Rising grocery prices, higher energy bills, and unexpected expenses—it feels like everything costs more these days. If you’ve ever looked at your bank balance and thought, “Where did all my money go?”—you’re not alone.
The good news? Frugal living isn’t about sacrificing everything you love—it’s about spending smarter. A few small changes in how you shop, budget, and plan can save your family hundreds each month without feeling restrictive.
In this post, I’ll share 21 of the best frugal living tips that actually work—real-life strategies that my family (and thousands of others) use to cut costs while still enjoying life. Tip #18 is something most people never think about—but it’s saved me over $XXX alone!
Ready to start saving? Let’s dive in! 🚀💰
What is Frugal Living?
Before we dive into the best frugal living tips, let’s get one thing straight—frugal doesn’t mean cheap.
💡 Frugal living is about spending intentionally, not cutting out everything fun. It’s choosing what truly matters and finding ways to stretch your money further without feeling deprived.
Think of it like this:
✅ Frugal: Buying a high-quality winter coat on sale that will last for years.
❌ Cheap: Buying a $10 coat that falls apart after one season and needs replacing.
When you live frugally, you’re not just saving money—you’re making smarter financial decisions that benefit you long-term. Whether it’s cutting grocery costs, lowering household expenses, or finding creative ways to have fun for free, frugal living is a lifestyle that can help your family build financial security.
Now that we know what frugal living actually is, let’s get into 21 real-life ways to make it work for you!
Frugal Living Tips That Actually Work
Now that we’ve covered what frugal living really means, let’s get into the best money-saving tips that actually work. These aren’t just ideas—they’re practical, real-life strategies that can save you hundreds per month without feeling like you’re sacrificing everything.
💰 Saving Money on Groceries
Groceries are one of the biggest expenses for most families, but with a few smart swaps, you can cut your food bill without sacrificing quality.
1. Plan your meals around sales & discounts – Instead of shopping with a set list, plan your meals based on what’s on offer that week. If chicken is on sale, that’s what’s for dinner!
2. Use cashback & grocery rebate apps – Apps like Shopmium, CheckoutSmart, and GreenJinn give you cashback on items you already buy.
3. Switch to store-brand products – In most cases, the difference is only the label—and you’ll pay 50% less for nearly the same thing.
4. Stock up on non-perishables when they’re on sale – Items like rice, pasta, canned goods, and frozen vegetablesare perfect for bulk-buying.
5. Stop wasting food – The average household throws away over $700 of food per year. Plan your meals, store food properly, and get creative with leftovers!
🏠 Cutting Household Expenses
Lowering your monthly bills = instant savings without extra effort.
6. Cancel subscriptions you don’t use – Do you really need five streaming services? Cut what you don’t use and rotate them instead of paying for all at once.
7. Lower your energy bill – Wash clothes at 30°C, switch to LED bulbs, and unplug appliances when not in use.Small changes = big savings.
8. DIY small home repairs – YouTube is full of easy repair tutorials. Before calling a pro, see if you can fix it yourself for free.
9. Buy second-hand whenever possible – From furniture to kids’ clothes, Facebook Marketplace & charity shops are goldmines for high-quality, low-cost finds.
10. Use the library – Instead of buying books, audiobooks, or movies, check your local library first. Many offer free online access to thousands of books.
🧾 Budgeting Hacks That Make Saving Easy
Even if you struggle to budget, these simple tricks will help you stay on track.
11. Use the cash envelope system – Physically withdrawing your budgeted cash stops you from overspending. No more accidental £150 grocery hauls!
12. Set up sinking funds – Instead of panicking when car repairs or Christmas expenses hit, set aside a little each month into a sinking fund.
13. Track your spending for one month – For 30 days, write down EVERY penny you spend. This alone will show you where your money is leaking.
14. Round up your purchases – Many banks automatically round up transactions and put the extra pennies into savings. It adds up fast!
15. Do a “no-spend” weekend – Challenge yourself to go a whole weekend without spending anything. It forces creativity and helps reset your money habits.
🎉 Budget-Friendly Family Fun
Saving money doesn’t mean boring weekends at home—here’s how to have fun for free (or almost free!)
16. Find free local events – Many cities have free museum days, community festivals, and kids’ workshops. Check your council’s website!
17. Plan themed movie nights at home – Popcorn, homemade snacks, and a cosy setup feel just as fun as the cinema (without the £50 price tag!).
18. Try the “Swap Challenge” with friends – Swap toys, books, or clothes with another family for a totally free refresh.
19. Have a “DIY Takeaway Night” – Instead of spending $30+ on takeaway, make your own fakeaway versions—pizza, curry, and Chinese can be cooked at home for a fraction of the cost.
20. Take advantage of nature – Parks, hikes, beach trips, and picnics are completely free and fun for all ages.
🚀 Bonus Tip #21: Do a No-Spend Challenge
💡 Why it works: A no-spend challenge (for a week or a full month) forces you to be hyper-aware of your spending habits.
✅ How to do it:
✔️ Set a timeframe (e.g., “No unnecessary spending for 7 days”).
✔️ Only spend on absolute essentials (groceries, bills, transport).
✔️ Get creative—use what you have instead of buying more.
✔️ Keep track of what you would have spent and put that money into savings.
🔥 Why it’s powerful:
You’ll be shocked at how much money you save in just one week—and it helps break impulse spending habits for good.
How to Stay Motivated with Frugal Living
Saving money is exciting at first—but let’s be real, sticking with it long-term is HARD. It’s easy to start cutting expenses, but after a few weeks, you might start thinking:
“Do I really need to keep doing this?”
“Is this even making a difference?”
“Screw it, I’m ordering a takeaway!”
Sound familiar? Don’t worry—you’re not alone! Here’s how to stay motivated and make frugal living a lasting habit.
🎯 1. Track Your Savings (Make It FUN)
Seeing your progress is the biggest motivator. When you track how much you’re saving, you’ll want to keep going.
✅ Use a savings tracker (a printable, a jar, or an app).
✅ Set a goal—like saving $500 for Christmas or paying off a debt.
✅ Celebrate milestones—saved $100? Treat yourself to a small, guilt-free reward!
Need help with your goal setting? Check out my post on SMART goals here!
👀 2. Focus on What You GAIN (Not What You Give Up)
Most people quit frugal living because they focus on what they can’t have. Instead, shift your mindset to what you’re gaining:
✔️ More financial security
✔️ Less money stress
✔️ The ability to afford bigger goals (holidays, home upgrades, debt freedom)
Instead of saying: “I can’t afford this,”
✨ Try saying: “I’m choosing to spend my money on things that actually matter.”
📅 3. Make It a Family Effort
Frugal living isn’t just your job—it’s a family lifestyle. If you’re the only one making changes, it can feel lonely. Get everyone on board!
✅ Turn saving into a game—Set a family savings goal & track progress together.
✅ Teach kids money skills—Let them earn & save their own pocket money.
✅ Make frugal habits FUN—Try budget-friendly cooking challenges or DIY home projects together.
💡 When your whole family is involved, it feels like a team effort instead of a personal struggle.
💡 4. Find a Frugal Community (You’re Not Alone!)
When you surround yourself with people who get it, staying on track becomes way easier.
✔️ Join online communities (like frugal living Reddit groups or Facebook groups).
✔️ Follow frugal living blogs & Pinterest boards for inspiration.
✔️ Find an accountability partner—someone who’s also trying to save money!
💡 Hearing real success stories from others will remind you that frugal living WORKS.
💰 5. Give Yourself a Guilt-Free Fun Budget
💡 Frugality is NOT about deprivation—it’s about being intentional. If you try to cut out all fun spending forever, you’ll burn out.
✔️ Set a small “fun fund” each month—Even just £20-£30 for takeaways, coffee, or guilt-free treats will help you stay consistent long-term.
✔️ Prioritise spending on what makes you happiest—Cut the stuff you don’t care about and keep what brings you joy.
My Personal Experience with Frugal Living
When I first started trying to live frugally, I thought it meant cutting out everything fun. I’d scroll through budgeting tips and think:
“Do people really live like this? Never eating out, never buying new clothes, never enjoying little treats?”
But here’s what I learned—frugal living isn’t about deprivation. It’s about making smarter financial choices that align with what actually matters to you.
For my family, that meant:
✔️ Meal planning smartly, so we weren’t wasting food or overspending on groceries.
✔️ Setting up sinking funds, so unexpected expenses didn’t throw us into panic mode.
✔️ Finding ways to enjoy life for free, so we didn’t feel like we were “missing out.”
Since making these changes, we’ve been able to cut costs, reduce stress, and save more than I ever thought possible—without feeling like we’re living on bread and water.
And honestly? It feels good to be in control of our money instead of it controlling us.
If you want to read more about frugal living and family finances, you can check out this blog post all about building an emergency fund or have a look at all my posts on family finances here.
With love, frugal vibes, and a little extra money in your pocket… until next time
– Jordan 💛
