25 people share their best frugal living hacks that help them save money

No matter how much you earn, you can only achieve financial stability by practicing conscious and mindful expenditure. A teacher who goes by u/moribundmaverick on Reddit asked people for the best frugal living hacks that help them save money, and we have compiled 25 of the best responses. 

1. Choosing water over soft drinks

"Learn to love drinking water. After I quit drinking soda/energy drinks and switched to water, I lost 30 lbs and reversed prediabetes. I feel way healthier and don't even crave sugary drinks. Plus, I won't be spending anything on diabetes-related health care." - u/ietceteraaa

2. Wait for sales

"For me, I never buy anything full price anymore. It may take a certain personality type to do this, but with a little preparation and research, a deal or sale could always be found. This is especially true with online stores and the different apps, coupons, rebates, etc., that you can easily find. I believe the only time I buy stuff full price is when I need the item in a hurry." - u/therealrayy

3. Thrift stores over anything else

"Buy your clothes from thrift stores and Savers. You have to invest a bit of time into this (try to work a few stores into your routine) and go frequently. I scan through racks quickly and ignore most stuff, but focus on stuff that looks like it has never been worn or has original tags still on (you'd be surprised — this can be quite common). But don't buy junk just because it is cheap; buy only what you love and need, and buy only stuff that fits perfectly. I've also found nice coffee cups (original labels still stuck to the bottom) at Savers, too. I also buy DVDs at thrift stores; they can be very cheap." - u/zanydelaney

4. Grow your own veggies

"Plant a vegetable garden with only high-yield veggies like green beans, okra, squash, zucchini, etc. It is only necessary to purchase the seeds one time because you can harvest them from the veggies. You can then make your own baby food, eat fresh veggies with your meals, and partake in a highly stress-relieving activity. It is a win/win." - u/hermannator85

5. Try free entertainment

"Apologies if this is mentioned elsewhere — try free entertainment. In many cities, libraries have passes for checkout and/or free days at museums. Audiobooks, videos/DVDs/streaming, e-books, and magazines are all available for free." - u/rducky26

6. Cut on housing and transportation

"The biggest expenses are housing and then transportation. It would be wise to reduce those first by having an affordable place to live and using public transportation/Uber instead of having a car. It is better to attract bigger things instead of multiple small things." - u/phanicon

7. Reduce the income tax bill

"Seek ways to reduce the income tax bill. For example, any money you plan to use for children's education, put it in a 529 plan. (Consult your tax advisor first.) Also, don't always buy cheap. It's better to spend more money on some things and buy quality items that will last a lot longer." - u/heisenberg070

8. Use cash for buying cash

"Buy your car with CASH! Banks will require full coverage insurance. Buy more modest vehicles and get liability insurance." - u/iiiiiiiiiiii

9. Don't have kids

"Don't have kids. Seriously. They're expensive. Couponing works. I used to be an extreme couponer & my hubby was shocked at all the stuff I was able to get free or dirt cheap. Also, I use survey apps to earn gift cards. I've already earned $10 Walmart card & a $5 Amazon card." - u/myredskirt

10. Cook your own food and don't waste leftovers

"Cook your food, and get acquainted with leftovers. I really love to be creative, so leftovers are fun if you can be adventurous. One thing I love to do is spaghetti; make your own sauce (canned stuff is cheap!). And then follow it up with a yummy spaghetti pie the next day or two. Stuff like that... Take leftover meat and toss it in with scrambled eggs for breakfast. Stretch your food, and lurk on secondhand sites like Facebook, Craigslist, Letgo, etc. Carpooling is excellent; good job. What's your phone plan? Search for cheap and reliable options. Save, save, save! Keep your change. Write out your budget, and have you and your husband agree to it. You're doing great. Keep it up." - u/thlyn

11. Donate plasma

"Donate plasma. Most months, you can make 300 to 500, depending on bonuses. Tax-free, and they give you a Visa debit card to use. Also shop Goodwill sales. You can follow them on FB, and if you donate, they give you a 20% off coupon. Watch for free items in the classifieds. We picked up a free stainless steel Whirlpool fridge for our garage that is awesome." - u/sew_crafty

12. Don't throw away your old toothbrushes

"Hmm, I keep old toothbrushes to use around the house for cleaning." - u/cheensays

13. Clear your credit card bills first

"Paying off your credit cards [bills] should be your number one priority, considering the interest rates. Meal plans seem to help people save. When I see something I want to buy, I usually try to wait a month to see if I still want it then; usually I don't. Saves me from a lot of unnecessary purchases." - u/rudysnow

14. Live on a boat

"I live on a boat. No rent and no room for anything you don't need. All the essentials, in their places. It's wonderfully minimalistic." - u/trampledbytramps

15. Start saving in a tin

"I earn a minimum wage job (UK). In January, I moved to a job with good tips. Started saving them in a tin. Some days it was £1.70 ($2.28 USD), others £4.60 ($6.16 USD), etc. I never spent a penny of them. By June, I had enough to pay for a trip to Vegas entirely out of my tin. My point is, if you can no longer afford to save a chunk in the bank, try a tin. Someone I work with puts all her coins in a tin. She covers Christmas presents every year by doing this. I also buy all my clothes on eBay. Got a new wardrobe for my trip this way." - u/nikmeone

16. Don't go to salons for haircuts or color

"If you have dark hair, henna and indigo DIY hair dye can save tons of money. I got a giant bag of henna from an Indian market for a few dollars. In contrast to damaging drugstore or even salon dyes, henna coats the hair shaft like a protein treatment and improves the hair quality. Not only have I saved the price of the dye, but I can also get away with cheap shampoo and no conditioner at all. I rarely 'need' a haircut anymore because I no longer get scraggly split ends." - u/09catelyn

17. Switch to menstrual cups

"You should look into menstrual cups! They run about $40, but they last at least 2 years, and you'll never buy tampons or pads again!" - u/colorfulkate

18. Drink coffee at home

"Drink coffee at home. If you like hot, get yourself a decent coffee machine like a Zojirushi or however you spell it. Also, get yourself a good conical burr mill grinder. If you like iced coffee, do cold brew. You don't need a cold brewing system, but if you want to get one to make life easier, I use the Oxo cold brewing system. Best cup of iced coffee I've ever had. Starbucks or Dunkin daily gets ridiculously expensive over time." - u/netengineer10

19. Create a budget

"If you don't have a budget, create one. For middle-class people, a budget is the key to creating wealth, no matter how frugal you are." - u/daver74

20. Prefer stuff that lasts a lifetime

"Buy quality stuff. They last longer than cheap stuff." - u/amansrf2

"Spend a lot of money on getting long-lasting, high-quality products/solutions for things you use frequently. E.g., your bed, your kitchenware, your bathroom devices... If there is something you don't use frequently, cut it from your life completely. It's likely not worth the time or the money. By doing this, you'll pay upfront, and rarely ever again, for the things that are important, and you'll cut out a lot of clutter, freeing both time and money." - u/grracc

21. Look for second-hand things

"Garage sale. Everything in my house is secondhand, except my mattress. I've furnished my whole house with great stuff for under $200." - u/headlice

22. Make your own yogurt

"Make your own yogurt. Where I live, milk (as a loss leader) is only about $2 a gallon, and I can get three quarts of yogurt from it (it takes 5 cups to make a quart of yogurt). If I buy yogurt at Costco, it's $6 a quart, so I save at least $16 every week. Plus, various cultures have different probiotics in them, so I rotate cultures each time I make it." - u/mileft

23. Make your own cleanser

"Making your own cleaners and using old cut-up shirts/bar cloths instead of paper towels. You'd be surprised how much you spend on cleaning supplies from the store. Vinegar is your best friend. I also save a TON making my own laundry detergent. It took me a few times to nail it 'just right,' but this has been a huge savings. My favorite recipe is Mom's Super Laundry Sauce." - u/bluemonetlily

24. Always check for deals

"If you must buy something on Amazon, ALWAYS check the Amazon Warehouse deals. Usually, they will sell the same item in a dented box for 2/3 (or less) of the original price. It says used, but it has never even been opened. This has saved me a ton of money over the years." - u/redboxmike

25. Practice 'no-spend' week

"Do not spend a week. It's an exercise in how much fun you can have without spending money. Use up the stuff in the freezer. Finish that craft project. Sort through the closet and purge." - u/inkathebadger

While these may sound like fun and games, planning your expenditure is crucial for financial independence in the long run. Most of us happen to be one major medical crisis away from bankruptcy, and we're toeing a rather dangerous line with that. So, make sure you invest in 'forced savings' by automating your investments. This way, you won't even have the chance to ask yourself IF you can 'save' this month.