“Frugal living” sounds miserable, right? I thought so too.
It was spending $3,200 and only making $2,900, so something was going to have to give. I didn’t want to be one of those people who reuse tea bags or wash their Ziploc bags (no offence if you do; it’s just not me).
After 4 months, I was able to identify what cuts I could live with. Here are my wins and losses.
What Worked (Cut $180/Month – Didn’t Miss Them)
The first of these fines I didn’t notice too much, and thus we were first on the chopping block:
Gym membership: -$45/month
I was paying for Planet Fitness and going maybe twice a month. Cancelled it and started doing YouTube workout videos at home. Is it the same? Not really. Do I care? Also not really.
Saved: $45/month
Subscriptions I forgot about: -$37/month
Found these gems when I actually looked at my bank statement:
- Spotify Premium ($11) – switched to free version; ads are annoying but whatever
- Some meditation app ($13) – literally opened it twice
- Cloud storage ($13) – moved everything to free Google Drive
Saved: $37/month
Meal planning (sort of): -$98/month
I wasn’t eating out THAT much, but I was grabbing lunch at work 3-4 times a week ($12-15 each time). Started bringing leftovers from dinner.
It’s boring. I won’t lie to you. Eating the same chicken and rice for lunch that I had for dinner sucks. But it’s fine. I still buy lunch once a week on Fridays as a treat.
Went from spending roughly $170/month on lunches to about $72.
Saved: $98/month
Total from easy wins: $180/month
These didn’t hurt at all. It took me maybe 2 hours to cancel stuff and start meal planning. If you’re not doing this already, start here.
Medium Difficulty Cuts (Cut $162/Month – Required Actual Effort)
I also managed to do these:
Different phone company: -$32/month
I had been paying $67 to Verizon for an “unlimited” plan with no data, just WiFi, which is now Mint Mobile for $35 (if you prepay yearly, it comes out to $35/month).
The service is fine. They do occasionally have late texts and dropped calls, but for $384 savings per year, it is worth it.
Saved: $32/month
Different car insurance company: -$41/month
I had to put in 3 hours of getting quotes to save $41. That is no fun. I spent $189 on Progressive and $148 on Geico, but there is no difference in coverage. So annoying, but it sure was worth it to me.
Do it. It is worth it.
Saved: $41/month
Aldi with grocery shopping over Kroger: -$89/month
I was spending $320/month at Kroger, and now I spend $231/month because I get most stuff at Aldi.
Aldi doesn’t have everything, but it has most things. They have some stuff at Kroger (and specific brands I care about). 80% of my grocery stuff is sufficient. Aldi has knock-off Cheerios that taste the same. They have milk. They have frozen veggies.
Total progress: -$162 in cuts that worked and -$89 in cuts that actually worked. This month’s budget required shopping at 3 new grocers, 2 new grocery delivery apps, and texting to switch my cell phone provider to cut out $89.
The Cuts That Failed (Tried and Gave Up)
I tried being more extreme with a few things. They all sucked, and I quit.
Extreme couponing: Lasted 2 weeks
Downloaded apps, printed coupons, tried to stack deals. Saved maybe $23 over two weeks but spent HOURS planning grocery trips around sales and deals.
Not worth it. My time is worth more than that.
Cutting all entertainment: Lasted 9 days
Tried to go full “no fun allowed” mode. No movies, no going out, no buying coffee ever.
Made it 9 days before I was miserable and went to see a movie with friends. Decided some entertainment is worth the cost for my mental health.
DIY haircuts: Lasted 1 haircut
Watched YouTube videos, bought clippers for $35, and tried to cut my own hair.
It looked terrible. Paid $22 to get it fixed at a barber.
Conclusion: Some things are worth paying professionals for.
What I’m Still Spending On (The Non-Negotiables)
Here’s what I refused to cut:
Coffee from coffee shops (1-2 times per week): $25/month
I’m not giving up my Saturday morning coffee shop routine. It’s like $6, and it makes me happy. The “make coffee at home” people can fight me on this.
Internet ($55/month)
Need it for work. Can’t cut it. Tried negotiating with Spectrum, and they basically laughed at me.
Climbing gym ($59/month)
Wait, didn’t I say I cut the gym? I cut Planet Fitness because I hated it. But I actually USE the climbing gym 2-3 times per week. This one stays.
Seeing friends ($80-100/month)
Dinners, movies, whatever. I’m not becoming a hermit to save money. I just spend less when we go out (appetisers instead of entrees, water instead of drinks, etc.).
The Current Breakdown
Cuts that worked: $342/month
- Easy wins: $180
- Medium difficulty: $162
Wait, I said $427 in the title. What about the other $85?
Oh right – I also negotiated my internet bill down after threatening to cancel (saved $15/month) and started using cashback apps for groceries (averaging $70/month back through Ibotta).
Total: $427/month saved
My spending went from $3,200 to $2,773. Still not perfect, but I’m no longer going backwards every month.
Saving more through daily habits can free up money for investing goals.
The Honest Reality of “Frugal Living”
It’s not about being miserable at all. It’s about the spending habits that should be eliminated and the ones to keep.
I never used the gym, but I don’t miss it. I don’t forget about subscriptions. My pricey phone plan is something I never miss. I do value spending time with friends, going to coffee shops in the morning, and engaging in activities that I truly enjoy.
Frugal living makes side hustle income more impactful by reducing unnecessary expenses. Extreme frugality can make you feel burnt out. Frugality, in general, is about being smarter about how you spend money.
Feni. Personal Finance Writer & Budgeting Researcher
Feni focuses on practical budgeting systems, debt reduction strategies, and long-term financial stability. Her work combines real-life experience with research-based financial principles to create sustainable money habits rather than quick-fix solutions.
At ThriftVine, she shares structured, accessible guidance to help individuals build stronger financial foundations and make informed financial decisions.
The information shared on this website is for educational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Visit the About the Author page for more information.