Some people have cracked the code to frugality. They save crazy amounts of cash without turning their lives into an endless loop of joyless penny-pinching. The concept of “extreme” frugality sounds, well, extreme.
And while these six examples don’t argue that, we’ll break down how they work so you can decide for yourself if they’re worth your time.
Live Well Below Your Means
Frugality means focusing on what you need, not what you want. That means skipping the big house, flashy car, or the latest tech just because it’s trendy.
You’ll save a ton of money for more important things, like emergency funds or even re-investing the money. Plus, with less clutter, you’ll feel less stressed. People who live below their means are often seen as “extreme,” but it’s honestly much easier than you think.
Extreme Couponing
This is probably what you were thinking about when you consider “extreme frugality.” So does it pay off? Yes — and even though it can take up a lot of time, you get to decide exactly how much of that time you want to allocate.
Some pros plan their shopping trips a week in advance, while others plan months in advance. The goal here is to maximize your discounts, so see how things like coupons and sales are related and try and stack them when you can.
Walk and Bike More
Cars are expensive — ditch them whenever you can. You can always take public transit if you live in a city with a good system. But biking and walking are free, not to mention fantastic exercise, too. If you have to drive, consider carpooling and rideshares.
This is another frugal tip that is more “extreme” (and arguably impossible) in some areas of the country. But if you’re in a big city? This will be extra easy to implement.
Don’t Use Credit or Debit Cards
Sure, not using your credit card seems easy enough. Now leaving your debit cards at home? That’s much more of a challenge. However, going old-school with cash helps you control spending. There’s just something about handing over actual bills that makes you think twice.
Divide your cash into envelopes for categories like groceries, gas, or entertainment. When an envelope’s empty, you’re done spending for that category: no exceptions.
Focus on Energy Efficiency
Turn off anything you aren’t using. Swap out old bulbs for LEDs, invest in a smart thermostat, unplug chargers. These little things add up. And while it seems like a lot of fuss for little payoff, it’s nowhere near as “extreme” as people think.
It’s not exactly the easiest thing to get hold of. But once you get into the habit, you’ll be unplugging everything before you go to bed without even thinking about it.
DIY’ing (Some) Projects
Half of the things you’d call a “guy” you could easily learn on YouTube in an afternoon.
The difference is knowing what DIY projects are actually worth it. Even extreme frugal enthusiasts know that it’s cheaper (and much less of a hassle) to call when you have more involved problems, like HVAC or electrical issues. But many other things are fair game, even if you don’t consider yourself “handy.”
