Living a frugal lifestyle isn’t nearly as scary as people imagine. Some of the most “shocking” examples are both incredibly practical and doable. Here are five of them that will help you save a bunch.
Cooking Meals at Home
You see this advice everywhere, but so many people still think it’s extreme. People assume that cooking at home every day is a total time suck or just plain boring.
But batch cooking is your friend, and nowhere near as complicated as you think, even if you aren’t a fan of the kitchen. Cooking meals is attainable, incredible for your wallet and usually your health, and you’re building a new skill!
Using Public Transit (Especially When You Have a Car)
Cars are incredibly convenient.
So many people have it in their heads that this convenience is a non-negotiable these days. Couple that with assuming public transit is slow or unreliable, and most people would gasp at the notion of taking a bus or train over a car.
Not only is public transit sometimes just as convenient as driving, but it’s also saving you a lot of money. And be honest with yourself — since when is heavy traffic after a long and exhausting work day ever more convenient?
Having a Minimalist Wardrobe
This “extreme” frugal hack freaks people out because people wonder what they’ll wear if they don’t have options. Yet many of these options sit and collect literal dust in your closet, waiting for you to donate or get rid of them.
Frugal people just acknowledge there’s a better way: having a capsule or limited wardrobe! You end up loving what you own and wearing everything, instead of letting half your clothes wither away. Plus, all the money you’re saving can go to what really matters, not fast fashion.
Upcycling
Upcycling, or reusing and repurposing things, seems so extreme today; why bother going through all the effort when you could simply order a new one online? It’s that mentality, though, that’s holding you back from some extra cash.
Reusing stuff means less trash and less money spent on storage containers or cleaning supplies. And since you’re probably changing your tune on having a minimalist wardrobe, you can also imagine just how valuable it is to repair or repurpose clothing, too.
Waiting
Impulse buying has become a societal norm. The idea of waiting even a weekend to purchase something you “want” seems like something only a paranoid person would do. “Buy now, pay later” options make this even worse.
In reality? Waiting before you buy gives you time to figure out the actual value of what you want to buy. Put whatever you’re interested in on a list to check back in with later. Here’s a secret: you might even forget that the list is there; that’s a good thing.
Even this small shift turns shopping into something you consciously participate in, rather than being swept away by deals or wanting something on a whim.
Read More:
- 30 Ways To Get Free Stuff (That Aren’t Scams)
- 12 Best Coupon Apps To Help You Save Money
- 13 Ways To Earn Money From Paid Surveys [At Home, Online & More]
