30 Surprising Money-Saving Habits People Developed By Accident

"Cutting off toxic, bigoted family led to financial freedom and improved mental health"

Damjan

• Published in Interesting
• May 21, 2023

Money has a mysterious way of slipping through our fingers, even when we believe we haven't made significant purchases. Surprisingly, it's not always the big expenses that drain our wallets; it's the accumulation of minor daily expenses that often go unnoticed.

From that daily coffee run to choosing a restaurant over packing a lunch, these seemingly insignificant choices can add up to a substantial amount over time. That's why it's crucial to be mindful of our spending habits.

However, there are instances where people discover the true extent of their spending only after they stop indulging in certain activities. Often, they change their routines for unrelated reasons and unknowingly find themselves saving money in the process.

It may seem perplexing how one can save money "by accident," but the anecdotes shared by members of Reddit 'Frugal' community shed light on this phenomenon.

One user, 'girlenteringtheworld,' decided to inquire about actions that unexpectedly led to money-saving outcomes, even though saving money was never the initial objective. The responses poured in as fellow redditors happily shared their stories.

In this article, we'll delve into their enlightening experiences, along with insightful tips from Mary Eschelbach Hansen, a professor of economics at American University, whom we had the privilege of interviewing. You'll also get a chance to hear from the original poster herself as she reflects on the responses.

How to save money?

1. Cutting off toxic, bigoted family led to financial freedom and improved mental health

The user known as 'girlenteringtheworld' shared her motivations behind posing such a question, which were quite straightforward. She explained, "After realizing the amount of money I was able to save, I became curious about other people's experiences in their own lives. Additionally, I was interested in discovering new ways to save money."

While she considers herself generally prudent with finances, she acknowledges that it still requires effort. She said, "On the whole, I see myself as frugal, but like many others, I struggle with the hyperconsumerist habits ingrained in me from my upbringing and prevalent in American society today."

In an attempt to combat these habits, she has been actively incorporating practices like mindfulness and limiting unnecessary purchases. She also expressed her enjoyment in finding coupons for everyday essentials, such as groceries, whenever possible.

2. Home-brewed coffee and quitting smoking

3. Unexpectedly benefiting from a neighbor's job

4. Investing in quality shoes: Higher initial cost, longer lifespan, reduced need for replacements

5. One user unintentionally saved money by bringing a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to work instead of buying lunch

|I started bringing a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to work for lunch when my car was in the shop and I couldn’t drive somewhere to grab food on my lunch hour. It wasn’t until a few months of this went by that I realized that $200-240ish per month of my income had been going to pay off my credit card that I bring to work with me every day, which I had not been using to buy lunches for awhile. I was like “huh, I have money leftover, did I pay all my bills or forget one or what??”

It was so common to spend about $10-12ish a day on Taco Bell, McDonald’s, Burger King, or whatever, and it never felt like much but it was really adding up. Pb&j is so cheap and easy, I should’ve been doing this all along."

Mary Eschelbach Hansen, an esteemed economics professor, emphasized the significance of one's mindset with saving money. In an interview, she shared one of her three valuable tips for better personal finance management: maintaining a positive attitude.

Hansen encouraged individuals to perceive money as a means to achieve their life goals. Investopedia also highlights the importance of setting both short-term and long-term financial goals.

This practice can effectively curb unnecessary spending that often arises when money lacks a specific purpose. Moreover, establishing clear goals has the potential to trigger new behaviors, sharpen focus, and sustain motivation, ultimately enhancing one's willingness to save money.

By aligning financial decisions with defined objectives, individuals can minimize impulsive spending and cultivate a stronger commitment to building savings.

6. Abandoning alcohol for health reasons proved financially beneficial

"I quit drinking alcohol years ago for health reasons, and the financial aspect of it hit me later in life, I was already frugal and didn't spend much already but I know it saved me a ton of cash. Once in a while, like maybe twice a year I will buy a bottle of good red wine if I need to celebrate and that's it. Any addiction in fact isn't so good for the wallet (I was once addicted to buying books)"

7. Switching to a menstrual cup saved me money and reduced waste

"I started using a menstrual cup. Originally I was researching organic tampons bc I was worried about TSS and the environment so that ultimately led me to reusable period products.

I haven’t bought tampons/pads since 2018 which has saved me hundreds of dollars and I’ve dramatically cut down the amount of waste I produce from my menstrual cycle!"

8. Dedicated freezer saves money by reducing eating out

"We got a dedicated freezer so we could have more food on hand. Turns out when I know that I've got $1000 worth of food in the freezer I don't eat out as much "Holy c**p, that's a lot of money stored in that freezer!

Also, we're able to take advantage of sales at the grocery store. Around Easter, we'll buy a BUNCH of ham at pennies a pound. At Thanksgiving, I'll buy 2 extra turkeys and break them down for eating later. It's hard to do a whole turkey, it's easy to do a turkey breast or legs or thighs. Again super cheap at the right time of year."

9. Savings through game library loans

"My library loans out ps5, Xbox series, and switch games. I've probably saved over $1000 never buying a single-player game anymore. I also get to test out multiplayer games before I commit to buying."

10. Unintentional savings from avoiding eating out due to laziness and preferring to stay home

"I stopped eating out because I’m lazy and don’t feel like leaving the house in the evening once I’ve changed into sweats.

And uh turns out I save a lot of money that way!"

11. Saved money after breaking up with an ex who frequently ordered food delivery

"Broke up with ex - he was really into ordering food delivery often and I am more likely to be happy cooking at home. We would alternate paying and not to say I didn’t enjoy the meals, I’m just more inclined to find something at home given the option.

And when I do order out I usually pick it up myself which ends up a lot cheaper than some of the delivery services. He was very into delivery"

The next valuable tip from M. E. Hansen emphasizes the importance of defining your targets and keeping them in focus. She suggests setting your background image to a picture that serves as a visual reminder of your goals.

Research indicates that even simple actions like writing down your goals can significantly enhance your chances of achieving them. This is attributed to external storage and encoding. External storage involves creating a physical reminder that can be readily accessed and reviewed whenever needed. On the other hand, encoding relates to how our brain processes information and ensures that it is stored in our long-term memory.

12. Quitting smoking saved $220/month

"Quit smoking for health reasons, a pack a day is $7. Ended up saving around $220 dollars a month. Started ordering grocery pickup, because I'm lazy and hate going in the store. Turns out I not only save money but I lost weight. Because I actually eat better and I'm not impulse buying anything I don't need."

13. A long-lasting $50 tote bag featuring Tiffany's glasswork design proves to be a valuable and timeless investment

"Twenty-five years ago I bought a fancy tote bag for $50 in a chi-chi gift shop while traveling. The design on it was a printed reproduction of glasswork by Tiffany. I’m still using it after all this time. It comes with me every time I need to carry something that won’t fit in my purse, and people still come up to me and say how they like it. It paid for itself over and over again."

14. Frugal pandemic cleaning: Switched to Lysol concentrate, lasting over a year, saving money.

"Started using Lysol concentrate at the beginning of the pandemic because I couldn’t find the spray bottles.A bottle of concentrate will last a year+ and is only $5"

“Know where your money goes! Use the budget planner in your banking, credit card, or payment apps to see what you are spending on,” the professor suggested as tip number three. In addition to that, she pointed out that automating your savings is also a good idea.“If you have the option to 'round up' to savings, use it! Or open a separate account for savings and set up an automatic transfer to it when you get paid,” she says.

15. Ethical shopping and big savings by buying secondhand from online platforms like eBay, Poshmark, and Mercari

"I started buying clothes on eBay, Poshmark, and Mercari to get cute clothes while avoiding supporting brands that are unethical or owned by s****y people. Quickly realized that everything I could want including jewelry gets sold secondhand for way less, lots of times even new with tag & that’s basically how I get 90% of my clothing now."

16. Biking for savings

17. The pandemic led us to form a cover band for social interaction

"We started a cover band to play outdoors during COVID. We simply needed more social interactions when we started the project.

Today, we are booked regularly at our favorite places to hang out. We get to enjoy our favorite places and instead of spending money to be there, we get paid and come home with more money!"

18. Money-saving switches through sustainable living and conscious consumption

"I started trying to live with lower waste. The following switches have saved me money in the long run: paper napkins → cloth napkins

paper towels → rags, washable sponges, dish towels

tampons/pads → menstrual disc/period underwear

toilet paper → bidet + less TP

tin foil/parchment paper/plastic wrap→ glass storage containers, silicone baking mats, bees wrap/vegan wax wrap

Ziploc bags → stasher bags/jars/Pyrex containers

liquid detergent → powdered detergent

liquid shampoo/conditioner/body wash → bars

liquid hand soap → bar soap

canned soda/bubbly water → SodaStream

clay cat litter → compostable pine pellet cat litter

trash bags → bagless/washable bin liners/using packaging like dog food bags for bin liners

Other things: joining a buy-nothing group, eating less/stopping eating animal products, buying used/refurbished/secondhand, learning how to store vegetables properly, growing my own herbs"

The OP also provided valuable insights into money-saving strategies: "I've observed that I tend to overspend when I'm feeling bored or lacking sufficient vitamin D. I became aware of this pattern when I began going for walks outdoors or spending a day capturing photographs of flowers in nearby parks.

Once I realized this, I made it a practice to have dedicated 'outside time' before making any purchases, ensuring that my buying decisions are driven by genuine desire rather than impulsive dopamine cravings due to a lack of stimulation."

19. Self-grooming saves money

"I cut my own hair. I kept going to the salon only to have them not do what I wanted so out of frustration I started doing it myself. I also do my own pedicures. I’m so afraid so picking up a foot fungus or them cutting me."

20. Saving money through home gardening and enjoying the additional benefits of exercise

"Raising fruits and vegetables. Naysayers insist it doesn't save money but we've gotten better with practice. And the effort that goes into gardening, that's exercise. Saves the cost of a gym membership."

21. Cost-saving through swimming

"Go swimming. I started it because it's fun and good for my health. The thing is I only pay 1.80€ for entry because it's really cheap here. At home, I have a warm water heater, which is running on power.

I am paying 50 Cent/kWh and the warm water heater takes 21 KW. So showering for 15 Minutes are 2.50€. So I am saving 70 cents on showering and get swimming free and get a shower as long I want without any stress :)"

The redditor emphasized that discovering enjoyable activities can result in unexpected money savings, surpassing one's initial expectations. They encouraged taking the leap and pursuing such endeavors. For instance, if you have a passion for baking, try making your own bread. Likewise, if you enjoy experimenting with fashion, explore your own closet and uncover hidden gems that can revitalize your style.

22. Cost-saving through DIY repairs and investments in tools/supplies.

"I learned how to fix things. Yeah, grew up wanting to tinker and mess around with stuff, but it's only been recently that I'm realizing just how much money I've saved by doing my own repairs. Fixing phones, small appliances, computers, broken s**t around the house, etc.

I even recently saved a family member over $100 for replacing a broken screen on their phone :) Caveat: I did have to invest in tools/supplies initially and over time. But they've easily paid for themselves by now."

23. Unexpected savings from buying a used car

"Buying a new (used) car. Was really just tired of my car being in the shop all of the time. Bought a new car which resulted in a slightly higher monthly payment at the time, but was pleasantly surprised when my insurance cost was basically cut in half. Of course, there were maintenance savings as well, but that wasn't really my main goal."

24. Savings through quitting alcohol

"I quit drinking alcohol. Alcohol is expensive, going out to eat and having a few drinks is expensive, trying new breweries or wineries is expensive, and spending a Sunday afternoon at a bar is expensive. Thankfully I never had to pay the cost of a DUI because that's REALLY expensive. Cutting the one thing saved thousands a year in associated costs."

25. Rediscovered joy of homemade bread

"Homemade bread products. Tried making bread in my 20’s. It always failed. Gave up for a couple of decades. On a lark, I found a bagel recipe online. Figured, why not. They are fantastic. Started thinking about other stuff I could try to make. Haven’t bought any bread products in three months now. Loaf bread, hamburger and hot dog buns, pizza dough, English muffins, dinner rolls, donuts, and of course, bagels.

Didn’t start this as a cost-savings thing. Just like good quality stuff that I can customize flavors with. Was buying the 5lb bags of bread flour at the grocery store at about $1/lb. Found a 50 lb bag of bread flour at US Foods ChefStore for 50 cents a pound. Also a brick of instant yeast at a quarter of the price I’d been getting it at the grocery store for. Worked up the cost of all this stuff I’m making and it averages about a quarter of the cost of buying any of it premade.

Even bought a bread box on the marketplace to keep it all in!!"

26. Accidental savings through cat clippers and health-conscious choices

"I bought clippers for my cat when our mobile groomer shut down in 2020 and I haven't paid for pet grooming since. Almost everything I've ever done to be healthier or more environmentally responsible has saved money as a side effect."

27. Bidet installation for cost savings

28. Taking control of personal grooming

"I started cutting my own hair and doing my own nails because I don't like random people in my personal space and hate small talk. It was a one-time purchase of proper scissors and one of those uv sets from Amazon.

Less than one trip to the nail salon. Now I can do these things whenever I want without waiting for an appointment or having to drive anywhere. It's also a bonus because now I can easily convince my tween daughter to sit and talk to me about her life for an hour while I do her nails. I also got to make sure it wasn't a strong UV light and we always use sunscreen on our hands as a pre-treatment."

29. Homemade vanilla syrup for coffee saves $260/year

"I started making vanilla syrup for my coffee because I couldn't find it in stock at any local stores in 2020, I typically had been going through a $5 bottle every week. It doesn't seem like much, but pennies for sugar and cheap artificial vanilla compared to $260 a year is a change I'm really glad I made."

30. Savings through cutting cable and switching to internet-only

"I cut the cable when I moved overseas - never missed it. Barely watched any streaming outside of youtube. So when I came back I just got internet only. I used to have some streaming channels, but I've cut almost all of those too... I find it's not that I really want to watch a show or movie that often, I just want background noise while I surf.

Also, I dropped my Audible subscription - I used to listen to a lot of nonfiction books which were more expensive as a book than the monthly sub - but these days I just listen to podcasts mostly."

These stories highlight the unintended money-saving benefits of cutting cable, reducing streaming subscriptions, and opting for cost-effective alternatives like podcasts. They remind us to be mindful of our spending habits and explore creative ways to save money without compromising on enjoyment. By making small changes, we can achieve financial sustainability and a more fulfilling lifestyle.

Damjan