12 Simple Money-Saving Habits I've Adopted in My Early 20s

by The Productive Pixie - October 03, 2026

Over the past few years, I've picked up some money-saving habits that have helped me learn how to better manage my finances. If you're a young adult looking for realistic ways you can save money, you're in the right place. Today, I'm going to share the simple money-saving habits I've adopted in my early 20s to help me save money.

12 Simple Money-Saving Habits I've Adopted in My Early 20s

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I haven't always been frugal though...

As a child, I'd start looking for something cute I could buy whenever I got a little bit of money. I definitely purchased a lot of trendy items.

Now that I manage my own finances though, one of the skills I'm working to develop is personal finance. I want the freedom that comes with good money management. I'm sure you do too!

Let's get right into how I'm saving money in my 20s!

12 Simple Money-Saving Habits I've Adopted in My Early 20s

1. Cook From Scratch

Even though I'm a busy college student, I set aside time every weekend to meal prep for the week.

Meal prepping helps me avoid buying pre-packaged food, which often costs more in the long run because of how much food there is in each package. I prefer to buy my food in bulk when possible.

I'll meal prep one "fancier" meal that lasts for all of my lunches or dinners for the week. For breakfast, I generally have oatmeal and for the last meal of the day, I'll have a super easy meal.

My favorite easy meal is a can of chickpeas with BBQ sauce, and a large portion of greens on top.

Cooking from scratch allows me to be both frugal and eat a healthier diet!

2. Follow a Staple Grocery List

As boring as it sounds, I buy the same staple items every week, and then a few extras for my "fancier" meal of the week.

Following a staple grocery list helps me to spend less time in the store. I'm not a huge fan of grocery shopping trips! Plus, it helps me avoid impulse spending because I only go to the store aisles where I need something.

I try to only go grocery shopping once a week, and I buy everything I'll need for the entire week at once.

3. Keep a Running Wish List

I keep a running wish list of things I want to purchase to avoid impulse spending.

I also have a long shopping folder on my laptop with things I've wanted to purchase over the past five or so years.

If it's an item that I don't actually need, I'll wait a while before purchasing it. This allows me to test if I actually want the item, or if I just wanted the item in the moment.

The vast majority of the items on my running wish list I've completely forgotten about and no longer want.

4. Use Free Alternatives for Platforms

I don't pay for a single subscription for entertainment.

Whenever possible, use or find a free version. I love using my school and local library to access new books to read.

Using the app Libby has helped me read more books every year!

Likewise, I use the free version of Spotify, and I look for movies on YouTube that are free with ads.

Don't feel pressured to pay for a subscription that you don't actually need just because everyone around you is doing it.

5. Track My Finances Regularly

I sit down on a weekly basis and look at my finances, so I can make sure that I'm not spending more money than I can afford.

I also write down every single one of my purchases. This helps me not spend money on small purchases throughout the week.

I know how much money I've earned and spent every month for the past couple years because I keep track. You can start keeping track of your finances too!

6. Keep My Credit Card Utilization Low

One way I'm working on building my credit score is by spending around 20% or less of my credit card limit every month.

I learned about this technique on YouTube, and it's helping me grow my credit score while keeping my spending for the month low.

Keeping my credit utilization low has helped to build my credit score but make sure you do your own research on this subject. I'm not a financial advisor and this is my personal opinion.

Besides keeping my credit card utilization under 20%, I always pay off my credit card bill on time by checking my finances on a weekly basis.

7. Create a Capsule Wardrobe

This may sound crazy for a young adult, but I started building my current wardrobe when I was 14. Luckily, I tried to purchase classic pieces that weren't too trendy so I can still wear them today.

If you haven't heard of a capsule wardrobe, and are interested, I've written multiple posts on the subject that you should consider reading! Basically, it's a mix-and-match wardrobe that includes items only in specific colors and only contains pieces you wear on a regular basis.

Now, I only have to buy new clothes when an item in my capsule wardrobe wears out.

8. Transfer Money into My Savings Account Every Month

I always pay myself, by putting aside a percentage of the money I make every month into my savings account.

If you aren't saving money, then you aren't really paying yourself or setting yourself up for success. This is more of a simple tip, but it's definitely one of the money-saving habits that is setting me up for success.

The more money you save, the more money you'll have!

9. Use Items Until They Wear Out

I mentioned my capsule wardrobe above, but I continue using things until they wear out. Besides clothing, I use my technology until it breaks.

No, I don't have the latest phone, and I'm happy about it because my current phone is not only good enough for what I want it to do, but I'm also trying to develop minimalist phone habits, AKA limiting my screen time.

I also try to keep my clothes looking nice by taking good care of them. I keep my shoes in their boxes, or lined up along the edge of my bed, and not in a heap. Additionally, I air-dry most of my tops to keep them from shrinking.

10. Limit My Social Media Usage

Is this a money-saving habit? Yes, it is!

I limit my social media usage, so I'm not influenced as much by trends. There are so many things being sold on the internet that you don't actually need.

The older I get, the more I realize what's important to me. I don't want to look back in 20 years and realize I spent a ton of time just scrolling on social media.

Your time is money. You should start treating it as such.

11. Use a Free Phone Number

I've been saving money by using a free phone number for texting and calls for a couple of years now.

I personally use the Google Voice app to text and call for free, but there are many apps that offer phone numbers for free texting and calls over Wi-Fi.

This saves me money because I don't pay for an unlimited phone plan.

I text and call for free on my Google Voice number (and use it for group chats!), and I use my real phone number sparingly for when I don't have Wi-Fi.

12. Avoid One-Click Checkouts

One of my other money-saving habits is not having my accounts connected. It's a small change, but when I have to input my account details at the checkout, it forces me to think about whether I want to purchase the item or not.

No "easy" one-click checkouts for me!

Final Notes on 12 Simple Money-Saving Habits I've Adopted in My Early 20s

These are the money-saving habits that I'm currently using to practice being frugal! Developing good habits is hard, which is why I'm working to build them now. You can too!

I've started reading books on money management, and I'm working to become more frugal. I still enjoy shopping, but I'm a lot more careful about what I buy now.

Here's a quick recap of the money-saving habits I've adopted. Pick one of these habits to start working on today!

Cook from scratch
Follow a staple grocery list
Keep a running wish list
Use free alternatives for platforms
Track my finances regularly
Keep my credit card utilization low
Create a capsule wardrobe
Transfer money into my savings account every month
Use items until they wear out
Limit my social media usage
Use a free phone number
Avoid one-click checkouts

If you enjoyed this post about money-saving habits, you should consider reading these other posts too!

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Tags : daily life, personal growth

12 Simple Money-Saving Habits I've Adopted in My Early 20s