Are you looking for ways to be frugal and save money? Check out these 30 Frugal Living Ideas for Beginners.
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What is frugal living?
Frugal living is deciding to be intentional about the way you spend your money. You choose the things that matter to you and your family and that is what you spend your money on. You don’t have the fear of missing out because you don’t care about having a fancy car or expensive clothes.
When you are frugal, you make smart choices when it comes to your money. You understand the importance of living within your means. It’s not important for you to impress others because you are happy with who you are and the lifestyle you have chosen.
Frugal vs. Cheap
Although, they are easily confused. Being frugal does not mean you are cheap. You understand the value of a dollar. You realize the importance of quality, you just do your research so you are getting the best value for your money. Cheap on the other hand is always buying the lowest price even if you know the quality is bad just because you don’t want to spend the money.
Why be frugal?
Living a frugal lifestyle allows you the freedom to decide where you want your money to go. By saving your money on things that don’t matter you can use it for things that can help you achieve your financial goals. You make your money work for you.
A frugal lifestyle can help you obtain some of these goals:
- Build an emergency fund
- Pay off debt
- Save for a vacation
- Do home renovations
- Save for retirement
- Build up your savings
Frugal Living Ideas for Beginners (Money)
1. Start a budget
A budget helps you become more mindful of your spending habits. Since you are aware of the amount of money coming in and going out each month, it allows you to make smarter choices and achieve your financial goals.
When you have chosen to live a frugal lifestyle, budgeting is one of the best ways to help you save money.
2. Use cash for purchases
When you use cash for your purchases, it helps you to avoid impulse purchases while shopping. You never overspend and always stay within your budget because you have a plan on how to spend your money.
3. Try a no-spend challenge
Are you looking for a way to save a little more money this weekend? How about challenging yourself not to spend any cash for the entire weekend? If you can do it, then work your way up to a week and eventually a month.
You can look for free activities to do as a family. Go on a hike, spend the day at the beach or have a movie night with your favorite snacks.
4. Take advantage of cashback apps
Take advantage of cashback apps such as Ibotta and Rakuten. You can earn money back for things that you would buy normally. Getting paid to shop is a great way to put a little more money back into your pocket.
Apps are a great way to save money when you are shopping for things you need anyway. Check out more free money-saving grocery apps.
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Frugal Living Ideas for Beginners (Shopping)
5. Stop making impulse purchases
It can be hard to resist impulse purchases as retailers use sneaky spending traps to get you to spend money on things that you don’t need. An easy way to avoid impulse purchases is to use grocery pickup because you are spending less time in the store.
Another way is to use the 30-day rule. If you see something you want but you know you can’t afford it at that moment, then go home and sleep on it. If after 30 days you still want the item and can afford it, then buy it. But if you have forgotten all about it then you really didn’t need it after all and you saved yourself some money.
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6. Shop sales and thrift stores
Do your research before you go shopping to find the best deals. Spend some time comparison shopping to save the most money. Check out clearance racks and shop out of season.
You can also visit thrift stores for lightly used clothing. They usually sell a large selection of name-brand clothing at affordable prices.
7. Buy generic brands
If you are trying to be more frugal then purchasing generic brands will help you save money. Store brands are usually just as good as name-brand items they just don’t have the high marketing costs and fancy labels that cause a higher price.
Recommended: 14 Ways to Save Money on Back-to-School Shopping
Frugal Living Ideas for Beginners (Food)
8. Meal plan
Many people are surprised when they sit down to do their budget and realize the amount of money they are spending on their groceries every month. One of the best ways that I have found to save hundreds on my grocery bill every month is to meal plan.
Meal planning can save you time and money when it comes to grocery shopping. When you plan your meals ahead of time it helps you stay within budget. You can add your meals to a family calendar or use a weekly meal planning pad to keep track of your meals for the week.
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9. Meatless meal once a week
If you are on a frugal budget then it may be helpful to plan a meatless meal at least once a week. You can have eggs, beans, pasta, or veggies as an alternative.
10. Buy and cook in bulk
Buying in bulk can save you a lot of money if it’s done right. Make sure you are checking unit prices to ensure you are getting the best deals. Always make sure you are considering your family’s needs as well and only buy things you know will get used up.
Cooking in bulk can not only save money but time. Buying big packages of meat, dividing them, cooking many meals, and freezing them for the week ahead will stretch your dollar even further.
11. Shop sales on meat
When shopping for meat, keep an eye out for sale prices. Most grocery stores will mark down their meat early in the morning to make room for fresh cuts. Keep in mind the use-by date is usually the next day so make sure to use it up that night or toss it in the freezer to use at a later time.
Do you want to save more money on your groceries?
12. Cook at home
Cooking your meals at home will allow you to control your ingredients and your portion size which is helpful if you are also trying to eat healthier.
Do you have a crockpot? Put dinner in before you head off to work so it’s ready when you come home. This way you are not tempted to stop to get fast food on those busy nights when you don’t feel like cooking.
If you are looking for another small appliance that helps to prepare healthy meals quickly, then you should invest in an air fryer. An air fryer will cook your favorite fried foods in a healthier way with little to no oil.
Here are some of my favorite easy and healthy recipes you can cook in an air fryer.
You may also like:
- 25 Must-Have Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners- easy recipes for using your air fryer.
- 85 Easy Budget-Friendly Meal Ideas- that are kid-friendly and perfect for hectic weeknights.
- 28 Easy Shortcut Rotisserie Chicken Dinner Ideas- skip take-out and use a $5 Rotisserie Chicken for dinner instead.
13. Pack your lunch
Buying your lunch every day can get expensive. Taking the time to prepare your meals at home and bring them to work every day will save you hundreds every month.
If you don’t have time to pack your lunch in the morning, you can always meal prep at the beginning of the week to save you time. This way your meals are ready and waiting for you when you need them.
If you have an instant pot you can cook chicken breasts, shred and use them in salads or wraps for lunch the next day. Here are 25 Easy Instant Pot Recipes for more easy meal ideas.
14. Don’t waste food
Make sure and use up any leftovers you may have. Food costs a lot of money so using it up will stretch your food budget. You can use it for lunch or have a leftover night.
15. Skip the coffee shop
Skip pricy coffee shops and make your coffee at home instead. A cup of coffee every day can cost you hundreds of dollars every year. Buy some flavored creamer or find a recipe online to make it taste like your favorite coffee at the coffee shop.
16. Drink Water
Soda is expensive. You can save so much money by drinking water instead plus it’s better for you and free. Invest in a reusable water bottle to drink throughout the day instead.
17. Stop eating out so much
Everyone knows that you can save money by eating out less. Most people assume that because you have chosen to be frugal with your money, you don’t ever eat out. However, this is not the case. You can still eat out by looking for coupons, going out for breakfast or lunch, and visiting on a kid’s eat-free night.
Life can get crazy busy with work, school, and appointments so it’s inevitable that there are going to be nights when eating out is just easier. But, being prepared ahead of time is key to saving the most money.
18. Grow your vegetables
Growing your own vegetables is one of the best frugal tips for living on a budget. We have a small backyard but have built two raised garden beds out of inexpensive landscaping logs. We have also grown vegetables in containers placed on our deck with success.
You may like: How to Start a Garden on a Budget
Frugal Living Ideas for Beginners (Home)
19. Unsubscribe from email lists
If you have too many emails in your inbox then take a few minutes to clean it up and keep the ones you are actually benefiting from. This way you are not being bombarded with all the sales tactics from retailers trying to get you to spend money. Do yourself a favor and just unsubscribe if you don’t want to be tempted to spend money you don’t have.
20. Cancel cable
Cable can be very expensive and wasteful if you are not using it. Many times you are paying for hundreds of channels and watching only a handful. We canceled our cable over a year ago and don’t miss it at all. There are so many other options available these days such as Disney+, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime just to name a few.
If you are not ready to cut the cord yet, then give the cable company a call and try to negotiate a better deal. They want your business and will usually work with you to keep it.
21. Cancel your subscriptions/memberships
If you have a gym membership that you are not using then cancel it. There is no need to pay for a pricey membership when you can purchase inexpensive equipment at garage sales or on the Facebook marketplace.
If you are looking for ways to lose weight check out these 12 Tips for Losing Weight on a Budget.
Also, stop any subscriptions to music services such as Spotify as you can use their service for free. They shuffle through the songs you have liked and recommend more that are similar. It’s actually a great way to find new music you may enjoy. Cancel magazine subscriptions and borrow magazines from the library instead.
22. Comparison shop
It’s nice to be a loyal customer but not when your rates continue to rise year after year. You can save money just by shopping around for a better price on your house and car insurance.
23. Turn down the thermostat
If you want to save money on your electricity bill, then turn down your thermostat a few degrees at night or when you are not home.
24. Declutter
Do you have clutter you would like to get rid of? Spend some time to simplify your home by getting rid of things you no longer need or want.
Plus you can make a profit by selling it. Have a garage sale or sell it online through Facebook marketplace or Poshmark.
Related Posts:
- 106 Easy Things to Declutter in Your Home Today
- 30-Day Home Decluttering Challenge
- How to Declutter When You Are Overwhelmed
- 10 Things in Your Home to Declutter in 10 Minutes or Less
25. DIY projects
You may be surprised how much money you can save by doing home improvement projects yourself. Just this week, I repaired some broken vinyl blinds in our home by watching a Youtube video. It saved us around $50.00. Do some research, most small jobs are feasible and YouTube is a great resource to learn how to do DIY projects.
Learn how I used gel stain to update my kitchen and saved hundreds:
Frugal Living Ideas for Beginners (Fun)
26. Look for entertainment deals
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have fun. There are many free or inexpensive activities available. Check out places like Groupon to find entertainment deals at a great price.
27. Watch movies at home
It’s so expensive to go to the movies these days between the tickets, the popcorn, candy, and soda. Gather the family and plan a movie night instead of at home. Watch a movie on Netflix, borrow one from the library, or rent one from Redbox.
28. Have frugal date nights
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a date night. It’s not necessary to go to a fancy restaurant and expensive movie. Find ways to connect with your partner that won’t wreak havoc on your budget.
Looking for cheap and romantic date night ideas when you are stuck at home?
- Here are 30 Cheap At Home Date Night Ideas-when you can’t get out but still want to spend quality time together.
29. Visit your local library
Your local library is a great place to find free events. Besides, the ability to loan out books you can also borrow magazines, audiobooks, music CDs, and movies. They also offer internet access and free children’s programs where they do craft projects and have story time.
30. Look for inexpensive family activities
Look for free concerts and festivals in your area, spend a day at the beach or go on a hike. There are many budget-friendly activities that you can enjoy with the family that won’t break the bank.
Related: 60 Indoor Activities at Home for Kids, Tweens, and Teens
It is possible to live your best life on less. Frugal living is all about learning to be happy with what you have and living a life of intention.
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