25 people share the frugal hacks that made the most difference for them

Sometimes, no matter how some of us try, it can seem impossible to save money and put some aside for our rainy day fund. Irrespective of how much we plan or vow to avoid unnecessary expenses, something or the other comes up to drain our bank account before we even realize it. Luckily, there are many who've found several easy ways to hack this conundrum and save up a little extra here and there by making conscious spending decisions in their daily life. Many of them shared some of their most effective money-saving hacks last month when Reddit user u/88r0b1nh00d88 took to the r/Frugal community, urging them to share "the most frugal hack you've discovered that made the most difference."

Here are the top 25 responses:

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"Purchasing a decent sized freezer to put all the 'sale' stuff into so we don't have to eat it in one week! Yesterday, my favourite frozen pies were 40% off. So I bought 5 packs. We probably only eat them once a fortnight, but they can just sit in the freezer.

Our supermarkets tend to have different types of meat on sale each week. So, if chicken is on sale, I buy chicken only. Next week will be pork, etc. After a few weeks, there is a nice selection of meats in the freezer. Bulk buys and freeze also." —

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"Woman here: Menstrual cup a one time expense that may last for up to 10 years. I've had mine for 5 years and I really I had known about these since my early 20s.

Safety razor, I think I paid like $15 bucks for it and a 250 pack replacement razors. It's been 5 years and still haven't had to buy more. Bonus is less stuff going to landfills." — _-Mayday-_

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"Using library card instead of buying books. Buying from local or cheaper grocery stores instead of Whole Foods and fancy grocery stores. Only buying groceries for two weeks at a time for what I need (having a list). Not buying too many aspirational and fashionable clothes and jewelries (sticking to classic style, black/grey/white/brown/olive colors /minimalist fashion).

Saying no to friends for super expensive experiences (I cannot spend 100 dollar on one meal at a fancy restaurant for the experience every month). Credit card points for travel (this doesn’t give me completely free travel but the expenses come down if I get the timing right). Go to movie theatre only on Tuesdays (when movies are 6$ instead of 15 at AMC). Letting go of brand loyalty (still working on letting go of my obsession with apple products but I’m in the 'ecosystem')" — Capable-Trip6290

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"Marry a frugal person. If you are frugal and your partner is not, it can be a lifetime of pain. Partner up with a frugal person though and you can encourage each other on the journey and revel in the savings." — requiem_whore

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"Live in a small place. Buy (or rent) the smallest, cheapest place in the nicest neighborhood you can afford- especially if you have kids. Always drive your used car into the ground. You can get a gabillion repairs for the same amount most people spend on car payments. Understand that eating out comes from the entertainment budget, NOT the food budget." — mnorsky

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"My little frugal hack, and I know this is definitely not a lot of peoples' preferences, but not buying 'drinks.' For example, if I go to Chick-fil-A I don't get a soda. If I eat at a restaurant that's not Friday or a special occasion, I get water. I took caffeine out of my diet over a year ago. When I was drinking coffee, I would go to Starbucks daily and my grande iced coffee ranged from $3.75-5.50 not including a snack if I happen to get one that day.

At the end of the year, I 'saved' approximately $1,400. It's not much but it's my little 'thing.' I also try to buy non-name branded products that I don't have a preference for. And sometimes look at the coupons my local store provides and shop according to them. For example, cleaning supplies, sponges, etc." — roslyn_island

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"This is common sense to me, but I know a lot of people around here who don’t live this way: in the cold months I wear long sleeves/enough long sleeved clothing. I avoid turning the heat on unless I’m actually cold instead of cranking up the heat so I can wear a t-shirt and shorts." — Electrikitty85

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"Salvage groceries. Expiration dates are largely meaningless; most are 'best by' or 'sell by' for manufacturers'/merchants' use and are just fine (I've been eating them for years and have lived to tell the tale). You can sometimes find a store devoted to this where you'll pay pennies on the dollar, or 'expired'/OOD food may be given out at senior or community centers. I view it as a way to not only save money, but also reduce food waste, which is a huge problem in this country. Grocers need to - instead of refusing to sell it and throwing it in dumpsters - set it aside and let us take our chances." — 2thebeach

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