Frugal Hacks That Save You the Most + What to Ditch
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Not all frugal tips are created equal. Some genuinely save you hundreds without much effort… and others feel like you’re working a part-time job just to save 37 cents.
I’ve tested a lot of money-saving hacks over the years, some were surprisingly genius, and some were just… no.
So in this post, I’m breaking down the frugal tricks that are actually worth it in 2025—the ones that give you the most bang for your buck without sucking the joy out of your life. Plus, a few I tried and immediately ditched because they either didn’t work or just made me cranky.
The Frugal Hacks That Actually Work in 2025
Cash Back Stacking (a.k.a. free money, but make it strategic)
Here’s the move: you use a rewards credit card, shop through a cashback browser like Rakuten, and stack that with a cashback app like Fetch or Upside. Triple dip. No spreadsheets required.
I did this for a month with zero extra effort—just my usual groceries, skincare, and a couple Target runs—and ended up with $30+ back, plus a sign-up bonus. Read about it here.
If you’re already spending the money, you might as well let the robots pay you for it.
Bonus tip: Stack it with a sale and you’re basically playing 4D chess with your wallet.
Unsubscribing From “Treat Yourself” Emails
You know the ones. “20% off ends TONIGHT!” “We miss you—come back and spend $80!”
Cute… but also rude.
One of the easiest ways to stop impulse spending? Stop letting the temptation hit your inbox in the first place. I unsubscribed from like 50 promo emails in one sitting (shoutout to Unroll.me), and my spending genuinely dropped… because I stopped seeing the stuff I didn’t need.
Out of sight, out of cart.
Quick win: Set up a filter that sends all shopping emails to a separate folder. You’ll still get the deals if you actually need something, but they won’t mess with your brain at 9 PM when you’re bored and scrolling.
Grocery Store Apps Are Still Worth It (Even if You Hate Coupons)
I used to roll my eyes at digital coupons. Clipping deals on bread? Pass. But turns out, a lot of grocery store apps basically give you money back just for tapping a few buttons.
Kroger, Safeway, Stop & Shop—they all have their own apps with weekly deals, digital coupons, and rewards points. Combine that with cashback apps like Ibotta or Fetch, and you’re saving $5–$15 per trip without doing anything crazy.
Pro tip: Look for “buy again” bonuses or markdowns on pantry staples. It’s weirdly satisfying to get rewarded for buying pasta… again.
Ditching the Dryer (At Least Sometimes)
Hot take: your dryer is robbing you.
Not just of energy (which, yes, adds up), but also your clothes’ lifespan. I started air-drying my stuff one summer… and my electric bill dropped. Plus, my jeans stopped shrinking into toddler sizes.
All you need is a drying rack or a few hangers over the shower rod.
Savings? Around $100 a year, depending on how much laundry you do, and more if you’re in an apartment with coin-op dryers.
Also, your clothes will thank you. Especially the ones that say “hang to dry” that you’ve definitely been ignoring.
Streaming Service Rotation (Because You Don’t Need All of Them at Once)
Raise your hand if you’ve paid for Netflix, Hulu, Max, Disney+, and didn’t even open half of them last month.
One of the easiest ways to save money without giving up your shows? Rotate. Pick 1–2 services to keep active each month, binge what you want, then cancel and switch. You can always come back later. The shows will still be there.
Bonus tip: Keep a “to watch” list so you’re not just aimlessly scrolling through 14 streaming menus and still ending up on YouTube.
It’s not about depriving yourself. It’s about not paying $60 a month to “rewatch The Office again.”
Learning to DIY Small Fixes (YouTube Is Basically a Life Coach)
Look, I’m not saying you need to become a full-on handyman, but learning how to fix small stuff is a frugal flex.
Drippy faucet? Dead outlet? Button popped off? YouTube probably has a 3-minute video that walks you through it. I’ve fixed leaky sinks, unclogged a vacuum, and even hemmed my jeans with zero previous skills, just because I Googled it.
Savings? Could be anywhere from $50 to $500+, depending on what you avoid calling a professional for.
Planning No-Buy Days (or Weeks)
Not a full-on “no spend challenge” where you can’t even buy toothpaste. Just a reset.
Pick one day a week (or a whole week if you’re feeling bold) where you don’t buy anything non-essential. No coffee runs, no late-night Amazon scrolls, no “I deserve it” purchases.
It sounds small, but it adds up, especially if you use it to pause on impulse buys. I started doing one no-buy day a week, and it lowkey helped me notice how often I spend out of boredom, not actual need.
Frugal Tips That Don’t Really Work (Anymore)
1. Making Your Own Laundry Detergent
I get it, it sounds wholesome. Pinterest said it was a good idea. But unless you love spending time grating soap bars and praying your clothes come out clean, skip it.
Most homemade detergents don’t actually clean well long-term, especially in cold water or hard water areas. I tried it, and my towels slowly turned into crunchy sadness.
Modern alternative: Just buy in bulk when there’s a sale and stack it with cashback. Done.
Driving Across Town for Cheaper Gas
Look, saving 10 cents a gallon sounds smart… until you realize you just spent half of that driving 20 minutes out of your way in traffic.
By the time you factor in gas used, time lost, and your sanity? Not worth it. Especially in 2025 when gas prices fluctuate every five seconds anyway.
Better move: Use an app like GasBuddy to find the best price on your route, not 10 miles off it.
Saving Every Plastic Container “Just in Case”
There’s frugal… and then there’s “why do I have 37 mismatched yogurt tubs in this cabinet?”
I used to keep every single takeout container, thinking I was being resourceful. But most of them never got used, didn’t stack properly, and made my kitchen feel like a recycling bin.
A few good-quality glass or reusable containers will serve you better, last longer, and won’t make you dread opening that one drawer.
Keep a few, not all. This is frugal and functional.
Buying in Bulk Without a Plan
Bulk buying can save money… but only if you’re actually going to use what you buy before it expires, wilts, or grows fuzzy things.
I’ve definitely bought the giant bag of spinach thinking I’d be a smoothie person for two weeks straight. Spoiler: I wasn’t.
If you don’t have a plan (or the storage space), bulk buying can turn into waste, clutter, and weird smells in the back of your fridge.
Better move: Make a loose meal plan before buying, split big items with a friend, or just stick to bulk basics you know you go through regularly (like TP or rice).
Keeping Subscriptions Just Because They’re Cheap
It’s only $3 a month.
It’s just a tiny charge.
It’s not a big deal, right?
Until you realize you’re paying for five different “just $3” things you never use. That’s $15 a month—or $180 a year—literally leaking out of your account for… nothing.
I went through my bank statement and found a random meditation app I hadn’t opened in six months. Oops.
Pro tip: Set a calendar reminder every quarter to do a subscription audit. Cancel anything that doesn’t spark joy (or savings).
Frugal, But Make It Smart
Here’s the thing—frugal doesn’t mean cheap. It means thoughtful. Intentional. Strategic, even.
In 2025, the best money-saving hacks aren’t the ones that make your life harder, they’re the ones that make your money go further without sucking all the fun out of your day.
So skip the detergent-making marathons and cross-town gas quests. Focus on the stuff that actually saves you real cash (and brain space), and ditch the rest.
Got a frugal tip that’s actually worked for you? Drop it in the comments or pin this post for later.
