7 Frugal Habits for Building Savings

In this article: Simple, effective frugal habits that can help you significantly boost the amount of cash you have in the budget to save this year.

by Andrea Norris-McKnight

Has the first half of 2024 been a bumpy financial ride? A healthy savings account balance can make the trip a little easier and may help you prevent pulling out the plastic to make ends meet.

If you’re struggling to put money into savings each month, a change in habits can help free up the needed cash.

Here are seven simple-to-develop frugal habits that can help you put more into savings. You might hate giving up some of these things, but remember, it is temporary. As your savings account balance grows and the economy improves, you can add some of these things back into your budget. Or you may find these habits are so simple to maintain that they become part of your lifestyle rather than simply a way to get by during tough times.

1. Cook More, Eat Out Less

Frequently dining out and ordering in is quite expensive. Cooking at home is healthier and much more cost-effective — and a very easy way to free up extra cash.

If a busy schedule prevents you from cooking from scratch, switching to a meal service rather than ordering fully-cooked restaurant food several times a week should help you save. However, plenty of simple, inexpensive recipes can allow you to throw meals together quickly.

2. Buy Secondhand

Consider purchasing items second-hand whenever it makes sense, such as clothing, furniture and household items. Thrift stores, online marketplaces and garage sales often have great deals on gently used items.

Buying second-hand can help save money, but you can also feel good about making the eco-friendly choice to buy used.

3. Use Coupons and Shop Sales

If you can’t buy second-hand, take advantage of sales, coupons and cash-back apps to save money on items you must buy.

Remember that buying used and shopping sales will help you save, but avoiding non-essential purchases will help you save even more. Any purchase you can put off until later can help you put more into savings now.

4. Take Control of Utility Bills

Being mindful of your utility usage can help you save quite a bit. Weatherizing your home, minimizing hot water usage and using energy-efficient appliances are just some of the ways you can lower utility bills.

The following articles explain some of the many ways you can cut utility costs:

• 21 Ways To Save Water and Money
• Reduce Energy Bills by Hundreds per Year
• 12 Energy-Saving Tips for Your Apartment
• Simple Ways To Cut the High Cost of Hot Water

5. Cancel Unnecessary Subscriptions and Memberships

Review all your subscriptions and memberships and cancel those that you don’t use frequently enough to justify the cost or make a point not to renew this year. This includes a gym membership, streaming services, warehouse club membership and even Amazon Prime.

You can always sign up again once your bank balance improves.

6. Find Free and Cheap Entertainment Options

Often, entertainment can be one of the more challenging budget categories to trim. You may have to get creative to come up with free and cheap options you enjoy.

Host a potluck at your house rather than meet friends out for an expensive restaurant meal. Watch for low-cost community events, such as concerts or movies in the park. Treat your family to a day at the beach or lake rather than an amusement or theme park.

You might be surprised at the fun things you discover that require very little cash outlay.

7. DIY

Instead of buying new or paying for professional services, consider do-it-yourself options for things like lawn maintenance, pest control and salon services.

You can also make some products rather than buying them, such as cleaning supplies and beauty products.

Which Frugal Habits Will Help You Save?

These tips can help you get through tough times a little easier. But making these habits a lifestyle choice rather than a temporary tool for freeing up extra cash can lead to substantial growth in your savings over time. Just make some of these savings actually make it into your savings account. These tips can help make sure your savings don’t disappear. 

• 6 Ways To Squirrel Away More Money
• Best Places for Beginning Investors To Put Savings
• Easy Steps To Building an Emergency Fund on a Tight Budget

Reviewed July 2024

About the Author

Andrea Norris-McKnight took over as the editor of The Dollar Stretcher and After 50 Finances after working under the site founder and previous editor for almost 15 years. She has also written for Money.com, GOBankingRates.com, HavenLife.com and The Sacramento Bee.