45 Frugal Habits People Swear By And The Ones They Say Aren’t Worth It

Some frugal tips are lifesavers, others? Just plain exhausting. Which side are you on?

Sophia

• Published in Interesting
• December 2, 2024

In an era of skyrocketing prices and tighter budgets, frugality has become more than just a trend—it’s a survival skill. From saving on energy bills to mastering the art of DIY, millions of people are turning to frugal habits to stretch their dollars further.

But as the saying goes, not all that glitters is gold, and not all money-saving hacks are worth the effort.

Frugality often conjures images of clipping coupons or buying in bulk, but it’s much deeper than that. At its core, it’s about prioritizing value over waste and maximizing resources while minimizing costs.

With inflation and financial stress on the rise, people are searching for ways to live smarter, not harder. However, even the savviest penny-pinchers will tell you that some strategies deliver better results than others.

Two recent online discussions explored this dynamic, revealing which frugal habits people find life-changing and which ones they think aren’t worth the hassle.

From brewing your own coffee to making questionable sacrifices for tiny savings, these insights highlight the balance between financial discipline and quality of life. Let’s dive into what people are saying about frugal living—what works, what doesn’t, and why the journey to smarter spending is unique for everyone.

1. "Meal planning"

2. I absolutely hated grinding my own coffee beans.

 I hated cleaning the grinder. So I went back to ground beans for my cold brew and noticed only positive improvements.

3. Driving ten hours each way instead of flying.

It'd make sense if it were more than one person, but I only saved like $100, and it was stressful

4. Man o man

did I spend money on rainwater barrels that I never set up and became a home for mosquitos.

5. A Chevy Volt

6. Getting a nicer vacuum sealer and a chest freezer were very helpful choices.

We got the sealer as a Christmas gift and the freezer was left by my BIL when he moved. Both have gotten us through a couple months of little-no income when they were fully stocked with couponed or discount foods.

Also checking weekly grocery deals and sales. I split shopping between Safeway and Fred meyers. they’re across the street from each other so I don’t care about wasting gas. Freddie’s has fuel points that helps a ton and free points for taking weekly surveys. Safeway consistently has coupon savings and member savings, so I usually add $100 worth in the cart and check out for $40-50.

7. "Learned to start plants from seed..."

8. ALWAYS paying off the credit card bills in full every month.

Knowing the cc company is floating me money and not making a dime off me in interest is extremely satisfying.

Making dinner at home every night - I get food prepared exactly the way I want it, it’s less expensive and healthier.

9. "So many food choices."

10. "Having engine trouble?"

11. Unplugging my electric dryer during this heatwave from hell.

Putting up a rotary clothesline I had in storage. My clothes dry outside anywhere from 40 minutes to one hour and 20 minutes. Should have started this midwinter (it never really got cold). I’m not heating up my house with the dryer, thus making the air conditioner work harder. My electric bill is lower. I get a bit of exercise.

12. I got a bidet.

Feel way cleaner and TP use is reduced by 90%!

13. .Buying thick curtains. One time purchase for long term savings energy bill wise.

AC/Heat is very expensive these days.

14. .Coupon clipping

I spend less money when not shopping the coupons. Lol

The thing was even if I had the coupon there was always a cheaper option so I didn't use them anyway. I stopped bothering with coupons a long time ago.

15. Making homemade butter from heavy cream in my mixer.

I found I still needed to use store bought butter in my baking and some main dish recipes. It tasted great but it didn't save any on the grocery bill.

16. "Working out"

17. "Heated my house"

18. Always buy the cheap store brand grocery products if they exist for the product.

Can often save between 20-60% on these items.

19. Buying meat in bulk and breaking it down into smaller packages at home

The cost difference is staggering.

Most small packages of meat are only a small amount list than the cost of the larger uncut meat. Like hamburger. I can buy 12lbs for the same cost as $5lbs in shall packages.

20. Packing my lunch every day.

My colleagues spend $10-15/day purchasing lunch. I bring leftovers in a microwave dish with some snacks like Greek yogurt, hummus & crackers, and fruit. It's insanely cheaper.

21. Not having children.

22. Small one, making bread.

We have a bread machine and our bread tastes better, is astronomically less expensive, doesn't have questionable ingredients, and is easy with the machine. Absolute win.

23. "Buying a house..."

24. "Moved close to my job."

25. "DIY projects..."

26. I’ve gotten quite good at sewing and crafts, and have learned to do so quite cheaply.

Everyone gets handmade gifts from me and they love them.

27. "Minimalism"

28. Learning to fix my own car.

29. Creating an amazon wish list.

Before amazon discontinued their browser plugin to bookmark from any site I saved so much money adding things to a list that I thought I needed or wanted to buy.

I would eventually go through the list and a huge amount of things weren’t even available anymore because I had forgotten about them for so long. I’ve since created a google doc with the same purpose. Its been so helpful in saving money and realizing I truly don’t need a lot. Impulse spending has been drastically cut.

30. Cheap toilet paper.

I can use the good Charmin I love that does the job with much less, or I can use 2-3x as much cheap toilet paper.

31. "1 liter bottles"

32. My wife and I drove two states over to pickup a brand new stove and microwave (that we found on FB marketplace) for what seemed like a good deal.

Of course, neither one of us had a truck big enough, so we had to rent a u-haul. And pay for the gas. And lose a day.

When we arrived, it wasn't quite the model we were expecting from the listing, but we had come too far at this point. Literally. So we took it.

Later, I found that exact model on eBay. It would've cost about the same to have it delivered.

33. "Cord cutting"

34.Buying Christmas/Birthday gifts year round.

I shop clearance everywhere I go and have a covered bin in the attic for all things gift.

Edit: this has also helped for last minute invites to birthday parties or special occasions.

35.Driving to a gas station

that is far away just to save 15c a gallon

36. "Canning"

37. "Buying whole fruit"

38. "Eating less"

39. Reusable menstruation products

It’s kind of a pain and time suck to hand wash my pads BUT I’m saving at least $10 every period. My reusable products have paid for themselves many times over.

40. Trying to save money on moving.

Hiring professional movers is always the right choice for me. The stress of family, tempers, fatigue is too much.

41. Taking public transportation

to and from work.

42. Making homemade laundry detergent.

I saved a dollar, I spent 15 minutes handgrating a Fels Naptha bar into tiny pieces, my laundry felt slimy and smelled funny.

43. Meal planning

Making a shopping list full of cheap ingredients that are flexible and last for a while like potatoes and celery.

44. "Groomed my dog myself"

45. Switching out cat litter.

Went from a good brand but also came with a higher price tag to the one at Costco. Deep cleaning the litterboxes became a weekly chore because of how much that cheap litter got stuck everywhere. Went back to the original litter and never again will I switch.

Frugality is more than just saving money; it’s about finding value and making choices that align with your goals. While some tips may feel like a waste, others can be transformative. The real key? Balance. Embrace what works for you, and remember, smart spending doesn’t have to mean sacrificing joy.

Comment down your thoughts, or share this article for all your family and friends to see!

Sophia