13 Frugal Boomer Habits Young Floridians Make Fun of Today Even Though They Really Work
Baby boomers do a lot of stuff that makes younger people scratch their heads. Like, who still clips coupons or hangs their clothes to dry?
But here’s the thing: some of those so-called “weird” habits actually work. Like, they really work.
They save money, cut down on waste, and keep life in Florida pretty simple.
So before you roll your eyes too hard, maybe take a second look. Some of that old-school frugal stuff might be exactly what younger people need right now.
Hanging Clothes to Dry
Why run the dryer when the sun’s free? That’s basically the boomer motto.
Hanging your clothes outside (or even inside on a rack) can save you a nice chunk of change on your energy bill.
Also, your clothes will thank you.
Dryers are kind of rough on clothes. All that tumbling and heat wear stuff out faster. That’s why your favorite T-shirt suddenly looks like it belongs to a toddler. Boomers knew that hanging stuff to dry made clothes last way longer.
Even if you live in an apartment, you can hang stuff on a drying rack, over your shower rod, or anywhere with a little airflow.
It might take longer, but hey—you’re saving money and keeping your clothes fresh.
Big win for Team Boomer.
Saving Leftovers Like It’s Gold
Boomers don’t mess around with leftovers. Got half a baked potato?
Into the fridge it goes.
A slice of meatloaf?
Tomorrow’s sandwich.
They’re basically the leftovers MVPs—and while younger generations might joke about their fridge full of mystery containers, we could probably learn a thing or two.
Wasting food is like throwing money in the trash. And not the imaginary kind—real, actual dollars.
The USDA says a family of four wastes around $1,500 a year in food. That’s basically an iPhone.
Boomers were taught to use every bit, and that mindset stuck with them. Leftovers mean less cooking, less grocery shopping, and more money in your pocket.
Plus, turning last night’s dinner into something new can actually be fun. Boomers call it “using what you’ve got.”
Younger folks can call it “hustling smart.”
Using Tinfoil More Than Once
Boomers love tinfoil like it’s made of gold. You know the drill: use it to cover a casserole, then fold it up nice and neat and stick it in a drawer to use again later.
Some young folks today think that’s extra, but why throw it away if it’s still perfectly good?
Tinfoil’s not free, and it’s not exactly eco-friendly either. If it’s clean—like it didn’t touch anything gooey or gross—why not reuse it?
Boomers would even rinse it off and flatten it out for round two (or three). It might sound wild, but it totally works.
Honestly, it’s kind of brilliant. You’re saving money, making less trash, and stretching your supplies like a pro.
Next time you’re about to toss that foil, maybe channel your inner boomer and stash it for later.
Keeping a “Junk Drawer” Full of Random Stuff
You know that one drawer that has batteries, rubber bands, tape, a screwdriver, some mystery keys, and like, 37 pens that may or may not work?
Boomers invented that drawer—and it’s actually super useful.
While younger folks might be all about decluttering and minimalism, boomers believe in holding onto the little things that might come in handy.
And let’s be honest—how many times have you needed something random and didn’t have it?
The junk drawer might look messy, but it’s basically a toolkit for life. Boomers kept stuff because they knew they’d use it eventually.
It’s like a treasure chest for fixing stuff, saving time, or just finding a spare battery when your remote dies at 2 a.m.
Putting Plastic on the Furniture
Okay, this one gets roasted hard—but hear us out. Boomers used to cover couches with plastic to protect the fabric.
Yeah, it made that squeaky noise when you sat down, and yeah, it got sticky in summer.
But their couches stayed looking brand new for years.
Furniture isn’t cheap, and boomers weren’t about to replace it every few years. The plastic was like armor—it kept out spills, crumbs, pet hair, and all the other stuff that ruins a good sofa.
Was it comfy? Not exactly.
Was it smart? Kind of.
Now, people pay extra for furniture covers or get stuff professionally cleaned. Boomers just…prevented the mess in the first place.
It wasn’t glamorous, but it worked. Honestly, they were just being practical before “practical” was cool.
Collecting and Reusing Glass Jars
Boomers never threw out a good glass jar. Pickles, jelly, pasta sauce—when the food was gone, the jar got washed and reused. They’d use them for leftovers, screws, coins, or random junk.
Mason jars before they were trendy?
Boomers were already there.
And now? Mason jars are a whole aesthetic. People buy them new to use as cups, decor, or storage.
Boomers did that too—but without spending a dime. They just used what they had and made it work.
Reusing jars is smart, eco-friendly, and honestly pretty cute. You save money, reduce waste, and end up with a cupboard full of cool storage.
Boomers weren’t trying to be hipsters—they just didn’t see the point in tossing out a perfectly good jar.
Fixing Stuff Instead of Tossing It
When something breaks, most folks today just hop online and order a new one.
Boomers? Nah. They pull out the duct tape, screwdriver, or glue and go full MacGyver. They’re all about fixing stuff instead of ditching it.
From sewing buttons back on to tightening wobbly furniture, boomers knew how to stretch a dollar.
And these days, YouTube makes it even easier to fix your own stuff. You can literally watch a five-minute video and learn how to repair your toaster or patch a hole in your jeans.
Doing your own fixes saves tons of cash and gives you a little boost of “heck yeah, I did that.” Boomers didn’t just save money—they felt proud doing it.
And honestly? That’s a vibe we can all get behind.
Growing Their Own Food
Boomers love a good garden. Even if it’s just tomatoes, lettuce, or a few herbs, growing your own food saves serious money and tastes way better than store-bought.
Plus, nothing beats walking outside and picking your lunch.
A pack of seeds costs like, two bucks. That’s way cheaper than buying lettuce every week. And once the plants start growing, you’ve got a steady supply.
Boomers weren’t just gardening for fun—they were growing groceries.
Even if you don’t have a yard, you can grow stuff in pots on a balcony or windowsill.
Tomatoes in a bucket? Totally doable.
Basil in a jar? Easy.
Boomers did it out of necessity, but with skyrocketing grocery prices today, you could argue that younger generations should do it out of necessity too.
Turning Off Lights and Unplugging Stuff
“Turn off the lights!”—every boomer, ever. They were serious about not wasting electricity.
And while it might sound like nagging, it actually makes a lot of sense. Lights, TVs, chargers—they all add up.
Even stuff that’s “off” still uses energy when it’s plugged in. It’s called phantom power, and it can cost you $200 a year.
Boomers didn’t have smart plugs or energy-saving apps, but they did know how to yank a cord from the wall.
If you want to cut your electric bill, just channel your inner boomer. Flip those switches, unplug what you’re not using, and don’t crank the AC unless you need to.
It’s a little thing that adds up big time.
Washing and Reusing Ziploc Bags
You ever see a Ziploc bag hanging over someone’s kitchen faucet like it’s doing laundry? Yeah, that’s a total boomer move.
And while it might look a little silly, it’s actually kind of smart.
Why toss a perfectly good bag after one sandwich?
Ziplocs aren’t cheap, especially if you’re blowing through them like tissues. If the bag just held dry snacks or a sandwich, give it a rinse, dry it out, and boom—it’s good to go again.
It’s not gross, it’s resourceful.
You don’t have to wash every single one, but reusing even a few Ziploc bags saves money and cuts down on plastic waste.
Boomers weren’t just being cheap—they were being low-key environmentalists before it was cool.
Using Cash Instead of Swiping Cards
Boomers are all about cash. They like seeing the money leave their hands—it makes it way easier to stick to a budget.
These days, with Apple Pay and tap-to-pay everywhere, it’s super easy to lose track of what you’re spending.
When you pay with cash, you feel the pain a little more (in a good way). It keeps you from grabbing that extra snack, those impulse buys, or splurging on stuff you don’t really need.
Boomers even used the envelope method: one for groceries, one for gas, one for fun.
Simple but super effective.
Using cash helps you stay in control. No overdraft fees, no surprise credit card bills. Just you, your wallet, and a whole lot more awareness.
Boomers weren’t trying to be cool—they were just being smart with their money.
Making Coffee at Home
Boomers are not about that $6 coffee shop life. They brew their own at home—and not just because they’re “cheap.” It’s actually a super smart way to save money without giving up anything delicious.
If you buy coffee five times a week, that can add up to over $1,300 a year. For real.
Meanwhile, a bag of coffee that lasts a whole month costs like $10.
You do the math.
Brewing at home is way cheaper, and you can still make it fancy if you want.
Get some flavored creamer, a frother, maybe even a cheap espresso machine. Boomers had the drip machine going strong, and it got the job done.
Buying Stuff Used
Boomers love a good garage sale. Thrift stores? They’re treasure hunts.
While some folks today want everything brand new and shiny, boomers were out there finding deals on clothes, furniture, tools—you name it.
Buying used saves money and helps the planet. Less stuff in landfills, fewer resources used, and you still get what you need.
Plus, a lot of older stuff is made better than today’s fast-fashion junk.
That dresser from the ’80s?
Still solid.
That $200 one from the big box store?
Wobbly by week two.
Boomers shopped secondhand because it was smart. Now it’s also sustainable, stylish, and sometimes even trendy.
So yeah, maybe their habits weren’t so “old” after all—they were just ahead of the game.
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