Frugal living isn’t necessarily one of my top priorities but there are a few habits of highly frugal people I believe everyone should have. It isn’t easy to be frugal but the benefits can be amazing if you chose to live the lifestyle or even adopt a few of these frugal habits.
To live frugal means you use your money sparingly and economically.
These habits of highly frugal people can be adapted to your lifestyle. While you can pick and chose to live certain frugal habits, by adopting them all you will save money, live better, and have really start to appreciate the little things.
20 Habits of Highly Frugal People
Highly Frugal People Have Learned to Say “No”
One of the best habits I believe everyone should have – even if you are not frugal – is learning to say no.
It is difficult to tell your friends and family no but if you are asked to do something that does not align with your bigger goals and aspirations it is okay.
You’ll need to practice saying no and sticking to your decision. Once you adopt this habit you’ll learn how freeing it truly is to live within your values.
Highly Frugal People Always Double Check
Learning to double check can save you thousands of dollars over the years.
Highly frugal people will price compare, clip coupons, and check prices online before making purchases. This is esepecially ture if you are making a larger purchase.
You want to pay the least amount of money for something as possible.
Highly Frugal People Have a Budget
Habits of highly frugal people start with a budget. A budget is simply telling your money where to go each month so you can begin to live within your means.
It doesn’t matter if you are a high income earner or live at the poverty level.
Everyone can benefit from having a plan for their money.
Highly Frugal People Plan Ahead
Frugal people plan ahead for everything.
From big purchases to their day to day schedule, having a plan allows high frugal people to make decisions based on their needs rather than on their wants.
Read: How to Make a Large Purchase
Highly Frugal People Have Financial Plans and Safeguards in Place
An important habit of highly frugal people is having a financial plan and safeguards in place.
Financial Plans can include
- Monthly Budget
- Yearly Budget
- Large Purchases such as vehicles or a home
- Having Children
- Paying for College
- Buying new furniture
While this list is not all encompassing it will give you an idea of things that highly frugal people tend to plan for.
The biggest safeguard highly frugal people have is their emergency fund.
An emergency fund will protect you against job loss, a recession, a major home repair as well as many other things. If you do not have an emergency fund in place this is something you should begin to work on today!
Highly Frugal People Learn From Their Mistakes
One of the biggests lessons we can all learn is to not make the same mistake twice.
Highly frugal people learn form their mistakes and tweak their lifestyle going forward so they do not continue to make the same mistakes.
This allows them to save money and time.
Highly Frugal People Save Their Pennies
Have you ever heard the phrase “a penny saved is a penny earned”?
This is how frugal people live below their means. Highly frugal people tend to save their money rather than try to earn more. While increasing your income is a great step to take, you should be able to save money at any income level.
Highly Frugal People See Opportunities Others May Miss
Have you ever looked back and thought about an opportunity you may have missed because you didn’t think it was the right time?
Highly frugal people make it a habit to look for items during the off season. This could be purchasing school supplies during the summer before school is even a thought. It could be purchasing clearance clothing a season or two ahead of time because of the great deals available.
Frugal people are always looking for ways to save money and will look at opportunities differently than most of us. While many of us do not enjoy buying very far in advance, this is exactly how highly frugal people are able to save so much money.
Highly Frugal People are Great at Repurposing Items
Some people call it re-purposing items while others call it up-cycling. Turning one man’s trash into your treasure is a great way for frugal people to save money and think outside of the box.
Up-cycling can include anything from turning cinder blocks into planters or turning a t-shirt into a child’s dress. The possibilities with up-cycling are endless.
Highly Frugal People Continue to Learn
Becoming a lifetime learner is important to continue learning new skills to advance your frugal habits. This could be learning anything from new money skills to how to sew or even bake.
Continuing to learn and adapt is the best way to continue to stay frugal and resourceful as the world evolves.
Highly Frugal People Prepare Food From Scratch
When grocery shopping buying prepared foods is much more expensive than buying the ingredients to make something from scratch.
Scratch cooking can include anything from making homemade bread to baking a cake.
Highly frugal people understand that preparing food from scratch will take more time. This is when batching tasks together makes sense. You can prepare a larger amount of dough for bread and keep a portion in the fridge to bake another loaf later in the week.
You can also prepare meals already of time and freeze them so you have a meal ready to go from freezer to oven (or slow cooker).
If you want to learn from a frugal homemaker I highly suggest watching Kimmie from She’s In Her Apron on Youtube.
Highly Frugal People Meal Plan
Creating a meal plan is a habit frugal people adopt early on. This is the easiest way to save money on food because you will know exactly what you need for the week and base your purchases on those meals.
If you are struggling to save money at the grocery store I have some tips that may help you. Starting with a grocery list is the best thing you can do. Also, shopping the perimeter is important as that will have the freshest ingredients to cook from scratch.
Highly Frugal People Shop Second Hand
Thrift stores and garage sales are a frugal persons best friend. By buying second hand (gently used) items you will save more than 50% off of the MSRP on most items.
You will need to check the quality of an item before you buy it (especially clothing) but you can find name brands as well as other quality pieces in second hand stores.
Be sure to check if your thrift store has a day that they offer larger discounts. Some thrift stores have senior days or even 50% off the marked price days! The savings can really add up.
Highly Frugal People Value Quality
This may seem counterintuitive but highly frugal people value quality over quantity. A frugal person will spend more money on an item to ensure it’s longevity.
Frugal people do not like to replace items and by purchasing higher quality items they will not need to replace it as often. This is especially true with clothing and home items.
Highly Frugal People Enjoy Staying Home
Staying home is one of the easiest ways to save money.
While I am not saying frugal people do not go on vacation nor enjoy going out for entertainment. They do these sparingly and plan in advanced.
By staying home frugal people are able to save a higher percentage of their income and make meaningful purchases with their money.
Highly Frugal People Live in Smaller Houses
Highly frugal people live in smaller spaces because they do not enjoy spending money on stuff. They do not need the storage space that other families do.
A smaller home also allows frugal people to save money on their mortgage, heating and cooling, electricity, water etc.
By living in a smaller home frugal families spend more quality time together as well.
Highly Frugal People Buy in Bulk
Buying in bulk may surprise you when it comes to frugal living. Bulk items tend to cost more in the short term but over time you can really see the savings add up.
Buying everything in bulk is not necessary. Frugal people plan their bulk purchases to ensure they can use the food before it expires. This is part of their meal planning process and grocery shopping.
Bulk shopping does not just happen at stores like Costco and Sam’s Club.
You can buy in bulk at your regular grocery store by stocking up on items when they are on sale.
By following your stores regular sales cycle you will be able to stock up on exactly how much you need until the items go on sale again.
Highly Frugal People are Proud of Their Lifestyle
Frugal people are proud of living on less and saving more of their income. They are not ashamed of living against the American standards of consumerism and will share their tips and tricks if you ask them.
Highly Frugal People Are Less Stressed
When you live a frugal lifestyle you are less stressed. This is because you are spending less money, living in a smaller home, and spending more quality time as a family.
Your lifestyle is not a burden when you are frugal. If something is to become a burden frugal people will reevaluate and make any changes necessary to reduce that tress in their life.
Highly Frugal People are Humble
Frugal people are humble in their every day lives. They do not boast nor push their lifestlye choices on anyone.
Frugal people tend to keep to themselves and enjoy a quieter pace of life.
Habits of Highly Frugal People are Easy to Adopt
These 20 habits of highly frugal people are just the beginning of living a frugal lifestyle. As you can see they do not live an extravagant lifestyle and the habits can be easily integrated into anyone’s life.
If you are just starting your frugal lifestyle pick one of the habits listed above to start practicing today. I truly believe living on a budget is the best place to start since it will show you exactly how you are spending your money. It is one of the easiest and hardest things to change.
