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Frugal people share the best money-saving advice from parents and grandparents they still use

12 0
25.10.2026

For those with great grandparents, grandparents, and parents from the Greatest Generation (those born 1901 to 1927) and the Silent Generation (those born 1928 to 1945), much can be learned from how to live a frugal lifestyle. These two generations lived through the Great Depression and World War II, two events that forced Americans to become more resourceful due to difficult financial situations, food scarcity, and rations.

People who consider themselves frugal are always looking for more ways to save money. To glean frugal wisdom from older generations that would still aply, one frugal person posed the question on Reddit: “What frugal lesson from your parents or grandparents you still use today?”

Here are some of the best money-saving tips these Redditors picked up from their relatives:

Reuse from your kitchen

“My grandma rinsed and reused foil until it crumbled. I rolled my eyes then, now I catch myself doing it. Funny how those ‘silly’ habits end up smart. Mine also saves glass jars, labeled lids with tape, turned t-shirt into rags, and froze veg scraps for stock. :)” – YourxCherry

“I save butter wrappers in the fridge to use for greasing baking pans. To get everything out of empty condiment bottles, I pour a little vinegar, milk or whatever is fitting, then shake it up and use that for salad dressing or other cooking needs.” – so-many-cats

“I love Tostitos salsa jars. Whatever I cook, such as soup, ground beef, pasta, the extras, or leftovers, everything goes into these jars. They are so perfect for portioning. One jar = one person’s meal portion. I literally have more than 30 jars, and they are incredibly convenient!” – Proud_Possibility256

“I do not go grocery shopping until my fridge is empty including my........

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