Cutting costs doesn’t mean cutting corners. With prices climbing on everything from groceries to gas, it’s more important than ever to spend wisely — not just less. The key is getting the most value for your money by making intentional financial choices, not random cuts.
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Adopting a more frugal mindset can help you save quickly, build healthy long-term financial habits, and maintain the quality of life you enjoy. Here are eight simple strategies and pro tips to help you spend smarter without sacrificing what matters.
Buy in Bulk
- Pro tip: Look for the store or generic brands to stretch your dollar further when buying in bulk.
You often buy the same products week after week — why not just buy them in bulk? In most cases, you’ll save money, and you’re not sacrificing any quality or even cutting back on any of the products you use. This is especially the case for staples like canned goods and toiletries.
Many large grocery wholesalers and drugstores carry their own generic or store-brand products, which are often lower priced yet very similar in quality. It’s natural to think that just because a product is more expensive, it’s higher quality, but this often isn’t the case.
Many name-brand products charge higher prices to cover marketing and branding costs — while their product is almost exactly the same as the generic brand next to it on the shelf.
Keep in mind that if you are buying in bulk, you need to have a plan to properly store the items and make sure you’ll actually use them up. You won’t be saving money if you’re not consuming the extra product you bought.
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Cook More at Home
- Pro tip: Meal prepping reduces waste for your grocery cart and credit card bill.
Frequently dining out can have a major impact on your budget — in most cases, it’s much cheaper to cook at home. Buying your groceries in bulk and preparing your meals in batches can often save you money.
If you’re just getting started, the food quality may not be restaurant-grade at first, but over time, you can learn to cook delicious (and often healthier) meals at home.
Like buying in bulk, it’s important to have a plan to ensure the food you’re buying and cooking isn’t going to waste. Plan your meals ahead of time and make a grocery list to ensure you’re not buying food you won’t use. This also helps avoid impulse purchases.
Embrace Minimalism
- Pro tip: A smaller shopping list means bigger savings and no impulse buying.
Getting wrapped up in the latest fashion trend or interior design fad is easy. Social media especially, can encourage overconsumption, which in turn drives overspending. In many cases, you may wind up buying a trendy item that’s of poorer quality.
Now’s a great time to adopt a mindset shift around consumption. Try to focus on buying fewer things that bring you joy. And when you do decide to buy, focus on quality over quantity. Quality items tend to last longer — so while the price tag may be higher, you’ll save money in the long run because you won’t need to buy replacements.
Use Coupons or Cash-Back Apps
- Pro tip: Don’t leave money on the table and double-check for discounts and promo codes.
Coupons can give discounts on items you were already going to buy — so there is no need to purchase lower-quality items. Cash-back apps are essentially digital coupons, giving you rebates on certain online purchases.
Both of these tactics are a no-brainer when it comes to shopping. They’ll often give you money off your purchases without much extra work on your part.
If you’re a regular shopper at a specific retailer, see if they offer loyalty programs or in-store discounts. That way, you can rack up additional savings on your regular purchases.
Consolidate Your Cable and Streaming Subscriptions
- Pro tip: Go through all the subscriptions you have on autopay and cancel any you don’t use.
Embracing frugality doesn’t mean cutting out all the subscriptions in your life. If you enjoy catching up on your favorite shows, keep watching! But you may want to consider taking a closer look at your entertainment subscriptions and identifying ones you don’t use often.
Most streaming subscriptions charge a lower monthly cost — but if you have multiple, those charges can add up and crunch your budget. Chances are, there’s at least one subscription you could cancel, which can add up to substantial savings over the course of the year. And you likely won’t even miss it.
If you have cable, consider bundling your internet and cable together. This can help you save costs over time without cutting back on your shows and services.
Try Your Hand at DIY
- Pro tip: If you want something done frugally, do it yourself.
While there are some projects where you need to call in the professionals for smaller home improvement projects or repairs, consider trying to make the fix yourself.
Not only will you build a new skill, but you can save big on labor costs without giving up the quality of the finished project.
The same goes for broken electronics or damaged clothes. Learning to sew yourself or make minor fixes can save you money in the long run. It also extends the life of many of your items, helping you avoid buying replacements.
Utilize Energy-Saving Habits
- Pro tip: Investing in energy-efficient appliances now can save you a lot of money later.
There’s a good chance your home is raising energy costs, and you don’t even know it.
Even when some electronics or appliances are turned off, they can still suck up lots of energy. Consider unplugging your devices when they’re not in use, including switching off or unplugging power strips. The same goes for turning off room lights when not in use.
You may also want to consider upgrading your appliances to energy-efficient ones to improve the energy use in your home, saving you money in the long run.
Stay Thrifty and Buy Secondhand
- Pro tip: Buying used is still new to you — and great for the environment and your wallet.
Buying used items doesn’t mean they’re lower quality. Secondhand items are often high-quality products that have stood the test of time. Plus, they’re often much more affordable.
Consider looking at online marketplaces, thrift stores, garage sales and estate sales. While it may take some extra work on your part, you’ll sometimes find almost brand-new items at a fraction of the cost.
While being frugal does often mean making some sacrifices, you don’t need to cut back on everything you enjoy just to save money. While financial freedom is important, so is enjoying life. It’s important to balance spending on things you love and avoid overspending. But it’s possible.
Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.
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