35 Frugal Choices That Saved Us Money This Week

Saving money is rarely about one, major choice. Rather, it’s about dozens of small choices every week, which can add up to major savings. Let’s take a look at a week in the life of a frugal family.

Saving money is rarely about making a couple of changes to your spending habits and saving a TON of money which “fixes” your financial problems. Ultimately, frugality is more about a lot of small changes in your habits, which add up to big money over time.

In this video we’ll share 35 frugal choices. These are things we did (or did not do) that saved us money this week – and then, we’ll reveal 4 choices which definitely weren’t frugal, how much they cost us, and if we regret spending that money.

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We're Hope and Larry and we raised our four sons, debt-free, including paying cash for our home (when our salary averaged less than $40,000). For tips on saving money, budgeting, paying off debt, and setting goals (while living with a spirit of joy and abundance), subscribe to us here on YouTube and visit us at our website and on social media.

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[melanienicholson]

I feel being frugal doesn't mean you can't spend money on experiences!!!! to me that's why I'm frugal. I spend mine on fabric when it's on sale so I can make quilts for family. being disabled and retired it helps me to be creative and happy. It's a joy to give them as gifts.

[Alexember]

I literally use a candle lantern as soon as the sun doesn't provide enough light inside and I love it

[bcase]

Summer is a good time for cool/cold foods.

[divot]

We use my solar oven as much as we can. Cooks our food really well. Free energy, ! Doesn't cost a dime, only what we paid for the solar oven itself. We purchased our cool oven 10 yrs ago.

[Lulu-hedp]

I think one of the main perks of living frugally is so that you can splurge once in a while on a favorite item or on a fun or interesting activity. Like you've said it is not about being deprived, but about where/how you choose to spend your money. Of course, being debt free and not paying useless interest is a top priority. Having emergency funds and lowering all bills as much as possible is next. Adding income with jobs or selling unwanted items is great. But enjoy your life. Do things that are free (you've given many examples), nearly free and once in a while spend what it takes to have/do those special things! Thank you for continuing to share this journey and info.

[suebrittain]

My parents had a clothesline in the basement near the washer. Great for drying clothes in winter.

[mendyviola]

My biggest frugal/non-frugal thing I did this week was to book more than 2 weeks worth of vacation time camping at local state parks. Each night was no more than $20 a day, several were only $7-10 a day. The only other expense would be gas for travel (within a 1-3 hr drive from home). I’ll be using my pantry food stores, leftovers and a few items I have in my freezer. For ice I just freeze water in water or milk containers instead of buying bags of ice at the store. It lasts longer than bagged cubes ice.

[topaz]

I have a money saving tip. Install ceiling fans in all the rooms in your house, except the bathrooms . You will be able to set ac at a higher temperature because it will circulate the cool air better . Also, heat can be set at lower temperature and your heat will disperse better . Hi to both of you . Great vlog !!

[apostatepostbox]

You guys give SO MANY genuine actionable ideas to try and I feel like not everyone does - not to mention it's like talking to my family and getting advice, you guys are so down to earth!

[jerim]

I live in a city apartment so I make refrigerator tea. I fill a half gallon pitcher, add 6-7 regular tea bags and just stick it in the refrigerator. Sometimes I will switch out one mint tea bag. It's light and refreshing and not as much caffeine, so you can drink it all day long. But the best thing is when you hit the big 65, there are so many programs you can apply for depending on your state or city. I am thoroughly enjoying my 5g mobile plan with unlimited everything for $20 (less if you don't mind a basic phone), my monthly wi-fi discount, my utilities discounts, my Medicare-paid CSA account and more that I'm discovering all the time. And then there are all the deals that retailers offer starting as early as age 50. Now that I'm retired, I have plenty of time to Google around, and there is more out there besides Social Security to reward you for a lifetime of working and paying taxes.

[katharinemcgrath]

I totally admire the discipline you exercise to be frugal, but it was nice to hear about the treats!

[tutttutt]

I save all year and live frugally so I can go on an amazing vacation once a year.

[frankprit]

Great Video. A Couple of frugal things my family has started doing to save money:
My parents and I have started grocery shopping together once a month. It saves on fuel, plus we treat it as a small family outing.
we do a lot of hiking at state parks and going to local flea markets and festivals. both of these things are free.
Also anytime we go anywhere now, we take a picnic lunch instead of eating out, this really saves money and indigestion issues.😀😀

[GEAUXFRUGAL]

I didn't go a year without spending money but I went over a year without pay. I later get disability but I had to be very frugal during this period. When I got disability they gave me back pay for that year. I awarded that to my wife to deal with bc she was sole bread winner that period.

[DoUpLife]

I read Moneyless Man at least once a year. I personally find it inspiring and a good way to ground myself away from consumerism, and do a self ‘reset’.

[leslieboe]

I was going to do a no spend month in August, then I realized I plan on buying a dehydrator. I also went to the library and took out a slow cooker cookbook.

[brg]

Something that we did
this summer has made a difference saving money, and we never thought it would do much good. Our thermostat is right inside front door. We get blazing hot sun there all afternoon. We put a valance covering the windows that are across the top of the inside door. No windows are below them. What a difference! It is even cooler in the entryway. Hope this helps someone.

[noelig]

I just made my 3rd batch of vegetable broth from scraps. It is the most favorable broth! It doesn't need any added salt or other seasonings.

[topaz]

Did you know if you open the windows in the car it puts more drag on the car and may not save you too much in gas consumption ? Hi to you . Love all the vlogs !!

[veemcg]

I've enjoyed this video very much, thank you Larry and Hope. I'm trying to find my feet again literally as well as with my housekeeping shopping money management and all those things because I have been critically ill for many months. Thank God I'm recovering well at home now but I've had to start from a very low baseline and most things that I took for granted are no longer easy or second nature. I've always been very capable and quietly independent but have had to learn to accept help from medical staff and my family. We have rising cost of living, things seem to be getting worse every day even here in Northern Ireland and events in the rest of the world are shocking. The future if there is one looks bleak and I feel lost and depressed bewildered and terrified much of the time. Tonight listening to you I have felt it might just be possible to take back some control and try some of your advice so I can make small positive changes to my situation. I'm only able to do small amounts physically and mentally as yet but small steps in the right direction are going to be more effective than feeling like a rabbit caught in headlights. Thank you so much. God bless you both. Vera