites.
You can also use coupons or promo codes to get the best deal possible. When shopping around, be sure to compare both the price and the item's quality.
If you are shopping online, use Capital One Shopping which is free, and it will automatically apply coupon codes at checkout to find you the best discount.
It's also important to read reviews before you purchase because it will help you avoid buying something that isn't worth the money.
Never pay full price
Never paying full price for anything is one of the most effective methods to save money. This doesn't mean you have to be a cheapskate, but it does mean being smart with your money.
There are a few ways you can do this. First, wait for items to go on sale, especially true for big-ticket items, like TVs or appliances.
You can also use coupons or promo codes to get discounts on your purchase. Finally, you can sign up for email newsletters from your favorite stores.
This way, you'll be the first to know about sales and deals.
Use coupons
Coupons are an excellent method to save money and are especially true for groceries, but you can use coupons for almost anything.
You can check the Sunday paper or look online or on your smartphone to find coupons. There are also a few websites that specialize in coupons, like Coupons.com.
When you're using coupons, be sure to read the fine print. For example, some coupons have restrictions, like expiration dates or minimum purchase amounts.
But, as long as you use them wisely, coupons can be a great way to save money.
Money-making apps you can download:
Set aside any extra money
Set aside any extra money you have to help you save money. Whenever you get a raise at work or a bonus, put that money into savings.
This also includes money made from selling items or yard sale money. That way, you'll have a cushion for unexpected expenses.
Pack your lunch
Packing your lunch is one of the most cost-effective ways to save money. However, there are a few things you need to do to make this work.
First, you need to plan. Make sure you have all the ingredients you need to make your lunch.
You can also make extra food at dinner, so you have leftovers for lunch the next day. Finally, be sure to pack your lunch the night before, so you're not rushed in the morning.
Packing your lunch may take a little bit of effort, but it's worth it in the long run.
Keep a pantry inventory
Another way to save money while living frugally is to keep an inventory of your pantry. This way, you'll know what you have on hand and won't end up buying duplicates.
You can make a list of everything in your pantry or take a picture. Either way, be sure to update your inventory regularly, so it's accurate.
Make your own coffee
Making your own coffee is one of the most cost-effective methods to save money.
All you need is a coffee maker and some ground coffee. You can also buy pre-packaged coffee pods, which make it even easier.
Adding up the cost of that coffee you buy every morning on your way to work will surprise you. So why not make your own coffee at home and take it to work instead? You will save a lot of money this year by doing this.
Buy Energy Star rated appliances
Energy Saving appliances help you reduce your electric bill, but it also helps the environment.
When shopping for new appliances, look for the Energy Star label. This means that the EPA has certified the appliance to use less energy than similar models.
You can find Energy Star appliances for almost everything, from refrigerators to dishwashers. So, if you're in the market for a new appliance, be sure to look for the Energy Star label.
Have a yard sale
Having a yard sale is a great way to declutter your home and make some extra money. The money made from a yard sale can be saved or used to help you in your frugal journey.
To have a successful yard sale, be sure to advertise ahead of time and price your items reasonably. You can also have a bake sale or car wash to make even more money.
So, if you're looking for a way to declutter and save money, having a yard sale is a great option.
Insulate your home during the winter
Make sure your home is insulated during the winter months. One of the best ways is to add weather stripping around your doors and windows. This will help keep the heat in and the cold out.
You can also insulate your home by adding insulation to your attic, and this will help keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. So, if you're looking to save money on your energy bills, be sure to insulate your home.
Turn off and unplug your appliances
Want to save more money? Turn off and unplug your appliances when you're not using them.
This includes things like your coffee maker, toaster, and television. Even if they're turned off, they're still using energy.
So, to save money on your electric bill, be sure to turn off and unplug your appliances when you're not using them.
Use Swagbucks to earn free gift cards
Start usingSwagbucksnow and start accumulating points so you can score big on free gift cards later on in the year! Swagbucks is a website and app that gives you points (called SB) for doing simple tasks, like answering surveys, watching videos, and searching the internet.
These points can be redeemed for gift cards from your favorite stores, like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Starbucks, etc. So if you're looking to save money this year, make sure to start using Swagbucks.
Find the right mobile plan for you
If you're looking to save money on your cell phone bill, make sure you find the right mobile plan.
There are many great options out there, so take some time to research and find the one that fits your needs. You may even be able to get a discount if you switch to a new carrier.
We recommend:
- Republic Wireless $20/month no contract
- Tello Wireless – This is what I use at the moment and I love it.
Switch Insurance
By switching insurance companies, you could save hundreds of dollars a year. So, if you're looking to save money on your car insurance, make sure to switch insurance companies every two years.
Final Thoughts
Living frugally doesn't have to be complicated. By following these tips, you can save money without making significant changes to your lifestyle.
What are some of your favorite tips for living frugally? Be sure to share them in the comments below! And, if you found this article helpful, please share
