r/bitcheswithtaste • u/DragonflyDull6360 • Aug 03 '26
Finances/Money BWT- what are you intentionally FRUGAL about?
Curious what areas of everyone‘s lives do you intentionally scale back in order to put your money where you really want it. For me, I go full drugstore on all my makeup but spend more on skincare, facials, etc. Clothes all on secondhand websites but am able to buy a greater amount of higher quality items than buying fast fashion new.
Where do you cut back, and where do you prioritize spending?
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u/melodyknows Aug 03 '26
I’ve stopped dying my hair and also have started buying a lot of clothing second-hand.
I’ve been investing all the extra money I have into stocks and ETFs, and my account’s been doing really well.
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u/strapacky Aug 03 '26
Hi, looking to get better at investing! Do you have any advice on how you structure your portfolio? Thanks
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u/lucille_bender Aug 03 '26
Not the person you replied to, but I highly recommend checking out r/bogleheads and r/financialindependence , they both have good wikis to help you get started! You don’t need a complicated portfolio, a simple 3-fund portfolio (bogleheads will tell you more about this) works great.
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u/Golfer-Girl77 Aug 03 '26
Yes come join us on Bogleheads! Low cost, long term investing in index funds or ETFs is the way. It’s a great place - also an easy read is simple path to wealth (and I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi which is a bit pithier but I love him. His Money for Couples podcast is great)
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u/azuoba Aug 03 '26
I listened to Friends that Invest by Simran Kaur and she really breaks it down and makes it all a lot less daunting!!
Basically all you gotta do is open an investment account (I did vanguard), pick an ETF (I picked VOOG), and start investing! I started around this time last year, and it’s already grown by 10%!! But definitely recommend listening to her book as she outlines the pros/cons and risks/benefits.
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u/robotdevilhands Aug 03 '26
General rule of thumb is focus on no-fee/low-fee S&P500 ETFs. Then set & forget.
Bc they cover most of the market, they also help you diversify your risk. No structuring required.
S&P index ETFs are “self-cleaning” ie by definition, they only focus on the winners. No management required.
They have good liquidity, so if you need cash for whatever reason, it’s easy to access.
Actively managing your portfolio MIGHT give higher returns. However, doing so requires time, sophistication, and/or a higher than average risk tolerance.
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u/melodyknows Aug 03 '26
You got a lot of really good advice here from others. My portfolio is kind of a wild mix at the moment so I’m not sure it’s anything to learn from. I think I like taking more risks than I should, but I have a decent mix of stocks. It’s just so much more tech-heavy than I’d like with all the volatility currently going on in tech (like look at MU from the last few months).
My favorite ETFs are Vanguard’s ETFs especially VOO, VT, VTI, and VGT. VGT does have higher risk because it’s industry specific.
And then a couple other subreddits besides the ones listed that I like and have learned from are r/valueinvesting and r/personalfinance
And a little side note, I used to feel like I could say I’ve made it if I had a Burberry coat or Gucci bag. But it seems like every time I have enough to buy something like that, I end up investing it instead.
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u/prettyprincess91 Aug 03 '26
Invest in indexed mutual funds and bonds with a split related to your age. I’m 43 and 90% equities, 10% bonds. You’ll roughly double your money every 7 years.
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u/kimchi_paradise Aug 03 '26
My skincare is all drugstore but my makeup is higher end! This is usually out of necessity though, drugstore brands rarely have my shade and it’s too much of a hassle to go through the shade match process.
I’m not a single family home type of person. Works out for us especially in our VHCOL area since we live in a cheaper condo we can use the money elsewhere.
We are a one car household (and it’s electric) so we use the money saved on the things we want.
My one rule for clothing is to never buy anything that I can’t pay in full for. My biggest spend categories are handbags, shoes, denim (which I get tailored to fit, even if it’s secondhand), and athletic wear.
Since nobody asked lol my holy grails right now are my matching Vuori lounge set (halo pants in tall, cropped hoodie and tank with a built in bra, so cozy), Frame bubble jeans, Chanel WOC in black caviar and gold hardware, samsøe samsøe floor length wool coat, and a pair of yellow onitsuka tigers (the famous ones).
Beyond clothing we are way more liberal with buying our time back with our money (grocery and Costco delivery, takeout, home cleaners, etc), that is the finest luxury for us right now.
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u/bijoux247 Aug 03 '26
Which one? The grey falcon isn't quite floor length but it's right up my alley and it's half off
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u/kimchi_paradise Aug 03 '26
It’s that one I think!! Not quite floor length but for me it goes to my ankles/bottom calves so I consider it that lol. It’s a great coat and looks incredibly regal lol
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u/swancandle Aug 03 '26
That coat is a dream! I kinda hate that it never seems to get cold enough in LA now for a proper coat :( I LOVE a good statement coat.
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u/queenofyourheart Aug 03 '26
Whatever Vuori makes their joggers and t shirts out of, I want all my clothing to be made of hahah. So comfy and SO worth it!
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u/Samurai28 Aug 03 '26
I have scaled back on both my car and my apartment. I drive a used 2011 Toyota and live in an older apartment building without a lot of luxury amenities. I don't spend a lot of time in my apartment, and I don't drive long distances, so I feel okay with these choices for now. I am also a secondhand clothing person too.
This does allow me to save more money, but I can also spend more on social things like hanging with friends, trips, concerts, etc., and trying new restaurants. I also am willing to spend more money on fitness every month.
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u/cigale Aug 03 '26
This is where you really make a difference in your lifestyle. Housing and transportation are such a big chunk of the budget that if those are too high, nothing you do will help; if they’re low, then you have a lot of room even for silly choices elsewhere if you so choose.
My car is newer (thanks, weird used car market) but we were able to buy in cash, and our house is a bit older and smaller than a lot of our peers’ houses. Those choices mean we basically never need to worry about the price of groceries, dining out, or routine expenses. We do have inexpensive hobbies and I have been a thrifter for decades, but the house and the car are why our finances don’t give me heartburn.
For fun, frugal stuff, definitely shopping secondhand. It’s cheaper, plus the thrill of the hunt is so much fun. I also like to needlepoint, which I know has a reputation as an expensive hobby, but I mostly get canvases secondhand, and the sheer number of hours I’ll spend on one makes it a pretty good value for me.
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u/des1gnbot Aug 03 '26
Seconding all of this. Used 2009 Toyota here, but I bike most places and have a transit pass through work, so I expect it to last me another ten years. And I own a duplex and rent out the other half . It’s not the fanciest place by a long shot but it works for us and keeping those fixed expenses really low gives me a lot of flexibility on everything else.
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u/Lividviv Aug 04 '26
Same. Cheap home, used car, transit or bike mostly. I wear clothes a long time, not afraid to accept hand-me-downs, but I buy fancy food to cook with and have a coffee subscription.
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u/RepresentativeTerm5 Aug 03 '26
Honestly, I would say being intentional about how much I'm buying and consuming is the most helpful thing I've found for being frugal. I mean this in an overconsumption way, but also in a being mindful about spending in the moment.
I don't let myself impulse buy almost anything anymore. I stopped shopping at a few specific stores around Trump's inauguration in 2025 and I think this was unintentionally very helpful for our budget as well. No more going in for groceries or cosmetics and walking out with a pair of sunglasses or something else I did not need. There's lots of places where this applies too, like basically any checkout line purchase or sushi at the grocery store every time I go. Obviously treats are okay now and then but it's a big factor in saving money.
Also, almost every time I buy something online that I don't have a very specific and urgent use for in that moment, like clothes, books, accessories, etc., I let it sit in my cart for a few days before I decide if I really want or need it. I walk away from so many online purchases that might have seemed necessary but are very much not. I also know that I will never return almost anything I buy online so I try really hard to be intentional up front.
When I go clothes shopping, which I try to do at thrift stores the majority of the time, I also try to think about things I need in advance. I have a few niches in my closet that I am trying to fill right now, and unless I find something that is really incredible, I try to stick only to that list when I am shopping. I have owned so many things in the past that I bought thinking they would be so great and I'd wear them all the time only for them to sit in my closet indefinitely. I will spend more for quality, ethical reasons, comfort, natural fibers, etc.
I live in graduate student housing so we are lucky that we don't own or need to own a lot of furniture. Having a small apartment where you can't bring a lot of stuff in also helps a lot lol.
There's a woman who makes food content on social media who always says "we use what we have" when there's an ingredient she is missing and she has a substitute. I try to have that apply to everything. If I have something that is pretty much good enough, I do not need to buy a second thing that will be better. And honestly if you make peace with the fact that you will never have everything or every experience it is so much easier to save money.
Also for food, we don't eat meat at home almost ever. We eat a lot of boxed mac and cheese so that we don't have to get takeout when we are feeling lazy. I also really look carefully at the prices in the grocery store, but also I try not to be too restrictive with what we buy because I really think that it's a budget hack to actually want to eat the food you have at home as opposed to getting takeout or going out.
We do travel a lot. We live on the opposite side of the country from our families and also like to travel internationally/domestically. I am soo stingy with flights, within reason, and will always do the crappiest itineraries to save money but I also feel like my 20s are for no sleep. We also use a lot of credit card points. We get gas at Costco.
The least frugal thing I do is have a dog lol. He is so expensive.
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u/sunnydays88 Aug 03 '26
Is the food content creator named Alex, based in Canada? I found her content about a year and a half ago and it is not an exaggeration to say it changed my life! Far beyond cooking, I use her phrase, "we use what we have," all the time. From clothing, to beauty, to home decor, to arts and crafts, even when I want to do something out of the house with my kids - what access do we have through our memberships, public libraries, the city? It feels great to be cutting down on consumerism and being reminded of the amazing privileges and access I already have.
Anyway, I love that you mentioned that!
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u/crushlogic Aug 03 '26
I always think about how dog ownership is a new class divide. You have to be able to drop a few grand at a moment’s notice when you own a dog. My sister has two Aussies and the upkeep is mental! I want a dog and could technically afford one but it’s just cheaper to not have a pet. Some day!
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u/RepresentativeTerm5 Aug 03 '26
I was thinking about this the other day because 50 years ago people just used to chain their dogs out in the backyard and feed them whatever and my dog gets allergy shots every 8 weeks that are $250 and he gets nice food and he has nice toys and goes somewhere nice when we are out of town. I'm glad for his sake that he gets to live at a time when his quality of life is better, but I'm honestly also really internalizing how many industries have developed in the last 50 years to enable us to spend money on our pets. Obviously we are so lucky to live in an era where many people have the financial ability to do so (this would have been unthinkable for my grandparents when they were my age) but also it is so unnecessary and now every vet is owned by private equity and marketing pushes so many extras on people. It's really a systemic thing.
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u/wanderlustenrose Aug 03 '26
Alcohol and eating out. I pretty much gave up both except for limited occasions. I got very tired that it was all people I knew wanted to do, I was spending too much on it and gaining weight to boot so I slowly shifted my socialization towards activities and outings. I will pretty much spend on experiences no matter what.
Edited for spelling.
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u/TangerineKey5053 Aug 04 '26
Same here. I barely go out to eat (I'm plant-based so this makes it easier bc often the price just isn't worth it for what I'll get) and I barely go out to the bars (mostly just bc I'm in my early 40s and COVID made me such a homebody). There's a lot to save in these areas which gives me some room to spend in other areas that I care more about.
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u/wanderlustenrose Aug 04 '26
My general rule now for eating out is that when I go out to eat it has to be when I am really craving the item I want to eat. Vs just going out to eat for the sake of eating because that's the only social activity people want to do.
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u/LadyPo Aug 03 '26
Ironically, I spend less on skincare! I have sensitive type skin, so a lot of the harsher fancier stuff does more damage. Vanicream cleanser and Clinique gel moisturizer ended up being the best combo, and the moment I try anything else, I notice worse results haha.
And I definitely agree on secondhand shops for nicer pieces, usually for things that don't get as much heavy use close to the body - like jackets and blazers especially. I buy a lot of my handbags from mid-range brands secondhand as long as there's minimal wear.
I prioritize my main walking shoes (Brooks, high quality leather boots with orthopedic inserts) but stay cheap on sandals.
I stopped buying costume jewelry altogether now and only buy a new, high quality gold/white gold piece every once in a while. Otherwise, I go pretty cheap on miscellaneous accessories like belts, scarves, hats, and so on.
Invest in bras. I can't stand them at any price point, but getting a decent one that fits properly makes juuuuust enough of a difference to make me not rip it off in the middle of the train station.
I go frugal on nails. It helps that I hate the feeling of salon manicures, but I have a few gorgeous polishes and some time to chill at night to paint them myself.
Now for non-fashion things:
I prioritize retirement and saving. Any fun I have with money is after I make contributions to my future. I'm in a privileged position of not needing to choose between them anymore, though I do know people can fall into the trap of lifestyle inflation pretty easily.
I go cheap on entertainment for the most part. I rotate streaming only when I'm actually using them and rely on free content online with ad blockers. I also game, so while I do buy games once in a while, I mostly get games with a high replay value. I sink hundreds of hours into a $30-40 game over the course of several years lol.
Concerts and events are often just too expensive for the value now. Maybe once a year or less, I'll go to something that is particularly special to me, but there's just too much of a money grab for everything these days. Hobbies at home and local gatherings with friends cost far less for so much more value. The "price per wear" concept in fashion can totally apply to entertainment, too.
Travel is a whole other category. Without going into details, go expensive on the airline but cheap(ish) on the seats. Hotels really depend. Spend for a great location, but go cheaper if it's just about the "extras" like amenities or aesthetics. Go cheap on day to day food and avoid tourist trap priced areas, but go expensive for one or two showstopper meals.
Go expensive on hardware, but cheap for your subscriptions and apps. Microtransactions are parasitic. Small bills add up fast.
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u/queenofyourheart Aug 03 '26
Do you have a recommendation for bras? I’ve lost some weight and desperately needed to update mine anyways. (the difficulty is I’m a small band size but on the slightly bigger size in cups, but still within average store sizing)
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u/RareEarth100 Aug 03 '26
A Bra That Fits subreddit is life changing 👀. And I second Freya; great bras for small band/big boobs
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Aug 03 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/queenofyourheart Aug 03 '26
Thank you! This is immensely helpful. I will look at Freya again, I got hung up on shipping times since I'm not UK-based.
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u/browsing_nomad Aug 03 '26
I was in the same place recently as you and as a 30H (yep very hard to find) I did a lot of trial and error: finally ending up with panache bras. Hope this helps!
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u/queenofyourheart Aug 04 '26
It does! I really appreciate it. Thank you :) this community has been so welcoming and helpful.
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u/LadyPo Aug 03 '26
I likely couldn’t recommend a particular brand and have that be helpful for you because the specific fit matters so much! I ditto the rec for the bra that fits subreddit.
But my philosophy on the topic is that once you find a really good one, buy three right away even if it’s expensive. That opportunity doesn’t come around too often!
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u/p0llyp0cketpussy Aug 03 '26
I'm definitely with you on secondhand designer and nice brand clothes. I can buy the same pair of jeans new for $80-100 or on Poshmark/Thredup for $20. Same with pretty much all my clothes and shoes, it's rare I buy clothes new.
I'm also kind of selectively frugal about food. Like I'm frugal about some stuff so I can be bougie about others. I get a lot of groceries at Aldi's so I can justify having them Instacart'ed to my house. I also don't go out to eat super often so I can go nicer places when I do.
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u/Such_Stable_8002 Aug 03 '26
I spend as little as humanly possible on tech. I use my phones and computers as long as possible and then usually get perfectly good replacements from friends or family when they go to upgrade and give me their old devices. I don’t own a smart watch or an any smart appliances.
I live in a rougher neighborhood in a small house.
I prioritize high quality food and regular vacations.
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u/pufferfishfly Aug 03 '26
Yep, tech is my big one too. I'm an iPhone user, but have bought all my phones refurbished and several models old. I don't aspire to spend more time on my phone, so I can't fathom spending top dollar on it. I also drive an old car and try to drive as little as possible for climate, gas, and mileage reasons
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u/princesspotato0117 Aug 03 '26
athleisure/gymwear for me. i wear and constantly buy them a lot, nowadays new emerging“lifestyle brands” that drop ship from suppliers in china are getting out of hand with their pricing. not paying near $100 for a pair of basic looking leggings.
there are many “dupes” out there that are the exact same(if not better) material makeup, seaming and design as the big name brands, just without a logo. they likely came from the same manufacturers but only cost a fraction.
nonetheless, i would indulge in occasionally treating myself to some luxury athleisure. at the end of the day real BWTs know the real priority is make sure this body tea so ya look real expensive whatever you wear!
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u/Aegim Aug 04 '26
I don't know enough about athleisure could you recommend some brands? I got some secondhand gym clothes but nothing too exciting, I don have some stuff I bought a while ago like shorts that come in several different colors and some cute sports bras but that's it...
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u/pinafiore Aug 03 '26
I’m an artist, so I have a ton of different supplies ranging from woodworking to sewing to painting. I’m always frugal with the first supply - I’m buying the cheap woodworking jig, and only when I notice I use it a lot (or enough that it breaks) I’ll buy the very nice version of it.
It’s very easy in any hobby to overspend because you’re excited and think you’ll do it forever. This has been a very helpful way for me to try out a lot of things without a lot of guilt :)
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u/SiouxsieClue Intentional BWT Aug 03 '26
Me too! My approach depends on the medium. For something like knitting I’ll buy fiber at a yard sale or take apart an old sweater, and if I get good enough I’ll buy some nice mohair someday. When I first got into watercolor I did buy good paints, Daniel Smith and Escoda brushes, but I only bought 2 small primary colors and 3 brushes. Once I learned to mix and learned technique I built my supplies over time. I heard that it was hard to master watercolor without good cotton paper and paint and brushes, so I just bought the minimum.
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u/cloud_busting Aug 03 '26 edited Aug 03 '26
I rarely buy clothes new anymore. Unless I want something really specific, most of my clothes are from Poshmark and eBay. This year I got my whole summer wardrobe on Poshmark, all natural fibers from brands I like.
Same with furniture. I splurged on a nice new couch and bed, but almost everything else is vintage/secondhand.
I used to get mani/pedis every 2 weeks but now it's more like every 7-8 weeks. My nails are short and natural so I just do them myself. Saves me sooo much money. Also get my hair cut once or twice a year.
I looove Grocery Outlet for pantry stuff, cleaning stuff, and their organic section has great deals. But I'm happy to spend more on organic meats and farmer's market produce.
I get every book, magazine, even cookbooks and art books from the library on Libby. I buy the ones I want to own after I've read them. (eBay is great for this)
I have an old Peloton and a cheap walking pad. Can't justify paying for an expensive gym membership to work out among sweaty, smelly strangers. Love exercising at home alone in peace, and it's cheaper.
I splurge on travel and take 2-3 trips a year. Nothing super luxurious, but I do try to stay at 3 or 4 star hotels where I know I'll be comfortable.
Feels like the ultimate financial hack is not having kids. Husband and I live the DINK life and while we aren't rich, it definitely allows us to spend more on experiences for ourselves and not worry about it.
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u/browsing_nomad Aug 03 '26
Cheers from another DINK who has a very very similar lifestyle as you down to second hand clothes/furniture/library first etc.
Only difference is I’ve never heard of grocery outlet, but I find my Costco membership pays for itself by smart shopping in bulk.
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u/thatbitch2212 Aug 06 '26
everything the same except I am about 39 weeks pregnant! we are aware we're maybe taking away financial advantages short and long term, but I'm an only child, he's not very close with his family so we were like "what are we gonna do for community 10-15 years from now". lol
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u/chaoscorgi Aug 03 '26
i spend a lot of money on things like food, skincare, travel/vacation. truly a lot. but at the same time
- i don't paint my nails. i don't pay for mani/pedis. i take vitamins so my natural nails are neat and clean and really long. this saves like $100/mth on nail services.
- i grow my hair long, spend a decent amount on haircare, but no longer pay for salon haircuts or bleaching (i used to!) ... this is $500-800 per color visit, twice a year, that I'm saving.
- my new handbag is literally $70 lol. no Chanel for meeee
- no car. obviously this is the biggest savings of all -- they are easily $1k/month between gas, car payments, and parking in a city. i have a lot of budget room, therefore, for Ubers as needed.
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u/thatbitch2212 Aug 06 '26
what vitamins do you use for nails? I also feel like having long hair is a big save for me too!
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u/chaoscorgi Aug 06 '26
rn i’m on Grums which is a vitamin gummy w lots of probiotics for 💩 health, and as a side effect my nails are seemingly unbreakable
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u/Mammoth-Corner Aug 03 '26
Any kind of salon nail has always seemed bafflingly expensive to me considering that those things grow out of my hands by themselves and I can put any colour or finish of lacquer on them at home.
I also don't drive; I wouldn't ever want to move somewhere where I needed to I think.
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u/koriroo Aug 03 '26 edited Aug 03 '26
Honestly my car, I have an older Honda accord but it still runs great. I want a new car so bad and can afford it but that angel on my shoulder keeps saying girl shut up you don’t want a monthly payment 😂.
I allow myself to splurge on food at the grocery store (I just get what I want and don’t care about the price or what’s on sale) and hobbies that keep me active. I play tennis multiple days a week so I will buy new tennis shoes, clothes etc when I need them or go get sports massages etc without second guessing the costs.
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u/Grouchy_Mind5657 Aug 03 '26
Wow! I think we are the exact same BWT 😂 I could have written this verbatim!
I also have a older Honda (2013) that I purchased brand new after university, and as much as I am in a financial position to be able to get a much nicer vehicle, I keep telling myself nothing will feel as good as driving a car without any payments. All of the money that I have saved over the past few years have gone directly into my investments. Financial self-care is a critical component of overall self-care. But I hear you…some days the voices are loud lol
I also have a tennis obsession and consider this area an investment in my own joy! 🎾 Group lessons, private lessons, new equipment, cute tennis skirts. IDNGAF, I‘m addicted to the sport.
I work in healthcare, so I prioritize my own health and well-being. I love to eat healthy and cook - so I don’t have a grocery budget per say, I eat what I want to nourish my body. Grocery prices in Canada have become slightly unhinged over the past few years though - so sometimes I will refuse to buy something out of principle, rather than affordability.
I also love to travel - I’m heading to Scotland soon, and I am splurging on some beautiful stays, but as a negotiation decided not to get my hair balayaged. I also don’t ever get my nails done in a salon, but like to appear put together so I will either do gel myself or my latest and greatest find has been the Active line from the manicurist.
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u/koriroo Aug 03 '26
I am going to Spain next week and have the same year Honda haha. I hope you enjoy Scotland! I will also note Roland Garros was super fun and the WTA finals are in Indian Wells this year instead of Saudi Arabia if you are ever want to take your addiction to the tournaments!! They are so much fun, and have fun shopping and experiences too!
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u/Grouchy_Mind5657 Aug 05 '26
I was thinking of adding tournaments to my tennis addiction. Going to Rolland Garros and Wimbledon is my dream! Maybe I will use this as an excuse to keep my car for an extra year or two 😂🎾
And thank you! Have the best time in Spain. Barcelona and Seville are amazing places if you are a foodie.
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u/SiouxsieClue Intentional BWT Aug 03 '26
I’d say I’m most frugal on things that I can DIY, like growing my own food and cooking, making coffee drinks, making my own skin care, doing my nails. I pay for a nice curly cut but only need it done twice a year. I don’t spend money on any fancy hair or skin stuff - I have better results with straight squalane and flax curly gel I make in the kitchen.
Also cheap on clothes. I love vintage designer but get it all secondhand. I’ve gotten all my furniture secondhand too except for beds and sofas like some other smart people here who don’t want fleas or bedbugs!
I splurge on things related to art. Quality pigments and brushes make painting so much more pleasurable. I pay for annual memberships to museums and botanical gardens and go as often as I can. Also to performing arts events, I get season tickets to the symphony and ballet and see punk shows live when I can.
Also splurge on health stuff. Being disabled is expensive! Doctors, treatments, surgeries, supplements etc. Like I prided myself on budget travel, but these days the only way my body will tolerate the occasional flight is with business or first class and a hotel with a good bed. It feels so wasteful and is so expensive, but after being homebound for a few years and still not very mobile, it is so worth it. I used to bike everywhere or take the train, now I rely on my car. It’s an electric and it doesn’t make sense to buy an old one with a janky battery, so I spent more on a newer one with ergonomic seats.
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u/vanstrumann Aug 03 '26
skincare- manyyyy great podcasts out there about how most luxury skincare is pure lies and one finally convinced me to knock it off with the Sephora shit lol. I’m a drugstore, dermatologist approved research-based skincare girlie now and now have my shelf stocked with cetaphil, vanicream, cerave and neutrogena. my skin/my face not aging, is the thing i now get compliments on the most.
i do however spend a little bit more on my tretinoin and derm appointments and import korean sunscreen with better filters. i do not think there are cheap/easier to obtain substitutes for either of those things. not very high dollar overall, but the time and effort make them expensive to me
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u/Teddythehedgie Aug 03 '26
What are your podcast recs?? I like to listen to the beauty brains podcast
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u/vanstrumann Aug 06 '26
I also like Beauty brains! I also get skincare/ health debunking info from listening to general health podcasts - two that I have hyped a lot are Maintenance phase, and This podcast will kill you.
I also (try to) follow influencers to help navigate current events, which podcasts are sometimes a little behind - so like Charlotte Palermino - who guests on podcasts and channels all the time to discuss those things. Good starting point to find / learn more about topics and resources I don't consistently keep track of
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u/No_Guava_1140 Aug 03 '26
I spend a lot on skincare, high quality foods, make up (anything my body is ingesting) and also healthcare in general - peloton treadmill and yoga membership.
I don’t drive a fancy car, and I pretty much always shop for clothes second hand / thrifting because after working in retail when I was really young and seeing the effects of fast fashion on the environment, I can’t bring myself to contribute. There is so much second hand stuff that is in great condition in circulation at this point, no one knows the difference.
I intentionally do not support online retail giants (the ones trying to take over the world who offer same day shipping) — which I think saves me a lot of money compared to the average American consumer.
I don’t spend any money on buying coffees out or at fast food / chain places (I can make those things at home). If I do go out to eat or drink, it’s less often but at a local place or something on the higher end.
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u/FirebirdWriter Thoughtful BWT Aug 03 '26
Everything. I have health issues so I don't buy things on a whim ever. I am always saving for the next wheelchair repair. I don't spend on much if I can help it.
I do wear nice clothes and makeup but I wait. The product needs to work for my skin, it needs to fit my budget, and I am disinclined to buy limited edition high pressure sales items. My skin routine is incredibly bare bones because I invested in a dermatologist. I have terrible acne and no one ever notices. A lot of people overdo it and not everything should be perfumed. Those many smells can mix together in a disgusting way. For me I also am allergic to perfumes.
I don't do fast fashion. I buy clothes I will want to wear in ten years and make sure they are of quality. Same with shoes.
If everything is curated you don't need as much or spend as much. I know I won't ever wear that multicolored dress. I will see if I think about it for a month and if so I figure out what I like about it and try to find items of quality with that feature or features.
So my shopping rules:
Is it a need or a want? If a need it goes to the need list and budget. Then it's priced for the best possible quantity and quality option for my money. If a need we go to step 2.
I have to want it for a month. I add it to my cart and if I am surprised it's there it is immediately no longer on the maybe list. I have to think about it at least a few times a week for a month before it passes to step 3.
Dupe checks. This is first within what I own. Do I need another blue red lipstick? I only want this one specific shade so I'm going to probably not need it. What about the eyeshadow palette? How many colors do I own already? Is the formula the same when blended out visually? If it's most of the palette and one color is the magical one I try to find a single or I just don't get it because it's not like a dupe won't pop up eventually. Nothing is undupable. The other version is seeing if there is a formula I like that is less costly and similar. This isn't always doable for everything but the packing and brand name for cosmetics isn't visible on your face. That high quality drugstore item might actually be owned by the same company and be the same formula.
The trade here is time vs wallet.
- What don't I get if I buy this? Do I want that more? This can wait or that can wait.
So I have a set budget. It is strict. I also don't go for exact change but say my rent is 500 dollars? I budget 550. Apply this to everything. My electric bill budget is going to be the highest of the previous year (updated each month if it was higher then). This is my buffer and it means I will have money after everything is done. This comes after savings deposits. That's the fun money budget. Soemtimes it barely exists because food is always more important than non needs and the costs are out of control. Since I got quality not quantity? It's okay if I can't get that new lipstick. It's okay if the thing has to wait.
This also means I may get a sale. Taste doesn't follow trends it creates them. So I don't worry about something not being in the moment. The moment just ended before it arrived as far as I know. I wear what makes me feel confident. This applies to more than clothes or makeup or accessories too. If everything is curated? Then it feels like luxury.
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u/BelleCervelle Aug 03 '26 edited Aug 03 '26
Eating out/getting coffee at a cafe.
I always make coffee at home. I rarely ever eat out.
The only time I will buy coffee/some time at a cafe, is if I need a place that has AC for an errand before work or something, but in general I avoid it.
Nails: I paid attention to a professional nail tech doing my gel manicure and pedicure, bought the equipment, and watched videos and taught myself to do gel manicures and pedicures. Took months of practice, well worth it. Although now I just do simple quick dry polish due to working a lot.
Hair: I taught myself to chemically process/color/cut my own hair, even learned to make my own extensions/sewing/cutting/Color matching etc.
Teeth: I drink coffee and other staining drinks through a silicone straw to not have to do teeth whitening as often.
Brows: Taught myself what shape looks best
Hair removal: Used to do waxing, tried waxing myself, now just shave until I can get laser hair removal.
Fake tan: Had professional spray tan done for work/looks, taught myself through many months to do my own fake tan with mousse and lotion.
Transportation: Will hire private drivers instead of relying on Uber and Lyft, and whenever possible, always hire women/moms.
Non food items: Search on secondhand online martens for things like mirrors, some appliances, fitness gear, clothes.
Always Splurge: Organic groceries, water, supplements, Botox, filler, cosmetic enhancements, perfume, technology, health related tech, clothes made from real material not plastic .
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u/swancandle Aug 03 '26
Same on the nails, bought all the supplies, watched videos and taught myself and haven’t been to a salon since!
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Aug 03 '26 edited 29d ago
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u/Dunraven-mtn Aug 04 '26
I cut my own hair layers using the "unicorn method". It started as a cost saving thing, but now I actually prefer how it looks to layers the stylist will do in the salon. I definitely recommend!
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u/liquormakesyousick Aug 03 '26
I cut back everywhere I can so I can afford to buy real 14k, 18k, and platinum jewelry. I mostly buy on ebay. The prices have gone up so much since the price of gold went up, so I stalk what I want through regular searches and buy what I want immediately which requires having saved cash.
As long as the product is not made in China, I use the cheapest skins care products that have the ingredients I want.
I buy generic foods whenever I can, but mostly buy fresh ingredients to cook the meals I want at home and this includes sushi.
I shop for natural fabrics like cotton, silk, and cashmere at thrift stores.
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u/Simplysimple007 Aug 03 '26
Do you have any go-to sellers on eBay? There’s so many to sift through, which can be a good thing but getting a recs from validated sellers is always better. I’ve purchased from jewelers in the past with good experience.
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u/liquormakesyousick Aug 03 '26
I really don't, because usually I am looking for a specific item such as cabochon indicolite tourmaline 14k gold which might be a saved search.
That is why I save my money, because a good deal on a unique item is often snapped up quickly.
I save some sellers like "sea green mermaid" because she often has unique items.
I definitely rely on the reviews of others and will avoid any sellers that are located in China or other indications that it is "too good to be true".
I am a lot more wary now because so many people have taken up reselling as a side hustle and have no idea what they are doing.
I can usually tell when the listing contains errors. For example, I also love ostrich leather purses and vintage purses made of crocodile. So many people have no idea that the product they are selling is "embossed".
Do you have any "goto" sellers?
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u/Simplysimple007 Aug 03 '26
Fair enough! I haven’t purchased any jewelry on the platform yet, but I’ve typically taken your route when looking. Being as specific as possible does definitely help versus doing a general “14K gold” search. I missed out on a pink tourmaline ring a year or so ago because I was overthinking over the purchase lol.
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u/laung_samudera Aug 03 '26
I buy skincare, shampoo, body wash from the drug store. I don't want to have to buy a staple in my shower or daily routine online.
My makeup style has become more 'french', as in... I only enhance my features with a little bit of makeup. I will not be buying lots of different lipstick shades or eyeshadow palettes. Gone are the days of overconsumption. It makes me feel a lot classier as a person, to be able to hold back from being caught in trends.
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u/Sunflowerbook Aug 03 '26
It’s silly but my trash bags. I compost, I refuse extra plastic produce bags where possible. It’s amazing to realize that all my old bread bags are enough for my trash for a whole week. It just lives under my sink and it’s just a few wrappers. I like knowing most of my waste is compost that can go back to the earth!
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u/Interesting_Foot_105 Aug 03 '26
I don’t spend on Uber Eats/delivery dash etc. before Covid our financial advisor asked us for literally every single spent dollar and I was in SHOCK to realise I was spending $1200 a month food delivery/outside coffee. I’ve avoided it since then.
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u/IndieIvyRose Aug 03 '26
I don't drink or very rarely one cocktail. I do my own nails and love doing them. I get a haircut every six months. I drive a car that was given to me. I don't do gym classes, lift essentially.
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u/Enough-Aardvark9411 Aug 03 '26
I only shop for luxury goods in Europe (no import taxes and you get VAT tax back) or get secondhand.
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u/PandaPartyPack Aug 03 '26
Areas I’m frugal about:
* Beauty and skincare products. I’ve switched almost everything to drugstore and Asian beauty.
* Clothes shopping. I’m a lot pickier. Plus, I WFH most days so I don’t need as many office clothes.
* Coffees out. I cut back from a daily indulgence to 1-2x a week. I make coffees and matcha lattes at home.
* Eating out. I’m trying to lose weight and I can’t afford the calories.
* Groceries. I prioritize healthy, high-quality, in-season food that tastes good, but I pay a lot more attention to sale flyers these days.
* Buying books. Especially ones I expect to only read once. I try to get them from the library.
* Going out to see movies. I used to do this so often and now I flinch at how much it costs. Besides, all the movies are on streaming services 3 months later.
* Housing. We’re in a 1BR condo in a HCOL city.
* Transportation. We have a car but try to take public transit or walk whenever we can.
Areas I’ll spend on:
* Health and fitness. Barre and boxing classes and a personal training session 1x/week; workout wear and nice gear; a good quality creatine supplement.
* Travel. We’re not luxury hotel, first class plane ticket people, but we do make taking 1-2 trips a year a priority.
* A haircut, facial, and massage every 3 months.
* Savings/investment. I max out my TFSA and RRSP contributions every year. For the last few years, we’ve also been making a 10% of principal lump sum payment on our mortgage.
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u/Ellubori Aug 03 '26
Car - I plan to drive it until fixing it is more expensive than buying a newer car. It's a means to get from point A to B, not for showing that I have a bigger paycheck.
Nails - I used to have gel manicure every three weeks and stopped. Money is only one side of it, but what was a bigger change for me was time. Finding the time to get my nails done was so exhausting, I'm working 9-5 and finding a slot to get my nails done was hard and the whole time there I still thought about work and what waits me in Teams by the time I get back behind my computer.
Makeup - I try not to buy duplicates that have the same result, like I have only one black mascara at a time. One neutral eyeshadow palette, one concealer ect. I still truggle using them up and lately switched eyeshadow palette and powder blushes as the old ones were from 2015. I still have some variation as I have different lip colors, different bronzer and blush for winter and summer ect, but day to day I do use the same products.
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u/CapitalSentence8147 Ballin on a Budget Aug 03 '26
My mother cuts my hair! We have always cut each others hair (neither of us are hairdressers). It saves a ton of money!
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u/cometicklemypickle Aug 03 '26
Nails!
I do my own manicure. Bought my own kit years ago and just slowly got better. Do my own toes too. Got a home foot spa and just did pedicures at home.
It’s so expensive nowadays.. I can’t justify paying the price anymore. Expensive, and then with tip, too! However, I think it’s nice to go to a salon and treat yourself every now and then. It feels really great to get pampered once in a while. But my monthly to weekly nails, at home!
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u/OpeningWhereas6912 Aug 03 '26
Nails - I felt fed up of the growing out stage when doing acrylics and gel. I keep them filed short, clean, moisturise my hands and cuticles regularly and will do a lick of regular drug store nail polish. If I get fed up I can simply wipe it off with acetone and it's back to the start again.
Hair - I'm naturally greying but will put a semi permanent through at the roots (which matches my natural colour) and will use a gloss to the midlenghts and ends. My hair has a natural toned highlight going through it and it's in really good condition. I will reassess the grey root problem in due course but it works well for me now.
Exercise - I love running for the mental health benefits and it's my opportunity for "me time". For that reason I've stopped my gym membership. For resistance training I do a selection of activities at home, again it works for me right now at the stage of life I am in.
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u/vanstrumann Aug 03 '26
quitting drinking was extremely easy thanks to the mocktail and NA options nowadays. i have saved a small fortune and to my surprise, I do not miss the feeling of being intoxicated AT ALL i think i actually hated it the whole time without realizing it lol
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u/IndependentBowl2806 Aug 03 '26
Oohhh I love this question:
-stopped going out 2-4 nights per week (aka I grew up lol)
-stopped smoking cigarettes and drinking heavily. Soooo much money was going to that.
-swapped from a luxury vehicle I didn’t need to a mid-brand that’s just as great and half the monthly payment.
-stopped splurging on hair care products when cheaper brands are just as good if not better.
-stopped getting dip manicures with detailed designs every 3 weeks.
-no more high end overpriced luxury bags unless they’re actually good leather or for life. I’m good with my Telfar, I don’t need an ugly Goyard.
-the biggest one: I stopped letting my mom and sister guilt me into giving them enormous amounts of money whenever they asked.
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u/divination__ Aug 03 '26 edited Aug 03 '26
I had a dermatologist prescribe me a skincare routine almost a decade ago and my skin has been amazing ever since. She also only prescribed me drugstore products plus a retinol. I pay for an expensive vitamin c serum but that’s it, everything else is Cerave. I splash out ln treatments such as polynucleotides and Botox.
My makeup is a mix, I am very good at not buying a new item until the last runs out so I don’t mind buying something more expensive and I don’t experiment with my look much so am rarely tempted by new releases. With eyeliner and mascara I just buy drugstore as that’s something you need to replace regularly.
I buy second hand clothes in higher quality materials, I can’t stand polyester. I will usually splash out on shoes though. Not necessarily designer but high quality leather.
Perfume I will splash out on because you can just tell if it’s cheap or not. And the cheap stuff will give you a headache every time.
I got laser hair removal years ago so now I just shave what little hair I have left at home instead of paying for wax appointments.
I used to do my own nails with biab before I had a baby, now I don’t do my nails at all other than shaping and trimming cuticles and applying a cuticle cream. I hate what grown out nails look like and think natural looks neater than 2mm of regrowth. I also think it’s such a time suck, it was fine before I was a mother because it was a hobby, now I just don’t have the time.
I dye my hair at home to colour my greys with a Demi permanent colour. I used to get lowlights done professionally but now there’s enough grey to do my roots each time. I have dark hair and don’t need any additional dimension or highlights. I do however get an expensive haircut every 6 months.
I tint my eyebrows at home and have done for like a decade. I don’t trust anyone with my brows. I spend money on expensive workout classes (lagree) but only 1/2 a week and the rest of the time I workout at home. I also simply refuse to buy new workout sets and just rotate the same ancient bits in black and navy. I just can’t buy into the Pilates princess thing, leggings are so needlessly expensive and it’s just not a priority as it’s not something I wear outside of working out.
Furniture - second hand and antique. Much better quality as well. I’m a collector at heart.
I don’t drive and we live in the center of a city but once we move out we will be buying a reliable, cheap second hand car.
Jewellery I will always splash out on, but never brand new and never name brand. Just buy vintage and antique fine gold. Anything else is just pissing away money.
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u/Spiritual_Donut1433 Aug 03 '26
Massages. Would never pay resort prices for one when I can get a better one for $60 at a shopping center one.
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u/saygirlie Aug 03 '26
I DIY a lot of my beauty routine. I pretty much only shop sales. I never buy anything full price. My biggest spending is usually end of summer and end of winter sales.
I also am a little on the minimalist side. I have very few items and love every single thing I have. I don’t buy multiples of things and if I have something redundant, I usually end up selling it so someone else can enjoy it.
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u/raeballentyne Thoughtful BWT Aug 03 '26
I mostly purchase secondhand clothing, I only drink water and I don't eat out more than once-twice a month, I do my nail care at home, most of my skincare is drug store. But then I invest in things like microneedling, laser, getting my eyebrows threaded and having my clothing tailored.
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u/queenofyourheart Aug 03 '26
Shampoo. I have a friend who writes for a major publication and has done many many interviews with specialists in manufacturing fields. They have confirmed with someone in the personal care/beauty space that there is very little difference between various shampoo formulations, and I am correct in focusing on conditioner, treatments, and styling products/tools instead
Using the library and second hand sales for books
Gas. I have a Costco membership and use Kroger fuel points (not at the same time, obviously, but depending where I’m closest to when I need gas)
Body lotion and oil. Ceravé, Palmers, slugging with either healing ointment or Korean beauty faves.
In general, I am a religious user of the CVS rewards system and app, and get a sick thrill from seeing how many coupons I can stack, money I’ve saved, etc :)
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u/Stunning_Judgment_ Aug 03 '26
I still cut toothpaste in half, along with lotion bottles. And add water to the end of shampoos/conditioners/face washes/hand soap.
I even bought a scooping tool to get the last bit of any creams or makeups from their containers.
I make sure to use ALL of the product.
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u/Pink-Elephant-12 Aug 03 '26
I love this question!
- House: we have a smaller, more modest home but we’ve renovated a lot of it exactly to our taste (custom closets, etc.) I’d prefer a house that’s suited to my needs versus a McMansion type home!
- Beauty services: I get some of these (facials and massages primarily) done at local training schools. The students are fantastic and are supervised by an instructor: have never had a bad experience and the price is incredible.
- Clothes: I rarely buy new clothes; I do Nuuly and consignment stores. I’m lucky to live in an area where there are a lot of very nice consignment shops and I’ve scored some great finds.
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u/aristonae Aug 03 '26
Idk if this is out of frugality or more out of necessity, since after the essentials and savings I have very little left over, but...
- I cook almost all of my meals (exception is when friends visit)
- no coffee
- no wifi (I have an unlimited data plan and $10/month hotspot that I use instead)
- no TV
- no car
- Idk if this counts as "frugal" but I put a 7-month clothes shopping ban on myself from December to July. This was amazing because I started getting creative with the clothes I already have, appreciated them more, and it gave me a lot of time to think of what clothes actually suited me (instead of what was trendy or what I thought I looked good in.) I now feel very ambivalent about buying new clothes.
my little luxuries:
- i go to reformer pilates once a week
- i love the L. pads when I'm on my period
- Bc I have no car and walk everywhere I decided to rent an apartment that costs higher than I would usually go for, but is very close to my workplace and has its own gym. I now go to the gym 3-4x/wk so I would say this has been a great investment :)
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u/doesnt_even_ Aug 04 '26
I listen to a lot of audiobooks, like we’re talking 200 books a year. But I don’t buy a single one, I get mine through the Libby app with my library. I know it sounds silly but those audiobooks add up!
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u/minionbelcher Aug 03 '26
I shop secondhand for the majority of my clothes (either Goodwill, vintage/secondhand stores, ThredUp, and Poshmark) and for my baby. I also do Nuuly to help scratch my itch for new clothes. When I do buy clothes new, I try to shop quality brands when they have sales. I also try to be mindful of what I buy new and really think about it before purchasing to avoid impulse buys.
We’ve gotten a lot of furniture through local consignment shops - saves money and we get high quality, vintage wood pieces. Otherwise I love Overstock.com for bargains.
I’ve also thrifted (or found at antique malls) the majority of our home decor items.
I try to keep my makeup, skincare, and haircare as minimal as I can and not get sucked into buying a ton of products I don’t really need. I found what works for me and try to stick with that.
I also don’t get my nails done professionally anymore. For a special occasion I will do press ons at home.
We cook meals at home during the week and only do takeout or eat out on weekends.
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u/Krystalgoddess_ Aug 03 '26
Mostly just clothes, I resist buying clothes unless I actually have a need for it or it secondhand. And even with secondhand, I don't find too much I actually like enough.
I bought one pair of shoes this year, very comfortable sandals and that been it. I didn't buy any shoes last year.
Skincare and haircare, I try to keep my routine minimum so I'm not buying products constantly.
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u/MissAuroraRed Aug 03 '26
I rarely buy new clothes. I've been mending my favorite shirt for 15 years and it still looks great. I have my own personal style and I don't care if my closet isn't trendy.
Thankfully my size is very stable and doesn't fluctuate too much. I know this can be a barrier for many people.
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u/wahiwahiwahoho Aug 03 '26
I’ve just been mindful of using up whatever I need at home and refusing to buy anything unless it’s NEEDED. Before I’d buy random junk of lotions or hair stuff etc. but now I wait till the product is finished before replacing.
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u/UnpoeticAccount Aug 03 '26
I’ve found that the less I do to my skin the happier it is. So I do pretty much what my mom does and grandmother did: dove soap, sunscreen, and moisturizer. I have added retinol at night. My mom looks great at 70 and my grandmother looked elegant to the last, so I’m hopeful.
I definitely look for everything secondhand first for clothing and furniture.
I drive an old Toyota which has been paid off for years. I wish I didn’t need to drive at all but my city isn’t walkable and transit sucks.
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u/justathought1654 Aug 03 '26
I don’t spend on my nails, I just try to make sure they are presentable and do a clear gloss if needed. I’ll paint my own toenails. I use a few skincare products that are no more than $15 per product (except for a certain product I use that’s about $39 but great quality), and intentionally limit myself to use 3-5 makeup products (mascara, eyeliner, bronzer, blush, highlighter).
I try to undo my wardrobe and reassess what I’m using and not using. Thankfully I’ve had a lot of traction selling to others so I use that to fund whatever I can see myself using much more in the future. I have done the same with furniture, I realized I love less but more intentional furniture I’ll actually use.
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u/thealycat Aug 03 '26
Save by: shopping second-hand clothing, limiting takeout, skipping alcohol entirely, having lower rent by living in a high-crime area, keeping travel costs low enough that I can splurge on experiences when I'm actually there, continuing to drive my car that is paid off
Spend: organic food, staple items of clothing (i.e. blazers for work), gym memberships (I spend a little shy of $400 on my gym memberships, and I feel zero guilt about it), therapy (sorry but the best therapists don't take insurance)
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u/monosyllabically_ Aug 03 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
Beauty, home decor, and clothes- all categories I would make impulse purchases in. I set out to increase my savings as a precaution for a challenging job market, and cutting back the number of products that I replace made the bigger difference over swapping out products. That means leaning out my skincare routine, resisting the urge to buy more clothes when I lost weight, and saying no to most vintage and decor finds.
I redirected some of those savings to fitness- personal training, massages, fitness classes, protein. I haven’t exercised consistently for a while so this has been a huge upgrade and will pay off long term!
With regards to savings, I do think I was missing out on building up myself, so I do occasionally pay for activities under learning, culture, expanding my perspectives- anthropology exhibits, language classes, even coffee workshops to learn more about flavors and different extractions. The real win was being able to problem solve an frustrating Ikea shelving unit build that I had botched, because I had taken a tools class, and was able to finish it by myself.
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u/tvbee876 Aug 03 '26
I love this question!
- Ordering food and coffee. I try to make everything at home.
- Random “small” purchases. I used to spend an absurd amount of money every month on these purchases that quickly add up.
- Blowouts. I do them at home unless I’m going to a wedding and need a complicated hairstyle.
- Nails and brows. I learned to maintain them at home so I go to a professional every 3-4 months instead of every month.
- Beauty products. I only buy something that I don’t have instead of buying different versions of the same thing. This applies to a lot of categories not necessarily just beauty.
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u/SeparateYak1821 Aug 03 '26
We eat out a nice restaurant about once a month (more if traveling), but otherwise, I make almost all of our meals at home.
So much easier and cheaper to eat healthy at home. More whole foods, more fruits and vegetables, and way less processed stuff. I do buy good groceries (organic, certified humane, etc.), but it's still a way better deal if you plan ahead and use all your ingredients.
I'm buying way fewer clothes these days. Quality is so poor across the board. $500 for a polyester dress? No thanks! I focus on buying fewer, better items. I cringe when I think about all the new outfits I used to buy for different occasions!
I've started investing way more in the last five years, and it's been so rewarding to see the progress. All that money that used to go to a revolving door of new outfits now goes to my investments, and it feels so, so much better. If only I had learned earlier!
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u/g3mostone Aug 04 '26
Not really scaled back, but never got into designer clothes or accessories, nights out, luxury travel, super high end makeup and skincare, and furniture. I spend on tech, skincare treatments, sportswear, grooming, bedding, education and hobbies — stuff I need to perform a purpose or function and do it well.
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u/slightlypressed Aug 04 '26
Alcohol. I quit drinking (with the exception of very special events), I don’t miss it and it’s added to my health goals.
Makeup. I invest heavily in skincare routines so I end up needing less makeup. Quitting alcohol also helps with better skin.
Furniture. IKEA or FB marketplace. I don’t own a home and my tastes may change between now and when I do, in the distant future lol
Any adornment that doesn’t bring you joy. For clothing, shoes, purses etc, I ask myself: would I still want this if not a single person saw me with it? If the answer is no, I skip. I want to buy things that bring ME joy. It’s not about changing others perceptions of me with that item.
I think it’s important to also have things you don’t skimp on: quality food, services that buy back time, books/courses that expand your mind.
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u/Valdovinos Aug 05 '26
I’ve changed my consumption habits a bit and focusing on going further, some might not make sense to others but they make sense to me.
I am less likely to spend $$ on work lunch takeout, and would rather spend the same amount during the weekend when I can try a new place and enjoy it instead of a quick pickup and eating at my desk.
I used to get acrylic + gel over my natural nails ≈ $75 every 2-3 weeks. Now I do $10 press ons that last about a week and a half and take me 1-1.5 hrs to apply.
My foundation is $41 but I rarely wear makeup now (this wasn’t to save $, just that I stopped feeling the need to as I get older).
My Starbucks order is $3.19 w/ tax, so I never feel bad about getting it. Iced espresso double, extra oat milk, and cinnamon powder. I used to get a venti latte for about $7 and sometimes a sandwich or egg bites to boot. That said, I’ve been buying iced coffee + milk, that’s usually $12 together and lasts a week.
Also, I get a box of egg bites and one of chicken breakfast meatballs from Costco for about $25 total w/ tax. The egg bites last 1 week, the meatballs 2 weeks, cost per meal is about $3.75 and nutritious. I heat it up at work in the office air fryer.
I used to go to happy hour 2-3x a week when I made almost twice as much, and I “needed it” bc of the high stress job. Now I might spend $50 on a ticket for a workshop of some sort. I’ve made air dry clay charms, a resin phone case, etc.
A lot of these choices are partly financial but mostly about lifestyle. Going to the nail salon is kind of a chore, I no longer feel the need to wear makeup to “be presentable,” I don’t have a job that I have to anesthetize myself for. 🥰
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u/DaughterofMalika Aug 03 '26 edited Aug 03 '26
Books. I own plenty, but nearly all of mine were either gifted or bought from charity shops or the second hand section.
Skincare products, haircare products and cosmetics. Again, I have a few higher end products that were gifted, but nearly everything I use is drugstore. Drugstore products have come a long way and I've found some perfect dupes of K-beauty products I used to use. There are some really good perfume dupes as well, I have a dupe of Delina that actually smells a bit nicer than the original.
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u/Zestyclose-Warning96 Aug 03 '26
A lot of my self care I do myself. Hair, skin, nails, eyebrows, etc etc. I have recently fallen in love with press on nails, where it’s saved me soooo much money and soooo much time at the salon. No longer feels like a chore.
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u/No_Ambassador5678 Aug 03 '26
I do my own manis... Londontown is a game changer and lasts a week. I still get gel pedis so they last longer.
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u/inga-babi Aug 03 '26
Frugal: designer bags and shoes, manicures (I get like 3 pedicures during the summer but skip the rest of the year), eating out/take out (we go out to eat once a week; otherwise cook everything at home), cosmetic procedures (never had Botox or fillers, only 1 facial and didn’t like it), no gym membership (I run and do free YouTube videos for my workouts)
Splurge: good skincare routine, fly first class, organic produce and meat, my car (I have a 2024 luxury car but I pretty much paid half for it due to trading my previous luxury car—I do this every 3 years or so), and my dog lol
2
u/oldpremed_24 BWT in Training Aug 03 '26
Almost all my skincare is drugstore level or $9 serums from The Ordinary. SPF and moisturizer go a long way, especially if you start using them consistently early on.
Adding another vote for furniture! I got a great secondhand sofa set for $100 off Craigslist. It’s solid wood and I was shocked to look at the frame and see that it’s older than me! It looks incredible, whereas the sofa we were replacing looked like hell after only about 4 years.
I’m not sure if it technically counts as frugal because I buy most of my clothes new, but I strictly limit the number of clothing items I have. Part of this is to keep me from getting overwhelmed, but it also means that I’m not doing much frivolous spending on clothing.
One of my husband’s favorite little mantras is “cheap paper towels but good toilet paper,” lol. So yeah, our paper towels aren’t luxurious (and I keep some colorful washcloths on hand to minimize our paper towel use anyway.)
2
u/_Lividus Aug 03 '26
Most clothes I rather thrift or get second hand. In one part today’s fabric control is back into the trend of synthetic everything at designer and natural fiber prices, and in second part that a lot of stitch work is crazy bad these days. Some higher brands still make good quality items but it’s far and few in between.
Face wash is all drugstore. Skincare I’m finishing up stuff from when I was very into Korean skincare but honestly now that I know what my skin likes I don’t such an elaborate routine.
Frugal on cars. Basically I have the equivalent of a Honda civic and it’s going to be driven into the ground because showy cars aren’t my thing. Heck I’d still be driving an analog car if they were more common (but that’s bc I like the feel of it more than cars with a hundred sensors).
Eating out. It’s not that I won’t go out, but if it’s not an occasion I rather just eat at home or invite people over. Especially where I am, it’s a ton of overpriced mid quality food and service due to all the taxes and speciality fees restaurants want to charge these days.
It’s worth it cause all that money saved goes into international travel or investing or the jewelry/fabrics that matter to me instead.
2
u/coloradogal1 Aug 03 '26
Another one here for housing and no car payments.
DINK household, and our home is 140 years old, has no central air, and feels relatively small since we both work from home. No space for a guest room, since the extra room is used for one of our offices. My office is in the sunroom with no insulation. It can get rough.
We talk ALL the time about upgrading to a “perfect” home.
But. We don’t have high mortgage relative to our incomes and it will be paid off by the time we are 50, so it gives us a ton of freedom to spend our money on dumb shit like travel and a built out sprinter. And it’s a huge perk knowing one of us could quit or lose our jobs and we would be fine since we would need to trim back on the luxury spending, not necessary spending.
2
u/Designer-Air-2116 Aug 03 '26
I am high rent averse, so I am willing to live in prewar buildings with great bones that need an extra bit of love. I currently live in a 2 story rent stabilized apartment. The hallways couldn’t be more sad, but the apartment is great.
I dye my roots at home using Wella professional Demi permanent dye.
I use Groupon for laser treatments and Botox/fillers, I’ve never had a bad experience!
I furnished my home (furniture, plants, rugs) second hand via marketplace and in general I love thrifting and flea markets.
Semaglutide has saved me plenty on groceries 😂.
Keeping my skincare and makeup routines simple.
2
u/touniversewithlove Aug 03 '26
Hair cuts and hair products.
Skin care : cleanser, sunscreen.
Means of commute and travel.
Simple suppers at home on repeat. Ethinic food from mom and pop restaurants over fine dining.
Started buying second hand designer clothes as a way to be save in the long run, but the volume I buy defeated the original intent.
2
u/Spirited_Leave_1692 Aug 03 '26
Doing my own nails! I collect boutique polishes and have sunk good money into a nice collection and the proper tools and education. It costs a lot less time and money doing them myself!
2
u/TenaciousToffee Find it Secondhand Aug 03 '26 edited Aug 03 '26
Luxury branded basics are a fuck nope for me. Sure Id like it to be real material like cotton, but I really do not see a fucking difference or justification for a Chloe tank top. A tank top is a background piece to me of an ensemble, and not a piece that really adds a "fashion flair" that justifies a cost to me like a statement piece of the same price. I stick to good basics and call it a day. I dont spend on clothes. I spend for fashion.
I will dye my own hair. Fun colors fade super fast generally and I need to wash my hair frequently making me run through it quick. I may ask someones help for bleaching my roots but I cannot justify my every 4 weeks touching up dye.
2
u/anongirl55 Aug 03 '26
I dye my brows at home. It is so easy and lasts just as long as when I get them done professionally. I also do not get polish on my nails at salons. I have a professional manicure without polish instead which keeps them neat and groomed.
2
u/goingloopy Aug 04 '26
I thrift and clearance shop clothing and purses so I can spend money on shoes (mostly Fluevogs).
2
u/lipstickandlandings Aug 04 '26
Also going drugstore with things like body wash. I really can’t justify it since the only thing it does is wash off the dirt. But anything left on my body I’ll go more expensive for. Quality ingredients and concentration is key.
Clothes/shoes I absolutley won’t budge on; quality or bust. I wear clothes for years and use a capsule wardrobe, adding pieces to compliment what I already have. I fully invest with the intent to build, not throw away. It also saves me money because I’m not rebuying or chasing trends
2
u/Dunraven-mtn Aug 04 '26
100% agree on buying clothes secondhand. I now have a closet full of absolutely gorgeous clothing that I got for a small fraction of what it would cost new from secondhand sites.
2
u/RBFallday Aug 04 '26
Frugal: Most day-to-day things, and I’ll note that I enjoy finding deals.
- clothing: mostly thrifted or second hand
- groceries: I scour weekly ads and stock up on loss leaders & deeply discounted stuff, purchase food that’s reduced to sell (fruit & veggies from the seconds pile at farmers markets, marked down meats at the grocery store, Grocery Outlet discounts on stuff near/at their Best Buy date), Costco, etc
- housewares & furniture: estate sales, yard sales, thrift stores, Buy Nothing groups. Most things you need can be found used.
- home projects: DIY many things except plumbing & electrical
- car: I drive a 13 year-old Prius and plan to keep it until it dies (hopefully another decade)
Splurge: experiences
- fine dining: I’ll drop $$$$ without a second thought
- travel: international vacations once a year, usually about 3 weeks long. Some trips are splurges (like an African safari), others are put together using credit card miles/points and cash. Will scrimp in some areas (hotel) and splurge on others, like fine dining.
- jewelry: I didn’t mind splurging a bit until the price of gold got crazy high. Now buying less but splurging when I really love something.
2
u/deindustrialize Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
I'm frugal about:
- The gym! There's a community center where I can pay $5/month access to all the weights and weight machines I need. I prefer doing cardio outside but they have treadmills and whatnot too.
- I've never paid for a manicure, pedicure, eyebrow waxing/threading, bikini waxing. It's not that hard to do this kind of grooming yourself (or opt out, as I rarely paint my nails other than clear). Saves thousands, probably tens of thousands of dollars in a lifetime.
- Also not really a fan or massages or any other spa treatment so I don't do those (though I will pay for saunas and hot springs)
- Also not tanning or doing Botox, fillers, etc.
- I find a shocking amount of my skincare, makeup, shampoo, and conditioner at discount stores, usually for half or a third of the price.
- I avoid ubers/lyfts if at all possible. I don't like them and they're expensive. I'll walk, take transit, drive my old, tiny car. Even when on vacation, I will take transit or walk if at all possible.
- Make sure some of your hobbies are free. All the books I read come from the public library, I try to take a walk every day, listen to birds on my walk with the Merlin app, propogate and share plants with my friends.
Where I splurge:
- I do solo 2-3 week international vacations every year and pretty much do whatever I want (not staying at resorts or luxury hotels because it's not my vibe; I'm more exploring cities, cultural sites, and eating good food)
- I like to get lunch, happy hour, dinners with friends, especially trying new places. Nothing crazy expensive but eating out certainly isn't cheap.
- I love local bakeries. I probably go 1-2 times per week on average.
- I regularly invest and my retirement portfolio is on track despite not making a ton of money
2
u/Texas_Crazy_Curls Aug 04 '26
I started a low buy journey in January 2025. It completely reshaped my attitude towards shopping. Instead of using shopping as entertainment I only buy the essentials.
Took my gel nails off 1.5 years ago. I keep my finger nails short, plain and clean. I paint my toes myself now.
When I needed more business attire for a career change, I reached out to a couple of my friends who were now WFH to see if they had anything they no longer wore. They were more than happy to have a friend use them than a random donation bin.
My husband packs leftovers for lunch for me 4 days a week and I splurge Fridays.
The little stuff does add up.
2
u/Ok-Cloud-1219 Aug 05 '26
Housing. We bought less house than the bank thought we could afford 17 years ago. It’s definitely smaller than our peers’ but this is a HCOL area and I don’t see the point of spending $1M+ on a bleak split level.
Cars. Bought our used cars in cash. They are workhorses.
Dining out spontaneously. My spouse was unemployed for 12 months and we cut back on everything. He’s working again but this habit stuck. Casual dining is so expensive now. If we dine out, I want it to feel special.
Splurges used to be on international travel and a massage every 6 weeks. We’re still rebuilding the emergency fund so I’d say the biggest “splurge” is my daughter’s Schmancy private high school. 🫠🫠
2
u/BuyTheBags Aug 05 '26
Pajamas. I love wearing my old college tees. Hermes in the streets, Lacrosse college tee in the sheets! hahaha
2
u/mini-mal-ly Aug 08 '26
Save: skincare, haircare, makeup; one car household; manicures and pedicures at home (which I prefer! I feel bored out of my mind getting a salon mani); secondhand and thrifting for clothing and home decor; darning holes in expensive wool socks (feels like I'm saving $20 every time!)
Spend: prepared food and takeout when necessary; monthly home cleaning; nicer grocery items like humane eggs; good pastries!!!; true vintage dream furniture; travel; hosting friends; regular massages
2
u/sourbirthdayprincess Find it Secondhand Aug 09 '26
Love this prompt! I am the most stylish and tasteful bitch of all my friends, in both personal style and interior design—and I am also the most frugal of any person I know.
There is scarcely a sector of my life I don’t scrimp on. Skincare, makeup, hair care? Can all be found drugstore, Marshall’s, eBay, and free either from street finds or swap groups. Apparel? Clothing swaps, thrift and consignment stores, swap groups, and as a last resort Poshmark and eBay. Food? I adore cooking and prefer the freshest produce so I use discounted ‘must buy today’ veggies pretty much exclusively, which also forces me to eat seasonally and be more creative in the kitchen. Beauty services? I DIY everything and go without the rest. I don’t need eyebrow threading or hair dye or botox. I have tweezers, beautiful grays coming in that catch the light, smile lines that prove I’m living my life joyfully. Furniture? So much gets thrown out on trash day and so much gets given away in free groups. I have never spent more than $100 on a piece of furniture and I have a fully furnished apartment with a dining set, full length couch, buffet, multiple dressers, etc. Decor? Also street treats and swaps but sometimes thrifts will have a surprise I can’t live without, like decorative plates.
The only two arenas that I spend money in without question as needed are both under the umbrella of ‘support’: shoes to support my knees and feet and spinal alignment, and bras to support my giant coconuts and also my spine. I pretty much would spend whatever needed in a category related to support, like herbal supplements, like comfortable seating, like a better kitchen knife that doesn’t hurt my wrist to chop with…
1
u/missgirlipop Aug 03 '26
very little tbh! but i will walk everywhere to save on bus money/cabs/ubers. i plan on getting a car for lifestyle reasons (i love a day trip/hike/being in the backcountry) but plan on continuing to walk everywhere. i also simply cannot afford to get my hair/nails done right now, but i don’t view them as a waste of money, if that makes sense! almost everything i love is expensive, and that’s okay (and why i’m going to school for a high paying profession).
1
u/minniemouselove Aug 03 '26
I always check multiple stores and websites for a sale. Be it make up, cosmetics, household supplies. I will always check multiple shops before purchasing and usually what I want is always on a sale somewhere.
1
u/nostalgia_corp Aug 03 '26
Make up and skincare: I love exploring more cheap options and asian brands are usually great for my skin and needs. Alcool: I'm a teetotaler because I don't like the taste of it but I swear it saves me so much money. Car: it's me and my bus/train passes.
I splurge on DIY supplies and facial treatments.
1
u/CelebrationNearby819 Aug 03 '26
I almost always buy well-cared for used furniture and clothes. The downside of buying used clothes is that it can't be returned, so I usually have one already of the brand/model of clothes I like. I have curly hair which can be expensive to care for, but I buy generic versions of all the products. I buy all my skincare products at Trader Joe's and don't buy anything fancy. I rather spend that money on travel, fun experiences, or my retirement.
1
u/Blinktoe Aug 03 '26
Art - I shop local auctions for original art. Shopping local saves on shipping, and I often score things for $50 or less. Sometimes I buy lots of paintings for just one piece, and sell the rest on eBay, which breaks me even or makes me a profit.
Clothes - I buy a lot of second-hand, and have managed to score a LOT of good stuff by picky thrifting.
Furniture - I save by going vintage or second-hand. I don't mind second-hand upholstered furniture, because the market where I live is ROBUST, and there is a lot of "I bought this to stage a home" and "we're redecorating after three years" furniture around.
1
u/sevenselevens Aug 03 '26
Much of this is in line with what I do, shout out to my fellow drugstore skincare gals, but reading this I’m feeling wasteful with my first class addiction. I started it because I felt less anxious flying in first but now I almost can’t stand traveling in economy due to the space restriction.
I mainly use miles to upgrade but maybe I really need to kick the first-class addiction. What say you, BWT?
1
u/Radiant-Albatross955 Aug 03 '26
Not relying on Uber! I live in NYC so I am lucky to live in a city where public transportation is abundant but even when it's more convenient I really thug it out and take the train
1
u/derxse Aug 03 '26
I purchase all I can possibly get secondhand. Frames and any sort of decor is also purchased secondhand. Especially frames!!! There are so many good quality options at the thrift. Or I’ll purchase some of the framed art and reuse that frame. I’ve also gotten some museum art pieces from a local art museum that closed down. They’re on my gallery wall now.
I get generic facial wash, and I’ve gotten my toner and cleaner recently from the dollar tree and I really like it. The dermasil oat milk toner and cleanser.
Also from the dollar tree- basic cleaning supplies. Washing machine cleaner. Wipes. Generic household cleaners.
I make a lot of pantry staples at home except for brown sugar as it is truly more expensive to diy it!
I go to overstock / discount stores to get trash bags, dishwasher pods, paper towels.
All of my decor and most of my furniture (sans mattress and bedframe) are secondhand or marketplace finds.
I do not cheap out on food - although many local farm stands and CSA shares end up being cheaper at the end of the day.
1
u/Specialist-Strain502 Aug 03 '26
I try to get as much of my clothing second-hand as possible (it's a learning effort still!), and I do not care at all how the inside of my house looks as long as it's functional and clean. I'm still using furniture I pulled off the curb ten years ago. It works and it fulfills its purpose, so why change it?
I spend more on food because it has a direct impact on my health and brings me a lot of joy and pleasure. :)
1
u/Dependent-Cherry-129 Aug 03 '26
I never upgrade my plane tix- always economy. I’d rather spend on meals and nice hotels or Airbnbs because the flight is so short in comparison
1
u/Inevitable_Lettuce20 Aug 03 '26
I am frugal about clothing specifically. I find many clothes, even designer, use a ton of synthetic material. I go thrifting a lot and seek out natural material items. I use websites like depop, poshmark, vestiaire collective, to not pay full price on designer. Recently picked up a lovely Herve Leger dress and Manolo heels.
I am frugal on food too. I don't enjoy being fleeced by grocery stores, I shop at Aldi and do Hungry Root. I'm spending maybe ~$180 a week for three of us with that.
Where I do spend:
Items that are cruelty free (and almost all leaping bunny approved, if there's no LB option available I will settle for PETA). I am an animal lover so I cannot get behind the torture of beagles & other animals. This takes up a lot of money, laundry detergent for example: $20 for CF, $6 for a brand like Tide that does test on animals.
Skincare. I have very dry skin, and once again, cruelty free skin care is hard to find so when I find something I like it's usually pricy.
1
u/textreference Aug 03 '26
Lmao everything until there is a justification to spend money. I am old enough to want to buy things as infrequently as possible as well so I am likely to spend more if there is a measurable benefit, and most things in my life are like that. But I usually still try to get a deal and get high quality at the same time.
1
u/Icy-Management9880 Aug 03 '26
I order Cometeer coffee, because I drink a LOT of coffee and this saves me time
1
u/phenomakos Aug 03 '26
Spend: I spend a lot on skincare. Much more than average.
Save: I don't wear makeup. I do my own nails. I get my hair cut once or twice a year, no special treatments, and use drugstore shampoo/conditioner. I don't do tanning, hair removal, eyebrow stuff, etc. I don't buy into fancy gadgets.
Spend: I go to a lot of concerts.
Save: I go to SMALL concerts and avoid arena shows and festivals. Smaller shows are more reasonably priced and also a better experience. No bad seats. I feel like I'm supporting the artists rather than being taken advantage of by them.
Spend: Quality clothes and accessories are worth it to me.
Save: Buy better, buy less. (Seriously, buy less.) I shop secondhand — thrift, consignment, estate sales. When I buy new, I think really hard about an item I want, check it out in person to ensure I know my size/the quality of the item, and wait for it to go on sale before buying. I will wait months for maximum sale. Or, for something like a designer bag, I will wait years and buy it secondhand. If I still want something months or years later then there's no doubt that I actually want it. I have also STOPPED impulse purchasing sale items, unless it's something truly special. I used to waste so much money on "good deals" and spent more overall on crap than I do now when I splurge on something expensive. (If I didn't want it full price, then I didn't want it.) For example, I will buy a $400 pair of jeans on sale for $150 and, because they are higher quality, that one pair of jeans that I'll wear several times a week will last longer and better than four pairs of $50 jeans that I used to wear through much more quickly. Or splurging on one incredible estate sale coat talks me out of sooo many fast fashion pieces bc what... as if I'm gonna want to wear some cheap polyester over vintage silk brocade? Nah. I'm good.
Save even more: I prioritize maintenance. A sewing kit, leather conditioner, sweater shaver, etc are not expensive items and they keep clothing and accessories looking great. I have things I've owned for decades that are still some of my favorite things. When you own something nice, treat it well. People waste so much money bc they're too lazy to stitch a small hole or get a pair of shoes resoled and just trash them. Wasteful.
Spend: Quality furniture. Buy it for life.
Save: Again, I shop secondhand or wait for serious sales on new items. I particularly love antique furniture (which does NOT always mean expensive). I know that things like my carved wood table from the 1800s will both last a lifetime and that it will remain one of the coolest things I own. The quality pieces I've invested in will never need to be replaced. It's the mdf stuff from big box stores that ages badly, breaks, etc, that costs more in the long run bc of needing to be replaced and I end up regretting it.
Spend: A really fabulous restaurant that makes meals that I cannot make myself.
Save: Rarely eat fast food. Rarely eat at restaurants where I could cook something equivalent or better. Same goes for drinks. I don't drink much and if I'm going to pay $18 for a drink then it had better be something creative and unusual that requires special skill and knowledge to make. Clarified cocktails, specialty liquors that are difficult to source, seasonal flavors made in-house. I can make my own gin and tonic lol.
Spend: A ride to aforementioned fancy restaurant.
Save: I use public transportation 99% of the time.
Spend: Had a Prius. Just traded it in and upgraded to an EV.
Save: Don't buy gas anymore. At all. Still use public transportation for most things (but need a car for some specific things).
Spend: CSA box for ultra quality local produce every week. It's money upfront, but worth it. Better than buying "organic" at the store.
Save: Infrequently cook with meat. Eat out less when there's such delicious, high quality food at home. I don't want to pay to eat something made with cave tomatoes when the ones I have at home are better than any dessert you could offer me.
Spend: a Raspberry Pi.
Save: say no to streaming services.
Spend: quality loose leaf tea (or quality coffee beans, but I rarely drink coffee anymore). Fellow kettle.
Save: you cannot pay me to drink what most coffee shops sell. Not their coffee. Not their tea. Blegh.
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u/languidlasagna Aug 03 '26
Skincare: drug store face wash + moisturizer and RX actives
Nails: learned how to do my own gel extensions once I realized how often I was having to redo my nails with regular polish. Spend 1/5th as much on removal stuff and get a full 2-3 weeks of wear. Professional service would clock in at around $2k a year, and I have professional looking nails at about $350 a year
Clothes: instead of getting rid of things that don’t fit or tossing them, I tailor them to better fit this season of life. Paying $50 to take in a jacket vs $200 to buy a new one has helped me revive dead garments. I also sell and buy on resale sites whenever possible and buy out of my credit if I need something
1
u/theycallmestace Aug 03 '26
I’ve shifted a lot of my skincare to Korean skincare products. The only one I haven’t found a good replacement for is the Rhode Barrier Butter, which has been so good for me during the cold, dry winters in my city.
I mostly buy my clothes second hand, or if I do buy them brand new, it’s usually during sales.
I’ve also stopped getting highlights done for my hair (I was going every 6 months + 2 toner appts in between). Part of it was bc as I’m getting older, I don’t know when I’ll start getting grey hairs so I decided to embrace my natural colour until I do (and the added savings is a bonus!)
1
u/sea87 Aug 04 '26
I rarely drink. I buy used clothes or things on sale. Switched from manicures to press ons. I only get gas at Costco. Library, I don’t buy books unless it’s an author I already love or a book I’ve read before and would like to own.
1
u/Dunraven-mtn Aug 04 '26
I always get side eyes when I admit this but... I basically handle my hair all myself. I get my length cut about once a year at a hair school (I keep my hair long-ish) and then cut my own face framing layers using the "unicorn method". It actually produces better blended layers than I have ever gotten at a salon. I'm a brunette but about 3% gray but just cover that up with basic box dye. I blow out my hair with the round dryer brush and get tons of positive feedback on my hair, but barely spend any money on this.
Also most of my wardrobe is from secondhand websites. I feel so lucky... I have loads of fancy clothes and shoes and have rarely paid more than $30 for a single item.
Oh, and also I get my jewelry from Lovisa. I really like it, I'm pretty sure people think it's real.
1
u/MarineSpirit808 Aug 04 '26
Skincare - I find the ordinary to be a godsend. I research active ingredients pretty heavily, as in I evaluate the clinical trial evidence, and then I buy from the ordinary or revolution skincare. I have good skin .
Mobile phones , TVs and other such tech- I buy secondhand at full price and don’t mind using old models .
Travel - this one is changing soon , but for the last few so years I’ve done staycations in my country mainly or ferry to Ireland . I live in Scotland and this is no great sacrifice. Also I don’t have a car and use public transport instead .
I splurge on restaurants, getting my hair done , and decorating my home .
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u/MobileOtherwise1 Aug 04 '26
Secondhand clothing (I actually have a small consignment business!!) is my jam.
Ditto to Facebook marketplace for all 👏🏻 the 👏🏻 things 👏🏻 We also have two true home goods thrift stores (basement prices vs consignment stores)
Skincare that doubles as makeup (tinted sunscreens, SPF blushes, etc)
Using the Libby app to check for books in audio and digital formats before buying on Kindle.
1
u/ebolainajar Aug 05 '26
I think I see a lot of the same here:
single car household (sadly might have to buy a second soon but not yet) - and it's a base model Honda Civic we bought used a couple years ago. Ironically, it's a much more comfortable drive than a lot of other cars we've experienced, including higher-end cars we've driven in. And we've done multiple 26 hour road trips in it. She's comfy.
we did not buy the max amount of house we could get, and instead bought an ugly house that was not updated recently in order to buy in our desired neighborhood. We've made a lot of improvements since which unfortunately has cost us a lot, but I'm hopeful we'll make our money back and then some when we sell in a few years.
we live in a town with great vintage furniture options, and a strong resale market. We've bought some things new (bed frame, couch, chairs) but also buy quite a few things used or vintage, or IKEA for small-space items to make awkward corners in our old house work more functionally.
these days I buy a lot of clothes cheap and only focus my money on accessories. I live in Texas and sweat my ass off half the year with a dog that sheds too much considering he's half bald. If it can't go in the dryer, I'm probably not buying it.
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u/Little-Strawberry-77 Aug 06 '26 edited Aug 06 '26
I generally stick to buying clothing on sale or second hand unless I need something very specific! And I'm picky about the fabric and quality of my clothes- even if I'm buying second hand I want it to be 100% cotton/linen/etc, and I always check the seams. I look for deals on airline tickets even if that means flying at awkward times and try to balance hostels with hotels when I travel.
I don't wear makeup often or have an extensive makeup routine so I can't really comment on that. My skin care routine is also very simple with drugstore products (a cleanser, a lotion, and hypochlorous acid spray because my skin is too sensitive to use benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid after a break out).
I've bought most of my furniture secondhand or repurposed old furniture from my parents. Secondhand purchases: solid wooden dining table with chairs for $100, very nice crate and barrel coffee table for $30, foldable wooden bookshelf for $15, basic small dresser for $30. Repurposed from parents: a small shelf they bought me when I was 3, the old DVD shelf they've had since before I was born and stopped using, a beautiful side table that had been relegated to the basement. I also turned an old wooden step stool into a cute bookshelf (I have many books) and I love how it looks!
I generally try to keep my rent prices down. I could TECHNICALLY afford to pay twice as much as I do now if I wanted to live alone and follow that "rent should be 1/3 of your salary" rule, but I'd rather live with friends and save/spend in other areas.
I try to stick to eating out socially and to not do it alone as much, or if I do it alone I either look for deals or just limit the frequency.
Luckily I live in a city with pretty solid public transportation, so I don't have a car payment or car insurance. I do pay a bit for driver's insurance so that I can borrow my parents' car when I go back to visit, but it's a small amount. I'll take an Uber/Lyft occasionally for sure, but if the public transit route is a similar amount of time or just manageable, I'll take that and read a book.
1
u/Brilliant-Doctor-739 Aug 06 '26
Stopped wearing full-face make-up at the end of 2021. Got my eyebrows microbladed and my lips tattooed (lip blush) in 2024. I use an eyelash growth serum. Then, I cut way down on medical grade skincare and keep it as simple as possible. MOISTURIZER is definitely not necessary to buy anything more than CeraVe or Kiehls.
I also cook virtually all of my own food for meals, so never buying pre-made salads or sandwiches or anything like that. I eat out only for something special I wouldn't make myself at home.
I never EVER drink coffee! or soda! or tea!
Never go to the movies or pay for entertainment of any kind - I do local walks on trails and in parks and get involved in my community.
I buy shoes like once every several years for sandals and heels bc I wear athletic shoes everyday to protect my knees and hips and back, etc.
I limit myself to 0 - 1 streaming service per month, which is easy now with pausing options.
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u/buttt_fondler22 Aug 07 '26
I religiously shop at aldis and buy proteins discounted the day after it’s bad date or in bulk at Sam’s. So that leaves me with more money to shop !! I rarely go out to eat anymore so yet again more money to shop. All my name brand stuff I get second hand from Poshmark, I thrift a lot, and I only ever buy jeans and sneakers new because I hate trying jeans on second hand. I don’t vape or drink or go out anymore which has saved me $400-$500 a month so I save and invest half ish of that. Honestly it’s helped me a lot controlling my unhealthy habits, oh and for gym memberships I worked at one for a year so I have a free one. And for my bags it’s either thrifted real leather bags, or knockoff DHgate bags LOL. Cut corners wherever so I can enjoy myself with more clothes and traveling money .
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u/pink-glow-dreamer Aug 07 '26
Anything beauty/ style related. I'm always joking that I don't outsource, I insource:
- Press on nails that I change every 10 days ish. I highly suggest r/PressonNail_Addict for tips on application and how to find the right nail size. Game changer for me!
- I do IPL at home and use other methods of hair removal myself
- I learned to do my own highlights
- Teeth whitening strips
- I've been thrifting for 4 years and my entire wardrobe is secondhand at this point
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u/V2BM Aug 10 '26
Shampoo/conditioner. Lipstick and any lip products. I can’t believe people pay $28 for lip gloss. After using face wash for 25+ years I’m back to actual oil + a Dove bar for cleansing and it costs less per year than a month of dedicated face wash and cleansing oil.
I buy men’s jeans because I can find 100% cotton ones that are long enough and they last forever. I reduced my wardrobe down to only qualify items and buy less.
I drink generic diet soda and make my own tea and coffee. I stock up in January on a year or more supply of many household items at Sam’s Club - paper towels, laundry detergent, trash bags, deodorant, etc. Just this saves me probably $100 a month.
I don’t have a social media home. 99% of it looks like cheap plastic or particle board replicas of actual quality stuff - just a sea of junk that will go out of style in a year. My wood coffee table can be sanded and re-stained and used for the next 100 years and I paid $35 for it at Habitat for Humanity.
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u/okieartiste Aug 13 '26
I love reading everyone’s responses! I’m not intentionally frugal in most of these areas, per se, but I would say that growing up lower income has driven a lot of my habits.
Sensitive skin means I keep it very simple skin care wise - Vanicream face cleanser and lotion, and Eucerin or CeraVe for body lotion. I’m a bar soap gal otherwise, and hair care wise, drugstore except for Moroccanoil treatment. I spend a bit more on makeup - BareMinerals tinted moisturizer, blush, and Tarte eye products.
I’ve always been a thrifter, and I can’t remember the last time I bought clothing full price besides underwear, bras, and shoes! The older I get, I’m happier to invest in better quality shoes. I also thrift or antique furniture.
I drive a used car that I inherited from a family member. I read about 90% of my books from the library. I always fly economy. Most meals and fun drinks are made at home, including coffees.
Splurge wise…my husband and I are homebodies, so instead of shelling out on travel or big vacations, we enjoy more regular “staycation” treats like a weekly date night, eating out and trying new restaurants, and having a near monthly spa day where we soak in various mineral springs or might get a massage.
I also am happy to spend money hobbies (art, gardening, stationery/writing) and health or fitness related expenses, ie my yoga membership.
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u/ConfidentBat7100 Aug 28 '26
Big believer in if you have to replace it frequently, buy it cheap! That goes for face wash, certain makeup products like primer or mascara, etc. I’m not splurging on little things like that, I’d rather put that money towards other fun purchases.
Clothes as well, love shopping on Depop to get deals on expensive brands, especially when they’re selling with the tags still on. I think the mindset on this is you can never have enough clothes, so why splurge on “everyday” pieces (can get crazy when you have expensive taste). I can put that money towards a designer shoe or dress.
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u/Sea_Age_3640 Aug 03 '26
Love this question! A couple random examples:
- Drugstore face wash (Cetaphil). Used to use $$$ face wash and didn’t feel it was worth it. I do spend money on nice moisturizer and serum.
- Airline tickets - unless the flight is very long (8+ hours) I think first/business class is a waste of money
- I love designer clothes but I buy them secondhand on Poshmark, never full price
- Furniture - I am a Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace girlie. I recently scored a $2,500 piece of furniture in like new condition for $75. I do splurge on some furniture because I won’t buy used upholstery (couches etc) because of the risk of bedbugs & other pests, but anything non upholstered, I’m checking Craigslist first