It's been more than a decade since The Great Recession, but Greece’s economy still hasn't recovered. This challenging period has forced us to adapt to extreme levels of frugal living. 

You may have heard of the term 'No Spend September'. It is a challenge where participants aim to avoid non-essential purchases for the entire month to save money and reassess their spending habits. The following tips are born out of necessity and some are a bit harsher than most “No Spend September” tips I come across on social media. However, they can be applied year-round to help you save money if you're in a tough spot. 

Disclaimer: These tips are ones that I've personally found work for me, but they might not be the best fit for everyone, so be sure to use your own discretion when trying them out!

Homebrew Your Coffee 

This has been a heated topic for a long time now, and while skipping your morning coffee won't make you a millionaire, you'll definitely save money by brewing your favorite beverage at home. With a variety of brewing methods and flavor options available, you can adjust the strength and sweetness to better suit your preferences.

Use Discount Apps When Grocery Shopping 

These applications provide a range of benefits, from exclusive discounts and coupons to personalized offers tailored to your shopping habits. By using these you can discover various ways to cut costs on groceries and other everyday essentials.

You might be concerned about having your spending habits tracked, and that’s something to consider with these apps, but if you’re like me, you might figure your data is already being collected and sold by a million other apps. So, it’s really up to you—just weigh the savings against any privacy worries and decide what feels right!

Dilute Your Shampoo With Water 

An often-overlooked aspect of frugal living involves making the most of everyday household items, such as shampoo. To do this, start by pouring a small amount of shampoo into a refillable container, then add water and shake your bottle for a couple of seconds. Be cautious not to over-dilute, as this may diminish the product's effectiveness. I would also avoid diluting more than a little bit of the product at a time as it can ruin the shampoo if mixed with the full product. A 3:1 shampoo to water ratio is recommended by most experts, but you can experiment a bit until you find the perfect balance for your hair type and personal preferences. 

This simple trick won't just save you money, but it will also make you realize how much product you truly need to achieve the desired results. 

Cut Your Dish Sponges in Half 

One simple yet effective tip for saving money and extending the life of your dish sponges is to cut them in half. By doing this, you essentially double their usage, prolonging the time before you need to buy a new one, and you also reduce the amount of waste generated. 

It may seem like a small change, but over time, it can add up to significant savings.

Change Your Mobile Contract & Use Public WiFi 

I know that this step might be one of the hardest ones, but sometimes there's no way around it. Especially with the constant price hikes. Find a budget-friendly carrier, and skip the extras. Reduce your data allowance and keep an eye out for free WiFi hotspots in public places like cafes, libraries, and shopping malls. This way you can reduce your data usage and lower your phone bill even further.

And who knows, if you're lucky you might meet some new interesting people when you visit these spots. 

Embrace Meal-Prepping 

Besides the numerous health benefits, having pre-made meals on hand means you're less likely to resort to dining out or grabbing convenience food items, which can quickly burn a hole in your wallet. Meal prepping also helps to curb food waste. When you plan and prepare your meals in advance, you're more likely to use up ingredients efficiently, minimizing the amount of food that goes uneaten or spoils. 

This not only saves you money, but also allows you to make more balanced choices and practice portion control, further supporting your financial and health goals.

Clean With Water and Vinegar 

From removing stains and deodorizing surfaces to cleaning glass and mirrors, vinegar is a versatile and natural cleaning agent that can tackle a variety of tasks around the house. According to experts, mixing vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio is the best choice for most surfaces. 

This simple eco-friendly solution (pun intended) can save you money on expensive cleaning products and reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals. Just be careful its not meant to be used to clean everything so look up if vinegar is a good option for what you intend to clean before getting started.

Use a Bicycle to Get Around 

Riding a bicycle instead of a car can help you cut down on fuel expenses, parking fees, and vehicle maintenance costs while promoting an active lifestyle. Cycling offers several health benefits, it promotes cardiovascular health, increases muscle strength, and reduces stress levels.

But before hitting the road, consider if you're comfortable riding in various traffic and weather conditions. Make sure you're caught up with your country's cycling laws, and plan your routes to take advantage of bike lanes, paths, and other cycling infrastructure.

Hope for A Better Tomorrow(?) 

Enacting some of these tips has allowed me to stretch my money as much as possible, but living in a constant state of financial stress takes its toll. While these frugal strategies have been essential for survival, they don't address the larger economic challenges we face.

I wish I could say that there's a light at the end of this frugal tunnel, but I've spent more than half of my life worrying about what the next day will bring, wondering if I'll have food on the table and a roof over my head. And it doesn't seem like things are going to change any time soon. Greece has the second worst purchasing power and the second highest youth unemployment rate in Europe. Working hour violations are rampant and there are hundreds of work-related deaths and injuries every year. As the retirement age continues to increase, it feels like most young people won't be able to get a pension and will have to work until the grave. All these hardships have contributed to Greece being the most stressed country in Europe, and second most depressed country in the world according to some surveys.

And while my inner child tries to keep hope alive, it's hard to share his optimism.