30 Ways to Be Frugal and Start Saving Money

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To me, living a more frugal lifestyle is all about getting the most out of my money. Spending my money on things that are important to me, have value to me, and assist me in living a healthier and enjoyable life that I want to live. Being frugal is a POSITIVE term. Frugality simply allows you to take control of your finances, and helps you to stop spending money on things are really aren't that important to you.

Now, the ways I choose to be frugal could be totally different for someone else because what is important to me, may not necessarily be important to you, and that is okay. Here are the ways I have been more frugal, and how I've been able to save up for my future!

30 Ways to Become Frugal and Start Saving for Your Future

#1 Become aware of your spending habits.

To figure out what areas you need to work on, you'll need to understand your current spending habits. Tracking things like "what days are you are more likely to make an impulsive purchase?", "What time do you make those purchases?", "What services or products do you usually purchase that are unnecessary?". We all have our habits and it's crucial to figure out what those are so you can start making the right adjustments and changes.

#2 Reassess your values and priorities.

If you've decided that you want to save up, or just improve your spending habits, chances are you have a change of values and priorities. I suggest starting to make a list and figure out what you truly value.

#3 Create financial goals and a budget.

Coming up with an effective budget and writing down your goals gives you a guideline to refer back to. Budgets and goals help you keep on track and acts your daily reminders as to why you are making these lifestyle changes.

#4 Declutter your home.

If you haven't ever gone through the items in your home, I highly suggest it. Sometimes we have items from YEARS ago that we completely forgot about that no longer provides us with any value. Gather up those items and give them away, sell them, or throw them out. I like to do this every year or two. The fewer items you are buying the less frequently you'll need to go through your home and declutter. Start off with a fresh plate, by removing those unnecessary items from your environment.

#5 Consider minimalism.

Minimalism is a great way to stop spending in unnecessary areas and save your money. Minimalism has a lot of benefits, from what I've read, I'm still slowly starting my own journey into minimalism so I can't say from personal experience. However, I think minimalism is a great way to really place your focus on the things in life that are important and add value to your life, which is why I'm slowly adopting that lifestyle myself.

#6 Stop buying stuff.

Stop window shopping. Stop looking online because you are bored. Making unnecessary purchases does add up, money-wise, and space-wise.

#7 Do a no-spend challenge.

A no-spend challenge is when you choose a period of time to not spend any money. The point of doing a no-spend challenge is to get back on track from holidays, traveling, or any spending slip-ups or times when you had to spend large amounts of money such as emergencies. I love no-spend challenges! It's really a great way to discipline yourself and stick to your saving goals. You don't even need a reason, like a recent large purchase, to start a no-spend challenge. You can do them just because, which to me is the best way to start one.

#8 Borrow items from family/friends.

A great way to save on money is by borrowing from others that may not be currently using a certain product. This works really well if you need a specific product that you know will be a one time use.

#9 Shop with a list

Shopping with a list not only helps remind you what you are looking for and need to re-stock on, but it also is a great way to remind yourself to stay on track and not over-spend in areas that you don't need.

#10 Always use coupons when possible.

I always try to find coupons when I shop, whether in person or online. I use the app "Reebee", which works as an online flyer. This app has helped me save a lot of money while grocery shopping because I usually base my meals on whatever is on sale that I like. Additionally, I use Swagbucks and Honey to provide me with amazing sales, discounts, cash-back, and coupons.

#11 Earn cash back.

Earning cashback is extremely easy. Sign up for free with Swagbucks, and Rakuten, to start earning 5%, or more, back from your online purchases! I'm so glad I started using these sites because it's extremely valuable. Even consider purchasing a free cash-back credit card as well.

#12 Quit your vices.

Quitting your vices (drinking, gambling, smoking, etc.) can not only guide you towards a healthier lifestyle, but it also saves you tons and tons of money and saves you from things that could be unhealthy, addictive, or just something that doesn't really provide you, and your life, with good value. This is definitely one of the points that are easier said than done, but that is something you, and only you can truly decide.

#13 Shop at thrift stores.

Shopping at thrift stores is a great way to find some great items and save money! I think thrifting is a fun way to shop for a way cheaper price! Even just shopping for used items through Poshmark! I love using Poshmark because you can find all sorts of brands and styles of clothing.

#14 Make things from scratch.

Sometimes making things from scratch can save you a lot of money! Making things from scratch can also be a way healthier alternative to in-store products! This can be food, but it can also be products like soaps, bath bombs, lotions, toothpaste, etc. This also helps to reduce the number of plastics you are bringing into your home. Yay for saving the environment!

Something that makes this point even better, is that you could potentially sell some of your DIY projects for some side income.

#15 Don't shop when hungry.

Shopping when hungry does not only apply to grocery shopping. It is also super important even when shopping at the malls for clothing, beauty products, household products, etc. Eating before leaving for any sort of errand decreases the chances of you picking up fast food, stopping at food courts, etc. I'm not saying you aren't allowed to go and pick up a coffee from your Starbucks or Tim Hortons, but sometimes just making coffee at home can make a big difference for your wallet!

#16 Prepare lunch the night before.

There have been so many times I went to work with the intention of buying lunch because I was way too lazy to make it the morning of. Make use of leftovers, or prep something the night before! This really does save you a lot of money. $15.00 doesn't sound like much, but it really does add up.

#17 Drink more water.

When you go out to eat, order water rather than a Coke/Pepsi! I do this because I just prefer water over everything else, but water is free so why not? If you have a struggle with drinking water, check out my post "15 ways to start drinking more water"!

#18 Earn extra income.

If you have any interests or hobbies, try to make them into a side hustle or second job. Coaching a sports team on the side, dog walking, knitting, making t-shirts, you can honestly do anything! I've been looking into selling clothing on Poshmark (use my code GABRIELLAARMANI to get $15.00 off your first order), I also make money on Swagbucks and run this blog.

#19 Walk more.

During the nicer seasons, I really enjoy being outside. I try to ride my bike and walk more rather than drive. This saves gas and also is a lot better for the environment. I live really close to essentials so if you also do, take advantage of being close and not having to rely on a vehicle all the time.

#20 Cancel unnecessary subscriptions.

Nowadays you can have a subscription to so many different websites, companies, phone apps, etc., which can make it a lot harder to remember everything you subscribed to, or are even paying for if the monthly amount is directly taken out of your account. Stop paying for things you aren't using or don't enjoy using!

#21 unsubscribe from emails.

Emails are the worst. I use to get hundreds of emails A DAY from stores, always telling me about sales, or items I'll love, and trying to get me to make more purchases on things I think I need. Some of you may need to hear this, but you don't NEED another pair of shoes or that new bikini. I'm getting a lot better at reducing purchases of unnecessary items, but I still need a little guidance here and there...so this step really helps.

#22 LEARN new skills to do yourself.

Never stop learning and expanding your knowledge! I've taken courses from Shaw Academy and Skillshare. Both are great sites to learn a variety of different things and uplevel your skills! Additionally, I use YouTube to learn as well.

#23 Grow your own veggies and fruit when possible.

Being here in Canada does limit the number of months we can garden and grow veggies, herbs, and delicious fresh fruits. But when we do get into that summer season, we plant as much as we can!

#24 Wait till you have a full load of laundry/dishwasher is full.

I do laundry once my basket is completely full. Stop wasting water and ranking up that water bill for two smaller loads when you can just do one load with the exact same amount of water and soap. This will also help your detergent last longer.

I will fill up my dishwasher as much as I can so that I'm cleaning more dishes with the same amount of water I would with one dish.

#25 Start investing.

Another great way to grow your wealth is to start investing your assets so that they start to increase in value over time. Investing can help you save for your retirement, reach your financial goals, and just help grow your money! There are so many different ways you can start investing. Some employers may provide employer-matching programs where they will offer to match the money you invest in your 401(k) plan, up to a certain amount. You can open up a TFSA, which is an account that provides tax benefits for saving and allows individuals to set money aside tax-free throughout their lifetime. Start researching some ways you can start investing and visit your bank to start discussing potential options that work for you.

#26 Turn off the lights when not using them.

I always make sure to turn off the lights when I leave a room. It can be a really bad habit to leave the lights on, and it does make a difference in your monthly bill! Turning the light off is something so simple, yet something people can easily forget to do, especially when in a rush. Before leaving the house, do a quick walk around to make sure you haven't left anything turned on that doesn't need to be. Honestly, I know so many people who leave the lights on when they leave a room, and it drives me NUTS! Sometimes, we are incredibly unaware of our little bad habits like this, and they do make a huge difference in the long run.

#27 Unplug when not in use.

Similar to turning the lights off, start unplugging all of the items that you aren't currently using in your home! I ALWAYS unplug my toaster, tea kettle, hair appliances, diffuser, phone chargers, etc. What is the point in having these things plugged in when they aren't being needed? Once again a quick little habit to pick up is unplugging RIGHT AFTER using! As soon as I take my toast out of the toaster, I unplug that bad boy.

#28 Use a reusable water bottle.

Stop buying plastic water bottles from vending machines! Start carrying around your own water bottle with you. This saves you a LOT of money! I personally enjoy using a Brita, that I store in my fridge, then I fill up my bottle and bring it with me everywhere I go! Great for the environment, and great for the wallet. I also love these water bottles!

#39 Invest in grocery bags.

Every time I go to pick up groceries, or to any sort of store I know I will be making purchases, I use reusable bags! At first, I used them to start working towards a more eco-friendly lifestyle. But this is also super great for saving money! A lot of stores now sell their plastic bags for $0.05-$0.10 a bag. This includes shopping for clothes as well. Another really great item to purchase is reusable produce bags (mostly for the environment since grocery stores don't charge for produce bags).

#30 Frugal living is all about your mentality.

For some people, it can take a lot of change in their everyday lifestyle to become more frugal. Especially for those who spend almost every single day! Reassess your values, know why you want to make a change, and always remember your why. It is really important to understand the value of becoming frugal before trying to implement it into your life.