Frugal people reveal 15 things they absolutely stopped buying—it made a huge difference in their budget
People were quite surprised to see the major difference in their budget after giving up just one shopping habit from their routine!
Saving and investing money can be a big plus if a person is trying to achieve financial stability. Also, it can help people achieve certain goals and have something to fall back on in case of emergencies. However, it can be challenging to manage money if a person is not careful with their spending. To help with that, certain frugal habits might actually work wonders for a person's bank balance. Similarly, u/ShineAfsheen on Reddit asked people on the internet, "Frugal friends, what's one thing you've stopped buying that's made a big difference in your budget?" They added, "It can be anything, from a daily coffee to a monthly subscription! I know how those little things add up over time."
Many people pointed out how giving up on things like alcohol has worked wonders for their budget, while others felt that they had saved lots of money by working remotely. Some others started rotating their streaming services every month to save up on subscriptions, while others cut down on shopping from Amazon and other e-commerce platforms. Many people stopped buying coffee from a coffee shop and quit smoking and could see a major difference in their savings. Here are 15 frugal habits that have helped people get on top of their finances.
1. Quitting alcohol
"I quit drinking for health reasons (mental and physical) and quickly noticed how much money I was saving. Seriously, it blew my mind and also put into perspective how expensive it was to destroy my body! Props to people who can have one or two and stop, but I am a textbook alcoholic and spent every extra penny on alcohol. It was definitely a pleasant surprise!" - Reddit user
2. Working remotely
"My biggest savings happened when my job went fully remote. I save on gas, clothes, coffee and food. I sold my car, so now we also pay less for insurance and maintenance. I also have the energy to work on my garden and business. It's kind of insane how much difference it has made in my savings account." -u/somuchmt
3. Not having multiple streaming subscriptions
"We’ve started rotating our streaming services. One month we will do Netflix, then the next Disney or whatever, so we’re only paying for one service per month instead of 4-5." -u/Substantial_Ad_533
4. Not buying products as seen in advertisements
"I stopped buying things that were advertised to me. Workout clothes and protein powders/bars, mostly. Now, I do research when I want a new product and don't switch from something I know I like." -u/forevergreentree
5. Using food delivery apps less often
"Food delivery is definitely a huge money sink. Uber Eats, for example, is typically 2x the price of picking up yourself (once you add tip, markup and Uber fees) and the restaurant is typically 3-5x the cost of making it yourself. So, all in all, you are looking at 6-10x the cost. Add on to the fact that if you have to order it for delivery or pickup, it's not going to be the freshest vs making it at home." -u/Everypassage
6. Going to coffee shops less often
"I stopped ordering delivery and buying coffee from coffee shops (except on special occasions). When I first paid attention to my budget, I was shocked at how much $ I was wasting on convenience food and 'treating myself' to too many iced coffees. I now save enough for a modest vacation or a few weekend trips per year. Cooking at home has been worth it!" -u/Specialist-Duty9124
7. Quitting smoking
"Both my husband and I quit smoking about 15 years ago. We've saved about $6800/year since then, valued at how much they cost back then, no telling how much it'd be now. Not to mention, hopefully, improved health." -u/Ruby0pal84
8. Eating home-made lunch
"Lunch. I now pack my own sandwiches. Everytime I open that baby up, I feel like I’m saving about 10 euros ($10.91)." -u/Sunsetsione
9. Buying refillable razors
"Razors. Partner and I changed to refillable and just replace individual blades from time to time, which are cheap as hell. It's a more challenging shave, but it works." -u/pumpkin_spice_enema
10. Switching to bar soap from body wash
"Body wash. Bar soap is cheaper and I love how it feels on my skin." -u/Maximum-Plate4247
11. No manicures and pedicures
"Before the pandemic, I used to get manicures and pedicures regularly. Nothing fancy or crazy long, but every two weeks, I had a single color dip polish job changed out and every six weeks, I had a gel pedicure. I have not gone back and honestly, I don’t notice or care. I just keep my nails short and clean, well-trimmed and groomed. I am sure, at this point, I’ve saved thousands." -u/KITTEHZ
12. Buying packaged snacks less often
"Oh my god, this is a huge one! Packaged snacks! The prices just skyrocketed! Make sure you do the Math! Doritos are the same price as sirloin steak per pound. Same with a lot of the other packaged snack foods. The bags cost them pennies to produce and they are charging steak prices. Even higher prices for the smaller bags. Absolute total rip-off. Always calculate the per-pound price for prepared food when you are unsure if it's a good deal or not. The prices they are charging for snack foods are terrifying." -u/Hardcorelogic
13. Using alternatives for paper towel
"Paper towels. I use rags from old bedsheets or T-shirts." -Reddit user
14. Stopped collecting video games
"I stopped collecting video games. I mean, I still collect the ones I love, but I don't need to own every video game ever. I'm not holding a goddamn museum, after all, that was delusional. Also, leaning more and more toward digital games when before it was a no-no." -u/Deho_Edeba
15. Giving up a club membership
"During the pandemic, I dropped my $400/month club membership and started cutting my own hair, so no more $30 trips to the barber." -u/HybridCamRev