I wasn’t living an extravagant life, but I was living from paycheck to paycheck. It bothered me a lot and I couldn’t do anything about it. To get out of this vicious cycle, I discovered frugal living. No, don’t confuse frugal living with stinginess, I was just learning to spend my money in a balanced and conscious way. So I started paying attention to where every dollar was going.
In this frugal living guide, I’ve put together a great step-by-step guide that shows you what I’ve been doing and practical information on how to save money every day.
What is (Really) Frugal Living?
Living frugally is not about depriving yourself of everything. This way of living means learning to spend your money consciously and to be content with what you have.
- Purposeful expenditure
- Avoiding waste
- Maximizing value
- Prioritizing what is most important
For me, it wasn’t about saying no to coffee or never going out; it was about choosing what really adds value to my life and cutting out the rest.
I’ve Defined My “Why”
Understanding why you need to live frugally can make it easier. Ask yourself these questions before you take the first step towards freedom from restriction:
- Are you saving for a goal (house, travel, early retirement)?
- Do you want to pay off debt?
- Do you want to quit a stressful job?
Once I defined my “why”, every frugal decision became easier. It wasn’t about constraint; it was about freedom.
I Followed Every Dollar
I investigated the areas where I spend unnecessarily without realizing it. For this purpose, I tracked all my expenditures for a month. The result really surprised me. I was now able to save more money for saving money.
- Food delivery for 220 dollars a month
- 75 dollars a month for unused subscriptions
- “Fast trips” to the grocery store for $60 a month
- This realization changed the rules of the game.
Pro Tip: I used a free app like EveryDollar, Spendee or YNAB to easily track all Spending.
I Created a Simple Budget
I took it all in hand and created a simple budget for all expenses. This budget was only for basic needs, and I started to be more consistent and conscious of every dollar that was left out of this budget.
- Kira
- Grocery shopping
- Public services
- Minimum debt payments
- Transportation
Everything else has become optional. This doesn’t mean I’ve eliminated fun; it means I’ve made it intentional and planned for it.
I adopted a “Use what you have” mentality
Frugal living has taught me to appreciate what I have instead of running to the store every time I need it or shopping for anything.
- Examples
- I turned old t-shirts into cleaning cloths
- I cooked with what I had instead of ordering takeaway
- I finished all the products before buying more (goodbye 4 half-used shampoos!)
This mindset helped me expand what I already had and appreciate them more.
I Learned to Say “No” (Without Guilt)
At first it was hard to say “No”. My friends wanted to eat out and my colleagues wanted to go on vacation together. I had to say “No” in a polite way.
Instead of just saying, “I can’t,” I learned to say:
- “It’s not in my budget this month.”
- “I’m focusing on savings right now.”
- “Let’s do something cheaper – like a coffee walk or a dinner meeting.”
Most people respected that. And the ones who didn’t? They were not aligned with my new priorities.
I Ruthlessly Cut Recurrent Expenses
I’ve cut out all the unnecessary spending I’ve been doing so far, so I’ve taken another step towards growing my savings faster.
| Category | Before | After |
| Streaming Services | $45/month | $9 (kept one) |
| Cell Phone Plan | $80/month | $20 (switched carrier) |
| Gym Membership | $60/month | $0 (home workouts) |
| Car Insurance | $110/month | $78 (new provider) |
Total saved monthly? Over $180.
I Learned Frugal Shopping Habits
When I went to the store without a list, I would buy ten items instead of one. I started using a list to restructure my mindset:
- I always shop with a list
- I use cashback apps like Rakuten and Fetch
- I compare unit prices (not just shelf prices)
- I wait 72 hours for non-essential purchases
- I shop second hand as much as possible
Conclusion. I spend less, but I feel like I have more.
I Made Frugality Fun
When it comes to living frugally, for some reason it feels like a bore and a chore to everyone. But this is not true. Because; When I started to live frugally, I realized that, for example, when I was at home, preparing a dinner with the ingredients left in the fridge made me feel good. You should also try implementing the following four points.
- I started a frugal living challenge with my friends
- I learned new recipes with low-cost ingredients
- Gamified my savings goals (hello progress trackers!)
- I joined online frugal communities to get support and ideas
What surprised me was how creative and fulfilling frugal living can be.
I Found Happiness in Simplicity
Instead of thinking about shopping every minute of every day, I simplified my spending. When I started to do that, I realized something: I started to enjoy life more and I started to shop less.
- Less complexity
- Less decision fatigue
- More appreciation for what I already have
- More peace of mind
I learned that saving is not just a financial strategy; it is a mindset shift.
Things I Don’t Spend Money On Anymore
Details of a few things I’ve restrained myself from spending money on and never regretted it:
- Disposable cleaning products (hello vinegar and baking soda)
- Bottled water (filtered)
- Cable TV (broadcast only)
- Branded grocery products (store brands taste the same!)
- Fashion trends (I created a capsule wardrobe)
Each change may seem small, but collectively they added up to hundreds of dollars in monthly savings.
Final Thoughts: Frugal Living is a Way of Life, Not a Stage
As someone who has been living frugally for a year, I can say the following: I was able to save money without feeling restricted or bored, and I also started to feel more empowered.
Frugal living has given me control over my finances, clarity in my choices and confidence in my future.
I’m not asking you to change your life in one day, just try to take one step, say no once or make dinner at home tonight. Just take one step and see that something really changes.
