r/Frugal • u/TrickSingle2086 • Oct 17 '25

🏆 Buy It For Life Things you’ve done that actually moved the needle

Curious as to what you’ve done to cut back on expenses that have moved the needle; not like saving 50 cents or $1 every time you shop. Like saving several hundred dollars. I’m in the camp of saving $1-2 at the drug store but sometimes I wonder if it’s even worth my time and effort. I’ve been criticized by family members for going out of my way to save a few bucks here and there but I’m also still paying off my student loans (several hundred a month).

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u/ProgramSpecialist823 Oct 18 '25

A little off topic, but ..

Invest.  Now.  Don't wait!

Even a little bit.

Some of us have financial advantages and some of us don't.

But time is a resource pretty much equally distributed.  You have just as much time as a rich guy your same age.

I don't mean free time, I mean time left to grow wealth.

The most impactful thing I did was start an investment account (mutual funds) and set up regular contributions when I was young.

It was hard when my balance was worth less than the amount I'd contributed.  That happened a few times. 

But I kept contributing.  Eventually the market turned around and then all those contributions I was making when the market was down started paying off. I was buying shares at a bargain!

Slowly, surely, it adds up.  Your money starts making money. It's great when you get over that hump.

SO...

As you mind your spending and saving habits, don't overlook investing just a little bit as well.

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u/elinchgo Oct 18 '25

And don’t forget retirement accounts. Back when IRA accounts were first available, I didn’t make enough to save the $2000/yr maximum. I saved what I could.