50+ Frugal Ways To Save Money

We are always looking for frugal ways to save money and keep more of our hard earned dollars, but in this day and age, it seems to be getting more difficult to do that.

For many of us, there’s just simply too much month left at the end of the money and many times, we feel there’s just nothing left to cut.  Well, that’s not true!  I feel there’s always room for improvement as we can always go a little deeper when it comes to saving money.  But, of course, it’s up to you how deep you need to go and how much time you’re willing to invest.

Several months ago a wrote a post, 85 Frugal Tips To Help You  Save Money.  It’s been one of my most popular post, yet!  So popular, that I decided to see if I could expound on it and come up with even more frugal ways to save money.  Well, guess what?!  That’s exactly what I did and here they are!  Over 50 awesome money saving tips!

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50+ Frugal Ways To Save Money

1. Avoid ATM’s, especially the ones with fees.  I can honestly say I’ve never used an ATM before.  I never wanted to get into that habit.
2. Consolidate loans if you can drastically lower the interests rates, but only do this is you have changed your mindset and vow to stop using credit…otherwise, you’ll find yourself right back in the same boat with a consolidated loan and more debt.  You will cause yourself to dig your hole even deeper.
3. Leave the debit card/checkbook at home.
4. Keep track of your spending daily or weekly.  This is imperative to living within your means.
5. Look for coupon codes before purchasing anything online.
6. Use Groupon, but be careful not spend, just because you see a good deal.  If you weren’t looking for it…don’t buy it.
7. Pay your bills either before or as soon as you get paid AND have a plan/budget in place.
8. Do NOT enroll in overdraft protection at your bank.  While this may seem like a good idea, having this kind of cushion can lead to more debt.
9. Learn the sales cycles for large purchases.  Here is an article that has a graphic with the month and the items that usually go on sale, The Best Times To Buy Anything, All Year Round.
10. To save money on gas, use the Gas Buddy app.
11. To find the cheapest and most convenient parking facilities in 105 cities and 115 airports, get the Best Parking app.
12. Check for free wifi when your out and about.  I do this while at the grocery store, restaurants or anywhere else that may offer it.  It saves me from using my own data.
13. Wait until Black Friday or Cyber Monday to make purchases.
14. Implement a 24 hour rule.  If you see something you really want or think you need, don’t purchase immediately.  Wait 24 hours and see if you still feel the same way.  Chances are…you won’t.
15. Need glasses?  www.39dollarglasses.com and www.firmoo.com have great prices at a fraction of the cost from major retailers.  I got a new Rx from my eye doctor recently and decided to give 39Dollarglasses a try.  Ordering was simple and delivery was quick.  I love them!  I also use www.Readers.com for my every day readers and sunglasses, as I like the sunglasses to also be readers.  They only cost $14.95 a piece for these and I have been extremely happy with my purchases.
16. Take free classes at your local library.  Most have online calendars with the classes that are available.
17. Check out Ebooks and Audiobooks (through your local library) for free, using www.overdrive.com.
18. Delete cookies BEFORE searching for airline flights.  Clearing your search history “may” help you get a cheaper ticket, because airline and travel websites will use your search history against you.  This may not be foolproof, but why take chances.
19. Pay loans bi-monthly or split them in half, on your own and move the amount to another account until the due date.  I have found that splitting larger bills, like mortgage, rent, car payments, etc., will keep you from having such a large chunk come out of one paycheck.  This is particularly helpful if you get paid bi-monthly.  You can also do this if you get paid weekly.  Just divide the payment by four and take that amount, move it out of your checking account, into another account (or pull the cash.)  Just be sure to put it in a place where you won’t be tempted to use it. Check out a more detailed explanation in my post, How To Use The Half Payment Method.
20. Use free iCloud or GoogleDrive for storage.
21. Use power saving settings on your devices.
22. Try comparing prices using Costco Travel for vacation packages, cruises, rental cars and hotel rooms.  It’s wise to always spend a few extra minutes to compare prices and amenities with other booking sites, as well.
23. If you work for a company, ask for corporate discounts for gym memberships, airlines, etc.  It’s always wise to see what’s available.
24. Review you insurances, i.e. auto and homeowners, yearly, because we all know, it pays to shop around.
25. Increase insurance deductibles. This can save a considerable amount, but just be sure you always have enough money in savings to cover the deductible in case you need to file a claim.  In other words, have an emergency fund.
26. Bundle your polices for a 10-20% discount.
27. Switch to Term Life Insurance if you are paying for Whole Life.  Life insurance is not an investment!  Term is a lot less expensive and you can pocket the difference.  Do your own investing and not through a life insurance policy.
28. Order 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.
29. Grow your own herbs.
30. Chop your own veggies.  Pre-chopped vegetables always cost more.
31. Separate your bananas!  This can slow down the ripening process.
32. Make your lettuce last longer by storing it in a zip lock bag with a moist paper towel.  I’ve done this for years and it really works!
33. Boil water in the microwave instead of the stovetop.  But, if you have to use the stove, put a lid on it to make it boil faster.
34. Invest in a deep freezer.  This will allow you to take advantage of buying in bulk and pay lower price and it will also allow you to make up some freezer meals for those busy days when you don’t have time to prepare a meal from scratch.
35. Bring water with you when you leave home.  It’ll keep you from stopping at a convenience store for something to drink.
36. Run your dishwasher at night and “air” dry, instead of “heat” dry. Make sure it’s full, too, because it uses the same amount of water whether you run a half a load or a full load.
37. Throw 2-3 tennis balls in the dryer to help any load dry faster.
38. Do your own beauty treatments.  24 Favorite Frugal Beauty Tips can give you some great suggestions!
39. Make your own gifts because this can be more meaningful when it’s a gift from the heart and it just takes a little pre-planning.
40. Check the rubber seal around the refrigerator and oven to make sure you’re not wasting money on your energy bill.  Here is an article to show you how.
41. Develop a minimalist lifestyle.  Sell your clutter or items that you don’t need or use. You can have a yard sale, sell it on eBay or Craigslist, take it to a consignment shop, or even donate it for the tax deduction. All of these options can turn old stuff you don’t want anymore into money in your pocket. Not only that, it’s often a psychological load off your mind to clean out your closets.
42. Cut your own hair.  This may not be popular with some, but if you have a simple hairstyle, you just need a good pair of scissors and clippers.
43. Don’t speed.  It’s far more cost-efficient to just drive the speed limit, keep that gas in the tank, and keep the cops off your tail.  If you have a lead foot, use your cruise control.
44. Don’t let your car idle.  You’re literally burning money.
45. Pull your credit report for free once a year and check for inaccuracies that could end up being costly or could be flags for identity theft.  I use Credit Karma for this.
46. Do your own yard work!
47. Keep the sun out by keeping your blinds or curtains closed during hot summer days, because we all know that blocking the sunlight really does help to keep your house cooler.
48. Lower the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees. For every 10 degree reduction in temperature, you can save up to 5 percent on water heating costs.
49. Caulk and weather-seal all the drafts and gaps around your doors and windows
50. Plant shade trees around your house to help you save on the cost of air-conditioning.
51. 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, though, you should contact your lender to get your PMI removed.
52. Challenge/protest your property tax assessment.
53. Exercise for free or on the cheap.  Check out this post for ways to get healthy and fit on a frugal budget!
54. Keep copies of your receipts in an envelope or file folder, organized by store or by month. You’ll need these if anything breaks.
55. Ask your doctor for samples for expensive medications or give you a prescription for 3 month refills instead of one.  That way, you’ll only have to pay one co-pay instead of 3.
56. Use Amazon for shopping, whether its for Christmas, birthdays, etc.  If you shop online, a lot, it may be worth it to purchase Amazon Prime.  You can even split Prime with a friend or relative.  You can add several addresses and payment methods to one account, making this very easy.  Amazon also gives you a month of FREE Prime, just to try.  I’ve done this in December and was able to use it all through the holidays.  You just need to remember to cancel on or before the 30 days is up, in order to not get charged.
57. Set goals and make a plan for saving.
58. Give yourself grace and don’t beat yourself up over past mistakes. Instead, learn from them and move forward.

Speaking of Amazon…

Here are a few of my favorite items from Amazon that can help you save money, because sometimes, spending a little can save a bunch, in the long run.

AmazonBasics Blackout Curtain Set
AmazonBasics Expanding File
Danby Chest Freezer, 7.2 Cubic Feet, White

Just get started…

There are so many ways to save money and be frugal…and while all of these suggestions may or may not be applicable to your situation, I’m sure there are many that can be implemented to help you reach your goals, whether it’s saving more money, getting out of debt or both.

As with the first post, 85 Frugal Tips to Help You Save Money, I hope you can put some of these tips to use and find some more frugal ways to save money.  Please add your money saving tips in the comments below.  I’d love to hear from you!  Also, be sure to subscribe to Love To Frugal to make sure you never miss a post!