15 Creative Ways Frugal Americans Maintain and Stick to a Budget

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Budgeting is important, but who said finding room in your budget has to be boring? Cutting costs and saving money might seem yawn-inducing, but that is only because you are not doing it right!

Here are fifteen creative tips to help you maintain and build a better budget.

1. Save Loose Change

businessman holding coins putting in glass. concept saving money for finance accounting
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Cash is still very much around and might be lying around your house! Save your loose change in a jar or piggy bank and see how much you can save.

2. Use More Coupons

Woman viewing discount coupon on mobile phone.
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Check to see if there are coupons before you make a purchase, especially for anything you need or buy regularly.

3. Compare Credit Card Fees

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If you still have credit cards with high annual fees and APR, see if you can switch to something more reasonable.

4. Cut Back on Eating Out

Group of Happy friends having breakfast in the restaurant
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This doesn’t have to mean never eating out. Maybe it means getting wine only during happy hour or going out for the lunch special. Every dollar counts!

5. Reevaluate Your Savings and Checking Accounts

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Could you be saving or earning more interest elsewhere? There’s a good chance the answer’s yes.

6. Try a No Spending Challenge

No Spend Day calendar reminder. Money saving concept.
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Take one day out of the week or month when you don’t spend any money at all.

7. Buy Used

A huge second hand store, a lot of furniture and other things
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Many used items like furniture and clothing are still in excellent shape. Remember, one person’s trash is another’s treasure!

8. Buy In Bulk

Woodbury, Minnesota - February 27, 2020: A flatbed style shopping cart piled high with bulk food and other items at a Sam's Club store.
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You’ll always save at least a little if you buy in bulk. Much like with the coupons, if you’re already going to make the purchase anyway, you may as well find a way to make it cheaper.

9. Vision Board

Vision board design. Collage with different photos representing dreams
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They sound cheesy, but you’d be surprised how much just a little bit of light manifestation can work. Creating a vision board for your financial goals could open up some opportunities for you and some holes in your budget.

10. Pay More

One Hundred Dollars. Portrait of a customer's hand holding US Dollars in one of the money changers. The money amounted to more than a thousand US Dollars
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It sounds counterintuitive, but if you’re spending money on cheap things because you think you’ll save a buck, you’re probably already used to replacing them just as quickly. Spend the extra money on something that will last, and you’ll save in the long run.

11. Cut Back on Subscriptions

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How much are you watching your streaming services? The price keeps increasing, but if you aren’t using them frequently enough, this is a fast, easy thing to cut out of your budget today.

12. Cook More

Happy man in kitchen. Young man preparing delicious food.
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Teaching yourself how to cook is both creative and money-saving. Going out to eat is nice occasionally, but the joy of cooking your meals is budget-friendly and fulfilling.

13. Walk or Use Public Transit

Low angle view of happy man riding in a bus.
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For those who have astronomical car payments or find yourself calling a rideshare service more often than you’d like, walk or take the bus whenever you can to cut back on transportation expenses.

14. Try Some DIY

Female Plumber Working To Fix Leaking Sink In Home Bathroom.
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Not everything is DIY-friendly to the novice, but there are so many things you can teach yourself with a quick YouTube tutorial that will save you a lot of money without having to call a professional.

15. Workout at Home

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Gym memberships and classes can add up. Provided you think you can maintain your workout routine when the couch is sitting right over there, tempting you to skip the gym membership to save on monthly expenses.

20 Frugal Tips From the “Grandparents Generation” That Still Apply Today

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Many of today’s grandparents had parents or grandparents who lived through the Great Depression. They adopted many of the frugal living tips they learned and passed them on to their own children.

Grandkids sometimes think that they know everything and that their grandparents are out of touch with today’s world and reality. And while there might be a kernel of truth to that, grandparents still have a wealth of knowledge that can really help. They may need to be tweaked to fit the current world but they are still valuable.

20 Frugal Tips From the “Grandparents Generation” That Still Apply Today

30 Super Simple Ways To Save Money at Home in 2024

Woman looking at a bottle of orange juice in a supermarket.
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Looking for some ways to save money at home? Now is the time to cut expenses, save some money, and keep your money in your wallet. Here are some simple ways to save money at home this year. Whether it’s as simple as switching what you buy when you go to the store or being a little more creative in the ways you use items in your home, maybe some of these ways will work for you!

Here are 30 ways to save money at home and put more in your pocket.

30 Super Simple Ways To Save Money at Home in 2024

20 Poor Hacks Frugal People Use on a Fairly Regular Basis

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Even if you’re not poor, you sometimes feel that way, and you probably have some tricks and tips for coping with that. In this article, we’ve compiled several poor hacks that people utilize at least a few times a month or even a week. It’s always good to share these hacks; we hope some of them help!

20 Poor Hacks Frugal People Use on a Fairly Regular Basis

28 Practical Ways Frugal People Save Lots of Money

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Saving money doesn’t have to mean saying goodbye to life’s little indulgences. With a few smart tweaks, you can stash away cash for that dream vacation, rainy day fund, or splurge-worthy purchase without feeling like you’re on a constant budget patrol.

Think of it as a side hustle that pays off without the extra hours. Whether you’re looking to conquer debt or simply boost your bank account, these tips are guaranteed to put more money in your pocket, painlessly.

28 Practical Ways Frugal People Save Lots of Money

I’m Frugal: Here Are My Top 30 Frugal Living Tips to Save Money

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I’m super frugal, and one of my passions is sharing my frugal living tips with everyone.

Here are some of my absolute favorite frugal tips to help you get started on your journey to frugal living.

I’m Frugal: Here Are My Top 30 Frugal Living Tips to Save Money

Author: CJ Darnieder

Bio:

CJ is a writer and musician from Chicago.  When he’s not practicing the divine art of stoicism, focusing on achieving a deafening inner quiet, or attempting to reconcile with the inherent powers of the universe, he loves to cook!

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