5 Steps for Staying Frugal in a Marketing-Obsessed World

Updated: January 6, 2025
Originally Posted: October 14, 2023

7 min read

Ally Veldhuisen

Have you ever stopped to wonder how many advertisements you encounter in a single day? In just 30 minutes of scrolling through Instagram or Facebook you’re likely to see between 20 to 50 ads. That’s not counting podcasts, commercials, magazines, billboards, or the countless other marketing messages that fill our daily lives.

As Lisa from Farmhouse on Boone observes: “The more we allow marketing into our brains, the more we will spend on things that are not necessities.”

Let that sink in for a minute.

In today’s world, marketing has evolved beyond simple product information. Marketing has been designed to convince us that we need more to be happy. Advertisers don’t just sell products anymore—they sell lifestyles, solutions to problems we didn’t know we had, and promises of a better life.

A work laptop sits on a destination table at the top of a mountain.

Finding Freedom in Frugality

So how do we maintain our financial integrity in this marketing-saturated world? Here are five practical strategies:

1. Practice Mindful Consumption

Before making a purchase, pause and ask yourself:

  • Is this a genuine need or a marketed want?
  • Am I responding to emotion rather than necessity?
  • Will this item still hold value for me in a month?

2. Align Spending with Values

Another key to embracing frugality in a consumer-driven world is setting clear priorities. 

  • Define what truly matters in your life
  • Create a budget that reflects your priorities
  • Focus on experiences and relationships over possessions
  • Remember that temporary satisfaction often comes at a permanent cost

3. Control Your Marketing Exposure

Take practical steps to limit your exposure to marketing:

  • Set time limits for social media use
  • Unsubscribe from marketing emails
  • Unfollow accounts that are heavy on product placement
  • Use ad-blockers on your devices
  • Create “no-phone zones” in your daily routine

4. Pursue Authentic Living

Instead of chasing influencer lifestyles:

  • Be authentic to yourself and your values.
  • Find contentment in what you already have
  • Focus on creating rather than consuming
  • Build relationships with people who share your values

5. Discover the Freedom of “Enough”

Frugality is not about deprivation; it’s about making deliberate choices that lead to a more fulfilling life. When we resist the constant pressure to buy more, we:

  • Reduce financial stress
  • Find contentment more easily
  • Have more resources for what truly matters to us
  • Experience greater peace of mind
A man looks out over the bay.

A Counter-Cultural Choice

Living frugally in today’s consumer culture isn’t just about saving money—it’s about reclaiming your attention and aligning your resources with your values. While marketing messages will continue to promote everything as essential, we have the power to choose a different path.

Remember: Every time you resist an unnecessary purchase, you’re not just saving money—you’re leaning into the kind of life you want to live. You’re choosing intention over impulse, wisdom over wants, and purpose over pressure.

Resisting the urge to splurge won’t be an easy decision, but the rewards—financial freedom, peace of mind, and authentic living—make it worthwhile. As stewards of our resources, we’re called to make conscious choices that reflect our values and serve our true needs.

What unnecessary purchase will you choose to skip today?

A Prayer for Frugality

Lord,
Thank you for providing everything we truly need. Give us wisdom to be content with Your gifts and strength to resist the endless list of wants the world throws our way. Help us honor You as we steward our resources mindfully.
Amen

About the Author

Ally Veldhuisen

Ally Veldhuisen

Ally is the primary founder of For This House. She just finished renovating a cute, old house in small town Washington where she lives with her husband and young son. Ally is a teacher by trade, but also enjoys library cookbooks and watching Downton Abbey. Learn more about Ally.