Money-Saving Masters: 35+ Tips And Strategies For Frugal Living

Most people equate being rich with living luxuriously in various homes worldwide, going on endless shopping sprees, driving fast cars, and spending lavish vacations in the most beautiful places. However, we beg to differ. Being rich means managing your finances correctly and not being buried in debt. It’s about being able to afford what you need and setting aside enough money for savings and investments.

How do you save money? By living economically and not spending money on things you don’t need. In this article, we will share tips from members of the ‘Frugal’ subreddit who have mastered the art of economical living to help you manage your expenses. They have great advice on subjects ranging from gifting and recycling old stuff to creating beautiful decor for your home. Time to save some serious dough!

1. Name crayons for Christmas gifts

It is usually a little tricky financially to be the fun aunt or uncle to numerous kids. But if you’re a little crafty, you’ll be able to give them a fun gift for Christmas without putting yourself through financial strain. Give your little nieces and nephews name crayons Christmas presents.

This fantastic personalized gift is personalized doesn’t put a strain on your pocket. You only need a bulk box of crayons and an alphabetic silicon mold. Melt the crayons and pour them into the molds. You can mix and match the colors to make it more fun.

2. The crocheted cat bed

Don’t despair if you have crocheted something that didn’t turn out as expected. It’s not a total waste yet. You can still turn that item back to yarn and use it to make something useful, and will be greatly appreciated by the receiver.

You can make something for yourself, someone special, or that special someone’s pet. A cozy bed might be a good idea if you have a cute cat. This saves you money and turns something that otherwise would have been a waste into something practical.

3. Sunday comics as wrapping paper

Sunday comics were a significant part of the childhood of all nineties babies. Consider using Sunday comic strips as wrapping paper if you are gifting someone born in the nineties and grew up in the early 2000s. This will give them a nostalgic feeling and will save you money.

It will also be a good use of scrap paper. Even little children who didn’t grow up in the nineties will find the colorful comics interesting. You could also be helping someone start their journey into reading; there’s no better gift.

4. Bubble wrap to insulate

Installing heat insulation on your windows can be a fairly expensive process, but don’t fret because there is an easy and cost-effective way to do that. This will only require basic everyday items like bubble wrap, scissors, and water.

To do this, you will need to get the dimensions of your windows and cut the bubble wrap accordingly. Spray some water on the bubble wrap, and it’ll easily stick to your windows. Bubble wrap works wonderfully as a privacy film and is an excellent heat insulator.

5. Upcycling the old jeans

We all have that one pair of jeans that is somehow damaged but isn’t ruined enough to be thrown out. What do you do with them? Instead of letting it fade into oblivion in the depths of your closet, why not turn it into lovely accessories and a decently wearable pair of shorts?

If the jeans are damaged from the bottom, you can cut and discard that part. Take the rest and cut the shorts of your desired length. Hem the ends of your shorts so they don’t look shabby. Use the remaining material to create a beautiful bucket hat and cute scrunchies.

6. Large cuts of meat to store and feed

Have you seen people buying large cuts of meat when it goes on sale at the grocery store? This usually makes a lot of folks confused, but it turns out they’re on to something. These large cuts can be portioned and stored in the freezer for days.

There are a few things that you need to keep in mind if you choose to do this. You should store them in vacuum-sealed bags. If impossible, carefully roll the meat and put it in an excellent sealing bag to prevent freezer burn and ice crystals.

7. Make your old kicks new with a bottle of paint

Converse kicks are some of the most comfortable in the market, and it’s not surprising that people love them. It is agreeable that throwing them away would hurt like hell just because they look grubby. Prolong the life of your beloved sneakers with a bottle of black ink.

Paint the kicks black, and they’ll look different and renewed. The wonderful combination of black and white perfectly complements each other. Clean your sneakers with a shoe cleaner wipe before painting them. If you have painting skills, you can turn your shoes into a canvas and easily cover imperfections.

8. Bringing jeans with patches back in fashion

Jeans with designer patches were extremely popular in the sixties. It’s time to bring this economical and beneficial trend back. It works wonders for those who have a beloved pair of jeans with a hole or is permanently stained. Slap on a patch, and your jeans are good to go.

Using a patch is a straightforward, economical, and fashionable way to upcycle your jeans. You’ll have to iron the patch to your jeans and reinforce it with stitches. With this excellent hack, you can wear your favorite jeans without hesitation.

9. Repurposing old candle containers

Scented candles usually come in beautiful little containers, making it difficult for anyone to throw them out if they have burned out. The good news is you can repurpose candle containers into beautiful storage for pins, tissues, and small-sized jewelry.

Removing candle residue is important before putting anything in the container. You can do that by either freezing the candle for a couple of hours and scooping it out or melting it and pouring it out. Clean the container with soap and water, pat it dry, and it’s ready to use.

10. Rock as a lint remover

If you don’t have a lint roller, a flint rock with rougher edges can be an effective substitute. It can work wonderfully for years, and when you are not using it, it also doubles as a beautiful decoration piece. What more can you ask for?

There are a few other things that you can use as a substitute for a lint remover. Damp hands or damp washcloths do the trick. Some people swear by duct tape because it doesn’t leave residue and even clears the dirt.

11. Frozen fruit smoothies

Kids are incredibly moody; one day, they love fruit, and another, they refuse to eat it. So how can parents prevent fruit from rotting and wasting money? Store them in Ziplock bags in the freezer! Frozen fruit makes delicious weekend smoothies.

Fruit smoothies are refreshing, and your kids might love them. Pair it with breakfast or snacks and have a lovely and nutritious meal. If you don’t like using Ziplock bags, you can always choose airtight food storage containers, which are easy to clean.

12. ‘Too Good To Go’ app

An app dedicated to minimizing food waste called ‘Too Good To Go’ can be your key to economical living. It enlists all the food spots with unsold food items at the end of the day, which can be purchased at inexpensive prices.

The app benefits consumers and businesses and is present in multiple countries like Canada, the USA, the UK, and many more. Now, you can get scrumptious donuts at a nominal price at late hours. Download and use the app, and be resourceful while being frugal.

13. Reusable disinfectant wipes

We all have at least one cotton sheet in the house that is completely worn out, which we find hard to let go of for some reason. Here’s the good news: you don’t have to throw it away. You can cut it up into small pieces and use it as disinfectant reusable wipes.

These wipes are handy and minimize disposable paper waste. You can make more than 20+ reusable wipes from one sheet. How cool is that? They can be stored in any container, even an old candle jar. Say goodbye to buying disposable wipes!

14. Tea in the honey jar

Naturally derived products like honey can be a little on the pricey side. Utilizing them to the fullest is the only way to maximize your money. You’d want to get the last bit of honey out of the jar as much as possible.

Pour hot water into the jar and let your tea steep in it. Diving straight into the jar doesn’t just work for natural products like honey. You can get to the last of your mayo by dunking French fries or jam by dunking bread.

15. Reusable cloth tissues

The common cold and cough are inevitable as seasons change from summer to winter and vice versa. Paper tissues are neither environment-friendly nor pocket-friendly, but they have an easy alternative. You can easily create cloth tissues using materials you already have at home.

You can make cloth tissues from an old duvet cover, an old cotton sheet, and even an old cotton t-shirt. You can later on wash these cloth tissues and reuse them. However, it’s not advised to keep these tissues for long because they can cause infections to spread.

16. The deodorant resurrection

Understandably, we get irritated when we have to dispose of a tiny bit of deodorant each time we get to the end of the stick. Here’s a tip for you. Collect those empty rolls, and once you have accumulated plenty, you can melt them and create a new one.

If you don’t intend to use this on your body anymore, you can also grind those bits. Next, liquify and use it as an air freshener. This way, you get the most of your money, plus you also get to have fun while creating it.

17. Vintage cat apartment

A cute vintage cat apartment is every cat lover’s dream, but we don’t advise buying it because you can easily make one with an old 80s color TV. Yes, those ancient appliances still have use, so don’t get rid of them. Hollow the TV out and lay the cozy bedding for your cat. 

Place it at that corner of your house where your cat’s apartment gets an aesthetic background. You can add a little fireplace to make it cuter. Remember to be careful with old TVs, even from the 80s, which have not been plugged in for decades, because they can still have active, high-watt capacitors that can electrocute you.

18. Spa vibes with chopsticks

Even the best of us have a kitchen drawer dedicated to leftover chopsticks that came along with takeout. Lighten the drawer’s load by using them for a cool DIY project. You’ll need only glue and thread aside from the chopsticks.

Give your bathroom a spa-like vibe by making a chopstick soap dish, as seen in the above picture. Bamboo (which most chopsticks are made from) is long-lasting and doesn’t fall apart when wet, which makes them perfect for bathrooms.

19. The buy-nothing group

Check on Facebook to see if your locality also has a ‘buy-nothing’ group and join them. These groups have a simple concept. If you don’t need something anymore, you can post about it, and whoever needs it can contact you.

You can get some expensive and interesting items for free here, like a kitchen island. These groups promote sustainability through reutilization, enabling folks to score gems without spending a single cent. This will make the planet and your wallet thankful.

20. The sneaker rim cleaner

Don’t worry if your favorite Vans or Converse shoes have blackened rubber. Acetone-based nail paint removers will get you out of trouble. This hack works like magic and is an extremely effective and inexpensive way to maintain the look of your sneakers.

Nail paint removers are readily available and don’t cost a lot. However, if you can’t get one, a few equally cheap alternatives are rubbing alcohol, a magic eraser, or an old toothbrush with soap. Scrub them on the rubber of your sneakers, and they’ll come out looking new.

21. Temporary and biodegradable seed starters

Seed-starting containers can be easily created at home using toilet rolls and old metal takeout boxes. These materials are usually readily available at home and won’t cost money. Put approximately three empty toilet rolls into one container.

After the seeds start germinating, you can plant the toilet roll directly into your pot and let it rot away. Egg cartons are an excellent alternative, too. Cut them apart when you’re ready to plant. You can also use folded newspaper.

22. Salvaging pieces from broken furniture

It hurts when your entire furniture breaks or even parts of it do. Fortunately, there is a way for you to salvage the broken pieces of furniture. If the slats of your bed break, you can very easily turn them into a planter. 

Your old furniture can be broken apart and used for multiple purposes, so you don’t have to spend money on expensive wood. A broken door could be used as a coffee table top, and a cabinet can be converted into a bar, which makes excellent gifts.

23. DIY coffee armchair tray 

A coffee armchair tray is extremely useful, but what if you have a tight budget and can’t afford one? No problem, you can always make one! For this DIY project, you’ll need old newspaper, cardboard, scissors, glue, and some elbow grease.

Cut up the cardboard per your measurements and wrap it with newspaper. You could varnish it to make it waterproof. Add a coat of paint in your desired color. If you don’t want to use a newspaper, colored chart paper is a great alternative.

24. Use the public library to save money on books.

Any avid reader knows that book prices have increased significantly, and a few folks don’t have the money to buy new books regularly. Instead of spending much of your budget on books, go to a public library to read new releases.

You’ll pay a small membership fee, but you can read more books with a public library while keeping your expenses minimal. Some even tell you how much you have saved by borrowing books instead of buying them. Isn’t that neat?

25. Safety pin to save your key

Understandably, you get concerned about safeguarding your house key while jogging. Stop looking for costly contraptions online and use what you already have at home. If you are wondering what we’re talking about, it’s a safety pin. With it, you can secure your house key to your pocket.

Remember to use a bigger safety pin so it holds the key correctly. You can also thread your laces through the top of the key and tie them like normal. Or you could also use a string to tie the key around your neck like a necklace. 

26. The ratchet strap belt

What if your belt breaks, but you don’t have the money to buy a new one? An easy and durable alternative is a ratchet strap with unlimited adjustment options. Start by shortening a ratchet strap and improvise according to the situation.

Gather materials such as a durable webbing strap, a ratchet buckle, and end fittings. Attach the end fittings securely to each of the strap’s end. Thread the strap through the ratchet buckle, and ensure all components are strong and secure.

27. Dehydrated apple chips

Apple chips are a healthy and tasty snack option, but store-bought ones can be expensive. There are a few easy methods that you can use to make this delicious snack at home. One of them is simply placing a sliced apple in the dehydrator.

Another is to place the sliced apples on a cookie sheet in the oven. Remember to season the fruit before dehydrating it to make it tastier. Don’t be afraid to try dehydrating other fruits; you can have various healthy options.

28. The glass-painted window

Tinted windows can be expensive, but you can always work within your budget, get the tinted windows of your dreams, and enhance your home’s aesthetics. All you need are paints of different colors and a permanent marker to make designs on the glass.

Let your artistry shine through and create whatever you desire. You can make a mini ‘Hogwarts’ glass if you’re a Harry Potter fan. Similar results can be achieved by using glass markers. Whether you do it with paints or markers, you’ll be able to save a substantial amount of money.

29. Christmas tree with books

Want to infuse holiday cheer into your home but don’t have the money to buy a tree? You can make a Christmas tree using the books you have at home. All you need to do is strategically assemble them to make a pyramid, and voila! You have an instant bookish Christmas tree.

Instead of a star on top, you could put a potted plant. Complete the look by decorating your tree with lights. Many libraries also do this instead of spending money on a real or fake tree that will only be used for a couple of months.

30. Maximum-size kids clothing

We’ll let you in on a secret. You should go to the Kids’ section if you wear XS to M clothes. There’s a possibility that L to XL kids’ sizes will perfectly fit you. Why are we saying this? Because kids’ clothes are generally cheaper than adults’.

Moreover, some designs are not available in adult sizes, but the best thing is that there is no VAT on under-12 clothes in the UK. That’s a 20% saving for our English friends, and who doesn’t love discounts or savings on clothing? We do!

31. The fabric sample art pieces

Decorating your home doesn’t always mean putting lavish stuff on display. It can be about using discarded items to create cute and artistic pieces. You can make a one-of-a-kind decor with the help of fabric samples and cardboard or paper plates.

You need to use a little imagination for this DIY project. You need to visualize a design that will complement the colors and vibe of your place. You can go with cute cottagecore couture, dark goth couture, or any other theme that suits you.

32. Reusing gift bag tissue paper

Who doesn’t love receiving gifts? Most people do. However, only a few save the tissue paper that comes with gifts because they don’t have any use for it. You can reuse them when giving gifts. You can even reuse the gift bags if they don’t have any writing.

Why spend money on new gift bags when you can reuse old ones as long as they are still in great condition? Now you know why some people have dedicated spaces filled with old bags and tissue paper; it’s all about carefully removing the to and from stickers.

33. Reusable K-cup

As much as we love a cup of joe in the morning to awaken our senses, it can’t be denied that using a pod coffeemaker significantly increases plastic waste. Say goodbye to plastic waste and hello to saving money with the help of a reusable plastic pod or K-cup.

You’ll only have to fill it with your favorite coffee and insert it in the coffee maker. These cups are long-lasting and aren’t expensive. After making your coffee, you can remove the grinds and use them as fertilizer later. Talk about hitting two birds with one stone!

34. Kintsugi to fix things

To repair broken things, Japanese people use an art form called ‘Kintsugi.’ This technique includes repairing broken pots and ceramics with gold. You might raise your eyebrow because using gold to repair things is not frugal. The solution? Use gold paint!

You can repair your pots, pans, and even toilets this way. Use a chalky filler to fill the cracks, let it dry, and paint it with gold. Instead of looking broken and repaired, imperfections are highlighted, and broken items are celebrated. We love this concept!

35. Renew your sun-faded shoes.

It’s not economical to let go of a perfect pair of shoes because their outer fabric has faded. You can renew them instantly by using a Sharpie pen. Coloring with a permanent market will prolong the life of your shoes and hide flaws.

There is no need to be concerned about the smell on your shoes because it dissipates quickly and easily. If you have more time, you can dye the shoes back to their original color. It won’t be as easy as using a Sharpie, but the result will be phenomenal.

36. Airbags to lift your dog’s poop

Dog parents everywhere understand the difficulty of picking up after your furry friend after they’ve done their business. The poop bags available today aren’t very effective and aren’t cheap. Multiple cases have also occurred of people’s fingers ripping through the bag.

Here’s a frugal solution: save air-sealed bags and use them instead. Make a slit on one side to put your hand through like a glove. All that’s left to do is pick up the poop and dispose. If you want to make the process fun, you can pop these bags instead of cutting a slit.

37. Crocheted basket from rags and torn sheets

Don’t throw that torn sheet! You can still use it to make fabric yarn, which can be made into a durable and colorful basket for yourself or gifting. Who wouldn’t appreciate a useful item that’s so made with love? We would!

You can repurpose the torn sheets into a reusable shopping bag or as a laundry basket. You can also make braided rugs with the fabric remnants. Crocheting things from fabric scraps saves money and lets your artistic abilities take center stage.

38. Butter to the fullest

Goods come at high prices today, so it’s only proper to utilize things to the fullest to get our money’s worth. One thing you should never do is discard the wrapping paper butter comes in. Always ensure you get every bit of butter residue on the wrapping paper.

You can use it to grease your baking trays and pans before baking and your skillets before frying an egg. This also works for barbecuing small vegetables or potatoes. Just grease the veggies and put them on the grill.

39. Build your furniture

New furniture is extremely expensive. You can expect to pay even higher prices if you need something customized. Making furniture can be arduous, but it’s not impossible. You can start by drawing a plan and putting the furniture you envisioned on paper.

After drawing the plans, buy your building supplies at your nearest hardware store. Measure per requirements, cut, assemble, and put them together. Voila! You have something unique and something you can be proud of. Not many people can say they’ve made their desk.

40. Cut up the lotion bottles

One thing that we can all agree on is that lotion bottles are highly impractical. Not only are they made of plastic, but a certain amount of product always sticks to the bottle. Most people throw them away even if there’s still some lotion left, but you can cut them up to get every penny’s worth of your money.

After cutting, you’ll find all the product on the walls of the bottle and at the bottom. This can be scooped out and used. If you don’t intend to reuse the suction pumps, you can cut them up too and get more product.

41. Sheet pouches as organizers

Don’t leave your cables here and there intertwining with each other. Not only do they make a sore sight, but leaving them in such a state can damage them. Segregate cables and wires by using sheet pouches. Reverse the label and use a marker to indicate what the cable is for.

These inexpensive pouches can be used to store things other than cables. They work great when storing sewing materials, sweaters, and other out-of-season clothing. They also come in handy when packing for trips. Set them aside because you’ll never know when you’ll need them.

42. Handmade Christmas cards

Nothing means more than someone putting effort into creating something special for you. Handmade Christmas cards are the way to go if you want to make your loved ones feel special. Not only will you save money, this will allow you to be as artistic and creative as you want.

You can create multiple designs while considering who you are making the card for. People always remember and treasure personalized presents, and most keep them in scrapbooks. On the other hand, store-bought cards might go in the bin right after.

43. Scrubber with leftover materials

Utilizing leftover materials to make a scrubber is an immensely easy-to-execute frugal living hack. It saves you money, works effectively, and lasts a long time. You’ll require leftover flannel fabric, old bra inserts, and netting fabric to create one. 

Use your sewing machine to put the materials together. This does the job as well as commercial scrubbers and does not take much time to create. This handmade scrubber ensures your pots and pans are clean and free of plastic residue.

44. Reusable gift bags

Aside from costing money, gift bags made of paper or plastic can only be used once. Say goodbye to them and make a reusable gift bag instead. You only need fabric with festive prints, some zippers, and high-quality thread.

Sew the bags by hand or with a sewing machine. This easy project is easy to do, won’t take up much of your time, and will also last for years. Add a few ribbons to make them look more festive. Friends and family will surely appreciate gifts wrapped in these bags.

45. Reuse milk bags to keep snacks

In many countries, milk comes in plastic bags, which can be reused instead of buying Ziplock bags. In these bags, you can store cereal, pretzels, and other food items. Ensure you clean and dry them thoroughly after pouring out the milk.

Seal the bags by folding the upper half and tying it with rubber bands. Many prefer buying milk in these bags because they can be easily repurposed compared to cartons. Tetra packs are also recyclable. However, there are limited options for repurposing them.

46. Reusable Swiffer cloth

A reusable Swiffer cloth will save you so much money and last longer. Instead of buying these from stores, you can make them at home with your leftover yarn. You can use old towel fabric if you don’t have yarn.

All you need to do is check the size of your Swiffer cleaner and knit it accordingly. Once you’re done cleaning, throw your DIY Swiffer cloth in the washer. You can also customize your washcloth using patches from different leftover yarn/fabric colors.