For some of us, frugality comes naturally. But for others, frugal living conjures up images of a miserly, meager existence. No wonder so many tune out when the topic of frugality comes up!
Here, I'll share the whys and hows of frugal living. Then, I'll get you inspired and motivated by sharing my 53 favorite frugal living tips. Ready to start saving? Let's go!
Look for services like Flashfood or Imperfect Foods. They sell close-to-expiry, ugly, or overstocked food at heavily discounted prices. We use Flashfood regularly, and it saves us 50% or more on quality, still-tasty groceries.
Make the best of sales by stocking up and buying in bulk—then store the excess in your freezer for future use. By doing this, you won’t need to buy groceries at regular prices or wait for sales. You can simply ‘shop’ from your freezer!
Combat food waste and boredom by getting creative and reimagining your leftovers. For example, turn a roast chicken into chicken noodle soup, chicken salad sandwiches, or fried rice.
If you notice your food’s spoiling sooner than expected, try this simple fix: clean your fridge. You’ll likely find this fixes the problem. You will save your food from an untimely early demise, and you’ll save money!
Save energy and time by putting your dish into the oven when it’s still cold. During preheating, your food will slowly come up to the right temperature. This, in turn, reduces the overall cooking time and energy use.
My family can usually fill up on three restaurant dishes between the four of us. A typical restaurant dish costs $20 or more (plus tax and tip). Sharing dishes can add up to significant savings and helps to avoid overeating!