{"id":174778,"date":"2025-06-11T04:58:13","date_gmt":"2025-06-11T04:58:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/174778\/"},"modified":"2025-06-11T04:58:13","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T04:58:13","slug":"11-things-frugal-people-do-that-seem-weird-until-youre-the-one-paying-the-bills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/174778\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Things Frugal People Do That Seem Weird Until You’re The One Paying The Bills"},"content":{"rendered":"

While frugality has been misguidedly associated with the dreaded notion of being cheap for decades, research, like\u00a0one Talker Research study commissioned by Chime<\/a>, reveals that many people are now coming around to the idea that it may be a good practice. Frugality is no longer considered a shameful term, even for people who center their lives around status symbols and consumerism, but rather as a means to regain personal power and financial stability in an uncertain economy.<\/p>\n

Many of the things frugal people do that seem weird until you\u2019re the one paying the bills can make a real difference in your economic situation. Now that more and more people are starting to adopt a frugal mindset, or, at the very least, a few frugal habits, they\u2019re also able to prioritize the things they want in life with more ease and freedom. So is that really weird \u2014 or is it empowering?<\/p>\n

Here are 11 things frugal people do that seem weird until you\u2019re the one paying the bills1. Reusing plastic bags and containers<\/p>\n

\"Woman Romanchini | Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n

Nearly 60% of all single-use plastic products, from plastic bags to utensils and take-out containers, are immediately thrown away after their first use, even when they\u2019re capable of being reused, according to\u00a0a study from the Sustainable Production and Consumption journal<\/a>. However, many frugal people aren\u2019t simply reusing these plastic bags, Ziplocs, and containers to help the environment, they\u2019re also saving money.<\/p>\n

Think about how many Ziploc containers you could save money on if you simply washed and reused them a few times. The same goes for buying lunches versus reusing containers to take homemade meals with you. When you reuse, you save money.<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0<\/strong>To Save A Ton More Money, Avoid These 5 Common Financial Mistakes<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

2. Stretching meals<\/p>\n

\"Woman AlessandroBiascioli | Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve never gotten creative in the kitchen with leftovers or stretched meals with innovative new ideas, chances are you\u2019re not really all that frugal. Even if you technically have the money to go out for a meal, DoorDash something, or splurge on one meal\u2019s worth of groceries, having the willpower to simply use what you have at home (and then use the leftovers) is powerful.<\/p>\n

It may seem like one of the things frugal people do that seems weird, but until you\u2019re the one paying the bills, you\u2019ll never understand how you could save money by stretching out groceries and leftovers. Even small choices like this can make a huge impact, especially considering\u00a0the rising cost of groceries<\/a>.<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0<\/strong>Millennials & Gen Z Have A New ‘Splurge’ Item And It’s Actually Very Sad \u2013 ‘The Gaslighting Is Out Of Control’<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

3. Openly asking for discounts<\/p>\n

\"Woman Drazen Zigic | Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s bartering at the thrift store, cutting coupons from mailed pamphlets, or downloading loyalty apps for every single store they shop at, openly asking for discounts is one of the things frugal people do that seems weird until you\u2019re the one paying the bills.<\/p>\n

According to\u00a0a 2021 study<\/a>, the average household could save around $1,465 annually by using coupons when purchasing household goods, groceries, clothing, entertainment, and other regular expenses. So, while it might seem tedious or slightly embarrassing in our consumerist culture, couponing is more effective than you might believe.<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0<\/strong>10 Things People Raised By Frugal Parents Do That Everyone Else Thinks Is Weird<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

4. Turning off lights<\/p>\n

\"Woman GBJSTOCK | Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n

Whether they\u2019re leaving the room for a second or the entire day, frugal people are incredibly intentional about electricity usage in their living spaces, making sure to turn lights off when they won’t be returning to a room for a while.<\/p>\n

According to\u00a0a study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology<\/a>, it\u2019s this personal intentionality that actually ensures they\u2019ll save money. The more responsible a person feels for their energy usage, the more likely they are to take action to not overdo it.<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0<\/strong>Mom Discovers She’s Been Paying Her Neighbor’s Electric Bill For 5 Years & Neither The Landlord Nor The Utility Company Will Fix It<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

5. Using the library<\/p>\n

\"Woman Olena Yakobchuk | Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n

As\u00a0experts from Harvard<\/a> explain, libraries can be centers for curiosity, growth, learning, and community. However, getting books there is also one of the things frugal people do that seems weird until you\u2019re the one paying the bills. Using a public library lowers the costs of purchasing new books, finding support and resources, and even seeking out information.<\/p>\n

Of course, the library isn’t just an incredibly resourceful place for seeking out information, but it\u2019s also helpful for building community and new relationships. In fact, many people in younger generations are\u00a0finding public libraries to be the perfect replacement for third places that are now becoming financially restrictive and exclusive with rising costs and inflation, so they save you money on finding community as well.<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0<\/strong>11 Frugal Gen Z Habits People Make Fun Of That Actually Work<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

6. Freezing food<\/p>\n

\"Couple PeopleImages.com – Yuri A | Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n

Freezing food to eat later is one of the things frugal people do that seems weird until you\u2019re the one paying the bills, especially\u00a0considering it can save you a ton<\/a>. Whether you\u2019re freezing bread to avoid spoilage, bulk purchasing expensive items like meat, or avoiding impulsive purchases by planning out meals in advance, utilizing your freezer can be a genius frugal habit.<\/p>\n

Especially as grocery costs continue to rise, keeping long-lasting foods in the freezer and freezing in-season produce when it\u2019s cheapest is a great way to prioritize both nutrition and savings.<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0<\/strong>11 Things Brilliant People Are Stocking Up On Now Before Grocery Store Shelves Go Empty Soon<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

7. Eating before going out<\/p>\n

\"Man Ladanifer | Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not starving when you go to a restaurant or in a grocery store, you\u2019re much less likely to overspend outside of your budget. Of course, enjoy yourself every once in a while and splurge when it makes sense for you, but to protect yourself and your budget, a quick snack might be worth it.<\/p>\n

Even if that means having a meal before grocery shopping, being satisfied before you go to buy food can ensure you\u2019re not overspending or sacrificing any kind of budget you\u2019ve carefully crafted because of an impulsive purchasing decision.<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0<\/strong>To Save A Ton More Money, Avoid These 5 Common Financial Mistakes<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

8. Waiting before making a purchase<\/p>\n

\"Woman Chay_Tee | Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n

By giving yourself a period of time to think about a purchase before making a decision, whether it\u2019s one day or one month, you can keep yourself from making impulsive purchases that will ultimately hurt your self-esteem, anxiety, and financial security.<\/p>\n

While impulsive purchases and feeding into a consumerist culture may help to instantly and temporarily distract you from sadness, anxiety, or stress, like\u00a0a study from the Journal of Consumer Psychology<\/a> suggests, it only adds to the pain, uncertainty, and overwhelm you\u2019ll face later when you have to pay the bills.<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0<\/strong>11 Common Habits Of People Who Stay Broke No Matter How Much Money They Make<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

9. Living below their means<\/p>\n

\"Woman Soloviova Liudmyla | Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n

If you have the money, why not spend it? It seems like a valid argument, but frugal people act in a completely opposite way \u2014 living below their means to save money and protect their financial stability, even when they have bills to pay.<\/p>\n

Of course, living below your means doesn\u2019t mean you have to stop traveling, going out, or making fun purchases. It simply means being more intentional about when and how you spend.<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0<\/strong>10 Quiet Clues Someone Wasn’t Raised With Financial Stability, According To Psychology<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

10. Avoiding convenience<\/p>\n

\"Man hedgehog94 | Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s food delivery services,\u00a0too many streaming services<\/a>, or snack food, all of which are almost always more expensive than buying from grocery stores, despite the fact that you get less food, our culture encourages us to spend money on convenience on a daily basis.<\/p>\n

Not giving in to that temptation is one of the things frugal people avoid that seem weird until you’re the one paying the bills, at which point you don\u2019t mind making more work for yourself if it means you can save money.<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0<\/strong>If Your Parents Taught You These 6 Money Mindsets, They Were Secretly Raising You To Be Rich<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

11. Wearing the same clothes for years<\/p>\n

\"Woman Kmpzzz | Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n

Wearing the same clothes for several years is one of the things people do that seems weird until you\u2019re the one paying the bills. Especially in our ultra-consumerist and trend-focused culture, it\u2019s not surprising that we\u2019re pressured to buy new clothes and outfits for every season, event, and situation, but frugal people save by choosing not to feed into that.<\/p>\n

Frugal people re-wear clothes, accept hand-me-downs, and sometimes thrift when they need something different to offset the costs of buying new clothes every year.<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0<\/strong>12 Smart Thrifting Tips To Buy Cute Clothes On A Budget<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Zayda Slabbekoorn<\/a> is a staff writer with a bachelor\u2019s degree in social relations & policy and gender studies who focuses on psychology, relationships, self-help, and human interest stories.<\/p>\n

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