Being frugal has always come naturally to me. I’ve never been one to have the latest fashion or buy all the new gadgets. Plus, living in a smaller home and switching to a one-income family has really opened my eyes to items we don’t need to be spending our money on. Here are 4 ways to start being more frugal.

 

 

*note: post has been updated and now has 7 tips 😉

 

Simple and Cheap Cleaning Products

 

There is a cleaning product for everything and I’m telling you that you don’t need them all. Really all you need is vinegar, dish soap, baking soda, and essential oils. You can clean pretty much anything with these 4 items.

 

Plus, they can be used for multiple things, which is always a bonus if you are looking to clear out some clutter. Stop buying those chemical-filled cleaners, save some money, and make your own. Some examples would be DIY glass cleaner or DIY dryer sheets. 

 

Learn Your Style and Quit Fast Fashion

 

 

Our house is not a 100% minimalist home, but I do live by a lot of the philosophy, starting with my wardrobe. No, I don’t only wear black and white, I’m not that extreme, but I have learned what I like and stick to it.

 

I have gone through the process of going through my clothes 3 times in the last year and I have also bought fewer clothes in the past year than any other year. Each time I have a clear-out I am more honest with myself than I was each time before. I get rid of what I am truly not wearing and keep my favorites. I have truly found peace in my closet through these clothing declutters. 

 

It’s been a process, but in the end, it has saved me money over the course of the year. I now only want pieces I know I will enjoy and I always check to make sure it will fit. I don’t buy trendy pieces, because I know I won’t wear them. If you can figure out your style you will be more happy with your wardrobe and won’t constantly feel the need to buy more clothes.

 

Read more minimalist tips here!

 

Start Decluttering

 

This goes with the above idea. After I went through and purged my wardrobe I thought it would a good idea to do this to my whole how. I know this seems like a stretch, but this has helped me save so much money!

 

My eyes have been opened to all of the things I was spending money on and not using. I have now learned what my spending triggers are and what I don’t really need to buy. I’ve made a list of 101 things to declutter right now! Check out that list and see if there are things you are wasting your money on.

 

Be More Mindful and Less Wasteful

 

What do you constantly use that you can save on? One example might be paper towels. I use paper towels for everything! I’m constantly grabbing them to clean up the kitchen counter, dust the coffee table, wipe my daughter’s face. The list goes on and on.

 

I have to be very mindful of my paper towel use or I’ll use a whole roll in 2 days. To help with the problem I invested in some different types of cloths. I got some cheap cleaning cloths from the Dollar Tree, plus these microfiber cloths from Amazon. I do my best to reach for these when cleaning the house instead of a paper towel.

 

There are many, many ways you can save around the house by being more mindful of your decisions.

 

Do you really need to spray cleaner on the counter or can you just use water? Do you need to turn up the heat or air conditioner, or can you put on a comfortable jacket or wear less?

 

Learn How to Go Without

 

I’m willing to bet that there are a lot of purchases you have made that could have waited until you actually needed them. We often feel like we need something right now, but that is not always the truth.

 

For example, I have “needed” a new pair of shoes for a while now. I could really use some casual tennis-shoes because my current ones are just old and worn down. However, we have been on a tight budget and shoes just weren’t in the cards.

 

I have made do without them by… wearing all of the other shoes I have.

 

Going without really is more doable than you think. Save a little money each month until you have extra cash to buy that new item. Or do like I did and wait until your birthday rolls around. Now I will be getting something for my birthday that I actually need and it won’t clutter up my house.

 

Meal Plan

 

Meal planning will without a doubt save you a ton of money. You make a plan for each day, write up a grocery list that fits that plan, and only buy groceries from that list.

 

Also, before you make your meal plan, check out your pantry and refrigerator and plan meals based on what you already have. 

 

In general, planning anything saves you money while impulsivity will not.

 

Grow Your Own Food

 

 

Last, of all, I want to encourage you to grow some of your own food. Spring is around the corner so now is the perfect time to start thinking about this. Salad leaves such as spinach or romaine would be a great place to start.

 

Salad leaves are one of the easiest things to grow yourself. You can even cut leaves off, and the plant will continue to grow and produce more. Spinach seeds are less than a dollar, while a bag that will last you a week is 4 dollars.

 

If you aren’t brave enough to start with seeds get a small plant from a nearby nursery. This was one of the first foods we ever grew. It was very low maintenance and provided us with tons of tasty greens. You can even freeze them and save them for when they are out of season.

 

I will say that in some circumstances growing your own food can start to get expensive but if you find simple things to grow that are easy to take care of, it will help you save money

 

Thank you!! Need More Help?

 

Thank you so much for stopping by and reading my tips. 

 

Before you go… I mentioned a lot of printables in this post. You can grab all of these from the free printables library. This would include a monthly budget tracker, 101 Things To Get Rid Of, meal planning tools, and much more.

 

Also, here at KatiesKottage I aim to help women build systems and routines that make homemaking more simple. Be sure to stick around and read more tips. 

 

Read more frugal ideas. 

 

Read my Ebook!