How to be Frugal: 42+ Habits of Thrifty People

If you struggle to live below your means, then it would be worth your time to learn how to be frugal.

Thrifty living doesn’t really come naturally for anyone. It’s something you learn and practice. One of the best ways to learn how to be frugal is to observe what frugal people do.

From the outside looking in, the habits and traits of thrifty people may seem completely foreign and downright quirky. But for those who live the “frugal life,” the items on our list will probably sound very familiar. 

So, whether you’re interested in becoming more frugal or are already a card-carrying cheapskate, we hope that our list will inspire you to stop buying stuff you don’t really need, save more money, live way below your means, and achieve your financial goals. 

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How to be Frugal: 42+ Habits of Thrifty People

Truly frugal people do the following:

1.  Never buy anything at full price.
2.  Squeeze the last bit of toothpaste out of the tube.
3.  Don’t get suckered into promotional offers that are “too good to be true.”
4.  Buy used cars and take very good care of them.
5.  Invest in quality items that they use all the time.
6.  Eat at home way more than eating out.
7.  Have a minimalist wardrobe.
8.  Save at least 15% of their income.
9.  Hate (I mean hate!) wasting food.
10.  Buy a house and stay in it for a long time.
11.  Cut their own grass.
12.  Shop the day after Christmas for décor.
13.  Turn lights off when they leave a room.
14.  Don’t care about the latest fashion trends.
15.  Collect their coins.
16.  Live by the rule, “A penny saved is a penny earned.”
17.  Save their income tax return.
18.  Sign up for Birthday freebies.
19.  Are never really broke.
20.  Take advantage of employer-sponsored retirement plans.
21.  Avoid buying convenience foods.
22.  Love their crockpots.
23.  Have a vegetable garden or plan to grow one.
24.  Take advantage of coupons and rebate programs.
25.  Invest in hobbies that save them (or make them) money.
26.  Are efficient with their time (because time is money!).
27.  Buy heavily discounted gifts year-round.
28.  Use what they have instead of buying something new.
29.  Do without now to achieve their long-term financial goals.
30.  Choose the library over buying new books.
31.  Make their own cleaning supplies.
32.  Aren’t afraid to ask for a discount on a chipped or dented item.
33.  Focus more on experiences rather than accumulating stuff.
34.  Don’t like frills.
35.  Take advantage of free food.
36.  Make coffee at home.
37.  Use old technology as long as it works.
38.  Get the most out of their appliances.
39.  Sell their unused and unwanted belongings.
40.  Love working on their budget.
41. Use credit cards for points and pay the balance off each month.
42. Buy used cars with cash.
43. Shop at liquidation stores for the steepest discounts. Go check out this directory of bin stores near you!

We hope that you enjoyed hearing about the thrifty habits of frugal people!  How many of them sounded like you?  Let us know your total score in the comment section below.