Times are tough.  There doesn’t seem to be an end in sight for rising prices. These increases impact consumers on all levels, but some can be temporarily avoided. It is possible to delay the purchase of clothing or hard goods, such as furniture.  However, other items need to be bought regularly, including food, cleaning, and hygiene products. 

I recently wrote many posts on ways to save money, from easy recipes to savings tips for seniors. Today, I’ll talk about actual ways that I put these habits into practice.  I am not a frugal guru; I still spend money needlessly.  However, over the years, I have adopted many frugal habits and learned how to make them a seamless part of my life.  With a little planning, time, and care, they have become natural parts of my day. I don’t feel like I’m giving up anything. They do not feel like sacrifices, and I think that is the secret to implementing them.   These changes have occurred over the years and have often happened for reasons other than penny-pinching. Usually, they were a more practical way of approaching life’s problems.  They took hold, and the rest is history.  

Part of this transformational process is to abandon ad culture, which constantly pressures all of us to try something new or stick with a brand name.  It is important to go back to basics and to focus on needs vs wants.  That is especially true of wants artificially created by marketing, including those pushed by influencers. 

Rule One:  Buy what you need, not what you want.  In the digital age, we are constantly being profiled.  Advertisers know who we are, what we like, and how much we are willing to spend.  As a person who has been susceptible to marketing, I know how easy it is to be influenced.  One of the most effective ways is through para-social relationships. If you regularly watch an influencer on social media, it is normal to have some sort of connection with that person.  However, that connection is completely artificial. Yet their messaging can be a powerful motivator to buy something.  My best advice is to avoid product reviews unless you really need something, and to avoid influencers who are constantly selling something, whether it is a “course” or any product.  Manufacturers pay influencers big bucks to gush about a new skin care routine or vitamin drink.  Frankly, most (if not all) are BS.  If you don’t watch, you won’t be influenced. Years ago, my sister-in-law was trying to figure out what she wanted for Christmas.  She felt like she didn’t need anything, so she started to look at all of the Christmas-focused ads.  Suddenly, she wanted everything!  That is the power of advertising. 

Rule Two: Unnecessary stuff won’t make you happy.  When we buy something new, there may be a bit of excitement and a dopamine rush that makes us feel good.  However, it is temporary and artificial. This rule excludes things that you really need.  When I moved into my own home over 30 years ago, I bought my first washer and dryer. Having my own washer and dryer did make my life better, made me happy, and still does.  When I turned 50, I “treated” myself by buying a Mercedes.  I felt great that first month.  Then it was just another box on wheels, and once the warranty expired, it became an incredibly expensive toy to maintain.  I eventually sold it and bought a Honda, which, in every way, was a better car. 

In 2008, I sold my Mercedes and bought this little Honda. It was a fantastic purchase. I eventually gave it to a family member, who still uses it to this day, eighteen years later!

Rule Three: Remove emotion and bias when making any purchase. Another car example.  We had a 12-year-old SUV that I wanted to last forever. However, the engine suffered a catastrophic failure, and, along with other repairs it needed, it was clear that it had reached the end of its life. We had to buy a new car, but what?  If we really wanted to, we could have purchased a luxury car.  However, see Rule Two. My wife and I were more interested in a reliable car that met our particular needs. The most cost-effective choice would have been to buy a 3-year-old car with around 50-60K miles.  However, we wanted a new vehicle for other reasons.  We narrowed our search to three brands: Honda, Toyota, and Subaru, and found models in all three brands that were suitable.  Our most important needs were based on safety and reliability. We found a Subaru that was a dealership loaner with only 4K miles on it.  It was technically new, but classified as certified pre-owned, which extended its warranty beyond that of a new car.  We approached the sale the way someone would purchase underwear. In other words, no emotion. If the salesman didn’t give us what we wanted, we would walk.  With that said, our wants were reasonable.  We refused garbage add-ons, like nitrogen-filled tires. We didn’t place value on things like the color of the car.  We didn’t get excited about the purchase.  We simply wanted the best price.  We also chose a car that we could afford.  In the end, we got over $8,000 off a “new” car with a free extended warranty (the certified car thing).  The dealer wanted to sell us a “dream,” but we didn’t want a dream; we just wanted a vehicle. By making an emotionless decision, we maintained as much control as possible when dealing with a car salesman. 

When we needed to replace our car, we decided to go with one that met our needs and offered the best value. We knew that a car was just that, and not a tonic to make us feel good about ourselves.

Rule Four: Give up brand loyalty if reasonable.  Sometimes it is better to buy a brand-name product.  However, that is true only if the brand name offers a better cost-to-quality ratio. Our 20-year-old washer and dryer were on their last legs.  There were so many modern-looking front loaders available. However, research indicated that most of them were junk and would fail in 3-5 years.  We decided to go with standard Speed Queen machines.  These are the machines that you see in laundromats. They were more expensive but have an estimated lifespan of around 20 years.  We also went with their simpler models that had standard controls.  Why?  Our laundry needs are pretty simple, and fewer options mean fewer points of failure. In this case, buying a brand name made sense. 

However, there are other examples where you are paying for that brand’s marketing, rather than its quality. In those cases, we have no brand loyalty. We usually buy our toothpaste at Costco, which always has a sale on one brand or the other.  If Colgate is on sale, we buy Colgate.  If Crest is on sale, we buy Crest.  I think I prefer Colgate’s taste to Crest’s.  However, both brands get my teeth clean. The taste factor isn’t enough to make us spend more.

Rule Five:  Little savings add up.  When I was a medical resident, I had $20/week to spend on groceries, and I used cash. I was acutely aware of what I bought because it had to last the week, and I didn’t have a cash buffer.  If one loaf of bread was twenty cents cheaper than another loaf, that is what I bought. In today’s world, many people use credit cards when buying things. Using artificial forms of currency separates the consumer from the product’s actual cost. It is easy to buy the imported Parmesan cheese for only a few extra dollars, or that winter coat for $50 more than you wanted to spend. By separating purchasing from real money, stores have made it easy to overspend, and that trend is escalating with buy now, pay later (BNPL) options like Klarna. That unwatched streaming service is only $9.99 a month, so you put off canceling.  Those brand-name canned tomatoes are just 30 cents more than the house brand.  That fancy shower gel is 20 bucks more than Sauve, but it smells so nice. You deserve it, right?  Nope, not if you want to become financially secure. There may be some products that really matter to you, even if a cheaper option is available.  If that is the case, go ahead and buy them.  However, if you need to upgrade everything, then you need to re-evaluate. 

This shower gel is $100 for less than 12 ounces. Really??

I will go out for coffee when socializing with friends, but that is a treat. I always make my morning coffee. It costs pennies, not dollars, for a cup, and it is delicious.

Rule Six: Eating out in all forms is now a special occasion event in our house. Eating out has gotten so incredibly expensive, including at fast-casual and fast-food places. We used to eat out all of the time.  Not anymore. Most restaurant food quality ranges from average to poor, and the cost just doesn’t make sense.  That goes for specialty shops like cupcake and cookie establishments, too.  It feels criminal to buy a box-mix cupcake with fancy icing for $5, and then the person handing it to me wants a 20% tip.  Do we ever eat out, or even buy a crazy expensive cupcake?  Yes, we do, but rarely. 

Heck, I can make my own fancy cupcakes for a fraction of the cost, and they actually taste better, too!

Rule Seven: Buy house brands when feasible.  If you have read my posts, you know that I love Aldi.  However, there are certain products that are not worth buying there.  Once, I purchased their TP.  Let’s just say you want TP to be strong enough so your fingers don’t punch through. However, we strive to buy house brands when possible.  We find Kirkland TP (Costco) is sufficient.  Tide laundry detergent is the best, but it is also the most expensive.  We live sedentary lives and don’t have messy young kids, so we don’t need all of the enzymes and conditioners that Tide has. We are perfectly happy purchasing laundry detergent that is a tier or two lower, like Kirkland brand or All.  The same can be said for dishwasher detergent.  Powder is the most cost-efficient, but we like the pods.  Kirkland pods don’t have all those fancy colors, but they work as well as the brand-name prettier stuff and are much less expensive. That is what we buy.

Kirkland laundry detergent is less expensive than Tide, but works just as well for us.

Kirkland dishwasher pods don’t have all of those fancy colors of brand name products, but who cares when it works just as well.

Rule Eight: We have simplified the cleaning products that we use.  COVID brought shortages in everything, and we couldn’t get common cleaning products.  Prior, I had a cleaner for every purpose: granite cleaners, stainless steel cleaners, cabinet cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, you name it.  During COVID, I would go to the store and find the shelves bare of essential items, so I had to adapt. Guess what?  I didn’t need all of that junk.  I add a scant teaspoon of dish detergent to a 24 oz spray bottle and fill it with water.  It is a great general cleaner for all surfaces.  I use a squirt of dish detergent to clean my toilets.  If it is good enough to clean the dishes that I eat off of, it is good enough to clean the vessel where I poop.  I have dramatically reduced the amount of paper towels I use in lieu of reusable microfiber towels.  If cooking oil splashes on a piece of clothing, we found that a drop of dish detergent applied before dropping it in the washer does the job. When we couldn’t get liquid hand soap, I pulled out some old foaming containers.  Did you know that 20% liquid hand soap and 80% water will make foaming soap when placed in a foaming pump?  Bonus, there is no dripping soap to gel on your sink!

My go-to surface cleaner is a scant teaspoon of dish detergent in 24 oz of water. Works great!

I use reusable microfiber kitchen towels whenever possible to reduce my paper towel use. However, I always use paper towels when dealing with a greasy spill. Once you get grease on a microfiber towel, it is almost impossible to wash out.

Rule Nine:  We cook from scratch whenever possible.  When you start cooking from scratch, you may think it is more expensive than going out, since you need basics like cooking oil, spices, and the like.  However, once you have established these products, it is significantly cheaper.  If you have never cooked, it may be intimidating at first. Just keep at it, and it will become simpler over time.  Cooking from scratch, in our definition, means we can use some prepared products. We often use frozen vegetables, which can be less expensive than fresh ones. I’m not opposed to using a can of cream of mushroom soup as a quick substitute for a cream sauce when making a casserole. We still buy chicken nuggets because my adult son likes them as a snack.  I did a bunch of chores before I started to write this.  I’m tired, so tonight we will have a frozen pizza for dinner. Being frugal should not be a punishment. Remember, balance in everything.

Homemade copycat Panera squash soup, a salad, and homemade bread. A very nice meal!

A nice Sunday dinner. Chicken made in the Instant Pot.

My daughter has her own place. She will often make a family-sized dinner and then divide up the meal into dinner-sized portions for the rest of the week.

Hmm, it looks like I’m getting ready to make some sort of cheesy pasta dish in the Instant Pot.

Rule Ten: We have a small stockpile of basic food items, like spaghetti and frozen chicken. We also have a deep freezer. I usually treat my family to a beef tenderloin for Christmas dinner, but I decided to end that tradition as they now cost $175 at Costco. My sister-in-law told me that a local market was having a spectacular sale, and I picked one up for $75.  That isn’t frugal, but we are talking about a once-a-year treat. I vacuum sealed the meat and froze it.  It will be fresh and delicious when I thaw it for Christmas 2026. Deep freezers use very little electricity, especially if you have a manual-defrost model.  Having stuff on hand makes us much less likely to buy fast food or make imprudent grocery purchases. It also lets us buy things when they are on sale.

We have had a deep freezer for decades. It is a great way to stock up on food when an item is on sale. Deep freezers use very little electricity.

Canned goods have an amazingly long shelf life. Perfect items for so many impromptu dishes.

Rule Eleven: You need very few tools to cook.  A pot and pan, a decent knife, and some utensils, and you can make a thousand different dishes. I like watching videos of working-class people in China using a hotplate and a water boiler to make delicious meals in their makeshift, tiny apartment kitchens. Likewise, I enjoy similar videos from folks in the States who make real food using only a mini-fridge and a microwave.  Setting up a kitchen can be extremely expensive or very cheap.  I know some who spent 100K on a kitchen remodel who don’t cook.  My mom had an ancient fridge/stove and no counters (she prepared food on the kitchen table). She was a fabulous cook who fed seven people every day. My adventure/camper van has an induction burner and a microwave, and  I often make full meals in it.  

You need very few tools to cook. Here I’m using a Dutch oven, which can be used to make 1000 and 1 different meals. However, any large pot could be used. Soups, stews, and casseroles are the budget stretcher kings.

You can make amazing meals using a simple hot plate. Here I’m making a coconut curry in my adventure van.

Here I’m making a pork chop dish in my mini electric pressure cooker while camping in my adventure van. You can often find small appliances at thrift shops for pennies on the dollar. Just make sure that they work before you buy them.

Rule Twelve: It is OK to expand your kitchen equipment if you can afford it.  True confession, I love kitchen gadgets and appliances.  Crazy, I know.  I have just about anything you can think of, but don’t forget that I have been cooking for 50 years, so I have had plenty of time to accumulate a lot of stuff. The items that I think are most valuable are a slow cooker, an electric pressure cooker (Instant Pot), a vacuum sealer, a microwave, and a bread maker. Your mileage may vary. Having small electrics speed up my cooking.  I can toss some ingredients into a slow cooker and come home to a hot meal.  With the Instant Pot, I can cook something in 1/3rd the time that it would normally take.  These small electrics are also very energy efficient and use considerably less energy than a standard oven. 

Slow cookers are very inexpensive and super versatile. Toss in some ingredients in the morning and come home to a delicious dinner in the evening.

I’m a huge fan of electric pressure cookers (AKA Instant Pot). Here I’m making a one-pot spaghetti. Next to the ingredients is some homemade herb bread that I made in a bread maker, another fantastic gadget.

I have saved thousands of dollars over the years using a vacuum sealer. I buy food in bulk and then freeze it for future meals. Pro tip: You can buy generic vacuum-sealer bags for much less on Amazon and other online retailers.

I make most of my bread, rolls, and buns using a bread maker. You can pick up one at a thrift store for next to nothing. I have a few and have gotten them for as little as $4.99. Making your own bread is not only less expensive, but it is also better tasting. Plus, you can modify your bread to your particular tastes. I make all sorts, from white to whole wheat to cheesy herbal, and more.

Here I made some dinner rolls using the bread maker. I kneaded and raised the dough in the machine, then formed it into rolls, which I baked in the oven. You can use this technique for many different bread products, from pizza dough to challah.

Rule Thirteen: I do most of my shopping at Aldi and Costco, but for different reasons. I’m a huge Aldi fan.  Overall, their food is less expensive than Walmart’s. If I want tomato sauce, there’s only one brand: theirs.  This leads to less decision fatigue. The stores are small, so it is easy to get in and out. Costco has many bulk items at a good price.  However, I tend to overspend at Costco and sometimes buy products I don’t use up completely. I need to be more careful at Costco.  I do shop at other stores, but only for those items that I can’t find at Aldi or Costco.  

Aldi is not only cheaper, but it is also easier, as there is less decision fatigue and the small stores are quick to go through.

Rule Fourteen: I often substitute ingredients.  If I don’t have noodles, I’ll use another pasta, rice, or potatoes in a homemade soup.  I’ll substitute ground turkey for hamburger in chili.  I’ll substitute frozen vegetables for fresh in a casserole.  I’m not cooking for a king, I’m just making tasty food for my family. 

I’m making some chicken soup and using whatever starch that I have on hand. In this case, it is orzo.

Rule Fifteen: I have a very simple hygiene routine.  OK, I’m a guy, and that makes things easier.  Women are constantly sold the idea that a product will make them look 20 years younger.  That is not the case.  Most hygiene and cosmetic products are more similar than different. One way for a manufacturer to make more money is to differentiate products into new, and often unnecessary, categories. How many different face products does one need?  Most dermatologists will tell you that the best product you can use to prevent aging skin is sunscreen, and the best products that you can use on your skin are the mild ones that are colorless and have a light fragrance or are fragrance-free. 

Expensive makeup may be in a trendier hue or blended a bit more to make it slightly smoother.  However, most of the expense is from marketing costs and hype. I am in no position to tell women what makeup routine they should do. However, I’m here to say that most men do not like the look of elaborate makeup. We are used to light makeup and have been conditioned to believe that a little makeup is normal, but when makeup becomes elaborate, it makes a person look fake. It is not attractive. Many men refer to this as clown makeup (or use more negative terms), and it is a turnoff. 

I always wear cologne and discovered that the most expensive part of a bottle was the sprayer, then the cap, then the bottle.  The actual ingredients that make you smell nice are the least expensive. Let’s look at some of the hygiene changes that I have made.

I used to use shower gel, but had a nostalgic moment and bought some bar soap. I discovered that I prefer bar soap, which is also more environmentally friendly. A YouTuber compared inexpensive Dial bar soap with inexpensive Suave shower gel and found that bar soap was about 4.5 times less expensive. Those costs go up further when you buy more premium shower gels.

I like these very gentle soaps, which are often on sale at Costco for around $13 ($0.24/ounce). However, Amazon sells the exact same soap for almost $38! That is no bargain.

Regular anti-perspirants make me itch, and typical deodorants don’t work very well (including natural ones). Decades ago, I discovered “deodorant crystals.” This bar will last me years. I apply it to my slightly damp armpits after my daily shower.

Years ago, I became frustrated with having to wait for a haircut, and I went out and bought some clippers. My haircut is very simple since I’m pretty bald, and I can cut it in less than 5 minutes. My friend tells me he pays around $50 for a haircut (including tip). These clippers cost less than $40.

I started shaving during the era of shaving systems. Three-blade, four-blade, five-blade systems, it was never-ending. Each brand had different models, none of which were compatible with the others. I would buy a handle and several packs of blades. When I ran out, I never remembered what handle I had, so I would repeat the process, and those blade cartridges were $3-4 each! Decades ago, I invested in a high-quality, old-fashioned, double-edge razor (Merkur brand, around $30-$40). It looks as good as it did the day I bought it. It uses standard double-edge razor blades that cost between $0.05 and $0.10 each. It shaves better than my old expensive systems, and the blades are universal. You can use a double-edge razor with regular shaving cream, but it is fun to use a brush and some real shaving soap. Pro tip: You have to angle this type of razor at around 30 degrees. Use extremely light pressure or none at all, or you will cut yourself. I almost never cut myself, but at first, I did because those multi-blade systems distribute pressure across all the blades, so you need to push down when you shave. If you do the same with a double-edge razor, you are applying all that pressure to one blade. Don’t do that! If you are interested in trying a DE-razor, watch some shaving videos on YouTube, as they will walk you through this shaving method.

Most Double-edge razor blades are made in other countries, not in the US. That is because these types of razors are still popular worldwide. You can buy sample packs to find the blade you like best.

I have dry skin, so I always use a moisturizing cream after I shower. This stuff is great and lasts a very long time. The secret is that I put it on before I dry off. A little bit goes a long way, and by the time I’m finished applying it, I’m dry enough that I don’t even need to towel down.

Rule Sixteen:  You DON’T deserve it if you can’t pay cash for it!  A line in advertising is that you “deserve” their product.  This is a manipulation, so don’t fall for it.  If you can afford something and really want it, it’s OK to splurge.  However, if you have to pay for it using credit, you need to re-evaluate your decision. This goes for everything from buying a car to going on that “once in a lifetime” Disney vacation.  Don’t be a sucker for advertising hype. If a little bit of pleasure leads to months or years of financial pain, it is a very poor bargain. 

There you have it, the real things that I do. You may find that they work for you, or you may need to find your own system. Once you have it, it becomes a way of life. Most of these methods are more environmentally friendly, too!

Peace

Mike

Note: Images are my own or taken from product pages on the internet. They are being used for educational and entertainment purposes only.