Frugal living is not about being a cheapskate. It’s about intentional spending, prioritizing the things that really matter to you, and getting the best value for your money.

Take charge of your spending with our simple frugal living tips. It can transform your expenses—and your life. Here are just a few of the ways following these tips can improve your life:

• You stop spending on things because of convenience, habit, or peer pressure. You base your financial decisions on your personal financial goals.
• Instead of money controlling you (fear, anxiety, worry), you control your money.
• You still get to enjoy life because you find creative ways of doing what you love.

7 Money-Saving Tips For More Frugal Living

1. Conquer The Kitchen

Food is one of the biggest monthly expenses, and also the easiest one to control. Stop eating out or microwaving your meals and cook food from scratch. You spend less money and get better flavor and nutrition with each bite.

Some frugal living tips for the kitchen are:

• Make a meal plan
• Include meat alternatives like beans and lentils, tofu, or TVP
• Buy items you use regularly in bulk, from supermarkets that have wholesale prices
• Avoid convenience products, which typically have a higher cost per gram (ex. pre-washed salad greens, spice mixes, pre-marinated meat)
• Cook and freeze meals ahead, so you always have something ready to eat even when you’re too tired to cook

2. Buy Second-Hand

You can find many pre-loved items that are in good condition. All you have to do is shop online or scour vintage stores. There are clothes, furniture, books, and toys at half the price or less—and after a good wash or some minimal fixing, they’re as good as new!

However, our frugal living tips do not mean that you buy something just because it’s cheap. Even if you see a really good deal, ask yourself: “Do I really need it? Will it just take up space, or use money that I can spend on something else?”

3. Find A Budget Buddy

Find one friend (or more) to become your Budget Buddy! You can share frugal living tips, split on bulk items at the supermarket, or tell each other about sales. You also have someone you can be accountable to – or have a friendly competition on who saves more at the end of the month.

4. Turn It Into A Game

Frugal living tips don’t have to be dreary or boring. Look for ways to turn saving into a game. One of the best ways to do this is to join a money challenge. You can find a lot of ideas online, but here are some to get you started:

• Save every $50 bill you get (you can change this to any denomination you want)
• Zero Shopping Month: you have to avoid buying anything, and just use up what you have – the ingredients in the pantry, or what you have in storage
• Swap-a-thon: Gather friends and just exchange or barter things you need

5. Reduce Electricity Use

This is good for your budget and the environment. Here are some frugal living tips that can help you slash your energy consumption.

• Improve room insulation by using heavy curtains. Be sure to check the windows for gaps where heat can escape
• Use LED lightbulbs, which use less electricity and last a lot longer than regular bulbs
• Be sure to turn off fans, lights, and appliances when they’re not in use
• If there is an area in your house that gets hit by the harsh afternoon sun, place tall plants to create shade

6. Do Preventative Maintenance

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Regularly check your car, appliances, roofing, and other items that are prone to wear and tear. Replace worn-out parts or fix small problems before they require bigger, more expensive repairs.

7. Use Money-Saving Apps

This is one of the easiest frugal living tips because you let the apps do the hard work! You can get apps that aggregate coupons or alert you to local sales, track your expenses, plan meals, or have a list of budget-friendly recipes, etc.

Many of these apps are free and can help you save hundreds of dollars in the long run.

Know Where To Get Emergency Money

Ideally, you should place all the money you saved from these frugal living tips into a Rainy-Day Fund, which can help cover emergency expenses like medical bills or sudden repairs.

But if it isn’t enough to cover the costs, one option is to get a signature installment loan. You can borrow from $100 to $1,500 – and with Wisconsin Auto Title Loans, Inc. you can complete the application and get your money in just 1 or 2 days.

• Simple requirements. You just need a driver’s license or a valid state ID, a checking account in your name, and proof of income like a recent pay stub.
• Fast process. To apply for an installment loan, call one of our store locations directly or fill out the online form and wait for one of our loan representatives to call you. He or she will confirm your location, answer your questions, and explain your requirements. Then, just go to the store with the requirements and finish the final paperwork (it will take 30 minutes or less).
• Fast payout. Once your forms have been completed and approved, you get the money the same day or the next business day.

Take charge of your finances! Spend money wisely with our frugal living tips, and cover emergency expenses with an installment loan. You’ve got everything covered.

Note: The content provided in this article is only for informational purposes, and you should contact your financial advisor about your specific financial situation.