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International frugal living tips for people in the United States.

People around the world have one major financial goal in common: save more money. Living a frugal lifestyle and cutting overall living costs is something that unites us all, regardless of the country we live in.

While Americans also prioritize putting money away, others nationalities are better at it. According to GoBankingRates, the top five countries that save the most money are: Slovenia, Morocco, Sweden, Sri Lanka, and South Korea.

Frugal people from around the world shared their best frugal tips on the subreddit r/Frugal from their cultures that people in the United States can use. These are 16 of their best money-saving tips.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

"Most highly specialized cleaning sprays don't exist outside of the US. You don't need 7 different sprays for every surface in your kitchen/bathroom." - Ajreil

"Buying a whole chicken and breaking it down is cheaper than buying pre-cut pieces. For millions of families breaking down a chicken is just part of shopping day." - Ajreil

"Buy produce when it's in season and cheap, then pickle/dehydrate/ferment it to preserve it for the winter. Many cultures prepare 6+ months of produce during the summer." - Ajreil

"Line Drying clothes in the sun rather than use a dryer bc it’s not standard to have a dryer in most places around the world. I set this up on the balcony of my American home and it preserves my clothes and saves energy!" - krickitfrickit

"The big one is having multi generational households, it’s a far bigger savings than anything you can list." - Dismal-Bee-8319

"I moved to Ireland and the way most people heat their homes here is to have the boiler turn on with a timer in the early morning for about two hours (eg 4-6am). This way the house is warm in the morning, then by afternoon the houses are oriented towards the sun and warm up that way. By the time the heat wears off in the evening, it’s time for bed. We had oil heat and radiators in Connecticut before this, a colder climate but the same system except with thermostats instead of timers, and I’m shocked how little oil we actually burn here. We filled our tank in April and the supply company said most Irish homes wouldn’t have another delivery until after Christmas." - breadit124

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"In the hot summers, when I wake up I open my living room window and have a fan pointed towards out and turn it out the highest setting and then I open the bedroom window (my place only has 3 windows). What happens is with the fan pointing outwards instead to the inside of the house it is drawing out the warm/humid air from inside the house and pushing it outside and the other window is drawing in the cool air. Within about 1/2 - 3/4 of an hour I can reduce the humidity level in my place by about 10% and lowering the temperature by 2-3 degrees depending on how hot it is inside and cool outside or how long I have the fan turned on.
I do this until about 9am when it starts warming up then turn off the fan, close the windows, close the blinds/curtains and my place is nice and cool inside all summer doing this every day. It is very noticeable just how much cooler the inside my home especially when I go from the outside to the inside. For my bedroom, to sleep, I have a ceiling fan above the bed." - Rexzies

"Buying whole chickens is actually more expensive for me here in the US. I used to do it in the 90s every month when I got groceries, but something changed and it was actually cheaper to buy rotisserie chickens or bogs of frozen thighs from the restaurant supply. Now? I buy Costco rotisserie chickens and break them down every month. Kind of like I used to, but pre-cooked." - EducatedRat

"Not constantly buying stuff? Americans really don't understand or appreciate just how much nonsense we buy. In 2022, U.S. household final consumption accounted for 34% of the world's total, when we're only about 4% of the global population. Part of it is the average US household does have more income than households in other parts of the world, but we use that to just buy loads of utter.....sh*t." - hyperside89

"Not a ton of single use disposable things in the kitchen like - cleaning wipes (use rags), paper towels (use rags), ziploc bags (use reusable tupperware), clingwrap (put the thing in bowl with a small plate/lid on top)." - considerfi

"We cooked pasta by bringing the water to boil and letting it cook for a minute. Then stirring a few time, covering the pot, taking it off the heat, and letting it sit for about 10 minutes. We did this because cooking gas was expensive. It was important to avoid opening the lid too early because it would let out the heat that was needed to cook the pasta." - Mission_Sir_4494

- YouTube www.youtube.com

"Eat more canned and dried fish. People in Mediterranean countries and in Latin America and the Caribbean eat dishes made with canned fish such as tuna, sardines, salmon, mackerel, herring and different varieties of dried fish regularly. It's cheap, high in nutrients, versatile and widely available." - Clear-Taste-7178

"In France, I buy laundry shavings, dissolve them in hot water and have laundry detergent. I bought some for €50 2 years ago and I only used 50% of the shavings. It also works for washing lots of things, from floor to ceiling. For softener, I use vinegar. Same for the dishwashing machine. And I don't have a car, I only travel by public transport (metros, trams, buses, trains, carpooling). Finally, I buy a large part of my fruits, vegetables, cheeses, meats and fish from local producers (it costs me less, it's better, and I prefer to pay them for their work). All this can be quite common in France, but also in other countries I imagine." - Puzzleheaded_Ear1950

"Cook at home. We make every meal at home, family of 5 and both parents work full time. Do a weekly shop and take the time to cook all meals from scratch. But then, eating out in Norway is very expensive. Make sure to have little to no food waste." - Bookkeeper_Best

"While showering we don't let the water run while we put soap all over our body. And showering everyday is not always a thing. To shower, 3 steps. You wet yourself. Stop water and use soap. Rinse the soap. Done. I still don't get how one would run the water while putting soap on: doesn't it rinse the soap before it has had time to be on your skin and actually clean you?" - theelefantintheroom

"Plug in air fresheners, spray air freshener and scented dryer beads. Unnecessary spending and potentially harmful for the health of your family. What are you breathing in when you spray those chemicals? Open a window. Wash your floors. Smoke outside. Put blankets down where pets sleep and wash them regularly. So many things we can all do instead of spraying artificial crap into the air we breathe." - Canadasaver

Education & Information

Real people share 15 practical things they did to escape living paycheck to paycheck

"Be willing to accept that you might not be entitled to the lifestyle you have."

Image via Canva

People reveal their financial strategies for no longer living paycheck to paycheck.

Living paycheck to paycheck is becoming the norm in the United States. According to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, more than half of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. It is a financial reality that has many looking for financial solutions and frugal living habits to get ahead.

On Reddit, member @_DontStayTheSame_ posed the question: "How in the hell do you escape living paycheck to paycheck?"

People who have figured out how to successfully avoid living paycheck to paycheck chimed in. These are 15 of the best financial tips and advice they offered.

save money, saving money, paycheck to paycheck, frugal living, finances Money Invest GIF by Sara Dietschy Giphy

"Take everything I have done pre 35 and do the exact opposite. Only use your credit cards for things you will be able to pay off quickly. If you are buying a car and thinking "That is close but I can do it" for the payment, find a cheaper car. Do what you can to live below your means. If you are a smoker, quit." —User Unknown

"Living below your means is key." —@Orual309

"Better advice would be to find ways to improve your income but live below your means while you do so you can save up enough to improve your situation long term. Too many people raise their lifestyle with their income without ever taking the time to set themselves up for long term financial stability. That’s how you get people making six figures but somehow still living payday to payday. Obviously if you only make enough to survive until your next pay there’s nothing you can do financially to fix that, it has to be some other kind of change enabling you to make more money like going to school or just applying for better jobs." —@Sparcrypt

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"I might get some hate for this but... Live with your parents or only rent a room. Yes rent is expensive as hell and it sucks but sometimes you gotta suck it up and just get roommates. Easier to live with roommates than paycheck to paycheck in my opinion." —User Unknown

"Be willing to go back on lifestyle to fix your financial picture. Be willing to accept that you might not be entitled to the lifestyle you have. People think overspending means fancy cars, vacations, and expensive properties, but it doesn’t. It can mean buying a boring commuter car and a house. The baby steps are the first thing:

  • $1000 emergency savings, and a budget. Look back through your transactions for months to see what you actually spend, don’t just guess at your categories.
  • all consumer debt paid off. You should never be carrying a credit card balance. That’s a financial emergency, so if you are, save only $1000 for an emergency fund and put all else toward that debt.
  • 3-6 months of expenses saved in a savings account or no-risk investment with immediate liquidity (this is $15,000 for me, for 3 months, for example.)
  • minimum retirement targets met, most importantly taking any employer matching
  • invest for other goals like property, children, etc., depending on your needs

Once you’re there, you can use whatever is left over after those savings strategies and your expenses as a discretionary fund. A lot of folks spend discretionary before they have the baby steps accomplished, and it keeps them in debt and living pay check to paycheck, or waiting for that next big cash infusion from something like refinancing their house. The key is discipline. It’s tough, it really is. Seeing the 5 figure deposits to my bank account and knowing that it’s already spoken for can be tough because it’s tempting to want to spend it on a nice car (I’m a car enthusiast) or some other hobby thing, but I know I can’t do that." —User Unknown

car, financial advice, affordable car, car payment, cars dance dancing GIF by Real Canadian Superstore Giphy

"We are literally about to pay off two cars. Both payments total about $900 a month all together. I didn’t want two car payments at one time, but we both needed a more reliable car at the time. That’s not horrible for two car payments, but it’s going to free up $900 a month for us…. Which is amazing considering my wife is now stay-at-home with a baby. We have started cooking at home, avoid eating out at all costs, only drink home-brew coffee, use grocery points for cheaper gas. I’ve started taking my trash and recyclables to the dump myself, we have cut Live-TV and every streaming and subscription platform we don’t use at least once a day. We don’t, nor have we ever, lived paycheck to paycheck. It’s just nice to save money. The only thing we are splurging on now is a cleaning lady once every two weeks for $140." —@MockASonOfaShepherd

"For the TV and streaming, I do one service a month and my cell phone comes with Netflix as a perk. Each month I subscribe to one service for only one month, and watch everything I want on that service. When that ends I let it expire and don't renew. I switch to another one for the month and watch everything there. I get a new collection each month to binge and it doesn't cost me any extra unnecessary money." —User Unknown

"Also, learn to use Excel. Being able to visually see where your money goes, all at once, can make your spending make a lot more sense." —@valvilis

excel, excel spreadsheet, spreadsheet, budget, budgeting Heart Love GIF by Microsoft Cloud Giphy

"Just buy more money, it's not rocket calculus." —@faceeatingleopard

"This. Also don’t order out much. 1 fast food meal everyday of the week (depending on where you go) could have you spending an extra $100 a week that could’ve been spent at the grocery store instead. Learning to cook is cheaper than fast food easily." —User Unknown

"Meet people, work hard, get lucky. Marry someone who is financially reliable and life is half as expensive. Switch jobs every 3 years because your raises probably won't keep up with the market. Be mindful of your finances. Avoid credit card debt if you can." —@cavemanfitz

"Look into a career whose skill sets will always be in high demand. I pursued my Airframe & Powerplant Certificate. Now I can save and invest. It even made my income-earning ability Covid-proof. Yes, I got laid off a week and a half after starting a new job at a major airline. But 6 weeks later (thanks to my A&P), I got an even better-paying job as a Maintenance Technician at a 3M plant. I bought my first house in 2020. In 2022, I reapplied at that major airline and got hired as a contractor. I took a temporary, and minor, pay cut. Then I got hired direct 6 months later. I’m making a very good living and I’m able to travel the world. For the folks that say 'not everyone can do that'… I started this journey in 2016, making $12/hr at McDonald’s, and renting a room. So I’ve walked in the same shoes as many of the folks that say it’s impossible. No, I don’t have any kids. But I did graduate A&P school with a guy in his early 40’s with 3 kids. From day 1 of enrolling in A&P school up to this very day… I had to keep a strict budget." —User Unknown

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"I made a budget and update it every 3 months to see what it costs to run our family. My goal is to 'pay myself' each paycheck, which is considered savings. The budget generates two numbers. One for expenses plus luxuries, i.e. eating out, alcohol, hobbies, gym etc the other is my expenses without the luxuries in case I ever had to leave my job etc. By putting aside an amount each pay I've aimed and achieved saving 6 months worth of expenses without luxuries. Since doing that, I've then started to make additional payments to my superannuation account/ retirement fund that I can't touch until I retire. Since making the budget it's been an eye opener on where our money goes and how much we can save by cutting out stuff that isn't really worth it. It has also allowed my not so financially minded wife understand our position and gets her buy-in when we set targets for emergency savings or goals for buying stuff for the house or amounts for holidays. It's not full proof and we still have times where most of the pay goes out to expenses that can't be avoided like bills and rates that might all come in at once but its definitely made us feel more in control and enthusiastic about saving." —@CallSignVip3r

"You can't "save" your way out of poverty. Budgeting won't solve the problem. Those are just platitudes told to placate the masses. They empirically do not work, but the freak exceptions make good 'feel good' stories. Networking or advancement are the only ways out. Networking works best, advancement takes too long, and is far more probability-reliant. Beg everyone you've ever known for job opportunities. Be shameless." —@EmbarrassedVolume

"Rich parents, good health." —@Legitimate_Field_157

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A woman ruffled some feathers with a tour of her $650 NYC micro apartment.

They say New York City is the City of Dreams. Young people all over the world flock to the city when they're ready to start chasing after their biggest ambitions. If you have a passion for theater, television, or the arts, there's no better place to be. Want to become a successful and prestigious stock broker, lawyer, or investment banker? It's all New York, baby. It's a city of immense opportunity and tough competition, but that's what makes it full of life and culture for those who choose to live there.

But all of that doesn't come cheap. The average rent in New York for even just a small, studio apartment is $3,264 per month. That buys you less than 500 square feet. And, even though it seems like you're really pinching pennies by living somewhere so cramped, that price tag is enormous! Even if you account for the higher-than-average salaries in New York.

Most young people just getting started in their careers can't afford that. Not to mention, the competition for good-quality apartments in New York is cutthroat. Still, people are desperate to live there by any means necessary, which has given rise to some really fascinating (and, in some cases, slightly horrifying) micro apartments.

In 2023, one woman went viral for showing off her New York micro apartment. It clocks in at just 80 square feet and cost her, at the time, a meager $650 per month.

new york, new york living, NYC, tiny apartment, micro apartment, apartment tour, budgeting, gen z, millennials, american dream If you like spending all your money on rent, New York is awesome! Giphy

YouTuber Caleb Simpson interviewed the woman, Alaina, for his channel that specializes in featuring interesting and unique living spaces. Alaina's apartment definitely qualifies, though technically the square footage is 80x150, because she's including the vertical space. Every square inch counts!

"So really it just feels like a walk-in closet," Simpson remarks upon entering through the front door.

Alaina shows Simpson around the apartment, which includes a tiny living room slash kitchen area with a mini-fridge, a small sink, and a small stove and microwave. In the main living area, she's placed a fold-out sofa of sorts. Alaina's makeup and pantry foods are all crammed into one small cabinet.

From there...well, there's not much left to see. But Alaina and Simpson check out the loft, which holds Alaina's bed and a little extra storage in the form of hooks where she hangs her bags and purses.

The apartment has no windows. There is a storage cupboard under the stairs, but it's hard to access.

"Every time I want to get something out, something else has to move," Alaina says.

As far as a bathroom, Alaina is lucky enough to have her very own private bathroom complete with shower! Many New York micro apartments feature communal or shared bathrooms, so the private bath is a plus for this tiny space. However, hers is located separate from her apartment, down the hall. And, you might be surprised to hear, it's extremely tiny.

Alaina admits she previously lived in a "luxury" apartment that cost over $3,000 per month, but she wanted to free up money to travel, which prompted her to downgrade.

Watch the whole tour here:

- YouTube www.youtube.com

Alaina says her tiny apartment was a "hot commodity" when she signed the lease, beating out tons of other prospective renters.

Commenters on the video, which has a staggering 24 million views, were more or less horrified at the conditions that New Yorkers were competing over:

"Firetrap . No exits , no windows with fresh air . Cooking with no air flow . Crazy this is even happening"

"I can't even breathe looking at this tiny apartment"

"'In a van, down by the river' has never sounded better."

"NYC should be ashamed and embarrassed to relegate people to live in this kind of space. Not only does it look uncomfortable / unhealty but It looks extremely dangerous. NYC should do better in providing affordable housing with decent square footage."

It's cool and scrappy that Alaina makes the pint-sized apartment work for her as she pursues her dream of living in New York City. We might find it claustrophobic, but the fact that multiple renters were fighting over this space really says a lot about the way our culture is moving.

Younger millennials and Gen Z are sick of chasing after the American Dream of the single-family home with a white picket fence and a golden retriever.

new york, new york living, NYC, tiny apartment, micro apartment, apartment tour, budgeting, gen z, millennials, american dream The City That Never Sleeps Giphy

It's hopelessly out of reach for many of them anyway due to skyrocketing housing prices and stagnant wages. So, they can work their fingers to the bone with multiple jobs and maybe afford a slightly better apartment, but still not be able to save enough for the future—or they could actually enjoy their life with the money they do have.

NBC News writes, "Several years out of Covid lockdowns, younger Americans’ outlays on things like travel, recreation and dining out have been outpacing their older peers’ even as the economy slows. As of last summer, the average Gen Zer or millennial was dropping over $400 a month on nonessentials, compared to about $250 for Gen Xers and less than $200 for baby boomers."

In another YouTube interview, Alaina admits to spending big money on her monthly gym membership: over $300 per month, to be exact. Commenters chastised her for having her priorities mixed up, but honestly, there's nothing backwards at all about wanting to relax at your gym's spa after a long day of work, or travel to the far ends of the world, versus spending all of your money on an OK-but-still-crappy apartment.

In an update in the YouTube video's caption, Simpson writes that Alaina chose not to renew her lease in the micro apartment after filming. But that doesn't mean she regrets her stay.

"It's an adventure," Alaina says. "People need a lot less than they think they need."

Courtesy of Jacalyn Wetzel

5 tips for saving your sanity for family's first Disney trip

Whether you're heading to Disney World or Disneyland, it can cost thousands of dollars. From park tickets to hotels, food and souvenirs, there isn't an easy way to get around spending several paychecks to take a family trip to Disney so most people try to pack in as much as possible for their days at the park. Of course, people like to get their money's worth so they find themselves pushing themselves to spend long hours in the sun with children that are increasingly becoming more whiney as the day progresses.

I've taken my kids to Disney World three times and Disneyland once and I'm here to tell you if you're planning your first family trip to Disney, it doesn't have to be that way. There are ways to avoid turning a fun family trip under the Florida or California sun into meltdown city. Preparation for a less stressful, less expensive trip to Mickey's house starts before you book your trip and with Disney's new "Cool Kid Summer," little ones can feel involved in planning.

Disneyland; Disney World; Disney budget; tips for Disney; family vacation; cool kid summer Family all smiles receiving bag from Disney hotel staffPhoto by Bennett Stoops/WDW PR

Here are 5 things that will save your budget and your sanity on your first family trip to Disney:

1. Disney resorts are amazing but they're not a requirement

It's easy to get caught up in the idea of staying at one of the fantastic Disney resorts, they have so many cool decorations, pools and everyone is ridiculously kind. But unless the resort is your final destination, those couple of thousand dollars can be used elsewhere, like a mortgage payment.

Disney locations are surrounded by hotels that aren't owned by the park so you can stay the same length of time for a fraction of the price. Hotels nearby typically have free shuttles that will take you to the parks. They also offer free breakfast in most cases so there's no need to spend money on breakfast at the park or a Disney resort unless you want to. Disney resorts don't offer complimentary breakfast and the price tag can be a little high.

Disneyland; Disney World; Disney budget; tips for Disney; family vacation; cool kid summer Mickey shaped cinnamon roll with white icingCourtesy of Jacalyn Wetzel

2. Avoid kids becoming hangry

Most people get a little grumpy when their blood sugar drops from hunger, kids are no exception. But when you combine little kids, hungry bellies, excessive heat and a change in routine, parents are in for a meltdown of epic proportions. To avoid inevitable hangry behavior and an empty wallet, going grocery shopping for your hotel room can be a game changer.

Disney allows you to bring in outside food and drinks as long as nothing is in a glass container. This means you can pack plenty of snacks and lunch to bring with you in the park. Because it can be so hot, it may also be a good idea to bring some powdered electrolytes like Liquid IV or Gatorade to make sure everyone stays hydrated. Food and drinks at Disney can most certainly break the bank and when children are throwing a fit because they're hungry, parents are more likely to duck into the closest food establishment regardless of price. Packing your own food will help avoid spending unnecessary money.

Disneyland; Disney World; Disney budget; tips for Disney; family vacation; cool kid summer Rae and Storm Troopers inside Star Wars Rise of the Resistance attractionCourtesy of Jacalyn Wetzel

3. Disney is hot, be prepared and plan cooling breaks

Disney World is hot nearly year round and there's just no escaping that fact. The park sells battery operated fans attached to spray bottles so you can cool off faster. Those nifty little gadgets will run you around $30 a pop if you buy one while walking the park, believe me, you'll covet every passerby's fan after about 10 minutes of walking in the heat. They sell the same misting fans at Five Below for $4, Walmart for $10 and Home Depot for $12. When you're preparing for your trip buy the fans locally and toss them in everyone's bags to bring with them at the park.

Because the fans will not be enough as the day wears on, be sure to work in some cooling breaks. Taking the kids to see The Little Mermaid or Villains: Unfairly Ever After if they're little or Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance for school agers in Hollywood Studios for a little heat break. In Epcot has several indoor attractions, so does Magic Kingdom but if you're looking for a day with the least amount of excessive heat exposure, Animal Kingdom will be your friend. It's very well shaded with lots of trees that create a noticeable difference in temperature compared to the other parks.

Disneyland; Disney World; Disney budget; tips for Disney; family vacation; cool kid summer Disney villain Maleficent with glowing scepterPhoto by Steven A. Diaz/WDW PR

If your hotel isn't far away, don't be afraid to head back to the hotel room for a siesta before tackling more of the park. Your resilience levels will thank you. Creating magic for little ones is hard and it's totally fine if parents are the ones needing a break.

4. Renting a Disney stroller may make you weep with gratitude

There's something about the rented double strollers at Disney that makes the world feel right. They're easy to push and large enough to fit kids that outgrew a traditional stroller years prior. This is one of the few areas where I never mind spending money while at Disney though surprisingly, stroller rental is cheaper than buying one of those misting fans. The double stroller is for kids 100 lbs or less so let your bigger kids rest, promise no one will bat an eye at an 10-year-old in a stroller at Disney. It's hot and you can easily walk over seven miles in just a few hours at the park.

Disneyland; Disney World; Disney budget; tips for Disney; family vacation; cool kid summer Strollers at Animal KingdomPhoto by Adam Fagen/Flickr

The strollers also come in handy for tossing in your bags, sweatshirts, ponchos or anything else you're tired of holding. There are handy stroller parking lots all over the park outside of rides and attractions. So if you're going to be walking around with kiddos 10 and under, you'll never regret renting a stroller.

5. Get the Lightening Lane Passes for rides you don't want to miss

Lightening Lane Passes do cost money but this is an area you'll want to set money aside to use for rides you or your kids have your hearts set on. Lines for rides like Avatar Flight of Passage and Expedition Everest tend to have wait times that exceed 90 minutes so if you don't think your Disney trip will be complete without a ride, get the Lightening Lane Pass.

Disneyland; Disney World; Disney budget; tips for Disney; family vacation; cool kid summer Sebastian from The Little Mermaid with a mother and childCourtesy of Jacalyn Wetzel

The way Lightening Lane works is you purchase the pass through the Disney park app and it tells you what time frame you can use it. This frees up your time to ride something else, get food or watch a show until it's time for you to ride. Once you get back to the ride you just tap your phone or Magicband on the silver ball with Mickey's head on it and when it lights up green you bypass everyone else standing in line. It can make you feel like a celebrity without the paparazzi.

Disney is a once in a lifetime trip for some families and every one that goes deserves to be able to enjoy their trip. You don't have to spend a ton of money at the parks if you don't want to or don't have it. There are plenty of ways to enjoy your trip to Disney without eating ramen for a month after you get back and by planning ahead you can cut down on little ones having big emotions. Using the Cool Kid Summer maps that have easily identifiable cartoon pictures of attractions and a fun scavenger hunts on the back can help littles feel more in control of their fun, too.

Disneyland; Disney World; Disney budget; tips for Disney; family vacation; cool kid summer Adventure guides for family fun at Disney's parks!Photo by Bennett Stoops/WDW PR

If you're heading out to Disney this summer just remember, cooling breaks, hydration and snacks will make the trip much more pleasant for every member of your family.