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Warren Buffett speaks onstage at the FORTUNE Most Powerful Women Summit
Paul Morigi / Getty

Frugality isn’t exclusive to people who are on a tight budget because they have to be (*cough* us *cough*). There’s an entire conglomerate of super-rich people who have cheapskate tendencies that prove that just because you have the money doesn’t mean you have to spend it. 

Living Below Their Means

Satisfied homeowner resting on a couch
AntonioGuillem/istockphoto

Obtaining wealth is one thing, but preserving it is a different beast. Rich folks don’t allocate every cent they have or earn to something. Instead, they live below their means so there’s lots of wiggle room and plenty of opportunity to save up.

Buying Groceries & Household Staples in Bulk

Interior warehouse super store with focus on empty shopping cart in store aisle.
nycshooter/istockphoto

If you’re going to use it, need it, or buy it eventually, you might as well stock up on it if the bulk price shakes out to less money than the alternative way to shop. 

Not to mention, you won’t have to go to the store as much if you buy in bulk, which saves you both time and gas money.

Investing Wisely

Focused entrepreneur, lost in his thoughts at the office, checking the business plans of the company.
Moon Safari/istockphoto

You might think that the super-rich just tell their financial advisers to do whatever they can to make them richer, keeping their own hands off their investments. In reality, rich folks are usually pretty involved with their investments, ensuring they’re making smart financial moves. Most millionaires also invest in their company’s 401k plans to maximize the growth of their wealth even further. 

Sticking to a List at the Grocery Store

Close up of unrecognizable African-American woman holding shopping list while buying food in supermarket, copy space
SeventyFour/istockphoto

Remember when you were a kid at the grocery store, daydreaming about becoming rich one day so you could buy everything Mom said “no” to? Turns out rich people don’t approach grocery shopping that way after all. Most millionaires use grocery lists when shopping.

Avoiding Debt

Close-up senior man pays bills with credit card
Abdullah Durmaz/istockphoto

Super-rich people tend to only take out loans with favorable interest rates, and they make it a habit to pay their credit card bills off every month, only using them to take advantage of things like cash back rewards.

Hunting for the Best Deals

Brunette female customer selecting basic garments at the store.
nortonrsx/istockphoto

Just because wealthy folks have plenty of money doesn’t mean they’re going to pay $20 more for something they know they can get cheaper at another store. 

Driving Reliable Vehicles

Portrait of cute female driver steering car with safety belt
Povozniuk/istockphoto

Not every person with a big fat bank account is cruising the highway in a Lamborghini or a tricked-out Escalade. Instead, these folks gravitate toward reliable, fuel-efficient rides.  

They Feed Their Savings Regularly

Piggy bank with dollars banknotes.Some similar pictures from my portfolio:
malerapaso/istockphoto

If there’s one thing you can bet on, it’s wealthy people doing everything they can to stay wealthy. So, they regularly add money to their savings and invest, often setting up automatic deposits.

Embracing Energy Efficiency

Close up of african american woman holding smartphone with energy efficiency chart and class on screen. Black female hands holding smart phone and looking at house efficiency rating. Concept of ecological, eco renovation and bio energetic house.
Ridofranz/istockphoto

From purchasing energy-efficient appliances to driving electric vehicles, rich folks pursue ways to save energy and money simultaneously. 

Planning Meals and Cooking at Home

A woman prepares a healthy meal in her kitchen, using a scale to portion the ingredients.
RichLegg/istockphoto

Do rich people enjoy dining out? Sure. But on regular basis, they often do more cooking at home and meal planning to keep themselves from unnecessary spending.

Leaning Into Minimalism

Minimalist style tiny room decorated with sofa and tv cabinet, bed and wardrobe. 3d rendering
Phongpun Loomthong/istockphoto

Less is more if you ask the rich, who make it a point to decorate their homes from a minimalistic perspective.

Tracking Expenses & Budgeting

A woman sits at her living room with smartphone and financial reports doing her monthly budget.
staticnak1983/istockphoto

The rich aren’t out here spending money all willy-nilly. They keep track of what they’re spending, and many of them follow a budget to keep themselves (and their savings) on track.

Using Travel Points for Discounted Vacations

Happy couple at home booking a trip online using their laptop computer. **DESIGN ON SCREEN WAS MADE FROM SCRATCH BY US**
andresr/istockphoto

Travel points come in handy across every demographic, including the uber-rich. Not every vacation a rich person takes is a lavish one. Instead, they’ll use their frequent flier miles, find the best hotel rates, and splurge sparingly.

Seeking Quality Over Quantity

A female fashion designer thoughtfully examines various fabric options, weighing choices in a well-lit boutique. Her focus and professionalism highlight her expertise in fashion design.
FreshSplash/istockphoto

You might check price tags when you shop and leave things over a certain number on the rack since you can get multiple items for the same price on a site like Shein. The fact of the matter is, those Shein shirts aren’t as good of quality as those pricier items you left behind.

Home Gardening

A woman planting herb plants in a backyard garden.
RichLegg/istockphoto

Why waste money on produce at the grocery store when you can grow your own? Not every rich person has their own personal gardener on their payroll either — some do it themselves.

Doing Things DIY-Style

Photo of a carpenter attaching decking boards to a deck of a house.
AleksandarNakic/istockphoto

The allure of DIY knows no bounds. Even rich people like to tackle DIY projects.

Avoiding Lifestyle Inflation

Young couple man and woman argue about overspending money on online shopping, gambling, food delivery. Husband and wife, holding credit card and digital tablet, having issue with home finances.
Srdjanns74/istockphoto

Coming into more money doesn’t have to be a green light for increasing your spending just because you can. Resist the urge. 

Living in a Modest Home

A simple but modern three bedroom house design
davelogan/istockphoto

Sure, this isn’t true for every rich person, but not everyone who has a ton of money lives in a mansion. Admittedly, rich folks do have a different definition of “modest” than the average person. 

Not Giving In to the Latest Tech

Close waist up view of longhaired Black professional in late 20s wearing office attire and communicating on portable device, NYC office building in background.
xavierarnau/istockphoto

The super-rich might not be as tech-obsessed as you’d think, and many of them resist the urge to upgrade their phones every time a new model rolls out.

Negotiating Everything

Meeting success. Two business persons shaking hands standing outside
da-kuk/istockphoto

Talking someone down on the price of a car, house, or another purchase is not beneath rich people. They will negotiate with the best of ’em to get the best deals.

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Meet the Writer

Rachel is a Michigan-based writer who has dabbled in a variety of subject matter throughout her career. As a mom of multiple young children, she tries to maintain a sustainable lifestyle for her family. She grows vegetables in her garden, gets her meat in bulk from local farmers, and cans fruits and vegetables with friends. Her kids have plenty of hand-me-downs in their closets, but her husband jokes that before long, they might need to invest in a new driveway thanks to the frequent visits from delivery trucks dropping off online purchases (she can’t pass up a good deal, after all). You can reach her at [email protected].