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15 Funky Frugal Hacks for the Thrifty at Heart

Impulse spending provides temporary joy but leads to financial instability when surprises occur. It's vital to nurture financial consciousness and cut unwanted expenses, building a safety net for unanticipated hardships. The most common frugal practices from a forum discussion are listed below.

SHOPPING IN GOODWILL AND THRIFT STORES

"Shop Goodwill or thrift stores first. Keep a list of needs/wants & check when nearby. Items could include a baseball bat, books & used paint sheets."

QUESTIONING EVERY SINGLE PURCHASE

"I once scrutinized every purchase. Wouldn't even buy a gumball as I couldn't justify it. Don't want to be so extreme, but know I can."

SECONDHAND FURNITURE AND CLOTHES

"Despite 80k+ income, I live well on less. All my furniture is secondhand, I wear mostly used clothes, drive an '09 Prius, live in a duplex and cook at home."

CANNING FRUITS AND BERRIES

"I've picked various wild fruits to lower my grocery bill, used them for jelly, fruit leather and preserved some for future meals."

COUPLES WORKING OPPOSITE SHIFTS

“I wouldn’t call it extreme, but we worked opposite shifts while our kids were little to avoid daycare costs.”

RECYCLING

"I enjoy recycling scrap metal. I haven't bought light bulbs for 10 years, as I find them with scrap I collect."

REUSING CLOTHES FOR LONG YEARS

"I've used clothes for 30 years. I have categories: public sets, home casuals, yard work outfits, and rag bag."

REFUSING TO TAKE DEBTS

"Avoid debts except for the house. Save cash for necessities. Many earning $100k+ are house poor with $600+ car notes."

BRINGING HOME-COOKED FOOD

“I always bring my lunch to work. I don’t go out or have anything brought in (like Uber Eats, Doordash, etc.). It saves me so much.”

USING LIBRARIES

"Utilize libraries for borrowing ebooks, audiobooks, TV shows, movies & more. Many offer tool rentals, museum passes, seed banks, cheap 3D & regular printing. Check out the Libby app for savings on new books and sustainable reading!"

RECYCLING WATER FOR PLANTS

"We recycle water for our plants. Refreshed cat water or from my nightstand pitcher goes to our garden. It's not about cost savings, but avoiding waste."

NOT OWNING A CAR

"I live rurally, juggling two part-time jobs. One is WFH and the other is nearby. With only $14/hr, not owning a car saves a lot. Thankfully, my partner has a car, but I can't afford my own."

COOKING

“We make 99% of our meals, rarely have processed food, and rarely go out to eat.”

MAKING YOUR SUGAR WAX

DIY sugar wax for 75 cents per full body use vs. $115 for professional. Recipe: 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1/4 cup water, 1 cup sugar; boil then cool. Reusable cotton strips.

CUTTING OUT ON LAUNDRY COST

"Studying abroad, laundry costs were over $14 USD. So, I'd rinse my clothes in the shower for more wear between washes due to the high expense."

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