How to Make Frugal Living as a Way of Life

Frugal living is not being cheap! I am a staunch advocate of a frugal lifestyle. It is about living better for less. It's a smart way to manage your financial resources. In fact, it is fundamental to cash flow management. 

Frugal living can be a way of life. Teach your children a frugal way of life and they will eventually become good managers of their own finances. 

A frugal lifestyle can be adopted in practically all aspects of day to day living such as:

• Health care
• Food 
• Energy Use
• Financial Services
• Travel

General Practical Frugal Living Strategies

Healthcare:

• Keep a healthy lifestyle: healthy diet, adequate sleep, regular exercise, and positive outlook
• Back to basic: natural environment, water therapy, herbal garden
• Go generic: Generic drugs have the same efficacy with pioneering brands
• Have a long term health care plan just in case you live too long

Food:

• Plan meals: Prepare weekly or even monthly menus
• Cook at home: Eating out is costly
• Go natural: Plant your own vegetables
• Go for  fruits and vegetables in season
• Minimize spoilage:Practice First In, First Out

Groceries

• Buy in bulk
• Have a grocery list on hand to avoid buying on impulse
• Buy on sale: Stockpile if feasible
• Switch to generic: Consider substitution of ingredients

Energy 

• Pay bills on time: Avoid penalties
• Buy energy savings appliances
• Make it a habit to unplug and put off gadgets when not in use
• Use energy saver gadgets

Financial Services

• Be financially literate: Become your own financial advisor

• Pay higher interest debts first
• Take advantage of "free" money: Optimize employer retirement plans
• Optimize tax credits

Travel

• Plan your travel: Prepare a budget and save for it.
• Research and compare prices:flights, hotels, travel agencies
• Be alert of travel promos
• Travel light: Put personal necessities such as shampoo, toothpaste, lotion, etc in small containers
• Don't be picky on food and accommodation

These are just among the ways you can cut down costs of maintaining a household. You can look into other innovative ways of frugal living yet still enjoy life to the fullest.