Stretching a Buck: Frugal Living Lifestyle Tips, Recipes, DIY Projects, Coupons and More

Frugal living is all about finding ways to live well on less. With the right mindset and smart strategies, you can stretch your dollar further without sacrificing your lifestyle or happiness. We cover everything you need to know to start living frugally, from budgeting tips to money-saving apps, frugal recipes, DIY projects and more. Follow these tips and transform the way you think about spending to start saving more without feeling deprived.

Tips for Living Frugally

The first step in stretching your dollar is changing how you think about spending. Frugal living is more of a lifestyle than a temporary money-saving method. By integrating certain habits and strategies into your daily routine, you can painlessly cut expenses and free up more cash.

Create a Budget

The foundation of any good financial plan is a budget. Tracking your income and expenses is key to identifying spending leaks and opportunities to save.

Record all sources of income you receive each month your salary, freelance work, investment dividends, etc.
Make a list of your fixed monthly expenses – rent/mortgage, car payment, insurance, etc.
Track variable spending like groceries, gas, dining out, entertainment, etc. Use receipts or online banking transaction records.
Use a budgeting app or spreadsheet to add up your income and expenses each month and compare.

Once you can see where your money is going, you can make a realistic spending plan and set savings goals. Look for non-essential costs to trim back. Budgeting gives you the awareness and control to make smart financial choices.

Shop Smart

Being a savvy shopper is critical for frugal living. With the right strategies, you can save significantly on whatever you need to buy.

Make a list before shopping – Plan meals and make lists to avoid impulse purchases. Stick to buying only what you need.
Buy generics – Opt for generic store brand items over name brands. The quality and taste are often comparable at a steep discount.
Buy in bulk – Purchasing large quantities of shelf-stable items at warehouse stores saves in the long run. Split bulk packs with friends or family.
Check unit prices – Compare the cost per unit (per ounce or other unit) rather than the overall package price to find the best deal. Larger sizes are often, but not always, cheaper.
Use coupons – Look for coupons at livingfeeds, newspapers, apps, loyalty programs and online. Just make sure it’s for items you’ll actually use.
Wait for sales – Time purchases of discretionary items for when they go on sale. Sign up for sale alerts from your favourite retailers.
Shop secondhand – Buy gently used clothing, furniture and other household goods at thrift stores and consignment shops.
Price match – Take advantage of retailer price match policies to get discounts.

Avoid impulse shopping trips whenever possible. Research prices at different stores and buy only when there is a sale or you have a coupon.

Cook at Home

Eating out is usually far pricier than preparing meals yourself. Cooking at home saves you significant money over the long run.

Meal plan – Plan out recipes to cook each week and make a grocery list accordingly. You’ll buy only what you need.
Cook in bulk – Make double batches and freeze half for easy meals later. Pot roasts, soups, chilli and casseroles freeze well.
Prep ingredients – Chop produce and measure spices in advance to make cooking quicker and easier. You’re less likely to order takeout if everything is prepped.
Leftovers – Repurpose leftovers into new meals. For example, extra chicken can go into salads, wraps or casseroles later in the week.
Batch cook – On weekends, whip up a batch of baked goods, energy bars or other snacks to have on hand during the week.
DIY convenience foods – Make your frozen pizzas, veggie burgers, granola bars and other convenience foods for a fraction of the store cost.

With practice, home cooking will become an easy routine. You’ll save money and eat healthier, too.

Use Cashback Apps

Cashback apps offer rewards when you shop at certain retailers, either online or in-store. It takes just seconds to route your spending through the app and rack up cash rewards.

Popular examples include:

Ibotta – Link store loyalty cards and receive cashback on select items you buy. Browse deals in the app before you shop.
Rakuten – Get cash back for purchases at over 2,500 online retailers. Use the browser extension when checking out.
Drop – Earn points towards gift cards by linking your debit/credit cards and allowing the app to track your spending.

Check apps for the best cashback offers before shopping. It’s an effortless way to save extra money.

Buy Generic Medications

Brand-name prescription drugs are often much more expensive than generic equivalents. Ask your doctor if lower-cost generics are available for any medications you take regularly. For over-the-counter medicines, always opt for store-brand versions. They contain the same active ingredients as higher-cost name brands.

Use Your Library

Public libraries offer an amazing array of free resources. Take advantage of all their offerings:

Books & eBooks – Borrow bestselling books, magazines, audiobooks and more instead of buying. Many libraries let you borrow eBooks digitally, too.
Movies & music – Your library likely has DVDs and even video games you can borrow for free. Some offer music CDs too.
Online classes – Libraries provide free access to instructional online class platforms like Lynda. Learn new skills from home.
Community events – Libraries hold free or low-cost events like book clubs, lecture series, children’s activities and more.
WiFi & computers – Get free internet access and use library computers if you don’t have your own at home. Print, copy or scan documents for cheap.

See if your library offers delivery service to have books and more come right to your door!

Cut the Cord

The average cable TV or satellite bill is over $100 per month. But you have alternatives:

Stream only – Choose a streaming service or two, like Netflix and Hulu, based on your favourite shows. Split costs with family or friends.
Use an antenna – You can access broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox for free with an antenna. Picture quality is better, too.
Rotate services – Switch between a few services each month. Catch up on shows you missed, then pause and try another service the next month.
Use free streaming apps – Apps like PlutoTV, Tubi, and Freevee offer 100% free TV viewing. Content has ads, but it’s a $0 option.

Streaming and antennas let you ditch cable and save over $1,000 annually. You can always supplement supply with a monthly virtual streaming cable service like YouTube TV or Sling TV for fuller channel lineups when needed.

Reduce Energy Use

Utility costs can take up a sizable chunk of your budget. Try these tips to use less energy and water:

Install LED light bulbs – They use 75% less energy than incandescents.
Turn off lights when leaving a room.
Run full loads in the washer, dryer and dishwasher.
Wash clothes in cold water.
Lower the thermostat a few degrees in winter and raise it in summer. Wear layers to stay comfortable.
Limit showers to 5-10 minutes max with low flow showerhead.
Turn off the faucet, brushing your teeth and shaving.
Upgrade to energy-efficient appliances.

Small daily changes add up. Regularly monitoring usage and costs helps maintain awareness.

Maintain Your Home

From appliances to outdoor furniture to your vehicle properly caring for your belongings extends their usable life dramatically.

Follow all manufacturer maintenance recommendations for appliances and electronics.
Clean or replace AC and furnace filters monthly during their usage seasons.
Hand wash delicate clothing and line dry when possible.
Spot clean carpets and upholstery frequently. Professionally deep clean carpets every 1-2 years.
Fix leaky faucets, showerheads and toilets promptly. Dripping water adds up quickly.
Touch up paint nicks and caulking around sinks/tubs on occasion to prevent costly water damage repairs.
Wash vehicles regularly and take them for routine maintenance, like oil changes.
Don’t overload power strips and replace any with damaged wiring.

With periodic care and cleaning, your possessions will last longer before needing replacement.

Travel Economically

Vacations don’t have to wreck your frugal living goals. Use these tips to save on trips:

Off-season travel – Visiting destinations during their off-peak season means lower airfare, hotel rates, and crowds. For example, flying domestically in September is generally cheaper than peak summer rates.
Alternative lodging – Instead of hotels consider vacation rentals, campgrounds, hostels, or Couchsurfing for very low-cost lodging options. State parks often have beautiful and affordable cabins, too.
Use points – If you have a travel rewards credit card, use your accumulated points to pay for flights and hotels completely for free or at a big discount.
Pack snacks & drinks– Bring your snacks, water bottles, and coffeemaker to reduce dining out costs. Make simple meals in vacation rentals.
Take public transit – Use public transportation like trains, subways, and go buses at your destination to avoid rental car expenses. Many tourist destinations are very walkable, too.
Join a sharing service – Websites like RVShare allow you to rent directly from RV owners for much less than commercial rental rates.
Avoid resort fees – Booking direct at hotels helps you avoid the mandatory resort fees tacked onto room rates by travel sites. Call the hotel directly.

With flexibility and creativity, you can plan affordable getaways that don’t derail your savings goals.

Frugal Living Recipes

Since eating out and takeout can get very expensive, cooking affordable and delicious meals at home is essential for frugal living. With a well-stocked milk pantry, freezer and fridge, you can whip up budget-friendly meals that still feel indulgent. Here are some of my favourite money-saving recipes:

One Pot Meals

One-pot meals make dinner a breeze with minimal cleanup. Toss everything in just one pot, pan or skillet and enjoy no-fuss cooking. Some examples:

Skillet Lasagna – Brown ground beef with onion and garlic. Add tomato sauce, cooked lasagna noodles, ricotta and mozzarella. Cover and cook until melted and heated through.

Chicken Fajita Bowls – Cook chicken seasoned with cumin, chilli powder and lime with peppers and onion. Serve over rice with beans, salsa, cheese and sauteed veggies.

Pasta Primavera – Saute zucchini, broccoli, carrots with garlic. Add chicken broth, cooked pasta, Parmesan and fresh basil.

Beef Chili Mac – Cook ground beef with onion, garlic, chilli powder and cumin. Add canned diced tomatoes, kidney beans, macaroni and shredded cheddar.

Green Fried Rice – Scramble eggs with frozen peas and carrots. Add cooked rice and soy sauce. Stir fry for quick egg-fried rice.

With some chopping and prep ahead of time, you can make balanced one-pot meals in under 30 minutes for a few dollars per serving. They’re endlessly customizable, too.

Slow Cooker Meals

A slow cooker allows you to prep ingredients in the morning and come home to a cooked, hearty meal at dinner time. Less hands-on cooking time means more money saved. Slow cooker recipes include:

Beef Stew – Chunks of beef, potatoes, carrots and celery cooked low and slow in broth make a classic, comforting stew.

Pulled Pork – Pork shoulder or butt cooked for 8+ hours shreds easily into tender pulled pork for tacos and sandwiches all week.

Chicken Tortilla Soup – Combine chicken, canned diced tomatoes, corn, black beans, salsa and taco seasoning. Garnish with avocado and tortilla strips.

Pot Roast – Sear beef roast, then slow cook with potatoes, onion, garlic, carrots, broth and red wine for fall-off-the-bone meat.

Vegetarian Chili – Mix beans, tomatoes, peppers, onion, veggie broth, chilli powder and cumin. Top with cheese and sour cream.

The hands-off approach of the slow cooker makes it ideal for those busy weeknights. Toss in economical, tougher meats and let the appliance do the work.

Batch Cooking

Cooking large batches is one of the most effective ways to save time and money in the kitchen. Double recipes or whip up big batches of enjoy snacks and basics to stock your fridge and freezer. Ideas include:

Granola – Combining oats, nuts, coconut, dried fruit, oil and spices makes healthy cereal to last all month.

Burrito Bowls – Cook rice, beans, fajita veggies and seasoning to portion out burrito bowls later in the week.

Muffins – Make oversized batches of healthy muffins and freeze individual portions to grab for breakfasts and snacks.

Pancakes or Waffles – Whip up a giant batch and freeze leftovers to reheat for busy mornings.

Soup Stock – Simmer veggie trimmings and bones to make your stock. Freeze in portions to use in future recipes.

Put in the upfront work once, and you’ll reap the rewards of pre-made food all month long.

Frugal Living DIY Projects

With a little creativity and elbow grease, you can make expensive store-bought goods yourself for a fraction of the cost. These DIY tutorials teach you how to make items for your home, family and life for cheap.

Homemade Cleaning Supplies

Basic ingredients you have around your kitchen can be used to make effective and non-toxic cleaning products for every room of your home.

Distilled White Vinegar – Disinfects, deodorizes and kills mould/mildew.
Baking Soda – Natural abrasive for scrubbing, deodorizes.
Lemon Juice – Disinfects, cuts grease, brightens.
Hydrogen Peroxide – Disinfects, whitens.
Essential Oils – Add natural fragrance.
Castile Soap – Makes great soap for floors, counters.
Spray Bottles – For DIY cleaner mixes.
Microfiber Cloths – Reusable, eliminate the need for paper towels.

You can make all-purpose cleaners, bathroom scrubs, counter sprays, glass/mirror cleaners, tub & tile sprays, floor cleaners, and so much more. Ditch expensive toxic chemical cleaners and make your own for pennies on the dollar.

Self-Watering Garden Beds

Constructing your self-watering garden bed ensures you have an ongoing source of vegetables and herbs. And without the need to manually water daily, it will thrive with less effort on your part.

Materials Needed:

Food or landscape fabric for lining (breathable)
Landscaping wood planks for the sides
Gravel and activated charcoal to line the bottom
Garden soil to fill the upper half of the bed
Plastic storage tote for water reservoir
Float valve to regulate water flow

The bed is lined with a waterproof fabric and then half-filled with soil. A plastic tote is placed below, filled with water and a float valve is added. The valve maintains constant moisture in the soil from below without oversaturating.

You’ll save substantially on produce costs over time by growing your own!

Upcycling Furniture

Check secondhand shops for solid, vintage wooden furniture pieces. With some simple DIY makeovers, you can transform them into beautiful focal pieces for your home at a fraction of the cost of buying new.

Some easy upcycle projects:

Sand and restain – Distress furniture with sandpaper and apply a trendy new stain colour.
Paint techniques – Try colour blocking, ombre, stencilling, stripes or other paint techniques to give a modern update.
New knobs/pulls – Replace old hardware with bold, new knobs and pulls to refresh a piece.
Wallpaper drawer liners – Use wallpaper offcuts to line dresser drawers for a pop of pattern.

With a little time and creativity, outdated items get new life as custom furniture you’d pay top dollar for in stores.

Sew Clothing and Home Decor

Learning basic sewing skills lets you create clothing, curtains, pillows and more at a fraction of retail prices. And you can upcycle fabric like bedsheets into new fashions!

You need:

Sewing machine
Fabric
Patterns
Thread
Pins, needles, scissors, measuring tape

Beginners can start with:

Reusable grocery totes
Simple curtains
Throw pillow covers
Tote bags
Aprons
Potholders

Work your way up to clotheslines and quilts as your skills advance. Give handmade gifts from the heart, too!

Finding Coupons, Deals and Freebies

In addition to lifestyle changes, a key part of frugal living involves seeking out coupons, deals and even free stuff when possible. Here are some top ways to save:

Coupon Resources

Never pay full price when coupons are just a click away.

Newspapers – Check the weekly circulars and coupon inserts in your local paper.
Apps – Download apps like Groupon, Dosh and CouponCabin to access local and online coupons right from your phone.
Loyalty programs – Sign up for the rewards program at stores you frequent to earn points and receive special offers.
Amazon coupons – Check for printable and digital coupons before checking out on Amazon.
Online sites – Sites like RetailMeNot and Honey have searchable coupon databases you can browse before shopping online.
Social media – Follow your favourite brands on social media for special discount codes and flash giveaways.
Email lists – Sign up for brand and store newsletters to get coupon codes and offers sent right to your inbox.

With minimal time investment, you can easily find dozens of coupons monthly for both in-store and online shopping.

Freebie Websites

Another great money-saver is taking advantage of all the free product samples, services and more available online. Some useful sites:

Freecycle – Join your local network to give and get free household items from others in your community.
Nextdoor – Neighbors share free leftovers, produce from their garden and other goods on this local networking app.
Craigslist – Check the free section for freebies being offered in your area.
Freebie sites – Sites like Free Stuff Finder and Totally Free Stuff post listings for free samples and offers.
Company websites – Go directly to brand sites to find free samples – many offer them in exchange for product reviews.

With a little searching, you can furnish an entire home, sample countless products and take advantage of free services without spending a thing.

Extreme Couponing

For major savings, some people turn couponing into an art form and shop virtually free by combining coupons, sales and rebates. It takes dedication, but the payoff is huge.

Extreme couponers:

Use multiple coupon apps and spend hours hunting for printable coupons for anything they buy
Plan shopping trips around what items they have high-value coupons for that week
Pair coupons with store sales for an extra low price
Buy multiples of greatly discounted items to stockpile
Redeem rebates online or by mail for additional savings
Negotiate coupon doubling or higher values at customer service
Use coupons on discounted clearance items for the biggest deal possible

With meticulous planning, stacking offers, buying in bulk and putting in extra time, the most devoted couponers get $1,000+ worth of groceries and goods for mere dollars.

Conclusion

Living frugally doesn’t mean giving up everything you love. With smart strategies, you can reduce expenses in areas that matter less to free up funds for the things that are truly important to you. The tips in this guide help you rethink your spending from travel and dining to shopping and energy use. Adopt even just a few to see your savings start growing. Remember, frugal living is a mindset first – once your mindset shifts, your lifestyle will follow.

Self Improvement