101 Best Frugal Living Tips

You probably already know some ways to live a frugal lifestyle, but it’s time to get serious about saving money and you need the best frugal living tips!

These tips help my family save hundreds of dollars every month. By themselves each tip doesn’t add up to much, but when you put them all together you could save hundreds or even thousands this year!

While some of these tips you’ve probably heard of before we have some creative ways to save money that could seriously change your life.

We’ve made it easy for you to find the best frugal living tips and saving money hacks. Just click the link below to find the best ways to save money on everything.

• Grocery Store
• Healthy Lifestyle
• Drinks
• Eating Out
• Entertainment
• Car
• Around the Home
• Online Shopping
• Frugal Living Tips

Saving Money Tips at the Grocery Store

#1 Shop Your Pantry

Before you hit the store, take a look around your pantry to see what you’ve already got on hand. Plan your meals around the things in your pantry so that you have less stuff to buy at the store.

#2 Meal Planning

Planning your meals ahead of time helps you be prepared for the week ahead so you don’t hit the fast food drive thru!

I like to have a flexible meal plan, meaning that we don’t stick to a specific meal each night. I don’t always feel like eating the food I planned out at the beginning of the week. So instead I pick 6 meals to make for the week and 1 meal we eat out. Each day I look at my list and decide what I want to make that night.

#3 Frugal Grocery List

When I walk into the grocery store, I feel a little ADD. There is so much to look at and I can easily forget what I need for the week. Once you have shopped the pantry and planned your meals, go ahead and write down all the essential things you will need to make the meals.

Then the most important part…stick to the list! It’s so easy to be tempted to add in a few extra things here and there. Candy for the kids, a few secret cookies for you **wink, wink** Those little extras can add up quickly and you don’t even realize it!

#4 Earn Cash Back with Ibotta

Ibotta is one of my favorite ways to earn cash back at the grocery store. It’s super easy to use and we usually earn $2 – $5 each grocery shopping visit depending on our list.

One of my favorite perks of using Ibotta is they give you cash back on things that never go on sale like produce, dairy, and meats.

You can even earn cash back on your favorite adult beverages like beers and wine.

Learn more about how I save with Ibotta and Sign up using my Ibotta Referral Code WXNRJHL to receive a $15 bonus after spending $15!

#5 Shop the Deals

If you’re like me, then you probably don’t have time to coupon or at least you feel like your time is better spent elsewhere.

You can still save money by shopping the regular sale cycle in your store. Most items in a grocery store go on sale every 4-6 weeks. When the items you want go on sale try to stock up at the sale price to cover the next 6 weeks.

We do this with frozen pizzas. Every time the pizzas go on sale I buy 12 pizzas, which gives us 2 pizzas per week for 6 weeks at the price of $4 per pizza vs. $6 per pizza at the regular price. This saves us money on our grocery shopping, but we also save because we don’t end up buying pizza from a restaurant for $12 a pizza!

PRO TIP: Purchase a deep freezer (we have one like this) so you can stock up on items that can be frozen and used at a later date. We got ours from a family friend who was selling theirs, but you can find them used on Craigslist.

#6 Buy Store Brands

Store brands are a great way to save money. Even when name brands go on sale, then store brands are sometimes still cheaper.

You may have to get used to the taste of a different brand than the one you’re used too. Over time the savings really adds up.

#7 Use Coupons

You don’t have to be an extreme couponer to save money at the store. You don’t even have to cut coupons from the newspaper or chase down deals online.

Today, most stores have an app that you can use to coupon straight from your phone. Just use your smartphone to sign up for your stores coupon deals. Take advantage of coupons that your stores sends you in the mail. These paper coupons are usually based off of the items that you typically buy anyway!

#8 Buy in Bulk

My kids can run through snacks super fast. Buying pre-packaged snack items is more expensive than buying in bulk. I buy crackers, cookies, chips, and canned fruit in the largest containers. Then I sort them into small snack size containers.

#9 Make Your Favorite Snacks

Get creative in the kitchen and find some recipes for your family’s favorite snacks to eat. My kids love to eat mini-muffins and chocolate chip cookies. I try to make a batch of these every couple of weeks so they can have them for their snack. Sometimes I even sneak veggies in the muffins!

This generally saves us about $5 for a 5 pack snack box.

#10 Shop when the Foods are Discounted

My grocery store routinely marks down their prices every Wednesday afternoon for foods that are about to expire. I found this out when I had to run to the grocery store after work on a Wednesday. The person working in the meat department told me that they do this every week!

So I always try to shop around the same time on Wednesday afternoon. I can usually purchase meat that is marked down about 30% only because the expiration date is approaching. I always freeze that meat and it will still be good for a few weeks.

PRO TIP: Talk to the people who work at your grocery store. They can give you some helpful inside tips!

#11 Shop the Clearance Section

Did you know that your grocery store has a clearance section?

My grocery store has a clearance section in the produce department, meat department, dairy department, and a general clearance section for random things ranging from wine to cereal boxes.

Look around for the clearance sections at your store!

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Super Frugal Living Tips for a Healthy Lifestyle

#12 Gym Membership Saving Money Tips

While most people will tell you to skip the gym in order to save money, I don’t think that’s a great idea. Your health is too important! So if the easiest way for you to be motivated to workout is to be a gym member then search for a local community center or YMCA.

We are members of the YMCA and they offer monthly payment options with no contract. When my husband lost his job, we were able to go on a scholarship and pay a monthly fee that we could afford.

Don’t join one of those big fancy gyms with the crazy contracts. If you join a gym with a monthly contract, and you don’t use it then just remember to cancel it so you’re not throwing money away.

#13 Instead of a Gym Membership try a Fitness App

If you want to workout at home, but still need some support sign up for a fitness app. There are several on the market that have workouts you can do from home with almost no equipment required. I personally loved using the Sweat App. It was a great workout for 20 minutes and only cost $10 per month.

PRO TIP: Apps and online fitness services will give you an offer to sign up for 1 year. However, they offer other plans like monthly, 3 months, and 6 months. If you’re not sure you will stick to the workout, then sign up for the lower monthly subscription. Just remember to cancel your subscription!!

#14 Make Your Own Smoothies & Shakes

I love to make my own smoothies at home. I think this is one of the easiest recipes to make…like, ever. I’m pretty sure you can’t mess it up either, unless you don’t put the top on the blender when you push on!

Pinterest is a great place to find yummy smoothie recipes. You can easily save $3 – $5 just by making your smoothie at home.

Protein shakes are a big part of any serious workout plan. You don’t have to buy fancy shakes or purchase them through direct sales. My family’s favorite protein shake is on Amazon for a very reasonable price. We love the milk chocolate flavor!

#15 Meal Prep

Cook your meals ahead of time leaves you prepared for the week ahead. This is especially helpful on busy nights when you get home late and haven’t had to cook a meal.

I meal prep by doubling recipes and storing the second meal in the freezer. This works great with lasagna, casseroles, spaghetti sauce, and any slow cooker meals that freeze well.

We also use the slow cooker to have dinner ready by the time we get home from long days at school and sports practice.

#16 Use a Water Filter and Reusable Water Bottles

We love using a water filter at home because it saves us from having to buy tons of water bottles. Each person in our family has a water bottle that we take every where we go.

You can find a water filter that attaches to your faucet or a throw back to my college days the Brita filter.

#17 Buy Frozen Veggies and Fruits

Frozen veggies and fruits are a cheaper way to get your produce, especially for those not in season. I’ve also read that frozen fruits and veggies have a more dense nutrition than canned produce because it is flash frozen, which saves all the healthy nutrients you want anyway.

I also like to buy frozen veggies because it makes my life so much easier to have onions, broccoli, cauliflower already cut up for me.

#18 Skip Eating Fast Food

Even though fast food seems like you’re saving money because it is cheaper than eating out at other places with table service, the cost adds up over time. It can be so easy to run by fast food especially when you’re nights are busy.

Cooking your own meals at home is a super easy way to save money AND eat healthy.

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Money Saving Tips on Drinks

#19 Make Your Own Coffee

Do you have a favorite coffee drink at Starbucks? Learn how to make the same thing at home! If you search for copy cat recipes of your favorite drink on Pinterest, then you’re sure to find some easy ways to make the same drink at home.

#20 Cut out the Ice

When you order drinks to go ask for light ice or ice on the side. You’re not paying for ice and sometimes the ice can take up have the cup! Get more drink for your money by cutting out the ice.

#21 Sign Up for Coffee Deals

Always sign up for the perks cards at your favorite coffee shops. You can earn points towards free drinks and special discounts.

#22 Use Gift Cards

If your Starbucks coffee habit is strong, then it may be worth using gift cards to purchase your drinks.

Ask for gift cards on your birthday, Christmas, Valentine’s, Mother’s day…you get the idea!

Or you can purchase discounted gift cards at Raise. Basically, Raise is a place where people can sell their unused gift cards and you can purchase them at a discounted price…saving you a little extra cash.

#23 Cut Back on Drinks

Whether it’s coffee or ordering a sweet tea with dinner, try cutting back on how many times you go out to buy a drink.

If your usually pattern is to buy a coffee on the way to work every morning, then try cutting back to 2 days a week. That will save you about $15 per week alone!

Cutting out drinks when you’re out to eat could save you about $3 per meal.

#24 Saving Money on Alcohol

When you are going out to a bar, try and hit the bar during happy hour to get the best deals on drinks.

Groupon is another way to save money on drinks when you’re going out. Always check the fine print of any Groupon purchases you buy to make sure they discount alcohol.

You can also save money when you purchase alcohol at the store by using your Ibotta app. Ibotta has an entire section dedicated to wine and adult beverages.

#25 Saving Tips for Kids Drinks

My own kids love having apple juice or lemonade as a special drink. We mostly give them water to save money (and save their teeth), but sometimes we offer them a special treat. You can give them juices and save money by giving half juice and half water. They don’t really notice the difference!

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Frugal Living Tips for Eating Out

#26 Eat Out When Kids Eat Free

We love going to a local restaurant that offers kids eat free night on Wednesday night. They also have a special craft and games for the kids to do, so it is kind of like a mini-date night for us!

Check for local restaurants that offer kids eat free meals. There are usually free kids meals Monday – Friday at varying restaurants.

#27 Drink Water

I’m so thankful that water is free! It saves us about $10 off of our meal when our whole family eats out together.

You can jazz up your water with some fresh lemon and even add a little Splenda to make it taste like lemonade if you’re really desperate.

#28 Skip Restaurants that have Table Service

Quick service restaurants are becoming more and more popular because you can get a good meal for less than a table service restaurant. Obviously when you skip a sit down restaurant you don’t have a server so there is no tip required.

A tip should be 20% of your meal. Don’t skip out on the tip, just plan ahead if you want to eat out at a restaurant with servers.

#29 Order an Appetizer as your Meal

Today most appetizers are kind of like mini meals. Appetizers are usually cheaper than the main entrees for lunch or dinner.

You can even split an appetizer with a friend to save even more money.

My favorite appetizer are the nachos at Chili’s. It’s huge and I never eat all of it, so we either have leftovers or my husband splits them with me.

#30 Use Coupons to Save Money

Sign up for newsletters from your favorite restaurants so that you are the first to know about deals and specials. Every restaurant and business has some kind of email marketing going on. Take advantage of the latest offers and always check your email before you head out to eat.

#31 Save your Leftovers

Save half of your meal for lunch or dinner the next day. Easily turn a $10 meal into a $5 meal when you save the leftovers.

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Money Saving Tips for Entertainment

#32 Sign up for Email Newsletters from Your Favorite Places

Our kids love going to the Zoo, Aquarium, Kids Science Museum, and other fun local places. We sign up for the newsletter to each place so that we are the first to learn about any special deals. Our Science Museum has free kids/family night once a month. The Zoo offers $1 passes 2 weekends a year.

Get on the email list so you’re in the know!

#33 Sign up for the Home Depot Kids Class

Home Depot offers a free kids craft that is totally amazing! My boys love going each month to build something with their kits. It’s totally fun and free entertainment for the kids. Plus Home Depot gives the kids free snacks when they finish their project.

#34 Use the Library

The library is an amazing resource with tons of free entertainment for both adults and kids. You will find free classes, DVDs, CDs, online book downloads, and books.

Our library offers free access to Lynda. com which is a learning platform with access to all kinds of different online courses taught by industry leaders.

Our library also offers fun events for the family like outdoor movie nights, a game of Where’s Waldo played throughout our downtown area, kid concerts, and more.

Make sure you check out all the resources offered through your local library.

#35 Take Advantage of the Outdoors

Get outside and enjoy the city where you live! Play in the parks, go on a hike, ride bikes on the greenway, go on a picnic, and take time to learn new things about your town.

#36 Go to Community Events

One of my favorite ways to save money is by going to community events around town. Churches and community centers offer special events that are free to families.

At Halloween a local church hosts a completely free carnival with cotton candy, popcorn, and cookies. All the games and activities are free, so we go every year!

Start paying attention to events that are offered by community centers, schools, and churches.

#37 Use Groupons

We love to take the kids to bounce houses and trampoline parks, but they can be super expensive for a family of 5. That’s why we always use a Groupon for our outings. We usually save about 20% on the price of the tickets for our entire family.

I’ve seen bounce houses, trampoline parks, museums, and zoos on our local Groupon deals.

#38 Pack Your Food or Eat Before You Go Out

Always plan your food. Our kids get hangry when they don’t have anything to eat…and honestly so do we. We always try to make our plans around when we will eat and make sure to take snacks with us.

#39 Go to the Discount Dollar Movies

If you need to get out of the house, then try going to the discount dollar movies. Our dollar theater is now $4 for a ticket which is still a quarter of the price at the regular theatre. It’s even cheaper than going to a matinee.

So try to be patient and wait until the latest movies move to the cheap dollar theater.

#40 Get Discounted Tickets

Another way to enjoy special events is to get discounted tickets. You can find deals on sites like StubHub or TicketMaster from people selling their tickets at reduced prices. Also check Facebook marketplace for tickets.

#41 Look for Special Discounts in Your Area

We live close to a popular vacation destination. About 2 times a year businesses in the area will give discounts to all the attractions. That’s when we go visit the aquarium and other fun amusement type attractions.

Sign up for emails and the facebook page of places you want to go visit. Businesses will usually post their deals online and in emails. You can also do an online search for special deals in your area.

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Money Saving Tips for Your Car

#42 RideShare

Make some extra money driving people around. This is one of the easiest ways to make some extra money that you can add to your savings.

Sign up to drive with Lyft and get a $300 new driver bonus!

#43 Trade Your Car

We traded my husband’s car (and the $250 monthly payment) for a car that we paid in cash. That saved us an extra $250 per month!

#44 Take Care of Your Car

It’s important to keep up with your car’s maintenance so it can last longer. Keep up with your oil changes, changing your tires, and other regular maintenance. It can feel expensive to pay for maintenance, but in the long run it will save you money.

You can save even more money by learning to do some of the maintenance on your own. Try watching a Youtube tutorial or finding a friend who works on cars to help you learn how to take care of your car.

#45 Use Coupons for Oil Changes

My favorite oil company offers a $5 discount for ladies on Tuesdays. So I take full advantage! Plus I always use my coupons and save a little extra money.

#46 Carpool

Save money on gas and car maintenance by taking turns driving to work with a friend.

#47 Wash your Car Yourself

I love the convenience of driving through a car wash, but even at the cheap car washes you still have to spend $6 for the basic car wash. Save your money and wash your car yourself instead!

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Money Saving Ideas Around the Home

#48 Move to a Smaller Place

Think about how much faster you can reach your financial goals by choosing to live in a smaller place.

Before we had our first child, we were renting a large house with 3 bedrooms 3 baths for just the 2 of us. As we began to prepare for a new baby we decided to find a smaller apartment that would save us money. We moved into a 2 bedroom 1 bath apartment and saved over $300 per month.

#49 Save Money on Laundry Detergent

Washing clothes is something you have to do, but you can cut back on your laundry detergent. Most laundry detergents are heavily concentrated. You can dilute your laundry detergent with water or just add half the amount for each load. You could potentially double the number of loads you can do with one bottle of detergent.

#50 Wash Clothes in Cold Water

Washing your clothes in cold water is an easy way to save money without even noticing. You’ll only save about $0.50 per load, but think about how many loads of laundry you do all year long.

It adds up!

#51 Line Dry Your Clothes

Try hanging your clothes up to dry. You may not want to do this with everything, but even cutting down the amount of clothes you dry by half will save you on your electricity bill.

#52 Save Money with a Dishwasher

This may seem kind of obvious, but don’t run an almost empty dishwasher. We only run the dishwasher when it is completely full. Such a simple idea but it can save you from wasting water and electricity.

#53 Adjust the Thermostat

Try to keep the thermostat 1-2 degree below/above what you are comfortable with to save on energy. So if you would like to keep the temperature at 70 turn it back to 68 in the winter and turn it up to 72 in the summer. Just a couple of degrees can make a big difference.

Another way you can save on energy is by adjusting the thermostat for the hours you are away from home and then making the temperature

Or save yourself some time and use an adjustable thermostat.

#54 Get a Roommate

Find a roommate to help cover the cost of your rent or mortgage. Have your roommate sign a contract so that you both know the terms of the rental and the cost each month.

#55 Rent with AirBnB

Rent out a room with AirBnB to guests staying short term. There are a few things you will need to do to prepare for guests like have nice towels, bedding, and a room for them to stay.

I have a friend who lived in a college town and rented out her home during football season. She made enough money to stay in a hotel about an hour away and still make a good amount of cash!

#56 Unplug

Unplug your appliances and electronics when you aren’t using them. This can save you a little bit everyday by making a habit of unplugging your devices.

PRO TIP: Use a power strip to plug in multiple appliances and easily unplug them all at once.

#57 Use High Efficiency Appliances

High efficiency appliances are designed to waste less energy than older appliances. When it’s time to replace your appliances opt for the HE appliances to save on energy and you may even be able to get a tax credit.

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Save Money on TV, Internet, and Phone

#58 How Much TV Do You Need?

This one can be hard for some because really TV is not something any of us NEEDS. But it is something that we all love to have so we can watch our favorite shows or sports. Decide what shows are important to you and how much time you want to spend on TV. Knowing how you want to spend your TV time will let you make better decisions about the type of TV service you buy.

#59 Compare TV Services

There are so many different ways to get your favorite shows from Hulu, Netflix, to YouTube Live. Of course, there are also the old school ways to get your TV through companies like Direct TV, Comcast, and other media outlets.

Check what is available in your area, decide what you actually want to watch, and then choose a service that meets your needs.

#60 Call Your Service Providers and Ask for a Discount

I was listening to the podcast “This American Life” once and the man was talking about how there is an effect if you ask someone to give you a deal they are likely to do it for you. But the key is you have to ask.

If you’re anything like me, then you hate to experience conflict or ask anyone for a deal. Asking for a deal is one the best ways to get your service expenses reduced.

All you need to do is explain that you’ve looked into different options and you want to know the best deal the service providers can offer. Usually they will give you some kind of discount. It’s definitely worth the try!

#61 Get an Antenna

Before there was a cable box and satellite dishes, people used an antenna to pick up their local channels. You can still get an antenna like this one on Amazon. The best part the channels you pick up are FREE and come in HD!

#62 Use Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime has some of our favorite shows and movies that you don’t have to pay extra for. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Jack Ryan are both binge worthy!

You could even skip your Netflix membership if you are a Prime member.

#63 Sign Up for the Redbox Email List

Redbox always offers free codes and discounts to their email list. If you decide to rent a movie it’s a good idea to search for discount codes or free codes before you rent.

#64 Listen to Podcasts

There are so many different kinds of podcasts out there to listen to. Everything from funny stories, self-help, talk show style podcasts, to crime show podcasts. If you love a good story telling then you should try listening to podcasts.

A few of my favorites are Serial, Up & Vanished, and the Arm Chair Expert.

#65 Use FREE Wi-Fi

Always take advantage of free wi-fi where ever you go. Most chain stores and restaurants have free access to their Wi-Fi. Just remember to sign in when you get to your destination.

PRO TIP: This is especially helpful if you’re trying to keep a wild little one quietly entertained!

#66 Search for the Best Internet Options in Your Area

Always do your research and find the best service for your money. This can take some time, but it can save you big in the long run depending on your options. Typically rule areas don’t have as many options, so check with your local government to learn about any special grants that would help you gain access to internet at a cheaper rate.

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Ways to Save Money on Banking

#67 Skip Cash Back at the Store with your Debit Card

It’s so easy to grab 20 bucks when you’re checking out at the store. If you are in the habit of taking extra cash every time you shop then before you know it you’ve spent $100 on random stuff.

#68 Use a High Interest Savings Account

CIT Bank offers a Savings Builder Account. You only need $100 to open the account and deposit $100 per month to earn up to 2.25% APY.

CIT Bank is able to offer a high interest rate because it is an online bank, so they don’t have the same overhead as a traditional bank.

#69 Save Money on Interest

If you have credit card debt, then pay off your highest interest debt first. You’re probably paying mostly interest each month with a small amount going towards paying off your balance.

Make a plan to pay off your debt. Do some research on transferring your credit card debt to a card with a lower interest rate. Some may even give you 0% interest for 6 months. Just make sure you read the fine print to see what the interest rate will jump to after any special deals end.

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Money Saving Tips for Shopping

#70 Grocery Shop Online

I love doing my grocery shopping online because it is so much more convenient than taking my 3 little wild things with me.

But also, it saves me money. I can see how much I’m spending as I add each item into the online shopping cart. It helps me to stay on budget and I’m less likely to grad those few extra things when I’m actually in the store.

Research shows that you spend $2.35 for every minute you are in the grocery store! Whoa!

#71 Shop with Ebates

You can earn cash back at the biggest online retailers just by shopping through Ebates! They offer 2% – 10% cash back on orders from stores like Target, Amazon, Khols, Home Depot, and more.

Ebates also has a great referral program that lets you earn even more money back.

You can sign up with my referral link here and earn $10 bonus cash towards your first purchase!

Read more: Learn How to Save More Money with Rakuten

#72 Cut Subscriptions You Don’t Use Anymore

Did you know one of the reasons subscriptions like Netflix make so much money is because people who never use their subscription forget to cancel?

Isn’t that crazy?! If you aren’t using a subscription like a gym membership, clothing box, makeup box, or Netflix then cancel those subscriptions!

#73 Sign up for Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime is one of my absolute favorite subscriptions that actually saves me money and my sanity!

We order things from Amazon throughout the year. When the kids need supplies for a science project, basketballs for sports, clothes, diapers, and even some of our groceries.

You can join special Amazon programs like Subscribe & Save to save a percentage of the things you order each month.

Not only do we save on shipping, but we also watch movies and shows with our Amazon Prime membership.

If you’ve never joined Amazon, then I highly recommend you try Amazon Prime with a 30 Day FREE trial. It’s easy to cancel if you don’t think it’s worth your money. It’s the one subscription I have because it saves me money every year!

#74 Let Paribus Get Your Money Back

Don’t you hate when you buy something and then the next week you see that the same thing goes on sale?!

Stores will give your money back on items that you bought full price, but have since been marked down. Of course, every store has a different policy and it would take too much time to actually chase down every price difference.

That’s where Paribus comes in! Paribus is the free app that helps you get refunds on items you’ve already bought.

Read more: Paribus Review

#75 Wait 30 Days Before Making a Purchase

Taking time to think about a big purchase before you buy helps you to avoid overspending. You can make sure you have the money to pay for the item, and decide if it’s something you really need. Most of the time when I wait 30 days I usually decide I didn’t really need it.

#76 Add a Zero

I heard this tip from a friend and I’m definitely going to try it!

When you are about to purchase something like a new shirt or a pair of shoes, add a zero to the end of the price tag.

That higher price represents what you could earn if you invested the money or what you could save in interest if you choose to pay off debt instead of buy that thing.

Then decide if the purchase is still a good buy at the higher price.

#77 Try a No Spend Day, Week, or Month

Plan a day, week, or month of no spending. This is a great way to control your spending and helps you realize how often you actually spend money.

Before we did this I didn’t realize how much we spend on grabbing a coffee, an extra pack of gum, candy at the gas station, and other random things throughout the week. It really opened my eyes to ways that we could save even more money.

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Save Money on Your Cell Phone

#78 Check for Discounts

Talk to your provider to see if they offer any kinds of discounts. Popular discounts are military, police, and senior citizen discounts. Also check to see if your company offers a discount to use a specific service provider.

If you don’t qualify for any discounts, you can still call and see if they offer a customer loyalty discount. We have been with the same cell phone service for years and they offered us an 8% discount.

#79 Compare Prices for Different Carriers

Check out all the available options. Don’t be afraid to consider paying monthly for a phone if it still offers all the things you need in a cell phone.

#80 Evaluate Your Need for a Smartphone

Do you really need a smartphone? How much of your time on your phone is for business or for fun?

I use my phone for my business. Sometimes I’m too busy to get to the computer so work is done from the phone. I also make videos and take pictures for my website with my phone. It’s a pretty important part of my business. So it’s worth it to me to have a smartphone, but if you’re just using your phone for entertainment then maybe you could try a basic phone to save money.

#81 Buy a Used Phone

We have bought computers, cell phones, and an Apple TV on Craigslist over the years. Just make sure that you take someone with you who knows about electronics. My husband is the tech guy in our family, so he knows what to look for when it comes to getting a high quality phone.

He usually looks for someone selling their electronics that is in the Information Technology field. They are professionals who upgrade every time a new version comes out.

#82 Buy a Heavy Duty Case and a Glass Protector

My Rhino Shield case and the glass protector saved my phone. It’s not that expensive to protect your phone and it will make the phone last longer…because you will definitely drop it!

#83 Sell Your Old Phone

Sell your old phone on Decluttr or try selling it yourself on Craigslist. Either way you can make some extra cash to put in your savings from an old phone!

#84 Lower Your Data Plan

This is really simple! Just lower your data plan, which could lower your monthly payments by about $15 depending on your service provider.

Make sure if you do lower your data plan that you don’t go over and get charged for the extra data.

#85 Use FREE Wi-Fi

Almost every store and restaurant offers free Wi-Fi. There’s really no reason to use your data when free Wi-Fi is available. This will help you still use your smartphone even if you lower your data plan.

#86 Buy the Old Version

I know for the tech lovers out there this is super hard to do, BUT if you can live with a phone that is 1 – 2 versions older, you can save a lot of money on the phone.

Try to avoid shiny object syndrome…meaning every time a new version comes out you don’t actually HAVE to upgrade.

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Save Money on Insurance

#87 Compare Insurance Companies

If you’re anything like me, then you kind of forget that you pay insurance on your cars and house. They just come out of your paycheck each month and you don’t really notice it even if the payments go up just a little.

Our homeowners insurance is wrapped into our monthly house payments, and last year we were shocked when our payments rose by about $100. Turns out it was our home owners insurance. We started comparing companies and found a much cheaper insurance company with the same coverage.

Compare insurance companies for

• Auto
• Health
• Home Owners

#88 Negotiate Your Rate

After you find out what other companies are offering, you can contact your current provider and let them know what you’ve found and see if they will make you a better offer or at least price match.

It never hurts to at least ask about a better rate!

#89 Complete Health Insurance Assessments

Health insurance companies are rewarding their customers who take the annual health assessments. Check with your health insurance company to see what kind of rewards they offer.

#90 Live a Healthy Lifestyle

Living a healthy lifestyle gives you a better chance of staying healthy longer. Research shows that just by exercising for 30 minutes a day your body is better at fighting off serious diseases like heart problems and even cancer.

#91 Drive Safely

The better you drive, the lower your rates will be for your car insurance. I’ve recently seen 2 different car insurance companies who offer cash back for being a safe driver!

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Frugal Gift Giving Ideas

#92 Be Intentional

You don’t have to give a gift to every person you know. Cut down on your gift giving list. You might feel guilty at first, but try to think about whether your mailman really needs a gift from you. Don’t give gifts just to give gifts away.

#93 Give a Handwritten Card

One of the most cherished gifts I received as a teacher was handwritten cards from parents. I loved hearing about how my work was making a positive impact in their child’s life. It was so encouraging and way better than receiving another apple coffee mug.

Our trash collector gave us a handwritten card wishing us a Merry Christmas and it’s hanging on our fridge. It really made our day because it was so unexpected! And it didn’t cost a thing.

#94 Make a Meal

Invite friends over to share a meal together instead of exchanging gifts.

Meals can get expensive, but you can keep it simple by making a casserole or spaghetti. These less expensive meals are great for hosting a larger group and they are easy to make.

#95 Re-Gift

Look around your house. You may have some unused gift cards or even presents that have never been opened. Instead of keeping them in your closet, just re-gift those items. I’ve even re-gifted gifts that I got at work to a gift exchange with friends from my church. The gifts were brand new and I would rather give a gift than spend extra money.

#96 Save Gift Bags and Tissue Paper

You can call me a grandma, but I always save gift bags and tissue paper. I hate to spend an extra $3 – $5 on a gift bag when I’m shopping for a present.

#97 Shop Clearance and Sales

Shop clearance and sales throughout the year so that you aren’t caught off guard when you need a present last minute. My kids are reaching the age where they are invited to classmates birthday parties. I try to make sure we have a gift on hand for boys and girls.

Throughout the year when I see toys on sale I buy 1 – 2 that we can give away.

#98 Set a Gift Giving Budget

Decide how much money you will spend on gifts for friends and family. Giving yourself a budget will help you to be more selective in your gift purchases and help you know when to stop. Without our gift budget, we tend to go a little crazy when we shop.

I realized this one Christmas when our kids were overwhelmed with the amount of gifts they had to open. They were totally happy with about 2 gifts. Beyond that it was chaos and kids having emotional break downs.

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Tips to Save on Beauty

#99 Get Haircuts at Beauty School

I wish I had the ability to cut my boys hair with a decent haircut. We could just shave their hair, but I’m not a big fan of the look. So to save money we take the kids to a local beauty school. The prices are the cheapest around town and the girls have always been super sweet to our boys.

#100 Use Conditioner instead of Shaving Cream

Conditioner is a great substitute for shaving cream for less than a $1!

I like to use the cheap conditioner brands and my legs always feel soft and smooth.

#101 Buy Men’s Razors

I buy men’s razors for 2 reasons. Men’s razors do a better job than women’s razors, which is weird because women definitely have more area to shave. Men’s razors usually cost less than women’s razors and they seem to go on sale more often.

#102 Use Drugstore Face Wash

My friend who is an esthetician told me that I should use Cetaphil to wash my face. It’s gentle and gets the job done for a fraction of the price of other top rated face washes.

#103 Use Drugstore Makeup

I love drugstore makeup and the past few years drugstore makeup has really upped their game. You can find palette eyeshadows, makeup brushes, and everything you need to create the look you want.

I buy drugstore makeup and follow Youtube tutorials that use only drugstore makeup.

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Frugal Living Tips with a Big Impact

Change Your Money Mindset

Your money mindset is powerful. It determines how you use money in your life. Are you a spender? Do you stress about money all the time?

If you believe that there is no way to save money, then chances are that you aren’t going to save money because you don’t believe it’s possible. 

However, if you believe that saving money can be done and you are already maxing out your budget, then you will find a way to save money. Even if that means you work a part time job or cut back on your favorite things.

Your mindset is kind of like a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you can’t imagine yourself saving money, then you are never going to try.

So ask yourself what you believe about money, and then ask yourself why you believe it.

Create a Budget

Creating a budget is the action plan you need each month to start saving money. You don’t have to get fancy with your budget. Simply write down all the things you need to pay for each month…rent, gas, electric bill, water bill, car payment, groceries, gas, credit card payments, etc.

Start with the things that have to be paid first, then subtract those from your monthly income you earn. Make sure you write down where every penny is going even if it’s money you are using for entertainment or eating out.

If you are new to starting a budget, then I highly recommend you check out Dave Ramsey’s book The Total Money Makeover.I love the simplicity this book offers about getting your finances under control.

Pay Off Debt

We finally paid off the last of my student loans in 2018. I didn’t realize how much money was being wasted on paying the interest each month. It was thousands of dollars.

Get started paying off credit card debt, student loan debt, car debt, etc. The sooner you pay off your debt the quicker you will be able to put that money towards building a successful financial future.

We followed the snowball debt method. Pay off the highest interest rate first and when that is all paid off you can use the amount of money you were paying for that debt onto your next highest rate. Keep doing this until you get all your debt paid off.

Save for an Emergency Fund

Emergency funds are important because they can save your financial hard work when something unexpected happens. Having an emergency fund can help you be prepared if you were to lose your job, get hurt, or something else.

Start by saving $1000 into a separate emergency fund. Then you can work towards saving up for 3 – 6 months of income.

Set Financial Goals

Assess where you are at on your financial journey. Do you have a budget, need to pay off debt, start an emergency fund? These are the basic things you can do to start saving more money each month.

I think setting a financial goal helps you to actually do something about your finances. Make a plan and write down the steps you are going to take to achieve your goal.

Stop Comparing Yourself

I love Rachel Cruze’s book “Love Your Life Not Theirs.” It speaks right to the heart of comparing yourself to your neighbors and friends. Live the life you have been given. Don’t miss out on your life, because of the things you don’t have compared to someone else’s life.

Sometimes it’s so much easier said than done. I personally have to take a step back from social media when I notice myself wanting that vacation, that amazing interior design, or that perfectly dressed family. I have even turned off Fixer Upper and all the other TV shows about getting a brand new house. They aren’t wrong, but watching those shows makes me want things that aren’t mine right now.

Choose Joy

Find joy all around you in even the smallest things. Write it down so you don’t forget. It’s a great reminder when you are struggling to make your financial goals to look back at your list and realize that you have joy in your life. You don’t need to buy more things. You just need to continue in your lane and work towards your goals.

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What are your favorite money saving tips?

Now that you know some creative ways to save more money, don’t forget that you can always work from home to make money to help you reach your financial goals faster!

I’ve set up a totally FREE course called the Work at Home Workshop that covers everything you need to know to start working from home.