3 Money Lessons I’ve Learned From My Tightwad Friend

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Sometimes the best money advice comes from the most unexpected places.Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026
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Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. My friend and I handle our finances very differently. He’s one of those ultra-frugal types (actually, sometimes he strays more into cheap territory). I’m more of a go-with-the-flow spender — as long as I’m saving enough, too.Anyway, over the years I’ve picked up a few of his money habits, and they’ve actually saved me thousands.1. Every penny in interest countsI used to keep all my extra cash in a regular checking account. I knew that high-yield savings accounts (HYSAs) existed, but always brushed them off because the interest rates seemed small. Like, what’s a few extra percent really gonna do?But then I ran the math, and…whoa!With my old checking account earning 0.01%, a $10,000 savings would earn just $1 in a whole year. But by switching to a high-yield savings account at 4.50% APY, now we’re talking $450 in earnings.I made the switch a couple years back, and it’s paid off big time. In fact, in all of 2024 I earned $798 from my HYSA interest.If you’re still using an outdated account paying pennies, it’s time to switch. Start earning up to 4.40% APY today with one of the top high-yield savings accounts2. Subscriptions are silent killersDid you know the average American spends $32.84 every month on subscriptions they’re not even using!? That’s almost $400 a year wasted on nothing.I used to be one of those wasteful spenders. Until my friend got me into the habit of checking my monthly transactions like a hawk. Now I scrutinize anything on my statements I don’t recognize, no matter how small.Pro tip: You can also use one of these top budgeting apps to track expenses easily and spot things to cut.3. The 48-hour rule for spendingAnother cool money hack I learned from my friend is the 48-hour rule. Basically, anytime I want to buy something spontaneously — especially online — I now wait a full two days before pulling the trigger.Nine times out of 10, my desire fades and I never actually end up buying the thing.I can’t tell you how much I’ve saved from this single rule alone. Probably in the tens of thousands over the years.This stuff all adds up!Cutting a subscription here, avoiding an impulse buy there, earning a few hundred in interest — all these seemingly small activities have made a huge difference in my financial life.And I have my frugal friend to thank for it.While I won’t be adopting all his money habits, I’m certainly glad I paid attention to these ones.And you should, too. If you’ve got cash just sitting around, make it work harder for you. Check out our list of the best high-yield savings accounts and earn up to 4.40% APY on your money.Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.”}]] [[{“value”:”

Sometimes the best money advice comes from the most unexpected places.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

My friend and I handle our finances very differently. He’s one of those ultra-frugal types (actually, sometimes he strays more into cheap territory). I’m more of a go-with-the-flow spender — as long as I’m saving enough, too.

Anyway, over the years I’ve picked up a few of his money habits, and they’ve actually saved me thousands.

1. Every penny in interest counts

I used to keep all my extra cash in a regular checking account. I knew that high-yield savings accounts (HYSAs) existed, but always brushed them off because the interest rates seemed small. Like, what’s a few extra percent really gonna do?

But then I ran the math, and…whoa!

With my old checking account earning 0.01%, a $10,000 savings would earn just $1 in a whole year. But by switching to a high-yield savings account at 4.50% APY, now we’re talking $450 in earnings.

I made the switch a couple years back, and it’s paid off big time. In fact, in all of 2024 I earned $798 from my HYSA interest.

2. Subscriptions are silent killers

Did you know the average American spends $32.84 every month on subscriptions they’re not even using!? That’s almost $400 a year wasted on nothing.

I used to be one of those wasteful spenders. Until my friend got me into the habit of checking my monthly transactions like a hawk. Now I scrutinize anything on my statements I don’t recognize, no matter how small.

Pro tip: You can also use one of these top budgeting apps to track expenses easily and spot things to cut.

3. The 48-hour rule for spending

Another cool money hack I learned from my friend is the 48-hour rule. Basically, anytime I want to buy something spontaneously — especially online — I now wait a full two days before pulling the trigger.

Nine times out of 10, my desire fades and I never actually end up buying the thing.

I can’t tell you how much I’ve saved from this single rule alone. Probably in the tens of thousands over the years.

This stuff all adds up!

Cutting a subscription here, avoiding an impulse buy there, earning a few hundred in interest — all these seemingly small activities have made a huge difference in my financial life.

And I have my frugal friend to thank for it.

While I won’t be adopting all his money habits, I’m certainly glad I paid attention to these ones.

And you should, too. If you’ve got cash just sitting around, make it work harder for you. Check out our list of the best high-yield savings accounts and earn up to 4.40% APY on your money.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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