People often confuse living frugally and living with less. Frugal living is about being smart with your money and tackling debt management more effectively; not going without. So, here are some frugal living tips to make the most out of your money!
If you’re stressed about paying off debt, frugal living makes it more manageable.
Frugal Living Tips
Don’t let your leftovers go waste
Every household deals with a ton of leftovers. However, how you deal with them is entirely up to you. If you are serious about frugal living, make sure you are not letting leftovers go waste. Every spoonful of food you throw away adds up. One way I like to deal with this is avoiding leftovers in the first place. Having a meal plan and making portions that are not too much for your family is one way. In the event that you have to deal with leftovers, portion them out so you can use them before they spoil. If you have a freezer, hurray! Make maximum use of it!
Pay your bills on time
This one is a gimme. If you pay your bills on time, this means you are avoiding late fees and interest charges altogether. Keeping the maximum amount of money in your pocket is a crucial part of frugal living. Set automatic payments or reminders to make on-time automatic monthly payments. Our debt counselors say this helps people avoid late payments.
Pack your work week meals
I know it is much easier to stop at the coffee shop for breakfast along with your cup of coffee or step outside and grab a sandwich for lunch. However, if you are working towards debt relief, this is not the most economical choice! Cooking your own meals is not only cheaper, it can also be much healthier as you know exactly what is going into your meals. This is an essential part of frugal living. To save time, try weekly meal preps to get all of your lunches ready in advance.
Cut the cable cord
Evaluate to see if you really need the 230 channel TV package. Or can you just live with one or two streaming services? Take the step to cut your cable bill and it will contribute greatly towards savings.
These are only a few ways you can start to practice frugal living. However, do not forget the basics such as budgeting. Good money habits are the foundation of frugal living!
If you’re struggling to pay off debt, ACCC can help. Schedule a free credit counseling session with us today.
