16 Old-Fashioned Ways To Stretch a Dollar (That Still Work in 2025)

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Some money-saving tricks never go out of style.

Long before cashback apps and digital coupons, people were stretching every penny with clever, no-nonsense strategies that actually worked and still do.

In 2025, when prices feel like they’ve hit warp speed, those old-fashioned habits are starting to look less outdated and more like secret weapons.

If you’re tired of chasing modern hacks that overpromise and underdeliver, these timeless tips are the kind of practical, proven advice your wallet will thank you for.

1. Pay in Cash Instead of With a Credit Card

Often, smaller businesses will offer a discount if you pay in cash or with your debit card. In the olden days, they used cash because that is what they had.

2. House Hack

Want to live in your house for free (or close to it)? Try house hacking! Some ideas include: renting out your basement, taking in roommates, or Airbnbing your guest bedrooms. You may also want to consider hosting international homestay students.

3. Live in a Walkable/Bikeable Area

Save big on transportation costs by living in an area that’s walkable and/or bikeable. By avoiding the need for a car, you’ll save money, get healthier and help the environment!

4. Meal Plan

Plan your meals one to two weeks at a time, basing your meals on what’s on sale (see the next tip below). This frugal living skill not only saves you money but time and stress as well. (No more coming home and wondering what’s for dinner!)

5. Check Flyers and Shop Sales

One of the best ways to save money on groceries is to check flyers and shop during sales. Doing so could easily save you thousands every year. (Tip: Use flyer apps like Flipp and Reebee to quickly and conveniently find the best deals in your area.)

6. Buy Discounted Food

This is one of the best frugal hacks! Find out when your grocery store discounts its food and go shopping then. You can also look for services like Flashfood or Imperfect Foods. They sell close-to-expiry, ugly, or overstocked food at heavily discounted prices.

7. Reimagine Leftovers

Combat food waste and boredom by getting creative and reimagining your leftovers. For example, turn a roast chicken into chicken noodle soup, chicken salad sandwiches, or fried rice. (Tip: look online to find recipes for your leftovers. Often, you’ll discover new dishes that may be even yummier than the original dish!)

8. Shower Less Often

This may seem weird or gross to some, but it could become the norm if discussed more often! Unless you live in a hot, humid climate, you could very likely shower every other day (or less) without issue. Your skin, wallet, and the planet will thank you for it!

9. Wash Your Laundry Less Often

Not only can you wash your body less often, but the same goes for your laundry! Clothing, towels, and bedding do not need to be washed after every use. If the item still smells and looks clean, keep wearing or using it until it truly needs a wash. It’s a time, energy, and money-saving win-win all around!

10. Hang Dry Everything Except the Smallest Items

Save money, energy, and wear and tear on your laundry by hang drying and avoiding the dryer.

11. Add Dry Towels and Dryer Balls to Your Dryer Loads

To soften your ‘crunchy’ hang-dried towels, pop them in the dryer with your damp laundry. The moisture from the wet laundry will soften the towels. And the towels and dryer balls will speed up drying time and fluff up the rest of your laundry. (It really works!)

12. Buy Used

Always shop the used market first! Even like-new items sell for a fraction of their original purchase price. Buying used does require patience and effort, but it usually pays off. This is especially true when you’re done with the item and resell it for the same price or more! It’s essentially like renting items for free (or close to it).

13. Shop Clearance and Sale Items Only

Train yourself to ignore regular-priced items. Instead, head to the sale/clearance section of your favorite store or website. You’ll typically save 25–50% on these items, but the discounts can be even higher. (This blows the typical 5–10% off offers on regular-priced merchandise out of the water!)

14. DIY Everything You Can

One of the best ways to save a lot of money is to DIY everything that you can. Here are some ideas to get you started: cooking, baking, home, car maintenance and repair, renovations, haircuts, pet grooming, vegetable growing. The possibilities are endless! (Tip: YouTube is one of the best, free ways to learn how to DIY just about anything.)

15. Mend and Repair Your Stuff

Mending and repairing things is, sadly, becoming a relic of the past. This is terrible for our wallets and the environment. Thankfully, the right to repair movement is gaining steam. Fight back against disposable culture. Turn mending and repairing into a normal part of your frugal living routine!

16. Maintain Your Stuff

Maintaining your stuff goes hand-in-hand with the previous tip. Take care of your belongings and regularly maintain them. It will save you money and prevent the need to mend or repair them in the first place. (Tip: Set recurring reminders on your phone so you don’t forget to take care of routine maintenance tasks.)