Don’t buy stuff u don’t need

Don’t go cheap on shoes you will be wearing often, and take better care of your teeth.

Once I find an affordable, comfortable, good pair of shoes (or any clothing) I buy many multiples of it onlinewhen the price is right. This way not only you save money, but you save time by not wasting time on shopping.

Learn to cook legumes well. It’s much cheaper than eating meat all the time

I have learned to repair almost any home appliance. YouTube is a lifesaver and has literally saved me thousands of dollars. Furnace, AC, dishwasher, oven, washer, dryer, and sump pump — I have fixed them all.

I base my grocery shopping list around what is on special each week.

This week it was whole chicken, baby potatoes, sweetcorn and some imperfectly-shaped but perfectly ripe tomatoes.

I combine these with items I have already stocked up on from our freezer, pantry, fridge and vegetable garden to form our meals for the week.

All of these are good ideas, but the best (and I mean absolute best) advice for being frugal is having or finding a partner who has the same financial goals. You simply cannot and will not be able to save and be frugal if your partner does not have the same mindset. My wife and I look at our budget radically – do we need every item? Do we really need a second car? Keep this in mind when you’re dating – good luck in the new year penny pinching friends 🙂

Make use of your local public library – they have books, DVDs, video games, puzzles, etc – all of these things are free! They often have free programs you can attend as well – mine is hosting a free escape room this week. Some libraries also circulate unconventional things – mine has car check engine code readers, bubble kits, binoculars, telescopes, and a ton of other things!

Spend a few dollars at the thrift store, or whatever store and buy some washcloths or rags for cleaning, spills, wiping your mouth, whatever. Stop buying paper towels. I have saved hundreds if not thousands of dollars at this point by literally just switching. You can also just cut up some old T-shirts or towels that you have as well. Better for the environment and better for your wallet.

The only paper napkins we have in the house from the kids birthday parties because it’s themed lol. And we do sometimes take napkins from fast food, restaurants, or to go places.

Really enjoying/using/repurposing what you have is a satisfying alternative both to recreational shopping and to buying stuff in general. I’ve been focusing more on that this past year as I go through a frugal + declutter process, and it’s honestly great.