7 REALISTIC Ways to Cut the Cost of Living Alone-Saving Money with Frugal Living 

Happy Frugal Friday KSquad! Thanks so much for joining us for a new episode each Friday!

Leftovers = Free food I already spent time preparing = 🎉🎉

It disgusts me when people refuse to eat leftovers , someone that is homeless or living below their means would give their eye teeth for leftovers

I’m one of those people that can eat anything for dinner every night for a week and never bat an eye. I made soup last week and ate for lunch and dinner for four days. I just made another batch last night and I’ll eat it as long as it lasts. My sister and I just had this conversation about it being weird. I’m weird. I’m frugal and I’m single, so I answer to no one about it!!😂

Hey Kate:)! It's so funny to me... some people say they don't like leftovers, but they do eat frozen meals from the store- I'm like: "Those are leftovers, they were just not cooked by you!"🤣

Simple meal = poached eggs on sourdough bread = Perfection.

I live alone and I need to be very frugal. Seems every time I leave the house it cost me $50 to $100 each time! My tips: Stay home as much as possible. Create a budget with the Every Dollar app (free version). Make use of every drop of toiletries before buying more. Use material napkins instead of paper ones. Use one square of paper towels at a time. Use less than the recommended amount of laundry detergent. Only wash full loads of clothes. Don’t use makeup every day if you are not going out. Wash clothes in cold water. Make sure all lights are off in rooms you are not in. I need more ideas though so I’m glad I found your channel!!!

Hey... Yesterday was an exciting day for me. I'm 52 and single since 2019. I paid off the rest of my debt!!! I decided to use my savings and rid myself of debt bondage. I still have plenty of savings left for emergencies. I also stocked up on my meat for the month(I do the carnivore lifestyle) and other things like toilet paper etc. I'm doing a no spend for June except for I have 2 birthdays that I'm giving money as gifts but I've already saved for that. I stayed home with my 3 boys and have been divorced since 2019. I'm gonna focus even more on saving for retirement. I have a retirement account at work where they contribute and I'm gonna open a Roth IRA also. I Love your channel and I think you're Adorable 🙂❤️

Tip-we open all the windows in the evening when it cools and then close up the house late morning and close curtains. My neighbors are running their air conditioning. I haven’t had to, yet.

'leftovers is just another word for food', most truthful quote of the day 🤣🤣🤣

I live alone and shop once a week or once every 2 weeks. I spend the rest of the day cooking and then freeze everything in smallish portions. If I'm on my way home and I want to stop and pick up something from a drive thru, I convince myself to go home and heat food up. I don't start from scratch every time I come home. If I run out of something fun (chocolate or maybe ice cream) I have to wait until next trip. Staying out of the stores has saved a lot. Leftovers are just food unless you wait a week and then they are a science experiment.

I live in a tiny paid house I walk to supermarket or bike Grow tomatoes Do garden in stages Cycle free bikes also No tv put on agsin xmas Money in envelopes Less sweets reduce dentist bills Clean house to boost moral Walk I eat fresh Learn how to cook

I love living alone. So much freedom ❤❤👍👍

I'm a nurse working 50+ hours a week. I do all of my cooking on Saturday. I live on leftovers. Leftovers are life. Lol Breakfast casserole or Oatmeal with fruit and greek yogurt covers the morning. Things like stew, rotisserie chicken, rice, baked potatoes, chilli, casseroles etc cover diner. I pulled a frozen turkey breast (98¢/lb after Thanksgiving) out of the freezer two weeks ago and had Thanksgiving in May all by myself! Lots of leftover turkey for salad, sandwiches, turkey chili. The whole meal cost me $12 and I ate for two weeks. Good food is definitely still doable.

I save money on groceries by not cooking everyday like I used to. Plus I told my husband it’s a sin to waste food😂. So now he ensures all the leftovers get eaten up. If there is something we can’t finish in time I’ll portion for work lunches and put in the freezer. I cannot stand food waste, especially when I see people struggling to feed their families.

I enjoy my fried eggs, salads, and baked potatoes!

Video idea: When your friends want to go out, don't tell them you can't because of finances. They'll often want to pay for your evening out, etc. That has stigma attached. I always politely decline, saying I'd love to but I'm busy, and sometimes make up a task or other commitment.

I am 65 , live on my own , YES to stocking up. I do not know how many people say to me, " but I dont need toilet tissue " or whatever the item is when I say it is on sale. My answer, " No, nut you will later on !" Personally, I would rather use tp that I paid $.66/ roll on sale then knowing I paid full price. Glad to find your channel

I make a fried rice with eggs, veggies, rice and spices. Very cheap and filling☺️

Leftovers….love them for lunch!❤

Staying out of the stores & deleting store emails❤😊❤

I buy things in bulk, like a years worth of toilet rolls, kitchen rolls, toothpaste, etc. Each item then works out to be half as expensive.

I've had popcorn with melted cheese for dinner plenty of times ... I love popcorn, filling, quick, cheap, easy.

Maybe not "bogo", but the nearly expired things are often marked down 50%. You have to go early in the morning to get those deals, but it's well worth the effort. Just don't get sucked into buying things you don't like, or regularly eat, just because it's marked down.

As a widow, to save money, I will bulk cook. I then portion out individual servings and freeze them to have meals later. I do this especially with soups or stews. All I have to do is pull a container from the freezer and maybe add a salad and I have a meal. I also turn off unnecessary lights and close the registers in rooms not in use. One really sunny days, I will open my drapes in order to enjoy the sunshine and not use lamps to light the room I am in. Not sure how much saves, but it does help!!

Hey Kate, my car has another flat tyre, so im cycling to work. I've decided to cycle to work for the rest of the summer & save some money 💰 😊😊😊

Maybe I’m strange. I like leftovers better. No cooking, just heat up and eat. Plus, I like the taste better. Obviously there are sone things that are not good leftover, like French fries.

I buy a bag of frozen chicken patties. They’re quick to cook in an air fryer and I might make a crispy chicken sandwich, chicken parm, lemon chicken, chicken Alfredo, chicken Caesar salad, chicken , mashed potatoes and gravy, stir fry…

My biggest hurdle is grocery shopping. I am frugal, save, and only spend when necessary. Only groceries are difficult; it's hard to buy and cook for one. But I am trying my best! I budget a certain amount of money for clothes to have a wardrobe as for years I dressed horribly because I didn't have a decent income. I refuse to look frumpy and sloppy. I look forward to Frugal Fridays:)

I love leftovers. It means I don’t have to cook the next night, and a lot of leftovers are better the next night.

"Be ruthless with what you say YES to". Love this!! I no longer spend money to appease other people

I live alone. Stocked up on food. For the past 8 months I've had MAJOR expenses. All of the money I set aside was used. Still have emergency funds left. I'm in process of replenishing my accounts for medical, pets, and car maintenance. Sooooo.... no spend June for me.

My meals are basic, no recipes just what is in the house. Any leftovers are my next ingredient. My batch cooking is the frugal way to save me money.

I make simple meals. My neighbor is also Gluten-free so we share meals at times.

I only cook simple meals. Gave up complicated cooking years ago. I also deliberately cook to have leftovers. Silly people who don’t like leftovers 😂

I use a small basket or cart in the store, instead of a big cart. The carrying basket has several advantages: (Of course i also have a list and try to stick to it) 1 only so much fits in. 2 it looks more fulfilling as its fuller, instead of a sad empty cart. (Cart: what else can i fill it with, is this all i made this trip for?) 3 it makes me think: you already have a lot! 4 having to carry my stuff, makes me hurry more, so im less tempted to hang around and be tempted to buy more. 5 the weight on my arm, makes me not wanting to carry and buy more than needed.

Hi Kate! I've got a golden rule for invitations: IF IT'S NOT AN ABSOLUTE "YES" , IT'S A "NO".😊

Left overs: Day 1. Steak nachos filling with chips. Day 2. Steak nachos filling with chips. Day 3. Steak nacho filling with burritos. Day 4. Steak nacho filling in salad; and then of course steak nacho filling with chips.

I live alone.... sort of....I have 5 cats and I am always looking for ways to save money when it comes to buying things like litter and food, etc. I shop primarily through Chewy and a lot of times they offer a $30 E Gift Card when you spend $100. It is no problem for me to spend $100 but I time it in a way where I stock up during those promotions and then I will have that gift card to use for later.

Our Publix does BOGO. I look at their flyer every week.

BOGO seems when they advertise this they jack up the price, its never really a deal anymore.

Had a friend who used to have "Must-go" suppers. Everything in the 'fridge must go! And by "go" they meant be eaten! LoL Leftovers yum! Easy lunch for the next day!

Grow food, a little garden can provide a l9t of savings

I like to hang my clothes out on the line to dry them instead of using the dryer during the summer months. When the clothes are dry i soak some hand towels in some water and fabric softener solution. I put the dry clothes and the hand towels in the dryer on air fluff for 15 mins and my clothes are soft and no static in them. Also left overs are used to make freezer meals that i can thaw and dump in the crock pot to either cook or reheat them. Reusable freezer bags are what i use for this. Also make ever drop of gas count. Make 2 trips a month for errands and groceries. Get it done in one trip. Never added up the saving but i know i have a bit left over each month. Keep windows open all night with fan bringing in cool air. Close windows during the day to keep house cooler. Less time a.c. is on.

Gas here in Canada is over $1.60 a liter. That's like a quarter of a gallon. With my CAA card, I save 3 cents a liter. After 6 pm the price drops. After 9 pm the price drops again. So on Wednesday, when other stations had gas for $1.61, I paid $1.52. I always check the price to see if it will rise or fall the next day. For example, tomorrow the price will drop 3 cents. Every little bit helps. Knowledge is golden. I keep asking questions and the results are sometimes just the answer I need. I had asked the attendent when was the best time to buy gas. Another great topic today, Kate. Thank you!

I don't live alone but to cut cost I do the following every week; food inventory, meal planning, and sticking to a grocery list.

I am working on building up my budget buffer because........ life!

I learned to keep records of things like car repairs. A lot of times shops do work with a warranty. If you have the same issue pop up again and have the invoice a lot of times they will fix it for free. Anytime your on the phone with a mechanic before you agree to any work. Go through those records and make sure they didn't recommend anything you have done recently. Write down what they say and tell them you will call them right back.

We unplug electrical things not in use. Make coffee, unplug when done. Do laundry, unplug. Etc.

Pick yourself up keep walking forward

Happy Frugal Friday, KSquad!!! I love my husband and I’m so blessed to share my life with him, however, that being said, my finances would be so much simpler if I lived alone! lol! He is a spender. I have to be the bad guy and say “no, not in the budget” all the time. It is frustrating. Ugh! Oh well, It is what it is! Opposites attract. 😊

Leftovers is my #1 Ebooks from the library is my #2 Not having a car is my #3

I invested in a pack of 10 freezer-safe, dishwasher-safe, microwaveable meal trays with divided sections & lids. My spouse tends to make enough food for us to have leftovers during the rest of the week. I would take some of the extra to fill one (or more) of these meal trays. Then I froze them. It was like having a healthy TV dinner selection in our freezer. Also would share w/our kid in college so they cld have some of dad’s home cooked meals.

Look for free things to do in your community. In the summer months there are lots of them where I live - music, festivals, walks, etc.

My whole life I was always frugal by nature and also necessity. I saw so much irresponsible spending in people around me. This inflation is squeezing everyone but the general mindset now is frugality and mindfulness. And that's how it should have been all along.

Air conditions do not exist in Germany. Energy is to expensive to afford them. Except for some office buildings and sone factories.

I love left overs. I will make a four portion dinner. Eat one today one tomorrow and portion up two for the freezer for future dinners

In Florida we still get BOGO's at Publix and Winn-Dixie

Live simply that others may simply live, is a good mantra to have. Give a portion of what is saved to help sponser a child or pet that is need. Having a purpose brings abundance to one's life, even if one only has little to share.

I live in NJ, live alone, and my budget is $300 per month for groceries. I meal prep and eat the same meals 3 times a day for a week straight. Leftovers are fantastic 😋

Bogos in Winn Dixie, Florida still happening. And, wouldn't it be nice if high schools required a class in simple investing to students before they graduate?

Frugal minimalism is my new policy!

Price of gas is bad. I was only making one trip a week to my local town and would do everything I needed to do in that one trip. This month I am trying to make one trip every two weeks. For instance a Dr appt that day all other errands are done including grocery shopping. If I make it only two times a month one trip I get to treat myself to lunch.

Have a fabulous weekend

The way I cut my spending this month was to go through all my fabric and purged what I’m not going to use. There was so much I still had, that I don’t need to acquire any more this month or for a while. I know what I have and have some new ideas for sewing projects using what I have.

The only BOGO I've seen lately was at Kroger. They had soda on sale buy 2 12 packs get 3 free.

Banks are offering good intrest rates on cd accounts right now. Best time to leave money in there and get a monthly dividend

We had a terrible storm here in North Texas and i had to throw away all my refrigerator/freezer good. We had no power for 4 days. Going to the store tomorrow to try and restock. My budget will help my family ❤

Thank you Kate you always inspire me.. be it being a mother living frugally saving budgeting cleaning cooking decluttering everything I do in my life.. Thank you and God bless you and Kaden.. and Loads of love to you and Kaden..

I buy 2- 3 different fruits 🍎 🍉 🍊 🍓 each week, only those on sale and bananas 🍌 and tomatoes 🍅 Whatever meat is on sale, I buy it. This week 3 lbs ground beef is $8.97 at Kroger, last week whole chickens were BOGO I paid $9.57 for the 2 almost 11 lb. Chickens $0.89 lb. I buy Kroger frozen veggies on sale for $1 Butter 🧈 when it’s on sale for $1.99 -$2.49 I stock up, same with name brand Mayo, name brand pasta sauce $1.49 Pasta at $0.99.

Left Overs sometimes taste good when You create something new out of it I like to buy a large piece of steak and use the other half as slices for cold meat

Started no spend month for June. Have everything I need and will take this month to appreciate what I have!!!

You seem so happy as single lady

Yes, to all of these ideas! I would add staying out of the store(s). I also track my spending, and stock pile home essentials. My stock pile has saved me numerous times. My goal is to have money left at the end of the month for extra savings and/or extra money toward my debt.

yes to the bank buffer!!! I messed up the budget with the magic month paycheck. I forgot to have a check cover the initial expenses without a check until later to cover it. I'll just have to leave the last check in the bank to cover that. If I had a bigger buffer, I'd be fine. I'm working on adding to that slowly each check.

Compound interest is powerful!

We went through a period of pretty extreme lean. During that time we bared bare-bones budgets a couple of additionsl times. Since then, we have striven to keep our number of monthly bills to a minimum.

More helpful inspiration, thank you! I batch cook and eat the same thing for several days. That way, when I come in from work and am ravanous I have healthy food ready to heat, so I don't go off and get takeaway or anything.

I have a couch thats died so saved up for a second hand good quality couch need some block out curtains only on our main windows its winter here it will save on our electrical bill in winter and summer

I ALWAYS cook for an army! Cook once - eat 3 times!! 👍

Hello Kate i m from the Netherlands ,Europe and love your content ❤. If you ever want to visit,you re welcome for a frugal stay 😂😂

The end of the week is "seek and eat" the remaining leftovers. We each have a meal but it may not be the same. No food waste!! 😊Ready to cook and restock.

Happy Frugal Friday K-Squad! I am literally stocking up today on haircare as it is 40% off. I have been taking lunch to work and not making impulse purchases. Simplification of my life has resulted in costs savings, as I am not overbuying things and the saving of my time which is becoming more and more valuable as I get older. The budget buffer is SO important! It means that when S&%it hits the fan you're not worried about how you are going to afford the extra bill/cost and instead focus on getting through whatever has led to the extra cost.

Thanks for the frugal "reminders". I'm older (by a lot) and living on my own, so I've tried to live this way for years. Still, occasionally I will get a little off track with spending (which is why a "reminder" now and then is appreciated). I find it rather sad though, that we even need to have reminders (most of this is just common sense)... a "buffer" is an emergency fund (and everyone should have one). Left overs are still food (and if you don't/won't eat them - then just don't make so much). Having a "guilt free fund" is a great idea, we all need a little "fun money" so we don't feel deprived. Anyway, thanks for reminding me of some of the things I NEEDED to be reminded of!

weis grocery here in PA do BOGO or buy1 get 2 free on meats … i always take advantage of this

I love making shredded white cabbage & carrot matchsticks (I use my mandolin and save money not buying it cut), sautée with onions and add a poached (or fried) egg and a couple sprinkles of everything bagel seasoning or sesame seeds. You get protein, healthy veg and super budget friendly.

Egg is a superfood, and right now relatively inexpensive. It’s an excellent source of protein without having to buy beef or pork. I still buy chicken and seafood, cause they are both healthy. I really haven’t heard any new advice on how to save money, they are the same advice over and over. Like, do not go to Starbucks, bring lunch, eat leftovers…. The only way to save is not spending.

When I was raising a family, I got way more cooperation on eating leftovers when I called it "smorgasbord night"! I still think of it that way.

Have ‘to buy soon’ lists (different categories) in your cupboard. Before any kind of shopping: look at the lists. So you can keep your priorities straight.

I follow several frugal vloggers but you are my favorite😊 obviously much of the info is not new and I’ve heard before but it helps to hear it again. It keeps me encouraged to keep at it! Thanks Kate!

Piggybacking onto the be ruthless with what you say yes to, this is an absolute big one for me. My best friend is always having events/things to do. An example would be Mother’s Day. She made reservations at a restaurant for eleven people. I ended up buying Mother’s Day gifts for six of the eleven, plus dinner for my husband and myself, and then she asked if I could cover the cost of dinner for one of the guests because she and her husband were going to be stretched thin 🙄. We literally ended up spending around $250 that day. It’s these kinds of situations that are very hard to say no, I can’t do that because there’s friendships aligned with the event and then we look like scrooges if we don’t do it. Boundaries are becoming necessary even with the closest of friends.

I used to HATE leftovers and now I ❤ them. I pack them up in containers with everything I’m having with it so all I have to do is take it out of the fridge and put it in the microwave and 2 minutes later my dinner is done 🎉❤

Simple meals require fewer ingredients. That’s way way cheaper than making recipes that call for more ingredients. I have a few favourite “recipes” that I make. I freeze meats fish and poultry for those recipes in my fridge freezer and keep the other ingredients on hand in the pantry. I buy to restock freezer and pantry on the sales. Flat pack meat in ziplock bags for best use of freezer space in my fridge freezer compartment. I lost my husband recently and I find it easier to make a full size meal with 6-8 portions. I freeze my leftovers for my homemade TV dinners. My own cheap nutritious convenience meals for fast lunches and dinners.

i don’t get people who don’t eat leftovers! that’s all i eat 😄

Publix grocery stores and Winn Dixie grocery stores have bogos. Good deals if items are already on your grocery list.

Hi Kate I live alone and I am watching you from Sri Lanka. I eat boiled vegetables for dinner on every day. I batch cook and I clear the fridge on Sunday afternoon by eating all the leftovers. I stick to my budget come what may. Love your videos

Have a fun week Kate and squad . 6 store cupboard ideas powdered that keep well and can be added to your meals . Milk, eggs, potato, peanut butter, anyone else do this? 😀

Kate I always write down my budget down but I use my calculator bc the numbers never lie....by doing them is an eye opener....and when I go grocery shopping I always make a list...😊😊😊

The number 1 shopping saving tip is to shop the sales ads and also plan be it a meal plan, a gift list, a kitchen equipment t/ tools list, a diy tool list, etc... As a single you are still an economic unit even jf yiu arent Mother Hubbard with so many children she knew not what to do. This includes decor items and holiday decorations. Most of the time imp was single i also rented and moved upto often. In terms of volume, weight, breakability, and cost i considered what it would take to move what i owned. The number 2 shopping savings tip for singles and small family units is to skip the single and small serving sizes and move onto the family sized packages. HOWEVER, do check unit prices 'cause smaller packages can be cheaper than larger. Meat and many personal hygine products tend to be cheaper per unit or each in larger sizes. In terms of living and possessions i found the food larder, batch cooking, and from scrstch cooking to be very important. I found savings in my stock pot, electric drill and scew driver set, and owing actual dishes and a dish washing pan versus disposables (something many sing6kes did back in the day). To fill my time and need for casual social interaction, i went to the library often rather than shopping. (I also timed my dumpster trips so that i would meet and talk to others taking thier garbage out and was sure to chat up any area kids; kids know evrything thats going on and it is good elsewise that they like you.) I also volunteered and for a variety of reasons often chose "one and done" opportunities; the complete volunteer commitment is a half or full day event. And i crafted/ hobbied taking care to not collect too much "stuff". Anither thing to do is take classes for fun or more academic oriented. For fun classes look at the library, parks and rec, and adult continuing ed courses. You may even want a community college, work places offered, or university course taken as an audit or for credit. Yes, in addition to a food and essentials larder i aimed for a 6 month savings account plus an IRA. I did put my 6 month ahead fund into 6 different lower value CD's with maturity times spaced by 1 month apart and minimal pem3ality for premature withdrawl. These gave me a kiss more interest than a savings account although i did take an interest hit for smaller CDs and the lack of penality for premature withdrawl. On the other hand the CDs i got required an in-person, ID visit and some paperwork to touch making them a little more fraud proof; and less likely to be used by myself for some "good purpose" other than a 6 month ahead plan. What i did not do is get to do is learn something more abiut investing. Females, singles, people of color, single parents, a d lower waged earners can get the time of the day among fudiairy investment counselors now adays and this makes it all the easier.

I unplug everything in my house besides the fridge oven. I do not use my gas dryer. I tend not to use the lights. Lol. 30 bucks or less for the electric a month.