Are you tired of traditional frugality tips? Discover a refreshing approach to managing your finances with these 12 unconventional strategies that can improve your financial well-being without sacrificing your lifestyle.
Buy a Good Used Car
One user urged the OP not to buy a new car, “Pick a cool car you’d like but really can’t afford. Now find one three years old and just coming off a lease. The price will probably be half of the new one. Someone else ate the depreciation. You’ll get your car at a price you can afford.”
Buy Quality Instead of Quantity
According to another user, quality lasts longer, “Clothes, furniture, accessories. Figure the cost of buying them and then replacing them because they’re made cheap or go out of style. Instead, buy quality and timeless. It lasts and stays in style.”
Find the Time Value of Your Purchase
“Every time you want to buy something outside normal costs of living, divide the cost by your after-tax hourly rate so you can price things in hours,” advises another user.
Earn More, Spend Less
Another user urges the OP to be cautious of their spending, “Earn more than you would need to spend without feeling frugal. Just avoid big-ticket wasteful spendings like boats, excessive cars, or too-big houses. Invest in your own career. And put the leftover money in low-cost diverse stock funds. This is our philosophy, and our net worth increased 800k this year.”
Make Your Household a Two-Income Household
Another user urges the OP to take advantage of two incomes in the household, “Having two $100,000/year earners is way better than one. A world of difference. The $200,000 a year couple could essentially save one whole salary a year and live off the other one and be millionaires by their 30s or 40s.”
Negotiate Your Bills
“Many bills, such as cable, internet, and insurance, are negotiable. Take the time to shop around and compare prices, and don’t be afraid to ask your providers for discounts or lower rates,” argued another user
Prioritize Debt Repayment
According to another user, when you pay off debt, you minimize loss of money via interest rates, “If you have debt, focus on paying it off as quickly as possible. Consider consolidating high-interest debt with a lower-interest loan or balance transfer credit card.”
Savings Accounts Are Black Holes
One user asks the OP to avoid savings accounts as they do not earn much interest, “They pay a pittance in interest. Only put enough in an emergency savings account to cover 3 months of expenses. The rest should be invested in your non-retirement index fund to make you more money. You can then withdraw money for buying yourself a house, a rental property, setting up your own business, etc.”
Live Below Your Means
Living below your means helps save money; according to another user, “I used to eat cheap Ramen and Tuna fish to invest the saved money in my business. Now, I have a six-figure business. You must deprive yourself of money early so that you can invest your way to wealth.”
Plan Your Purchases
“You can buy yourself nice things, but the real enemy is impulse purchases. You order it only to find out you don’t need it that much. That’s why when you want something, the more planned, the better,” urges another user.
Never Take a Loan to Finance Your Lifestyle
A user says this is a stupid thing to do, “It’s the most stupid thing to do. I know because I have been stupidly stupid at this.”
Build a Hustle
According to one user, a side hustle is important to help generate more income, “If you are earning a salary, try to build a hustle that can still generate you some sort of income should you be fired abruptly.”
Invest in Stocks
One user urges the OP to invest in stocks and mutual funds to build wealth, “Investing in stocks or mutual funds can help you build wealth over time, and it doesn’t require you to make any drastic changes to your lifestyle. Most investment accounts have low minimums, so even if you don’t have much money to invest, you can still get started.”
Replace Things Before They Break Down
A user points out that appliances can be expensive when they break down, “Buy things you know you’ll need before you need them. Replace things before you need them rather than waiting for the old model to conk out. I’ve done this with everything from table lamps to running shoes. When you’re desperate, you never get the best deal. Often, you won’t even get something you like.”
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Committing to frugal habits will help you live a frugal lifestyle. Making frugal habits part of your everyday life could save you money in the long run.
Saving money is about creating a frugal life that allows you to save money on the things you don’t need and use them for the things you do need.
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This article was produced and syndicated by A Dime Saved.
