How to Be More Frugal Without Feeling Deprived

When you're trying to save money, it can be tempting to think that the only way to make progress is to stop spending altogether.

No more takeout. No more coffee runs. No more little treats. No more buying anything that isn't absolutely necessary.

And while cutting your spending can certainly help your budget, living frugally doesn't have to mean making your life miserable.

I've been living frugally for many years, and one of the things I've learned is that frugal living works much better when it doesn't feel like punishment.

The goal isn't to spend as little as humanly possible. The goal is to be thoughtful about where your money goes, find cheaper ways to do the things you enjoy and save money where you don't really notice the difference.

Here are some realistic ways to be more frugal without feeling deprived.

1. Find cheaper ways to do the things you enjoy

You don't necessarily have to stop doing something you enjoy just because you're trying to spend less. Instead, look for a less expensive version.

If a friend wants to go out for coffee, invite them over instead.

If your family wants to watch a movie, have a movie night at home.

If the kids want to go somewhere fun, look for free community events, parks, trails or inexpensive activities.

If you enjoy reading, use the library instead of buying every book you want to read.

The important part is that you're still doing something you enjoy. You're simply changing how much you're paying for it.

2. Decide what is actually worth spending money on

This is one of the biggest lessons I've learned from being frugal.

You don't have to cut everything.

Think about the things you genuinely enjoy spending money on and allow yourself to prioritize them.

Maybe you love going out for brunch. Maybe you enjoy travelling. Maybe having your favourite coffee on the weekend is something you really look forward to.

That's okay.

For our family, we really prioritize our kids' extra curriculars. For one, that means paying a lot for competitive dance and for the other it means recreational gymnastics and dance classes.

Instead of trying to eliminate every enjoyable expense, look for other areas where you don't care as much about spending.

Frugal living isn't about saying “no” to everything. It's about making sure your money is going toward the things that matter to you.

3. Don't confuse a sale with a saving

I'm a huge fan of a good deal.

But I've also learned that buying something simply because it's on sale isn't necessarily frugal.

If you weren't planning to buy it, don't need it and wouldn't have bought it at full price, spending money on it doesn't magically become a saving because there's a red sale sticker involved.

Before buying something on sale, ask yourself: Would I buy this if it weren't on sale?

If the answer is no, you may have just found a way to spend money rather than save it.

4. Shop secondhand

Buying used can be one of the easiest ways to spend less without giving up the things you need.

Check thrift stores, consignment shops, garage sales, local buy-and-sell groups and online marketplaces before buying something new.

Secondhand can be especially useful for things like:

• Furniture
• Children's clothing
• Books
• Toys
• Kitchen items
• Home décor
• Sporting equipment
• Tools

Of course, use common sense and make sure an item is safe and in good condition before purchasing it.

But there's no rule that says everything in your home has to be brand new. If I'm being honest, most things in our home are used!

5. Make some things at home

There are plenty of things you can make yourself that can save money.

Coffee is an obvious example. A good bag of coffee beans or ground coffee can make dozens of cups at home for a lot less than buying individual coffees every day.

The same idea applies to things like baked goods, snacks, sauces and some household products.

But there's an important caveat here: Don't make everything from scratch just because you think frugal people are supposed to.

If homemade pizza saves you money and you enjoy making it, great.

If making your own laundry soap takes two hours and saves you $1, maybe your time is better spent elsewhere.

Frugal living should consider your time, too.

6. Cook extra while you're already cooking

If you're already making a meal that freezes well, consider making extra.

A double batch of taco meat, spaghetti sauce, meatballs, shepherd's pie, Chicken Pesto Pasta Shells and chili can give you another meal later without requiring much additional effort.

This is one of those frugal habits that can save money and make life easier.

Future you will probably appreciate finding a homemade meal in the freezer on a night when cooking feels like the last thing you want to do.

7. Stock up strategically

Stockpiling can save money when it's done thoughtfully.

If something your household regularly uses goes on sale for a genuinely good price, consider buying enough to last until the next sale.

The key is knowing what you actually use.

There's no benefit to having a basement full of 47 bottles of something your family doesn't like. A good stockpile is simply a small supply of things you know you'll use, purchased at a good price.

8. Use what you already have

Before buying something new, take a look around your house. You may already have something that will work.

This applies to food, clothing, cleaning supplies, craft supplies, storage containers, home décor and just about everything else.

Sometimes the most frugal purchase is the one you don't make.

And this can be especially helpful if you're also trying to declutter. Using up what you already own means you're spending less and reducing the amount of stuff coming into your home.

9. Learn to love the leftovers

When I was a kid, I hated leftovers. As an adult, I love leftovers! Leftovers can save you both money and time.

Instead of thinking of leftovers as yesterday's dinner, think of them as tomorrow's lunch or the starting point for another meal.

Roast chicken can become sandwiches or soup. Leftover vegetables can become part of an omelette or pasta dish. Extra taco meat can become nachos or a quick lunch.

The goal isn't to eat the exact same meal five days in a row. It's to avoid letting perfectly good food, and the money you spent on it, go to waste.

10. Use rewards programs, but don't let them use you

Canadian shoppers have plenty of opportunities to earn points, discounts and cash back.

My personal favourite rewards programs are:

• PC Optimum (can redeem points for free groceries)
• Petro-Points (can redeem for free gas)
• Starbucks Rewards (Earn free drinks and food)
• Rakuten (Earn cash-back on my online purchases)

But rewards programs only save you money if you use them strategically.

Don't buy something you don't need simply because you'll earn points. Don't spend an extra $20 to “unlock” a reward worth $5.

And don't let a points balance convince you that you've found free money. Use rewards on purchases you were already planning to make.

11. Take care of the things you own

One of the least exciting, and most effective, ways to be frugal is to take care of your stuff.

Clean things regularly. Follow maintenance recommendations. Repair things when it makes sense. Store items properly.

The longer you can reasonably use something, the longer you can go without replacing it. This is particularly important with expensive purchases like appliances, furniture, electronics and vehicles.

Sometimes frugality isn't about finding a bargain. It's about getting as much useful life as possible from something you've already paid for.

12. Use less when it makes sense

There are plenty of household products where using the recommended amount is enough, and sometimes we're simply in the habit of using more than we need.

Pay attention to how much you're actually using of things like laundry detergent, dish soap, shampoo and cleaning products. You might discover that you are using more than necessary.

However, I wouldn't recommend automatically cutting down on every product. Follow the manufacturer's instructions where appropriate and make sure you're still getting the results you need.

The goal is to avoid waste, not make your life harder.

13. Look for energy savings

Being more conscious of your home's energy use can help reduce your expenses over time.

Simple habits can include turning off lights when you leave a room, avoiding unnecessary heating or cooling, washing clothes in cold water when appropriate and using energy-efficient lighting.

And when it's time to replace a major appliance, consider its energy efficiency as part of the overall cost.

Sometimes paying a little more upfront can make sense if the appliance is expected to use significantly less energy over its lifetime.

14. Skip the dryer when it's practical

If you have the space and the weather cooperates, air drying some of your clothes can reduce dryer use. (It can even help your clothes last longer!)

A drying rack or clothesline can be especially useful for items that don't need to go through the dryer.

You don't have to stop using your dryer completely. Even using it a little less can help.

15. Create a waiting period for purchases

You don't have to tell yourself “no” every time you want something. Try telling yourself “not yet.”

If you see something you want, put it on a list and wait a few days, or longer for a bigger purchase.

Sometimes you'll still want it, and that's okay. But sometimes the excitement will disappear and you'll realize you didn't really need it.

A little time can make it much easier to tell the difference between something you genuinely want and something you simply wanted in that moment.

16. Make your own fun

One of the biggest misconceptions about frugal living is that you have to be bored.

Spoiler alert: you don't!

Have a game night. Go for a walk. Have a picnic. Try a new recipe. Watch a movie at home. Visit the library. Explore a nearby park. Invite friends over.

There are so many ways to enjoy yourself without pulling out your wallet. And honestly, some of my favourite memories have very little to do with how much money was spent.

17. Make convenience work for you not against you

Convenience isn't bad.

Sometimes you're tired. Sometimes you're busy. Sometimes paying for something that makes life easier is absolutely worth it.

The problem is when convenience becomes automatic.

If you're regularly paying for delivery, takeout, pre-prepared foods or last-minute purchases simply because they're easier, look for a few places where you could make a different choice.

You don't have to eliminate convenience.

Just be intentional about which conveniences are worth paying for.

18. Have a “use what I have” challenge

Pick one category and challenge yourself to shop your own home before buying anything new.

Try:

The freezer challenge: Use what you've already frozen.

The pantry challenge: Create meals from what you have.

The closet challenge: Put together outfits from clothes you already own.

The bathroom challenge: Use up toiletries before replacing them.

The cleaning-supply challenge: Finish what you already have before buying another bottle.

These little challenges can save money while also helping you use up things that might otherwise sit around indefinitely.

19. Buy fewer, better things when it makes sense

Being frugal doesn't always mean choosing the cheapest option.

Sometimes the least expensive item isn't the best value if it needs to be replaced often. For things you use frequently, consider quality, durability, repairability and expected lifespan, not just the initial price. The goal isn't to buy the most expensive version either. It's to think about the total value you're getting for your money.

20. Don't try to be perfectly frugal

This might be the most important one.

You're going to spend money sometimes.

You're going to order takeout.

You're going to buy something that wasn't absolutely necessary.

You're going to pay for convenience.

You're going to occasionally pay full price for something.

That's life.

One purchase doesn't undo all of your other good choices.

I have learned over the years that frugal living is about your overall habits, not whether you managed to make the perfect financial decision every single time.

Frugal Living Should Make Your Life Better, Not Smaller

Being frugal doesn't mean living a life of deprivation. It means being intentional with the resources you have.

You can buy secondhand and still enjoy nice things. You can cook at home and still go out for dinner sometimes. You can save money and still have fun.

You don't have to say no to everything.

Instead, ask yourself:

• Is there a cheaper way to do this?
• Do I actually need to buy this?
• Would I rather spend this money on something else?
• Can I use something I already have?

Those questions can change the way you spend without making you feel like you're constantly missing out.

After years of living frugally, I've found that the goal isn't to see how little I can spend. It's to make sure the money I do spend is going toward the things that matter to me.

And I think that's what makes frugal living sustainable. You don't have to deprive yourself to save money. You just have to get a little more creative about where your money goes.

What is one thing you are going to start doing today to be more frugal? Or what are some things you already do without thinking, that are frugal?