Frugality has become more prevalent in recent years as many people strive to spend less and save more money. With the rising costs of housing, healthcare, education, and other necessities, being smart about spending our hard-earned dollars is more important than ever. Practicing frugality prevents you from wasting money on unnecessary things, freeing up more cash you can save or spend thoughtfully.
This article will look at 16 everyday things frugal people avoid spending their money on. You may be surprised by daily expenses that don’t make it into a mean person’s budget. Becoming more frugal requires changing your mindset and consciously evaluating each purchase decision. It can take time to break free of social expectations and marketing persuasions that compel us to overspend. However, with commitment and creativity, living frugally can help you achieve financial goals and build savings.
1. Brand New Cars
Frugal people know that new cars lose a significant portion of their value immediately after they are driven off the lot. By purchasing reliable used cars and driving them for years, frugal people avoid taking the considerable depreciation hit of buying new ones. For example, Mark found a 3-year-old Honda Accord with low mileage. By going with a slightly used model instead of brand new, he saved over $15,000.
2. Top-of-the-line gadgets and Electronics
The latest and greatest tech gadgets usually come with premium price tags. Frugal people find ways to get the functionality they need without always buying the most expensive, cutting-edge electronics. For instance, Nina resisted upgrading to a $1,000 flagship smartphone and opted for a new mid-range phone that met her needs for $300 instead.
3. Lavish Vacations
It’s easy to overspend on dream vacations to exotic locales, luxury cruises, and stays at five-star resorts. Frugal travelers find ways to enjoy quality time off without breaking the bank. They use rewards points for airfare and hotels, choose affordable destinations, and avoid unnecessary trip expenses. For example, the Smith family prioritized camping road trips over far-flung getaways. They had memorable vacations for a fraction of the cost.
4. Fancy Coffee Drinks
Those lattes, cappuccinos, and Frappuccinos from coffee shops come at a high price over time. Frugal people save significantly by brewing quality coffee at home and carrying it in reusable cups. Simple coffee pleasures cost mere pennies instead of $5 a pop. Take Jen, who invested in an excellent espresso machine and learned to make specialty drinks. She gets her cappuccino fix for under 50 cents each morning.
5. Cable TV
With online streaming dominating, cable TV is no longer a required household expense. Frugal people take advantage of low-cost, on-demand options. For instance, the Roberts replaced their $150 monthly cable bill with Netflix and other streaming services totaling just $40.
6. Multiple Streaming Services
Even streaming services add up, especially if you have subscriptions across multiple platforms. Limiting yourself to just one or two affordable services helps frugal people save. The Park family uses Netflix and supplements with free YouTube content, avoiding spending on several paid platforms.
7. Expensive Clothes
Frugal fashionistas resist paying total retail prices for clothes when cheaper options exist. Shopping sales racks, thrift stores, and discount outlets allow them to stay stylish on a budget. For example, Amanda furnishes her wardrobe each season exclusively from clearance sales and her local thrift store. She gets compliments on her outfits that cost only a fraction of the original prices.
8. Frequent Salon Visits
Regular appointments for hair, nails, waxing, and other beauty services drain wallets fast. Frugal people learn DIY techniques, swap services with friends, or use beauty schools to look good for less. Take Mary, who has a friend cut, and highlight her hair in exchange for homemade baked goods. She also does her nails and waxing to avoid salon runs.
9. Top-Shelf Alcohol
It’s easy to overspend on premium liquor brands, but frugal people know inexpensive alternatives get the job done. Value spirits, wine, and beer offer significant savings. For instance, Jim’s friends rave about the elaborate cocktails he serves, not realizing he uses well liquor purchased on sale.
10. Fancy Home Decor
Home décor can bust budgets fast with all the trendy, overpriced items available. To design their space, frugal decorators employ DIY projects, secondhand finds, reused items, and inexpensive accents. For example, the Watsons furnish their home almost entirely from garage sales, thrift stores, and their own upcycled creations. They get tons of compliments on their stylish, budget-friendly space.
11. Constant Takeout
Nothing busts a budget faster than relying on takeout and delivery multiple times a week. Cooking at home is significantly cheaper and often healthier, too. Frugal home chefs like Luis prepare almost all meals themselves. He assembles fast weeknight dinners using inexpensive ingredients like beans, eggs, and in-season produce.
12. Gym Memberships
Gym memberships often go underutilized, meaning wasted funds. Frugal fitness enthusiasts get their sweat sessions in through free outdoor exercise, basic gyms with no contracts, and home workouts. For instance, Alicia trains for half-marathons using jogs through her neighborhood and YouTube home workout videos, avoiding pricey gym fees.
13. Unlimited Data Phone Plans
It’s easy to overpay for unlimited data you don’t use. Savvy, frugal types carefully track data usage and get cheaper limited plans. Monica cut her phone bill in half by assessing her needs, switching to a 3GB plan, and leveraging Wi-Fi for large data tasks.
14. Daily Starbucks
Frequent coffee shops like Starbucks can become very expensive over time. Brewing your quality coffee is a simple frugal swap. For example, after calculating his $1,500 annual Starbucks tab, Sam decided to enjoy his daily coffee at home. Now, he gets his fix for under $5 per week.
15. Manicures and Pedicures
Salon manicures and pedicures cost big bucks for temporary treatments. Frugal people learn to trim, file, polish, and decorate their nails at home for a tiny fraction of the price. For instance, Janet completely avoids salon manis and pedis by doing her nails weekly. Her at-home treatments only cost around $2 each.
16. Lottery Tickets
Playing the lottery is essentially an expensive form of entertainment with poor odds. While people dream of winning prominent, frugal individuals invest their money wisely rather than waste it on tickets. Take Fred, who realized he had squandered $500 yearly on tickets. He reinvested that money into an index fund instead.
How Frugality Changed Maria’s Life
Maria decided in her late 20s to retire early, leave her high-cost city, and pursue her passions. She needed to supercharge her savings by cutting unnecessary costs to make this dream a reality. Maria reviewed her spending and began implementing changes based on the abovementioned frugal principles.
She swapped new car payments for a used Honda. Essential gadgets replaced pricey tech. She traveled off-peak, cooked almost all meals at home, limited herself to one streaming service, and avoided salons. Maria furnished her home through secondhand scores, quit the gym for outdoor training, downsized her phone plan, and started doing her nails.
These simple yet consistent shifts saved Maria over 50% more each month. She tracked her progress enthusiastically, using a motivation wall to count down the months until she could retire. Within seven years, Maria had built the savings she needed to quit her job and move to a coastal town she fell in love with. She filled her days writing fiction books in a low-cost living paradise. Maria’s story demonstrates the power of frugality to help you reach goals and build the life you want.
Conclusion
Frugality isn’t about depriving yourself—it’s about spending intentionally on the things that matter most to you. You can increase life satisfaction by cutting out expensive excesses because your purchases align with your values. The savings earned through frugality will accumulate, allowing you to reach financial goals faster.
Frugality leads to financial freedom. You gain flexibility, less stress, and more options with extra cash. Think deeply about what is most important and how frugality can help you achieve those dreams. The simple joys in life are often free or cheap. Fill your days with meaning using your creativity, time, and talents rather than empty excess. Then, watch your savings grow.
