Extreme frugality: 12 frugal living tips for a budget lifestyle

What’s the first thing that comes into your head when you think about extreme frugality? Is it living a spartan lifestyle with no fun or luxuries? Or is it managing your money so that you spend less on some things in order to achieve your personal financial goals?

For some people, extreme frugal living may be a matter of necessity. When you have a small income, you often have no choice but to embrace frugality. However, for a growing number of people, extreme frugality goes beyond this. They choose to live as frugally as possible for many different reasons, such as the following.

Reasons to embrace extreme frugality

1# Paying down debt

When your finances are under strain, practicing extreme frugality can help you get your money under control so you can stick to your budget.

2# Saving to get on the housing ladder

It has become so difficult for prospective first time home buyers to get a foot on the property ladder, especially if you live in the south east of the UK. There are ways to boost your income, but sometimes you need discipline to save towards a deposit and extreme frugal living can help.

3# Saving for retirement, especially early retirement

The FIRE movement has really taken off in recent years. Inspiring writers such as Mr Money Moustache and the Frugalwoods have shown people that it really is possible to retire early by making as much money as possible, living on as little as you can by cutting expenses to the minimum and then investing your savings.

4# Living on less in order to work less

Some of us have had enough of the rat race. We want to quit the 9-5 and work less. Quality of life becomes more important than always striving for more; we want more time with our families and friends and to do the things we enjoy.

Extreme frugal living can offer a way to work less whilst still paying the bills.

5# Choosing a job you love rather than a corporate career

Living on less can enable you to choose a job that you love but may not pay well.  For example, as an artist, a musician, a charity worker, a carer, a writer, a yoga teacher, a gardener or – dare I say it – a blogger! Some of us would like to spend our time on a job that matters to us rather than climbing the corporate ladder and taking home a big fat pay cheque.

6# To downsize and live a more simple life

See all of the above. There is a movement to live more simply and have a better quality of life. Extreme frugality can enable you to achieve your move towards simplicity.

What does extreme frugality mean?

It is possible to live below your means on a small income, whilst living a life rich in experiences. Extreme frugality doesn’t mean Scrooge-like meanness; more that you are choosing to manage your money in a different way to many who embrace a consumerist lifestyle.

Maybe you have been practicing frugal living for a while now and want to take it up a notch. For example, you may have worked through most of the suggestions in my 50 ways to save money now and 50 more ways to save money posts. If that’s not enough for you and you want to speed things up, here are some extreme frugality tips to save you even more money.

12 extreme frugality ideas

1# Downsize your home 

This is a huge one, but if you need to save a lot of money consider moving into a smaller space in a less expensive neighbourhood. For some of us, this might mean relocating to a two bed apartment from a four bed house. For others, it might mean selling your house and moving to a park home or even a tiny home on wheels. Check out this lady who did just that on YouTube.

2# Buy only second hand

During 2021, I set myself the challenge to buy only second hand. It was surprisingly easy, most of the time. It is possible to completely furnish your home buying second hand items from charity shops, Facebook, eBay and the like. There is so much pre-loved clothing available too. You can find second hand tools, bicycles, gifts, ornaments and artwork. Once you get the second hand habit, you will resent paying full price for new stuff.

3# Give up meat

It may seem extreme, but then that is what this post is about. Eating beans and pulses, tofu, nuts and a bit of dairy is cheaper than buying meat, especially if you usually buy red meat. 

If you don’t want to go totally vegetarian, stick to poultry and offal, which are less expensive. Or consider my next point…

4# Eat road kill

If you want to continue eating meat, follow this man’s example and try roadkill. It’s not for everyone, and you do need to make sure the meat is fresh and safe to eat. However, many people argue that is is more ethical than farmed meat.

5# Sell your car

Cars are expensive things to run, especially with the rising costs of fuel. If your travel can be done by bicycle this is clearly the choice of the extreme frugalist. If you need to drive sometimes, then you could explore car share schemes or lift share websites.

6# Cut your own hair (or grow it)

I have and still do cut my own hair from time to time, but every now and again I need a professional to give my locks some shape. Similarly, I wouldn’t pay to get my hair dyed but I am not ready to go grey yet, so I do my own. I make a box  of hair dye last for two sessions, so it only costs me about £2.50 each time.

Of course, growing your hair long and keeping it tied back is cheaper still, needing only the odd trim off the ends.

7# Get food for free

There are various ways to find free food, some more extreme than others. At the gentle end is the Olio app, where you can collect food near the end of its expiry date donated from retailers and individuals.

There is also a lot of wild food available, if you know where to look. The classic tome on the subject is Food For Free by Richard Mabey. 

The most extreme way to find your food for nothing is to go skipping/dumpster diving outside a supermarket. In the UK, this isn’t legal though! This Guardian article explains the dangers of skip diving.

With supermarkets finally taking steps to avoid throwing food away, by using apps such as Olio and Too Good To Go, for example, there is less opportunity to find waste food in skips.

8# Take up dumpster/skip diving

There is not only food to be found in skips. Members of my Facebook Group, My Second Hand & Frugal Life, often show their finds from skips on their neighbours’ properties. Anything from waste wood to furniture, homeware to tools can be found amongst the rubbish and rubble.

It is very important to ask the home owner’s permission before removing anything from a skip, however. Most are happy for you to take what you like, as it gives them more space!

There are many examples of US dumpster divers on YouTube, but if you want to see a UK skipper in action check out Dumpster Diving Queen.

9# Reuse your grey water

Grey water is water that has been used for washing – people, laundry and dishes, for example – but could potentially have another use, such as watering your garden or flushing your toilet.

This can be as simple as collecting water in a bowl as you are having a shower, or scooping it up in a bucket from the bath. However, more complicated grey-water systems can be fitted, as explained in this post from REUK.

10# Collect fire wood

My dog kindly collects kindling and small logs on our walks. He will pick up a stick most days and bring it home. We have a box full by the front door that would be perfect for a wood burner!

Theoretically, you should always seek the landowner’s permission before collecting firewood, as explained here. On nature reserves it is very likely that piles of wood are for wildlife and part of a management strategy. 

However, we have had free wood from friends and neighbours. Mr S and his brother often offer to cut back trees and bushes in exchange for the wood. 

As mentioned previously, skips can be another source of free firewood.

11# Staycation the old fashioned way

Nowadays, of course, people think of a staycation as holidaying in their home country rather than abroad. I always considered a staycation as just that – staying home during your time off and having days out. That’s often been our approach when we don’t want to pay for, or can’t afford, an actual holiday.

When you embrace extreme frugality, a proper holiday may become a rarity. However, it’s all about priorities. Staying home doesn’t mean you can’t see and experience new things down the road!

We have discovered wonderful new places less than five miles from our house by exploring.

12# Embrace your natural beauty

The beauty industry is big business. However, many cosmetics and beauty treatments are easy enough to forego when you are on a frugal mission. Consider some of the following:  stop using shampoo and conditioner (I tried the ‘no poo’ method here);  give up make up and cosmetics – go for a natural face instead; keep your nails short and clean rather than paying for salon nails; pluck your own eyebrows; shave rather than getting waxed, or even give up shaving altogether.

We all have our limits, of course. Some of the above may be a step too far, even when you feel you are ready to embrace extreme frugality. I certainly haven’t tried them all!

What do you do to save money that others would consider extreme? Please share in the comments below.