How to Live Frugally in 2023

- by Becky Hall

Looking for tips on how to live frugally? You’ve reached the right place! At Cashfloat, we are always trying to help people save money and budget their expenses so they do not have to turn to high cost short term credit. Read on for some great tips…

Learn how to live frugally in 2020 - Cashfloat

What is Frugal Living?

Frugal living is knowing how to be very intentional with your money. It it spending money on things which are very important to you and cutting back on spending in other areas. Frugal living is not about making sacrafices and feeling deprived, it’s about making smart choices so that you can afford to live the life you want.

Frugall Living – Something for Everyone to Strive for!

Today, the economy isn’t what it once was. While we’ve seen a boom in productivity, that new wealth isn’t going to the average worker. Instead, it’s going to the hedge-fund managers, financiers, and special interest groups. It means that the majority of people are living paycheck to paycheck and can’t pay for unexpected larger expenses without going into debt. This creates untold stress and anxiety, and can ultimately destroy their happiness.

But there is another way. More and more people are rejecting the old economic model of working just to buy stuff. They want more out of their lives, and frugality offers a way forwards. Spendthrifts have been demonized ever since John Maynard Keynes released his treatise on economics in the 1930s. They’re characterized as being a miserly bunch who live like Trappist monks. But that’s just a misconception. Frugal living is a practical way to help people to escape the financial constraints of modern life. Once you’ve incorporated the frugal mindset into your life, you’ll finally be free from the cycle of work and consumerism. In turn, you’ll feel happier and more joyful in your life.

Perhaps the biggest benefit of living frugally is the change in outlook that it brings. Rather than forever striving for the next car or holiday, frugal living allows you to appreciate what you do have. Sure, your neighbor’s car might look great. But do you want to give up your evenings and weekends with your family to be able to afford it? Probably not.

 Frugal living allows you to appreciate what you have! - Cashfloat  Frugal living allows you to appreciate what you have! - Cashfloat

Why is it important to live frugally?

Then there’s the fact that people who live frugally also tend to be able to live without debt. Every year, millions of Brits take out payday loans each year to keep their finances afloat. These loans charge high rates of interest that ruin family finances and keep people locked into a cycle of debt-slavery. Short term loan companies market their products as a way to deal with unexpected expenses. However, the only reason people use them in the first place is that people haven’t built up any savings. Sometimes that’s simply because their income won’t allow it. However, most of the time there are changes they could make to avoid these costly alternatives.

The bottom line is when people don’t live frugally; they make themselves less free. They must continue doing work they loathe in places they hate, all to pay outstanding debts. It’s no way to live one’s life, and it’s why so many people are turning to frugal living. Frugal living gives people the security of having their own savings. It eliminates the guilt that people might have about their spending habits. And it puts individuals back in control of their finances and their lives. What’s more, living frugally is a lot easier than you might expect. Here are some simple changes you can make today.

Frugal Living Tips from Cashfloat

Frugall Living Tips

  • Dry Your Clothes On A Line

  • Clothes drying outside on a line shouldn’t be a symbol of poverty; it should be a symbol of freedom. Yes, clothes dryers might save a bit of time around the house. If you live in an apartment, don’t worry: just use an indoor rack instead.

  • Take Public Transport

  • Personal transportation devices, also known as cars, are frighteningly expensive. Public transport, on the other hand, is likely to be a lot cheaper. Take a look at transportation costs in your local city and find out how much it would cost for the year, depending on your needs. Even better, ditch motorized transport entirely and just use your push bike.

  • Grow Your Own Food

  • Shop-bought fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs tend to be very expensive. In fact, they’re so expensive that many families don’t bother buying any at all and head straight to the convenience food aisle. Now, many people are choosing to grow their own produce to save money. When you grow your own fruit and veggies, concentrate on cultivating the most expensive items. Berries, herbs, tomatoes, peppers and lettuces are all easy-to-grow and could save you a small fortune each year.

  • Give Up On Cable

  • Cable subscriptions are falling at their most rapid rate in history. Millions of people, even those who don’t want to live frugally, aren’t bothering with the service anymore. It costs about £80 a month. And with so many internet shows and catch-up services, it hardly seems worth it. Frugal people, therefore, can cancel their cable subscription and enjoy free stuff on the web instead.

  • Bag A Bargain At Thrift Stores

  • If you’re a spendthrift, where better to spend your time than shopping down at the local spendthrift store? Clothes, furniture, and even electronics can all be found at massively discounted prices. There’s even the chance that you might find designer brands if you know where to look.

  • Cook All Your Meals At Home

  • Just one meal out for the whole family can easily cost £80. That’s about what a frugal family might spend on a week’s worth of shopping. Once you make comparisons like this, you begin to realize just how expensive eating out is. Instead of wasting hundreds of dollars at restaurants, resolve to do your cooking in the home. Not only will you save a lot of money, but you’ll also feel healthier and better for it. According to a study by Johns Hopkins, people eat a better diet when they cook and eat at home.

Conclusion

So there you have it. Frugal living doesn’t sound so difficult, does it? Just by making these small changes, you could save more than £10,000 per year and help you avoid requiring the help of payday lenders.

Share
Do you know someone who could benefit from this article?
About The Author
Becky Hall
Becky never thought she would be a financial blogger. But Fate arranged that Becky had to put her accounting degree on the back burner right after she graduated with a first in Business and Accounting. While doing bookkeeping as a freelancer for private clients, Becky noticed how many cashflow problems can be solved with a little bit of education. Trying to keep her clients out of debt, Becky began writing resources which she distributed to clients. What began as writing advice for clients evolved into a passion and now Becky found her platform at Cashfloat. When she isn’t writing, calculating or budgeting, Becky can be found at her piano playing something classical.
Need £300 - £1,500 today?
Try our famous UK Payday Loans

Warning: Late repayment can cause you serious money problems. For help, go to moneyhelper.org.uk

Need money today? Apply now for our fast payday loans.
Blog disclaimer

We do all we can to bring you interesting, practical and valuable information. However, please understand the following:

Information and data on this blog are for information purposes only. While we work hard to ensure it is accurate, we cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, suitability or validity of any information provided on the blog. We will not be liable for any errors, omissions, losses, injuries or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided with no warranties and confers no rights.

If you feel that any of the information published on our blog is not accurate, please notify us via email at compliance@cashfloat.co.uk

Cashfloat is a trading style of Western Circle Limited - Company Registration Number: 7581337. We are fully authorised and regulated by The Financial Conduct Authority. FCA full permission license: 714479. ICO Registration Number: Z3305234


* Cashfloat terms and conditions apply. Applicants must be 18 or over. All loans are subject to affordability, applicant verification and traditional credit checks via various national databases by Cashfloat responsible lending policy. In most cases, loan decisions may take up to 30 minutes during office working hours. If your bank does not support Faster Payments, funds will be sent to your account the same day as approval so long as you’re approved by 16:30.


*Money will be funded to your bank within 1 hour of approval - Mon-Fri during working hours.


Representative example: Borrow £700 for 6 months. 1st monthly repayment of £168.45, 4 monthly repayments of £224.60, last monthly repayment of £112.20. Total repayment £1,179.05. Interest rate p.a. (fixed) 185.39%. Representative APR 611.74% Our APR includes all applicable fees. Daily interest is capped at 0.798%.


Warning: Late repayment can cause you serious money problems. For help, go to moneyhelper.org.uk