10 Practical Frugal Living Tips That Actually Work (Even If You’re Drowning)
10 Practical Frugal Living Tips That Actually Work (Even If You’re Drowning in Expenses)
Intro: Frugal Tips That Don’t Require Giving Up Everything You Love
Let’s be honest—some of the “practical frugal living tips” advice out there is laughable.
Theres so much of “Just stop buying coffee!” ( rude) “it’s all that avocado on toast, thats why millennials can’t afford to buy a house.”
Meanwhile, you’re staring down school fees, rising rent, a grocery bill that grows faster than your toddler, and a $40 mystery charge from an app your kid downloaded while you were trying to make dinner.
I think we can all agree that a lot of the financial information put out there by rich white guys is a little out of touch with reality. Cutting back on my weekly $6 coffee isn’t going to help me when eggs are $12.
Yeah. I needed something a little more real.
These 10 practical frugal living tips helped me cut hundreds from my monthly expenses—and I’m still drinking my coffee. They’re mum-tested, emotionally sustainable, and don’t require you to sell your soul to save a few cents.
1. Audit Your Subscriptions (Prepare to Be Shocked)
Spotify, Netflix, Disney+, Prime, that random meditation app you downloaded during your “I’m going to be a zen goddess” phase in 2021… yeah, it adds up.
One night—after realizing I’d been hit with three monthly charges I didn’t even remember signing up for—I sat down and pulled out my bank statements. I went back three months and circled every single subscription charge.
The result?
Nearly $70 per month.
That’s over $800 a year—aka:
- Two weeks of groceries
- One return flight to Queensland
- Several birthday presents
- Or a huge chunk of savings toward my Jeep fund
And what was I even using? Netflix, sometimes. The rest? Totally forgotten. It was like discovering my money was leaking out through tiny holes I hadn’t even noticed.
Now, I run a quick audit every couple of months and ask myself three simple questions:
- Do I actually use this weekly?
- Is there a free alternative?
- Can I rotate this in and out? (e.g., keep one streaming service per month instead of five)
I even added a reminder in my calendar every three months: “Subscription check-up.” It takes 10 minutes, and it’s saved me hundreds—not to mention the mental clutter of remembering which services I’m supposed to be getting value from.
If you’re paying for convenience or entertainment you don’t even notice anymore, that’s money you could redirect to something that matters—like your emergency fund, your kids’ school needs, or your next much-needed day off.
2. Meal Plan Based on What You Already Have
Before I even think about making a shopping list, I do a fridge and pantry raid.
Leftover rice? Canned tomatoes? A lone carrot? That’s dinner—challenge accepted.
I once found three half-used bags of rice and turned them into fried rice, curry, and rice pudding. Not glamorous, but no one starved, and my grocery bill dropped by over $60 that week.
Make it a game: “How many meals can I make without buying a single thing?”
Spoiler: More than you think.
3. Switch to Click & Collect for Groceries
Impulse buys are silent budget killers. The second I walk into a store with kids in tow, I’m at risk of leaving with $50 worth of snacks I didn’t plan for—and a packet of Pokémon cards “accidentally” scanned at checkout.
Plus it turns out I have almost no imussle control and walking into my local woolies only thinking about cheesecake means I will leave with 3 of them, instead of the bottle of milk I originally needed.
Click & Collect or homedelivery changed the game.
- I stick to my list
- I compare prices without distractions
- And no one begs for Kinder Surprise eggs at eye level
Plus, I can shop in my PJs at 10 pm without stress. Win.
As a bonus to this, linking your online account to your rewards card also means you can get bonus points just by doing your groceries.
4. Call and Haggle Your Bills (Yes, You Can!)
I know, I know. Calling your internet provider sounds like a special kind of torture. But hear me out—it works. And no practical frugal living tips would be complete without a little uncomfortable moment here and there.
Twice a year, I do a quick 15-minute blitz where I call:
- My internet provider
- My electricity company
- My mobile plan
I literally say: “Hey, I’m thinking of switching. Can you offer me a better rate?”
Most of the time, they say yes. Last time, I saved $25/month just on my phone bill. That’s $300 a year for one phone call.
5. Ditch Brand Loyalty
Look, I love fancy peanut butter as much as the next mum—but my kids didn’t notice the difference when I bought the Coles brand for $3 less. (Most of the time I dont think my kids would care if they ate a complete steak dinner for dinner or a PB and J sandwich.)
The same goes for laundry powder if possible, tissues, canned goods, and half my cleaning supplies.
That said? Keep your non-negotiables. If your shampoo is sacred, keep it. I budget for my daughter’s brand-name hair products because she has dermatitis and reacts to so many different types so her specific $22 bottle of shampoo is a must.
Just don’t be loyal to brands that don’t make a difference to your life or your sanity. Most of the time the kids won’t notice.
6. Set a 48-Hour Rule for Non-Essential Spending
Impulse spending is emotional. We buy when we’re tired, stressed, bored, or overwhelmed. So now, I make myself wait 48 hours before I buy anything that isn’t essential, or I add to to my budget and save for it if it’s over $50.
Here’s what usually happens:
- I forget about it
- I realise I don’t really want it
- Or I find a better (cheaper) option later
It’s such a simple shift, but it’s saved me hundreds. That $35 impulse Kmart run? Doesn’t even tempt me now.
7. Sell the Stuff You’re Not Using
Decluttering is satisfying. But decluttering and making money from it? That’s a total win.
There was a point in my life where every cupboard, drawer, and hallway was stuffed with “someday” things—baby gear from when my youngest was a newborn ( always hard to let go of), kitchen appliances I swore I’d use (RIP, unused waffle maker), clothes I thought I’d fit back into one day, and enough kids’ toys to open a pop-up shop.
One afternoon, I snapped. I opened the hallway cupboard and half the contents fell out onto my foot. That was it. I was done.
I pulled out a laundry basket, filled it with stuff we hadn’t touched in months, and listed it all on Facebook Marketplace.
That week, I made $160.
- $50 for a barely-used baby swing
- $40 for a bundle of toddler clothes
- $30 for a blender I never took out of the box
- And the rest from old board games and random home décor that was just collecting dust
After that, I got hooked.
Now I do mini “declutter + sell” sessions whenever I’m low on cash or motivation. Here’s how I make it manageable:
✅ What I Sell:
- Baby gear (especially if it’s still in good condition—people love a good baby item bargain)
* Keep in mind that different states and territories across Australia have different rules with selling child safety equipment like car seats and prams. Double check these rules and guidelines in your local area before selling these things.
- Clothes the kids have outgrown (bundle them by size/season for quicker sales)
- Unused kitchen gadgets (air fryers, sandwich presses, etc.—instant sellers)
- Decor I no longer love (mirrors, wall art, side tables)
- Books, board games, and old tech
📱 Where I Sell It:
- Facebook Marketplace – Quick, local, and easy to use
- Gumtree – Still great for furniture and bigger items
- Local buy/swap/sell Facebook groups – Often more active than Marketplace itself
- Garage sales – Old-school but effective if you’ve got a lot to shift at once
I set myself a little challenge now and then:
👉 How much can I make in a weekend just by clearing out one room?
Not only does this decluttering help my budget, it also helps my mental load. I feel lighter. I feel in control. And every dollar I make goes straight to a savings goal—usually labelled something fun like “Texas Trip Fund” or “Treat Myself Jar.”
If you’ve got a closet that’s overflowing, or boxes you haven’t opened since 2020, chances are there’s money hiding in them. All it takes is one afternoon, a few photos, and a “meet at the servo” vibe to get things moving.
8. Use Cashback Apps (Free Money Is Still Money)
No, cashback apps won’t make you rich. But they will give you free money on things you were going to buy anyway.
I use Honey for everything from booking hotels to buying school supplies. It adds up over time—$5 here, $10 there. And best of all, it costs me nothing extra.
Free money is still money.
9. Create a “No Spend Weekend” Once a Month
We make it a challenge—and it’s actually fun.
No takeout, no shopping, no fuel (unless it’s urgent). Just us, doing simple, free things:
- Backyard picnics
- Beach day
- Movie night at home
- Board games and homemade popcorn
It’s a great reset, and it reminds the kids (and me) that fun isn’t always about spending money.
Most of the time the kids enjoy it.
10. Budget for Fun—On Purpose
Practical frugal living tips aren’t about deprivation. It’s about intention. I plan for little splurges so I don’t feel deprived—and so I don’t binge-spend later. I budget every single dollar that comes into my bank account and rechecks the budget every time I spend, but that doesn’t mean I dont also spend on fun things. I have fun built into the budget by having a “fun money’ “ Emergency McDonalds” and a “ Nice Weather Saturday” fund. I know then that we can afford the occasional McDonalds, we can afford the random trip to inflatable worlds, and most importantly, we can afford to go to the beach and get ice cream after if it’s a nice weekend.
Planning for these things makes it more likely you’ll actually stick to your budget.
That might be:
- $20 a week for coffee runs
- A monthly solo mum self-care treat
- Saving up for a travel day or theme park adventure with the kids
Fun doesn’t have to break the bank—but it does deserve a line in your budget.
Bonus: Common Frugal Living Mistakes (That I Totally Made Too)
Learning to live frugally is powerful—but it’s easy to swing too far or fall into traps that backfire. Here are a few mistakes I made (so you don’t have to):
❌ 1. Going Too Extreme, Too Fast
When I first decided to “get frugal,” I cut everything. Fun? Gone. Takeout? Cancelled. Coffee? How dare you ask.
…And within a month, I was miserable and binge-spending at Kmart like a woman possessed.
Lesson learned? Don’t cut everything at once.
Ease into it. Make small changes that stick, not harsh changes that snap back.
Do you like to go out for coffee and a muffin every Wednesday lunch? Maybe skip the muffin and just get a coffee instead. Its a small enough change that you probably wont notice it, and thats the point.
❌ 2. Confusing “Cheap” with “Value”
I once bought the absolute cheapest school shoes I could find. They fell apart in two weeks.
Then I had to buy another pair—and another later in the term. So I ended up spending more than if I’d just bought a better-quality pair to begin with.
Frugal doesn’t mean cheap.
It means spending wisely, not just spending less.
❌ 3. Not Budgeting for Fun (Then Feeling Like Life Sucks)
I used to feel guilty for spending anything on myself. No takeout, no books, no “just because” splurges. And guess what? That’s not sustainable.
Now, I budget for fun on purpose.
Whether it’s $20 a week or $50 a month, I plan to enjoy life, because joy is allowed—even on a budget.
❌ 4. Trying to Do It All Alone
This one hits deep. I used to think I had to manage everything myself. That asking for help meant failure. But here’s the truth: Frugal doesn’t have to mean isolated.
Now, I:
- Swap babysitting with other mums
- Borrow instead of buying
- Say “yes” to hand-me-downs without shame
Community saves money and sanity.
Which frugal mistake have you made before? (No judgement—I’ve probably made it too.) Drop it in the comments or share your biggest money win this month so we can all cheer you on. 👇
💬 Final Thoughts + CTA
These practical frugal living tips helped me cut expenses without sacrificing my sanity—or my life. I’m still building toward big goals, but frugal living gave me breathing room. It helped me feel in control again.
Got a go-to money-saving tip? Or need help with a specific budget challenge? Drop a comment below.
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