As I was chopping up some overripe bananas to put in the freezer this morning, I realised this was just one example of the everyday frugal habits that I do without giving them much thought. They are just automatic.
I thought I would put together a list of my everyday frugal habits, as they might inspire you to save a little bit of money wherever possible. After all, when it comes to money, every little helps. The great thing about most of these is that they are also more eco-friendly. 
Everyday frugal habits
- I always hang my laundry on an airer on rainy days. The UK spring weather is a fickle thing, but laundry gets dirty whatever the weather.
- Filling up the washing machine and only washing things that are actually dirty. If you wear a T-shirt for an afternoon, the chances are that you can wear it again the next day.
- Same with the dishwasher. We rarely use ours, but when we do, we always run it with a full load.
- Having a quick shower instead of a long bath.
- Only filling the kettle with the water required for the job.
- Using products up – washing up liquid, shampoo, soap, cleaning products, toiletries, makeup, DIY materials such as paint, etc
- But again with products – only using what you need for the job. I always use less washing powder than the manufacturers suggest, for example.
- Walking or cycling for short journeys.
- Combining lots of errands in one car journey.
- Checking the fridge for items that need eating quickly.
- Freezing food items that won’t get used in time (bananas from Izzy), as well as chicken carcasses and bones to make stock later.
- Wearing layers on cooler days.
- Meal planning.
- Avoiding popping to the shop too often!
- Not scrolling through Vinted.
- Reusing scrap paper – I attach them together with a bulldog clip to make a pad for shopping lists and to-do lists. Cut up food packaging like cereal boxes are good for shopping lists.
- Reusing plastic bags from fruit and inside cereal boxes.
- Reusing butter and yogurt pots to store leftovers.
- Reusing envelopes, paper ones, padded ones and mailing bags. Because I sell online, I also reuse any bubble wrap and boxes, as well as my neighbours’!
- Using the air-fryer and slow cooker instead of the oven whenever possible.
What are your favourite frugal habits?
Leave your everyday frugal habits in the comments below? What tiny things do you do that save a little bit of cash?
If you want more frugal inspiration, check out my book, Extreme Frugality: Save Money Like Your Grandma.
ALH says
Taking care of your stuff saves time and money. Have ‘a place for everything and everything in its place’ so you’re less likely to have to buy replacements for things you already have, but have mislaid. Learn how to repair your clothes, bedlinen etc if you don’t already know how. Only buy clothes and shoes which you can clean easily – and keep them clean, and repaired when necessary. Keep yourself clean by wearing an apron if you’re cooking, or an old set of clothes if you’re doing a mucky job, and tie a scarf round your hair if you’re going to be decorating or doing a dusty job. None of this is exciting but it saves bother and cash.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
All brilliant advice