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Okay, we have constantly been hearing about the cost of living going up and inflation is crushing us. I feel that frugal living is no longer just an option, it can be a necessity. Here’s the deal, being frugal doesn’t mean you have to be cheap. It’s about making more intentional choices that help you save money while still living your best life.
Whether you’re looking to build an emergency fund, pay down debt, or simply have more breathing room in your budget, these are some simple frugal living tricks will help you get there faster. Let’s dive into five of the best money-saving hacks that can amp up your finances without sacrificing the things you love.
Master the Art of Budgeting
A budget isn’t just a piece of paper or an app on your phone, it can be a financial roadmap. If you don’t have one, you’re basically driving blind when it comes to your money.
Start by tracking every dollar that comes in and goes out. Identify areas where you can cut back, such as impulse purchases, dining out, or unused subscriptions (we’ll get to that next). The key is to create a realistic budget and check in on it regularly.
Use budgeting apps like Copilot, YNAB (You Need a Budget), or even a simple spreadsheet to keep yourself accountable. Once you set a budget, the real trick is sticking to it! A budget that gets ignored is as useful as a gym membership you never use. Be honest, we’ve been there!
Pro Tip: Use the 50/30/20 Rule—50% for needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings and debt repayment—to make budgeting easy and effective.
Cancel Unnecessary Subscriptions
Take a look at your bank statements. Can you guess how many subscription services are quietly draining your wallet? Between Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Spotify, gym memberships, and mystery subscription boxes, it’s easy to rack up hundreds of dollars a month in unused or barely-used services. I just remembered I was paying $9.99 for a guitar music app that I’ve hardly used.
Cut the fat. You can totally cancel anything you don’t use regularly. If you love streaming but want to save money, consider rotating services—subscribe to Netflix for a while, then switch to Hulu for the next few months. Also, did you know Hulu has an education discount for only $1.99/month! Many libraries also offer free access to movies, audiobooks, and even online courses.
Pro Tip: Use a subscription tracker app like Rocket Money or your banking app may automatically identify subscriptions you forgot about.
Cook at Home Like a Boss
Eating out is one of the biggest budget busters! I mention all the time that this is one of the biggest areas of spending. Those quick stops at drive-thrus and coffee shops add up faster than you realize. Cooking at home isn’t just cheaper—it’s often healthier, too.
You can plan your meals around grocery store sales, buy in bulk when possible, and batch-cook meals for the week to save time. For example, I cooked a bunch chicken breast on Sunday that I’ll eat during the week. You don’t need to be a master chef—simple meals like stir-fries, soups, and pasta dishes can save you hundreds per month compared to eating out. I just drop chicken breast and green beans into the air fryer with some salt and pepper. BOOM! 10 minutes later you have lunch!
If cooking sounds like a chore, turn it into an experience: throw on your favorite metal cooking playlist, grab a glass of wine (or a Monster energy drink), and make it fun. The money you’ll save will make it worth the effort.
Pro Tip: I you can, invest in an Air Fryer or slow cooker to make meal prep easier and faster.
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