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Frugal Living Tips to Help You Save Without Sacrificing

By Chris Pagnani
June 23, 2025
Whether you’re navigating student loans, rent hikes, or just trying to get more for your money, one thing’s clear: saving doesn’t have to mean sacrificing. In fact, frugal living can be empowering: it’s a smart way to spend intentionally, earn along the way, and still enjoy life.
Meet Fetch, your everyday reward machine
Fetch is the best app for turning everyday receipts into free rewards. Just snap a photo (or connect your email for e-receipts) and earn points you can redeem for gift cards to places you already shop, like Amazon, Starbucks, and Target.
- Get rewarded for every grocery run, gas refill, or online order
- Rack up points on purchases you’re already making
- Unlock bonuses for buying certain brands
- Earn points by playing free games with Fetch Play
If you’re serious about living frugally, this app should be on your homescreen.
Try a no-spend challenge (and still earn rewards!)
The no-spend challenge is a fun, viral way to reset your budget and discover how much you can save by skipping extras for a set period.
- Choose your timeframe (a weekend, a week, or the classic 30-day challenge)
- Define your rules (essential purchases only)
- Track your progress in a notebook, app, or printable no-spend tracker
Hack it with Fetch:
- Snap old receipts (up to 14 days old!)
- Play free games in Fetch Play for bonus points
- Connect your Amazon/email accounts to automatically pull in e-receipts
Use the points you earn to “fund” your no-spend day! Treat yourself to a free coffee, rideshare, or movie rental using the gift cards you earned using Fetch, all while still spending $0 of your own money.
Frugal living tips that actually work
Budget meals hit different
Stick to basics like rice, lentils, frozen veggies, and eggs, and check TikTok for meal prep ideas under $20.
Fetch tip: Scan every receipt. Even discount groceries earn you points.
Make free fun the default
Look for free events, local museums, campus hangouts, and DIY nights in. Sometimes the best nights are the cheapest.
Go “extreme frugal” for one week
Try a no-streaming, no-takeout, cash-only week. You’ll uncover hidden spending and save more than you expect.
Fetch belongs on your homescreen
Fetch is the app you need if you want to live smarter and get rewarded for doing… well, almost nothing:
- Scan receipts from groceries, takeout, gas, and online orders
- Earn points on e-receipts from your email, Amazon, or Walmart account
- Play free mobile games with Fetch Play to boost your points
Use your rewards to pay for everyday extras like coffee, Ubers, subscriptions and build your frugal life with a little more flexibility.
Build habits that stick
Want this lifestyle to last? Start here:
- Follow creators who make budgeting fun (check out #budgettok on Tik Tok)
- Read books like The Year of Less or I Will Teach You to Be Rich
- Set monthly goals, like “no takeout in June” (or only ordering from local restaurants where you’ll earn Fetch Points) or “save $100 through side hustles”
Frugality is a power move
This isn’t about cutting back: it’s about choosing where your money goes. Whether you’re taking on a no-spend challenge, cooking more at home, or scanning every receipt with Fetch, the goal is simple: do more with less.
Download Fetch now and start earning rewards simply for living your life.
TL;DR: Fetch is the #1 app for your frugal-living starter pack
- Try the no-spend challenge (and track it)
- Cook more meals at home
- Download Fetch to start earning rewards on receipts, online orders, and gaming sessions
- Follow budget creators for inspo
With Fetch, frugal life means freedom, flexibility, and a lot more fun than you’d think.
Topics: Gift Cards, offers, rewards

Chris Pagnani is a writer, SEO, coffee snob, and obsessive record collector here at Fetch. In his past life, he taught high school English before leaving education behind to spend several years touring around the country playing drums in a band.