Living more frugally doesn’t mean you have to make major changes. It’s all the little things. You know the saying “it’s the little things that count” Well this is absolutely true. If you can take an idea here and there from the list below and start to incorporate it into your life you’ll be able to make major shifts in the big picture.
Cutting household expenses, learning new things and starting to implement them is what makes making changes in your life exciting. I know that all of my ideas won’t be for everyone but if you can benefit from one or two of my ideas I feel like I’ve done my job. I’m always amazed to learn a new frugal idea or two that we can benefit from and I hope you feel the same.
82 Tips for Cutting Household Expenses
- Cut the cord and get rid of cable. If you can’t fathom the idea of not watching TV you can buy something like this firestick
- Learn how to save money on your everyday cleaning supplies by learning to make your own cleaning supplies
- Turn the heat down and save on electricity or you can invest in a small space heater to heat small areas only.
- Hang dry your clothes rather than using the dryer. If its winter and you can’t hang your clothes you can get yourself a drying rack like this.
- Ditch a car and become a one-car family. You’ll save on insurance, gas, maintenance and more.
- Start using cash only and educate yourself about the cash envelope method
- Buy clothes at the end of the season for the following year
- Freeze and save your veggie scraps for soups and broth at a later time
- Drink water. Ditch the soda and fruit juice
- Downsize your home to save on insurance, maintenance, heating, and cooling
- Cut up old t-shirts and use them for cleaning rags
- Use credit card rewards to get gift cards for date nights and cashback for groceries
- Shop at Dollar Stores
- Shop at Budget Grocery stores like the Grocery Outlet or Brandless
- Go to the library for books and magazines to read
- Turn off lights that aren’t being used
- Sell things on Decluttr that you don’t need or that are just taking up space
- Cancel your landline telephone
- Shop at thrift stores for clothing
- Don’t just toss things that break become comfortable fixing them. Youtube is a great source for finding useful information and tutorials on how to fix and service things
- Always make a grocery list when going grocery shopping and STICK TO IT!
- Invite friends over for a movie or game night instead of going out. Or read this for tips to save money when going out with friends
- Create a budget. Need help? Here’s a great post on how to start a budget
- Check out the sales flyers and grocery stores frequent shopper programs
- Make frugal crockpot meals that are listed here
- Shop in the bulk food section for dry items like beans and flour
- Purchase meat in bulk and then package into smaller portions
- Plan a no-spend weekend if you’re looking for some ideas check this out
- Make your own air-freshener… need a recipe check this out
- Make your own disinfecting wipes
- Purchase generic groceries over name brand
- Install energy-efficient low flow showerheads and sink faucets
- Invest in a good slow cooker or Instant Pot to make meal preparation easy
- Plan cheap and affordable dates, looking for some good ideas? Check this out
- Do all your errands on one day while you’re already out and about
- Check unit prices in stores
- Only buy organic for the dirty dozen (strawberries, spinach, nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery, potatoes, and sweet bell peppers). Here’s a great post for healthy eating on a budget
- Plan potluck dinner parties with friends instead of going out
- Can or freeze fruits and vegetables that are in season
- Read books, blogs, and listen to podcasts to stay inspired with saving money and living frugally
- Purchase and play board games from the thrift store
- Check for markdowns on meat, cheese, produce, and bread. Ask your grocer when they do their weekly markdowns
- Invest in a deep freezer
- Wash your clothes in cold water
- Make a double batch and freeze the second batch for a later time
- Learn how to do a basic stitch to make small repairs to your clothes.
- Replace all your light bulbs with LED bulbs
- Purchased used, furniture from Facebook Marketplace or the local consignment store
- Make your house more energy efficient by weatherstripping the windows and doors
- Check websites like Groupon for discounted services and fun budget activities
- Share wholesale club memberships with a friend or family member
- Buy cheaper cuts of meat or opt for meatless Mondays
- Sign up for a food delivery service like Amazon Fresh so you don’t waste money at the grocery store. You can try them FREE for a month by signing up here
- Repurpose leftovers into a new meal for the next night’s dinner
- Only run your washing machine and dishwasher when it’s full. The amount of electricity is the same whether it be a full load or half
- Use auto-pay to pay your bills so you never have a late fee
- Unplug electricity sucking appliances while they aren’t in use a good power strip is a great way to turn all appliances off at once
- Walk, ride a bike or use public transportation
- Pack a lunch it will save you 100’s of dollars each month
- Grow your own garden and herbs
- Start meal planning
- Ask your employer if you can telecommute to save money on lunches, work clothing, fuel costs, etc.
- Refinance your auto loan if your interest rates are too high.
- Ask your utility company if they have a level pay billing option that allows you to average your costs throughout the year and pay the average each month
- Ditch the cell phone contracts and use go with a cheaper option like with Republic Wireless
- Invest in quality curtains that keep your windows insulated in summer and winter
- Keep your freezer full to cut down on energy costs (Keep gallons of frozen water in the freezer if you’re short on food)
- Try freezer cooking to save you money
- If your paycheck allows try and pay a bit extra each month to lower your mortgage payments
- Cancel any subscriptions that aren’t necessary
- Learn to meal prep. Looking for some tips check this out
- Cancel gym memberships and use Youtube videos for FREE. I love Melissa Bender on Youtube
- Make your own coffee at home with an affordable coffee pot
- Have a no-spend month.
- Purchase gift cards at a discounted price
- Never pay full price. Before you buy something, make sure you are using the Honey app or check Amazon to see if you’re getting the cheapest price possible
- Use apps like Ebates and Ibotta when you make online purchases or when you’re shopping at the grocery store. You can get a FREE $10 gift card when you spend $25 using Ebates and a FREE $10 welcome bonus when you redeem your cash rebate from grocery shopping.
- Go to farms that allow you to pick your fruits and veggies to save money on produce
- Make homemade DIY Christmas gifts.
- Shop on Craigslist or FB Marketplace for cheap furniture, household appliances, children’s toys, and clothes
- Learn to sew, knit, and crochet
- Sell what you don’t wear on ThredUp, Poshmark, eBay or at your local consignment store

Still Struggling With Cutting Household Expenses? Perhaps It’s Time For a Second Job
If you’re at the point where no matter what you do when trying to cut household expenses you can’t seem to get ahead I have good news there are side jobs and jobs you can do as hobbies to make a bit of extra money.
I get it there are times when no matter what you do to cut your household expenses it’s just too difficult. Have you created a budget? If so perhaps the cash envelope system is something that will help you from overspending.