50 Frugal Habits For The Newly Retired

Ebenezer Scrooge was the ultimate expert in frugality. You don’t have to up your game to that extent in your retirement, but every dollar does add up.

My parents retired when I was 8 years old, so I actually grew up in a household on fixed incomes. They chose to retire early on a hobby farm so we had a large vegetable garden and a menagerie of animals. We had chickens so free eggs and roasted chicken dinners on Sundays were commonplace. I learned how to can fruit and vegetables, sew clothing, and cook most everything from scratch.

Both of my parents were part of the Greatest Generation and grew up in the Great Depression. They passed along the lessons they learned as children from having lived through this experience. You learn to make do with what you have. You are careful with your money. My mother wanted us to know that if things ever got bad again, we would be able to move to a plot of land and take care of ourselves and our families.

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Hopefully things never get that dire again, but those childhood lessons and values are with me even today. I don’t practice all of these tips, but I am willing to share what I learned from my parents so you can stretch your retirement dollars.

When you first retire, you will immediately notice some of your costs decrease. You will have less dry cleaning, less car maintenance, less money spent on gas, and savings on lunches. Let’s keep those savings going by looking at the best ways you can be frugal when you are newly retired.

10 Ways to Save Big When You First Retire

1) Make a mental inventory of what you have

If a majority of your waking hours have been spent at work, you probably don’t have a complete idea of everything that you already own. Go through your closets, pantry, cupboards, garage, storage shed, etc. Become refamiliarized with what you have so you don’t purchase duplicate or unnecessary items.

2) Use what you have first

You may be tempted to get yourself a new cell phone or a new comfy retirement wardrobe. But your current phone and clothing work just fine. You can replace them when they break or are worn out, but until then try to make do with what you have. Learn the difference between needing something and wanting something.

3) Become a one car household

Shedding car payments, auto insurance, gas, and maintenance for a second vehicle can save thousands annually.

4) Maximize free entertainment

The word FREEDOM begins with free. Remember the feral child inside of you? Let them roam freely again. Visit local libraries for free books, book clubs, lectures, and events. Check into your local community centers for exercise, art, and dance classes, games, and get togethers. Museums often have free days during the month.

Make a list of the gardens, parks, bike trails, and hikes that you would like to check out in your community. Use this time to enjoy your hobbies or start new ones that are free: play a musical instrument, writing/journaling, bird watching, cooking, etc. Get out your calendar and start filling it up with all of the great free things you can do in your area.

5) Limit going out for coffee and meals

You may be used to the convenience of stopping at a coffee shop during your morning commute or eating lunch out with coworkers. You may be exhausted after an especially hard day at work and want to pick up dinner on the way home. When you retire, these routines go away and so should your monthly dining out budget.

Consider buying good quality coffee beans in bulk and grinding your own coffee. Coffee beans freeze really well so grind just as much as you need for a week at a time. Do you use a Keurig coffee maker or one similar that uses a pod system? Buy reusable pods and eliminate the too expensive coffee pods at the grocery store.

If you want to be frugal you need to eat at home as much as possible. Of course you can still go out to eat to celebrate a special event or spend time with friends or family, but this should be scaled back to a couple of times a month instead of a few times a week. If you are not great in the kitchen, learn to cook. I suggest using Allrecipes.com as a starting point as cooks will come back to rank their favorites or suggest modifications that taste better.

6) Cook from scratch and batch cooking

Once you get comfortable in the kitchen you can make your own: bread, soups, sauces, yogurt, etc. Once you find a recipe that you love, start batch cooking and freeze extra portions. Then when that feeling of not wanting to cook dinner hits you, you can quickly grab something from the freezer. This gives you a break from cooking for a night and still keeps your food budget in check.

7) Do laundry less often

Save your clothes from wear and tear and wash items only when they are dirty. You don’t need to wash jeans and sweaters after every wear, just let them air out. You don’t need to wash dresses and pajamas after every wear. Before you begin to think that I am filthy, I am all for washing after one use: underwear, t-shirts, socks, work out clothing, anything with sweat or visible stains on them.

Avoid hot water and hot dryers as heat weakens threads and causes shrinking. Also use less soap and avoid products that ‘boost’ the scent of your laundry as they leave a sticky film on clothes that attracts dirt and eventually wears out the fabric quicker. Put your delicates (like bras or lace) into laundry mesh bags to keep them safe from harsh rubbing then air dry.

Running the washer and dryer frequently crank up your electric bill. You won’t have work clothes to launder as much so wait until you have a full load. Wash in warm or cold water instead of hot, and look into trying detergent sheets. Not dryer sheets, but detergent sheets. Consumers have a tendency to overfill those liquid detergent measuring cups and manufacturers know it. When you use detergent sheets they are ‘portion controlled’ so you keep your clothing and budget in better shape.

8) Embrace simplification during retirement

Frugal living and minimalism go together like peas and carrots. You aren’t depriving yourself during retirement, you are freeing yourself from consumerism. If you want to retire happily with a fixed income, let go of the idea that you need to consumer more and more to be happy.

The fewer possessions you have, the less stress you have. You end up with more space, a calmer mind, better sleep, and greater clarity about what is truly important to you in life.

9) Reassess your retirement style

Now that you are retired, see if you can cut back on personal care expenses. If you have a hairstyle that requires frequent trims or coloring to maintain, you may want to consider reassessing your style.

Ladies: Swap frequent salon visits for a blunt bob or pixie cut. These classic styles grow out naturally and you can easily trim the ends yourself every few months. If you want length, choose long, soft layers. This style prevents hair from looking flat and requires minimal trimming. If you color your hair, see if you can choose a shade closer to where you are naturally. That way you can at least stretch out the time between salon visits. Some ladies start to color their hair at home or forego it altogether and go gray. Skip the pricey manis and pedis and do your own nails at home.

Men: I don’t expect all the retired guys out there to start growing gray ponytails (although I do see quite a few of them in my neck of the woods), but see if you can pick yourself up an electric hair trimmer so you can do touch ups on your own and stretch out visits to the barber. Some men also choose to forego shaving and grow a beard in retirement.

If you do need a haircut, visit chains with cheaper rates for seniors. Or see if there is a beauty school near you that offers cheaper cuts and color touch ups. Students do the work, but instructors watch closely.

Stop buying expensive face lotions and body creams. Use everyday oils like olive oil or coconut oil to moisturize your skin. You can make your own sugar scrub for the shower by mixing body oil with sugar to gently exfoliate. Also look into protecting your hair at night. If you buy a silk pillowcase to prevent hair friction, it will help your hair stay soft so you do not need to buy as many styling products.

10) Cut (or downsize) the cable bill

Remember as a kid your parents used to get a thick bill from AT&T every month? It would list out each long distance call made and the individual cost. Crazy. Now looking back that business model seems over the top. Cable TV has had its era and younger generations are now using cheaper streaming services instead.

As part of the MTV generation, this is hard for us I know. We started our childhood with only three or four TV channels and cable programming like HBO and MTV shaped our youth. It’s hard to give up.

Boomers mainly stick to live TV and Millennials are ‘cord-cutters’. Gen X straddles the line by still paying for cable or satellite, but like to mix it up with services like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube. As a generation, Gen Xers also spend about 40 minutes more per day watching live TV than the average adult. We like the ease of streaming apps but still like the background noise of live sports, news, and syndicated TV on cable.

I’m not here to tell you to give up TV now that you have plenty of time on your hands in retirement. I’m just saying pay attention to what you use and don’t use. Avoid keeping a bloated cable package just because. Cable TV is expensive and will be going the way of the AT&T long distance phone bill at some point in the future.

Gen X is unique because we have adapted to every era of media. We have gone from analog to digital, and now to streaming. If you downsize or eliminate your cable bill, you can save big money— hundreds if not a $1000+ a year. Plus you will gain some free time to read, a hobby, or hang out with family and friends.

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11) Leave home without your car

If you live in a city or town with decent public transportation, consider leaving your car at home. You will get more exercise and will save on gas, car maintenance, and parking. If you live near a bike trail, put your purchases in a backpack or invest in a bike basket.

12) Give homemade gifts

Giving something that you made is more memorable than store bought. It doesn’t matter if it is a DIY greeting card, a dozen homemade cookies, or a bunch of wildflowers. Someone thought of you and took the time to make something rather than just buying it. Nice! I remember slipping a jar of homemade strawberry jam into my husband’s grandmother’s Christmas stocking one year. She wouldn’t stop talking about it. Especially with the older generations, homemade gifts bring back memories because that is what they did prior to mass distribution retail.

13) Create lower-cost get togethers

We want to get together socially but dinner out, $12 cocktails, $15 movie tickets, gas to fill up the car…it is all way, way too much. Invite friends over for cards or games and a putluck instead. (Set it up where the host house rotates so it is not always on you.) My husband and I have spent quite a few nights with friends playing poker and sharing potluck dishes. The same is happening now with the game Mahjong and ladies groups.

14) Make a shopping list at home and stick to it

Retailers are sneaky. They set up seasonal displays and endcaps with enticing products that are unique or discounted to coerce you to impulse buy. If you are tempted, don’t. Stick to what is on your list. Period. If you are still thinking of that item when you are back home, consider tip number 15 below.

15) Think about it for three days

This purchasing pause is called the 72-hour rule. Waiting three days is a great way to stop impulse shopping. It breaks the link between a sudden feeling (wanting the item) and an action (swiping your credit card).

Why does this trick work? The excitement of seeing a new item makes your brain want a quick reward. Waiting allows those shopping endorphins to fade. It also gives you time to look around your home and see if it is something you really need, or something you just want. If it is something you still want, figure out over the 3-day waiting period how you can cut back on something or make money to cover the cost of the purchase without busting your budget.

16) Keep your credit cards at home

Credit card debt is a killer for anyone living on fixed income. While they are great to have on hand for emergencies, if you can’t trust yourself having it in your wallet then leave it at home. It is better to do without it for a few days then to use a credit card for any non-essential purchases.

17) Don’t compare

Comparison is the thief of joy. You may see friends on vacation. Or in a new car. Or spending money like it’s going out of style. But it may not mean they are better off than you. They may be blowing through their savings too fast. Or they may be deeper in debt. The same goes for social media. If you find yourself tempted to compare with other retirees, it may be time to take a break from the online world. Protect your joy and your wallet.

18) Choose where you eat out carefully

Eating out is a social event for many…it can be a date night or a family get together. It pays to know what you are getting into before you arrive at the restaurant. Most establishments have their menus posted online, and if they have any current promotions they will be there too.

With the rising costs of everything these days, consumers are not frequenting restaurants as much. Some chains are advertising fixed-price menus including an appetizer, a main dish, and a dessert for the price of what a main dish would cost normally. If the restaurant you going to doesn’t have such an offer, see if you can order an appetizer and split an entree.

The point of going out to eat is getting a break from your kitchen and enjoying the festive atmosphere. Don’t be surprised when the bill comes; have a plan in place before you arrive.

19) Cancel services, subscriptions, and memberships

Go through your bank statement line by line and see how many services, subscriptions, and memberships you are actually using that add value to your life. If you pay for a gym membership but you are eligible for a free Silver Sneakers membership that comes with Medicare, cancel and switch! Are you not eligible for Medicare yet? Try going for a daily walk, working out to YouTube videos at home, and buying a used set of hand weights off of Facebook Marketplace.

If you are on the fence whether or not you should cancel a streaming service, post a list of programs on that service on your fridge. If in one month you have not increased your viewing time and enjoying it more, consider cancelling it. Even with reminders it isn’t a priority for you.

20) Compare cell phone plans

Do you still own a land line? Or is it necessary for work at home employment? If both of these answers are no, then consider dropping the landline altogether and just use cell phones.

• When you are at home, make sure you connect to your Wi-Fi network as this keeps you from using up your monthly mobile data limit.

• Phone insurance is pricey and can cost up to $15 a month. If you have an older phone, simply set aside $15/month in a small savings fund for a new phone instead.

• Most carriers give you a monthly discount of $5 to $15 just for setting up automatic payments.

• Don't upgrade your phone every two years; modern smartphones easily last four to five years.

• Look For senior discounts; many major carriers offer special $40–$45 unlimited 55+ plans.

If all else fails, call your current cell phone service provider and mention you’re considering switching. You’ll often be offered a discount or a better plan to convince you to stay.

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21) Use your Prime membership

Many of us have an Amazon Prime account these days. Make sure you are using the full benefits it comes with! You get to read one featured book on Kindle each month, play video games, listen to music, and watch movies for free. Yes, there are upgrades they want to buy, but you can resist and stick with the free entertainment.

If the yearly $139 membership price tag is too much for your budget, know that Amazon offers a senior discount if you are financially eligible for governmental assistance such as Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or SNAP (EBT). Now the Amazon subscription cost to you is $6.99 per month, and all of the standard Prime benefits are included like free fast shipping, Prime Video, Amazon Music, and membership exclusive deals.

22) Use your local library

You can borrow more than books at your library. They have audiobooks and Kindle books. The Libby app has a range of books and current magazines digitized that you can read for free. Many libraries are getting creative with their benefits. Some offer free museum passes that you can use in locations near you.

Some have created a ‘Library of Things’ that you can reserve. T

• Tools/Home Repair: Power drills, lawn mowers, carpet cleaners, pressure washers.

• Tech/Gadgets: Portable projectors, hotspots, drawing tablets, film scanners, and portable chargers.

• Recreation/Hobbies: Musical instruments (guitars, ukuleles, keyboards), board games, cornhole sets, telescopes, and binoculars.

23) Look for streaming service promotions

Often streaming services will offer you a month (or two) of service for a ridiculously low price like 99 cents per month. Sign up for the promotion, and then immediately cancel. They will allow you to continue to use the service for the rest of the monthly contract, and there is no risk of forgetting to cancel at the end of the month.

24) Use ATMs in your banking network

Your online banking account will specify which ATM networks are free to you. Do your research and avoid any that will charge you fees with withdraw.

25) Use the 1-In-1-Out rule

Follow the 1-in-1-out rule: get rid of one item when you bring one new item into your home. If your goal is to simplify life in retirement, this helps to ensure you curb unnecessary spending and be mindful of your purchases. Examples of how this works?

• Buy a new shirt or a pair of sneakers, and donate/throw away an old shirt or a worn out pair of shoes.

• Receive a new coffee mug or buy an upgraded appliance, and donate an older mug or redundant kitchen gadget.

• Purchase a new novel, and gift a finished book to a friend or local little free library in your neighborhood.

• Bring in a new throw pillow, vase, or picture frame, and clear out an older decorative item.

• Download a new mobile app, and delete an older app you no longer use.

26) Repurpose old towels, t-shirts, and toothbrushes

That old t-shirt mentioned above can be cut into squares and used as cleaning cloths. Old hand towels and bath towels can be moved to the garage to be used for drying down your car after washing. Old manual toothbrushes can be saved to clean jewelry. Try to repurpose things before just throwing them away.

27) Flush less often

Have you ever watched the movie Meet the Fockers? ‘If it's yellow, let it mellow, if it's brown, flush it down.’ I am not a believer in this old-school trick unless you live in a large household with many, many people. But I know many frugal folks are looking to see if this makes the list. So here it is.

28) Add water and rinse

There is product left at the bottom of containers that you can still use. In the bathroom, add a small amount of water to your shampoo and conditioner bottles. Let it sit and then shake before using in the shower. The consistency will be different but it will work the same. And you get a few extra free hair washes!

In the kitchen, use the same technique for spaghetti sauce jars and mustard containers. Your recipes that ask for a small amount of mustard (ie. beef stroganoff) will taste just same. Your spaghetti sauce will too. Just let it simmer for a few extra minutes and the water you added will evaporate out.

29) Save those glass jars

That spaghetti sauce jar can be run through the dishwasher and repurposed for storage in the kitchen or garage. I shop at wholesale stores like Costco and sometimes it is helpful to transfer food to smaller sizes for storage. I do this for dried pasta, salsa, etc. My husband likes the jars for organization and storage of smaller gadgets in his garage.

30) Meal prep to avoid food waste

You can use these jars for advance meal prep. You can chop and prep vegetables a day or so ahead of time and store in the fridge. It is super easy to put together a healthy meal quickly and not be tempted to order take out when you are busy or tired.

When you have a plan for future meals, you also avoid food waste. In the United States, an estimated 30% to 40% of the food supply goes uneaten, and roughly 43% of food waste comes from households. Buck this trend in your frugal household by knowing what you have on hand and design your menus to limit waste.

31) Quit soda and limit alcohol

It is craaazy how expensive soda is these days! Cut it out of your day-to-day diet and limit it to special holidays if you need a hit of nostalgia. I’m not your doctor but you know pop is bad for your health and your wallet. Enough said.

As far as alcohol goes, pick your favorite and drink in moderation. Our older bodies have less water, meaning the same amount of alcohol creates a higher blood alcohol level. The liver is less efficient too which keep a drink in your system longer. Alcohol can interact poorly with common prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs, leading to bad side effects or reduced medication effectiveness. We can’t party like we used to Gen X!

32) Recycle gift wrap

I don’t recycle wrapping paper because it is often too obvious for my taste, but count me in on gift bags, tissue paper, gift boxes, and bows. They can be stored right next to your holiday decorations. No one will recall if they had the same gift bag as last year…they are just excited to see what is inside.

33) Try a no-spend challenge leading up to a big holiday

If you know you will be spending a large amount of money on an upcoming holiday, start a no-spend challenge prior to it. Some make a game of it and track how much money they save each day. You can make the challenge last for a week, a month, however long you want.

One idea is to decide to skip grocery shopping for a week and eat everything you can out of the fridge and freezer. It is surprising how many meals you can make out of what you have on hand when you make it a challenge.

34) Look at second-hand instead of buying retail

If you are in the market for a new appliance, seasonal decor, or clothing, consider looking at second-hand stores instead of buying new items. As Baby Boomers downsize, collections built over 40, 50—even 60 years—are slowly making their way into estate sales, thrift stores and auctions. Get familiar with the higher end vintage stores in your neighborhood. Some retirees find great finds and relist them on eBay as an income side hustle.

35) Keep your receipts

Don’t be afraid of returning poorly made items. Keep your receipts and get familiar with the return policies of stores where you shop. Please be nice to the customer service employees during the process. Companies keep track of the number of returns as they come in and will work with manufacturers/suppliers to improve products.

36) Mend things instead of throwing them away

If a button pops off or you get a small tear in your clothing, make the repair with an inexpensive sewing kit.

37) Use your vegetable scraps

Collect scraps in a freezer bag and when you have 2-3 cups worth, use them to make a homemade vegetable broth. For a very tasty base, you should focus on carrots, celery, and onions. The onion skin and the first layer right under the onion skin are often tough, but it is great for a simmer pot. The leaves of celery, carrot peels, mushroom stems, green onion ends, shallot skin — all of these can be cooked in oil for 5 minutes until soft. Then add 8 cups of water, garlic, bay leaves, parsley, thyme, salt, and pepper. Strain out the vegetables and you are left with a lovely homemade broth.

Some quick notes on what not to do. Make sure the scraps are clean, no one wants dirty soup. Clean carrot peels are great, but a moldy carrot end is not. And although they are healthy don’t add cruciferous veggies — no cabbage, broccoli, or cauliflower as they will leave your broth bitter.

38) Make your own cleaning products

The baseline ingredients for laundry detergent are pretty basic: washing soda (sodium carbonate), Borax (sodium borate), pure bar soap such as (Castile soap or Fels-Naptha works best), and baking soda. It is easy to make and you can find tutorials all over the internet.

A great window cleaner is a few drops of dawn detergent, white vinegar and water. A great soap scum cleaner for showers is half dawn, half vinegar in a refillable dish brush.

You can make your own cleaning products for windows, counters and floors too. If you want your counter or floor products to smell fresh, soak lemon or orange rinds in your mixture, or if you have it a few drops of essential oils. You can refill spray bottles and have whatever products you need close at hand.

39) Buy discounted overripe fruit

What is one man’s treasure is another man’s treasure. Overripe fruit is ideal for making jams and pies because it is softer, sweeter, and breaks down faster during cooking. Fruits like berries, peaches, plums, apricots and cherries break down easily into a smooth, spreadable consistency.

Wash, pit, or stem the fruit, and chop any large pieces. Use a 4:1 or 5:1 fruit-to-sugar ratio, adjusting based on how sweet the fruit naturally is. Combine the fruit, sugar, and 2 to 3 tablespoons of lemon juice (for acidity and setting) in a saucepan. Simmer on medium-low heat for 15 to 45 minutes, stirring frequently until thick and glossy.

40) Reuse plastic sealable bags

Rinse the bags, turn them inside out and let them dry. If the bags contained raw meat, skip this.

41) Once a week, make a cheap comfort meal

Every family has their comfort go to: tuna noodle casserole, chili, breakfast for dinner (pancakes and eggs was ours), buttered noodles with parmesan cheese, lentil soup, refried bean burritos, ramen noodles.

42) Repurpose the plastic grocery store bags

Reuse plastic grocery bags to line garbage cans in the bathrooms. You can use them to clean cat pans or pick up doggie doo.

43) Use coupons whenever you can

The days of clipping coupons from flyers in the Sunday paper are waning, but you can still be committed to finding the best prices and using online coupons, promo codes and member rewards.

Retailers and manufacturers will reward you with digital offers if you download their apps or create accounts with them online. You can find promo codes on sites such as RetailMeNot and Slickdeals. After a certain level of purchases, you may be eligible for member rewards that can be used in future. Groupon is a good site for discounts at local entertainment venues and activities.

44) Avoid online shopping unless you need to

Sometimes the best deal is online. But sometimes it is dangerously easy to fill up your shopping cart and plug in your credit card without thinking twice.

Some shopaholics find it fun to go on a mental shopping spree by clicking and adding whatever they want into their online cart. Then on the checkout page, they delete everything and walk away. They say it scratches that itch to go shopping without causing any damage to their budget. If you can’t trust yourself, please don’t try this strategy.

A better rule is to not purchase anything online unless it is something you truly need, or something you have already planned for in your budget.

45) Pay with cash

Have you noticed that younger cashiers are sometimes surprised when you hand them cash for a purchase? Some become flustered counting out your change. Go old school by using cash.

When you pay with cash, it becomes a tangible transaction. This can make you more aware of your buying habits and helps you stay on budget. Some folks use a system where you put a certain amount of money in envelopes allocated for specific categories of spending (groceries, car expenses, entertainment, etc.) You can only spend what is in the envelope. When the money is gone, you can borrow from another envelope if there are funds in there. But no additional money is added to the envelopes if you run short for that month.

46) Check out free stuff

Did you know there are online communities that pride themselves on opportunities for zero waste? Over in Norway, people harvest apples and hang them on their fences so that people in need can have them for free. A local fruit and vegetable stand near me started Senior Wednesdays. They get their new shipments on Thursdays and would rather that the older food makes into hands of folks that need it for free rather than just thrown away. See if there is anything similar near you.

The Freecycle Network is a nationwide nonprofit movement with over 12 million members. People can offer and get household items, furniture, clothing, and books for free. Log on to see how active your local area is.

Trash Nothing is another similar site that promotes ‘free-cycling’ to keep items out of dumps and help neighbors at the same time.

Both Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist have dedicated sections listing free items. Many times these are already curbside and the owners announce the address and availability. Then it becomes a race to see who can get there first.

47) Start a garden

It is a relaxing hobby during retirement as well as a budget saver. You can grow some of your own food during the warm months!! It is fun, cheaper, and healthier than going to the store each week.

If you have land and are in the country, you can grow whatever you like. If you are a city dweller or live in a planned neighborhood, you may opt for planter boxes or a raised garden bed. Try to buy these at the end of summer for the best prices. Consider planting tomatoes, green onions, peppers, or herbs to begin with. Nothing tastes better than the food you grow yourself.

48) DIY

My father was handy and was able to fix almost anything. My husband is the same. If he can’t figure it out, there are countless YouTube channels that feature professionals giving you step by step instructions.

Rather than hiring people to perform services for you, see if you can do-it-yourself. The things that we do on our include: painting, yard work, cleaning, cooking, spraying for pests, home repair, computer/tech repair, filing taxes, gutter cleaning and pool maintenance. One thing that we don’t touch is electrical installation and repair. It’s not worth getting a shock or worse creating a fire hazard in your home.

49) Learn the difference between a need and a want

Food: You need basic groceries, staple ingredients, and nutritious meals required for health. You want eating out at restaurants, gourmet specialty foods, snacks, and sodas.

Housing & Utilities: You need rent or mortgage payments (or a home free and clear) and basic electricity, water, and heating. You want cable TV and internet, interior decorations, and streaming entertainment services.

Clothing: You need functional, weather-appropriate clothing. You want name brands, trending fashions, and luxury accessories.

Transportation: You need a reliable car or public transit pass to get around. You want a specific make, model, age, and size of vehicle that you believe represents who you are.

50) Know when it is time to draw the line

When it comes to the protection of health and life, frugality should not be your first concern. Sure, you can shop around for the best deals on health insurance policies and benefits. You can check out prices on vision eyewear and twice yearly dental cleanings. But you should not skip getting a yearly check up to save money. You should not avoid seeing a doctor about the strange lump you found or the heaviness you feel in your chest to save money. Do the right thing and get yourself in there to get assessed.