There is something to be said for the simple and classic way. Some things work well because they are simple, and they become classics—things that always work well and never go out of style. Too often, we want new and exciting ideas and methods for saving money.
While these hacks and tricks and TikTok challenges might be effective (and if they are, then by all means, keep doing them!), there is something to be said for embracing the simple and classic frugal hacks that have served us well over the years.
Frugality may not be the most glamorous way of living, but it can be a superpower if you’d like to enjoy more independence and freedom in your daily life. It may even protect you against financial turbulence, so why would you not want to live a more frugal life?
You sure don’t have to turn your whole life upside down to live a frugal life, and perhaps all it takes is starting with some simple changes.
Make Shopping Lists and Stick To Them
You need to plan before going to the stores. Write down all the things that you need and buy to stick to the list as best as you possibly can. Without this plan in mind, you may be spending hard-earned money on things that you don’t need. This is especially helpful when we go grocery shopping as it’s something we do quite frequently.
Make Your Coffee
If you frequently buy takeout coffee from places such as Starbucks, then you’re probably spending a lot of money on this habit over the long run. Even if you’d like to invest in a coffee machine to bust this habit, you would probably be spending less money over time. It’s just so much better for your frugality to make your coffee at home, so why not give it a go?
Cook Instead of Going Out
It’s okay to enjoy a restaurant meal now and then, but if this is something that you are doing several times a week, then you certainly aren’t being your most frugal self. Restaurants are pretty expensive, and you’d be saving a fair amount of money if you cooked more frequently at home.
As a bonus, you will also learn something new and control the food that goes into your body.
Buy Food Items on Sale
Buying non-perishable food items when on sale is a great way to flex your frugal side. If you don’t need the items right now but know that you will in the future, then you could score big on these non-perishable foods. You can also stock up on items that are easily frozen- bread, cheese, milk, frozen fruits and veggies, etc. These last in the freezer for months, and you can take advantage of sales and have a fully stocked freezer.
Make Your Cleaning Products
Cleaning supplies are rather expensive (as is everything these days), so why not make your own? There are tons of recipes on the internet, but to get started, you can try the following all-purpose cleaner recipe: just mix one part white vinegar with one part water, along with a lemon rind and some rosemary sprigs.
Place your mixture in a spray bottle. After letting the mixture infuse for about a week, you should have your first ready-to-use all-purpose cleaner.
Cancel Subscriptions That You No Longer Use
Subscriptions are a great way for companies to get money out of you. Some subscriptions are great and worth every penny, but if you are paying for subscriptions that you rarely use, then now would be a great time to cancel them.
There’s also no need to have two subscriptions of the same type going at the same time. For instance- you don’t need two streaming subscriptions at the same time, and if you’d like to be more frugal, it would be best to stick to keeping only one. I like to sign up for a streamer, watch everything I want and then cancel it and switch to another one. I can always sign up again later if something new and exciting comes out.
