I don’t think of myself as a particularly frugal person. I’ve accumulated too many headphones, own plenty of Apple tech gadgets and usually splurge on free-range eggs.

But when I see unnecessary expenses – things that don’t spark joy or make my life better in some way – I reach for the chainsaw.

The key here, for me, is identifying what’s unnecessary so there’s no hardship – because I’m not a fan of painful austerity when it isn’t necessary.

There are the obvious cuts: I make coffee at home and tend to pack lunches. In my investment accounts, I lean toward low-cost exchange-traded funds, which are usually cheaper than mutual funds.

But here are a couple of quirky ways I’ve found to save a few bucks, with no real downside – although I’m the first to admit that they aren’t for everyone.

Several years ago, during early pandemic lockdowns when hair stylists were out of reach, I invested in a set of electric hair clippers so that I would look somewhat presentable on Zoom calls.

It turned out to be an excellent financial move.

Even though stylists are back in action today, I’m still clipping. I’m saving about $400 a year – that’s about $5,000 since I began this new routine – on what I would have spent on a professional cut every eight weeks or so.

Apart from the savings, I no longer have to book appointments and now I can get a trim every couple of weeks instead of every couple of months. No tipping required!

I’m probably not turning heads for personal grooming. But I don’t care; I’m losing my hair anyway.

I’ve also put alcohol in my crosshairs, given recent health warnings about even moderate consumption – and used a financial incentive to get below two drinks a week.

My approach was similar to using a swear jar: I paid myself $2 every day that I abstained in 2024. Strangely, this small amount was enough motivation for me. I ended the year with more than $600 in spending money and, I hope, a healthier liver.

The money that I would have spent on beer, wine and negronis instead went toward recorded music, a weakness of mine. (See? I’m not frugal.)

These might look like trivial examples of money-saving efforts because they have not added to my net worth in any significant way.

They have more to do with becoming more efficient with my money so that I can direct it toward things and experiences I care about. I have to admit, they are also enormously satisfying.

Yeah, I suppose there is plenty more I could do to cut costs.

Fewer dinners ordered to the house would save a bundle. I would like to be more organized with groceries, to reduce food waste.

I could roll up my sleeves and take more control over my car’s maintenance. And I’ve written before about my attempts to control my family’s TV and music streaming fees, which is a work in progress.

It’s important to keep goals in mind, though, which adds an essential layer of motivation.

Are you saving for a down payment on a house? Are you trying to pay off a student loan or other debt? Then you could get more aggressive in your approach to cost-cutting.

The challenge is finding the right places to cut – those not-needed expenses that are sitting right under your nose.

Do you have any good ones? The more eccentric, the better. Let me know at dberman@globeandmail.com. Perhaps I’ll spread the wisdom in a future newsletter.