Many people take pride in stretching a dollar, but certain savings habits can look unusual from the outside. What some see as practical, others consider unusual or inconvenient. An online forum recently took a deep dive into the world of frugality, and people are realizing that weird and frugality go hand in hand.
The story
A recent Reddit user asked, "What’s the most frugal thing you do that people around you think is weird but you swear by it?" They mentioned that they rinse and reuse Ziploc bags, stitch up holey socks, and cut toothpaste tubes to get out every last drop, all while feeling totally normal about it. The thread quickly garnered hundreds of responses, highlighting other creative, frugal ideas.
The reactions
A central theme across the thread was finding new uses for items that others throw away. "I save all gift bags. If the tissue paper is particularly nice and intact… that too." This includes simple habits such as washing and reusing glass jars, saving packaging materials, and repairing household items rather than replacing them.
One user explained that small habits made an immediate impact on their electric bill. "I unplug everything in our house except for the fridge and the router, I guess. Everything else gets unplugged. Used to drive my girlfriend insane for the first 2 months, and then she really saw the difference in the electric bill, and now it still drives her nuts, but she appreciates it, and she likes to tell people about it and joke about it. "
Another mentioned that they skip high-priced items from the store and use common household ingredients instead. "Apple cider vinegar on sunburns instead of all the fancy sunburn treatments. People think I’m nuts, but it works so well." A bottle of apple cider vinegar costs a few dollars compared to burn gels that are easily double or triple in price.
One person really thought outside the box to save money. "I have livestock, but don’t have a truck; they’re way too expensive. I have a large 1992 minivan that I’ve ripped the back seats out of, and I use it to haul animals and hay bales. The guys at the hay barn think I’m nuts, but I only paid $2k for my van!"
Another commonly shared habit was meal prepping. "This shouldn't be controversial, but people usually get judgy when I say that I meal prep for the week. They usually go "I couldn't eat a week-old meal", well, you eat things that were prepared and packaged literally months ago on a daily basis without batting an eye."
Meal prepping not only cuts costs and prevents food waste, but it's also a great way to reduce stress around mealtime woes.
Using a single affordable product for multiple purposes was a common mention. "I use dish soap for almost everything cleaning-related. Dilute it with water for a cleaning spray, in mop water, as laundry detergent (this one saves me so much money and works great, just don't use too much or else."
Another person shared this money-saving method that works for them. "It seems so silly to say, but when I buy any greens, I wash them and put a paper towel in between. Now I save the paper towel, dry it, and use it to clean up messes or around the toilet bowl to tidy up quickly. Two uses."
One parent mentioned their trick for cutting down on the grocery bill. "This might be common with parents of toddlers or young kids, but I buy a giant jug of apple juice for under $5, and whenever my kids want a glass of juice, I put in ¼ juice and fill the rest of the cup up with water. My kids drink a few cups a day each, and I only have to replace the jug about once a month. I’ve done this since they were really small, so to them it tastes fine." This could be done with orange juice or other juices.
Dumpster diving and curb finds also made the list. "Getting things out of the trash, side of the road, or dumpster. I'm not too proud to dumpster dive, and doing so saved me during the pandemic. Lots of my furniture has also been salvaged this way. Some people give me flak for it, but hey, man, my cat has a new cat tree he loves, and he deserves it."
Dumpster diving is popular and legal in most US states, but it can get tricky if going on private property.
One reader keeps holey socks and underwear. "I remember when I was a live-in nanny, the mother threw away a bunch of my cleaning rags. I use old socks and underwear because if they get dirty enough, then I'll just toss them." This cuts down on waste and cost in a creative way.
Energy-related habits were discussed throughout the thread. "Keeping my thermostat at 55° in winter. I’m cozy and bundled up while I save a couple hundred bucks a month." Winter is a time when energy levels spike, so bundling up at home can give your bill a bit of a break.
This user gave a simple example of how to repurpose a common household item. "Instead of buying drinking glasses only for them to get broken, I save our jars and use them. Since they also have lids, we can use them on the go. If one gets broken, no harm, no foul." Mason jars would be a great option for this frugal swap.
The takeaway
The online discussion revealed a clear trend. People are adopting frugal habits that prioritize long-term stability over social norms. For those who rely on these habits, the goal is not to appear unconventional. It is to maintain control, reduce waste, and build a lifestyle that supports financial resilience.
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