Frugality isn’t seen as fun, especially in an age where anything you desire is only a few clicks away. Yet many frugal habits you might consider old-fashioned are actually saving people tons of money and keeping them more financially stable. Here are seven examples of habits that you should adopt if you want to get serious about saving.
Home Cooking and Meal Planning
It’s hard to resist the allure of food delivery apps. We’re here to tell you can — and should — resist the urge by cooking for yourself and meal planning. By cooking and packing your meals at home for the week, not only do you save money on restaurant bills, but you also have more control over your ingredients and portion sizes. And after a long day at work, it feels good to come home to a meal you can have ready in minutes — even faster than delivery sometimes.
Shopping With a List
It’s not the most fun to make a list before you go shopping, but it’s easily one of the best ways to avoid impulse purchases. Making a shopping list before you go to the store will help keep you focused on what you need and lead to more mindful spending over time.
Buying Secondhand
While vintage goods are still very much in vogue, many people still prefer to buy everything new. But you can snag great deals in thrift stores, consignment shops, and online marketplaces for everything from clothing to electronics. It saves you money and encourages ethical, sustainable consumption: a win-win!
DIY Projects and Repairs
We live in a time where a pro could be at your door at the end of the day to fix things. But it’s possible that the same pro has a tutorial online showing you how to do it yourself. This is usually better for building something from scratch or making gifts — doing larger tasks, like plumbing or electrical work, is both dangerous and likely to end in you needing to call a professional anyway.
Automating Your Savings
Automatic deposits into a savings account is arguably not outdated; it’s the perfect example of a simple and cost-free way to boost your savings with little to no effort. This “pay yourself first” strategy keeps you from being tempted to use that money for discretionary spending, allowing you to build up your emergency fund or save for your future goals.
Checking In With Your Bills
So many people just accept their monthly bills as they are without question. That’s a shame, because you’d be surprised how many businesses will negotiate your bills to keep you as a customer. You should evaluate your monthly expenses as a part of good financial hygiene. And if you see an opportunity to save, see if you can contact the company to lower the price or eliminate the service altogether.
Coupon Clipping
The modern version of coupon clipping is much more convenient, yet it seems like fewer people are actually doing it. When you take the time to search for coupons and use cashback offers, you can drastically lower your overall spending. Look for apps that simplify this process further; you could be onto some significant savings with just a few taps on your smartphone.
