Here’s the uncomfortable truth nobody in the personal finance world wants to admit: the “new” money-saving advice is mostly just old advice with a podcast and a better logo.
Before budgeting apps, before cash-stuffing aesthetics on TikTok, and before influencers built brands around “frugal living,” people were just… actually living frugally.
They had these 7 habits baked so deeply into daily life that wasting money felt genuinely strange, and those habits for some reason vanished recently.
It’s time to bring them back.
Not out of some nostalgia trend, but because they flat-out work, and your bank account is tired of waiting for you to figure that out.
There are some things that should be left in the past, but these seven old-fashioned frugal living tips are not among them.
These old-fashioned frugality tips need to be revived so we can all start saving money and living frugally!
Keep Appliances Simple
Buying appliances like dishwashers and washing machines might be necessary today, but look out for the most basic models.
These basic models are a lot cheaper, and they still get the job done , and you don’t need all those bells and whistles.
Also, since they’re simpler, there’s a better chance that someone other than an expensive technician can do repairs, and they break down less frequently.
No, despite what the ads tell you, you don’t need your fridge to connect to your phone.
Only Wash What’s Stained, Smelly, or Wrinkled
When they undress at night, most people toss everything they wore that day into the laundry bin. Except for underwear, this often isn’t necessary. Washing clothes less frequently will lower your bills and extend the life of your clothes.
You can also keep separate work, going out, and chore clothes to keep your work clothes as clean as possible- and no one cares if your chore clothes get a little stained.
Reuse Plastic Shopping Bags
If they don’t have holes, plastic shopping bags are good for trash can liners, throwing away used cat litter, and future shopping trips.
If you can’t reuse them, see if a local store has a collection bin for recycling them.
Reuse Durable Food Packaging
You can also reuse some food packaging. For example, when you finish a package of deli meat that came in a plastic container, you can reuse the container for food storage.
We make fun of grandma for not knowing what is in her butter containers, but there is no reason to spend money on nice containers besides for aesthetics. Keep those containers and reuse them until you can’t!
Walk or Ride a Bike When You Can
When you drive for an errand, you use gas, which costs money, and you’re putting more wear and tear on your car.
Walking or riding a bike instead avoids those things and gives you exercise and fresh air.
Do your best to avoid the car and walk where you can.
Seek Daycare From Family and Friends
Daycare facilities are really expensive, and many have long waiting lists to get in. If you have family or friends willing to provide daycare either free or at a much lower cost, you’ll save a lot of money and know that your kids are with someone you know and trust.
Build a village, and you’ll be thrilled with how much money you save and how much less stressful life is.
Pick Up Change You Find on the Ground
Don’t worry about being laughed at if you do this.
That change adds up, and you can pay for things like a soda at the pump or a snack from a vending machine.
It can also help you make exact change when paying with cash, so you don’t have more change than sits in your wallet.
You can also set up a jar for all the coins you find and use that to treat yourself to a coffee or soda every once in a while.
Read More:
- 5 Things the Middle Class Won’t Be Able To Afford in Less Than a Decade
- 16 Highly Unnecessary Things Adults Waste a Fortune On
- 11 Powerful Frugal Living Tips That People Laugh At But Actually Work To Save Money
