Over the last year, many people have asked how my life has changed with the increase in our business income.
We’re still the same people, just with high incomes.
I still wear shirts that have holes, and I am still conscious of spending money.
Most people we meet have no idea what we make each month, and most assume that we inherited a lot of money (since we RV full-time) or that we are hippies (funnily enough- also because we RV full-time, haha).
Recently, I had someone tell me that they’re surprised I don’t live on a plane (and own it), and another person thought it was funny that I still use coupons and look for discounts.
I like to be frugal.
For some reason, there’s a myth that people earning high incomes are not allowed to be frugal anymore. In fact, on an article of mine, 30+ Ways To Save Thousands Each Month, I had numerous people email or comment with questions like why would I cut cable or ever eat at home.
I have even had people tell me that I shouldn’t be allowed to use discounts, use coupons, shop second hand, or anything like that. That is just crazy! Why can’t I be frugal if I want to be?
Related blog posts:
- How To Save Money
- 100+ Ways To Make Extra Income
- Things To Sell To Make Money
- What I Learned By Donating And Giving Away Nearly All Of My Stuff
To me, it’s a no brainer- I still don’t want to be wasteful, and if I can find ways to save money, then I will.
You won’t become wealthy if you spend all your money. We still have financial goals, and we are still realistically trying to save as much as we can, while still living fun lives.
To me, finding ways to save money isn’t just about the money, it’s also about limiting waste, being more of a minimalist, and finding what truly makes me happy (which I realize more and more means that I don’t need to spend money on material things).
Here are some of the frugal (and possibly cheap) things I still do:
- I wear shirts that have holes in them. These are my favorite shirts, so I don’t care if there’s a hole or two!
- I have a very minimal wardrobe, and I hardly ever go shopping.
- I don’t have cable, satellite, Netflix, Hulu, or anything else. We have a nice digital antenna in our RV that can find several channels wherever we are.
- We live in an RV which allows us to travel affordably for around the same amount as the house we used to own.
- I use the Ibotta app to save money at the grocery store without having to clip coupons.
- Instead of driving, I ride my bike to the grocery store if it’s close by.
- I pretty much only drink water, and sometimes I make my own passion fruit tea at home.
- I think about small or big purchases for at least 24 hours before making them.
- We have free entertainment outdoors by hiking, rock climbing, cycling, and more.
- I still use Ebates for cash back when shopping online.
- I don’t grocery shop when I’m hungry.
- I do not pay ATM fees.
- My favorite shoes are a $10 pair of sandals from Forever21.
- I use a fuel app for my RV to make sure that I’m paying the lowest price for fuel. My tank holds 80 gallons so even just $.25 makes a huge difference in price!
- We don’t have memberships to anything, like a gym, etc.
- I still churn credit cards for their rewards bonuses. We recently had a month with a lot of expenses so I signed up for three credit cards with rewards bonuses. Those bonuses earned me around $1,500 in cash.
- I plan my meals and eat at home as much as I can.
- I use every last squeeze of toothpaste and drop of lotion or shampoo that I can.
- One of my favorite things to do at home is to rewatch my favorite TV series. I’ve watched LOST completely 3 or 4 times now, and we’re currently rewatching True Blood.
- Wes picks up every coin he finds (once when we were off-roading, he picked up a penny that was tails side up- that ended horribly so we don’t do that anymore!).
- We use coupons if we come across them.
- I’m always looking for deals on items that I normally buy.
What frugal living things do you do? Do you believe that people with a higher income can’t be frugal and take part in the many frugal living tips?
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Nothing wrong with being frugal and not wasteful, for sure, but with no debt, and if indeed, you make close to $100k per month from your blog then I would live a little.
Deals are fine but clipping coupons? Why not give those to others in need?
Just me! 🙂
Mark
Whoever said I wasn’t living? And, I never said I clipped coupons either. You may want to read my blog a little more 🙂
Thanks for this. I’ve been so discouraged today. This boosted my spirits.
I shop at my grocery store online so I can save what items I normally buy to a list and watch for them to go on sale. Most of my items never have coupons because I buy generic or shop the perimeter of the store.
Also when I do this, I pick up my order at the store and don’t even have to go in and it’s free!
I need to start grocery shopping online – I’ve heard so many great things about it!
This is great list, Michelle. i would say, its an eye opener for high spenders.
Thanks for sharing…
Thanks!
Thank you Laura 🙂
That’s so funny, I was just writing an outline for a post about things I don’t spend money on anymore. I do a lot of the same things you do. I think there are too many people out there who start making a lot of money and spend it all. I don’t ever want to end up like that.
Same here!
It’s your money, you can do with it what you want! As the old saying goes “Waste not, want not.” I’m of the opinion that why would you spend extra money on something if you don’t have to, regardless of how much money you have? You do you! 🙂
Yes, exactly!
I’m becoming more frugal as life moves me along, and there is no shame in clipping coupons. I watch too many shows where people send less than $10 on groceries, and I think its smart. I’m not a fan of big corporations, so if I could get things for free I would go the extra mile. If someone here knows how to that in Canada, let me know!
I’m also wondering if you’ve lost friends or family because of your income… like some lottery winners, I’m sure some people show up in your life expecting a handout, or new car lol.
I LOVE those coupon shows 🙂
I use coupons. I buy 95% of my clothes in a 4-5 hour shopping trip day to resale shops and Goodwill every 18-24 months (usually less than $100 on clothes total including shoes each year unless I’m splurging on something specific that I’ll wear forever like a simple dress or good tennis shoes). I also think at least 24 hours about any unnecessary purchase. We spend on quality so we don’t have to buy the same thing multiple times in a year. Frugality isn’t just for the broke! 🙂
Yes, definitely!
Great post Michelle, it’s great to see that you can still enjoy the simple things in life even when you’re earning great money 🙂
I’m converting a van to live in at the moment and always researching ways to keep the dream going – thanks for proving it’s possible!
So awesome! You’ll love van life 🙂
I do a few of the things that are on your list. I plan on using more coupons next year.
Awesome 🙂
Frugal without a cause. Nothing wrong with that; it’s a big part of what got the two of you to this point. If it ain’t broke, why fix it?
Cheers!
-PoF
Exactly!
When I hear about a person who makes a high income who is also frugal then to me that’s a person that I know is going to be able to keep their money for the long term. Making lots of money is only one part of the equation. You gotta know how to keep it ok nice you get it too! Good job Michelle! Keep being the example!
Thanks 🙂 I appreciate your comment. Thanks for being a reader!
The whole not being able to use coupons what a joke. I try and use them every time I buy groceries. As far as clothing my daughter just borrowed a pair of polar fleece socks that are over 20 years old. I got them in 9th grade as a Christmas gift she wondered where I gotten them and wanted a pair. So funny.
Love your sock story. Awesome!
So. You shouldn’t try to save money, just because you make a lot of money. Bet those same people don’t feel that way, about Government waste! There’s a great book, by a Dr. Stanly. His first name escapes me at the moment. but it is a study of TRUE Millionaires. Most of those folks live a lot like You do. I was fortunate enough to work at a car lot, the first time I read that book. the owner, owned five lots in total. I ask Him if I could pick His brain about what they said was fact in the book. He was loaded by the way. Turns out, He lived around the corner, from my parents, still shopped at good will and told Me, the only reason he got a new car every year. was that he got them wholesale and People expected that, in His business. But he preferred to drive his old 1979 pick up, most of the time, when not on business. He scrimped and saved to get where he was at the time, more or less raising his siblings, after his father died at a young age. What most People don’t understand is, You and People like him are the 99% of the 1%.
Love love LOVE your comment. Thanks for sharing.
What do you think of True Blood? We started the series last year and LOVED IT! Now we’re on to Grimm! I’m liking it so far and can’t wait for our road trip up to Portland later this week to check out the area where it was filmed. I agree with your viewpoint on frugality and have found that making more money has made me more frugal. I’m more aware of money if that makes sense and it just seems wasteful to spend money just because we have it. We don’t pay for things we don’t need even if we can afford them.
True Blood is one of my favorite shows ever. I’m sad that I finally finished it (I never watched the final season until recently).