How to be Frugal: 42 Habits of Thrifty People

If you struggle to live below your means, then it would be worth your time to learn how to be frugal.

Thrifty living doesn’t really come naturally for anyone. It’s something you learn and practice. One of the best ways to learn how to be frugal is to observe what frugal people do.

From the outside looking in, the habits and traits of thrifty people may seem completely foreign and downright quirky. But for those of us that live the “frugal life,” the items on our list will probably sound very familiar. 

So, whether you’re interested in becoming more frugal or are already a card-carrying cheapskate, we hope that our list will inspire you to save more money, live way below your means, and achieve your money goals. 

How to be Frugal: 42 Habits of Thrifty People

Truly Frugal people do the following:

1.  Never buy anything full price
2.  Squeeze the last bit of toothpaste out of the tube
3.  Don’t get suckered into promotional offers that are “too good to be true”
4.  Buy used cars and take very good care of them
5.  Invest in quality items that they use all the time
6.  Eat at home way more than eating out
7.  Have a minimalist wardrobe
8.  Save at least 15% of their income
9.  Hate (I mean hate!) wasting food
10.  Buy a house and stay in it for a long time
11.  Cut their own grass
12.  Shop the day after Christmas for décor
13.  Turn lights off when they leave a room
14.  Don’t care about the latest fashion trends
15.  Collect their coins
16.  Live by the rule, “A penny saved is a penny earned”
17.  Save their income tax return
18.  Sign up for Birthday freebies
19.  Are never really broke
20.  Take advantage of employer-sponsored retirement plans
21.  Avoid buying convenience foods
22.  Love their crockpots
23.  Have a vegetable garden or plan to grow one
24.  Take advantage of coupons and rebate programs
25.  Invest in hobbies that save them (or make them) money
26.  Are efficient with their time (because time is money!)
27.  Buy heavily discounted gifts year-round
28.  Use what they have instead of buying something new
29.  Do without now to achieve their long-term financial goals
30.  Choose the library over buying new books
31.  Make their own cleaning supplies
32.  Aren’t afraid to ask for a discount on a chipped or dented item
33.  Focus more on experiences rather than accumulating stuff
34.  Don’t like frills
35.  Take advantage of free food
36.  Make coffee at home
37.  Use old technology as long as it works
38.  Get the most out of their appliances
39.  Sell their unused and unwanted belongings
40.  Love working on their budget
41. Use credit cards for points and pay the balance off each month
42. Buy used cars with cash

We hope that you enjoyed hearing about the thrifty habits of frugal people!  How many of them sounded like you?  Let us know your total score in the comment section below. 

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