[USER]

What is my first step to being more frugal? It’s not a lifestyle I grew up in and I just don’t know how to get started.

I want to be more mindful of my spending and make the most of my money, but I’m not sure where to begin. What are some practical first steps for cutting expenses, saving more, and making smarter financial decisions?

I’d love to hear about simple habits, budgeting tips, or mindset shifts that have worked for you.

Whether it’s grocery shopping, entertainment, or daily expenses, any advice for someone just starting out would be greatly appreciated!

[Lucinda]

Reframe how you see frugality. Rather than deprivation, think of it as being creative and a good steward of the environment.

For example, if you need to eat cheaply, Google recipes for what you already have (or cheap recipes in general).

[Jill]

The 1st step should be making sure you are spending less than you are earning.

[Joanna]

What are your goals? Is it about living within your means? Saving? Eliminating debt? Downsizing? Is it a choice or a necessity?

Will you feel deprived or will you feel you are accomplishing a goal?

[Ling]

Frugal to me means spending less money. Buying less stuff. Do free things. Parks library museums nature

[Brenda]

Take a month and write down EVERY penny you spend. Keep a little notebook and pen in your car to make it easy. If you buy a soda at the gas station write it down- date, soda, gas station.

Every time you swipe a debit or credit card, write a check, use a cash app or pay cash write it down. Be honest.

At the end of the month look at the book & compare with your bank account to be sure nothing was missed and on paper write categories groceries, gas, snacks, clothes, eating out, utility bills, ins, mortgage, subscriptions…and list what you spent and total each category.

Being honest and seeing what you spent will be eye opening and you can adjust your spending on non needed things.

Gas station snacks and grabbing take out because we didn’t want to cook were our budget blasters.

[Michele]

Remember every little change adds up. Even a dollar a day is $365 plus if you made that money you paid tax on it so it cost you $400.

Debt cost interest so that $400 on a credit card can be $800 in a year.

A dollar not spent can help your future dreams and sleep better not worrying how your going to pay your bills.

My dad always said, it will eventually rain so save for rainy days – car repairs and extra expenses happen

[Barbara]

FIRST STEP: start asking yourself do I WANT this item or NEED this item.

After that start trying to get things you do need (or REALLY REALLY want) in cheaper ways: wait for a sale or coupon, buy used, make yourself, barter, etc.

[Paula]

I’m old, so I’m going to give this ones.
Waste not, want not!

Watch your pennies and your dollars will take care of themselves.
You got this, you just need to start!

[Ann]

Your very first step might be to find out exactly where your money is going. Simply telling someone to stop eating out etc makes no sense if that isn’t where the $ goes.

Either keep a little notebook for every single expense, every pack of gum, every time you fill the car, and everything else or keep every single reciept.

Then just look to see where you can shave off some $ the next month. For my family, meal planning is key.

[Mary]

Start by understanding that frugal is not the same as cheap. Also for me it allows me to save so I have money to spend for fun.

Shop at thrift stores or on clearance.

Have no spend month where you only cook using whatever is in your freezer and pantry.

[Paula]

One of the things I do before buying something is to figure out how many hours do I have to work to pay for the purchase.

Is it really worth that amount of time?

With that being said this applies to non essential items

[Dianne]

Shop clearance sales.
Save some $ from each paycheck.
Buy a used car with cash.

Don’t try to keep up with trends.
Don’t buy junk. Use what you buy & recycled, if possible.

[Jennifer]

Read up on Dave Ramsey‘s books. He gives you a basic budget and even has spreadsheets in his books. You can photocopy them at the library. There’s also a book and I can’t remember the author called.

You need a budget. I just started reading it but so far it’s a pretty good book too.

Make sure you write down every penny you spend for at least two months and that way you can see where you can start cutting things.

Good luck.

[Jackie]

I guess it all boils down to figuring out what you value the most in life and then go about arranging your life to give yourself those value added items.

For some people it is travel or a well appointed home or a fancy car or having enough for a large family or just enjoying nature and the simpler things in life.

We each can craft our life the way we want it.

There is also the idea of living in balance with others and with nature – living respectfully with our resources.

I hear phrases in my head such as, “to whom much is given, much is expected.”

It isn’t just about money but about how we want to live.

[Callie]

Do a no-spend or a low spend month and watch you bank account balance go up.

[Jessica]

All my clothes and many other household items are from thrift stores. I rarely pay more than $2 for clothing items.

I grocery shop at Aldi and grocery discount outlets.

[Rachel]

Be real with yourself when deciding whether something is a want or a need. Ask yourself before buying replacements foe broken things or a new whatever…do I already own something that I can use to “make it work” without buying another thing.

For example, a good chefs knife you might already own can cut up a pizza just as good as a pizza cutter.

[Clarsan]

When watching calories I would think ‘is the pleasure I receive from eating this worth it to me will I need to walk an extra 2 miles?”, when watching my money I think “is this item worth working ½ hour, 2 hours, 24 hours to me?” Is it worth your labor?

[Stacey]

The first step is to coin a phrase for your spending moments. Something like “Is this really worth it to me?” I have to ask myself that frequently or my wants can make me lose sight of my short and long term goals.

You have to balance your saving goals with your spending goals.

Have a few treats built in to reward yourself. If you totally deny yourself (at least at first) it might make you give up the long term results.

It takes time.

[Ed]

Alot has to do with the stores and resources in your area. I like to challenge myself as to how to get the best price for most things I buy.

[Marlo]

First step is question every single purchase you make/want to make – is this necessary? Can I live without it? Is there a cheaper way to get it?

Is there a more sustainable way to get it?

Do I actually have the money to comfortable buy it?

[Anisa]

I feel this because my current partner did not grow up being frugal or buying non name brand or going to goodwill and thrift shops. I would start by picking some things to start buying cheaper, like clothing or groceries.

If clothing, then start going thrifting, stop buying unless you need items. And make a weekly budget.

[Vicki]

Write down every penny, you spend for a month and add it up. I guarantee it will shock you. Look at these items and see what you can make yourself or do without.

Learn skills that save you money such as baking your own bread or making your own breakfast muffins or making your own coffee.

That’s a big one. Take advantage of Facebook marketplace. Look in thrift stores for things that you need before you buy new.

If you have to buy new, make sure you buy quality that will last. Don’t use shopping as therapy. You wind up with a lot of useless crap in your house, take a walk instead. Get to know your neighbors.

Help somebody. Start in the smallest room of your house and declutter and get rid of everything. You haven’t touched in six months.

I agree with the statement seek about how many hours of work, it will take to pay off any item that you were looking at buying and ask yourself. Is it worth your time. Stop eating at restaurants.

Learn to cook good food with quality ingredients your body and your purse will thank you realize that you don’t need the latest greatest gadget in order to be happy.

Just my two cents.

[Donna]

Identify the difference between wants and needs. Keep an accounting of every bit of money spent.

You could choose a time frame and only spend on needs to identify how much you spend on each.

[Eva]

Keeping track of all your expenses for e.g. a month seeing where the money goes is a first step. Then start budgetting, you upfront decide where the money should be going.

You’ll need self- discipline to stick to the budget.

Next step is finding areas where you can reduce spend.

You can’t be more frugal if you don’t know where it’s going now!

[Author]

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