A dollar saved is more than a dollar earned. If you factor in federal and state income taxes, you need to earn more than a dollar to save a dollar. One way to wealth accumulation is not about making more money but spending less. People who are frugal or thrifty usually reduce wasteful spending and free up more cash to save and invest. There’s quite a few prolific bloggers who focus on frugal living and finding ways to save money. All of them share tips on saving money but they do so using different approaches and styles. No one way is better than others – find the approaches that resonate with you and your life. Some of these bloggers might seem extreme but you can still leverage some of their techniques and advice and apply them to your own life. Let’s take a look at the top 10 blogs about frugal living.
Personal Finance Blogs
Personal finance blogs have become increasingly popular over the years as more people seek guidance on how to manage their money and achieve financial independence.
In this blog post, we will take a closer look at 10 of the best personal finance blogs that can help you achieve your financial goals.
- Mr. Money Mustache
- Making Sense of Cents
- The Penny Hoarder
- Fun cheap or free
- The Prudent Homemaker
- Be More with Less
- Rich and Regular
- Get Rich Slowly
- Living Well Spending Less
- The Frugal Girl
The key theme among all these frugal living blogs: spend wisely and save for things that matter.
Top Blogs About Frugal Living
Mr. Money Mustache (MMM) launched in 2011 by Peter Adeney who retired as a software engineer by saving a sizeable amount of his salary and investing in stock market index funds. MMM literally has a cult following of “Mustachians” who are part of an online community that shares ways to save and live a frugal lifestyle. Mr. Money Mustache is one of the leaders in the Financial Independence, retire early (FIRE) movement where the blog features blog posts about how he retired in his 30s and what he does during retirement. This approach is different than conventional financial advice about retiring in your 60’s and forces readers to think differently. There’s tons of great content about retirement advice, money management, and just helpful guidance. Mr. Money Mustache’s philosophy is based on frugal living, saving aggressively, and investing in low-cost index funds. His blog provides readers with tips on how to save money on everything from housing to transportation and how to build wealth through smart investing.
Must read article: The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner started the Making Sense of Cents blog in 2011 to document her journey of paying off student loans and achieving financial freedom. Today, Making Sense of Cents is one of the most popular personal finance blogs on the internet, providing readers with tips on how to save money, make money, and achieve financial independence. Michelle’s blog is particularly helpful for those looking to make money through blogging, affiliate marketing, and other online ventures. I enjoy how she features personal finance stories from readers who successfully pay off their large debt. Michelle also highlights her blogging journey and shares income reports, blogging tips, and information on how to start a blog. Her blog allowed her to start her own business and travel more while sharing her knowledge and success with others.
Must read article: 50+ Best Frugal Tips to Try In 2022 – Start Saving Money Now
Kyle Taylor started The Penny Hoarder in 2010 as a way to share his experiences of saving money and making extra cash on the side. The site has grown to become a comprehensive personal finance website that publishes content almost daily. Today, The Penny Hoarder is one of the largest personal finance websites on the internet, with a team of writers providing readers with tips on everything from couponing to starting a side hustle. The site feels similar to large media outlets, such as Business Insider or Money.com, and the blog has less of a personal connection with the reader than other blogs on this list. With that said, the Penny Hoarder has lots of articles on a range of content such as making money, saving money, budgeting, getting rid of debt, retirement, banking, taxes, insurance, and home buying. The site features a community where community members can find support and inspiration from other community members. I also like the academy section of the site that offers guides to credit cards, home buying, budgeting, job hunting, credit scores, and groceries.
Must read article: 25 Painless Ways to Save Money When Your Paycheck Is Already Stretched Thin
Jordan Page started Fun, Cheap, or Free – Where Frugal Gets a Facelift and brings energy and creativity to a typically boring topic. The blog centers around family and frugality and includes topics such as Do-It-Yourself activities, household tips, meal prep, lifestyle and parenting. Jordan is a keen marketer who built up her brand and created multiple businesses and additional revenue sources such as budget and productivity boot camps, a cooking blog, and child related products for parents. Jordan’s blog is focused on helping readers save money on everything from groceries to vacations. Jordan’s approach to saving money is based on budgeting, meal planning, and finding creative ways to enjoy life without breaking the bank. Her blog provides readers with tips on how to save money on everyday expenses and how to live a fun and fulfilling life on a budget.
Must read article: How to Do a Spending Freeze
Brandy Ferguson, mother of 9, started The Prudent Homemaker in 2008 and offers practical advice on caring for a large family on a small budget. The website topics include recipes, menus, gardening, encouragement, saving money, and home schooling. Brandy shares weekly frugal accomplishments with simple updates how she was able to save money in an assortment of ways. The advice is straightforward and works – being a one car family, growing and harvesting from a garden and cutting expenses works. Brandy’s approach to frugal living is based on self-sufficiency and sustainability, and her blog provides readers with tips on how to live a more self-reliant lifestyle.
Must read article: Ten Ways to Add Joy to Your Life When You Don’t Have a Penny to Spare
After receiving a life changing diagnosis in 2006, Courtney Carver started Be More with Less and focuses on minimalism and living simply. In her book project 333, Carver uses her minimalist approach and applies it to her wardrobe and challenges readers to survive with just 33 items in one’s closet for 3 months. Her website includes an additional challenge and courses. Through her articles, the blog really emphasizes what really matters and how decluttering can reduce stress and improve health. Her blog provides readers with tips on how to live a more meaningful life with less stuff. Courtney and her mother, Bailey, host a podcast: Soul and Wit where they talk about simplicity, wellness, happiness and secrets to living a fulfilling life.
Must Read article: How to Become a Minimalist (or just simplify your life a little)
Kiersten and Julien Saunders started Rich and Regular in 2017 to share their journey of paying off debt and achieving financial independence. They write about their personal relationship with money and share their knowledge to help and inspire others. After discovering the FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) movement, they were hooked and it transformed their lives.
They wrote a book and have become digital entrepreneurs – hosting Money on the Table on YouTube, the Rich and Regular podcast, and a blog. Rich and Regular covers a ton of subjects including food, career, FIRE, income, investing, real estate investing, saving, travel and more. Julien and Kiersten’s blog is particularly helpful for those looking to build wealth through real estate investing.
Must Read Article: Is getting that raise even worth it?
J.D. Roth started Get Rich Slowly in 2006 to help others achieve financial freedom. The site is easy to navigate and has a bunch of free downloadable tools to help you on your journey. The articles center on earning money, spending wisely, saving and investing, and having a money mindset.
Must read article: Start Here or How to use credit cards wisely: A definitive guide
Ruth Soukup started Living Well Spending Less in 2010 and focuses on thrifty home life solutions. The blog features articles focus on food, money, and life habits that are simple and effective. Ruth’s approach to frugal living is based on the idea that you can still live a fulfilling life while spending less money. Her blog provides readers with practical tips on how to save money and live well on a budget.
Must read article: The #1 Way to Save Money
Kristen Marr is the blogger behind The Frugal Girl shares her frugal lifestyle with particular focus on coupons, discounts, home décor, green living and saving money. Kristen writes about minimizing food waste and mindful spending. Even though she is frugal, Kristen believes in purchasing high quality products that last. The blog includes many recipes to cook at home, DIY projects, repurposing ideas, and frugal home décor. A key theme of the blog is to be content with what you have. Kristen’s approach to frugal living is based on the idea that small changes can add up to big savings over time.
Must read article: Marketers do not want you to be content
Summary
This post provided a curated a list of blogs about frugal living and included some must read articles for each blog.
- Mr. Money Mustache
- Making Sense of Cents
- The Penny Hoarder
- Fun cheap or free
- The Prudent Homemaker
- Be More with Less
- Rich and Regular
- Get Rich Slowly
- Living Well Spending Less
- The Frugal Girl
Do you follow any frugal living blogs? Post your recommendations in the comments section.