£16k/Month & Extreme Cheapskate: My Money-Saving Secrets

A TikTok creator known as Bradley, who prefers to keep his surname private, has garnered critically important attention for his extremely frugal lifestyle, despite earning a ample income.The 32-year-old revealed that he earned approximately $20,000 in december alone. Rather of indulging in lavish spending, Bradley meticulously manages his finances, with his December expenses totaling around $1,300.

Bradley’s largest expense is rent, with $750 allocated to a studio apartment in Connecticut. Groceries are another significant expenditure, but as a proponent of home-cooked meals, he managed to keep his grocery bill to around $180 for the entire month.

Bradley shares his money-saving strategies on his TikTok channel, “Bradley On A Budget,” which has amassed over 800,000 followers. He demonstrates how he maximizes his savings by avoiding turning on the heat, unplugging appliances when not in use, and frequently eating the same meal off his single plate.

“I’m frugal and will do anything to save money,”

Bradley states in one of his videos, inviting viewers to witness his “Extreme Cheapskate” series.

One of Bradley’s techniques involves reusing cleaning pads.

“I don’t know if that’s normal or not, but I don’t see any reason to throw it out when you could just rinse it and reuse it.So I’ll typically get like, five uses out of it before I actually end up throwing it out. I don’t know to me, it makes more sense to get multiple uses out of something rather of throwing it away after one time.”

Another tip involves charging devices in public places.

“Next I’ll try to charge my stuff anywhere. Literally charge battery packs and my shaver at work. I’ve charged stuff at orchestra practice, or at the gym – anywhere there’s an outlet.”

Bradley avoids using the heat in his apartment.

“Sometimes I’ll crack my door open to let the heat in from the hallway, not for long, maybe like 10 minutes, but it’s literally warmer in the hallway than my apartment.”

He also emphasized the importance of cooking meals.

“I always make sure that I clean my dishes at work. Can’t imagine this is controversial. It just makes sense to me, if there’s soap and sponges at work, you might as well utilise your resources.”

Bradley extends his frugality to disposable items.

“If I could use someone else’s hot water and soap to save a little money,I’ll do it.That’s what being frugal is all about. And then also, anytime I dry off my dishes or I dry off my hands, I’ll just keep the paper towel. I don’t throw it out again […] I don’t know why you would throw a perfectly clean paper towel just because it’s a little damp […] I let it air dry, and then I just use it at my apartment. Sometimes I’ll grab one from the gym before I leave, and I’ve been able to build up quite the stash over the past few years.I’ve never had to buy paper towels.”

He even admits to bringing home toilet paper from public restrooms.

“I was out with friends, and I saw this toilet paper just chilling in the bathroom.”

Bradley uses the toilet paper in his “toilet paper scrap bin.” he also reuses tissues.

“Just hear me out. I find tissues to be pretty big, so rather of throwing [one] out after one use, I will just use [keep the] part of the tissue that was not used.”

To cut down on utility bills, he unplugs his appliances, including his refrigerator when he is away from home.

“I had a dog sitting gig last weekend. So you know, I unplugged my fridge as there’s no reason to run my fridge for a week if I’m going to be away, just like how you wouldn’t leave a lamp running when you go on a vacation.”

He also adjusts his refrigerator to the lowest possible setting.

“I will keep my fridge set as low as possible. It keeps things just cold enough, at a safe temperature.”

When filling up his gas tank, Bradley employs a specific technique.

“I heard if you don’t put full pressure on the gas pump, you’re filling your tank. You’re putting less air into your tanks. You’re getting more gas that way. That makes sense.”

Bradley also avoids paying for scanning services.

He advises viewers to,

“Always bring Tupperware to work, because you never know when there’s going to be a meeting with snacks.”

He advocates for showering at the gym,washing hair in the sink to save water,and collecting discarded items like paper clips and rubber bands.

“I always like to have a few on hand in case I need them. Because why waste money on that stuff when you could just find it for free? Like, look, $4 for a pack of paper clips. that’s stupid.”

Bradley is diligent about using products until thay are entirely empty.

“I also make sure I do not throw anything out until it is absolutely empty. I squeezed for dear life to get all my toothpaste out. Then my lotion bottle felt like it was empty, but after I opened it up, there was still so much left in there just wasn’t coming thru the nozzle. But I always want to make sure I’m getting my money’s worth and nothing’s going to waste.”

He also washes his own car.

“My car has become as salty as my haters, but instead of paying for a car wash, I knew I was going to go over to my parents house, and I honestly ended up just washing the car at their house. Of course, I asked them if it’s okay, because if they said no, I wouldn’t do it. I just take a couple trips, filling up the bucket with water and then rinsing off my car. Trust me, it’s fine as I refuse to pay for convenience, and that’s it.”

Bradley maintains that his frugal lifestyle is not a facade.

“Believe it or not, I’m very happy this way, and honestly, at this point, I wouldn’t want to live any other way.”

How does Bradley balance his extreme frugality wiht maintaining a happy and fulfilling life?

Interview: Bradley On Budget, The TikTok Frugality Guru

Archyde News Editor, Eliza Hayes, recently sat down for an exclusive interview with Bradley, the TikTok sensation behind “Bradley On A Budget.” known for his extreme frugality and remarkable savings strategies, Bradley has captured the attention of over 800,000 followers. We discussed his approach to finances, surprising (and sometimes controversial) techniques and his surprising financial success.

Eliza Hayes: Welcome, Bradley! Thanks for taking the time to speak with us today. Your TikTok channel, “Bradley On A Budget,” has gone viral. What sparked your interest in extreme frugality?

Bradley: Thanks for having me! Honestly, it started with a desire to be financially self-reliant. I realized I could achieve a lot of my financial goals faster if I minimized my expenses.It’s become a fun challenge, and I enjoy the satisfaction of maximizing every dollar.

eliza Hayes: Your recent income report of $20,000 in December, with expenses around $1,300, is amazing.Can you walk us through some of your key strategies that help you save money?

Bradley: sure. A big one is simply being mindful of what I spend. I plan my meals, cook at home, and avoid unneeded purchases. I unplug appliances,charge devices at work,and reuse things like cleaning pads and paper towels. I also utilize free resources whenever possible—like taking advantage of complimentary utilities at the gym for showering, washing dishes at work, and drying hands with air.

Eliza Hayes: Some of your techniques, like reusing paper towels and collecting toilet paper from public restrooms, have raised eyebrows. What’s your rationale behind these choices?

bradley: It’s all about efficiency and not wasting resources. if a paper towel is still perfectly clean after a single use, why throw it away? I let them air dry and reuse the ones I collect at the gym. The toilet paper, well, why let it go to waste? It’s a matter of principle – making the most of what’s available. It’s notable to me that nothing goes to waste.

Eliza Hayes: You mention never using the heat in your apartment and keeping the fridge on the lowest setting. How do you balance these measures with comfort and practicality?

Bradley: It’s definitely a balancing act. I layer up with clothes, use blankets and sometimes crack my door open to let in hallway heat. I make sure my fridge keeps food safe, but I keep it on the lowest setting available.I always prioritize efficiency and financial saving, while ensuring my basic needs, like safety and cleanliness criteria, are met.

Eliza Hayes: Cooking at home and bringing your own Tupperware make sense. However, what specific cost-saving tips can everyone start using today?

Bradley: Absolutely! Making simple lifestyle changes, like preparing a meal and bring it to work rather than buying lunch can save a lot of money. Also, try finding free activities instead of paying for entertainment. You can always find free content or places to go to stay busy.Also don’t buy any extra equipment you don’t need.

Eliza Hayes: What about the environmental aspect of your approach? Is this part of staying frugal?

Bradley: definitely. Reducing waste is a very important factor when thinking about how to save money. So that has helped me to also embrace a green mindset by reducing my impact when it comes to my spending.

Eliza Hayes: You seem very happy with your lifestyle.What advice do you have for those who want to adopt a more frugal approach to money but feel overwhelmed?

Bradley: Start small. Pick one or two areas where you can cut back. Track your spending. Begin with making meals from home rather than eating out. It is important to be patient. The key is to find what works for you. The goal is financial independence and peace of mind.And remember, it’s not about deprivation; it’s about making smart choices and being content with more affordable options. It’s about adjusting your mindset. And it’s about having fun.

Eliza Hayes: what is the one question that you wish people would ask you?

Bradley: Hmm, I guess I wish people would ask me about how to embrace frugality *without* feeling like they’re missing out on life. It’s a fine balance, and it’s often the biggest fear people have – does a frugal lifestyle mean an unhappy one? I am happy, so it makes me wonder if others can also achieve the same level of frugality and contentment.