One of the reasons why I am frugal has nothing to do with money. I quite enjoy being resourceful.
There’s a quiet thrill in knowing I’ve ‘hacked’ the system by doing something clever that’s maybe going to save me money, but it also might be more environmentally conscious or it might actually help me build taste.
Overall, consuming less has helped me cultivate a cleaner environment and the by-product of that is I get to save A LOT each month.
So these are some things I’ve been doing lately to save:
Used reusable natural loofahs I got from hotels and put them in the washing machine - they also save on soap
Started wearing less mascara and makeup overall - I’ve been wanting simplicity lately
Did at home manicure using the same set of tools
Left my food shop one extra day so I could get creative with the remaining ingredients and use up cupboard food
Wore the same silk polka dot dress to yet another event because it’s timeless and no one cares
I couldn’t get my hands on a certain book for a book club so I listened to an audiobook version for less £
I’ve been watching some silent films and films from the 40-60s as they’re public domain and free to watch. It’s a good way to test your attention span.
Went through all my expenses for last month in a spreadsheet to see what I actually spent on different categories
Brought home leftovers from a meal out because it would have been thrown away otherwise
Kept plastic cartons from grapes as storage for my cupboards - they work well and they’re not seen anyway
Swore I’d use up all the beauty products I have before buying anything new
For products I wasn’t a fan of, I’ll either give to friends and family or I’ll repurpose: e.g. shampoo as makeup brush cleaner, conditioner as shaving cream
Washing my hair at the gym 3+ a week forces me to go and it means I buy shampoo less
Spent more time reading Substack articles than scrolling on short form - means I’m much less influenced to buy things
Listened to podcasts about money and business inspire me to consume less and create more
Still using up razors I’ve collected from hotels to shave my legs
Committed to a low-buy year where I only buy one fashion item a month
Walks through nature - they’re free and sparked inspiration and gratitude
Stopped drinking alcohol (a very personal choice) but I just stopped wanting it, I realised I was only doing it to seem normal
Staying in most evenings - with my job I’m usually at a lot of events, conferences and speaking engagements, so time at home is sacred, plus saving money is a bonus
Randomly treated others because frugal ≠ stingy
Ruthlessly decluttered my wardrobe, because the items you own carry more weight than you realise
Kept my nice body creams in the living room and kitchen so I’d use them less quickly and it would be a treat (I also have dry skin so touch points are needed)
Burning all my scented candles to use them up (I won’t be repurchasing more). I’ll reuse the jars for cotton buds/makeup brushes
Made one big bolognese to eat during the week - this saved A TON
Switched to M&S washing up liquid- I’ve tried lots of own brands and this is the only good one
Switched from washing pods to laundry liquid because you can use less and choose how much you and to use
I started using a Stanley pour over with ground coffee instead of buying coffee pods and having a bulky machine
Sewed up a hole in a pair of jeans
Buying most of my clothing secondhand because you often get the best discounts
I get some of these are ‘normal’ but tbh I think we need a bit more normal on social media.
Hopefully this gave you some inspo.
Mia xx
P.S. Everything above is what you should do. On Wednesday, I will be going through how you can do it. I’ll be walking you through my actual monthly money routine for paid subscribers, with my real numbers, the tracker I use (yours to keep) and how I pay myself as a limited company director.
I love the idea that frugality isn’t necessarily about spending less. It’s about becoming more resourceful. The “use what you already have” mindset is probably the one that saves the most money and creates the least waste. It’s funny how often the more sustainable choice is also the more economical one. And honestly, I think we’ve forgotten how satisfying it can be to make something last instead of replacing it.
I love the idea of watching public domain films. The same goes for books as well - if you own an e-reader, you can find many public domain classics to download for free online!