Think your grandma's habits were old-fashioned? Discover the timeless financial wisdom behind her thrift, budgeting, and resourcefulness—and how those habits can save you money today.

How Your Grandma's Habits Demonstrated Financial Wisdom

Your grandmother didn't require budgeting apps, financial experts, or YouTube hacks to keep track of her money. She simply employed good old-fashioned common sense. The reality is, some of her regular habits—things that may sound old-fashioned today—were really quite ingenious when it came to money management. Here are six of her daily habits that were also smart financial techniques.

She Prepared (Almost) All Her Meals at Home

Takeout was reserved for special occasions, not a Tuesday evening. Your grandmother likely had a few go-to dishes she could cook up without hesitation, and those meals sustained a great number of individuals for not much cash.

She stretched ingredients, recycled leftovers, and cooked from scratch. It wasn't fancy, but it worked. Today, when dining out and food delivery can empty your paycheck in no time, her homemade method seems like a superhero power. Preparing meals at home is cheaper, wastes less, and tends to result in healthier fare. Grandma was in the know. 

She Repaired Things Rather Than Discarding Them

Whether it was a lost button, a wobbly table leg, or a torn shirt, your grandma didn't leap to replace things—she just rolled up her sleeves and tackled the job. She could sew, patch, mend, glue, or MacGyver a repair.

It's simple now to hit the "buy again" button or go to the store for something new, but replacing things all the time costs money. Grandma's practice of fixing rather than replacing was both clever and budget-friendly. It saved money and prolonged things. Even better, it fostered patience and appreciation for what you already had.

She Avoided Debt

If your grandmother couldn't afford something, she didn't purchase it. That's all there was to it. She would save for weeks—or even months—before spending money on a large item, and borrowing was reserved for real emergencies.

There was no financing a sofa or charging small luxuries to credit cards. This frugal attitude toward expenditure kept her cash flow stable even with a moderate income. Amidst the culture of swipe-now, pay-later, the aversion she had to debts is a refreshing reminder that saving money brings with it peace of mind greater than instant gratification.

She Grew Her Own Food

For your grandma, a garden was not a hip side hustle—it was necessary. She produced tomatoes, herbs, greens, or even an entire backyard of vegetables. And when the garden was doing well, she stored what she couldn't consume by canning it or freezing it.

It may be small, but planting even a bit of your own food can save you money in the long run. It also reduces trips to the store and ensures you eat more seasonally and nutritious. And if food costs ever escalated, she wasn't surprised—she had her pantry (and freezer) stocked.

She Purchased Less, but Purchased Better

Grandma was not following fads or swiping for the next big gadget. She purchased what she required, selected products that endured, and maintained them. If it was a good pair of shoes, a duty pot, or a long-lasting winter coat that could last decades, quality was top priority.

She didn't have 10 of everything; she had one or two, and they worked. This practice of purchasing with a purpose—i.e., not impulsively—saved less money in the long term. Today, with ads screaming and sales beckoning us left and right, her straightforward approach is refreshing and intelligent.

She Always Had "Just-in-Case" Money

Even though her earnings were not great, your grandmother understood the value of saving in case of a rainy day. Whether she stashed bills in an envelope or stored money in a savings jar on a top shelf, she was always ready for the unexpected—repairs, medical expenses, or assisting family members.

She never referred to it as an "emergency fund," but that's what it was. She knew that life had surprises in store, and that the best thing to do was to be prepared rather than turn to credit cards or loans. That financial preparedness made her strong and taught generations that followed her the same. 

Get Your Pay Early When You Need It — Grandma would've wanted you to

A great deal has changed since your grandmother's day, but her financial ways still work. She learned to live simply, to spend carefully, and to stretch what she had. In an age that encourages relentless consumption, her ways are a reminder that financial sense isn't always gained from books or gurus—it is sometimes found in the subtle lessons learned in the kitchen, the garden, or over the dinner table.

On the other hand, in addition to these tips from grandma, you cannot deny that she would've used an early access to her pay, which can serve as a fallback when all else fails. Look no further than Wagetap, Australia's leading wage advance app, letting you borrow up to $2,000 of your pay. Check out the app now on the App Store or Google Play.

For additional help in improving your spending habits, you can always download Wagetap. It is a leading wage advance and bill split app that allows you to access your pay early. Emergencies can always happen and Wagetap can help you handle life's unexpected expenses.