Being frugal sometimes feels like a dirty little secret. You clip coupons, skip the fancy lattes and patch up your clothes instead of tossing them \u2014 only to get teased for it.<\/p>\n
But here\u2019s the thing: a lot of those so-called \u201ccheap\u201d habits are actually wise financial moves<\/a>, especially with reports of a possible recession, according to Forbes.<\/p>\n Advertisement: High Yield Savings Offers <\/p>\n Powered by Money.com – Yahoo may earn commission from the links above. <\/p>\n For You: Are You Rich or Middle Class? 8 Ways To Tell That Go Beyond Your Paycheck<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Read Next: The New Retirement Problem Boomers Are Facing<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Frugal habits that often get mocked tend to reflect a broader culture of individualism and self-reliance, said Andreas Jones, founder and editor of KindaFrugal.<\/p>\n \u201cThings like splitting two-ply toilet paper into single-ply sheets or turning off the air conditioning in the middle of a heatwave can sound extreme, but they stem from a deeper focus on stretching every dollar, especially in areas with high living costs or medical debt,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a look at the frugal behaviors people love to mock Americans for \u2014 and why you should keep doing them anyway<\/a>.<\/p>\n From what he\u2019s seen with his clients, Andrew Lokenauth, money expert and owner of BeFluentInFinance, said extreme couponing gets the most eye rolls and jokes.<\/p>\n \u201cBut here\u2019s the thing \u2014 I\u2019ve watched people save $300 plus per month just by spending a few hours organizing their coupons.\u201d<\/p>\n One of his clients built a $15,000 emergency fund<\/a> in 18 months through couponing alone.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, it takes time to clip and organize, but the ROI is insane,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Check Out: 3 Signs You\u2019ve \u2018Made It\u2019 Financially, According to Financial Influencer Genesis Hinckley<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Buying generic brands<\/a> is another one people love to mock. Working in finance, Lokenauth said he can\u2019t count how many times he\u2019s heard \u201cbut the name brand tastes better.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cListen, I\u2019ve done blind taste tests with my clients \u2014 they literally can\u2019t tell the difference 80% of the time,\u201d Lokenauth said.<\/p>\n He said the markup on name brands is sometimes 50% higher just for prettier packaging. That\u2019s real money you\u2019re throwing away.<\/p>\n In most cases, generic products are made in the same factories, with nearly identical ingredients. You\u2019re paying extra for the logo, not the quality.<\/p>\n From pantry staples and cleaning supplies to over-the-counter meds, switching to store brands can shave hundreds off your annual grocery bill without changing much about your actual lifestyle.<\/p>\n Another mockable habit Lokenauth noted was folks keeping the thermostat at 68 degrees in winter and 78 degrees in summer.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople act like you\u2019re torturing yourself, but your body adapts in about two weeks,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He personally saved $175 a month last summer by doing this \u2014 and he lives in Texas.<\/p>\n His advice? Put on a sweater in winter, use fans in summer. Your bank account<\/a> will thank you.<\/p>\n Energy costs can quietly eat away at your budget, especially during peak seasons. But small adjustments \u2014 like optimizing your thermostat settings, sealing drafts or using blackout curtains \u2014 can lead to major savings without sacrificing much comfort. Most people barely notice the change after a few days and the money you save adds up month after month.<\/p>\n Driving older cars is a big one that gets laughed at, but Lokenauth has analyzed thousands of financial portfolios and emphasized that the people with the most wealth often drive over 10 year old cars.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of my wealthiest clients drives a 2008 Toyota while his friends lease new BMWs. The difference: He\u2019s got $2 million plus invested while they\u2019re drowning in car payments,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n While newer cars might look impressive, they\u2019re also depreciating assets that lose value the moment you drive them off the lot. Older, reliable vehicles can save you thousands over the years \u2014 not just on car payments, but also on insurance, registration fees and even certain taxes.<\/p>\n Plus, with routine maintenance, many cars can easily run well past 200,000 miles. Driving an older car isn\u2019t a sign you\u2019re broke; it\u2019s often a quiet flex that your financial priorities are in order.<\/p>\n Sure, your coworkers might tease you about never going out, but Lokenauth said he had a client who saved $4,800 in one year just by brown bagging it.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a pretty sweet vacation or a solid investment contribution,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Skipping the $12 office salad or $15 sandwich might not seem like much at first, but those daily lunches add up \u2014 fast. Meal prepping isn\u2019t just about saving money; it\u2019s also healthier, often tastier and gives you way more control over what you\u2019re eating.<\/p>\n Even prepping just three to four meals a week can lead to serious savings over time. And if anyone rolls their eyes at your Tupperware? Just remember: your leftovers might be fueling your next vacation, emergency fund or investment account<\/a> \u2014 while they\u2019re stuck wondering where their money went.<\/p>\n Using a flip phone or keeping an old smartphone forever makes people think you\u2019re living in the stone age, Lokenauth said.<\/p>\n The reality: He said the average American spends $1,200 or more annually on their smartphone plus plan.<\/p>\n His own phone is four years old, works fine and costs him $25 a month through a discount carrier.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s an extra $1,000 in my investment account every year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n This can seem crazy until you do the math. Lokenauth said these small habits might save just $20 to $30 monthly, but then compound that over decades.<\/p>\n He\u2019s seen families put kids through college with money saved from lots of tiny frugal habits combined.<\/p>\n Frugality isn\u2019t about being cheap \u2014 it\u2019s about being intentional. If reusing a few items means trimming $300 to $400 a year off your household spending, that\u2019s money you can redirect toward bigger goals: debt payoff, investing, travel or simply breathing easier when unexpected expenses pop up.<\/p>\n Living in a smaller house than you can afford is probably the most mocked choice \u2014 especially in status-obsessed areas.<\/p>\n But here\u2019s what Lokenauth said he sees in his practice: The families with the most financial security often live in modest homes.<\/p>\n They\u2019re banking the difference and building real wealth while their house-poor neighbors struggle to maintain those massive properties.<\/p>\n The reality is, a big house often comes with big headaches \u2014 higher utility bills, higher property taxes, more maintenance and more stuff to fill all that space.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the people living slightly below their means are quietly maxing out their retirement accounts, saving for their kids\u2019 education or even reaching financial independence early.<\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to be dazzled by granite countertops and three-car garages, but financial freedom looks a lot better than a fancy mortgage. And when the economy dips or unexpected expenses hit? The folks in the \u201csmaller\u201d homes often sleep a lot better at night.<\/p>\n From Lokenauth\u2019s experience, most people making fun of these habits are usually the ones stressed about money and living paycheck to paycheck.<\/p>\n \u201cMeanwhile, my frugal clients are quietly building wealth and sleeping better at night. Being laughed at all the way to the bank isn\u2019t such a bad trade-off,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n His top words of wisdom: extreme frugality isn\u2019t about deprivation \u2014 it\u2019s about being intentional with your resources. And based on what he\u2019s seen over 15 years in finance, the ones who embrace these habits<\/a> tend to have way more options and freedom down the road.<\/p>\n More From GOBankingRates<\/strong><\/p>\n Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com<\/a>: 8 Frugal Habits Americans Are Ridiculed for \u2014 and Why You Shouldn\u2019t Care<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Being frugal sometimes feels like a dirty little secret. 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