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Frugality sounds great in theory, but some money‑saving habits just don’t line up with the way millennials actually live. What once felt practical can now come off as limiting, inconvenient, or simply out of touch with modern budgets and priorities. 1. Skipping the Morning Coffee Run Common advice: Brew at home to save. Reality? Not … Read more
These frugal living tips aren’t like those other girls — they’re a little off-beat, funky, and dare we say…a little quirky? And any quirky person reading this knows that’s a good thing, especially in 2026! Let’s review six unique frugal living tips that you should adopt this year. Make Your Own All-Purpose Cleaner When life gives you lemons, make an affordable bottle of cleaning solution. There are tons of products, like baking soda, vinegar, and lemons, that you can mix together for a DIY cleaning spray. They often work just as well without any of the chemical smell or residue. You can even mix things up and customize the scent with different citrus or essential oils. Read More: 8 DIY Cleaning Supplies Recipes You Can Make To Save Money Plan an Extravagant Stay-Cation Get creative with your vacation this year by staying home. You don’t have to stay inside; bonus quirky points if you camp out in the backyard! Staycations can also mean exploring your hometown and falling in love with your favorite places all over again. You’re saving on airfare and accommodations, so not only do you have a more flexible budget, but you can afford to splurge a bit more and go big! Plan a Leftover Night Leftover nights are when you take whatever you already have in the fridge and create something new. Toss whatever veggies you have in with some broth and pasta for a hearty minestrone. Use some leftover rotisserie chicken to make quesadillas. This is a frugal living tip that both saves you money and encourages your creativity, so it’s easily one of the best if you’re looking for something fun and different. If you love the tips in this post, you’ll love my Frugal Living Planner — it’s the perfect next step, and only $10! Get it here. Freecycle With Some Friends Swap parties and freecycling are on the rise, so join in and see what kind of fun stuff you can get. Freecycling is just recycling things that other people would otherwise throw away, but you have a use for. For example, you might have just gotten a new coffee maker for Christmas, and your friend got a new blender. But you love their blender and their in the market for a coffee maker. Swap instead of buying new and both of you save! Collect Your Rainwater Rainwater is a free natural resource you can use to water your garden. You can go all-out and install an irrigation system (which is more expensive up front, but makes using rainwater easier) or use a rain barrel. Either approach will let you harness the power of Mother Nature to help save money on your utilities. This is especially good for those of you with greener thumbs! Do a No-Spend Challenge Who’s up for some friendly competition? If you and your other frugal friends are looking for a different way to save, try seeing who can do it the best. You can go
A pre-purchase inspection and diagnostic scan can uncover hidden engine, electrical, and structural issues in used cars before they turn into expensive repairs. Shutterstock Buying a used car often feels like a race against time and other buyers. Shiny photos, low prices, and “great condition” claims push decisions faster than they should. One simple oversight keeps showing up again and again in expensive repair bills after the purchase. Many buyers skip a full pre-purchase inspection […]
Saving money doesn’t always mean cutting back on everything you love. Sometimes, it’s about being creative and finding new ways to stretch your dollars further. Here are some clever strategies that have proven to be super effective for keeping more cash in your pocket. 1. Bring Out Your Inner Handyman Instead of forking out cash every time something breaks, some have turned to YouTube tutorials to fix things themselves. Learning to repair rather than replace can save a significant amount of money, and it’s surprisingly satisfying to solve problems with your own two hands. 2. Shop Smarter, Not Harder Opting for budget-friendly grocery stores can make a huge difference in your monthly spending. It’s a simple change that pays off, proving that saving money doesn’t require sacrificing quality or variety in your diet. 3. Kick the Habit Quitting smoking is not just good for your health; it’s a financial game-changer. Those who’ve quit report saving a small fortune, not to mention the potential long-term savings on healthcare costs. 4. Cut Down on Paper Waste Some savvy savers cut paper towels into smaller pieces to avoid waste. It’s a small, eco-friendly step that adds up to big savings over time, challenging the notion that convenience is worth extra cost. 5. Rethink Parking and Gym Fees Avoiding paid parking and gym memberships by walking more and using the available free parking can lead to both financial and physical health benefits. It’s a creative way to save money and stay fit without the monthly fees. 6. Pay Yourself First Pay yourself first! Putting money into an investment account before paying other expenses is a strategy some swear by. It forces savings and grows wealth over time, making it harder to spend impulsively. 7. Using Concentrated Soap Switching to concentrated soaps like Castille soap for everything from dishwashing to hand soap can dramatically cut down on expenses and plastic waste. Its concentrated formula and versatility make it a cost-effective and eco-friendly choice. 8. Choose Barbers Over Salons Opting for a barber instead of a salon for simple haircuts can halve the cost. It’s a no-brainer for those with shorter styles, challenging the idea that gender should determine where you get your haircut. 9. Master Meal Prep Preparing meals in advance is not just a health-conscious decision; it’s a budget-friendly one. It saves time, reduces the temptation to eat out, and ensures you have delicious, cost-effective meals ready to go. 10. Streamline Subscriptions Canceling unnecessary streaming services can free up a surprising amount of monthly cash. It’s a reminder that sometimes less is more when it comes to digital entertainment. 11. Carpool To Cut Costs Sharing rides isn’t just good for the environment; it’s great for your wallet. Carpooling to work or events can significantly reduce fuel and maintenance costs over time. 12. DIY Beauty Treatments Learning to do your lash extensions, nails, and hair color is not only a fun skill but a major money-saver. It’s a luxury experience at a fraction of the
It’s been a while since I’ve given just a general update on what we’ve got going on. And with some really big plans like moving to Asheville on the agenda, I thought it might be a good time to bring you up to speed. Besides our big move, we’ve got some fun international trips we’re working on getting on the books over the next couple of years that we’re already super-excited about! Just to make […]
Remember when “retro” used to be a bad thing? Well, that retro renaissance doesn’t just apply to bell-bottoms and lava lamps; these are some old-school money tips that are also coming back in style! Baking Bread 2020 might have been the height of baking culture, but the cool factor for making your own baked goods seems to be sticking around like dough on an ungreased pan. Baking bread at home is an excellent way to save money while making your house smell impossibly delicious at all times. Plus, it’s a labor of love that you can share with family and friends (but only if you want to). Waiting To Buy Things When They’re On Sale Gone are the days of impulse buys. People are realizing that this old-school hack is easier than ever with apps that track prices for you. And you don’t even have to use the apps; sometimes it’s as easy as adding items to your cart, waiting for a coupon, and buying the item then. Either way, the concept is the same: patience is key to saving money! Make Gifts Instead of Buying Making homemade gifts used to be a social norm. And thankfully, the trend is back in full force! People are making their own stationery and gift cards, cooking or baking (there’s another use for that bread), sharing on special occasions, or even taking one of their hobbies and using it to create something unique for someone in their lives. Unplugging “Unplugging” was never really a money-saving tip, but that’s only because there was so much less (or nothing at all) to plug into! A few years ago, hooking yourself up to every piece of technology was the cool thing to do. But it was both extremely expensive and not very fun to live that way. Fortunately, we’re all waking up to the reality: we need nature, socializing, and movement! These are all good things for our quality of life and our wallets, so we must find time in our busy schedules to put the phone on silent, both metaphorically and maybe literally. Tracking Your Spending Being a “numbers guy” is cooler than ever. Financial literacy and budgeting prowess are now marketable social skills, and keeping track of your spending is a big indicator that you have things under control. With so many budgeting apps that make tracking every last expense impossibly simple, it’s no wonder that responsibility is back in fashion, and we hope it’s here to stay! Feeling overwhelmed by your finances? Our simple, printable budget planner makes it easy to track where every dollar goes. Download it for free now! Actually Saving Your Money Hold on! You mean it’s cool to tell people you can’t afford something and that you’re saving up for an emergency fund or vacation? Since when? We don’t know when the scales tipped in favor of frugality, but even the concept of putting money into a savings account is finally cool again. Being frivolous with your spending
A quick announcement for today: I just released the 2026 edition of Taxes Made Simple. It includes all the stuff that’s new for 2026 (and 2025), such as the $1,000 charitable donation deduction for non-itemizers, the senior deduction, the deductions for qualified tip income, qualified overtime income, and vehicle loan interest. If you think it would be helpful for you or a loved one, I’d encourage you to grab a copy. Or leave a review […]
The number that breaks retirement plans In the accumulation phase, the job is growth. In the withdrawal phase, the job is survivability. A big equity drawdown early in retirement does real damage. You sell stocks when they are down and […]
We spent 90% of January 2026 overseas, mostly in Thailand. Travel spiked 412% in one category, yet total expenses landed just $544 above our 12-month average. Here’s the full monthly expense breakdown, what alternative income covered it, and why the trailing average is the only number I trust. The post FIRE Trial — January 2026: A Month In Thailand And What It Did To Our Budget appeared first on Turtle Investor.
A step-by-step guide to turning your own backyard into your next favorite destination. We spend so much time dreaming about far-off destinations that we completely overlook the magic sitting right in our own backyard. But with flight prices climbing, limited PTO, and life getting more expensive across the board, staycations are regaining popularity. I sat […] The post How to Plan a Staycation You’ll Actually Look Forward To with Jenn Nielson appeared first on The […]
Buying everything new is making your bank account suffer. Most products lose half their value the second they leave the store. You can find high-quality items for a fraction of the price at thrift stores or online marketplaces. Choosing used goods saves you money and helps the planet. Here are 19 things you should never buy new again to keep your budget on track and your home looking great. 1. Solid Wood Furniture New furniture […]
Looking for a more reliable way to reduce your cell phone bill? It could be time for you to switch wireless carriers. Fortunately, cheap cell phone plans abound. Prepaid plans generally cost less than monthly plans, especially if your usage… Source
I’m a frugal nerd and every week I entertain myself by making detailed plans for a $20 weekly grocery budget for a family of four: $20 total, not per person. 4 adults. Lots of meat. Lots of fresh vegetables. My usual method is to spend only $15 a week, holding $5 back to save towards […] The post $20 a Week Family of 4 Grocery Budget – WITH MEAT – Yes, it is possible in […]