Frugal Living Pros: Cut 4 Everyday Services That Drain Your Budget
Living frugally isn't necessarily about limiting yourself or cutting corners just to save a buck. The idea is to find smarter ways to live a rich, fulfilled life with the added -- and significant -- benefit of lowering costs.
This can sometimes be easier said than done, however. That's why we reached out to frugal experts to get their takes on the everyday services many of us pay for and why they aren't actually worth the money. Perhaps there are a few listed below that you could cut from your budget to live a more frugal lifestyle.
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1. Streaming
A standard subscription to Netflix (with ads) costs almost $18 per month. If you add on more subscriptions such as Hulu, Peacock or Disney+, you could easily be spending $50 or even $100 monthly. Therefore, it's no surprise people who are more conscious about their spending often skip this expense.
"It's hard to pay for movie streaming services when there are so many free options available," said Merissa Alink, frugal living expert at Little House Living. She recommended checking out Freevee, YouTube and Tubi for free content, instead.
2. Meal Kit Delivery
Meal kit delivery services such as HelloFresh, are convenient, but also pricey. While they might be more cost-effective than dining out, it's still a more expensive way to eat than cooking at home. That's why frugal experts like Janita Grift, owner of Frugal Fun Finance, tend to avoid them.
"Meal kit services are healthier and cheaper than takeout, but still a lot more expensive than buying your own groceries and preparing your own meals," she said. "Instead of relying on meal kit services, I always buy my own ingredients and cook from scratch."
"I've [saved money] simply by cooking my own meals and ordering takeout once a week instead of using a meal kit every day," Grift elaborated.
3. House Cleaning
For Alink, services that emphasize convenience, like housing cleaning, are those she opts to do herself instead of paying for. She advises others to do the same if they're hoping to free up extra cash each month.
"Instead, use DIY cleaning methods to save money and maintain a healthy home environment," she said. "If you are strapped for time, you can set a quick 5- or 10-minute tidy per day to keep things clean."
Professional house cleaning services can cost hundreds per visit, depending on the size of your home and how long it takes.
4. Gym Membership
Gym memberships can cost tens—or even hundreds—of dollars per month. Some gyms cost much more than that, even, especially if they offer additional amenities or premium services.
When you add on the initial signup fee many gyms charge, you could be looking at spending hundreds or thousands of dollars a year. The cost is a big reason Alink doesn't pay money for the gym.
"Our family stays fit and healthy by taking multiple hiking trails per week," said Alink. "There are many free healthy exercise activities that one can take advantage of like walking, riding the local bike path or even just playing a physically demanding game with the kids at the park."
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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