8 Ways Frugal People Save Money and Time
Written by
Martin Dasko
Edited by
Chris Cluff
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When it comes to saving money, there are certain sacrifices you’ll want to consider so you can create more opportunities for yourself in the future. The good news is that there are also frugality habits that can help you save time and money so you can benefit on numerous fronts.
You can then use this time and money as you see fit to focus your energy on what you enjoy. When you have more time and money, you can feel like you control your life.
Here are eight frugal habits that save both time and money.
Preparing Meals at Home
You save money and time by taking care of your meals in your kitchen. You don’t have to spend your work lunch break waiting in line at a restaurant or figuring out what to do for your meal.
You also don’t have to spend additional money on overpriced takeout food. Frugal people also rarely rely on food delivery services, as these come with many fees that can bring up the cost of a simple meal. By investing upfront time and energy into preparing meals, frugal people have more flexibility during the week.
Getting Creative With Meal Options
Frugal people can embrace and channel their creative energy by using what they have instead of constantly seeking new purchases for food options. A frugal person can make the most out of what they have in the pantry to create a delicious dinner instead of ordering food. This will help save time as you’ll likely have all the necessary ingredients at home, so you don’t have to rush out to the grocery store.
Reducing the Amount of Streaming Services
One way to leave some space in your budget is to look for a fixed subscription that you can cut. As a frugal person, you’ll likely want to limit your spending on streaming services since there’s an abundance of them to choose from.
How can you embrace this habit?
- Look through your subscriptions.
- Try to determine which one you no longer use as much.
- Look for services to see which have become too time-consuming.
- Cut out streaming services that you can go on without.
This will help you save time since you’ll get more of it back by not consuming content on multiple platforms. You could use this time in other areas that could benefit you more than trying to keep up with every new trendy series.
Buying Quality Items That Last
Even though frugal people look out for deals, it doesn’t mean they purchase low-quality items. The goal is to purchase a higher-quality item that will last longer. This habit helps you save time because you don’t have to worry about constantly looking for replacements. When you invest in a quality item, you don’t have to worry about its use and lifespan issues. There’s nothing worse than spending money to replace an item because you chose the cheapest option.
Repairing Instead of Replacing
Frugal people will do their best to ensure that their major expenses last longer. This can apply to your home, vehicle, and any technology you spend money on. A little bit of maintenance up front will help you save time since you won’t have to search for a replacement product in the future. For example, taking care of your vehicle will allow you to keep it longer so you don’t have to go through the time-consuming stress of car shopping.
Buying in Bulk
Frugal people often buy in bulk to save money on any item’s per-unit cost. When you buy in bulk, you save time in the future since you’ll have what you need, so you won’t have to rush out to the store when you’re low on toilet paper or salt. Buying in bulk can apply to everything from household basics to food ingredients. Frugal people will save money by shopping for deals and taking advantage of discounts.
Living in a Smaller Home
A frugal person often will try to live in a reasonably sized and priced home instead of trying to find the biggest house possible. You can save time by living in a smaller home because you have less space to clean and maintain. You also won’t have to stress about the higher mortgage payments and increased expenses associated with owning a larger house than you need, which means you might not need to spend time working a second job.
Limiting Entertainment Choices
You can blow your budget on various entertainment options if you don’t learn how to say no. Frugal people will save time by not being so quick to accept evening plans or to go out. When trying to pay down debt or save for retirement, you may have to limit your spending on your entertainment and social activities. You can save time here since you’re in control of how you spend your days instead of letting outside forces dictate what you do.
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