Money, money, money! Let’s talk about it!

I don’t know if there is such a thing as a person who doesn’t need money. Whether you need it to pay your mortgage, your rent, your bills, the college for a child, or you simply want to go on a holiday and have the time of your life, you definitely need some cash to enjoy yourself.

Frugal people, for instance, know all the tips and tricks on how they can save some dollars and redirect them to the things they need more of. Speaking of that, some individuals say that frugality means greediness, but that’s nothing further from the truth.

Being thrifty only means that you’re looking for the best deals you can find and that you want to live your life to the fullest while also avoiding splurging on things that aren’t that important.

If you’re looking for ways to save a couple of dollars to treat yourself to something nice or for any other reason you might have, I know a few tips that are going to make you very happy. I’ve talked to some of my best friends who are as frugal as they can get, and let me tell you that they shared some incredible insights with me.

I’m going to give you all the tea, so make sure you read along with me until the end of this article to discover everything you need to know!

1. They eat leftovers

You might think that is not a big deal, but did you know that there are a lot of people who can’t stand to eat leftovers? They refuse to do it because the food doesn’t taste the same as it did when they cooked it, so think of it this way: if you were to meal prep, you would cook more so you could have those meals ready when you needed them during the week.

This means that your food won’t be very fresh if you cook it on Monday and eat your last portion on Wednesday. But that’s going to help you save money because you won’t be tempted to pop into a grocery store to grab something really quick or, even worse, order takeout.

Other than that, if you don’t like to eat leftovers, you’ll have to make smaller batches of food, but that means consuming more resources in the long run, such as water and electricity. And if you’re looking for ways to be more mindful regarding your budget, throwing food away is not an option.

If you don’t want to get bored eating the same thing over and over again, you can create a new meal from what you already have. For instance, if you have a leftover roast, you can shred it and turn it into protein for a salad or a sandwich. Frugal people are creative, so if you want to save some cash, you’ll have to think outside the box.

2. They don’t do retail therapy

I used to be very guilty of that. When I was younger and started to work, I used to spend the majority of my paycheck shopping for clothes, shoes, and home accessories I thought I needed.

The worst part is that whenever I felt sad or lonely, I would grab my purse and head to the mall, thinking that shopping was going to fill my void. I did, for a couple of hours, but I couldn’t mask my real feelings.

I spent a ton of money on things that I didn’t even like after a few weeks or months, and I ended up throwing them away, giving them to friends and family, and being penniless.

It took me a while to understand that it wasn’t the proper way to save money and actually manage to use them wisely, so if you’re like me, let go of retail therapy because it’s not making you happy and it only makes you have fewer dollars in your pocket.

3. They love DIYs

One thing frugal people love a lot is DIY projects. Whether it’s home decor objects, painting the walls in their home, giving life to a decor item they don’t like that much, or changing their own tires, they will definitely think about tackling those things on their own rather than asking someone for help.

Of course, if they need something bigger, such as getting their roof fixed or changing their windows, they’ll think about asking a professional for their service. But if there’s something that they can do with a little bit of effort and skills, they’ll try it themselves, and that means that they’ll save money.

So if you want to save some cash and do what frugal people do, the next time you need something around the house, do your research and see if you can properly take care of it, before you dial the pro’s number.

4. They buy used things

Another thing frugal people do in order to save money is to purchase used things. For instance, they don’t have a problem getting clothes from the thrift shop or books from an antique bookshop rather than going to a regular shop or bookstore, which might add a lot of extra taxes on the final product.

If you’re not into purchasing things secondhand, just think about how much money you save and how unique your things will be. There’s a high chance that you’re not going to find those clothing items elsewhere, so that’s always a plus. As for thrift books, what’s on the inside matters, right?

5. They keep track of their bills

Did you know that keeping track of your bills can actually help you save money in the long run? If you pay attention to what and how much resources you consume, you have the chance to make some adjustments and see if there are any ways you can reduce how much money you spend in a month.

Frugal people also look at every offer possible that will allow them to save some extra cash, and they know that they might get a discount if they put their bills on an autopay program. However, don’t put every single bill on autopay, because you might lose track of them.

If you want to learn more about the autopay program, we wrote an article that might help you, so check it out: 7 Bills You Should NEVER Put on Autopay!

6. They buy in bulk

Do you like to buy things in bulk? Frugal people are all about it because it’s convenient and it makes their wallets happy! If you’re grocery shopping and you notice something affordable and you know you like it and you use it a lot, don’t buy just one item!

Grab a couple of them and store them in your pantry or freezer, depending on the product you’ve got, and you’ll save more in the long run. Another great thing about buying in bulk is that you won’t have to go shopping any time soon, which means that you’ll save money, gas, and energy.

If you’re looking for a grocery store that offers you the ability to purchase high-quality items that come in bulk, check out Costco because they have a large variety of products to choose from!

What do you think about these smart ways to save money? Do you do any of these things? If you need more tips on how to save cash and still live the life that you want, here’s a piggy bank that will help you reach your financial goals!