If you’re trying to save money and live a frugal life, then you’ve probably already realized that the little things matter and can really add up quickly. Being frugal and saving the most money is all about changing habits.
Today I’ve put together a list of 30 Easy Ways to Reduce Household Expenses and Save Hundreds including saving money on things like groceries, heating/cooling costs, entertainment, health, clothing and much more.
Of course there are many other ways to reduce your expenses and save money, but I wanted to keep this list small and manageable so that no one gets overwhelmed.
If you’re just starting out with your frugal living journey, I’d advise you to go slow and change one or two things at a time until they are normal for you and then pick a couple of other habits to change.
It won’t happen overnight, but soon you will see how these little habits can save you hundreds of dollars in the long run. So enjoy the list and be sure to add your own way to reduce household expenses in the comment section.
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1. Cook from scratch – Anything that you can make from home instead of buying pre-made at the store will lower your household expenses. Check out my list of Homemade Pantry Basics for a ton of from scratch recipes or check out my post 40 Groceries You Should Make At Home to Save Hundreds of Dollars.
2. Buy secondhand (whenever possible!) – You can get almost anything secondhand these days for a fraction of what it would cost new, so why would you ever pay full price unless you had too?
3. Make your own cleaning products – You can make your own cleaning products using basic household ingredients such as vinegar, dish soap and baking soda.
4. Cancel subscriptions you aren’t using – Our modern world is full of subscription services, some of which we value and are useful to us, but sometimes we sign up for something and forget about it. Take the time to go over every subscription that you have and see if there are any that you could live without.
5. Hang clothes to dry instead of using your dryer – This one small action could save you hundreds over the course of a lifetime on your electric bill, not to mention it’s better for your clothing and the environment.
6. Lower thermostat temp in the winter and raise it in the summer – The warmer you can stand it in the house in the summer and the colder in the winter, the more you will save on your energy bill. Doing things like opening windows in the summer and wearing extra layers in the winter will save you money in the long run.
7. Unplug appliances not in use – Any appliance that is left plugged in, but not in use long term is sucking energy and causing your energy bill to be higher. Go around and evaluate which things need to be left plugged in at all times and unplug the rest.
8. Grow your own food – Any food that you can grow at home instead of buy will save you on your grocery bill. If you can learn to preserve it for the winter, you will save even more.
9. Make your own laundry detergent – Learning to make your own laundry detergent with simple ingredients will save you money and be better for you and your family.
10. Take your lunch to work – If you’re buying your lunch everyday, then you are spending a bundle that could be saved simply by packing your lunch from home. I like to make enough dinner to have leftovers for lunch the next day.
11. Make coffee at home – I know a lot of people have a thing for expensive, fancy coffees that cost $5-7 each, but if you can break that habit and make it at home, you will save a ton.
12. Learn to mend clothing – Knowing how to sew on a button, sew a seam or mend a tear is a great way to save money on your clothing bill.
13. Turn lights off when not in use – this one is obvious, but may not be practiced by everyone in the house. If no one is in the room, you don’t need the lights on.
14. Meal plan and shop sales – Meal planning can save you a ton if done properly. The trick is to plan as many meals around what you already have in the house first and then plan the rest around what is on sale at the store, this way you will be maximizing your savings.
15. Stay at home – Easy, but not commonly practiced. The more you stay at home (and away from online shopping) the more money you will save.
16. Eat simple meals – Learn to cook simple foods with tons of flavor and you won’t feel like you’re missing anything. Things like beans, eggs, oats and lentils are inexpensive, but can be made into many inexpensive and filling dishes.
17. Drink water instead of juice or soda – Anytime you drink something other than water, you’re spending money unnecessarily. Try choosing water for most of your meals and watch the savings add up.
18. Make your own chicken broth – Making your own chicken broth using bones and vegetable scraps is free, easy and yields a rich, golden brown, nutritious broth. It’s a win all the way around, so if you’re not making your own broth, you need to change that and give it a try. I have recipes for making bone broth in the slow cooker and the Instant Pot, but you can also just simmer it slowly in a large stockpot on the stove.
19. Utilize your local library – If you are an avid reader, then the library is a must for saving money, but even if you don’t read much, you can use the library for checking out movies, audiobooks, computers and more. They generally also have an extensive selection of free online resources that you can take advantage of such as craft or language classes.
20. Go to the park instead of the movies – Taking the whole family to the movie theater is really a drain on the wallet, so why not take them to the park, which is free, instead? This swap will not only save you money, but give your family free vitamin d, fresh air and exercise.
21. Stop eating out – This one is huge. Eating out has really become quite unaffordable in my opinion. If you’re craving a certain dish, then why not learn to make it for yourself at home instead?
22. Eat leftovers – Don’t let your leftovers go bad in the fridge, but eat them for lunches or turn them into a new meal the next night.
23. Put Green onion stems in water after use to regrow more onions – I use this trick all of the time and it’s a great way to get a second or even third harvest from your store-bought (or homegrown) green onions.
24. Make use of store savings programs – Almost every company has some sort of savings program that you can sign up for, so why not utilize them and start earning coupons, credits or free products?
25. Lower the temp on your hot water heater – Some people may not know that their hot water heater can be turned down a few degrees to save money on their gas or electric bill. Why not give it try and see if you notice a difference?
26. Cut up old t-Shirts for rags – Don’t throw away your old cotton clothing, but cut them into rags to use in the kitchen or shop.
27. Workout at home instead of at the gym – Once upon a time there was no such thing as a gym and yet people were still healthy. Take advantage of online workouts, gardening, housework, riding your bike, parking far away at the store or taking long walks in the evenings. It all adds up.
28. Consider having a no spend weekend – Mark one weekend per month as a no spend weekend and use it as an opportunity to cook what you already have, stay home, check out books from the library, head to the park, ride your bike, watch an old movie or attend a free community concert.
29. Buy in bulk – This tip will save your money, but only if you will use what you buy in bulk before it goes bad.
30. Cook dried beans in your slow cooker and freeze for later – If you find yourself buying a lot of canned beans, why not buy them dry in bulk and cook them for later use? You can either freeze or can them for later and will save money everytime you do this.
If you can get to where you’re doing most things on this list then, I bet you will be surprised at how much you’ll be saving each month! What would you add to the list? I’d love to hear your tips in the comment section below!
