If the word frugal brings up images of never again eating in a restaurant or going on vacation, it’s time for an update. Being frugal simply means you keep more of the money you make by not spending it on things that you don’t really care about.
Here are some easy ways to live frugally:
Check your car insurance
If you currently have auto insurance with a company or agent that offers service from only one company, contact an agent that can get you quotes for multiple companies to make sure you aren’t overpaying.
It’s crucial to have car insurance from a reputable company, but that doesn’t always mean you need to pay more.
Go through your bills
This may sound like a boring chore, but just give it ten minutes of your time. Open your bank statement online and write down the names of any subscriptions you may have, but aren’t using. You can even use a free service like Trubill to lower your bills.
Reduce the amount of money you spend on entertainment and shopping
You can even bring home the same stuff while paying less. Gift Card Granny can help you find discounted gift cards online to help you save money at your favorite stores. You’ll see discounted gift cards for movie theaters and restaurants here, too.
Before you go out to eat or take a trip to your favorite retail store, check online for coupons and deals. Clipping coupons used to be a chore, but now you can often find great deals in less than a minute with a quick search.
Sites like Groupon and LivingSocial also have deals on things you probably already do, so it’s a good idea to take advantage of the savings.
Time your bigger purchases
You can score great discounts on purchases if you time them right, according to the seasons. Consumer Reports has an up-to-date list for each month.
Check out the website Brad’s Deals before buying major stuff online. It’s an easy searchable curated database of sales from thousands of stores. You can shop by category or even sign up for their daily digest emails to see the best deals online for any given day.
Recycle your unwanted things
If you find yourself hanging on to things you no longer need because they were expensive, try selling them for extra cash. Check out Mercari or PoshMark to explore the option of selling your brand clothing and accessories. Many people find that they can easily make some money by selling household items on Craigslist or through Facebook Marketplace.
In addition to saving money on things you already buy and services you already use, consider adopting a frugal mindset as a way to keep more of your hard-earned cash. Skip the less important purchases in favor of the things that really matter to you.
If you don’t already have a simple budget in place, put one together with the help of a simple budgeting app to see where you currently spend your money.
Looking for more savings tips? Check out our helpful guide on The Basics of Saving Money.
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