Frugality Fort

Time to brace our fortress of savings!

Steady the helm and brace for fortune inside Frugality Fort, where every sovereign is put to work – strengthening the defenses, clearing financial wreckage, and laying a sturdy keel for prosperity ahead

Reducing Our Outgoings

Here at Frugality Fort, we’re all about protecting our hard-earned money. Everyone, everywhere is trying to take it from you. Remember, it’s not only what you earn that determines financial stability, it’s what you can keep!

Of course you will spend money, that is unavoidable and, in many cases, desirable as a life spent penny-pinching isn’t much of a life at all. If you visited “Debt & Danger Rocks” you’ll know that there is a certain level of financial stability we must reach before we can get comfortable. Unfortunately to get to that stage we must first become extremely frugal and trim our outgoings everywhere we can.

Our order of operations are as follows:

Taking stock of our situation. Where we are, where we’ve been and where we want to go (Preparation Harbour)

Motivating our partners towards achieving our financial goals together (Getting the Crew on Board)

Arranging our workspace so that we are organized in our mission. We will run our household like a business or, using our recurring metaphor- run a tight ship (Readying the Captain’s Quarters)

Tracking our money in and money out (Budget Island) and staying motivated to do so.

Frugality fort is where we hold onto as much of our earnings as possible in order to achieve our goals

We start paying down high interest debts at Debt and Danger Rocks

At the same time, we need to save a certain amount of money to use as an emergency fund. Initially we’ll attempt to put aside whatever we can, then we’ll attempt to grow it to two to five thousand dollars. Do not touch this money unless it is absolutely necessary. Eventually we will put aside 6-12 months of expenditure and then stop.

Our main goal during and after these goals have been mastered is investments.

The primary entities trying to grab our wealth from us are businesses/corporations, banks and Governments. Businesses will entice you to buy their merchandise. Some of it is useful to you but some of it just plays to your emotions. They try to create a desire in you for their product or service and use many obvious (and not so obvious) ways to change your economic behaviour. Also watch out for gambling organisations where the games are ALWAYS rigged in their favour.

Governments will outright steal your wealth from you and then proceed to spend it far more wastefully than you could ever hope to compete with.
Taxes, fees, levies, duties, tariffs, customs, tolls, excises, surcharges, contributions, subscriptions, rates, dues, charges, capital gains, PAYE… you get the idea. And of course, the sneakiest of them all, inflation. Where Governments and Central Banks “print” more money and inject it by spending into the system money they don’t actually have. This devalues the dollars you actually do manage to hold on to, all while they tell you it’s your fault for spending too much! Evil. We’ll cover some of these measures of thievery later on. Wait till you see how fiat money is REALLY created and what it’s “backed” by (hint, not gold…or ANYTHING in fact).

The other person working against your best interests is YOU. Impulse purchases or idealistic brain farts get us all in trouble from time to time. While you will never make the wisest choice of how you spend your money 100% of the time, we can at least try to tighten up where there is outright waste.
There is little we can do about the macro (macroeconomics is the study of an economy as a whole, including factors like GDP, inflation, and employment etc), we can do something about the micro.
Let’s have a look at where we can at least minimise how much is stolen from our jeans each week.

Holding the Gold

Watch the Doubloons

Spend Smarter

Make a budget and stick to it — track every dollar. (Visit Budget Island for more).

Use a shopping list to avoid impulse buys.

Buy generic brands — often just as good as name brands.

Wait 24–48 hours before making non-essential purchases.

Back on board the ship

At Home

Cook at home instead of eating out — meal prep can save a lot.

Cut subscriptions you don’t use (streaming, apps, magazines).

Use energy-efficient appliances and turn off lights when not needed.

DIY repairs when possible — YouTube is your friend!

Look into technologies such as solar, batteries or home insulation

Getting to shore

Transportation

Use public transport, bike, or carpool when you can.

Maintain your car to avoid costly repairs later.

Shop around for insurance — loyalty doesn’t always pay.

Keeping the spoils

Financial Habits

Pay off high-interest debt as a priority. Visit Debt & Danger Rocks for options here.

Set savings goals — even small amounts add up.

Use cashback or rewards cards (responsibly).

Automate savings so you don’t forget.

Staying Afloat

Lifestyle Choices

Buy second-hand — clothes, furniture, electronics.

Embrace minimalism — less stuff, more savings.

Give thoughtful, not expensive, gifts.

Learn to say no — especially to social pressure spending.

Make your own cleaners: Vinegar + baking soda = magic. Cheap and non-toxic.

Line dry clothes: Saves electricity and extends clothing life.

Use cloth instead of paper: Reusable towels, napkins, and wipes save heaps over time.

Chart the course

Mindset & Habits

Track your “time cost”: Ask yourself how many hours of work a purchase is worth. It reframes spending in a powerful way.

Practice “no-spend” days or weeks: Challenge yourself to spend nothing outside of essentials for a set period.

Declutter and sell: Turn unused items into cash via Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, or eBay.

Learn to repair and upcycle: Fix clothes, furniture, or electronics instead of replacing them.

Reading the Tides

Education & Skills

Use your library: Free books, movies, courses, and even tools or seeds in some places.

Learn high-value DIY skills: Cooking, sewing, basic plumbing, or car repairs can save thousands over time.

Youtube videos and other free platforms: If you want to know how to do something, guaranteed someone has done a ‘how to’ video on it!

AI: Free versions of microsoft’s Copilot, Google’s Gemini, Open AI’s Chatgpt and many others are changing the game. Paid versions are more up to date and more advanced but the free versions are still extremely useful.

Ransoms & Tributes

Bills & Subscriptions

Negotiate your bills: Call your internet, phone, or insurance provider and ask for a better rate — it works more often than you’d think.

Use comparison sites: Regularly check for better deals on utilities, insurance, and banking.

Switch to prepaid or low-cost mobile plans: Especially if you’re mostly on Wi-Fi.

Stocking the Hold

Sustainable Frugality

Grow your own herbs or veggies: Even a small balcony garden can save money.

Compost food scraps: Reduces waste and improves your garden if you grow food.

Use reusable items: Cloth napkins, water bottles, and containers reduce long-term costs.

Raise chickens or other small animals: If you have the space of course

Join a food co-op: Bulk buying with others = wholesale prices.

Use “ugly” produce apps: Services like Oddprod or local equivalents sell imperfect but perfectly edible food at a discount.

Forage: Learn to identify edible plants, herbs, or fruit trees in your area (safely and legally!).

Cook “ingredient-first” meals: Base meals on what you already have, not what you want to eat.

Use every part: Bones for broth, veggie scraps for stock, stale bread for croutons.

Batch cook and freeze: Saves time, money, and reduces food waste.

Shore Leave

Travel & Leisure

Travel off-season: Flights and accommodation are much cheaper.

Use travel rewards: Credit card points (remember to be VERY careful with credit cards) or frequent flyer programs can fund entire trips.

Explore local adventures: Free museums, hikes, or community events can be just as fulfilling.

Sailing Lean

Extreme Frugality & Self-Sufficiency

Barter and trade: Offer skills or goods in exchange for what you need — great for local communities or online barter groups.

House hack: Rent out a room, get a roommate, or live in a duplex and rent the other half.

Live car-free: If possible, ditch the car entirely and use bikes, public transport, or car-sharing.

Tiny living: Downsize your home or explore van life/tiny homes to drastically cut costs.

Plumbing the Depths

Creative Cost Cutting

Use cashback apps and browser extensions: Tools like ShopBack, Honey, or Cashrewards can save you money automatically.

Buy in bulk: Especially for non-perishables — just make sure you’ll use it all.

Use a price tracker: Sites like CamelCamelCamel (for Amazon) help you buy at the lowest price.

Split bulk purchases with friends or family to save without overstocking.

Borrow tools instead of buying: Libraries, neighbours, or tool libraries.

Use open-source software: Free alternatives to Photoshop, Office, etc.

Join local Facebook groups or Reddit communities: Tons of frugal wisdom and free stuff.

Mind over mutiny

Psychological Hacks

Unsubscribe from marketing emails: Less temptation = less spending.

Try some of the budgeting techniques from Budget Island: Various methods

Rename your savings account: Call it something meaningful like “Freedom Fund” or “House Deposit” to stay motivated.

Visualize opportunity cost: Every dollar spent is a dollar not invested or saved for something bigger.

Practice gratitude: Being content with what you have reduces the urge to spend.

Avoid lifestyle creep: As income rises, keep expenses steady and bank the difference.

Use “wish lists”: Add items to a list and revisit in 30 days. Most of the time, you won’t want them anymore.

Name your dollars: Give every dollar a job before you spend it (zero-based budgeting).

Use “sinking funds”: Save small amounts monthly for big, irregular expenses (e.g., car rego, holidays).

Avoid decision fatigue: Simplify your wardrobe, meals, and routines to reduce impulse spending.

Pooling the plunder

Community & Sharing

Join a Buy Nothing group: These local Facebook groups are amazing for giving and receiving free items.

Use community resources: Tool libraries, community gardens, free workshops, and local events.

Organize swap meets: Clothes, books, toys.

Hoisting the colours

Frugal Fun

Game nights, potlucks, and picnics: Low-cost ways to socialize.

Free local events: Check your city’s website or community boards.

Volunteer: It’s rewarding, social, and sometimes comes with perks (like free entry to events).

Securing the Hold

Household & Utility Mastery

Use greywater: Reuse water from laundry or showers for gardens (check local laws).

Insulate everything: Draft stoppers, window film, and thermal curtains can slash energy bills.

Run appliances off-peak: Use timers to run dishwashers, washing machines, etc., during cheaper electricity hours.

Mooring the ship

Housing Hacks

Live-in landlord: Rent out rooms while living in the same property — tax benefits in some places.

Caretaking or house-sitting: Live rent-free in exchange for looking after homes or pets.

Live where you work: Some jobs offer free or subsidized housing (e.g., caretakers, farmhands, remote lodges).

Filling the Sails

Income-Boosting Frugality

Monetize hobbies: Photography, writing, crafting, or gaming can become side hustles.

Use referral programs: Many services offer cash or credits for referring friends.

Flip items: Buy low at op shops or garage sales, sell higher online.

Training the midshipmen

Education & Kids

Homeschool co-ops: Share teaching duties and resources with other families.

Buy uniforms and supplies second-hand: Many schools or communities have swap days.

Use free educational platforms: Khan Academy, Duolingo, and local library programs.

Going Adrift

Beware the extremes

The possibilities are endless: There are countless ways to become more efficient and self-sufficient.

You don’t have to go to every extreme on this list but even a change in mindset can have dramatic influences on your finances. Make it a fun exercise and keep in mind that anything taken to extreme can be demotivating or harmful.

Take what you like from these lists or modify and add your own twists. Just remember it’s a long journey so always keep an eye towards sustainable effort rather than going hard out!