15 Frugal Tips That Moms Swear Work. And They Do!

Rebecca Holcomb

Published:

Beautiful young parents and their cute little daughter are smiling while choosing school stationery in the supermarket. Mom is making notes in the list
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

If there’s one person in your home who’s got the 411 on frugal tips, it’s your wife or mother. Most women handle more domestic duties, which usually include grocery shopping and paying bills. 

This means they have their hands on the pulse of savvy saving and know all sorts of tips for pinching a penny. Whether they clip coupons, shop online sales, or grab all the BOGO (buy one, get one) offers at the store, frugal shopping is the name of their game.

If you’re hoping to up your frugal shopping plan, want to learn ways to save a few dollars, or wonder if your own frugal approach is working, check out some of the tips we’ve curated below. 

1. Bulk Buying

credit: depsoitphotos

Costco and Sam’s Club make bulk buying super easy (if you don’t mind the yearly membership fee). If you want to include bulk buying in your frugal game plan, the fee will be more than worth it. 

If you’d rather bulk buy from your local grocers or other retail stores, you’re going to want to start with sales pages and really focus on the best bang for your buck. Bulk-buying items like toothpaste, toilet paper, paper towels, and other home goods essentials can save you a mint in time and gas. You’ll save considerably just by not having to run up and down the road to purchase something you forgot to get and ran out of. 

2. Thrift Shopping

Thrifting
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Thrift store shopping is one of my favorite things to do on weekends. I can take my oldest girls and scour the clothing racks, books, and toys for excellent finds. My second oldest found a very nice pair of American Eagle jeans, and I always score an excellent book or two when I go. 

In recent years, thrift shopping has had its moment. People often turn thrift store finds into income by flipping items they find and then reselling them on sites like eBay or Etsy. Even if your goal isn’t to earn income, you can find some astonishing items by making regular stops at your local thrift stores. 

3. DIY Projects

DIY
credit: depositphotos

Learning to make your own cleaning supplies, creating wonderful-smelling shampoos, conditioners, and hand soap, or trying your hand at candle and soap making are wonderful ways to save some serious money. 

Getting your ingredients together is the hardest part. But once you have them in hand, the actual making of products (especially just for home use) is pretty simple. If you’re looking for a healthier alternative to store-bought products, give your own versions a try and see just how much money and time you can save. 

4. Grow at Home

growing food
credit: depositphotos

I will be the first to say that growing your own food is not easy. It takes money to start, time, all the right conditions, and patience. It also takes learning what your soil needs (or building raised beds and providing prepared soil). 

However, it also means you know exactly where your food is coming from. If your family plows through vegetables as mine does, you may need a considerable garden to supply what you need. The alternative isn’t cheery. Traveling to the store whenever you run out of lettuce or bell pepper and crave a salad. Getting store-bought produce that tastes like water instead of the robust flavors you’d expect. Growing your own food might be challenging, but the results are worth ten times the effort it takes. 

5. Frugal Family

credit: depositphotos

Living a frugal lifestyle isn’t about missing out. It’s about designing a life that helps you have all the things you want without breaking the bank or draining your savings. For instance, if you’re looking for a fun family night, pull out some board games and challenge your children to beat you. 

If your children are older, you can even put some money on the table for anyone who can prove victorious. Boggle, Scrabble, Scattergories, Life, and even Candyland are all great games your family can enjoy together, and adding a “pot” to the winnings only adds more fun to the night. If board games aren’t your thing, a simple search for free activities in your area should give you some excellent ideas for family fun on a budget. 

6. Wardrobe Swaps

clothing swaps
credit: depositphotos

One of my favorite activities is to get together with my friends and swap clothes. By the time everyone leaves, you’ve gotten at least one new item to work with for your wardrobe, and if you’re very lucky, you might end up with a whole new outfit. 

Clothing swaps can be a casual get-together or something you schedule every three months (or more). The point is to enjoy your friends (or family), laugh, exchange cool clothes (or shoes), and walk away smiling. 

7. Casual Couponing

Coupon
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

I am not a die-hard couponer. I can’t spend countless hours clipping hundreds of coupons for one massive haul. While I appreciate the men and women who can make those huge shopping trips, I am not one of them. 

I do, however, love finding a great coupon. When you do find great coupons on items you buy, make sure to use them. Implement that habit in your life, and you’ll save money on great products. It might not be a million dollars for your savings account, but the savings are money in your pocket regardless. 

8. Lights Out

credit: depositphotos

Saving on your electric bill can feel like an uphill battle. Taking cooler showers, replacing your lightbulbs with LEDs, and shutting off lights and appliances you’re not using can all help cut into the monthly expense. 

Small changes go a long way in curbing the cost of your monthly electricity. Over time, these small changes will become a habit and allow you to pocket more of your hard-earned money. 

9. Cashback Clicks

cashback monitor

If you’re savvy with your smartphone, using cashback apps is a great way to earn a few dollars every time you shop. Download your favorite apps and create accounts to help you save on everything from meat and brand products to household goods. 

No matter what you shop for, there’s an app that will help you save money. Considering shopping is something we all do, earning a few bucks while you’re at it can’t hurt. 

10. New to You

Sell Unused items
Credit: Depositphotos

Next to thrift store shopping, my favorite store to frequent is a second-hand store. Much like thrift stores, the used items are hopefully in excellent to good condition and priced accordingly. 

Shopping for furniture in these stores is always great because you can find vintage items for considerably cheaper than you might find online or at an auction. Rugs and carpet remnants, dish sets, picture frames, and lots of other bargains can be yours when you visit a second-hand store. I suggest bringing a trailer when you shop, just in case you find a piece of furniture you desperately want. You won’t have to ask the clerk to hold it for you or arrange pickup later. You simply load it up and take it with you. 

11. Be Prepared

I like being prepared. It cuts down on my stress level and helps me approach issues with a state of calm instead of freaking out (which I hate doing). To that end, I meal prep for myself as often as possible. 

By doing so, I make my food easy to grab. This saves me great amounts of time, keeps me from overeating, and helps me cut down on wasted time. It also gives me an alternative: if I’m making something different for my family, I have something I’d rather eat. Meal prepping is a learn-as-you-go activity, and there’s no real wrong way to do it. Enjoy the process; a little goes a long way. 

12. Train Them Young

jobs for stay at home moms
credit: Shutterstock

I am a firm believer that children will do far more of what you do than what you say. If you’re not leading by example in a way you’d like, learning a new pattern is worth the effort. Teaching your family about frugal living can start with something as simple as showing your children how and why you use a budget. 

By showing your family why budgeting is important and how to go about making it work, you’re setting your children up for financial success. They’ll grow up in a home where budgeting is normal and will likely implement it in their own lives. You can use jars or other containers to show children about saving, spending, and donating, making sure they understand why we pay our bills and stock up emergency funds first before the fun starts. 

13. Season’s Greetings

sales
credit: depositphotos

Seasonal shopping is one of my favorite sorts of shopping to do. I love to know the general times when items are going to go on sale. For instance, when summer is approaching, swimsuits and swim trunks are on sale. When winter is coming to an end, coats and jackets hit the sales racks. 

By paying attention to store flyers, online sites, and times of the year, you can score huge deals on items your family will need for the coming year. This, in turn, allows you to save serious funds for an unplanned night out or to beef up your emergency fund. 

14. Shopaholics Anonymous

credit: depositphotos

As a reformed impulse spender, I know just how easy it is to get pulled in by sales and all those “cute” and “awesome” buys. Now, I make a list before I ever head out the door. If it’s not on my list, I don’t buy it. 

Cutting back on unnecessary spending will help you take huge steps in your frugal lifestyle. You won’t find yourself running out of money or spending more than you planned. Everything will become a deliberate purchase, and you’ll see your savings grow. 

15. Plan Ahead

Woman planning for travel
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

I’m big on planning. I love to have my day scheduled out and prefer to have a calendar full of meals set up so I know what to cook and when to cook. However, not everyone is me, and planning ahead of time takes an element of intention. 

If you want to be more intentional about your frugal living, meal planning is a great place to start. 

Grab your calendar and start writing down breakfast, lunch, and dinner for every day. This will allow you to shop for items you need more effectively. In turn, you won’t have any last-minute trips for something you forgot or splurge on pizza (unintentionally) because you forgot about setting something out for dinner. 

Leave a Comment

Flipboard