Frugal living isn’t about being cheap or feeling deprived — it’s about being resourceful.
Finding ways to save allows you to focus your money and attention on the things you value, whether that’s saving for a comfortable retirement, traveling or paying down debt.
We’ve compiled a list of five main areas where you can try to scale back and live more frugally: eating, shopping, entertainment, at home and in your budget.
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Eat well without eating into your budget
If you’ve ever added up your monthly expenses for dining out, you know it adds up quickly — and quietly. You don’t realize it until you log into your bank app or check your credit card statement. And, lately, my restaurant experiences don’t feel worth the cost.
Take notice of what you’re spending on eating out, ordering in and other food-related conveniences. This can be a good start to spending smarter:
» Learn more: Is DoorDash eating into your retirement?
Plan your meals before you’re hungry
Trying to decide what to cook for dinner at 7 p.m., while staring at an empty fridge, is a recipe for splurging on takeout. I avoid this by setting aside 30 minutes every weekend to see what we have and make a plan. Then, I use a grocery list app to fill in the ingredient gaps. The key is to make a plan before you’re hungry.
Honestly, it’s nice to pull out one of the cookbooks off my shelf and pick a few new recipes to try.
Make smart swaps
Most store brands share the same ingredients as their name-brand counterparts. On your next shopping trip, compare labels and test a few swaps. If you like them, add a few more store brands to your cart next time.
You can also start swapping expensive cuts of meat for less expensive options. Ground beef prices are high — over $7 a pound, according to the latest BLS data. Boneless chicken breast isn’t far behind at $4.15 per pound.
I’ve been swapping out for ground turkey and chicken thighs, which are always cheaper at my local grocery store. I’ve started adding more vegetarian meals to our weekly lineup, including main dishes that use beans and eggs.
Pay attention to unit prices
I’m a warehouse shopper through and through. But as much as I love a Sam’s Club or Costco trip, I’ve learned that not every item is a deal. To make sure I’m actually saving money by buying in bulk, I compare the unit price of each item to see if it’s lower than what I typically see at the grocery store.
Build a useful pantry
Keeping a small stockpile of items you use all the time can be really helpful as you cook during the week. There's nothing worse than realizing — mid-recipe — that you're out of diced tomatoes and a trip to the store's your only option (don't ask how I know).
Work through your pantry before things expire. To make sure items don't expire, I store newer items behind existing items on the shelf. That way, I’m always using the oldest item first.
Swap bottled water for a filter
You will never catch me buying bottled water, unless it’s an emergency. That’s because we use the filtered water from our refrigerator. Before I had a fridge that filtered water for me, I used a filtered water pitcher. I got it for about $30 from Target.
There’s another upside to this besides cost: Fewer plastic bottles in landfills, too.
Get a green thumb
I can admit that I’m jealous of people who can grow their own fruits and vegetables. The past three summers of trying to grow tomatoes have been… interesting. Let’s just say I’m still buying mine at the store.
But I have grown herbs we use frequently, like basil, rosemary, dill, mint and parsley. They’re expensive in the store, and most of the time they don’t even smell fragrant. Homegrown herbs have been a cost-saver at our house.
» Want more ways to save money on groceries? We’ve got a deeper breakdown.
Outsmart the urge to buy
Impulse purchases have been a huge struggle for my personal finances. I’m a sucker for items linked on social media and a stroll through Target is always a test of will. Before I know it, my cart is full of things I don’t need.
What I’ve learned over the years is that reining in my shopping budget isn’t about deprivation — it’s about being more intentional about what I want, why I want it and what other goals I could accomplish if I hold off on that purchase.
Here’s a few habits that can help cut your shopping budget:
Shop with a list to avoid impulse purchases
Stick to a list and take other steps to avoid impulse buying. Spur-of-the-moment purchases can be expensive, and you’re more likely to regret them later.
When I’m shopping in a store, I grab a basket instead of a cart. This way, I can only buy what I can hold. If I see something I really want, I add it to a note on my phone. I check back in after a week to see if the urge is still as strong. If the item is on the pricier end, I give it a little more time — just to be sure.
» Learn more: How to be a moneymaxxer
Delete apps that make online shopping easy
Delete shopping apps from your phone to eliminate that urge to browse and buy. Scrolling during your spare time increases your exposure to social media influencers and a steady stream of targeted ads, making it nearly impossible to escape the encouragement to buy, buy, buy.
If you don’t want to remove the apps, try creating more friction in your shopping experience. I bought a Brick, which blocks shopping and social media apps on my phone from 5 to 9 p.m. I’m more present with my kids and less likely to blow $50 on something an influencer told me I just had to have.
» Learn more: Can ‘deinfluencing’ help you spend less?
Check secondhand first
It's often surprising the quality you can find for pennies on the dollar when you shop secondhand. Facebook Marketplace is great, especially if you know exactly what you’re looking for. Use brand names or other identifiers in your search to narrow it down. “Buy nothing” groups on Facebook and garage sales also offer chances to get quality items at a discount.
Thrift and consignment stores are another way to save. I have made shopping secondhand a habit when it comes to my children’s clothes. I toss outgrown clothes into a bin in the closet. When the bin is full, I take it to my local kids’ consignment store. They give me store credit, and I can shop all the brands I would never buy at full price. I’ve even thrifted my kids’ Christmas gifts.
Time big purchases with seasonal sales
There’s a predictable pattern for sales on almost everything from mattresses to TVs and kids’ toys. Buying at the wrong time of the year can cost you.
Use our calendar to see if you should buy now, or wait to get the best deal.
Find entertainment without a price tag
Free, fun things to do are all around. It’s just about knowing where to look. Here are some ways to get creative with your fun:
Check for free-admission days: Museums and state and national parks sometimes waive admission fees on certain days. A quick internet search can pull up the days and/or times.
Tap into your local library: Not only can you check out books, movies, magazines and DVDs from your local library, but you can also find deals on local events. For example, last year, we checked out a movie about our city’s zoo and once we returned it, we got free passes that saved us $100 in admission costs.
Some libraries even offer board games and video games, so you can try something new without buying it outright.
Trade babysitting instead of paying for it: Have friends with young kids, just like you? Consider creating a parents-night-out swap, where you take turns babysitting each other’s kids. That way, you can get a date night without the babysitting fees.
Use credit card rewards in place of cash: If you pay off your balance each month, then don’t feel guilty for using your points on fun experiences. Cash in your points for a “staycation” at a nearby hotel or use them to buy a gift card to the restaurant you’ve been wanting to try.
» MORE: Find more free or cheap activities.
DIY when you can
Here are some examples of when doing it yourself works in your favor:
Borrow instead of buy: Look for a local tool "lending library" or a place to rent tools and equipment, rather than buying something you need only rarely. Better yet, ask a neighbor, friend or family member. Just make sure to return what you borrow.
Learn basic repairs before calling a pro: A short video on YouTube can walk you through fixing a toilet, patching drywall or repairing a lawn mower. In my area, the average visit from a plumber costs $316, according to Angi. That’s a huge savings if you can fix the problem yourself.
Use your analog hobby to save: Things like cross-stitching and bread baking are popular hobbies — but they can also help you save. Pull out a needle and thread to repair and tailor your clothing. Bake bread or other items to help you save at the store. Better yet, use that fresh-baked loaf of bread to barter with neighbors and friends. For example, they mow your lawn in exchange for a loaf of sourdough.
Trim the bills you don’t think about
Getting frugal at home can also mean examining your monthly bills for ways to save on utilities, streaming services and groceries.
The more you save on those expenses, the more you can spend on (or save for) what's important to you.
Call for a better rate: Sometimes calling your utility providers to see if better or cheaper plans are available can be a quick way to save. Shopping around with competitors can give you some leverage.
If you’re nervous to make the call, we have scripts to help lower your cell phone bill, cable and internet or other utility bill.
Downgrade where you can: Sometimes you don’t need the premium plan or the fanciest version of something. Making small downgrades that don’t downgrade your life — like adjusting your thermostat by a couple of degrees or tweaking your internet plan — are just a few clever ways to save money.
Audit your streaming subscriptions: Most people are paying for more streaming services than they realistically use. Some of us even forgot we subscribed. And if your streaming bills are too high, consider the plans that have ads. Sure, they might be annoying — but so is being broke.
Open your bank apps to see what streaming services you pay for and either make cuts, choose a cheaper plan, or see if you qualify for special rates for AAA members, students, seniors or military.
Watch for lifestyle creep: A boost in income, whether that’s a raise or finally being able to drop childcare costs from your monthly budget, can often lead to lifestyle creep. That's when your income gradually increases — but so does your spending. For example, are you suddenly ordering takeout more or have more Amazon boxes coming to your doorstep? Nip that spending in the bud.
» MORE: Discover more ways to lower your bills.
Meet MoneyNerd, your weekly news decoder
So much news. So little time. NerdWallet's new weekly newsletter makes sense of the headlines that affect your wallet.Article sources
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- 1.Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Average Price: All Uncooked Ground Beef (Cost per Pound/453.6 Grams) in U.S. City Average. Accessed Sep 1, 2026.
- 2.Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Average Price: Chicken Breast, Boneless (Cost per Pound/453.6 Grams) in U.S. City Average. Accessed Sep 1, 2026.
