4 Things Frugal Shoppers Never Waste Money On

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When your budget gets tight, it’s time to reevaluate your spending habits and consider a more frugal lifestyle. Yes, you can meal plan and cancel unused subscriptions, but when you’re looking to stretch every dollar, it’s worth considering what super savers do to cut back.

Being frugal isn’t just about keeping costs low; it’s also about being smart about how you spend. Here are four things frugal shoppers avoid wasting money on, so you can do the same.

Trendy and Disposable Clothing

Clothing is essential, but spending just to keep up with what’s trending is not. While fashion trends come and go, your financial responsibilities remain. For frugal shoppers, it’s better to invest in high-quality staples they can use year after year rather than buying the latest viral looks that will feel outdated in a month or so. But if you’re really interested in shopping the trends, consider visiting a thrift store or two to find similar styles at half the price.

Your Daily Cup of Coffee

If you’re buying coffee daily, you could be drinking hundreds of dollars a year. Just look at the math: If you spend $5 every day on coffee, or even just every weekday, that’s $25 to $35 every week. Over the course of a year, you’re spending $1,300 to $1,820. And if you opt for any specialty additions, that amount only goes up. With this math in mind, it’s easy to see how avoiding your daily stop could save you a lot of money over time, but giving it up completely can be challenging.

Fortunately, you don’t have to quit drinking coffee. You don’t even have to stop going to your favorite shop. If your coffee stop is your favorite vice, you can cut back instead of quitting cold turkey. Try making a cup of coffee at home most days and splurging only once or twice per month. And consider utilizing loyalty programs and reward points to make your favorite drinks even cheaper.

Full-Priced Toilet Paper

Spending your cash on full-priced toilet paper is literally flushing money down the drain, so frugal shoppers tend to buy theirs only when it’s on sale. Better yet, if you’re a member at a warehouse store like Costco or Sam’s Club, you can buy toilet paper in bulk and save yourself a ton.

Many people swear by the generic, Kirkland brand 2-ply bath tissue at Costco, where you can snag 30 rolls for just $24.99. A brand name like Charmin will cost you significantly more for fewer rolls — around $26 for only 24 rolls at Walmart.

A Mani/Pedi Isn’t the Cure for Your Budget

Getting a manicure or pedicure is a fun spa treatment and should be seen as a luxury expense, not a weekly or monthly bill. Frugal people know that, like with daily coffee, doing their nails at home will save them money in the long run. 

Instead of taking a trip to the salon, invest in some basic nail polish and a light so you can do your own mani-pedis. If you’re nervous about starting, you can even watch some YouTube videos and tutorials to get inspired. You’ll be able to paint your nails while watching your favorite show in the comfort of your own home, all while saving money. In fact, the amount of green you’ll keep in your bank account just might be your perfect shade. 

Crystal Mayer contributed to the reporting for this article.

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