Today’s post isn’t about dramatic challenges or crazy money-saving hacks. I’m not talking about cutting everything you enjoy out of life or always buying the cheapest option, although there can be a time and place for that. Honestly, I’ve had my own fair share of “but it’s cheaper!” moments. Looking back, I’ve learned that the goal isn’t to spend less, but to spend better.
As it turns out, learning to spend better has naturally helped Brian and me save more money. In reality, this didn’t come from extreme changes or huge sacrifices. Instead, we’ve found that the biggest difference comes from the things we do over and over again.
Our Go-To Money-Saving Moves
I’ve come to believe that a simple life is a good life. While the itch for adventure is rarely far away, it’s the ordinary routines behind the scenes that make those adventures possible. The moves that have saved us the most money aren’t flashy; they’re wonderfully ordinary.
1. Keeping an Older Car
My 2007 Honda Accord cost $8,000, and today it’s still worth roughly half of what I paid for it. For a car that’s nearly 20 years old and has over 200,000 miles, that kind of value retention is pretty dang impressive. I’m thankful for a reliable and dependable car that’s been relatively easy to work on, especially since Brian and I are having fun learning how to work on it ourselves.
Brian’s car is a few years newer and has also been paid off, so we’re fortunate to have two reliable, inexpensive vehicles that get us where we want to go. We take both on road trips, and while his is a bit more modern, I dig the simplicity of my Accord. With fewer electronic components, it’s easier for us to troubleshoot and maintain ourselves.
At the end of the day, we don’t need our cars to be anything more than reliable transportation. Keeping older cars has allowed us to minimize our expenses through lower maintenance and insurance costs, freeing up more cash to put toward our investments!
2. Repeatedly Eating the Same Affordable Meals
Luckily, we don’t tire easily from the same ol’ thing day in and day out. Brian and I rotate through the same trusty meals and ingredients, which keeps our weekly prep simple and our grocery costs predictable.
Fewer decisions make everyday life more straightforward. Instead of stressing about what to eat, we already know what’s on the menu. Even when we’re running low on ingredients, we’ve gotten pretty good at building meals around what we already have. Beans, veggies, and eggs? That’s a whole meal right there!
Ultimately, our low-maintenance diet saves us money, reduces food waste, and avoids extra grocery runs.
3. Sticking to a Simplified Wardrobe
A few basics, a couple of dressy pieces, and a handful of versatile staples that work well together are all we really need. We don’t spend a whole lot of time thinking about clothes. Instead of shopping for the sake of shopping, we invest in clothing that fits our lifestyle and can be worn for years.
A simplified wardrobe means fewer decisions, less clutter, and less temptation to spend. Of course, this doesn’t mean we never buy clothes or that our closets have to be perfectly minimal. We shop to replace well-worn favorites or prepare for a new adventure. And even then, I always start by looking secondhand rather than paying full price.
4. Checking the Price Before Buying
One of the most boring ways we save money is by checking the price before we buy something. A quick search and price comparison has saved us from overpaying more times than I can count. Sometimes we find a better deal elsewhere, and other times we realize it’s not worth the price!
Between the ease of online shopping and digital payments, spending money can happen almost instantaneously. Before you know it, you’re ringing up way more on your credit card than you planned. When we take a second to check the price of something, we actually create a brief pause between wanting something and actually buying it. That pause helps us stay mindful of our spending, encouraging us to make more intentional decisions.
5. Skipping Convenience Fees
I’d like to say I’m all for making life easier, but man, oh man, conveniences can get expensive. And honestly, if you ask me, the more society chases convenience, the more it risks trading true resourcefulness for complacency. With that being said, paying for convenience isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There is, however, a fine line between using it as a tool and relying on it for everything.
Brian and I have found that some of the easiest money to save is the money we don’t spend on convenience. We’ll pick up our own takeout instead of paying delivery fees, grocery shop ourselves instead of paying someone else to do it, hop on public transit before calling a rideshare, and mow our own lawn rather than hiring a service.
Even when we travel, we’ll often choose a road trip over a flight if the distance is reasonable and cook a few of our own favorite road-ready meals instead of dining out for each one.
None of these choices feel inconvenient because we genuinely enjoy doing them. We don’t mind running errands, mowing the lawn, or even learning how to work on our cars. They’re part of everyday life, and saving money just happens to come along with them.
6. Paying Our Credit Cards in Full Every Month
This might be one of the dullest habits on this list, but it’s also one of the most valuable. Paying our credit cards in full every month is the only way we use them. To us, a credit card is just a payment method; it’s not a way to spend money we don’t have. If we couldn’t afford to pay for something with the cash in our bank account, we wouldn’t put it on the card.
When used strategically, credit cards are an incredible financial tool. They help build strong credit history, offer fraud protection, and can earn valuable rewards. Brian and I maximize our card usage to take advantage of extra benefits in our travels and our everyday lives.
Of course, the rewards are only worthwhile because we pay our balance in full every month. Carrying a balance would be a completely different story, as interest charges can erase the value of any rewards and make purchases cost far more than their original price tags.
7. Waiting Before We Buy
Are you familiar with the 30-Day Savings Rule? The idea behind it is to create space between the impulse to buy and the decision to actually buy it. By waiting 30 days before making a non-essential purchase, we give ourselves time to decide if we truly want to follow through with it.
I’ve been known to be excessive when it comes to waiting it out. There are purchases I’ve considered for more than 15 years that I still haven’t made. Every now and then I revisit the idea, only to remind myself that life is perfectly fine without them.
I admit I take this habit a little further than necessary. Brian isn’t always convinced that every purchase needs a multi-year evaluation, but he accepts this part of who I am! And, honestly, the results are hard to argue with. Even a short pause before buying has helped us save money and keep our home intentional and free from clutter!
8. Keeping a Low-Maintenance Personal Care Routine
Beauty and personal care can become surprisingly expensive. LendingTree found that Americans spend an average of $1,754 a year on beauty products, cosmetics, and services. For a broader range of personal maintenance, including skin treatments, haircare, and beauty supplements, Self Financial’s research suggests the cost can rise to more than $6,000 annually.
Luckily, Brian and I are super low-maintenance when it comes to our appearances! My makeup routine hasn’t changed much since middle school, and our skincare consists of cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen, and the occasional sheet mask. As for hair care, I generally cut my own hair and skip the pricey products and services. Honestly, I don’t even own a hair dryer anymore. I guess you could say we’re not exactly the target audience for beauty trends.
9. Relying on a Few Trusted Favorites
How often is it that you find yourself disappointed with a dining experience or an event you were excited about? Brian and I used to love venturing out and exploring new restaurants or shops. Unfortunately, COVID really took the quality and affordability out of things! After enough disappointing meals and overpriced experiences, we’ve become more careful about where we spend our money.
We’ve learned that sticking with a few reliable favorites keeps us happy and feeling like we’re getting our money’s worth. That same approach applies to the products and services we use. Once something consistently delivers, we’re happy to keep coming back.
We’d rather buy another piece of Osprey gear, pull on our trusty Darn Tough socks, call the plumber who’s never let us down, or rely on Google Fi while we’re on the road than spend time and money chasing alternatives. There’s something to be said for knowing what works! Though, of course, we still enjoy discovering new things and comparing options when it makes sense.
10. Protecting Our Time
Last but not least, we’ve learned that protecting our time often goes hand in hand with protecting our wallet. We only have so much time in this life, so Brian and I are rightfully picky about how we spend it. We’re super selective with our social calendar, especially since our social batteries are limited.
We’d much rather say yes to experiences we’re actually looking forward to than fill our time with obligations. Protecting our time also means protecting our energy, and that usually means spending less on things we didn’t really want to do in the first place.
Boring Works!
None of these habits are particularly exciting, and that’s exactly the point. Most of the money we’ve saved hasn’t come from one big decision but from several small habits that have become second nature. They’re simple, sustainable, and easily fit into the way Brian and I already like to live.
Could I be even more minimal and boring? Absolutely. I could probably stretch our grocery budget a little further and put off buying that contemplative item for another decade or two. Knowing me, I probably will! But I’ve learned that frugality isn’t about spending the least.
It’s ultimately about using money to support the life you actually want to live. For Brian and me, that’s a life of curiosity, experience, and the freedom of choice.
What’s one boring habit that’s helped you save money and build a life you enjoy?
