5 Frugal Habits Boomer Americans Never Gave Up — and Why They Work
Written by
Stacy Sare Cohen
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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A global survey by CNBC and SurveyMonkey reported that 70% of Americans are stressed about their financial security, with 58% of U.S. adults living paycheck to paycheck.
The primary stressor: Inflation. However, younger generations can turn to boomer Americans for the one frugal habit they never gave up — “choosing DIY over convenience.” Here’s why it works.
Use Coupons
The boomer you stand behind in the grocery line, counting coupons, may be getting many of their groceries for pennies on the dollar because they cut them out of circulars at home.
A recent study by Coupon Follow on consumer spending reported that U.S. households can save nearly $1,500 on food, clothing, household items, and entertainment, lowering household costs by 6.4%. Plus, today, many digital coupons can be accessed from a smartphone.
Create Handmade Gifts
During the holiday season and birthdays, we head to Amazon and brick-and-mortar stores to buy gifts from manufacturers. Amazon Prime may offer free shipping on Prime-eligible items, but it costs $14.99 a month plus taxes.
Instead, do what many frugal boomers do: Craft handmade gifts yourself. You can make everything from homemade baked goods to clothing, baby blankets and even artwork. You’ll not only lower the planet’s carbon footprint, but give your family an heirloom they can treasure for years, made by your own hands (well, maybe except the cookies!).
Employ the Farm-to-Table Strategy
One way to avoid rising grocery costs is to do what frugal boomers do: create a home garden. Your farm-to-table food will not only cost less but will taste delicious. If you don’t have a large backyard, you can grow a garden on a patio or balcony. Just plant seeds and tend to your garden.
Repair Home Items Instead of Buying New
When an appliance breaks down that’s no longer under warranty, the first thing people do is order a new one. However, some items can be repaired by replacing a broken part. While this may take a little effort, searching for the part’s model number online, you can fix it yourself or hire a handyman and extend the life of your product. That’s what thrifty boomers do.
Opt for Cooking Over Food Delivery
Online food delivery is a $242 billion industry, and it’s expected to grow to over $746 billion by 2033, according to Global Newswire. Today, consumers spend between $41.10 and $1,028.50 per month on food delivery apps, according to Empower.
Much of Grubhub, DoorDash and Uber Eats’ charges go to service, delivery and small-order fees, CNET reported. Tack on a tip and credit card charges, and you’ll be paying a premium for a simple meal. Instacart and other grocery delivery apps mark up food prices and charge a hefty fee to get your order sooner.
Skip the delivery apps and take a hint from frugal boomers: Cook more meals at home. If you work all week, take an afternoon on the weekend to prepare lunches and dinners for the week. can pop it in the microwave or toaster oven when you don’t feel like cooking. When you crave something from a favorite restaurant, save the fees by ordering takeout.
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