Frugal living isn’t just about being frugal to survive at the end of the month. Living in a big city often creates a dilemma of wanting to be frugal, but also wanting to exist. It feels all wrong, especially if every time you scroll social media, the contents are hanging out, contemporary OOTD, and shopping promos.

But calm down, a frugal lifestyle aka frugal living doesn’t mean you have to miss the trend. In fact, with a smart way, you can still look good without making your wallet gasp.

Let’s take a look at frugal living tips in the style of boarding house children that you can immediately apply in your daily life!

What is Frugal Living

Frugal living is a frugal and wise lifestyle in managing finances, by prioritizing expenses that are really important and suppressing unnecessary things.

It doesn’t mean being stingy or not spending money, but rather maximizing the value of every dollar you spend. If you can live frugally, you will be more self-aware about your spending habits, more financially prepared, and still be able to enjoy life without having to be trapped in a consumptive lifestyle.

That way, how to apply frugal living in the style of boarding school children is very important for those of you who live in a boarding house and are eager to save money without having to miss the lifestyle.

How to Implement Frugal Living 

1. Self-Cooking is More Economical and Healthier

One of the main principles of frugal living is to reduce unnecessary daily expenses – and food is one of the most wasteful expenses if not controlled.

You don’t need to be a professional chef. Just learn simple menus such as stir-fry, soup, or processed eggs. Once you shop for groceries at the market or supermarket, you can cook for the next 3-5 days. Besides being more economical, you will also be healthier because you know what you are consuming.

2. Choose Efficient and Wallet-Friendly Transportation

In the spirit of frugal living in the style of boarding school children, transportation costs can be reduced in a smart way. Use public transportation such as city buses, MRT, or even bicycles if the distance allows.

Alternatively, you can walk while enjoying the morning or evening atmosphere. Besides saving money, this activity makes you more active and fresh. Remember, saving on daily fare can be diverted to savings or other more important needs.

3. Thrift Quality Used Goods, Style Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive

Style can still work even with a frugal way. That’s frugal living in the style of boarding school children. You can find secondhand items such as clothes, bags, or mini furniture for boarding houses through thrift stores, marketplaces, or preloved communities.

Make sure you stay selective and focus on quality. That way, you still look stylish without having to drain your wallet. Used goods do not mean cheap, it can be a smart solution to look different and more sustainable.

4. Reduce Expensive Hanging Out, Maximize Functional Hanging Out

One of the challenges of frugal living in the style of boarding school children is to resist the temptation of FOMO-fear of missing out on viral hangout moments. You can reduce the intensity of hanging out to once a week.

Instead, you can replace hangouts at expensive cafes with hanging out with friends at the boarding house while cooking together, watching movies, or playing games.

5. Small Investments in Treasuries for as little as Rp5,000

Frugal living is not just about saving money, but also managing money wisely. One of the wisest ways is to invest-even if it’s small. As a form of frugal living, you can start investing in digital gold at Treasury with super affordable capital, starting from just Rp5,000.

Instead of spending your spare change on impulsive snacks, why not put it aside for the future? With regular investments, the proceeds can eventually become an emergency fund, advanced tuition fees, or even small business capital.

Let’s start practicing frugal living with simple yet impactful steps to invest in Treasury. No need to wait for a big salary or become a financial expert first, just set aside a little of your pocket money and turn it into digital gold assets. Remember, a secure future starts with small habits today.