Websites that will Save You Money and Help You Be More Frugal
This week I’ve been incredibly focused on ways to save money and live a thriftier life. I’ve thought about how to be frugal with an eco-mindset, ways to eat healthy on a budget, why you should ditch those pesky disposables and even what it even means to be frugal (and where to start). Yet, this series of posts have only begun to scratch the surface. Whilst this is a topic I will continue to explore or expand upon; it seems logical though that the way to finish up the series is on the tools to help keep you on this journey. With that in mind; these are 10 websites that will save you money and help you be altogether more frugal.
Groupon
Groupon covers everything from products, to services and local experiences. It’s a great place to find days out and presents alike and at a cheaper than average price too.
eBay
I think it was Weird Al who described the site as “that worldwide garage sale”. I don’t know if that is necessarily what the site still is today. In the day and age of convenience, it feels like the auction site has changed in some ways to adapt (or maybe it’s my buying habits that have changed?). However, if you have the patience then taking the time to bid on auctions can be a real money saver and you’d be surprised at some of the items that are heavy hitters on there.
Etsy
I love Etsy. Awesome bespoke things come from there!
OK, so not everything is cheap and maybe you more likely associate the site with cool bespoke things that cost a little more? At the same time though, maybe you don’t. Etsy is a great place to bulk buy or find all sorts of things. Including materials and storage items. What’s more is if you type frugal or thrifty into their search bar; you may come across some cool little finds.
Specifically, investigate Facebook groups and the marketplace.
If you are looking for something specific, it can be an excellent way to get it quick, cheap and local. Sometimes people even give away unwanted things for free.
Freecycle (or your Local equivalents)
The idea of Freecycle is to reduce waste by sharing, passing it forward essentially. This can help save resources, build community and keep things from heading to landfill. Through services like this you could find anything really; some popular examples are: DIY materials, furniture, spare parts, bikes toys and clothes. If you don’t want it, someone else will and vice-versa.
Freecycle proper may or may not be the option for you. Regardless, there are plenty of variants all over the world at a community level.
Money Saving Expert
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/
Even if you aren’t an active user, you’ve probably stumbled onto this one. With around 16 million users a month, Money Saving Expert is probably the biggest site of its type.
Where MSE shines, is the sheer quantity of information and context it can offer. As well as the incredibly informative and well-researched articles on all things finance and credit; there is also a very-active and helpful forum community too. I believe they have a weekly newsletter as well.
SuperCook
SuperCook is an intriguing concept. The idea is that you add the ingredients you have (or want to use) and it scours the world wide web in search of recipes using those ingredients. It’s a cool idea for sure. Whether a keen cook, or you just want to avoid waste it’s an essential resource.
For the best experience, get the app.
USwitch
When it comes to comparison websites, there are no shortage of options out there. If you have time, you would ideally move between them all and then get quotes directly from the company themselves. Financially, that is certainly how you would get the biggest savings but time is a cost too.
If you are looking for a good balance and want to have the most cost efficient option for your utility bills; Uswitch is a great balance. The find you the best prices and initiate the switch too.
The Busy Papa
Also known as Aaron, The Busy Papa focuses on lifestyle, parenting and personal wellbeing content. He has two decades experience in creative writing (including several published poems) and strongly dislikes (though tolerates) tomatoes.