This post was written in partnership with SingleCare. All opinions are my own.

  Living frugally and saving money really comes down to implementing certain daily habits. If you weren’t taught these habits, don’t worry, with hard work and dedication you can become a truly frugal person. By simply putting these habits into practice you will potentially save thousands of dollars over your lifetime! And the best thing is they aren’t hard to do at ALL. So here are my 10 Frugal Habits that Will Save You Thousands.

Live on a Budget

  Many people cringe at the word, “budget” but it’s really just a way to take control and tell your money where to go. It doesn’t have to be super strict or full of rules, just a written plan for how you will spend your money. Living on a budget ensures that you will only spend what you have on what you really want/need.

Live Below Your Means

  Many people in our culture live above their means which is why they are drowning in debt with no relief in sight. Living below your means is actually quite simple. Don’t spend more than you make! Set up a budget that is within your means and try to have at least 10% going to savings each month. This will ensure that you have extra and are living below what you make. Also, each time you get a raise, consider adding the extra to savings each month and overtime you will be living well below your means and have all kinds of extra money to do with as you please.

Always Pay Your Bills on Time

  As a responsible adult, you should have a system in place that ensures your bills are paid on time EVERY TIME. Set up automatic bill pay if that is your style or set an appointment with yourself each week or two weeks to sit down and pay all of the bills that have come in. Paying late fees is super annoying and a waste of your hard-earned money.

Set Up Automatic Savings

  One of the most effective ways to beef up your savings and naturally live below your means is to set up a certain amount from each check to go straight to your savings account. If you’re just starting out it can be as little as $10-$20 per check. Chances are you won’t miss it and it’s a really painless way to save. As mentioned earlier, consider increasing this number each time you get a raise and you will be saving hundreds each month in no time!

Never Pay Someone for What You Can Do Yourself

  Most frugal people do as much as they can for themselves instead of paying someone else to do it. The sky is the limit with this one and YouTube is your best friend. Things like cutting hair, painting the house, mowing the lawn, fixing the plumbing, etc. can all be done yourself with a little hard work and knowledge. There’s no sense in paying someone else to do what you can do for yourself.

Never Pay Full Price

  Frugal people are always looking for coupons, discounts and money-saving programs to save money. Some even make it a game to never pay full price for something. You’d be surprised at what you can save if you just take the time to find a coupon, sale, or discount program.

  One such program that I’m excited to try is SingleCare which offers savings on prescriptions, dental, vision and on-demand virtual doctor visits. SingleCare is free to join and accepted nationwide at 35,000 pharmacies including Wal-Mart, Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid and Kroger. You can also save on dentist and vision providers across the US – know what to expect at each visit and never be surprised by your bill.

  To join SingleCare, all you need to do is apply for your free card and start using it to save up to 80% on prescriptions and up to 55% on dental. Use SingleCare to compare prices and find discounts available to anyone. Simply ask the pharmacist to process your prescription using the BIN and PCN number found on your card. You can download their free app on iTunes or Google Play or visit SingleCare for more information.

Eat at Home

  Eating out is a huge expense for most families and one that can be easily avoided. You can save TONS of money just by planning ahead and eating at home more. Eating out is fun and should be considered a special occasion, not an everyday occurrence. Your wallet and your health with thank you. Check out my list of tips for avoiding eating out here.

Buy Used Whenever Possible

  Buying used is almost always a good financial decision. You can find like new items for a fraction of the retail price if you just take the time to look. Also, it’s easier than ever with websites like Craigslist, Ebay and Facebook. Before buying something brand new, try finding it used first and see how much money you will save!

Find Free Entertainment

  Eating out, going to the movies and going to concerts are certainly fun, but they’re also a huge drain on the bank account if done on a regular basis. Try finding free ways to spend your time instead such as going to the library, going to the park, going to a free car show, going on a picnic, finding free events in your area, playing a game at home, etc. and you will save tons of money over time. Plus, when you do spend the money to see a movie or eat out it will be an extra special treat.

Stay at Home

  Staying home more and finding hobbies to do around the house will keep you out of the stores and save you money. Each time you go shopping or leave the house you are bound to spend money. See if you can stay home at least one day per week and implement a no spend day. I’m sure there is plenty that you can find to do and you will be saving money.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this list of frugal habits. Which ones do you do? Would you add anything? I’d love to know!

Other posts you might enjoy:

Today I’m excited to be welcoming baking enthusiast Joe, from Village Bakery who shares baking tips, tricks and recipes on his site, in order to help anyone who wants to learn more about baking. Enjoy!

We all have staple foods we buy just about every week at the grocery store, but we could all save some money – and our health – by preparing these foods at home.

Beans and Lentils

Dry beans and lentils are cheap when you buy in bulk. A one-pound bag of organic beans can cost as little as $2, while 16 ounce cans of beans typically costs about $1.

I know what you’re thinking: that’s not a savings at all. But a single cup of dry beans equals about three cups of beans after being soaked and cooked. Ultimately, that one-pound bag of dried beans will go much further than the single can.

Home-cooked beans save you money, but they can also be a healthier option compared to canned beans. The homemade variety has less sodium and no preservatives, no questionable ingredients and does not come in a can.

Just be sure to soak your beans overnight to reduce the cooking time and remove some of the antinutrients in the beans. Check out this recipe for making dried beans in your slow cooker.

Salad Dressing

Premade salad dressings may taste great, but they’re typically unhealthy and compared to the cost of making your own, they can be expensive.

The great thing about homemade salad dressing is that you can get as creative as you want, and use any herb, spice, oil or vinegar you have on hand. Even if you prefer creamy dressings, you can make your own using mayonnaise or a mayonnaise substitute.

A simple homemade vinaigrette is easy to make and requires ingredients you probably have in your pantry. The most basic of recipes is 1 part vinegar to 3 parts oil.

You can use just about any oil and vinegar you want. Lemon and lime are also great substitutes for vinegar. And you can experiment with different herbs and spices (both fresh and dried) to create a variety of dressings without having to spend a cent at the grocery store. Try this delicious recipe to get started.

Granola

How much do you spend on granola each month? Do you even know what’s in the granola you buy?

Making your own can be fun and rewarding. And if you eat oatmeal for breakfast, you already have the most important ingredient for this tasty snack on hand.

We like Alton Brown’s recipe, which requires:

• Oats

• Cashews

• Almonds

• Coconut

• Brown sugar

• Maple syrup

• Vegetable oil

• Raisins

• Salt

Some of the ingredients may require a small upfront investment, but they’ll allow you to make several batches and save money in the long run.

Bread

Who doesn’t love the taste and smell of freshly baked bread? Bread is easy to make at home, and typically cheaper. Both yeast and flour can be bought in bulk, which can make you dozens of loaves.

Don’t let the idea of baking bread intimidate you. If you don’t have the time or patience to knead the dough yourself, bread makers make the entire process a breeze. Just add your ingredients, and let the machine do the rest of the work.

And you can make artisan-style loaves right in your home kitchen for a fraction of what you’d pay at the bakery. From herbs to vegetables and cheese, there are nearly an unlimited number of ways to customize bread recipes. Check out this recipe for a super simple and delicious homemade loaf.

Stock and/or Broth

From soups to sauces, stock and broth are staples in most home kitchens, but if you’re buying the store-bought kind, you’re spending more money than you have to.

If you roast a whole chicken every week – or even just once or twice a month – you can make your own stock for free.

We make our own stock using the leftover carcass from the bird. I save my vegetable scraps, like carrot and onion tops, and toss those in a stock pot full of water with the bones. You can use fresh vegetables, too, if you prefer. A mixture of carrots, celery, parsley and onions is our go-to recipe. Add a little salt, pepper and whatever spices you want. Allow the stock to simmer for three to four hours, and you’re ready to go.

We’ve also added thyme and tarragon to our broth, and the result was fantastic.

Cooking stock makes your entire home smell heavenly, and you can find peace of mind in knowing that your own homemade stock contains less salt and preservatives than the store-bought variety.

Do you have any foods that you prefer to make at home? Share in the comments!

Other posts you might enjoy: