7 Ways to Live Cheap

I'll admit it.  I'm cheap.  My dad thinks I'm "frugal".  You hear people say words like budget, frugal, tight, cheap, conserve, save, penny pinch.  I've found there are differences, though.  I'm more cheap than frugal.  Cheap is more about spending as little as possible while being frugal is about prioritizing what is spent so you can have more things you love.  So you can say that having a "budget" is part of frugality.  I don't have a budget.  Sure, I keep track when I pay expenses every month, but that is it.  There is no budgeting involved.  My desires and needs fluctuate day by day, week by week, so budgeting is out the window.


Yes, everyone is different.  Some swear by using budgets, apps or financial planners to keep them organized.  Great for them...it's just not me.  What's most important to me might be less important to somebody else.  So these 7 ways don't need to be your go-to guide.  I just want to share cheap ways I live every day.  If you find it useful, great!  Comment below how you live cheap or frugal; I'd like to hear from you.

Takeout (take away)/Restaurant Leftovers

I don't cook, rarely.  Yet, eating out can add up. I understand it's healthier and cheaper to cook and I'm working on integrating that more in my life, especially since my sister cooks a lot.  For now the majority of my eating habits is ordering takeout or going to a restaurant.  I tend to eat small which is beneficial for someone who is cheap because we live in a big portion society.  A Chipotle burrito bowl can be two to three meals for me, if I'm not hungry.  I know eating small saves me money.  At restaurants with friends or family I try to drink just water, skip appetizers unless I get it as my main meal, split a dessert, and usually walk out of there with a "doggy bag".  I eat more fast food and order out than restaurants, as I'd have to tip if I stayed.  It's hard at times to eat the leftovers, but my goal is to waste less and remember that food is not something I want to spend a lot of money on.

Thrift Shopping

I've been "thrifting" my entire life.  Mom would take us to garage, yard, estate or rummage sales, and thrift stores to buy clothes and toys, whatever.  Now I'm an adult and being thrifty is just second nature.  Buying secondhand is becoming society norm and with cost of living rising, who wants to pay full price?  This is also why more stores are closing and brands are switching techniques to get consumers to buy.  I still shop in brick and mortar stores, but I also look online.  There's Craigslist and Amazon and even EBAY.  You can sell and/or buy on thredUP, great for bargain hunters.  Of course I don't just buy clothing when I thrift.  It can be many things like furniture, household items, accessories - the list could go on.  Plenty of phone apps out there too you can use to save a penny.  I mainly use Poshmark, but there is Mercari and Offer Up and Depop.  When I do go to a regular retailer, I'll check out their clearance racks and sale aisles.  Always keep an eye out for deals.

Netflix and Chill

The phrase of the century.  There are many ways to watch movies and TV shows nowadays and I take advantage of it.  I split the $9.99 monthly fee for Netflix with my brother as well as Hulu Plus which is only $7.99 a month.  I cut cable and just use XFINITY Internet which allows me to access free channels on my Roku box.  Every once in a while I pick up a movie at Redbox.  If you're looking for a free option, just go to your local library where there are plenty of DVDs to choose from.  Libraries are so underrated.  Free books or audiobooks.  Free internet.  Free movies.  Free TV shows.  Free AC in the summer and heat in the winter, if you need it.  I also still like going to a movie theater for the experience but only for films I'm really dying to see.  

Sell Things

You don't need everything you have, do you?  Become a minimalist or just downsize what you own because life isn't all about stuff and decluttering is a great stress relief.  I take my DVDs and CDs I truly don't want to places like F.Y.E. and Vintage Stock.  They price the items and make me an offer.  Take it or leave it.  I use my Poshmark app to post clothes or shoes for sale.  Again, you can mail in gently used name brand items to thredUP and they'll pay you.  I've even used Craigslist for selling; just be careful when you make the exchange.  Facebook has the Marketplace where you can post items you want to get rid of, or you can create a Facebook page to begin selling.  Have a garage sale in the summertime.  Rent a booth at an antique mall.  Sell cool stuff on EBAY.  Start an Etsy store to sell things.  There are lots of options.

Go To Free Events

Back in June I saw a free movie ("Tomorrowland") at Macken park in North Kansas City.  It was fun and like I said - free!  The KC Live stage in the Power & Light district in downtown Kansas City has free concerts from time to time.  Watch free Shakespeare plays in the park near the Nelson Atkins Museum during the summer.  Go to many town festivals that are free to get in and just "window shop".  Obviously, local parks are always free to use for a picnic or to jog at or even just sit on a bench and read.  Take in the fresh air.  Heck, I know I need vitamin D!

 Use Coupons in Conjunction with Store

What do I mean?  If there are sales at a particular store and I have coupons that match the sale items, then that's when I buy.  CVS is one place I frequently do this.  Drugstores are not affordable, but sale + coupon and I'm in.  With their rewards program, I receive emails that give me 20% or 30% off and add the $1 or $2 off coupon and I'm saving more money than I would even buying it at Wal-Mart or Target.  You just have to pay attention to the ads.  Clip those coupons!  Use Groupon or Ebates or whatever.  There is no need to travel to Timbuktu to get a deal.  Just stick to where you normally shop or at least somewhere in your neighborhood/city.  

Take Advantage of Public Settings

I like riding the KC street car when I want to travel the downtown area in Kansas City.  It takes me from the River Market district all the way to Union Station.  It's convenient and free!  Public transportation and public places can be so beneficial.  If I'm eating out, waiters and cashiers tend to hand out too many condiments, napkins and plastic silverware.  I always keep the extras.  If my boss lets me, I'll print off receipts, emails, coupons, etc. at work.  I might even fax something too and then I don't need to purchase a printer.  Like I mentioned earlier, go to your local library to use their AC or heat so you don't have it on at home.  Watch a matinee to take advantage of cooler or warmer temperatures too.  Walk for exercise?  You don't need a gym membership for that.  Walk in a park during the summer and walk in your local mall during the winter.  Hit up a local sports bar to watch free baseball or football games.  Go ahead and get a drink, but sip on it so you buy fewer drinks and still save a lot compared to what you would've spent at the stadium.  I would even shoot some pool at the bar if there is one, which can be affordable to play, a $1.00 per game sometimes.

Rosie