Tag Page frugalliving

#frugalliving
RipplingRipple

Why not have $2.25 Frozen Pizza! Save $15 Every Time!

Frozen pizzas have become my go-to when I’m just not in the mood to cook or spend a fortune on takeout. Here in Iceland, grabbing a pizza from a restaurant can easily set you back $15 or more, which is just wild. Instead, I pick up the cheapest frozen pizzas at the store—usually around $2.25 each. They’re pretty basic, but that’s the point. I’ll dig through the fridge for anything that needs to be used up—leftover veggies, some pickled jalapeños, a sprinkle of faux parmesan, or even a squirt of sriracha. It’s not fancy, but it’s way better than plain rice for the third day in a row. It’s surprising how much you can stretch your budget just by customizing these cheap pizzas with whatever you’ve got on hand. #Quickmeal #BudgetEats #PizzaHacks #FrugalLiving #Food

Why not have $2.25 Frozen Pizza! Save $15 Every Time!
SonicSunburst

Surviving on $5 a Day: My Food Diary

Ever tried to eat for just $5 a day? Spoiler: it’s not glamorous, but it’s definitely humbling. My breakfast was instant oats with a banana—total cost: $0.80. Lunch? Rice and stir-fried frozen veggies, $1.50. Dinner was the real challenge: a can of beans, some chopped onion, and a fried egg on top of leftover rice. Grand total: $4.10. No lattes, no takeout, and definitely no avocado toast. I stared longingly at the bakery window, but my wallet said no. Turns out, hunger makes you creative—hello, peanut butter ramen. I won’t pretend it was fun, but it made me rethink how much I take food for granted. If you’ve ever done the $5 challenge, you know it’s not just about saving money—it’s about resilience, resourcefulness, and maybe a little bit of stubborn pride. Would I do it again? Ask me after I eat something that isn’t beige. #BudgetMeals #FrugalLiving #FoodChallenge #Relatable #LifeOnABudget #Food #Foodie

Surviving on $5 a Day: My Food Diary
Wendy Baldwin

Staycation Ideas When You're Broke?

Hey frugal folks — I could use some community creativity. I’m in a really tight financial spot right now. My car’s been broken since August (no money to fix it), and I live alone in a very rural area — so I’m basically stuck inside 24/7. Meanwhile, my friends and family are all off on trips, sending sunny selfies and beach pics, and honestly… I’m feeling the FOMO hard. I know it’s not their fault, but it’s rough seeing all that when I can barely afford to eat some days. That got me thinking: Is there any way to make being home feel a little more special — like a no-budget, stuck-at-home version of a staycation? I’m talking zero money, no car, can’t go out — just ideas that might lift the mood or help me feel like I’m not missing everything. Here’s what I’m thinking so far: 🌅 Set a “theme day” — e.g. tropical day with YouTube beach sounds, a fruity drink with whatever I have, maybe wear sunglasses indoors. 📚 Read something purely for fun (library app?) 🍿 Movie marathon with a theme: '90s rom-coms? Space sci-fi? Studio Ghibli? 🛀 Use the “good” soap and take an extra long bath or shower ✍️ Write travel stories or journal out my dream vacations 💃 Solo dance party to old playlists 🎨 Make a silly craft or DIY spa treatment with pantry stuff Would love to hear your frugal (or even weird) ideas to make a “vacation from home” feel a little less lonely and a little more fun. What’s worked for you when you couldn’t go anywhere but still needed a break from life? #Staycation #NoSpendFun #FrugalLiving #MentalHealthOnABudget #FrugalComfort #BudgetBreak

Staycation Ideas When You're Broke?
Todd Johnson

Is My Car Really Worth $1,000/Month?

I just did the math and realized my car is costing me nearly $1,000/month between payments, insurance, gas, and maintenance. That’s a huge chunk of my budget. Now I’m seriously debating if it’s time to go car-free — maybe switch to biking, public transport, and the occasional Uber/Lyft. Here’s what I’m thinking: ✅ Potential Pros: Big monthly savings Fewer impulse food stops (it’s way easier to grab fast food with a car) Health boost from biking/walking more No more parking stress or repairs ❌ But the Cons: How would I get my dog to the vet in an emergency? Transit isn’t always reliable Winter could be rough without a car Groceries, errands, and life in general would need more planning I know plenty of folks have made the switch and survived — maybe even thrived — but I’m torn. Anyone here go car-free and never looked back? Or regretted it? Would love to hear your real pros and cons, especially with pets involved. #FrugalLiving #CarExpenses #BudgetLife #GoCarFree #MoneySavingMoves #PetOwnerLife #rFrugal

Is My Car Really Worth $1,000/Month?
Joseph Wood

6 Money Tips I Wish I Knew as a New Homeowner

I’ve been a homeowner for 4 years, and looking back, there are a few things I really wish someone had told me from the start. These tips have saved me thousands—hopefully, they help someone here too: 1. Your home equity is powerful—use it wisely. Instead of turning to payday or high-interest personal loans, consider a HELOC (home equity line of credit) if you’re in a pinch. It usually comes with way lower interest rates and more flexibility. Not a fan of debt? Check out equity-sharing options like Hometap, where you sell a portion of your home's value without taking a loan. 2. Switch auto insurance regularly. I cut my premium by $1,300 just by switching carriers—same coverage. If it’s been over 6–12 months, get a quote. You might save a few hundred bucks a year with almost no effort. 3. Don’t trust Amazon (or any site) to give you the best deal. I use Capital One Shopping—it automatically checks for lower prices and coupon codes across the web. I'm normally anti-browser extensions, but this one actually saves me money. 4. Financial advisors aren’t just for the rich. If your net worth is $100k+, you likely qualify for an advisor. The average benefit? About 3% better yearly returns, mostly from smarter tax planning. 5. You can ask for help with debt. If you’ve got $10k+ in debt, debt relief companies can negotiate with creditors for you. According to NDR, average users save about 23%, even after fees. 6. Re-shop your home insurance. I saved more switching home insurance than I did with auto. A quick check can save you $1k+/year—definitely worth the few minutes. Hope this helps someone else avoid the mistakes I made early on. Happy to answer questions or hear other homeowners’ tips! #FrugalLiving #HomeownerTips #MoneyHacks #SaveMoney #DebtRelief #HELOC #InsuranceSavings #FinancialAdvice #CapitalOneShopping #FrugalHomeowners

6 Money Tips I Wish I Knew as a New Homeowner
John Collier

Replace Galaxy S9 or Wait It Out?

Still hanging onto my Galaxy S9—it technically works, but it’s slowing down. Apps like YouTube, Spotify, and my smart camera app lag when opening. Sometimes the time goes way off if I haven’t used it in 30 minutes, and it’s slow to wake up. The charging port is the biggest headache. I have to plug it in just right to get even a slow 3-hour charge after a full day’s use. Fast charging almost never works anymore, even after I tried cleaning the port. Would grabbing a wireless charger solve at least the charging issue? Or is this a sign it’s time to upgrade? For what it’s worth, this S9 has held up way better than my old S3, which was barely limping along by year 7. Would love to hear your thoughts—keep pushing it or finally move on? #GalaxyS9 #FrugalTech #PhoneUpgrade #KeepOrReplace #WirelessCharging #OldPhoneStruggles #BudgetDecisions #SmartphoneLifeHacks #FrugalLiving #AndroidUser

Replace Galaxy S9 or Wait It Out?
Vincent Johnson

Heating My Icebox House: Which Way's Cheaper?

Melbourne winter is humbling. I swear my house is so badly insulated it feels colder inside than it does out. You'd think I was living in a freezer with walls. Every night I do this little mental math: should I blast the AC to 28°C for 20 minutes and hope it thaws my bones… or just leave it humming at a mild 20°C all night and pray it doesn’t destroy my power bill? The internet has given me every answer and the opposite. Some say short bursts of high heat are more efficient, others claim running it low and slow keeps your house from turning into a fridge (and your wallet from crying). I’m seriously torn. Energy prices here are no joke, and I’m just trying to warm my toes without going bankrupt. Has anyone cracked this? Any Aussies with cold-box homes or just smart heating hacks—I'm all ears. #MelbourneWinter #HeatingHacks #FrugalLiving #ColdHouseChronicles #ACVsHeater #EnergyBillPanic #AustraliaProblems #BudgetWarmth #InsulationWoes #StayWarmCheap

Heating My Icebox House: Which Way's Cheaper?
Charles Harmon

Is Extreme Couponing Still Worth It?

I was rewatching an old reality show where someone casually mentioned extreme couponing—you know, the kind where people get $500 worth of stuff for $20? That era felt so wild… and now, kind of mythical. It made me wonder: Is extreme couponing still a thing in 2025? Or did digital coupons, inflation, and store policy changes quietly kill it? I’ve been living more frugally these past few years—tracking expenses, buying secondhand, meal planning—and I’m always open to leveling up. But I haven’t heard of anyone doing serious coupon hauls in ages. Is it still possible to walk out of a store with a full cart and a nearly empty receipt? If you used to do it (or still do), I’d genuinely love to hear your experience. Was it worth the time? Is it more of a hobby or a lifestyle? And how has it changed? Let’s bring this legendary money-saving art back into the chat. #ExtremeCouponing #FrugalLiving #IsItStillWorthIt #CouponCulture #SaveMoreSpendLess #BudgetHacks #MoneySmart #OldSchoolSavings #ThriftyLife #ModernCouponing

Is Extreme Couponing Still Worth It?
Joseph Bennett

Is $1.80 a Day for Lunch Too Much?

Just started my first full-time job—$13/hr in a state where minimum wage is $7.25. It’s a physically demanding role, and I was offered the option to opt into a lunch allowance. Here’s the breakdown: For every 80 hours worked (about two weeks), they deduct ~$15. That’s 8–10 workdays, so I’d essentially be paying $1.50–$1.87 per day for a lunch. Not bad on paper, right? I’ve been torn. Packing my own lunch—leftovers, sandwiches, snacks—might save a couple of bucks, sure. But will I actually do it every day? This job wipes me out, and skipping meals isn’t really an option if I want to function. The lunch provided would be warm, ready, and consistent. Less stress. It’s not about the money alone—it’s about time, energy, and sanity. Would you take the deal for $1.80/day? Or stick to meal-prepping? Need to decide by tomorrow. Appreciate the real talk. #WorkLunchDilemma #MealPrepVsConvenience #BudgetLunch #FirstJobLife #FrugalLiving #WorkPerks #LunchAllowanceMath #BlueCollarBudget #EatToWorkSmart

Is $1.80 a Day for Lunch Too Much?