Get to know frugal living tips so that you could reach your goals. First and foremost, you must know what it means to live a frugal life.

 

Rubrik Finansialku

Rubrik Finansialku Finansialku Planner

 

Definition

Frugality is defined as the quality of being careful, meticulous, thrifty, prudent, or economical in the use of one’s resources such as food, time, or money, and avoiding any type of needless waste.

In behavioral science, it is the tendency to acquire goods and services reasonably and resourcefully in whatever goods and services one already possesses to accomplish ones’ desired future goals.

Frugal living, therefore, is frugality applied in everyday life. People may have different perception about this.

But you must have the right attitude to be able to get the most out of frugal living without making it feel like a sacrifice. That is, thinking about it as a vehicle that will take you to your dream destination faster.

Don’t think about it as being hard on yourself to save some money when it is something entirely more than that. It is about you realizing your long-term financial goals.

 

Benefits of Embracing a Frugal Life

#1 More budget for things that truly matter to you

Living a frugal life means smarter handling of your resources. When you have a clear picture of what you value and want to achieve in the long-run, you could device short-term goals leading to the realization of that goal.

Jalan Keluar Krisis Keuangan 01 - Finansialku

[Read Also: 11 Financial Goals for 2021 to Help Reach Your Financial Dreams]

 

Having those short-term goals will help you allocate your resources to the right places. You can use the income saved from frugal living for the things you consider to be more worthy of your hard-earned money.

It gives you more options on where to spend your income and not only to paying monthly bills and excessive buying of non-budgeted stuff.

 

#2 Time to pursue your passions

Learning to live within your means gives you more opportunities to pursue your interests.

You can ward off the possibilities of plunging into debt when you become wary of how you spend your money.

You will start to appreciate having more resources and time to spend pursuing things you care for in life. Leading you to an enjoyable journey in life.

 

#3 Capable of grabbing the best opportunities that come along your way

You can tolerate ‘risky’ investments that may yield promising rewards when you know you are well-prepared to take them on.

Unlike when you are too afraid to take risks because you are living on a tight budget that results from living beyond what your paycheck can afford.

 

#4 Savings for early retirement

Financial independence can only happen when you have reached your target savings and investments.

Being creative in saving more money by living within your means gets you to your saving goals faster.

It pays to be careful about how you handle your resources as it brings you closer to achieving early retirement than when you act indifferent about it.

 

#5 Well-prepared for financial storms

Having allotted your income to emergency funds gives you resiliency when faced with a financial crisis.

Life has a lot of surprises. Trials are real and essential. We grow through it.

Now, when you’ve set aside a budget for unexpected expenses or emergencies like health problems, unemployment, among others, you don’t have to be stressed out thinking you are not ready for anything life can throw at you.

5 Alasan Mengapa Rencana Keuangan Penting Dalam Kehidupan 03 - Finansialku

[Read Also: Things You Must Know About Debt Collector Agency, and How It Works]

 

Let’s take this pandemic for a timely example; people who allotted funds for at least six-month worth of living expenses gave more time to adjust to the lockdowns we experienced around the world.

On the other hand, sadly, others who didn’t prioritize emergency funds are having a tough time right now. Frugal living is worth it.

 

#6 Ability to give more to others who are in need

Cutting down on unnecessary expenses allows you to help more people who are in need. Rather than using your extra income living extravagantly, you can set aside money to become a blessing by helping others who need it.

When you are not in financial distress yourself, you can generously share your resources with others.

That’s the treasure you get from making wise decisions with your money—the ability to give more.

 

14 Frugal Living Tips

1. Create a Budget

Start making a budget according to your terms. Aside from aimlessly spending your money on things that don’t matter that much to you, you can save it for those you value.

It includes drawing a clear line between your needs and wants. It doesn’t mean to forget all your wants.

You only need to control your spending habits to avoid overspending. Impulsive buying is one of the culprits that lead to overspending.

 

2. Plan your meals

Along with budgeting, planning your meals for the whole week will help you save money from going to the store several times.

If you have a meal plan, you can buy in bulks when you go to the store. Just take note of goods that expire quickly. Cook meals according to their storage or shelf life so you won’t waste any food later in the week.

 

3. Check out Discounts and Coupons

Sometimes, buying groceries can still be expensive even though if you buy in bulk. Better check out if you can avail of any discounts or coupons on goods that you are planning to buy anyway.

Be careful not to buy things just because they are on sale or on a discount.

 

4. Buy and Sell Used Products

You can save a considerable amount of money if you start buying and selling used items. You can even be more creative when it comes to buying used products! Look around your house.

You might find things you no longer use but still in good shape. And then find ways on how to sell it. You can even promote and conduct a garage sale!

 

5. Take care of your Things

Avoid spending extra bucks on buying new shoes, bags, clothes, and other items by taking care of your stuff.

When your things are well taken care of, you will not feel the need to buy new ones as your things would still look okay to you.

Hobi Masak Begini Cara Atur Keuanganmu Biar Hobi Gak Ganggu Hidup 03 - Finansialku

[Read Also: Must Read This! Personal Loans and Its Financial Benefits]

 

Research on the best ways to prolong the life of your items. You will also avoid spending money on repairs.

But if your stuff needs repair, you can also repair them yourself. There are abundant “how-to’s” to find on the internet.

 

6. Lower your Bills

Consider unsubscribing to plans you know you can live past. There are many ways to enjoy life.

Go out and pursue a new hobby or develop a new skill!

Lower your bills by using LED lightbulbs and choosing to consume most energy on non-peak hours—bills are usually high when you use energy on-peak hours. Unplug items you don’t use. Conserve water.

 

7. Walk or use Bicycle

This one is a great way to save gas. If you are going to a nearby park or market, just walk or use a bicycle.

Lessen the use of your automobile. Physical activity is beneficial for your body. You will also help the environment by reducing air pollution.

 

8. Savings, Investments, and Insurance

Find the right insurance for you. Before signing up for one, make sure you have talked to a trusted financial advisor that cares for your best concerns.

Insurance can save you and your family from draining your resources when an accident happens. Also, automate your savings, investments, and payments so you will not “accidentally” spend your money somewhere else.

 

9. Find extra Livelihood

It is easier to accelerate your savings goals when you have other ways to earn money. Find a part-time job you can do. You can make use of your other skills. Finding work from home jobs tend to give you flexibility. Just evaluate yourself what works best for you.

 

10. Prioritize being Debt-free

Being Debt-free comes next to having emergency funds.

Being debt-free releases the burden of having to pay more due to the growing interest. Before diving into huge investments, pay off all your debts first.

 

11. Downsize your living space

When you live in larger homes, your expenditures are higher.

Just maintenance of the house is enough to weigh you down. Decide to put yourself in a more affordable and stress-free situation.

 

Download Sekarang! Ebook PERENCANAAN KEUANGAN Untuk USIA 20-an, GRATIS!

15 Ebook Perencanaan Keuangan 20an

 

12. Handle your credit cards well

Make sure that your credit cards don’t push you to live beyond your means. Just charge what you can pay in full each month, else you will rack up more debts in the future.

 

13. Make your friends accountable to you

Share your savings goals with trusted people. Having other people check on your progress pushes you to keep up with your goals.

Your friends will be able to monitor and remind you when they see you slowly ditching the frugal lifestyle.

 

14. Stay Motivated

This one is more personal. You will have those times when you want to give up. But staying motivated will help you pass through those times.

Remind yourself of your goals. You can even make your dream board where you put pictures of things you want to have in the future.

You can also talk to people who have decided to embrace a frugal life to encourage one another. You may have different goals in the future. But still, you are doing the same thing in choosing to start handling finances and other resources wisely.

There are many things to consider planning and doing for you to reach your financial goals.

Saving money, investing, and paying off your debts is one of the things you should deal with in unity—not to mention your determination in making your dreams come true.

Embracing a frugal life is a vehicle towards reaching your goals. You are doing a smart thing!

 

Share these frugal living tips to all your friends and relatives!

Have a nice day!

 

 

References:

  • Bola Sokunbi. 6 September 2020. Frugal Living Tips: 21 Real Tips That Will Save You a Ton of Money – Clevergirlfiance.com – https://bit.ly/3mGDOdb
  • Admin. 24 Februari 2020. 25 Frugal Living Tips. Happyhumblehome.com – https://bit.ly/34ExuMN
  • Erin Huffstetler. 25 Juni 2019. Get Started with Frugal Living Tips. Thebalanceeveryday.com – https://bit.ly/2TC1P8C
  • Admin. 27 Juni 2012. Advantages and Disadvantages of Frugal Living: The Pros and Cons of Thriftiness. Infobarrel.com – https://bit.ly/2HNOVlt