Some people are born into immense wealth, while others work their way into the upper class. Either way, rich people have advantages, privileges, and lifestyles the average person will never enjoy and can only imagine.

For those who went from being middle class to affluent, their lives changed in significant ways, one of which is they no longer have to live frugally. That means the money-saving habits they had as middle-class people have been pushed aside. 

What are the frugal habits the rich no longer need to rely on to save money? They’re likely things you do to save money. 

1. Packing Lunches

Rich people who are still in the workforce have the luxury of going out for lunch each day. No packing leftovers or cold sandwiches for them! Having takeout lunch several days a week may be costly for the average person, but not for the well-off. 

People with money could easily spend hundreds of dollars a month on work lunches alone and it would not affect their finances. For the average working person, spending hundreds of dollars a month on lunches would break their budget.

2. Clipping Coupons

Middle-class people clip coupons, use coupon websites, or download apps that automatically search for coupons and discount codes while shopping online, all in the name of saving money. The affluent don’t have to worry about that anymore. 

Not only do they refuse to use coupons, they’ll spend outrageous sums of money on the most mundane things. They wouldn’t think twice about dropping $4,800 on a designer handbag. Anyone who can afford that kind of luxury isn’t concerned about saving a few dollars and cents. 

3. Monitor Spending 

The average working person has to monitor how much is spent because they have to make sure they have enough money to pay for essentials like housing, utilities, food, and transportation. Every penny counts when you’re middle class.

The moneyed classes don’t have to burden themselves with monitoring their spending. They can more or less buy whatever they want, whenever they want, without having to worry about how the rent or mortgage will get paid.

4. Driving Older Cars 

For middle-class people, buying a new car isn’t something they do frivolously. They can’t afford to. When they purchase a new vehicle, it’s for a good reason and it serves a purpose, such as being the primary mode of transportation for the family. Otherwise, they keep their older car.

The only older cars rich people drive are classic cars that are showroom new. Those cars aren’t even their primary vehicles. The rich usually have more than one car that they drive regularly, and those cars are luxury models. 

5. Gas Shopping

Looking for the cheapest gasoline prices is something middle-class people do because they understand what pain at the pump means. Using gas station finder apps or using gas points from the grocery store are ways they save. 

Wealthy folks don’t have to worry about the price of gasoline because they have enough money to let it be a non-issue for them. Also, they don’t have to pump their own gas, so what do they care about its cost?  

6. Inexpensive Hobbies 

Hobbyists of all stripes are limited in how much money they’re able to invest in their hobbies because their interests can get expensive. Whether it’s photography or restoring classic cars, there’s only so much they can spend.

Those hobbyists with a lot of money have the privilege and luxury of investing as much money as they want into their interests because money is no object. For example, a rich stamp collector can spend unbelievable amounts of money on a single stamp. 

7. Buying Generics 

When you’ve got money to burn, the last thing you want is to be seen buying generic anything  Food, clothing, shoes – these are non-starters for the well-to-do. They want to impress others, so name-brand and designer labels become a part of their lifestyle. 

Middle-class people may not like buying generics, but they’ll do it if it means realizing savings on their grocery, clothing, and shoe purchases. They may also want to make a good impression on others, but their sense of practicality wins the day. 

8. Strict Budgets

Keeping a close eye on incoming cash and outgoing expenses is part and parcel of middle-class living. Living within a budget is a necessity to stay financially healthy. Not having a budget is a recipe for disaster.

That’s not even remotely the case for those who are well-off. They don’t have to worry about living within their means because they can readily fall back on their fortunes to keep themselves financially secure. 

9. Cheap Eats

Buying from the dollar menu at fast food restaurants is a commonality for middle-class diners. Fast food meals are going up in price, and the dollar menus are great for keeping costs down, especially when feeding a family. 

On the occasions that the rich dine at fast food restaurants, ordering from the dollar menu is something they don’t have to worry about. Besides, their tastes usually run towards exclusive, trendy restaurants where a meal for two costs hundreds of dollars. 

10. Modest Housing 

When someone from the middle class wants to achieve the American dream of home ownership, they buy a house they can afford. That typically means purchasing a modest home and not a McMansion in a gated community. 

Society’s upper crust wouldn’t even buy a McMansion; they prefer to buy the real deal, which means a traditional mansion on an estate worth millions of dollars. Their idea of modest housing is a carriage house on the grounds of their property. 

11. High Utility Usage

For the frugal-minded, keeping the cost of their household utilities low is a priority. That means not using electricity in empty rooms, taking shorter showers, and adjusting the thermostat so it’s not using up too much energy.

The rich, on the other hand, aren’t concerned about high utility bills or water conservation. In recent years, California has implemented water restrictions because of droughts, yet some of the most affluent, including several celebrities, ignored these limitations. 

12. DIY

Minor repairs needed around the house become do-it-yourself projects for middle-class homeowners. Why spend hundreds of dollars paying a repair person when a YouTube video guides them through the process?

There’s no such thing as a DIY project for people of means. If something needs fixing, they have people on staff to handle it directly or they hire someone to take care of it. They’re not getting their hands dirty fixing a clogged sink. 

13. Bargain Hunting 

Anyone who isn’t wealthy most likely bargain hunts in one form or another. They may compare prices from competing grocery stores, gas stations, and big box stores. Why pay full price for something when it’s available at a discount?

Conversely, the newly well-off don’t have to bargain hunt anymore. If they see something they like, they can probably buy it without even looking at the price tag. Even if they do check the price, it doesn’t faze them at all. 

14. Babysitters 

If parents from a middle-class family need childcare occasionally, they employ the services of a babysitter who’ll come out to their house to take care of the children. When the parents return home, the babysitter’s duties end. 

In rich families, live-in nannies have replaced babysitters. By having a live-in nanny, the parents don’t have to worry about finding a babysitter when they need one because they already have full-time childcare in their home.