Smart Shopping and Eating: The Keys to Frugal Living

Introduction

Welcome to our Website In Part 1 of our series, we will share more frugal living tips to save money.

Budget

Budget. We can’t stress enough how important it is to create a budget if you want to live a frugal lifestyle. For me, I set a goal for myself and then create the budget accordingly.

Having a goal in mind can help you know what items to prioritize and make the whole thing more effortless and organized. Of course, it is essential that you also stick to your budget. Splurging and going over your budget will ruin your finances and prevent you from taking full control of your money.

Instead of splurging money on non-essentials, think of saving for the future. There’s no shortcut to this but to create a budget and stick to it.

Do smart shopping.

Grocery shopping is expensive, not to mention time-consuming. One way to save on groceries is by creating a meal plan. Yes, I know anything that involves planning that does not sound appealing, especially for busy bees. However, meal planning is a real game-changer when you desire to adopt a frugal lifestyle.

Meal plans make grocery shopping less troublesome since you already know what you need to buy. Instead of mindlessly picking anything up, it is also a good idea to download grocery apps and check out the flyers and coupons of your local grocery store. The discounts they give out may seem small, but they can add up to immense savings in the long run.

Instead of going to big grocery chains, why not check your local farmer’s market or ethnic store? Aside from keeping most of their products fresh, they are also usually cheaper. Not to mention, these shops tend to sell their products in bulk, resulting in considerable savings.

That way, you are raking in savings while also helping your local small businesses. Lastly, make sure to take advantage of sales, as they are an excellent opportunity to stock up, especially on non-perishable items.

9. Practice smart eating.

Likewise, you must also eat smart to rake in more savings. Aside from groceries, eating out constitutes one of the more considerable dents in my pocket. Like I get it, cooking can be a chore for busy bees and for people like me who are clueless in the kitchen. However, when I consciously tried to eat more often, I found myself saving a whole lot.

I am not telling you to stop eating out, but to view it as a special privilege or treat instead of making it a habit. Now that you are eating, it is also a good idea to cook from scratch. Not only is it healthier, but most ready-made versions can be quite expensive.

Take advantage of the numerous recipes available on the internet and find yourself slowly falling in love with cooking. Cooking in bulk is also an efficient money-saving tip. Some people do this by cooking a couple of dishes weekly and then simply reheating the portions throughout the week.

8. Nip your bad habits

Maybe adopting a frugal lifestyle can also motivate you to change your bad habits. Honestly, your vices can put a giant dent in your budget, as these are often added costs, or, in short, your wants.

Cutting back on alcohol, cigarettes, junk food, fancy coffees, and the like can do wonders for your budget. If you cannot eliminate them yet, consider cutting back on your vices or, at the very least, looking for cheaper alternatives until you can finally let go.

Being frugal can also be an excellent time to try going meatless once a week. Honestly, meat can be an expensive commodity for many, so cutting back on meat in your meals can result in huge savings. Vegetables are cheaper compared to meat, especially those in season.

7. Walk and bike more.

If you own a car, you know how expensive it can be. For one, you will have to insure it with car insurance, which you will have to pay regularly. Two, you will need to bring your car for maintenance and repair checks to ensure that it is running well.

And as if that is not enough, we all know how expensive gas can be, especially during these times. If you want to live a frugal lifestyle, then I say it is high time that you ditch your car.

Instead, ride a bike or walk as much as possible. Not only is this a cheaper alternative, but you are also reducing your carbon footprint and helping to save the environment. If you need to travel a bit farther, consider public transportation, as it is cheaper.

If you need to use a car, then combine errands as much as possible to maximize your gas. Think of the stops you can make while traveling to do that specific errand.

6. Use the Marie Kondo principle.

Marie Kondo was onto something when she introduced her KonMari method. All of us are guilty of making impulsive purchases and, frankly, hoarding things we simply do not need.

If you find yourself a bit stuffy, it might be time to downsize. Take time to sort through all your stuff and see if it still sparks joy. Marie Kondo also encourages you to visualize your lifestyle and use it as a criterion to determine if you need that item. Then choose what to keep and discard the rest.

Return the items that you have not yet used, and sell those that cannot be returned. Not only does this result in a tidier and more organized space, but it can also help you earn a bit of cash.

Bonus: It is also a good idea to buy at thrift stores and similar places. Most of the time, these used items are still in working, if not pristine, condition. As such, you can find perfectly working items for just a fraction of the cost.

5. Stop using credit cards.

Credit cards are more trouble than they are worth. Sure, they offer a convenient way of paying; however, credit card debt is not something you want as it can get pricey.

If you can limit yourself from making credit card purchases, instead opt to pay in cash as much as possible, as this can help you control your budget and keep track of your expenses. If you cannot help but use your credit card, please ensure that you pay the balance every month.

Otherwise, your bank will charge you for interest, which can hurt your savings immensely.

4. Travel cheaply.

Travel cheaply by taking advantage of cheap prices during off-seasons. Not only are there fewer people, but transportation and accommodation costs are quite cheaper. You can also cut back on travel costs by using your reward points when booking a ticket.

If the place is quite close, you might want to skip out on the plane and opt to drive down. For accommodation, you can also cut back on costs by staying in a friend or relative’s house or in a homestay vacation rental instead of a hotel.

3. Be creative.

Adopting a frugal lifestyle can also encourage and bring out creativity in some. For example, you can choose to repurpose your old clothes instead of buying new ones. Take time to go through your closet and find clothes you no longer want to wear.

Instead of chucking them out, you can rework your old clothes into your style. See, you can be fashionable even on a budget. Your creativity can also have an outlet when it comes to gift-giving.

Instead of buying gifts, why not give them something that comes from the heart? The receiver will appreciate your thoughtful and handmade gift, and at the same time, you can cut back on costs.

2. Do a side hustle.

Last but not least, find a side hustle to earn extra income. If you have something you are good at, learn how to capitalize on it. For example, if you are artsy, you can offer art commissions or even sell your creations.

Good writers can freelance articles for websites, newspapers, blogs, and similar mediums. Academic and bookish types can also offer their services through tutorials and the like. You can also find a part-time job if you still have the time.

Simple jobs like babysitting, library and secretary work, being a barista, and the like can give you extra savings. If you have a 9-to-5 job, you should consider a work-from-home gig.

Being frugal does not automatically equate to being cheap. Being cheap entails sacrificing quality for the sake of saving. However, being frugal means being intentional with your spending and knowing what to prioritize.

Knowing where exactly your money goes results in you spending less and saving more. That’s about part two of our frugal living tips to save money. If you haven’t already, check out part one of our series right here. You can also check out our playlist for more frugal living tips.