A Day in the Life of a Frugal Person
Living frugally is really just about making small, smart choices throughout the day. From morning to night, those little habits can add up to big savings over time. Curious what that actually looks like? Let’s walk through a typical day in the life of a frugal person and the simple things they do to save money without overthinking it.
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Morning:
1. Make homemade coffee.
Our frugal person skips the $5 coffee shop run and makes their coffee at home instead, saving a ton over time. When they want something a little more fun, they’ll whip up their own homemade coffee creamer. Of course, they’ve also got a reusable mug they use again and again, whether they’re at home or heading out.
2. Looks at the Meal Plan.
This frugal person creates a meal plan every week with their Meal Planner Kit. So every morning they double check the plan to see what they might have to pull out of the freezer or pick up at the grocery store in order to stay on track. The meal plan saves them hundreds of dollars each month and keeps them sane at the dinner time hour.
3. Check the Gas Buddy app.
Before heading out to run errands, our frugal person does a quick check on the free GasBuddy app to see where gas is cheapest. When they spot a good price in their vicinity, that’s where they fill up. Simple as that!
4. Turn on the slow cooker.
There won’t be any take out traps for this frugal person tonight thanks to their meal plan. Instead, they toss some chicken, fresh vegetables, and broth into the slow cooker for dinner. She uses canned broth from the stockpile, veggies from the garden, and chicken she bought on sale.
5. Scour the sales.
Our frugal person checks the weekly grocery store flyers to see what's on sale that week. They then match the sale prices with the coupons they have on hand. This helps them to make their shopping list for the week while keeping the budget in check. They love the Budget Planner for keeping track of their budget categories and savings goals.
Afternoon:
6. Enjoys a homemade lunch.
Whether they’re at work or out and about, our frugal person brings a homemade lunch. Today it’s a taco salad made with leftover ground beef from last night’s burgers. They also stick to a refillable water bottle, skipping pricey sugary drinks and saving money without even thinking about it.
7. Swing into the local thrift store.
Frugal people love thrift stores to look for gently used items at a fraction of the price of new. Today, our frugal person finds some frames that can be spray painted to match their décor as well as a table lamp they can use on the night stand. For about $7 total they walk out the door so happy!
8. Give the house a quick clean.
Our frugal person keeps cleaning simple and budget-friendly. They use a few affordable staples like vinegar for windows and baking soda for sinks and drains. Rather than buying a bunch of specialty cleaners. A quick wipe keeps faucets looking shiny, and a little attention to the drain helps prevent odors before they start.
9. Snag some free reads.
Our frugal person loves looking on Amazon for free eBook downloads. They also love to swing into the library to borrow free movies, CD’s, magazines, books, and so much more.
Evening:
10. Dinner is served.
Our frugal person serves their thrifty dinner. They use cloth napkins instead of buying disposable paper. They serve lemon water or powdered drink mixes which cost less than pop or premade juices. When done, they will load the dishes into the dishwasher but wait until it's full before running it.
11. Inexpensive entertainment.
Our frugal person loves finding free things to do, so they always check local listings for ideas. They spot a free outdoor concert and a movie downtown that night. They also keep an eye out for discount days at the theatre. Of course, local parks are always a go-to for easy, no-cost fun.
12. Cheap dessert.
No day in the life of a frugal person is complete without a sweet treat. That's why our frugal person signs up for the email lists of all her favorite brands and local restaurants. This way, they get all sorts of coupons and special offers sent to them. Tonight they have a B1G1 FREE coupon to their favorite ice cream parlour. So tonight, they get to enjoy dessert for less!
13. Lights out!
Now that it is time for bed, our frugal person turns down the thermostat so it won’t work as hard at night while they are sleeping. They take a warm shower before bed, using a shower timer and a low flow shower head so they don't waste as much water.
Our frugal person is off to sleep, probably pretty happy thinking about all the money saved that day. Could this lifestyle be for you? Try a day in the life of a frugal person and see how it feels for yourself.
I'd love to know what a day in your life as a frugal person looks like. Let me know in the comments below!
Likewise I also do small repairs to clothes – in addition to daily cooking, I make cider vinegar, jams, chutneys… which I share/ swop with friends
Socially I meet groups of friends for fun weekly and monthly craft night/ Bookclub and the hosting of food/ drink is rotated between homes
I wash out jars and ziplock bags and re use them don’t for get to save and freeze veg’s scraps for a nice free veg broth also save bones from chicken for broths
viola! I, too, am frugal and not a cheapskate. I shop once a month and then again in a couple of weeks for sales that weren’t on sale when I did my BIG shopping. I, also, use dryer balls, cheaper than dryer sheets. Love leftovers and I freeze a lot of stuff. We ditched cable and don’t miss it or the huge bill!! Thanks for the additional tips. Thank you too, other ladies that made comments. I think we are all the same page!
Wow I guess I am a Penny Pincher, I actually do all of those things. It is just common sense but works.
Don’t forget to use the handy dandy local library. Ours even has a drive up window to pick up reserved books!
rinse out or cut in half all tubes and bottles and scrape out what is left on the sides. usually enough product to last a few more washes. cut old jeans down to shorts or pedal pushers – wear in the garden to save your good trousers. cut old t shirts into squares to make into cleaning rags. make your haircut last another two weeks before visiting the hairdresser.
fry all left over veggies add an egg, sprinkle some cheese and make a veggie omlette for free.
I enjoyed the article. Could add a couple of things though. I was and dry dishes by hand as our kitchen is too small for a dishwasher. Rinse water is collected in my watering can and use the water on my bushes and plants. We make coffee at home as well and I use some of the grounds to put in and around my rose bush. We have a composter in our backyard which we use constantly. We collect pop cans from friends and family and take these to a metal recycler for money. We take magazines that are of no more use and take them to the laundry mat when we do our clothes so other people can enjoy them. We use coupons and are on several loyalty programs. The thrift store we go to will give you coupons off when you donate clothes and get get points for every dollar you spend. The points can later be used to take money off your purchases at the thrift store.
Go you! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I go to the neighborhood gym for free using the Silver Sneakers program through my health insurance. After my workout I use the Sauna & shower facilities. I’m saving hot water & I blow dry my hair there as well. I save on hot water & electricity cost & keep my own bathroom clean as well
Absolutely love it. Well done! Sadly i was hoping for some inspiration, but guess I found a kindred spirit.