Money doesn’t magically erase your habits. In fact, some rich people keep living like they’re still clipping coupons in their studio apartment, although it’s not because they have to. It’s because they just don’t like wasting cash. If you’ve ever wanted to be like them, then you’ve come to the right place. Here are 18 frugal habits even the wealthy refuse to give up.
Cutting Coupons and Using Cashback Apps
While it might be weird to think of someone in a designer suit sitting in first class while checking their Rakuten balance, it really does happen. Some rich people genuinely get a kick out of stacking coupons or getting $1.38 back on toothpaste. Of course, for them, it’s less about the money and more about the win. It doesn’t matter if they have six figures in the bank. If they can save $12, they’re doing it through coupons and cashback promos.
Driving the Same Car For Decades
Not everyone with a big wallet wants a flashy car, and some people still drive the same sedan from 2004. You know the one. It has one working window and a weird smell in the back seat, but it runs. And it’s paid off. They’re also emotionally attached to it at this point, so why switch? If it runs well and doesn’t cost them a lot in repairs, there’s no reason to replace it, especially since flashy doesn’t necessarily get you further. It just empties your wallet faster.
Skipping the Latest Tech Gadgets
Rich people don’t line up outside stores for the newest shiny thing, as they prefer to hold onto the same phone or laptop until it’s completely dead. A piece of tech that still turns on and does as it’s supposed to is good enough. New tech is too much effort, and there’s no need for a phone with three cameras if they only use one. They’ll replace it when they absolutely have to, and not a minute sooner.
Reusing Old Household Items
That plastic takeout container is being used for leftovers again, and again, and again. Plenty of wealthy people still reuse jars or containers, anything that’s not broken, because throwing these things out feels wrong. They’ll keep rubber bands in a drawer and wrap half-cut onions in foil, perhaps even rewash ziplock bags if they’re in good shape. Beyond being quirky, it’s just what they’ve always done. And it works.
Shopping At Costco or Sam’s Club
Yes, the ultra-rich buy in bulk, too, whether that’s giant packs of toilet paper or ten pounds of almonds. They don’t skip the $1.50 hot dog combo, either. The thrill of a good deal doesn’t disappear because you have a bigger bank account, which is why rich people will buy olive oil by the gallon and stock their freezer with enough frozen meals to last a month. They also love those in-store samples just as much as anyone else does.
Avoiding Designer Brands
Despite what you might think, most rich people aren’t interested in fancy logos, and many of them continue wearing plain white tees from the same five-pack they bought years ago. If it’s comfortable and doesn’t fall apart in the wash, that’s all that matters. Unless they’re dressing to impress, they’re fine to stick with the basics from the same brands they’ve worn since college. Of course, things do need replacing sometimes, but they’ll do that without overthinking.
Re-wearing the Same Outfits Regularly
Likewise, the rich have favorite shirts and don’t care who’s seen them already. Some of them will even buy multiples of the exact same one just to avoid thinking about what to wear, and to avoid spending mornings rummaging through piles of options. That time could be better used elsewhere. They’re not aiming for Instagram-worthy outfits. Rather, they just want to get dressed without it turning into a whole thing.
Avoiding Fancy Gyms and Equipment
They don’t need a $300-a-month gym or a mirror that shouts motivational quotes at them. Instead, some rich people will walk through their neighborhood or lift weights they’ve had forever, as they enjoy moving their bodies for free. They don’t believe in shelling out for memberships they don’t actually use. No frills, just function.
Doing Small Repairs On Their Own
Rich people aren’t calling someone to fix a cabinet hinge, and if it’s minor, they’ll take care of it. Any repair usually just needs a bit of glue and a screwdriver, along with a YouTube tutorial. Of course, they’re not pretending to be contractors, it’s just that they don’t want to wait a week and drop $150 on something they can fix themselves in about 10 minutes. They simply want the thing to work again, quickly and cheaply.
Bringing Their Own Snacks While Traveling
If you look in a rich person’s travel bag, you’ll see a protein bar and maybe some almonds, definitely a water bottle. That’s because they refuse to buy a $12 bag of trail mix from the airport shop if they don’t have to. Rather than cutting corners, they find it annoying having to overpay for stuff they could’ve packed for a couple bucks, so they’ll make their own little snack packs before a trip. They plan ahead and keep it simple.
Buying Economy Flights For Short Trips
Speaking of traveling, for short flights, wealthy people don’t care about first-class snacks or extra inches of seat space. If a trip is under three hours, they’ll buy coach with everyone else, because it’s still the same plane and it lands at the same airport. They’d rather spend the difference on something they actually care about. As such, they book the cheapest direct route and pack light, then skip the add-ons unless they absolutely need them.
Traveling Off-Peak
While everyone else is scrambling for school holidays or holiday weekends, a lot of rich people travel off-peak. That’s when the prices drop and the lines are shorter. The hotel staff aren’t overwhelmed, either, so the rich will pick times that make sense instead of the ones that look popular. Sometimes, they’ll even move a trip by a few days, just to knock hundreds off the total cost. And it works.
Buying Generic or Store Brands
The wealthy don’t act as though every product needs to be premium, and a lot of them simply grab the same generic crackers or aspirin they’ve been buying since forever. They’ve tested what works. As long as it tastes good or gets the job done, that’s all they care about, because they’re not going to pay double because a label looks fancy. They know that, half the time, they won’t even notice the difference, except on the receipts.
Owning Fewer Pairs of Shoes
Some of them have maybe three pairs, total. They’ll have one nice one, one casual one, one for getting stuff done, but that’s it. Yes, they replace any pairs that wear out, yet they’ll usually do so with the exact same style they already know fits right. There’s no big collection or color-coded display wall because they simply don’t see the point. Best of all, fewer pairs mean no decision fatigue, and they never have to wonder what matches with what.
Avoiding Flashy Home Upgrades
Some people rip out kitchens just to keep up with trends, but not the rich. As long as the dishwasher runs fine and the tiles are clean, they’re staying. Voice-controlled ovens and refrigerators with TV screens? Those seem like a waste of money for rich people, and they’ll simply fix what’s broken, maybe repaint or re-caulk something. Either way, they’re not remodeling every year because the house works. That’s enough.
Buying Timeless Furniture Over Trendy Pieces
Rather than looking through furniture sites every month, rich people get one good couch or table and stick with it. These items are usually something sturdy and simple. Honestly, they don’t care what influencers say about this year’s color scheme because they just want pieces that hold up year after year. When something lasts, they don’t think about it again, and that’s the goal. Trends are trends for a reason.
Cooking Most Weeknight Meals At Home
You might think that rich people have private chefs making five-star dinners every night, but that’s not true. Most of the time, weeknights involve trying to make something in 20 minutes without using three pans. The goal is less culinary flair and more simply not trying to spend $60 on some soggy takeout salad. They also like knowing what’s going into their food. If it tastes decent and fills them up? Mission accomplished.
Skipping Daily Coffee Runs
Most rich people make coffee at home and bring it with them in a travel mug, rather than going to Starbucks every morning. Buying a $6 drink every day feels wasteful when the $0.40 version from home does the job. Sure, they have to fork out for the coffee machine itself first, but it pays for itself relatively quickly. They don’t need a barista to froth oat milk for it to be drinkable.
19 Things Rich People Do Differently That Most People Ignore
Wealthy people aren’t just lucky; they’re not playing according to everyone else’s rules. If you’re tired of being broke and want to know what separates the wealthy from the rest, here are 19 things rich people do that most people ignore.
19 Things Rich People Do Differently That Most People Ignore
16 Things Boomers Never Spend Money On
From $7 oat milk lattes to subscriptions for almost everything, below are 16 things Boomers won’t spend a single penny on—no matter how many times you try to convince them.
16 Things Boomers Never Spend Money On