Most of us have some money regrets (oh, how I wish I’d switched to a prepaid cell phone plan years and years ago instead of spending so much on my phone). Recently, I came across a Reddit thread where frugal people shared the money-saving habits they do now that they wish they’d started sooner, and it was full of really practical and solid ideas. Here’s what people had to say:
1.
“Making my own lunch instead of going to restaurants everyday.”
2.
“Putting $100 a month into a Roth IRA with some good mutual funds spread across types and averaging over 8% yearly. It is a beefcake for building wealth even if you can’t put in a full $100.”
—u/knoxrat24
3.
“Shop around for car insurance and honestly just any reoccurring payments and services. You’d be surprised what you can get.”
—u/NomanYuno
4.
“Learn how to make the coffee you like at home. Buy a good quality thermos cup, and avoid the daily coffee shop trip at all costs. Not only does it cost you time, but that $2-5 every morning (because sometimes you must have that cookie/muffin/croissant) adds up FAST.”
5.
“Buying classic clothes. I wasted a ton of money on fads during my teens.”
—u/doublestitch
6.
“In this vein, learn to properly care for and mend your clothes. Keeping your staples in good condition will save a lot in the long run.”
—u/thetinyness
7.
“My biggest: be car-free. I try not to think about the amount of money I wasted because it is depressing. (Yes, I know — it’s not an option for everyone, but it always was for me).”
8.
“Not spending money because I was bored. I bought useless stuff and dined out too much.”
—u/Key_Purpose_2803
9.
“Track your finances down to the penny. Use something like Rocket Money. Do not keep any money in your checking account except for what you need to pay your bills. Immediately transfer anything you don’t need to your high-yield savings account. You make 1% off of checking accounts and there are banks out there that offer 5% APY for savings. Let your money make you money.”
—u/MourgiePorgie
10.
“I learned to cook more ethnic foods. The recipes use less expensive meat and still are nutritious and filling. Instead of the $10 beef and broccoli stir fry take-out, I spend $10 and get at least four portions cooking at home. I’m dabbling in Indian recipes now.”
11.
“Quit smoking! I just think about how much money I blew in cigarettes. I wish I had never started or quit decades ago. I’ve been cigarette-free for two and a half years now!”
—u/Jcooney787
12.
“When I look back to when I was a teenager, I wish I had saved like 80-90% of my income since I was still living with my mom and didn’t have a car payment yet. I could’ve saved so much so quickly instead of wasting it on random things I will never remember. I could’ve bought my first car with cash. Then, I would’ve been able to save an extra $200 every month that instead went to my car payment.”
—u/barbadizzy
13.
“I regret not taking advantage of student discounts more. There are so many discounts and deals available to students that I just didn’t take seriously. If you’re in school/university, make sure to use your student ID to get discounts on ANYTHING you can.”
14.
“Avoiding recurring fees for small things. An app that’s $3/month, or an extra channel on Sling that’s $4/month, or whatever else you have. I noticed all those little charges were turning into a decent amount of money every month.”
—u/smoly_hokes34
15.
“Using rewards credit cards. We actually hurt our credit by never using credit cards. We had no history of regularly paying them off. So, now we use a card that works for us and pay it off every month.”
—u/cappotto-marrone
16.
“Putting 20% of my income into savings. My son started at 18 and has a nice savings account.”
17.
“Make an email address just for stuff you know you will be attacked by spam. And then request insurance quotes/bids. You’ll get a ton of offers that you can choose from. But will be nailed with emails for the rest of your life. Use this same email for similar things over the years.”
—u/HulaMonkee
18.
“Not spending a penny inside of a convenience store. I buy gas at the pump and never spend money for drinks, snacks, etc. inside unless it is an emergency (or a Buc-ee’s, LOL).”
—u/well_poop_2020
19.
“I commit two to three days a week to spending no money. It’s amazing how many small things that would otherwise add up to big spending. I realized I impulse buy every day.”
20.
“Before buying anything, check Facebook marketplace and OfferUp. You would be shocked what you can find there basically new for 50% off.”
—u/marcus206_
21.
“Take care of your teeth!! I can’t emphasize this one enough: brushing and flossing regularly will save you tens of thousands of dollars in later dental care.”
—u/chekovs_gunman
22.
And finally, “If your job offers 401(k) matching, take advantage of it. On that note, contribute to your 401(k). And set up a bank account that has a HYSA. I was not taught money stuff by my parents because neither of them has 401(k)s or savings accounts; they’re paycheck to paycheck, and the whole thing made me nervous, so I’ve lost thousands of dollars from not doing either of those things until the past three years.”
Is there something that’s saving you money that you wish you’d started sooner? Tell me all about it in the comments!
