Warning: these are the best frugal people’s habits you’ll ever hear!
Many people are afraid to use the word “frugal” or, even worse, admit that they’re frugal because they have the bad idea that it is synonymous with being cheap. Nothing could be further from the truth, in my opinion, at least, because I associate frugality with being conscious of your finances and of the things that you actually need.
When you’re frugal, or money-conscious, as I’d like to call it, you’re the kind of person who keeps an eye on their spending habits and who doesn’t take on more debt than is necessary. If you give it a second thought, you’ll discover that this is a trait several millionaires and celebrities possess, such as Mark Zuckerberg, Jennifer Lawrence, or Leo DiCaprio. (Yes, they all have these frugal people’s habits.)
Consumerism is one of the biggest problems people in our world have to face every single day, so thinking twice about the things you need to purchase doesn’t sound like an easy job, especially when there’s temptation everywhere.
I know that’s easier said than done, but if you want to learn how to be more budget-friendly, then you’re at the right place because we’re going to talk about the best frugal people’s habits! Are you ready to improve your spending? Then let’s begin!
1. “Get Rich Quick” schemes
One of the biggest mistakes people make is trusting those pretty weird get-rich-quick schemes. But here’s one of the best frugal people’s habits you need to add to your routine: don’t even think about trusting them.
So, repeat after me: those get-rich-quick commercials are only schemes, and I don’t need them in my life. If you don’t believe me, you should know that different experts discovered that 16% of wealthy people gamble on sports at least once a week, and while it might seem a bit more, it’s way less than regular people: 52% of them prefer to gamble at least once a week, and 77% of ordinary people like to play the lottery every week, compared to only 9% of the wealthy.
There are many frugal people’s habits we’ll discuss today, but until we move further, you should keep in mind that you don’t have to waste money trying to get large amounts of money quickly. You can make your dollar bills work for you and not against you by paying off debt or investing them.
2. Second hand items
We continue with these frugal people’s habits, and you’ll be pleased to discover that they don’t always buy things that are brand new. Everyone has their shopping habits, but one thing prudent people do is purchase items from garage sales, marketplaces, and thrift stores.
You can find incredible items there that are of high quality, affordable, and look incredible, so why spend a ton of money on a brand-new object when you can get one that is almost the same but for a way more decent price?
You can save money on the things you want by going to thrift shops, consignment stores, local auctions, the ReStore, or purchasing from sites like Freecycle and Craigslist. Don’t forget to check out Facebook Marketplace too, because it has amazing bargains!
Keep reading, because we have many other frugal people’s habits to cover!
3. Combine errands
If you use your car a lot to go from one place to another, you need this tip! With the inflation that it is, gas prices tend to vary, which means they might increase or drop in a second.
Just because gas might not be that expensive, there are still ways to save money, time, and gas at the same time. When you’re in the city running errands, you can try to hit all the stores in one area at once. For instance, if you need to go grocery shopping, you can also pop into the vet for some food for your pet, drop off your dry cleaning, or do any other thing you might need to tick off your to-do list.
4. Purchase in bulk
You probably already know this, but another one of these important frugal people’s habits is buying in bulk. Not always, because more doesn’t necessarily mean better, but there are cases when it does.
One way to make sure that you do indeed need to buy in bulk is by checking the unit price whenever you have the chance. In the majority of cases, you don’t get the best value from the tiniest container.
If you do your grocery shopping at Costco, you can buy plenty of things in bulk, and you’ll save a lot of money in the long run. However, make sure that you get products that will last a long time, such as toilet paper or things you could store in the freezer, so they don’t go to waste.
5. Quality products
When it comes to frugal people’s habits, quality products are in! Just because you want to save money doesn’t mean that you should purchase things that are of low quality, although they might be more affordable.
When I was little, my dad once told me that what is cheap turns out to be more expensive because it gets ruined and you need another one to replace the initial product. Of course, this doesn’t apply all the time, but I still think it’s true.
If there’s something that you need, such as a new mattress that makes you feel rested, relieves joint pressure, and is also comfy, you might want to pay more money for it, although there might be hundreds of other varieties on the market that don’t promise these benefits.
Something you can learn from these frugal people’s habits is that you can get a high-quality product at full price, but if you use it a lot, if it makes you feel good, and if the quality passes the test of time, then you make a smart choice.
6. Vacation on a budget
Just because you want to be on a budget doesn’t mean that you can’t see the world. Traveling on a budget can be just as fun as any other type of travel, so if discovering the world and amazing landscapes is what you want to do, then these frugal people’s habits are going to help you.
Traveling is one of life’s greatest pleasures, and you shouldn’t neglect it just because you’re on a budget. Pick out your travel destination and go there during the “off-season”, so you pay less and don’t experience tourist crowdiness.
Accommodation can be pretty expensive, so choose a place that has a kitchen so you can cook some of your meals and save some cash for exploring the local cuisine.
Instead of getting lots and lots of souvenirs, just take pictures and book your flight early, so you save dollars on the airline tickets. Other than that, travel with a carry-on and have fun!
Another one of these amazing frugal people’s habits is that they purchase their luggage from Amazon at amazing prices! If you want to go on a beautiful but thrifty vacation, here’s the carry-on you need!
7. Pay attention to your bank statements
We’re at the end of our list of frugal people’s habits, but we have to talk about something that is really important. If you want to be more thrifty, keeping track of your spending is way more important than you think.
I made this mistake myself, and let me tell you that it drove me crazy. I used to spend and spend money, but I never wrote down my expenditures. When the month was almost over and I didn’t have any money left on my debit card, I kept thinking about where the money went because I didn’t buy anything.
So what I’ve learned from these frugal people’s habits is that you have to keep track of your expenditures because it’s going to save your wallet.
Write down in your notes on the phone everything you spend money on and see if there’s a pattern that makes you overspend, such as getting Starbucks too often. When you know where your money is going, it’s easier for you to make adjustments and set a budget.
You definitely need to incorporate these frugal people’s habits into your life because they’ll help you organize better! Which one of these frugal people’s habits do you think is the best one? Leave a comment below and let us know!
If you want to read something else from Frugal Americans, check this one out: These 6 Easy Cleaning Tips Will Save You Money
