50 Frugal Living Tips To Help You Save in 2025

Frugal living isn’t about depriving yourself of everything you enjoy – it’s about making smarter financial choices and being intentional about your spending to get the most out of your money.

Theaverage weekly household expenditure in the UK reached £567.70 at the end of 2023, indicating that the rising cost of living is putting pressure on UK households.

Whether you’re looking to pay off your debts, build a savings pot or simply want your budget to stretch that bit further, I’ve got you covered. Here’s my list of 50 practical frugal living tips to help you cut back on your spending and have more control over your finances.

50 ways to live frugally in the UK

Food

1. Plan your meals and shop with a list

Putting together a weekly menu for your house means you know exactly what ingredients you need, so you’re less tempted by impulse buys. Shop with (and stick to!) your list so you only buy what you need.

2. Cook at home more often

With the average household spending £106 a month on eating out, cooking at home could save you hundreds each year. A homemade meal costs a fraction of a takeaway, and it’s healthier and often tastes better too!

3. Buy in bulk and choose own brands

Cupboard staples like pasta, rice and tinned goods are usually cheaper when bought in bulk. Most supermarkets offer a bulk option of cupboard staples, but places like Bulk Buy Direct also offer good prices on bulk goods without the joining fee of places like Costco. Swapping branded items for supermarket own-label alternatives can significantly reduce your food bill and usually taste just as good.

4. Opt for affordable protein

Meat is usually expensive. We’re not saying you need to go veggie or vegan to live frugally, but swapping out meat for lentils, beans, or eggs for a few meals a week can save you money. A £1.50 bag of lentils can be used for multiple meals, while a £6 pack of chicken breast may cover only two. Check out these lentil recipes to see how versatile they are.

5. Reduce food waste

Making the effort to reduce your food waste could save you more than you realise. The average UK household wastes a whopping £470 of food every year. Use up your leftovers, store food properly and be mindful of portion sizes to prevent leftovers from going in the bin.

Ebony Cropper, money saving expert at Money Wellness says: "One of the easiest ways to start living frugally is to tackle food waste and reduce the amount of convenience foods you buy. Past generations made the most of every ingredient - carrot cakes replaced sugary treats, leftovers were repurposed into new meals, and nothing went to waste. Simple changes like freezing extra portions, making soup from vegetable scraps, and growing your own herbs or salad leaves can add up to significant savings."

6. Make your own snacks

As convenient as they are, buying pre-packaged snacks can add up fast. Homemade snacks like granola bars or even nuts and fruit could save you some money and won’t contain additives and preservatives like many pre-packaged snacks.

7. Drink more water

Soft drinks and takeaway coffees can quickly drain your budget. The average cost of a takeaway coffee, for example, is £3.40. Remembering your water bottle and bringing a flask of coffee out with you can help you resist temptation.

8. Use cashback & discount apps

There are numerous cashback and discount apps out there, such as Too Good To Go, Olio, and Shopmium, which offer discounted or free food.

9. Grow your own food

You don’t need to be a whizz in the garden to grow your own food! Rather than buying fresh herbs from the supermarket every week, why not try growing some herbs on your windowsill?

10. Shop late for discounts

Nothing beats the feeling of a yellow sticker steal! Supermarkets offer big reductions on items nearing their sell-by date in the evening. Go around 5 pm and you can grab a bargain for 50% off. Wait until 8 pm and you could see yourself getting as much as 90% off groceries!

Utilities

11. Turn down your thermostat

Lowering your thermostat by just 1°C could save you £130 in energy costs a year. Rather than immediately turning the heating up, use blankets, layer up and pop on some socks!

12. Get a smart meter

A smart meter helps you monitor your energy usage in real time so you know exactly what you’re spending and where you can cut back. Most suppliers offer them for free, so check if you’re eligible.

13. Shop around for the best energy deal

Remember to compare tariffs before your contract ends - switching energy providers could save you significant money. Shop around and check for discount codes to secure the best deal.

14. Get new, more energy-efficient appliances

Investing in more energy-efficient home appliances can save you a few hundred pounds a year. If you don’t have the money to invest in replacing everything at once, choose your fridge, freezer and washing machine first as they can save you the most.

15. Unplug devices when not in use

Appliances left on standby still use power. Turning off unused devices at the plug can save you money on your electricity bill.

16. Switch to LED bulbs

Did you know LED bulbs use up to 90% less energy than traditional bulbs and last up to 25 times longer? Sounds like a no-brainer to me.

17. Take shorter showers

Keeping your shower time to just four minutes could save you £70 a year on your energy bills.

18. Use off-peak energy rates

Some energy tariffs offer cheaper electricity at night. Washing your clothes or charging devices during off-peak hours can significantly lower your energy bill.

19. Insulate your home

Take small steps to insulate your home better. Make DIY draft excluders for doors, add foil to your windows, invest in thermal curtains and seal air leaks with weather stripping to reduce heat loss and cut your heating bills as a result.

20. Claim energy efficiency grants

Depending on where you live, you may be entitled to government schemes which offer you free or discounted energy upgrades to lower your energy costs.

Transport

21. Walk or cycle for short journeys

If your journey is less than a couple of miles and you are able, walk or cycle instead to save fuel and wear-and-tear costs.

It’s not only a money-saver, but it’s also better for your health!

22. Be smart with public transport

If you regularly use public transport, such as buses or trains, look into weekly or monthly travel passes, which are usually significantly cheaper than single fares.

23. Save with a railcard

If you regularly take the train, a railcard could save you more money than you realise, cutting ticket prices by up to ⅓. Options include the 16-25, 26-30, Family & Friends and Senior. Be sure to check for railcard discount codes to make your money stretch even further.

24. Car share with friends

If you have a colleague who lives nearby, why not share a trip to the office? Sharing lifts with colleagues or friends means you can split fuel costs and reduce wear on your car.

25. Plan errands to reduce trips

If you have errands to run, try and group them into one trip to save time and fuel costs. A well-planned route prevents you from going back and forth and wasting fuel unnecessarily.

26. Drive as efficiently as possible

Driving as smoothly as possible, such as avoiding harsh braking and acceleration, can improve fuel efficiency by up to 30%.

27. Keep your car in top shape

Skipping car maintenance may save you money in the short term but can lead to expensive repairs further down the line. Keep on top of your car maintenance, such as regular oil changes, tyre checks and air filter replacements to prevent costly repairs in the future.

28. Make the switch to an electric car

You could save around 50% of fuel costs by switching to an electric car. With great deals on used electric cars and energy companies offering free home chargers when you switch, now could be the perfect time to switch to an electric car.

29. Avoid premium fuel

Most cars run efficiently on standard petrol or diesel, so you don’t need to spend more on premium fuel unless specified by the car manufacturer.

30. Review your car insurance annually

When it comes to car insurance, don’t let it auto-renew without double-checking you're getting the best deal. Instead, shop around and use comparison sites to find the best deal before your policy expires.

Lifestyle and entertainment

31. Explore free places to visit

Days out don’t need to cost a fortune!

From museums and parks to galleries and historical sites, the UK has endless free days out to enjoy.

Don’t forget to check out our days out discount codes for more ways to save.

32. Host ‘at home’ movie nights

Rather than splurging at the cinema, why not host a movie night at home? Grab your favourite snacks, dim the lights and stream films for free using streaming services like Pluto TV, Tubi and Amazon Freevee.

33. Opt for at-home workouts

Getting fit doesn’t need to cost a fortune. Save on gym memberships by using free workout apps, YouTube fitness channels, or outdoor gyms. Check out ways to save on gyms and fitness classes for more ways to keep fit for less.

34. Host potluck dinners

Potluck is a great option if you’re looking for a way to enjoy good food with friends on a budget. Instead of dining out, you can invite your friends over for a home-cooked meal where everyone contributes a course.

35. Take advantage of free streaming services

Save money on your streaming services by using free alternatives like Rakuten TV or Amazon Freevee, which offer movies and shows without a subscription.

36. Cancel any unused subscriptions

Consumers wasted a shocking £688 million on unused subscriptions in 2023. Why not check your bank statements to see where you can cut back? Cancelling the services you no longer use could save you £10–£50 per month.

37. Check out Netflix’s free mobile games

One for the gamers out there - did you know your Netflix subscription includes free mobile games? Download them via the Netflix app for free instead of paying for mobile games.

38. Refresh your wardrobe for free

Why not organise a clothes swap with friends rather than spending a fortune on the latest trends? Alternatively, you could try apps like Vinted and Depop to sell clothes and buy second-hand.

39. Borrow books instead of buying

Using your local library instead of buying books can save you a lot of money over time. Many libraries offer free audiobooks and e-books via apps like Libby or BorrowBox.

My colleague Persia-Lili Moharerr shares her top tips for saving money on books:

"If you’re looking to save money on books, the best thing you can do is get a library card! For someone who used to spend a lot of money on books, applying for a library card has genuinely saved me so much money over the years. It’s completely free to apply for a library card, and it only took me about five minutes to do it online. What’s great is that my card works across multiple libraries in the area, which is really convenient and practical, plus I can take out as many as 30 books at once!"

40. Swap big-name brands for household brands for beauty products

Own brands are now producing products that often include the same key ingredients as those from big-name brands. We spoke to a representative from Boots who shared their best swaps for expensive brand alternatives.

These included:

• No7
• Liz Earle
• Soap & Glory
• Botanics
• Champneys

They also mentioned that shopping on payday (at the end of the month) often means more deals are available. Plus the “Shop the Best Deals" category on Boots.com is where you can find the latest beauty deals.

Household bills

41. Try to pay annually

Many household services, such as TV licences and insurance, offer discounts if you pay annually rather than monthly instalments

You could save up to 10-15% over the year by paying an annual lump sum.

42. Shop around to save

Unfortunately, loyalty doesn’t always pay off. Before your contract renews, use price comparison sites to compare deals on insurance, broadband, and streaming services so you know you’re getting the best price.

43. Group SIM Cards for multi-Saving

Many mobile providers offer family or multi-line discounts when you bundle multiple SIMs under one account. Switching to a shared plan could save you £5–£10 per month per user. For example, Three offers a 20% discount on additional plans you add to your account.

44. Downgrade unnecessary internet speeds

While the fastest broadband may sound appealing, do you really need it? If you only browse and stream, you could save money by switching to a lower-speed plan. Here’s a table to demonstrate the speeds you need:

45. Use a water meter if you use less than average

For those who live alone or don’t use much water, switching to a water meter rather than having a fixed-rate tariff could significantly reduce your bills. Some suppliers, like Affinity Water, even offer free trials to see if you save!

46. Cancel unnecessary TV packages

If you primarily watch Netflix or Prime, do you need to pay for Sky? Cutting premium TV packages and using free streaming services could save you £30+ a month.

47. Reduce direct debits for services you don’t use

Check your bank statements for forgotten subscriptions such as gym memberships, old magazine subscriptions, or extra cloud storage - cancelling them could save you more than you’d think.

48. Claim discounts on Council Tax

If you live alone, you may be eligible for a 25% single-person council tax discount. Check with your local council for other potential reductions based on your income or property band.

49. Consider a smart thermostat

A smart thermostat can help you track your energy usage and reduce energy waste - some energy providers even offer them free of charge.

50. Set up a budget for bills

Use a bill-tracking app or set up direct debits to ensure you pay on time and avoid late fees. That way, you’ll know exactly what bills are coming out each month and won’t be left with any nasty surprises.

Why live frugally?

Frugal living isn’t just about temporarily cutting back on spending; it’s a mindset that involves thinking about your financial future, too. The immediate benefit is obvious – you save money. But by making small changes to your daily spending, you’ll free up extra cash that can go towards day-to-day essentials, paying off debt, and building a rainy-day fund.

Not only does frugal living save you money, but it also improves your financial literacy and helps you recognise where your money goes and how best to manage it. The more conscious you are of your finances, the more in control you’ll feel. You should build stronger financial habits over time, such as budgeting, tracking expenses and setting financial goals. Rather than wondering where your money disappeared each month, you’ll have a clear understanding of what you’re spending and where you can cut back so you can save, invest, and, of course, enjoy life’s luxuries without guilt. Frugal living isn’t about having less - it’s about giving your future self more.

Check out our free savings calculator and household budgeting calculator to help kick-start your frugal living journey.

My colleague Matt Jones shares how living frugally has had a positive impact on his relationship with money:

"Living frugally has completely transformed my relationship with money. It’s not just about saving - it’s about being aware of where your money is actually going. When I started being more intentional with how I was spending my money, I found myself making better choices without feeling like I was missing out. Over time, all of these small changes add up, and I found myself going from wondering where my salary was going each month to actually building my savings account. It’s also fed into other areas of my life, and I find I value what I have even more, waste less, and generally feel more confident about my future!"

Let’s wrap things up

Frugal living isn’t about depriving yourself - it’s about being mindful of your money and making more intelligent, sustainable choices. Steven Kibbel, financial planner, entrepreneur, and Chief Editorial Advisor at Gold IRA Companies explains: ‘Living frugally isn’t about sacrifice, it’s about control. It’s about choosing financial security over impulse, freedom over paycheck-to-paycheck stress. A lot of people think they don’t make enough to save, but in reality, most people simply don’t track where their money goes. Once they do, they usually realise there’s a lot of room to be smarter with spending.’

By making minor adjustments to your spending, you can cut unnecessary expenses, build better financial habits, and free up money for the things that matter.

If you’re ready to kick start your journey to frugal living, I’ve pulled together my top vouchers across all food, transport, entertainment, household bills and utilities for more easy ways to save.