Best Frugal Tips To Reduce Expenses

A while back, I started putting out my “Frugal Friday Tips” on my social media. These are some of my best frugal tips or suggestions to help my readers cut or reduce their monthly expenses and many (if not most) were the very tips that we have done and lived by for many years. There are also some great over all tips for just getting your finances in order.

Over the last year, there have been so many good ones that I decided instead of making you go back in my social media to see them, (which I know you probably wouldn’t) I would compile them into one big post! I realize that not everyone is shown or sees my frugal Friday tips (Facebook is funny, that way), so by putting them here, it makes it so much easier for you, my dear reader, to see them all in one place. Maybe you already implement some of these, but there’s a good chance that there may be a few that you haven’t thought about.

I love these because saving money in most of these areas will give you more to spend on the things that really matter to you. That’s the beauty and meaning of frugality. Why throw your money away needlessly, my friend?

So here are a whole slew of some of the my best frugal tips to help you reduce expenses, get out of debt and hopefully save some money.

*This post may contain affiliate links, which means that if you buy a suggested product, I will earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. For more information, see my disclosure page.

55 Best frugal tips to help reduce expenses

Do A Spending Freeze Challenge!!

A spending freeze is a set amount of time decided upon ahead of time that you stop spending any money. It could be a weekend, a week, a month or a year. This is a great way to make a game out of saving money. Set the ground rules and decide what you get to spend money on and what is off limits. Some ideas…restaurants, coffee, clothes, Amazon, Target, anything that’s not a necessity. Look at the past month and decide the average money spent. Then put that into savings or use it to pay down debt!

Start small, think big with a short term savings goal!

The truth is, people save more successfully when they set a short term goal. For instance…committing to saving $20/week or a month for 6 months is much more attainable than setting a goal to save $500/month for a year. Once you reach the short term goal, you’ll have created a habit of saving you’ll be proud of!

You’ll be able to keep going strong with your new goal!

Automate your savings!! Pay Yourself First!!

Have your retirement taken out of your check before it even hits your account. The same goes for emergency funds, too. There is something to be said for out of sight and out of mind when it comes to saving money. If you find yourself dipping into your savings account often, move it to another account…or better yet…Another bank!

Watch Out For Bill Creep!

This happens when you’ve had your bills on Autopay for a year or more. You need to periodically check & compare the current month to what they were a year ago.

This goes for cable, internet, cell phone, auto/homeowners insurance, etc.

If you find this to be true, it may be time to call that service provider & renegotiate or look for something cheaper.

Open A Second Checking Account!

Pay your bills out of your main checking account and put spending money, miscellaneous spending, etc. into the second account.

This way, it helps to keep you from overspending out of the main account and keeps you from using money that’s necessary to pay your bills.

Establish Your Budget, Today!

The best way to jumpstart establishing a budget is to know your spending habits. Beginning the first day of the month, get a receipt for everything you purchase throughout the month. Categorize them into groceries, restaurants, etc. At the end of the month, you’ll be able to see exactly where your money has gone.

YOU MAY LIKE TO READ: How To Use The Half Payment Method

Get rid of Private Mortgage Insurance

If the down payment on your home was less than 20 percent, you are probably paying private mortgage insurance (PMI) as part of your monthly mortgage payment. Once you have 20 percent equity in your home, you should contact your lender to get your PMI removed.

Budget with Cash & Envelopes

If you have trouble with overspending, try the envelope budget system where you use a set amount of cash for most of your spending. This system can be used for groceries, eating out, gas or just about anything. Once the cash is gone…It’s gone!

YOU MAY LIKE TO READ: How To Use The Cash Envelope System

Get rid of high car payments!!

The total value of your vehicles should not be more that 50% of your annual income. That means, if you make $50,000 a year, you should NOT be driving a $40,000 car. Period. If car payments are part or all of your problem, sell it as quickly as you can and get a car that you can pay cash for. Remember, this doesn’t have to be forever. As soon as your debt’s gone, you can move up in car. “If you”ll drive like no one else, later you can drive like no one else!” ~Dave Ramsey

Order Your Groceries Online!

You can keep track of how much you’re spending. This is great if you have a grocery budget with a set amount of how much you want to spend.

Meal Plan!

Here are the top 5 reasons meal planning is a must!

#1: It saves you LOTS of money.

#2: You’re more likely to reach health goals.

#3: It enables variety and gives you control.

#4: Meal planning streamlines shopping and decreases food waste.

#5: Meal planning prevents decision fatigue.

Make a meal journal

A meal journal is a list of 20-30 of your favorite meals. Many of us are creatures of habit. We tend to eat the same things over and over. Sometimes, it’s because we lack imagination. Sometimes, it’s mainly out of convenience. What ever the reason, if you start making a list of different meals, as you try new ones or you rotate tried and true ones, it will help you to widen your choices and make meal planning easier.

Stay away from convenience/Cook from scratch

This is one of the best & most obvious frugal tips that really helps to reduce expenses. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that you can pay dearly for convenience. To many, it’s worth spending the extra bucks to be able to pop something in the microwave and have it ready in minutes. But if you’re really trying to save money, you need to buy ingredients, not meals. Most of the time, you can buy the ingredients for half of what an already prepared meal cost. Yes, it may take you a little more time, but you can put that savings in your pocket and use it for something else.

Use your crockpot/slow cooker!

Use the slow cooker in the summer to reduce electricity consumption if you have an electric stove. This also works great all year allowing you to throw meals together in the morning and have them ready when you return home. Crock-pot meals can be made ahead, frozen, and then tossed in on low for easy, healthy home cooked meals on busy nights. The best part of using your slow cooker is that you’ll stay out of drive thru’s if you know dinner is already waiting!

YOU MAY LIKE TO READ: Cheap and Easy Slow Cooker Meals

Learn To Love Leftovers!

Many dishes also taste better the next day, which makes eating leftovers even better! Spaghetti, lasagna, stew, gumbo and enchiladas always come to mind and if you don’t want to eat them two days in a row, think about freezing them.

Of course, if you absolutely hate leftovers, make sure you don’t cook more than you’ll eat at one meal.

Share a meal when dining out!

Most restaurants serve large portions. If you find yourself taking home leftovers more often than not, save yourself some money and split a meal. If you like to finish off with a sweet treat, share that too! You’ll save your wallet AND your waistline!

Brown Bag Your Lunch!

The reason you hear this tip so much is because it works! If buying your lunch at work cost $5 (or more), but making your lunch at home costs only $2.50, in a year, you could afford to create a $500 emergency fund with money left over!

Create A Spending Limit On Gifts!

Discuss placing spending limits on gifts within your family or a system where you only purchase one gift for one person. Not only will it relieve financial stress for your family, but it allows you to focus on what really matters during special occasions and holidays.

Plan Gift Giving Well In Advance!

To go along with spending limits, plan your gift giving well in advance. You will ensure that you’re giving the most thoughtful gifts, you’ll have the opportunity to look for sales and it will save you a bundle of money! You’ll also be able to enjoy the occasion more if you’re not worried about finances or finding the perfect gift at the last minute.

Make your own gifts!

You can save so much money if you make your own gifts instead of buying them. Even if you think you’re not the creative type, you might be surprised to discover lots of easy gifts that you can easily do yourself. Make a blanket, candles, cookies, cakes, homemade breads and so much more! Handmade is a gift from the heart!

Shop Thrift Stores!

Shop for everything from clothes to appliances! You’ll pay a fraction of retail! Shopping consignment & thrift stores aren’t only good for your wallet, it’s also more eco-conscious. You can find high-quality designer pieces on sites like Depop and Poshmark, or head to a secondhand store in your ‘hood’ to see what they have in stock.

YOU MAY LIKE TO READ: Best Tips For Thrift Store Shopping

Cut laundry detergent use in half!

Many laundry detergents sold today are HIGHLY concentrated. If you go by what’s on the container, be sure to use the smallest suggested amount!

Realistically, two tablespoons of detergent is more than enough for an effective clean on bigger loads that weigh 12 pounds or more. For average loads around eight pounds, you need even less. A single tablespoon should do the trick!

To save even more money, use cold water! Your clothes will still come out fresh & clean!

Weatherproof Your Home!!

Stop letting your hard earned money fly out the door…or windows! Caulk holes and cracks that let warm air escape in the winter and cold air escape in the summer. Your local hardware store has materials, and quite possibly useful advice, about inexpensively stopping unwanted heat or cooling loss. Fix it now so you can start saving, immediately!

Change Your AC Filter!

When was the last time you checked it & how often should you change them? Unoccupied vacation homes, depending on how often you use the system, could change the air filter every 6-12 months. Single person households with no pets could replace their air filters as little as every 4-6 months. Family households with no pets should change the filter at least every 90 days. Single pet households should change the filter every 60 days. Households with multiple pets may need to change their filter as often as every 20 days.

Keep Your Fridge Coils Clean!

Make it a practice to pull the refrigerator out and vacuum the coils underneath or behind. When the coils are clogged with dirt and dust, they can’t efficiently release heat. The result is your compressor works harder and longer than it was designed to, using more energy and shortening the life of your fridge. Mark it on the calendar to do this every 6 months or so.

Make your own cleaning products

You can easily make a wide range of homemade cleaners-from all-purpose cleaning sprays for granite counters, to scouring pastes for showers and bathroom tiles, to hardwood floor polishes-with
household staples like vinegar, baking soda, peroxide, Dawn and essential oils.

Don’t wait until you’re sick to see the Dr.

Make regular checkups like mammograms, paps, and general wellness checkups a part of your yearly or bi-yearly routine. Do this in addition to developing healthier living habits to save money and improve your quality of life. Prevention is always less expensive than intervention.

Go generic!

Ask your doctor if generic prescription drugs are a good option for you. Generic drugs can cost several hundred dollars less to purchase annually than brand name drugs. AND..since physicians most likely don’t know the costs you incur for a particular drug, you often have to ask. Also, store brand meds (over the counter) are most often just as effective as brand name meds and are made with identical ingredients. The savings when switching to store brands can be significant, so don’t be too skeptical and give them a try.

Fix it yourself!

Before you hire help to fix something, YouTube it first or do a quick research online. You’ll be surprised to find tons of free how-to videos and articles online to help you fix simple things at home. Everything from car maintenance to fixing your washer or dryer…It’s out there!

Learn Basic Skills

Do whatever you can to learn the skills that can help you get by, survive or that you could possibly trade for food or water. This may include: Sewing, knitting, crocheting, cooking/baking, gardening, carpentry, canning, foraging, farming, hunting/fishing, mechanics/engineering (fixing something when it breaks).

Learning these basic skills can ease many hardships you might face, plus they could actually become a commodity to help you get what you need to continue to survive in hard, economic times.

Sell your clutter for cash!

Low on cash? Need some Christmas money? You may not realize that there are treasures lurking in your closets & drawers. Clothes, shoes, bags or electronics that are still in good condition – but you no longer use. Decluttering can free up needed space AND make you some money! Sell your clutter for cash on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or a garage sale.

Include A Little Fun Money In Your Budget!

When you’re trying to pay off debt, sometimes there just doesn’t seem to be anything left over for “fun” money, but you also need to remember that unless you allow yourself a little bit of spending money from time to time, you will begin to feel deprived. Even if it’s only $10 or $20 a month, that’s fun money that you can spend any way you like. It will help you stick to your budget!

YOU MAY LIKE TO READ: 12 Tips On How To Overcome Frugal Fatigue

Consider cutting the cable/satellite cord!

When you stop and consider it, having cable TV is really just a want and certainly not a need. If you’re truly looking for ways to save money, then canceling your cable is an excellent option that can save you as much, if not more than $200 per month. There are so many other options, these days: Antenna, Hulu, Amazon, Netflix, YouTube, etc.

If you can’t completely cut the cord, consider downsizing your plan. Nixing HBO could save you at least $20!

Read this: How To Ditch Cable and Save Money

Get In Shape At Home!! No Gym Required!

Some of the best exercises do not involve any equipment and they can all be done from the comfort of your home. Use your own body weight for resistance. If you do need to invest in any equipment, I recommend 2-3 different size dumbbells, especially if you’re just beginning. Then, as your strength level goes up, you can go up with the dumbbell weights. (YouTube is a GREAT source for 1000’s of workout ideas!) Just Get Moving!!! 🙂

Also, if you have a SmartPhone, there are tons of apps that can help you track your progress, help you log your food/calories and even help you workout! My Fitness Pal has been and still is my absolute favorite and it’s FREE!

Start Saving For Retirement!

Start saving for retirement as early as possible! Few people get rich on wages alone. It’s the magic of compound interest that builds wealth. Take full advantage of employer matches, especially if your employer offers a match. If you don’t take advantage of that, you’re leaving money on the table!

Retirement BEFORE Education

Put your long-term goals in the right order. Retirement should come before saving for your child’s college.

Pay yourself first, and then look at how you can support your children in a variety of ways. If you really want what’s best for your kids, ensuring you won’t be a financial burden on them down the road is a great place to start.

Open a Roth IRA

The Roth IRA is great because it allows you to contribute after tax dollars and allows those contributions to grow tax free. What that means is when you withdraw the money in retirement you won’t have to pay any taxes on that money. If you think your tax rate will be higher in retirement, this is a very smart move. Also, with a Roth, you can withdraw your contributions whenever you need them without penalty. It can also be used for college and home purchase withdrawals.

You Need A Will!

Having a will is the most loving thing you can do for your family. Why not make the most difficult time as easy as possible for the ones we love. Even if you have a will, when was the last time you updated it? Our lives change, babies are born, children grow up, assets grow and if you made your will several years ago, it may be time to update it. By doing a little Estate Planning, you can save your family grief AND money when the most difficult time comes.

Get Term Life Insurance, Today!

If you died tomorrow, how would your family get by? How would they pay the bills, make ends meet? Life insurance is VITAL for every household…Period!

Even if you don’t have any other assets to pass to your heirs, you can create an inheritance by buying a life insurance policy and naming them as beneficiaries. This is a great way to set your kids up for a solid financial future and provide for any monetary needs that will arise.

Start saving for college NOW!

It’s never too soon to start saving for college. The last thing kids need is more “stuff”! Consider asking of donations to the college/vocational fund if you have enough clothes & toys for your children. It may not be as exciting now, but they WILL thank you later! Our college fund of choice is 529C.

Start every day with a (written) “To-Do” List

I’ve made it a practice to start every day with a “to-do” list. You may think this is silly, but I write down every thing I want or need to do each day. I even include the most mundane task, such as “clean out the refrigerator or wipe out the microwave”. Even though it’s a mundane chore, when I do it, I get a satisfaction from crossing it off the list. Then, at the end of the day, when I have mostly everything crossed off, I can see what I’ve actually accomplished.

To-do lists are also great tools to keep from forgetting what’s due, in turn saving you from paying needless late fees.

Stop Overdraft Protection!

If you’re prone to over drafting, stop the over draft protection on your checking account. It encourages overspending and can be extremely addicting. Many times, what you overspend will turn into a loan with extremely high fees.

Increase deductibles on car insurance!

Talk about frugal tips to reduce expenses! This can be a big one! Increasing your deductibles by $250-$500 can reduce your collision and comprehensive costs by 15%-30%. The trade-off is that you are required to pay more for small claims.

Self-Insure the small risks – By increasing your deductibles you avoid unnecessary coverage and since small claims increase your premiums anyways, filing fewer claims will reduce the chance of your premiums rising in the future

Review your W-4

Especially if you’ve had any changes in your life like having a child, getting married (or divorced), having an older child that is no longer a dependent, buying or selling a home or any other life changing situations. If you are getting a large refund, every year, you may be delighted come tax time, but this signals that you’re having too much taken out, during the year. What you are doing is giving Uncle Sam a tax free loan on your money! That’s money that could be used to pay bills, feed your family, get out of debt, or add to your savings account during the year.

Take advantage of FREE resources for fun & entertainment.

When looking for something to do, think free museums, parks, local attractions, libraries, splash pads, games in your backyard, free workshops, have friends over for game night! The list goes on and on!

You don’t have to spend much or really any money to have a good time!

YOU MAY LIKE TO READ: Frugal Ways To Spend Your Free Time That Are Fun!

Be A Tourist In Your Own Town!

Sometimes, we locals, get so busy with day to day life, that we don’t take the time to check out things going on in our own city or towns. You might be surprised to see what kind of entertainment is at your fingertips. Check out your local Chamber of Commerce’s calendar of events. Many places have a great history and plenty of museums, historical homes, etc., for minimal cost or free.

YOU MAY LIKE TO READ: Budget Friendly Staycation Ideas Close To Home

Call your bill companies, today!

Call all of your bill companies to see what they can do to lower your bill(s). Say that you’re thinking about switching providers and see what kind of discounts they can give you. They WANT to keep you as a paying customer, so it can never hurt to ask!

Think…Satellite/cable company, cell phone provider, internet provider, insurance company…even credit card companies! Even if you only get 1 or 2 to agree, that’s money in your pocket and one of the best frugal tips that will definitely help to reduce expenses

Check your credit report

You should check your credit report at least once a year. You can request a free copy of your credit report from each of three major credit reporting agencies – Equifax®, Experian®, and TransUnion®- once each year at AnnualCreditReport.com or call toll-free1-877-322-8228. A good credit history and credit score can be the difference between being able to purchase a home, buy a car or pay for college. Proactively managing your credit report is a great way to stay in control of your finances and ultimately achieve your goals.

Cancel unused memberships

If you are paying for memberships that you aren’t using, STOP!

This goes for gym memberships, magazine subscriptions, streaming channels, E-book services, mobile apps with monthly/yearly fees or just about anything else that you are paying for but not using.

Start by rounding up (a year’s worth) credit card bills, bank/debit card statements & emails. Comb through these financial statements/receipts, identify where your money’s going and then cancel!

Unsubscribe

Avoid temptation by unsubscribing from marketing emails and/or texts from the stores where you spend the most money. By law, each marketing email is required to have an ‘unsubscribe link, usually at the
bottom of the email or reply Stop’ to any text. This should opt you out of their marketing list.

Hang out with like-minded people!

If you hang out with spenders, chances are…you’re going to spend. If you hang out with budget conscious people, you will help to keep each other accountable.

Learn To Say “No”!!

There’s no shame in saying “No” to your family or friends, if you can’t afford to say “yes”. Take a raincheck for when you’re on better financial footing.

Make a game out of being frugal!

The best way to fight frugal fatigue is to make frugality a way of life rather than a burden. Try and make a game out of it. If you consider being frugal somehow demeaning, unpleasant or oppressive, then it is difficult to do all the time. If you consider it a lifestyle and the end result is financial freedom, it is much easier.

Say “No” To Perfection & “Yes” to Contentment

Striving for perfection is one of the fastest routes to unhappiness and discontent. Why? Because there is no such thing as perfection. When you try to be perfect, it’s a sure sign that you are worrying more about what people think of you, instead of just being who you are.

Try to replace your pursuit of perfection with a pursuit of contentment and see what happens.

YOU MAY LIKE TO READ: 15 Ways to Live a Life of Contentment

Embrace Frugality!

Frugal living isn’t about sacrifice and deprivation; it’s about living smarter, so that you can afford to live the life that you want to live. Frugal living is about determining what you want out of your life, and finding a way to make it happen. You don’t have to be a cheapskate to be frugal.

Do you have any frugal tips, not mentioned here, that you’ve done to help reduce your expenses? Please share in the comments below.

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