Do you practice these daily habits of frugal people? It seems that frugal living is a real topic these days. People are either becoming crazy frugal, or moving in the total opposite direction and completely destroying their finances.
There has got to be a happy medium when it comes to frugal living and a truly balanced life!
But how do we find that line? I’ve always thought that a great way to learn is to take tips from how other people live and apply some of those tips to your own life!
That’s why I’ve always been fascinated with blog posts with titles like “daily habits of…”, hence the creation of this exact post!
10 Daily Habits of Frugal People
Table of Contents
From what I’ve learned, most people who are seriously frugal learned it in one of two ways:
- They learn frugal habits from their parents and/or grandparents and it’s just ingrained in them from a young age
- They experienced a serious financial hardship and were forced into frugality
No matter how they learned it, frugal people have a lot figured out and you can learn a lot from their experiences. They are serious experts on saving money and implementing even just a few of their habits can change your entire financial future.
Let’s discuss 10 Daily Habits of Frugal People that you should implement in your personal life!
#1 – They attempt to buy used
I’m going to assume you’ve heard the phrase “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” and boy, that couldn’t be more true.
Whenever you’re in the market for a hefty purchase, you should always check on Facebook Marketplace, at second-hand stores, and websites like Craigslist or Kijiji because you never know what people are trying to get rid of.
It’s super common that people are trying to get rid of like-new items that they didn’t actually need to buy, or they’re getting caught in the rat race and are just upgrading because they think they should.
Frugal people have totally cracked this code and they know they can get big-ticket items for under 25% of the brand new sales price!
Use some soap, clean them up, and it’s like it’s brand spanking new!
#2 – They have an emergency fund
One thing that all frugal people understand is that bad things can happen at any time. They are always aware that sometime soon they may need money to fix something that they weren’t expecting, but the difference between them and us is that they are always prepared for it.
Since they know that financial disaster can strike at any time, they always put in the effort to steer towards saving more money and having an emergency fund that’s fully funded.
#3 – They never leave money on the table
Frugal people always know to check every possible chance of saving money or getting cash back for their purchase. They’ll trade their email for 10% off and the second they make a purchase, they’ll unsubscribe from the newsletter.
They also use free services to get cash back and coupons before making a purchase, what are these magical websites? Well, two of my favourites are:
- Ebates – The best cash back website on the internet
- Honey – The easiest way to check for coupons you may be missing
#4 – They seek out like-minded friends
Have you ever heard that you are the sum of the 5 people you spend the most time with? It might sound kind of crazy, but it’s so true. We’re human and we often develop habits that our closest friends have without even realizing it’s happening.
Frugal people have learned not to surround themselves with people who are bad with money, who spend too much and have a negative money mindset.
Why? Because they don’t want to be dragged back into that lifestyle.
Want to find new friends? Reach out to some of your favourite finance bloggers!
We spend 90% of our time alone on a computer and we could always use new internet friends. Want to make new blogging friends? I recommend this Facebook group for bloggers!
#5 – They repair before they replace
This is one of the most common things that frugal people learn from their parents/grandparents. 50+ years ago we didn’t live in a throw-away society and we were much more likely to fix something before we went out to replace it.
Hole in a sweater? Learn to sew! Broken television? Hire a guy!
Even if you can’t figure out how to fix it yourself, chances are you know someone or can find someone who can fix it for a fraction of the cost of buying something new.
#6 – They plan their meals
Have you ever gotten home from a hard day at work to a fridge full of food but no plan? Even with a fridge full of food you’ve probably made the mistake of ordering food in or grabbing a greasy burger.
Having a plan for your meals is the best way to save money every single day. When you have a plan or what you’re going to cook before you walk in the door after work, you’re much less likely to order dinner.
Not sure how to meal plan? I have the perfect solution.
- There’s this amazing website called $5 Meal Plan that will send you a weekly meal plan along with a grocery list for only $5 a month. This service takes all of the guesswork out of grocery shopping and it’s my new obsession. I’ve created some really cool recipes and it really brought me out of my cooking rut. Get your first two weeks FREE!
#7 – They use every drop
There are so many products that we use every single day and those costs really add up.
I’ve been guilty of throwing away a product when there’s still a lot left just because I was too lazy to open it up and get the rest out.
It’s never that hard to get the last drops out of a bottle. You can save yourself at least $100 a year just by using the last of every product you use!
#8 – They have a productive hobby
Frugal people really understand the importance of not wasting their money and their time. They are often dedicating their time to a hobby and/or business that either makes them money or makes them healthier.
You’ll notice a ton of frugal people are runners because it’s a free activity that also helps them lose weight and get stronger. If they aren’t focused on their health, they’ll have a hobby that they can monetize which is the best kind of hobby.
#9 – They stay home
If you’re ever on the internet, I’m assuming you’ve heard of FOMO, but I’ll explain it a bit anyway. FOMO is the fear of missing out, it’s that feeling you get when your friends are out there doing things without you and you feel like you’re missing out on an experience.
FOMO is a huge reason why people try and keep up with the Joneses.
Frugal people have battled FOMO and they’ve won. They know they shouldn’t compare their lives to others and they don’t let is control them. They’ll stay home when they don’t want to spend the money, or when they just simply don’t want to go! The key is not worrying about what other people think, which is easier said than done.
#10 – They never stop learning about money
If you go into a super frugal person’s home and check out their book collection, chances are you’re going to find some kind of self-help money book that has taught them how to handle their money.
They also have tons of financial websites bookmarked on their computer (you should totally do that with this one, we can be friends… okay, I think I’m just sounding desperate now… I promise I have friends).
If you are looking for a good way to continue to learn about money, I suggest you sign up for my email list! I send out emails all about budgeting, making extra money, and other random personal finance topics! Join my email family!
Final Thoughts
Being frugal can be a great way to save money and really get on track for your finances. Which of these frugal habits do you already use in your everyday life? Are there any that you’re willing to work on? Let me know in the comments!
You guys are the best, thanks for reading
xo Taylor
One thing that I have had even as a child. It was a money jar. I put all of my loose change in it. I even put dollars in it and when I get coins large enough to roll, I roll them, take them to the bank and put in my checking account. Sometimes it is just a few dollars sometimes it is more. It really adds up. Don’t throw away your pennies. Pennies make dollars.
Eloise
That’s awesome! Every kid should have a money jar