People consistently ignore frugal habits that they feel “aren’t worth their time” because they aren’t saving enough money by doing them. However, when it comes to frugal living, it’s the small amounts of money that add up to big savings over time.
By being consistent in even the smallest habits, you can accumulate significant savings. These minor adjustments can amount to thousands of dollars saved each year, proving that every little bit truly counts.
To see these habits in action in our home, watch this fun, fast video.
1. Don’t run water while you’re brushing your teeth.
Turning off the tap while brushing can save up to eight gallons of water a day. Over a year, that’s nearly 3,000 gallons saved. This simple habit also contributes to lowering your water bill.
2. Don’t run water while you’re doing dishes.
If you’re doing dishes by hand, fill one basin with wash water and the other with rinse water. This method can save up to 50% of the water you would typically use. By using less water, you also save on the energy required to heat it, meaning you’ll be enjoying double savings.
3. Save water that is heating up.
When you are filling the sink and waiting for warm water, collect the lukewarm water which comes out of the pipes. Instead of letting cold water go down the drain, collect it in a container and use it for watering plants, cleaning, or making coffee. This practice not only conserves wate,r but also reduces your utility bills.
4. Install low-flow showerheads and faucets.
Installing low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators will reduce water usage without sacrificing pressure. Save up to 2,900 gallons of water each year with one low-flow showerhead. If you don’t want the low-flow version,switching from older to newer models of showerheads will still help reduce water usage.
This single step can significantly cut down on your household’s water consumption and lower your monthly bills.
5. Get efficient toilets.
Replacing a bathroom toilet is not terribly expensive, but will help lower your water usage significantly. Our newer toilet uses just over two gallons of water per flush, compared to the old one, which used more than twice that amount.
Consider replacing older toilets with water-efficient models. If that’s not possible, place a weighted plastic bottle in the toilet tank to reduce the amount of water used per flush. Our toilets use about 2 gallons per flush, which significantly cuts water consumption. This small adjustment can lead to large savings on your water bill over time.
6. Water plants wisely.
Water your garden and plants during the early morning or late evening to reduce evaporation. Also, consider using a rain barrel to collect rainwater for watering your plants. By making these adjustments, you not only save water but also ensure your plants receive adequate water.
7. Shorten showers.
One of the frugal habits that saves more than you might think is reducing your shower time. It can save a lot of water. Consider setting a timer for five minutes or playing a short, peppy song to keep track of time. Shorter showers mean less water and also less energy use, making it a “double win”.
We’re tried it. When I’m listening to the latest Dave Ramsey Show in the background, my showers are longer, because I slow down to listen. But, something like Dolly Parton’s “Nine to Five” is a sure way to make sure I don’t linger in the water.
8. Cook with low-energy appliances.
Use appliances like slow cookers, pressure cookers, and microwaves, which consume less energy than traditional ovens and stovetops. These appliances can reduce your energy usage and help you save on electricity bills.
The best way to find out the energy usage of appliances is to use a Kill-a-Watt meter. We’ve had this one for years and use it all the time. Plugging this device into any appliance allows you to correctly monitor the watts it is using over time.
Be sure to keep the device plugged in until you are finished using the appliance. It may draw significantly more power when warming up than it does later on in the cooking process.
Once you’ve tested your major cooking appliances you’ll be able to pick the ones you want to use, knowing you are using the least amount of energy.
9. Put a piece of aluminum foil under the lid of the crockpot when cooking.
Fill the crockpot and then place foil between the base and lid of the crockpot. It makes the lid fit tighter and reduces heat loss, potentially reducing cook time by up to 45 minutes. This small trick can make your meals cook more efficiently and use less energy.
Be sure to observe the “no peeking” rule when using the crockpot. After you have positioned the foil, don’t open the lid until the food is ready to serve. Crockpots create a micro-environment which is very moist. When you lift the lid repeatedly, you lose all the steam and increase the cooking time dramatically.
10. Wash and reuse plastic bags.
If you haven’t had meat (raw or cooked) or dairy in a plastic bag, it could very well be reused several times. Washing and reusing plastic bags can save money and reduce waste. It’s a green habit that also stretches the life of your household items, ensuring you keep more money in your pocket.
11. Keep bread bags and reuse them.
Bread bags can be used for various purposes, such as storing other food items, lining boots or shoes in the winter to avoid wet feet, or even as makeshift gloves for messy tasks. Reusing these bags reduces waste and saves money on purchasing new storage bags.
12. Cook using the right-sized burner.
Using a burner that matches the size of your pot can save energy and reduce cooking time. This simple adjustment ensures efficient use of energy and quicker meal preparation.
13. Keep lids on pots when cooking.
Keeping the lid on your pots and pans traps heat and reduces cooking time. This not only saves energy but also helps in cooking your food evenly and faster.
14. Batch cook.
Also known as bulk cooking, the practice of preparing large portions of meals and freezing them in individual servings, saves time, energy, and prevents waste. Having ready-made meals on hand is one of the frugal habits that seriously reduces the temptation to eat out, saving you money.
To avoid putting unnecessary excess heat into the house, I have gotten into the habit over the summer of cooking just twice a week. I try to do as many no-cook dishes as possible and cook using low-heat, low-energy appliances.
It takes me 2-3 hours to prepare food which will last us for three days. Having a written menu plan and using items I already have on hand are the two more important components to being successful when it comes to batch cooking.
15. Plan Meals
Create a weekly meal plan to avoid unnecessary trips to the grocery store and reduce impulse buying. Meal planning helps you stick to your budget and make the most of what you already have.
I am a huge fan of topical menu planning. A list of all the entrees, soups, salads, sides, and desserts, allows me to easily mix and match items as we go through the week.
16. Cook with residual heat.
Turn off the stove or oven a few minutes before the cooking time is up. The residual heat will continue to cook the food. This method saves energy and ensures that your food is perfectly cooked without overusing your appliances.
Just a note of caution. With any protein from an animal source, always be sure to use a meat thermometer to ensure that it is cooked to the correct internal temperature before serving.
17. Repurpose leftovers.
Here’s another of the frugal habits that should get more good press than it does. Get creative with leftovers to make new meals with them instead of throwing them away. For instance, leftover chili can become chili mac or be served as a topping for hotdogs.
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When done right, not only this creative practice will result in a happy family who doesn’t even realize that they are eating leftovers, it also reduces food waste and maximizes the value of your groceries.
18. Use a toaster oven.
For small meals, use a toaster oven instead of the full-sized oven. It uses less energy and heats up faster. This is a great way to prepare quick meals without wasting energy.
19. Use a pressure cooker.
Pressure cookers, like the Instant Pot, cook food faster, saving time and energy. They are particularly useful for cooking dried beans far more quickly than you could using any other method. In fact, you can soak beans overnight in the pressure cooker, meaning the cook time becomes even shorter, cooking them in a matter of a few minutes.
20. Thaw food in the fridge.
Sometimes there are small frugal habits that are super easy, but overlooked. For instance, thawing frozen food in the refrigerator instead of using the microwave. This method is safer and doesn’t use additional energy. It also helps maintain the quality of your food.
21. Unplug electronics.
Unplug chargers, appliances, and electronics when they’re not in use to prevent phantom energy use. Vampire energy (also known as phantom power), happens when electronic items are using small amounts of power even when turned off.
When you unplug these items from the wall (or put them on a power strip and turn off the power strip), this can significantly reduce your electricity bill over time.
22. Use LED bulbs.
Replace incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LED bulbs that last longer and use less electricity. LED bulbs provide the same amount of light with a fraction of the energy consumption.
23. Program your programmable thermostat.
Newer thermostats are designed to be programmed to reflect your personal lifestyle and schedule. In the summer, set your thermostat to automatically raise the temperature when you’re not home. This ensures your home is energy-efficient and comfortable without wasting energy.
24. Seal drafts.
Use weather stripping or caulk to seal gaps around windows and doors to keep warm or cool air from escaping. Properly sealing your home can lower heating and cooling costs by making your HVAC system work more efficiently.
25. Make sure windows are closed at the top.
Ensure all windows are properly closed to prevent air leakage. This simple check can make a big difference in maintaining the temperature inside your home.
26. Wash clothes in cold water.
The laundry room is full of frugal habits that will help you save money.
Let’s start with washing clothes in cold water . It saves energy used to heat the water and is gentler on fabrics. This practice can also extend the life of your clothes and reduce energy consumption.
27. Wash full loads of laundry.
Only run the washing machine with full loads to maximize water and energy efficiency, saving on laundry costs. This reduces the number of loads you need to do, reducing usage of both water and energy.
28. Air dry laundry.
Use a clothesline or drying rack instead of a dryer whenever possible to save on electricity. Air drying is also gentler on fabrics and reduces wear and tear on your clothes.
29. Use power strips.
Plug multiple items into a power strip and turn it off when not in use to easily cut power to all devices at once. This prevents phantom energy use and simplifies knowing for sure that items are truly “off”.
30. Use fans instead of AC.
Raise your AC temperature and supplement with fans to reduce energy consumption. Fans use significantly less energy than air conditioners.
31. Shut off lights when you leave a room.
Turn off lights when you leave a room to save on electricity. This simple habit can lead to significant savings over time and is easy to do.
These are all examples of small frugal habits. Remember, it’s the little things that really matter.
Your Turn!
What are some small, frugal habits that save you money over time? Tell us in the comments.
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My grandmother reused plastic bread bags by croceting them in to entry way rugs.
I’ve heard of that. Our daughter-in-law weaves plastic garbage bags into really pretty (and useful) baskets. She sells them.
A short song in the shower in genius!
I hate cleaning hardwood floors. But with 4 kids, 2 dogs, 2 cats and a rabbit, my floors are dirty.
I find mopping just gets dirty water over the floor or you’re constantly changing the water.
So I vacuum floors first. Then I scrub floors with paper towel which I wet in the floor cleaner bucket. (more like wiping them off, working from corners to the door to the room).
Each paper towel gets dirty and I never put it back in the water so my water stays clean. You can keep this bucket until you next need to clean the floor.
So I can clean my whole house with one bucket of 3 tbsp of cleaner and water in the bucket.
Now I do use paper towel about 6 per room but you will never get cleaner floor as these are cleaned on my hands and knees but 100% clean.
Also because your on floor level, you can easily clean under furniture where a mop can’t go.
When people are using swifter wet jet and such expensive cleans my way saves so much money and time.
I spoke to my hardwood installer and he said this is a great way to make sure floors do not get too wet when mopping.
A half roll of paper towel is no more than a dollar.
You think it would take long but it is really quick and you get a great workout.
I love that you found a solution that works so well for you. And uses that little bit of water. That’s awesome!