Do You Want To Be More Frugal? Check Out These Tips From A Self-made Millionaire!
Bernadette Joy is a self-made millionaire who shares some frugal habits she still keeps with us. Her immigrant parents had a hard time living the American dream, and she learned from an early age what being frugal means. As a first-generation Filipina-American, Bernadette’s life wasn’t easy at all.
In 2016, with everyday bills, and student loans, Bernadette found herself in $300,000 debt. That challenging time made her very anxious about her finances. It was when she started to feel the need to learn how to manage her income. She wanted to learn everything that she could to change the situation she was dealing with.
She started with a plan, paid her debt, then became a millionaire in her thirties. Now she is running a coaching business. It’s called Crush Your Money Goals. Bernadette teaches others how to make their money work for them.
Let’s see which are the 7 frugal habits she promised herself to keep forever!
7 Frugal Habits That Might Help You Become a Millionaire
1. Buy the cheapest meat
Bernadette suggests that when it comes to shopping, especially when we have to buy meat, we should make wiser choices. For example, she loves Korean barbecue. Beef short ribs are usually very expensive, but she found a way! At a local grocery store, near her house in Charlotte, North Carolina, the traditional cut is $11,99, but if she chooses the end-cuts, they cost just $7,99.
Most of us would think that end-cuts might not be the best option, but Bernadette considers them easier to prepare.
2. Save the hotel room vanity kits
Bernadette travels a lot, considering that she often has speaking engagements. So, she ALWAYS saves the vanity kits found in her hotel rooms. On the go, you never know when a little bit of soup, shampoo, or conditioner is needed. The items in these kits can be very handy, so never leave them at the hotel!
She said her favorite kits are from Asia, where they also put toothpaste, toothbrushes, and very quality combs and hair elastics. Bernadette uses shower caps and hair elastics to organize her electronics like spare chargers and converters. Also, she explained how she used the extra tubes of toothpaste she had to clean her shoes when she needed to. So, don’t limit yourself! Everything can be handy when you are at least expecting.
3. Repurpose food containers
Did your parents used to repurpose any food containers they had? Nowadays, it will be better to keep all the containers received when you order food from a restaurant. They are stronger and prettier than those used in the past by our parents. They come in various sizes and can help you better organize your leftovers. Keep in mind that repurposing containers is also more environmentally friendly than tossing them after a single use.
4. Use every drop of your beauty products
Beauty products tend to be really expensive, especially those sold in pharmacies or the ones owned by celebrities. For example, Rihanna’s beauty brand it’s really expensive, compared to other brands found in beauty stores. So, when you invest a significant amount of money in your favorite products, make sure that no drop is wasted!
Bernadette says that she has dealt with eczema since she was a little girl, so she knows what means to regularly re-purchase skin-care products. They aren’t cheap at all, and when you can’t live without a product, you should pay attention to the way you use it. Bernadette says she uses all the drops found in the package. She never throws away a product, until it’s finished.
She gives an example of her close friends that throw away their toothpaste tubes, as soon as it becomes harder to reach the paste. What a waste of money!
5. Check the prices before you order food
No matter how much you hear. Don’t forget to check the prices from the menu before ordering food at a restaurant. Once you know the costs, you can choose wisely what to opt for.
Bernadette also noticed a trick used by restaurants. They place the more expensive products at the beginning of the menu to catch your attention. Reading in reverse is a great option if you want to check out the affordable dishes first. You can still enjoy a fancy meal without falling for their tricks.
6. Preserve high-quality shopping bags
Did your mom used to save every single bag? Well, it’s a frugal habit you should also have if you want to save some cash. It’s true, most of the plastic bags are usually used for trash, food scraps, or peeled vegetables. We probably all have our own collection of plastic bags underneath our kitchen sink.
But a real frugal habit is using stylish shopping bags multiple times and avoiding buying new ones. Those can serve as carriers for snacks, lunches, or small items when we’re on the go.
Remember to always keep this kind of bag in your car or your baggage, when you travel!
Are you searching for some reusable grocery bags? You can find the best ones on Amazon. The set contains 3 bags and is available in 3 different colors: navy blue, gray, and chevron. They are great for family trips to the supermarket. A single-tote bag can hold the same as 10 single-use grocery bags! So, what are you waiting for? You can become more frugal right now!
7. Wear free T-shirts at the gym
Bernadette usually receives all kinds of gifts at her conferences. Another frugal habit she developed over the years is to save all the items she receives for the occasions when she needs them. For example, all of her gym t-shirts are with all types of logos from her business. She is saving a significant amount of money by avoiding buying T-shirts she doesn’t need. Even though, in the last years, going to the gym feels almost like a fashion show. She chose wiser.
Why having frugal habits is important?
These habits may seem silly to you in the beginning, but trust us, they are worth a try. Be more careful with the wait you spend your money, and learn the base of personal financing. It will save you from a lot of unpleasant situations. Don’t let yourself be fooled! Once you are frugal, you should always be frugal. That is the key to success. Don’t get excited too quickly and measure every step that you take if you want to be truly successful.
Before you leave, here’s one more piece of advice from Bernadette Joy:
“Maintaining these frugal habits also reminds me of the choices my parents made in order to give me so many options now. Learning to see the value in little everyday activities is what has helped me become a better budgeted, a more confident investor and, ultimately, become a millionaire.”
Make sure you check out another related article. It presents you 5 ways you are wasting money every day. Do you want to save money and this article didn’t manage to motivate you enough? Have a look at our website and you’ll become frugal faster than you can imagine.
