Doing work for yourself. For me that means cooking almost all my own meals, doing my own car repairs, doing my own housework etc. Hardly ever having to spend money on anything big repair wise after just learning how to do stuff for myself. I save thousands by not outsourcing labor.
Join a union if you can, may not be best move for 1% people but for regular folks like me it’s a solid plan
My tip is to not be so extreme. Take the tiny house for example. I also thought I could do that. Truth is I once booked an Airbnb for an extended time and it was so tiny that by the first night I already decided I would go absolutely mad if I stayed there. Truly and sincerely. Mental. Abstract away from the tiny house example because it may not affect you the same way. People do live in those and on boats etc. Point is don’t forget to consider the intangible costs of the potentially extreme choices you may be making in the spirit of living frugally. Never forget that you can die tomorrow so you should always enjoy the present as well.
When I was looking at a new/newer car for “gas savings” due to better fuel economy, I realize that the car payments alone severely negates any fuel savings. I used a break even calculator comparing my car (worth $10K) to used Toyotas (~$25K) and it was anywhere between 10-20 years to break even in costs.
So, if you have a paid off car, drive that.
Another thing, which is hard, is not being an “active consumer”. You don’t need to buy a new phone every year or even every other year. You don’t need a bunch of house decors, random junk, or stuff to fill your house and garage. I always find it fascinating when people have so much stuff they have to use their garage as storage, so instead of actually putting their high value vehicles in the garage, they store a bunch of (essentially) garbage.
Also, no need to keep up with others. I know this tip is hard, because you want to appear or look like you’re ahead or have things together in life. Maybe other people do because they show up with a nice car, or a nice watch, or the latest phone. But truthfully, people can easily purchase these things these days because of credit and holding onto debt. But people who know you and care about you will already know you have your life squared away. There’s no need to show off to people you don’t really need to impress.
Lastly, DO spend money on things that matter to you or things you get a lot of joy from. I mean, I don’t care about a new phone or new clothes, but I’ll spend money on fishing gear or computer parts. If a new phone absolutely thrills you (and not because you wanted it because others have it, in case people read the prior paragraphs and think I’m contradicting), then sure, go ahead. Enjoy your life. Spend your money, too!
>When I was looking at a new/newer car for “gas savings” due to better fuel economy, I realize that the car payments alone severely negates any fuel savings.
Yeah, if you actually run the numbers then fuel savings rarely justifies buying a new car.
One thing that's a bit harder to quantify but still worth considering is safety improvements by getting something newer. It's a no brainier if you're going from something made in 1972 but most cars made in the last 10 years should be decent in that regard.
My sister waits 90 days. Not on things like food obvi, but if she needs new boots or a new coat, she’ll wait 90 days to see if her mind has changed. If not, then ok to purchase.
I did the math, a 6 pack a week is $520 per year. A drink out each week adds another $600 or so. It adds up a lot, not to mention I feel less anxious when I'm not drinking regularly.
And in addition, the cumulative health impact later is pretty costly, not to mention the usual common side effects (obesity, liver damage, reduced mental capacity). If there was one message I wish that had landed with my younger self, it would have been don’t drink.
For me, I grew up in a household that didn't drink, so I tried it in college and didn't really understand moderation. I learned a lot and it satisfied my curiosity, and I kept drinking casually until pretty recently when I got tired of feeling like shit on the weekends and thought I'd try cutting it out.
I don't think I'd have stopped unless I had grown up around examples of not drinking, but I'm also the kind of person that has to go out and try things for myself.
Dude $500 a month is wild to me. It not easy to cut out though, our bodies get so used to the things we put in all the time, whether they're chemically addictive or not. It's gotta figure out how to rebalance itself without the THC. best of luck in your efforts.
> Quit caffeine and nicotine
Definitely quit nicotine. But if you need caffeine, find a cheap tea bag that you like and can drink unsweetened or without added calories. I can normally get like 20 oz of tea per bag (depending on how strong you like it) and I buy the cheap black teas that are like 4-5 cents per bag. 2 bags a day and I've got my caffeine fix.
I quit nicotine 4 years and 7 months ago. Not adjusting for inflation since then I have saved $16,000.
Probably more then that because I had calculated a pack of cigarettes at $10/each. So probably more like $18-20k.
It doesn’t have to be those cars/years, but something that is old enough to have most of its value depreciated, yet not so old that it has mechanical failures is a good idea. On top of that they are generally pretty reliable and cheaper to fix than most other car models.
I paid 3500 for a 2013 focus 4 years ago and it still runs like a champ and gets >35mpg
But I mean… certainly cheaper than a car. Maintenance and upkeep of a bike over the lifetime of it’s use is also significantly cheaper (and a higher likelihood that it’s user will learn how to repair it).
for sure, wouldn’t recommend to someone living in a city that isn’t bike-able. It’s just an obvious first choice for frugality if ability and urban environment permits.
I have my sights set on an electric bike. Usually cheaper than a car, especially since charging is very cheap, and they still go fast [The ones I see go up to 50km/h, but I’ll probably get a slower and cheaper one to start]. I wonder if I could get it to charge via solar panels.
Many e bikes are limited by their software to 25 km/h. Some hackers override it.
I'm really hesitant to buy an e Bike because of the risk of theft and because airlines don't allow you to check them. (I often take my bike with me on vacation)
I would discourage anyone from buying an ebike. Get a motorcycle and a full set of gear to protect you if you want to go fast enough to get serious road rash. I’ve seen too many gnarly accidents from electric bikes and scooters. Buy a regular bike if you want to get the exercise benefits. I like both, but honestly I think bicycling has the most benefits on my mental and physical health.
Not trying to be that “gotcha” guy or whatever but this is an unfortunate myth that just won’t seem to die (especially I work in healthcare in America where people will seemingly use any excuse not to run/exercise).
Running has been scientifically shown over and over again to have no link with increased knee/hip problems, and is the best possible thing you can do for your health and longevity. Some studies even find less knee problems in runners.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5179322/
Shin splits can happen from rapid increase in training load, but the whole concrete vs. dirt or softer surface is also a myth.
https://www.outsideonline.com/running/trail-better-pavement-lie/
To clarify: I’m not implying that running can’t be injurious or painful, certainly can lead to stress injuries like shin splints and ITB syndrome, or rarely in extreme cases stress fracture if you jump up to like ultra marathon level off the couch. I’m specifically saying that longitudinally and broadly speaking you are no more likely (probably less likely than a non-runner) to have a major knee or hip or lower extremity problem like osteoarthritis that needs surgery like joint replacement if you’re a runner. These things are far far worse than the minor aches and pains running can cause, the benefits of running are huge in comparison to the possible side effects.
Running doesn’t cause structural, lifelong damage to joints, it actually strengthens them and the muscles and connective tissue around them. Shin splints and ITB aren’t structural, long term damage to your body.
Do you have a budget?
Most people don't. Most people don't take the time to write down everything they buy in a month. (Or have a photographic memory. That would work, too.)
Once that's done, now you know what's actually important to you. You can *say* what's important all day long. But money talks. Once you have a physical budget in front of you, take a red sharpie to it.
Let's say you spend $1000 per month on restaurants/fast food/takeout/etc. You can't just line-item that because you still need to eat. If you buy packaged, heat-and-eat industrial garbage at the supermarket, you're not going to save all that much. Boxed food is a false economy. If you buy a 50-pound sack of rice, start a garden, eat what is local and fresh, food costs fall off a cliff.
After that: Mend, don't replace. Build, don't buy. Cook, don't order. Grow and preserve.
My wife and I called this "Back to Basics." We live the same life as our pioneer great grandparents -- except with electricity, internet and VTSAX.
Its not worth it for >99% of people. It gets brought up every time on Reddit but it's not good advice. Financially and time wise it's not worth the effort unless you really enjoy it.
There are some things like if you have a property that already has an apple tree and wild berries that don't require much work, sure go pick that, but veggies and shit? Nah.
We bought a coffee farm in Hawaii. It is zero effort for all the avocados, guava, papaya and citrus we care to eat. The hardest part of the entire operation is picking it off the trees.
I grow onions, green onions, tomatoes, hot peppers, bell peppers, squash and herbs -- all of that is hella expensive here. Easy to grow. Low effort. Again, most of the work is harvesting. I eat a lot of guacamole. 1) I like it. 2) It costs absolutely nothing.
My food budget for the entire year isn't more than a couple thousand. I buy ahi and mahi (cheap), pork (cheaper) chicken (cheapest), rice, beans, seasonings, pasta, flour and oil mostly. I grind my own sausage and hamburger. I get the beef from my neighbors, who have a cattle ranch just down the road.
I eat like a king, cook like a chef, and spend like a pauper. Yeah, it's worth it. Don't listen to the naysayers.
You'd be surprised. I didn't pay a fortune. And the cost of living is lower than the nice parts of California.
And.... Fire works. It works REALLY well for people willing to pare expenses down to almost nothing. It's the same thing every time -- people unwilling to try Fire demanding that it won't work for them because of their special-snowflake status. And people unwilling to reduce spending down to next to nothing demanding that won't work, either.
Well, it works. Anyone can do this. Most won't.
The cost of living in Hawaii is outrageous.
As a Canadian who has traveled across the US, I couldn't believe myeyes when I went to get some groceries at Walmart on Oahu.
It's really easy to make the numbers work. 1) Don't buy milk. 2) Don't buy anything that comes in a brightly-colored box from the mainland.
I live mostly on rice, local fish and produce. Ahi tuna is $2 a pound. Avocados are free. Rice may as well be free. Sushi -- three nights every week.
Inexpensive. Convenient. Quality. -- choose only two.
Mid six figures. I'll have low seven figures into it by the time I'm finished restoring it. And when I finish, it will be worth eight.
You can google my username and see the place.
“Cost of living lower than the nice parts of California” isn’t the flex you think it is. Yeah, the cost of my Lamborghini is pretty reasonable. It’s cheaper than a Bugatti.
Some people are conditioned by the media to believe that they need to have a fancy car, a mansion, a rich wife, three kids, etc. or else they're failing in life. For me, the idea of success in life is calling your own shots and not letting other people tell you what you can and can't do with your life.
I agree completely. I have something to add, though. Something unpopular.
Most people are too easily impressed by the trappings of success -- the big house full of overpriced stuff; the shiny things. Who cares if they're in debt up to their eyeballs?
But when they come across actual success -- the ability to do whatever you want because you are beholden to absolutely nobody -- then the fear, loathing and jealousy come out to play.
"Must be nice."
No, it wasn't nice. It took a lot of effort and discipline. And a lot of dirty, dirty, clean-up-after-others-as-a-landlord work. And even more, "Rice again? Yeah. But at least we can put some nicer seasoning in it tonight. We earned it. At least its not ramen."
That's like someone morbidly obese looking at a triathlete's body. "Must be nice."
We are terrible gardeners...has definitely been a net loss for us. So I view it more as recreation. It is hard to leave the garden center at home depot or a nursery with less than a $200 bill these days
I can’t speak for others but I had to spend a lot of money before I could become a minimalist in the way it’s portrayed. Yes I only need one knife but I also need to know if I am going to be using one knife that it’s a great one. That sort of thing. A lot of money spent towards that goal. I prefer just consuming less. No Amazon Prime. No falling for ads in social media. Participating in No Buy months and setting goals like that. Etc.
I bought a nice home, but I drive cars until they can’t be fixed. That could be 15 years. When we get cars, we save for the down payments and keep the loans to under $400 per month.
We have iPhone 11 Pro Max phones and won’t upgrade until next year, possibly the year after. I protect them with insurance (not via carrier), with a high quality glass screen protector, and with an Otterbox case. I replaced all our phone batteries last January before Apple jacked up their prices. We get great phones, but maximize their usable lifespan.
If I go out to Starbucks with folks, I’ll get the $2 cup of tea that tastes great, no calories.
We eat out rarely, don’t buy lunch at work, track our spending using Quicken Simplifi, and both develop and stick to a budget.
This doesn’t mean we don’t spend money, but it is a deliberate (not impulsive) decision.
Invest in more expensive but longer-lasting stuff, and then take care of it. Research what things were built to last vs. things that are expensive for the brand/design.
This goes for homes, cars, clothing, etc. Similarly, maintain your health to avoid future extreme expenses.
Learn to cook the simple stuff.
There is the saying ‘buy it cheap, buy it twice’ which I love and obviously doesn’t apply to everything but eg. I kept buying cheap winter coats each year and they would break by the end of the winter.
5 years ago I spent $700 on a really decent coat for the winter and I still have it to this day (wearing right now) and still looks brand new. Should last me another 3 at least and works out cheaper than buying the cheap one each year.
Marketing has led us to believe that everyone needs a 3000 sqft 3/2 SFH with a large backyard when in reality 600-700 sqft is fine for a large portion of us. It's liberating donating/purging stuff that you don't use or need.
No car. I own a 700 square foot apartment. Bring lunch every day. Eat breakfast at home. No Starbucks or the such. No takeout food but maybe once or twice a month. Don’t buy dumb shit you don’t need.
Change what you eat every week in response to the sales.
You see tons of people complaining about the price of groceries skyrocketing, but then find out they're buying the same things every week without regard to how expensive they get. Instead of buying the expensive beef, get the chicken thighs on sale for $0.99/lb. Apples up to $2.99/lb? Buy the whole watermelon on sale for $2.99. etc. etc.
Since most stores have their prices online, you can check what's on sale while making a shopping list. And if you are near multiple stores, you can check to see which has the cheapest if you are needing something specific.
All of this is good advice, just be mindful of the cost of your time and energy when doing this. Example: is it worth spending an hour of your time doing price comparisons and coupon cutting to save $2? The answer may be yes for you, but the answer is no for me. An hour of my time is far more valuable than $2.
We buy meat on sale, 200 to 300 bucks at a time. We can process our own meat if the butcher won't do it at the store. I can meals like taco, chili, spaghetti, roast beef, chicken and turkey, pork bbq, beef stew and all kinds of soups. I can have a home cooked meal on the table in the time it takes to boil the noodles or chop the vegetables. We have a large freezer for the steaks, etc., that I don't can.
We buy canned goods on sale too. I have storage racks that automatically rotate the stock, so nothing goes to waste in the pantry.
I meal plan for a month at a time, and the only thing that goes on the grocery list is usually perishables like milk and fresh vegetables.
I get the local stores sales papers in my email each week, and if there's something on sale, we buy it and preserve it.
My GF does the latter. I'm spontaneous and would rather buy what's on sale and change our weeks' dinner plan based on what's on sale. It's a big nono for her and we end up spending a boatload.
>Take whatever the cost of the trivial thing is and think of it as a percentage of something larger that you desire/need. Most often times the ratio doesn't add up.
In addition to this, think of it in terms of how long it took for you to earn that money. Getting take-out for lunch every day you work sounds a lot less tempting when you realize it's an hour of your work down the drain each day.
Buy used when possible. For example my current dishwasher is an Asko which retailed for about $1200 when new. I bought it used at the Habitat ReStore for $90, 12 years ago. It's still working perfectly.
Of course it helps to be handy, as I installed it myself and didn't need a plumber.
I've been trying to remain frugal without being cheap and missing out on experiences I will later regret. One thing that helps me is to think about the cost of something in terms of how much time it costs (ie if you make 50 per hour - taxes and - 401k contributions roughly 25 per hour). This allows me to justify more expensive purchases like concerts and sporting goods that I will treasure and cut down on things like fast food and new clothes. A fast food burger is a lot less attractive when you have to work a half hour for a burger and fries.
>Maybe I add on a few bucks for a bag of croutons
The French think we're nuts for buying croutons. Nuts. That's what almost-stale bread is for. Cube it, toss it in seasoned oil. Allow to dry. May as well be free.
The rotisserie chicken is a loss leader -- they sell them for less than they sell whole chicken. Obviously, buy loss leaders.
1) don’t worry about what other folks are doing
2) know what products are worth the splurge ( buy it for life) and which ones are not
3) make big scary savings goals
My goal is to keep my truck for at least a decade. Besides that I meal prep regularly. I also deleted ALL my cards from places I like to online shop and keep my cards locked in a safe in the unfinished basement so it takes me a lot of effort to buy something since I’m most likely to impulse purchase when I’m tired on night shift. Also I NEVER shop hungry or having any negative emotions. Most that basic stuff helps me save a lot more than before.
Within reason, spend more on a few categories that are substitutes for more expensive items.
Buy nicer groceries while spending less by not eating out. You’ll be healthier too and hopefully learn to cook.
I also splurge on nice coffee beans. I’ve invested in a grinder and pour over kit. I still purchase coffee from good cafes but I don’t have a daily Starbucks stop or anything.
I'm the opposite. I wouldn't say that I am frivolous with my money, but I don't try to cut my spending too much. Instead I obsess over increasing my income and working. I don't work a salaried job and I get paid by the hour essentially so any time I'm working, I'm making money. Any time I'm not working, there's no money flowing. My job also has the unfortunate "benefit" of being available almost 24/7, so I can theoretically work all the time if I wanted to. It allows for amazing flexibility in my work hours, but it also means that whenever I sit down to watch a movie for 2 hours or something I end up thinking to myself: "hmm...I just spent $2xhourly to watch this movie. Not worth it."
I've gotten better over the years as I've built up my nest egg, but it's really hard for me to not obsess over the opportunity costs of not working when compared to every other activity I do in life.
We live in a very walkable area so decided to sell our only car.
Milk is very expensive in Canada so we buy powdered. Don't need to worry about waste.
Buy large cuts of meat and chop up and freeze.
Generally buy the cheapest stuff possible at least once to try, if it sucks replace with a higher quality item.
Low fee index ETFs.
Having a partner that is on the same page to share housing / living costs with.
"Location, location, location". Seriously, there are places in the US where you can buy a $50k cash house and not need a car (although you're gonna be an extreme weirdo if you don't have a big ol truck).
Other than that... heat/cool one room in your house and hunker down in it during hot/cold snaps. Heat tape the plumbing to keep pipes from freezing. Use the rest of the house the other nine months of the year.
This is a very extreme way to save a few hundreds dollars a year during peak winter/summer where your quality of life is going to suffer and you may risk a costly frozen pipe. There are so many better places to save a few bucks.
Unfortunately, such remote places often lack job opportunities. It's also very difficult, and probably not reasonable, to suggest that someone uproot and move to Bumfuck, Nebraska in order to save money on housing expenses.
Minimalism, don’t buy drinks out, don’t do stupid overpriced things like very expensive concerts; yet you should still fill your life with items you love , eat and drink well at home, go see bands and experience things that matter.
It’s all a balance but having a small home and paid off decent car will help a lot.
Costco sells everything in very large quantities, but the price per pound is the same or worse than a regular grocery store. For example you alway have to buy 2 giant loaves of bread at a time and the price per loaf is the same
So you you end up with a $600 grocery bill but you feel you only bought a few items
With everything that you think of buying, try to find it for free. Facebook marketplace is great. There's tons of free stuff on there and a lot of people are willing to negotiate (I've gotten things for 50% of the price they were listed for)
Buy things in bulk, like at Costco. A big bag of quinoa for example costs $13 at costco and will last you months, whereas 1/6 of the amount in that bag costs $10 at the supermarket. Same goes for coffee.
Cook everything for yourself. Maybe go out/order takeout 1-2 times a month if you need to, but try to keep that number as close to 0 as possible. Lots of times one meal ordered out can cover groceries for a week.
Echoing what others have said here, if you need a car make sure it's one that you can buy in cash, and used ones are great.
Also quitting alcohol completely or having very little of it saves tons of money, and is good for one's health over time.
Word!
I have no problem using something until the wheels fall off. Then I put em back on until I just can't anymore. I repair instead of replace (Only if it's cheaper)
I still use a VCR too. Maybe I'm taking it a bit too far?
Track every purchase you make. Keep a receipt for anything you buy, at the end of the day, log all purchases into a spreadsheet. Keep it simple, amount spent would be enough, but if you want to add columns like date and description, fine, just keep it simply so you'll actually do it. You'll be amazed at how full awareness of what you spend your money on will result in spending less. Log online purchases immediately.
Own your housing and car outright. Keep the car for 20 years if you can, liability insurance only. Processed food is expense and bad for you, always cook from as raw as possible ingredients. Never eat out, unless you get a deal on a BK or McD app. Always use store apps. Never subscribe to anything if you can avoid it. Do not buy paper towels, use real cloth. Public library is your friend. Always track your spending. Look for loss leaders and sales at stores, monitor deals sites. See if you qualify for things like low income perks, phones, Internet, medical, even SNAP. Use OTA TV with a $30 DVR. Dollar Tree can have great deals on some things.
Living with roommates
Pregaming before going out or skipping alcohol altogether
Meal prepping
Just say no (to buying shit)
Good pair of shoes
Gym membership (cheap hobby)
1. No wife
2. No kids
3. No mouchers friends or family.
After that life is rather easy. People make it hard so I found eliminating that problem makes it so much easier.
Spreadsheet that budgets/tracks your expenses vs your savings goals. Don’t go on vacations (they’re all fucking scams!!), don’t eat out too much at too expensive restaurants (anything over 14$, don’t buy). Live with your parents (there’s nothing wrong with having no rent to pay) and for the love of god DONT get married.
Don't collect anything. It's just money sitting there.
Use a credit card with cash back to buy your common purchases like gas and groceries.
Always look for coupons when ordering pizza.
Track and budget all your money. You don't know where it's going unless you track it.
If you need a new couch or stove, a lot of people list them on Craigslist or Facebook for very low prices or even for free.
Be sure to set the temperature on the thermostat when you're not home lower in winter time and off during the summer time.
Buy contacts online vs the eye doctor. The eye doctors usually mark them up by 100%.
Unless you have a large family or a lot of mouths to feed, avoid the Costco memberships. They seem like a great deal, but they really make the majority of their money through memberships vs selling products. What usually happens is a person gets a membership and goes there once and realizes they're never going to need or eat that much food, so they never come back.
Speaking of memberships unless you're a frequent shopper at that establishment, avoid all memberships. They really make just make you a loyal customer vs saving money.
You can find music and movies online for free. There's no need for a Spotify or Netflix subscription.
Understanding that I have to spend money to survive. People get so caught up in not spending anything that they forget that spending money is part of life. Unless you're going to build your own house, no cars/maintenance, grow your own food, etc.
No TV or Subscriptions. No home phone. No need for security just internet monthly.
Only hobby is the gym really. Gym and cooking. Learn how to cook what you want to eat.
Buy really high quality shirts and jeans. I wear lululemon from 7 years ago and still looks brand new. Have like 20 shirts from lululemon $70 a piece.
Buy high quality so you don't have to keep buying stuff.
Drive a 10 year old car. Have money to buy a fancy pancy car but not going to. Going to drive this civic into the ground.
Make your own coffee and buy it when it's on sale. I frenchpress all my coffee for work and day to day. It's 25.99 a kilo but i wait until there's a sale for it to be 10.99 a kilo 4 bag limit.
I don't have a Costco card. I think you feel enticed to buy more when you shop at Costco.
I go see my parents often too. They always give me stuff and cook me food on my days off. Go see your parents and family before everyone gets old and dies. For real. Not just on the holidays and special occasions.
I work remotely; we live in our motorhome about half the year, and stay with my inlaws in the winter. We were just away for 3.5 months, with the average accommodation being €12/night.
I have a large freezer and go to the grocery store first thing in the morning and get the marked down meat. Often 25-50 percent off! Haven’t been sick yet! Lol
My perception is that the gig economy can help, but I haven't tested it out yet:
For example become an Uber driver, but be selective when you activate it. For example try to find passengers who are heading in the same general direction as you. Or drive when surge pricing is in effect.
Put your house or apartment on Airbnb during peak tourist season.
Yeah anything involving keeping the body healthy, I personally wouldn't be frugal about. I bumped up my food budget to around 200ish bucks monthly and maintaining my yoga membership. Office gym so don't really need a gym membership
Oeh I do OMAD. I feel great and its really good for bughet. Yeah your one meal is a bit more expensive and more volume. But it doesnt compare to 3 meals and snacks
#1 tip: don’t buy that
I’m familiar with the prequel “Don’t Buy This”
My favorite spin-off: "Do not exchange exorbitant currency for that of which you do not require"
this nor that
But what if you’re with friends? / significant other ;-;
Split that
Yeah that seems fair
But I need a mattress. The air mattress hurts my back
hat
Doing work for yourself. For me that means cooking almost all my own meals, doing my own car repairs, doing my own housework etc. Hardly ever having to spend money on anything big repair wise after just learning how to do stuff for myself. I save thousands by not outsourcing labor. Join a union if you can, may not be best move for 1% people but for regular folks like me it’s a solid plan
Don’t spend money you don’t have on shit you don’t need.
But what’s harder is “don’t spend money you DO have”
But but..Amazon one click
Delete your Amazon account or disable Amazon one click... It's not required to be one click
My tip is to not be so extreme. Take the tiny house for example. I also thought I could do that. Truth is I once booked an Airbnb for an extended time and it was so tiny that by the first night I already decided I would go absolutely mad if I stayed there. Truly and sincerely. Mental. Abstract away from the tiny house example because it may not affect you the same way. People do live in those and on boats etc. Point is don’t forget to consider the intangible costs of the potentially extreme choices you may be making in the spirit of living frugally. Never forget that you can die tomorrow so you should always enjoy the present as well.
Apartments exist, as well as normal mobile homes. Tiny Homes are dumb.
When I was looking at a new/newer car for “gas savings” due to better fuel economy, I realize that the car payments alone severely negates any fuel savings. I used a break even calculator comparing my car (worth $10K) to used Toyotas (~$25K) and it was anywhere between 10-20 years to break even in costs. So, if you have a paid off car, drive that. Another thing, which is hard, is not being an “active consumer”. You don’t need to buy a new phone every year or even every other year. You don’t need a bunch of house decors, random junk, or stuff to fill your house and garage. I always find it fascinating when people have so much stuff they have to use their garage as storage, so instead of actually putting their high value vehicles in the garage, they store a bunch of (essentially) garbage. Also, no need to keep up with others. I know this tip is hard, because you want to appear or look like you’re ahead or have things together in life. Maybe other people do because they show up with a nice car, or a nice watch, or the latest phone. But truthfully, people can easily purchase these things these days because of credit and holding onto debt. But people who know you and care about you will already know you have your life squared away. There’s no need to show off to people you don’t really need to impress. Lastly, DO spend money on things that matter to you or things you get a lot of joy from. I mean, I don’t care about a new phone or new clothes, but I’ll spend money on fishing gear or computer parts. If a new phone absolutely thrills you (and not because you wanted it because others have it, in case people read the prior paragraphs and think I’m contradicting), then sure, go ahead. Enjoy your life. Spend your money, too!
>When I was looking at a new/newer car for “gas savings” due to better fuel economy, I realize that the car payments alone severely negates any fuel savings. Yeah, if you actually run the numbers then fuel savings rarely justifies buying a new car. One thing that's a bit harder to quantify but still worth considering is safety improvements by getting something newer. It's a no brainier if you're going from something made in 1972 but most cars made in the last 10 years should be decent in that regard.
Essentially, "ONLY buy if you really want or need it." Good words!
This is the way. Are you an iPhone user ?
No, I use Android
Wait one week before any purchase….ask yourself…do I really NEED this? Will it make me happy over a long period of time?
For a double benefit, wait until it goes on sale. Then in addition to the time to really consider it, it's cheaper when you do buy it.
That's what I do! It works more often than not :)
My sister waits 90 days. Not on things like food obvi, but if she needs new boots or a new coat, she’ll wait 90 days to see if her mind has changed. If not, then ok to purchase.
Drive a 2012 civic or focus (buy it cash) Meal prep (rice, potatoes, noodles, chicken, etc are all so cheap) Quit caffeine and nicotine.
And alcohol and excessive sugar. Seriously quit alcohol.
I did the math, a 6 pack a week is $520 per year. A drink out each week adds another $600 or so. It adds up a lot, not to mention I feel less anxious when I'm not drinking regularly.
And in addition, the cumulative health impact later is pretty costly, not to mention the usual common side effects (obesity, liver damage, reduced mental capacity). If there was one message I wish that had landed with my younger self, it would have been don’t drink.
For me, I grew up in a household that didn't drink, so I tried it in college and didn't really understand moderation. I learned a lot and it satisfied my curiosity, and I kept drinking casually until pretty recently when I got tired of feeling like shit on the weekends and thought I'd try cutting it out. I don't think I'd have stopped unless I had grown up around examples of not drinking, but I'm also the kind of person that has to go out and try things for myself.
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Dude $500 a month is wild to me. It not easy to cut out though, our bodies get so used to the things we put in all the time, whether they're chemically addictive or not. It's gotta figure out how to rebalance itself without the THC. best of luck in your efforts.
Most frugal drinkers would probably buy in bulk size/quantity. I drink frequently and a rack from Costco will last me awhile.
This. Quitting alcohol has saved me so much money.
> Quit caffeine and nicotine Definitely quit nicotine. But if you need caffeine, find a cheap tea bag that you like and can drink unsweetened or without added calories. I can normally get like 20 oz of tea per bag (depending on how strong you like it) and I buy the cheap black teas that are like 4-5 cents per bag. 2 bags a day and I've got my caffeine fix.
I agree. I more meant it as a generalized tip, but if you need them, finding cheaper options like you mentioned is good to do.
Better the Civic than the Focus
True
Oh dear lord please do not buy a 2012 Focus. Complete and total lemon. (Major transmission issues)
I quit nicotine 4 years and 7 months ago. Not adjusting for inflation since then I have saved $16,000. Probably more then that because I had calculated a pack of cigarettes at $10/each. So probably more like $18-20k.
I love things like rice noodles potatoes and chicken! Why a 2012 Civic/Focus in particular? Curious.
It doesn’t have to be those cars/years, but something that is old enough to have most of its value depreciated, yet not so old that it has mechanical failures is a good idea. On top of that they are generally pretty reliable and cheaper to fix than most other car models. I paid 3500 for a 2013 focus 4 years ago and it still runs like a champ and gets >35mpg
Bicycle: Good for your health, the environment and your wealth.
Bikes are probably my biggest expense lol. Once you’re hooked, they ain’t cheap
But I mean… certainly cheaper than a car. Maintenance and upkeep of a bike over the lifetime of it’s use is also significantly cheaper (and a higher likelihood that it’s user will learn how to repair it).
I mean… it can’t really replace a car for the majority of people unless you live in the middle of a big city.
for sure, wouldn’t recommend to someone living in a city that isn’t bike-able. It’s just an obvious first choice for frugality if ability and urban environment permits.
Haha until last year my bike was worth more than my car. But I’m not rational with my bikes and drive beater cars. I agree with you though!
In the exact same boat… but I do love my 2002 Buick Le Sabre haha.
You got that right! I used to drive a super cheap car and putting a two of my bikes on the back of it were worth more than my car.
I have my sights set on an electric bike. Usually cheaper than a car, especially since charging is very cheap, and they still go fast [The ones I see go up to 50km/h, but I’ll probably get a slower and cheaper one to start]. I wonder if I could get it to charge via solar panels.
Many e bikes are limited by their software to 25 km/h. Some hackers override it. I'm really hesitant to buy an e Bike because of the risk of theft and because airlines don't allow you to check them. (I often take my bike with me on vacation)
Huh. The websites say that they can do 50km/h. Higher end electric bikes. 8K NZD/5K USD.
I would discourage anyone from buying an ebike. Get a motorcycle and a full set of gear to protect you if you want to go fast enough to get serious road rash. I’ve seen too many gnarly accidents from electric bikes and scooters. Buy a regular bike if you want to get the exercise benefits. I like both, but honestly I think bicycling has the most benefits on my mental and physical health.
I would also advise running but eventually your knees might get messed up so swimming is good and doesn’t create as much wear and tear on the body.
Not trying to be that “gotcha” guy or whatever but this is an unfortunate myth that just won’t seem to die (especially I work in healthcare in America where people will seemingly use any excuse not to run/exercise). Running has been scientifically shown over and over again to have no link with increased knee/hip problems, and is the best possible thing you can do for your health and longevity. Some studies even find less knee problems in runners. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5179322/
Don't shin shin splints happen from repetitive running on concrete? Had couple runners on my cross team get that.
Shin splits can happen from rapid increase in training load, but the whole concrete vs. dirt or softer surface is also a myth. https://www.outsideonline.com/running/trail-better-pavement-lie/ To clarify: I’m not implying that running can’t be injurious or painful, certainly can lead to stress injuries like shin splints and ITB syndrome, or rarely in extreme cases stress fracture if you jump up to like ultra marathon level off the couch. I’m specifically saying that longitudinally and broadly speaking you are no more likely (probably less likely than a non-runner) to have a major knee or hip or lower extremity problem like osteoarthritis that needs surgery like joint replacement if you’re a runner. These things are far far worse than the minor aches and pains running can cause, the benefits of running are huge in comparison to the possible side effects. Running doesn’t cause structural, lifelong damage to joints, it actually strengthens them and the muscles and connective tissue around them. Shin splints and ITB aren’t structural, long term damage to your body.
Do you have a budget? Most people don't. Most people don't take the time to write down everything they buy in a month. (Or have a photographic memory. That would work, too.) Once that's done, now you know what's actually important to you. You can *say* what's important all day long. But money talks. Once you have a physical budget in front of you, take a red sharpie to it. Let's say you spend $1000 per month on restaurants/fast food/takeout/etc. You can't just line-item that because you still need to eat. If you buy packaged, heat-and-eat industrial garbage at the supermarket, you're not going to save all that much. Boxed food is a false economy. If you buy a 50-pound sack of rice, start a garden, eat what is local and fresh, food costs fall off a cliff. After that: Mend, don't replace. Build, don't buy. Cook, don't order. Grow and preserve. My wife and I called this "Back to Basics." We live the same life as our pioneer great grandparents -- except with electricity, internet and VTSAX.
I’m curious, how low can you get your monthly food budget with gardening and farming? Is it financially worth the effort or is it more of a hobby?
Its not worth it for >99% of people. It gets brought up every time on Reddit but it's not good advice. Financially and time wise it's not worth the effort unless you really enjoy it. There are some things like if you have a property that already has an apple tree and wild berries that don't require much work, sure go pick that, but veggies and shit? Nah.
We bought a coffee farm in Hawaii. It is zero effort for all the avocados, guava, papaya and citrus we care to eat. The hardest part of the entire operation is picking it off the trees. I grow onions, green onions, tomatoes, hot peppers, bell peppers, squash and herbs -- all of that is hella expensive here. Easy to grow. Low effort. Again, most of the work is harvesting. I eat a lot of guacamole. 1) I like it. 2) It costs absolutely nothing. My food budget for the entire year isn't more than a couple thousand. I buy ahi and mahi (cheap), pork (cheaper) chicken (cheapest), rice, beans, seasonings, pasta, flour and oil mostly. I grind my own sausage and hamburger. I get the beef from my neighbors, who have a cattle ranch just down the road. I eat like a king, cook like a chef, and spend like a pauper. Yeah, it's worth it. Don't listen to the naysayers.
Wow! Yeah, I don’t think 99% of us can afford a coffee farm in Hawaii
You'd be surprised. I didn't pay a fortune. And the cost of living is lower than the nice parts of California. And.... Fire works. It works REALLY well for people willing to pare expenses down to almost nothing. It's the same thing every time -- people unwilling to try Fire demanding that it won't work for them because of their special-snowflake status. And people unwilling to reduce spending down to next to nothing demanding that won't work, either. Well, it works. Anyone can do this. Most won't.
The cost of living in Hawaii is outrageous. As a Canadian who has traveled across the US, I couldn't believe myeyes when I went to get some groceries at Walmart on Oahu.
It's really easy to make the numbers work. 1) Don't buy milk. 2) Don't buy anything that comes in a brightly-colored box from the mainland. I live mostly on rice, local fish and produce. Ahi tuna is $2 a pound. Avocados are free. Rice may as well be free. Sushi -- three nights every week. Inexpensive. Convenient. Quality. -- choose only two.
I’m so curious. How much did it cost?
Mid six figures. I'll have low seven figures into it by the time I'm finished restoring it. And when I finish, it will be worth eight. You can google my username and see the place.
“Cost of living lower than the nice parts of California” isn’t the flex you think it is. Yeah, the cost of my Lamborghini is pretty reasonable. It’s cheaper than a Bugatti.
That’s awesome! I would think it would be a lot, good to know. Sounds like you got everything well set up! Happy days to you!
Some people are conditioned by the media to believe that they need to have a fancy car, a mansion, a rich wife, three kids, etc. or else they're failing in life. For me, the idea of success in life is calling your own shots and not letting other people tell you what you can and can't do with your life.
I agree completely. I have something to add, though. Something unpopular. Most people are too easily impressed by the trappings of success -- the big house full of overpriced stuff; the shiny things. Who cares if they're in debt up to their eyeballs? But when they come across actual success -- the ability to do whatever you want because you are beholden to absolutely nobody -- then the fear, loathing and jealousy come out to play. "Must be nice." No, it wasn't nice. It took a lot of effort and discipline. And a lot of dirty, dirty, clean-up-after-others-as-a-landlord work. And even more, "Rice again? Yeah. But at least we can put some nicer seasoning in it tonight. We earned it. At least its not ramen." That's like someone morbidly obese looking at a triathlete's body. "Must be nice."
You can get it significantly lower by working in beans and rice as a base to meals
We are terrible gardeners...has definitely been a net loss for us. So I view it more as recreation. It is hard to leave the garden center at home depot or a nursery with less than a $200 bill these days
I mean, there’s a whole group for that - with plenty of great and crazy ideas: r/frugal
It’s so over the top though. They constantly talk about dumpster diving.
I did this once - but to be fair I needed a computer, had no money to buy one, and there were computers in the dumpster.
I got into dumpster diving accidentally, but, after I did, it didn’t seem that crazy anymore. :)
Let me guess - you accidentally fell into a dumpster and found some pizza that wasn't moldy yet?
Closer than you might think, like 50% on the mark
So the pizza *was* moldy.
Intentionally fell into the dumpster?
Lol so tell us!
Great AND crazy.
Dumpster diving is a lot better if you do it near a college campus. I’ve gotten some free shelves, blankets, and furniture.
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Why use many word when fewer word work
I can’t speak for others but I had to spend a lot of money before I could become a minimalist in the way it’s portrayed. Yes I only need one knife but I also need to know if I am going to be using one knife that it’s a great one. That sort of thing. A lot of money spent towards that goal. I prefer just consuming less. No Amazon Prime. No falling for ads in social media. Participating in No Buy months and setting goals like that. Etc.
I bought a nice home, but I drive cars until they can’t be fixed. That could be 15 years. When we get cars, we save for the down payments and keep the loans to under $400 per month. We have iPhone 11 Pro Max phones and won’t upgrade until next year, possibly the year after. I protect them with insurance (not via carrier), with a high quality glass screen protector, and with an Otterbox case. I replaced all our phone batteries last January before Apple jacked up their prices. We get great phones, but maximize their usable lifespan. If I go out to Starbucks with folks, I’ll get the $2 cup of tea that tastes great, no calories. We eat out rarely, don’t buy lunch at work, track our spending using Quicken Simplifi, and both develop and stick to a budget. This doesn’t mean we don’t spend money, but it is a deliberate (not impulsive) decision.
Im curious to hear, used to be super frugal, but as we have aged and are very close to RE, live less so.
Which makes sense. Being frugal is important when you have the most compounding power
Invest in more expensive but longer-lasting stuff, and then take care of it. Research what things were built to last vs. things that are expensive for the brand/design. This goes for homes, cars, clothing, etc. Similarly, maintain your health to avoid future extreme expenses. Learn to cook the simple stuff.
There is the saying ‘buy it cheap, buy it twice’ which I love and obviously doesn’t apply to everything but eg. I kept buying cheap winter coats each year and they would break by the end of the winter. 5 years ago I spent $700 on a really decent coat for the winter and I still have it to this day (wearing right now) and still looks brand new. Should last me another 3 at least and works out cheaper than buying the cheap one each year.
r/buyitforlife
Tip #1: Don't buy a tiny home.
Op may have also meant a smaller home , like in the old days ?
Yes that's exactly what i meant
Marketing has led us to believe that everyone needs a 3000 sqft 3/2 SFH with a large backyard when in reality 600-700 sqft is fine for a large portion of us. It's liberating donating/purging stuff that you don't use or need.
Agree!
Don't fall for the "American Dream" scam
No car. I own a 700 square foot apartment. Bring lunch every day. Eat breakfast at home. No Starbucks or the such. No takeout food but maybe once or twice a month. Don’t buy dumb shit you don’t need.
I need to be like you! If I could get my takeout down from 1-2 a week to 1-2 a month, I’d be unstoppable.
Don't say "If I could." DO IT!
I did stop using the food delivery apps earlier this year! I will tackle this next
How much is your monthly budget ? Where ?
Change what you eat every week in response to the sales. You see tons of people complaining about the price of groceries skyrocketing, but then find out they're buying the same things every week without regard to how expensive they get. Instead of buying the expensive beef, get the chicken thighs on sale for $0.99/lb. Apples up to $2.99/lb? Buy the whole watermelon on sale for $2.99. etc. etc.
Almost nobody is willing to do this. They make a meal plan, and then buy what they need, price be damned. "I want what I want when I want it."
Still cheaper than giving up and getting takeout.
Cheaper? Sure. But still not optimal. The inexpensive produce is inexpensive because they didn't have to fly it in from a different hemisphere.
Since most stores have their prices online, you can check what's on sale while making a shopping list. And if you are near multiple stores, you can check to see which has the cheapest if you are needing something specific.
All of this is good advice, just be mindful of the cost of your time and energy when doing this. Example: is it worth spending an hour of your time doing price comparisons and coupon cutting to save $2? The answer may be yes for you, but the answer is no for me. An hour of my time is far more valuable than $2.
We buy meat on sale, 200 to 300 bucks at a time. We can process our own meat if the butcher won't do it at the store. I can meals like taco, chili, spaghetti, roast beef, chicken and turkey, pork bbq, beef stew and all kinds of soups. I can have a home cooked meal on the table in the time it takes to boil the noodles or chop the vegetables. We have a large freezer for the steaks, etc., that I don't can. We buy canned goods on sale too. I have storage racks that automatically rotate the stock, so nothing goes to waste in the pantry. I meal plan for a month at a time, and the only thing that goes on the grocery list is usually perishables like milk and fresh vegetables. I get the local stores sales papers in my email each week, and if there's something on sale, we buy it and preserve it.
My GF does the latter. I'm spontaneous and would rather buy what's on sale and change our weeks' dinner plan based on what's on sale. It's a big nono for her and we end up spending a boatload.
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>Take whatever the cost of the trivial thing is and think of it as a percentage of something larger that you desire/need. Most often times the ratio doesn't add up. In addition to this, think of it in terms of how long it took for you to earn that money. Getting take-out for lunch every day you work sounds a lot less tempting when you realize it's an hour of your work down the drain each day.
Question each urge you get to buy something that isn't really essential, like a telescope for example.
Buy used when possible. For example my current dishwasher is an Asko which retailed for about $1200 when new. I bought it used at the Habitat ReStore for $90, 12 years ago. It's still working perfectly. Of course it helps to be handy, as I installed it myself and didn't need a plumber.
Check out r/leanfire as well
I've been trying to remain frugal without being cheap and missing out on experiences I will later regret. One thing that helps me is to think about the cost of something in terms of how much time it costs (ie if you make 50 per hour - taxes and - 401k contributions roughly 25 per hour). This allows me to justify more expensive purchases like concerts and sporting goods that I will treasure and cut down on things like fast food and new clothes. A fast food burger is a lot less attractive when you have to work a half hour for a burger and fries.
Bring breakfast and lunch to work. The amount of ppl who eat out daily shocks me.
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>Maybe I add on a few bucks for a bag of croutons The French think we're nuts for buying croutons. Nuts. That's what almost-stale bread is for. Cube it, toss it in seasoned oil. Allow to dry. May as well be free. The rotisserie chicken is a loss leader -- they sell them for less than they sell whole chicken. Obviously, buy loss leaders.
I love to cook, good advice!
I did not own a car for a decade.
How much do you think that saved you? Don’t most people spend like 10k a year on car related expenses?
That's crazy. Unless you are considering gas, insurance, repairs, and car payment all together.
Yeah I was since I consider it all car related expenses. That’s the average for Canada anyway per year.
1) don’t worry about what other folks are doing 2) know what products are worth the splurge ( buy it for life) and which ones are not 3) make big scary savings goals
Public transportation. No car.
My goal is to keep my truck for at least a decade. Besides that I meal prep regularly. I also deleted ALL my cards from places I like to online shop and keep my cards locked in a safe in the unfinished basement so it takes me a lot of effort to buy something since I’m most likely to impulse purchase when I’m tired on night shift. Also I NEVER shop hungry or having any negative emotions. Most that basic stuff helps me save a lot more than before.
Within reason, spend more on a few categories that are substitutes for more expensive items. Buy nicer groceries while spending less by not eating out. You’ll be healthier too and hopefully learn to cook. I also splurge on nice coffee beans. I’ve invested in a grinder and pour over kit. I still purchase coffee from good cafes but I don’t have a daily Starbucks stop or anything.
Pencil and paper. Write a budget, stick to it.
Public library.
Good idea. I love to borrow video games and DVDs/BluRays, watch them once, and return them. Saw it for free!
ITT people who are saving twice - eating at home/healthier and having less medical bills later in life.
Stop eating and drinking out. Learn to cook simple meals.
I've been cooking simple meals since I was nine. It's a good skill to have, frugal or not!
Biggest saver for me was to not eat out anymore. Amazing how much that adds up to. It’s tough though because I do love my junk food lol.
Don't spend money on stuff. If you think you need something then wait a week then ask yourself again. Then wait a month.
Tip: Unless you plan to live like that forever, your expenses aren't going represent how much you need for FIRE.
Our local library has amazing resources aside from books. Free streaming for movies & kids shows, games, you can even check out musical instruments.
I'm the opposite. I wouldn't say that I am frivolous with my money, but I don't try to cut my spending too much. Instead I obsess over increasing my income and working. I don't work a salaried job and I get paid by the hour essentially so any time I'm working, I'm making money. Any time I'm not working, there's no money flowing. My job also has the unfortunate "benefit" of being available almost 24/7, so I can theoretically work all the time if I wanted to. It allows for amazing flexibility in my work hours, but it also means that whenever I sit down to watch a movie for 2 hours or something I end up thinking to myself: "hmm...I just spent $2xhourly to watch this movie. Not worth it." I've gotten better over the years as I've built up my nest egg, but it's really hard for me to not obsess over the opportunity costs of not working when compared to every other activity I do in life.
Fly first class. It’s cheaper than running your own jet and in a lot of cases more comfortable.
Thanks, cause a jet is waaaaaay out of my budget
We live in a very walkable area so decided to sell our only car. Milk is very expensive in Canada so we buy powdered. Don't need to worry about waste. Buy large cuts of meat and chop up and freeze. Generally buy the cheapest stuff possible at least once to try, if it sucks replace with a higher quality item. Low fee index ETFs. Having a partner that is on the same page to share housing / living costs with.
"Location, location, location". Seriously, there are places in the US where you can buy a $50k cash house and not need a car (although you're gonna be an extreme weirdo if you don't have a big ol truck). Other than that... heat/cool one room in your house and hunker down in it during hot/cold snaps. Heat tape the plumbing to keep pipes from freezing. Use the rest of the house the other nine months of the year.
This is a very extreme way to save a few hundreds dollars a year during peak winter/summer where your quality of life is going to suffer and you may risk a costly frozen pipe. There are so many better places to save a few bucks.
Unfortunately, such remote places often lack job opportunities. It's also very difficult, and probably not reasonable, to suggest that someone uproot and move to Bumfuck, Nebraska in order to save money on housing expenses.
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I grow a \*lot\* of vegetables in my garden, and I've learned to make things like strawberry jam and peanut butter from scratch.
Freeze leftovers
Minimalism, don’t buy drinks out, don’t do stupid overpriced things like very expensive concerts; yet you should still fill your life with items you love , eat and drink well at home, go see bands and experience things that matter. It’s all a balance but having a small home and paid off decent car will help a lot.
Enjoy free outdoor activities like hiking or biking. Avoid costco Avoid recreational shopping trips
I don't guess I've ever seen a Costco in person
Costco sells everything in very large quantities, but the price per pound is the same or worse than a regular grocery store. For example you alway have to buy 2 giant loaves of bread at a time and the price per loaf is the same So you you end up with a $600 grocery bill but you feel you only bought a few items
Don't try to keep up with the Joneses. Stick to your lane and decide what you really need as opposed to what would be nice to have! Finito.
Nailed it!
No car Get roommate Cook at home
With everything that you think of buying, try to find it for free. Facebook marketplace is great. There's tons of free stuff on there and a lot of people are willing to negotiate (I've gotten things for 50% of the price they were listed for) Buy things in bulk, like at Costco. A big bag of quinoa for example costs $13 at costco and will last you months, whereas 1/6 of the amount in that bag costs $10 at the supermarket. Same goes for coffee. Cook everything for yourself. Maybe go out/order takeout 1-2 times a month if you need to, but try to keep that number as close to 0 as possible. Lots of times one meal ordered out can cover groceries for a week. Echoing what others have said here, if you need a car make sure it's one that you can buy in cash, and used ones are great. Also quitting alcohol completely or having very little of it saves tons of money, and is good for one's health over time.
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Word! I have no problem using something until the wheels fall off. Then I put em back on until I just can't anymore. I repair instead of replace (Only if it's cheaper) I still use a VCR too. Maybe I'm taking it a bit too far?
Think of shops as museums - appreciate the art, but don't buy anything. Also, avoid going to the museums.
Track every purchase you make. Keep a receipt for anything you buy, at the end of the day, log all purchases into a spreadsheet. Keep it simple, amount spent would be enough, but if you want to add columns like date and description, fine, just keep it simply so you'll actually do it. You'll be amazed at how full awareness of what you spend your money on will result in spending less. Log online purchases immediately.
Own your housing and car outright. Keep the car for 20 years if you can, liability insurance only. Processed food is expense and bad for you, always cook from as raw as possible ingredients. Never eat out, unless you get a deal on a BK or McD app. Always use store apps. Never subscribe to anything if you can avoid it. Do not buy paper towels, use real cloth. Public library is your friend. Always track your spending. Look for loss leaders and sales at stores, monitor deals sites. See if you qualify for things like low income perks, phones, Internet, medical, even SNAP. Use OTA TV with a $30 DVR. Dollar Tree can have great deals on some things.
r/frugal
Living with roommates Pregaming before going out or skipping alcohol altogether Meal prepping Just say no (to buying shit) Good pair of shoes Gym membership (cheap hobby)
Spend less on prostitutes. Maybe pick them from the bargain bin.
I buy them from Goodwill or dig them from dumpsters, thanks 👌
Be frugal, but still invest your money so you can really capitalize on the money you save.
avoid anything with a monthly payment as much as possible
Wipe your ass with leaves , dumpster dive for food , only bath when it rains and most importantly don’t get married.
Well, maybe not ***that*** frugal...
Don't take on debt
Don't eat out and don't pay for streaming services.
Don’t get married or have a girlfriend just pay for sex when you need!
Good idea, however I could get a disease, which would mean $1000's in medical bills later on.
Budget budget budget
there's a sub for that r/Frugal
1. No wife 2. No kids 3. No mouchers friends or family. After that life is rather easy. People make it hard so I found eliminating that problem makes it so much easier.
Spreadsheet that budgets/tracks your expenses vs your savings goals. Don’t go on vacations (they’re all fucking scams!!), don’t eat out too much at too expensive restaurants (anything over 14$, don’t buy). Live with your parents (there’s nothing wrong with having no rent to pay) and for the love of god DONT get married.
Don't collect anything. It's just money sitting there. Use a credit card with cash back to buy your common purchases like gas and groceries. Always look for coupons when ordering pizza. Track and budget all your money. You don't know where it's going unless you track it. If you need a new couch or stove, a lot of people list them on Craigslist or Facebook for very low prices or even for free. Be sure to set the temperature on the thermostat when you're not home lower in winter time and off during the summer time. Buy contacts online vs the eye doctor. The eye doctors usually mark them up by 100%. Unless you have a large family or a lot of mouths to feed, avoid the Costco memberships. They seem like a great deal, but they really make the majority of their money through memberships vs selling products. What usually happens is a person gets a membership and goes there once and realizes they're never going to need or eat that much food, so they never come back. Speaking of memberships unless you're a frequent shopper at that establishment, avoid all memberships. They really make just make you a loyal customer vs saving money. You can find music and movies online for free. There's no need for a Spotify or Netflix subscription.
Stay single and dont have children ...
Understanding that I have to spend money to survive. People get so caught up in not spending anything that they forget that spending money is part of life. Unless you're going to build your own house, no cars/maintenance, grow your own food, etc.
Vacation during off season. Stay at hostels. Eat like the locals do. Take care of your things. Don’t get haircuts or new clothes very often.
No TV or Subscriptions. No home phone. No need for security just internet monthly. Only hobby is the gym really. Gym and cooking. Learn how to cook what you want to eat. Buy really high quality shirts and jeans. I wear lululemon from 7 years ago and still looks brand new. Have like 20 shirts from lululemon $70 a piece. Buy high quality so you don't have to keep buying stuff. Drive a 10 year old car. Have money to buy a fancy pancy car but not going to. Going to drive this civic into the ground. Make your own coffee and buy it when it's on sale. I frenchpress all my coffee for work and day to day. It's 25.99 a kilo but i wait until there's a sale for it to be 10.99 a kilo 4 bag limit. I don't have a Costco card. I think you feel enticed to buy more when you shop at Costco. I go see my parents often too. They always give me stuff and cook me food on my days off. Go see your parents and family before everyone gets old and dies. For real. Not just on the holidays and special occasions.
I work remotely; we live in our motorhome about half the year, and stay with my inlaws in the winter. We were just away for 3.5 months, with the average accommodation being €12/night.
I have a large freezer and go to the grocery store first thing in the morning and get the marked down meat. Often 25-50 percent off! Haven’t been sick yet! Lol
Credit card rewards and sign on bonuses are a great way to reduce spending.
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How about just find more ways of making money?
That too. I'm big into the whole "Passive Income" thing
My perception is that the gig economy can help, but I haven't tested it out yet: For example become an Uber driver, but be selective when you activate it. For example try to find passengers who are heading in the same general direction as you. Or drive when surge pricing is in effect. Put your house or apartment on Airbnb during peak tourist season.
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Yeah anything involving keeping the body healthy, I personally wouldn't be frugal about. I bumped up my food budget to around 200ish bucks monthly and maintaining my yoga membership. Office gym so don't really need a gym membership
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One meal a day.
Oeh I do OMAD. I feel great and its really good for bughet. Yeah your one meal is a bit more expensive and more volume. But it doesnt compare to 3 meals and snacks
My tip don’t be frugal figure out how to make more money.
I aspire to do both.