7 Frugal Trends To Think About In 2025

[@patmartin9727]

If anything comes out of the cost of living rises I do believe that moving forward it will make people look at their spending more closely.

[@lindastone9385]

I do think that spending time with friends and family is so important. I know that when my grandchildren come to stay, they always want to go to the local woods, with the dog, build a bivouac, plod in the stream and 'have an adventure!' All very Famous 5 but they have a blast and it costs absolutely nothing! And one of them is nearly a teenager. But they are creating memories which is very important.

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

I loved the Famous Five books when I was younger! And making memories is so important 💜

[@AkiraThomo]

I second the own brands thing. I work as a delivery driver for one of the big 3 Supermarkets and I’ve noticed a lot of shoppers are opting for own brands. People are also not buying as much junk

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

That’s interesting about the junk food.

[@AnnetteCulley]

Have drifted back towards cash shopping, really focusing on what I am spending and why.

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

Cash spending really does make you aware of what your money is going on.

[@thefinefrugalline3232]

Ditto

[@paularoberts2129]

I agree with everything you have said Nicola xx❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

💜💜

[@patmartin9727]

Went out for a friends birthday the other day I had a bottle of water and the cheapest main course and my bill was nearly£25 which equates to a whole weeks shopping for me. I do have a pot of money for eating out on special occasions so this didn’t affect my budget but if I was doing this every week it would double my food cost.

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

Gosh, that’s a lot. Did you enjoy it?

[@pburke5274]

I will go for coffee with my husband or friends but I never go out for dinner. It's just so expensive here in Ireland. We would rather save for a holiday and eat out then when we are abroad. The expense just takes the good out of it here.

[@paularoberts2129]

The price of eating out is absolutely ridiculous ❤

[@SaveItMell]

I'm a big thrifter- when I need something, the first place I go to look are my local thrift stores. But I've noticed a nasty trend at one of the big-chain thrift stores, they've jacked their prices on used goods immensely. It makes me sad.

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

Oh dear, that is sad 😔

[@Rose_1256]

A lot of thrift shops are now selling their high quality goods - mostly clothes - online at a high price. And some put items (like branded pottery, glassware etc etc) aside for 'collectors' that they have listed!!! These goods do not go into shop... unless not sold online! I've spotted items that I needed in thrift shops but did not purchase as prices too high. I have v politely asked for their 'best price' but if offered its £1 or £2 off.... I've left these items & not purchased.. I'm a quiet person & find it humiliating asking for a price cut in a thrift/charity shop! I just say "no thanks as that price is too high for me"

[@TannyaDigedan-mb8ex]

In the UK more people are using charity shops and some of them are getting ridiculous with their prices! Even more that it costs to buy new!

[@rickiwinter1587]

Hi Nicola, One of my favourite frugal things to do is to recycle items at home and to repurpose and reuse, not only being frugal but ethical and mindful of our environment. Thankyou for your videos, I enjoy them all.🥰🥰🥰 Oh almost forgot...I love the budget planner from your etsy shop, I fill it in every day Xx

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

Thank you 💜

[@ingridmarsden8866]

This is such a great video and I'm really enjoying the comments too. It seems to me that a lot of us have and are coming to their senses. Times gone by values blossoming again. It's also so tough for many with the cost of living and I find interesting that for some with more disposable income that it took the cost of living crisis to change.

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

Thank you for watching and commenting 💜

[@CloudberryMusings]

When my Amazon Prime came up for renewal, I took the option to pause for 12 months. It immediately stopped mindless spending.

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

Love this.

[@fullmooneve1651]

I am doing that too, plus already cancelled my TV license since I only watch Netflix and KZbin lol

[@debhulks]

Newspapers frequently offer free National Trust day passes for the price of the paper. We have been twice this year taking a picnic.

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

I didn’t know that! Is it a specific newspaper?

[@debhulks]

@@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage The Mirror, Sun and Star. I buy the cheapest! It's usually every 3-4 months.

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

I shall try and remember to look out for this ☺️

[@fullmooneve1651]

Very true about the supermarket apps. I only have 1 and I don't change my behaviour. Sometimes I get nice amount of points, sometimes I don't lol

[@gladyschandler6724]

I use the free app. from my library to get audio books for my book club.

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

That’s a great idea ☺️

[@gladyschandler6724]

I also go regularly to our Library Recycled Book store to get all kinds of books, DVD, C.D. etc. I've found lots of great books that I sent to friends for the holidays.

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

That’s fantastic ☺️

[@jodinspired5672]

You’re looking great Nicola.thanks for giving us your videos.

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

Thank you 💜

[@alisonquinn6076]

❤ great video x

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

Thank you 💜

[@janeknight3597]

Be very careful with building up a big balance on your nectar card. I had my card cloned recently and someone spent my points. Nectar customer services were great and returned the points but I was without the card for a month so no nectar prices. That hurt a lot.

[@joelizabeth12]

That happened to me too

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

Oh gosh, I had no idea that could happen 😕

[@clairegiani4722]

Another great vid Nicola :) This is more personal to me, but I travel a lot to London thus using trains and budget hotels for personal and work circumstances. I would love to say a positive trend just of the cost and quality of this easing but housing is such a big mess its hard to see there will be any significant changes in 2025. I wonder if AirBNB will continue a downward trend and coach travel will become a bit more popular?

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

Coach travel certainly is cheaper ☺️

[@D-ed5ceuebew]

Totally agree with everything, especially eating out. Now its nearly impossible to have a meal out for 2 for less than £45 with just 2 mains and 2 drinks. We had a dominos this month and it cost £36 for 2 pizzas and a dessert!! And thats with deals 😱 not going to do that again for a while...

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

Dominos is so expensive now 😮

[@Mizzy5]

We love a Dominoes so we order online and pick up before 4.00 pm. Makes it cheaper and then just warm up the pizza in the air fryer when we are ready to eat it. 1 large pizza does us 3 dinners so I freeze slices as well

[@melann6791]

I hope people steer away from trend items and learn to use what we already own

[@gladyschandler6724]

I rarely eat out. Maybe a brunch and a happy hour once a month with a group of ladies.

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

We don’t either ☺️

[@vickiphillips4876]

Usually a disappointment 😊

[@hazel1766]

I am planning to do a no spend January and I have been able to start building up my emergency fund ❤. Eating out is as cheap or expensive as you make it. Set meals can offer savings and if a person lives alone they offer an opportunity for interaction with others.

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

That’s a very good point.

[@kmg3566]

I don't think these are trends so much but already a way of life for the majority of people who have done these for the last few years. The only thing I would say is a trend to a degree is undercomsuption. It's coming across as a little faddy on one level because there's only so much people can stomach seeing people spend that it's actually clever doing the opposite. At the same time people are forced to have to spend and buy less because of the current climate. But at the same time, people will always spend and enjoy talking about it so I think it will come full circle again

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

That’s true.

[@gladyschandler6724]

Never do take away. I'm a very good cook and baker. My local friends will get cookies and some chocolates.

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

I’d love it if a friend gave me cookies!

[@TannyaDigedan-mb8ex]

I also signed up for a gallery pass at a discounted rate as im a teacher. It cost £25 but I have a whole year of free visits. Ive already saved £25 in the first month! I will take a flask and sanwiches with me and eat in a local park for a free day out!

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

That sounds good ☺️

[@pamelawalton1255]

Oh Nicola you've had you'd hair done it really suits you xx

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

Thank you! Fancied a change 💜

[@samanthahardy9903]

Some people with some physical disabilities may have no choice but to order takeaways as their disabilities may prevent them from preparing and cooking food.

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

Very true.

[@PatriciaHeywood-o6c]

I agree with everything you say. I used to be a massive over-spender on just about everything from food, clothes, household items etc. I wish I’d learned about frugal living earlier. Now a pensioner on low income I have to look carefully into everything I buy. The biggest difference I’ve seen over recent years is the cost of keeping animals. Ive always had dogs and now it’s £60 just for a vet consultation. I’ve recently spent £3,000 on having a growth removed from my dogs ear. They had to do an ultrasound (£1,000) to make sure her heart was strong enough and then £2,000 for the operation and they want to do a further ultrasound in six months which I’m going to argue about. She’s also on heart tablets for life which will be £150-£200 per month. I doubt I’ll ever be able to afford any more animals which is sad because I live alone. If only I’d saved when I had a better income.

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

I agree with pet costs; my cats are costing more and more. I hope your doggy is ok 💜

[@joycef8443]

I live in the US and was saying to my friend last week that the cost of pets is getting so high. My vet said they figure their costs would double in the next ten years. Will families be able have a dog and/or cat for their kids?

[@PatriciaHeywood-o6c]

@@joycef8443 it’s so sad, animals can make such a difference to your life. If you’re alone or ill an animal can give so much love and the benefits of regular dog walks not only on physical health but mental health too is massive.

[@Autumnbudgets]

I have an iPhone 8 😁 it’s 3 years old ish but it was reconditioned when I bought it so it’s 6-7 years old 😂 everything has changed already to 10 years ago! I used to eat more out than in! Now I never get takeaway & make all my own snacks 😊 fab video xx🦊🧡🍂

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

Love this comment 💜 what do you make as homemade snacks?

[@dib3385]

The amount of waste in the UK (including massive food waste plus over-consumerism) has been going on since the 80's and people who have become adults since this time have not known any different. It always shocks me how many people do not know how to cook from scratch, do not understand the cuts of meat and how they don;t need a rump steak to make a steak pie (they can get 2 beautiful bavette steaks for the tastiest pie and make double the amount) etc. Also that kids see the ads on TV and want the latest thing...and parents stretch themselves to capacity. Kids should be taken outdoors to play, not left indoors watching TV... the parents are the ones in charge of this and I think it is lazy parenting. We should have more parenting and home economics lessons/classes. As for "no spend" days - I am shocked by how many people spend everyday. I buy my shopping weekly and rarely have to buy anything in between. I use my freezer and fridge to capacity, make meals with what I have and don't expect to have to buy anything else. As for my phone, I had my last Samsung for 6 years, 2 on contract and 4 on sim only. I only got a new one when I dropped the old one and couldn't get it fixed any cheaper than contracting. I then shopped around online and got an unlimited contract (for data/text and calls) for £20 a month, for a new Galaxy A54. One thing that does shock me is the cost of a sandwich lunch... where I live they used to be about £2 a couple of years ago and now they are £4-5 - this is not the cost of the food but the cost of the increase in national wages, which has a knock on effect on the differentials of those above that rate who also want a payrise to account for their experience /service. That cost still has to be passed on to the customer and I think we forget that the basics goods can stay the same price whilst the actual selling costs get higher because wages are climbing. I think that alone is going to be the biggest contributor to increased prices after April next year.

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

An interesting comment ☺️

[@patrickkerr4514]

Like your new hair colour

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

Thank you!

[@patrickkerr4514]

@@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage your very welcome

[@christinenightingale2528]

Last week i had all my nectar points stolen - £142. Someone in Hyde (Manc) made 2 big purchases with my points. Ive saved all year. Nectar said theyll get in touch with their security and refund me but im not holding my breath...😢

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

Oh no! 😔

[@cherylverber7672]

That happened to me in November, my heart sunk and when I called sainsburys they were amazing. Someone had spent £250 on bottles of whisky. I was so glad to get my points back within a week and issued with a new card.

[@gladyschandler6724]

I use my cellphone until it dies. My current Samsung Galaxy 22 is 2.5 years old.

[@frugalitystartsathome4889]

Ha-ha. I’ve had mine since my son bought me it as a Christmas gift about seven years ago…

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

Good idea ☺️

[@gladyschandler6724]

Im doing a no spend January

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

Amazing!

[@jordanhewitt6227]

Everything you said I pretty much already do 😂 I haven’t had a current phone for about 8 years 😂 I’m 32 x

[@samanthahardy9903]

Some older phones may not work in 2025 due to networks shutting off 2g and 3g. So eventually you might have no choice but to get an upgrade.

[@jordanhewitt6227]

@samanthahardy9903 I do have a relatively up to date phone but I never get new phones I always get them a few years old. I have a pixel 7 currently

[@sandrabryan9106]

Here is how I get a free phone upgrade. My son-in-law always upgrades my granddaughters phone so she has the latest one and then I buy her old phone at a discount. I sell it to a friend for the discounted price so that he can upgrade his phone. He then gives me his older phone for free which is an upgrade from mine. I have also noticed an upward trend of community sharing and helping hands sites (Canada).

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

That’s a good idea ☺️

[@samanthahardy9903]

My daughter gives me her old phone when she upgrades hers. She even transfers information from my old phone to the one she gives me as well I.e pictures, contact numbers etc. Im not very tech savvy so she helps me with the tech stuff.

[@janeknight3597]

There is less on the shelves because supermarkets do not fill shelves through the night any more.

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

Oh, do they not?

[@kate-yk8gv]

Warehouses work around the clock to stock supermarkets. People are not buying certain items or there isn't much stock in the warehouse

[@kate-yk8gv]

If staff was needed to fill shelves at night they would be filling

[@samanthahardy9903]

There are supermarkets which do refill the shelves at night but a lot of supermarkets have cut the "night premium" which was a higher wage than the day time so staff don't want to work nights anymore. A lot have cut overtime pay as well so now a lot of supermarket staff will not work anything over their contracted hours anymore.

[@mafish7962]

❤❤❤

[@gladyschandler6724]

I sent close friends my quality jewelry to downsize.

[@NicolaatTheFrugalCottage]

That’s a great idea!