31 Subreddits Every Penny Hoarder Should Follow
How many cake days have you celebrated? Have you ever given — or been the lucky recipient of — Reddit gold?
Wondering what the heck I’m talking about?
If you’re completely unfamiliar with Reddit, don’t worry: It’s really not that complicated. It’s basically an aggregator of discussion forums — a concept which might be familiar to you if you remember the internet in its pre-Facebook (or even pre-Myspace!) days.
Reddit users can post and discuss text, images and videos about a variety of topics on dedicated, user-run “subreddits,” or individual forums.
The site also features a unique content rating system, by which readers — or “redditors,” if you will — can “upvote” or “downvote” content. These votes influence a post’s performance and placement, with only the most popular and upvoted content making it to the “front page of the internet.”
Basically, it’s like a hyperspecialized, crowdsourced newspaper. And while it’s not perfect, it can be a fantastic source of information, entertainment and community, no matter your interests.
Since you’re here at TPH, I’m gonna go out on a limb and guess that saving money is in your interest set.
So how, specifically, can you put Reddit to work for you?
The 31 Best Subreddits for Penny Hoarders
When you sign up for a free account on Reddit, you’ll automatically be subscribed to a number of ultrapopular subreddits — stuff like the self-explanatory r/funny or the repository of tiny cute animals that is r/awww.
But if you want to customize what you see on your front page, you’ll have to get busy subscribing to the specific boards you want to follow.
To do so, you’ll just find a relevant subreddit and click the “subscribe” button in the right-hand sidebar. (You can also add specific subs to your dashboard or shortcuts from here, and usually there will be a short description of the subreddit with FAQs and rules — give ’em a look!)
Although you’ll still only see the content with the most upvotes, your front page will be populated primarily with posts from subreddits whose updates you subscribe to.
That means if you play your cards right, logging on to Reddit could become a literal gold mine, filled with money-saving tips, hot deals and freebies, and a plethora of cheap, healthy recipes to try.
Reddit is a dynamic community, with new subreddits popping up every day.
But to get you started, we raked through its boards and hand-picked a custom list.
Here are some of the very best subreddits for Penny Hoarders to follow.
Basic Personal Finance and Debt Repayment
Need to get a handle on personal finance basics? Check out these subs.
1. r/PersonalFinance
Although this board has some discussion of higher-level topics, like investment, it’s also filled with redditors asking basic questions, like “Is $90/month okay for a phone bill?”
(Our answer? Sure, if that’s what you want… but you certainly don’t have to spend that much.)
If you’re not in the States, you can also check out r/PersonalFinanceCanada, or the personal finance boards for Australia and the U.K.
2. r/YNAB
The name of this popular budgeting app is apt: You do need a budget.
This subreddit will help you set one and stick to it. It also serves as a great resource for technical trouble with YNAB itself.
(Psst: YNAB isn’t paying us to tell you this! Interestingly, this subreddit is better populated and more consistently followed than r/Budgeting or r/Budget, so this is the one we recommend.)
3. r/FinancialPlanning
Once you’ve gotten a better handle on your money, head over to this board to figure out the best thing to do with those rapidly growing stacks of hoarded cash.
And while you’re at it, check out our post about how to set financial goals!
4. r/DebtFree
Join other redditors on a quest to get debt-free, no matter what you’re working on paying off.
5. r/StudentLoans
If you’re dealing with this growing nationwide financial problem, r/StudentLoans can be a source of great tips and tricks — not to mention camaraderie.
6. r/FinancialIndependence
Serious about achieving financial independence and retiring early? This subreddit’s devoted population will help you hold yourself accountable and make it happen.
General Frugality
You know how we roll. These subs will help you save that money.
7. r/Frugal
What can we say? These are our people.
From calling BS “service” charges like they see ’em to offering easy-to-follow meal prep recipes, the r/Frugal community takes frugal living seriously.
8. r/Thrifty
This subreddit adds a minimalist, environmentally conscious spin to the frugality equation.
Sometimes, simple really is better.
9. r/Couponing
Aspiring coupon queen or king? We salute you — and think you can probably use all the help you can get. Couponing can be hard work!
Check out this discussion board for tips and tricks from veteran clippers.
Deals
Find freebies of all sorts — and make sure the money you do part with is well-spent.
10. r/BuyItForLife
This is one of my personal favorites.
Ready to invest in a pair of boots that’ll last you a decade? Need a reliable knife? r/BuyItForLife will help you do just what its name says — and although its recommendations are rarely cheap, they always carry amazing cost per use value.
(Related: Check out our post on brands that offer lifetime warranties. Buy it once, and rest easy knowing if you break it, you can get it fixed or replaced for free!)
11. r/Freebies
If you want to be first in line for some of the best freebies on the internet, subscribe to this board, and check back often.
12. r/FREE
A smaller community than r/Freebies, r/FREE includes stuff given freely by actual individuals. (Think: cruising the curb at a college town post-graduation.)
13. r/DumpsterDiving
Hey, no one said saving money is an easy job — or always a clean one.
If you’re willing to get seriously dirty in the name of saving money, follow r/DumpsterDiving. Some of the hauls are impressive, and divers often clean ’em up and flip them for some quick cash.
(And while you’re at it, maybe check out our post about a guy who makes money by going “Trash Panda” — or if you’re really the adventurous type, read this guide to eating roadkill.)
Food
It’s one of life’s greatest pleasures — and biggest expenses. Get ahead of your monthly grocery bill with these food-related subreddits.
14. r/EatCheapAndHealthy
So often, it seems like eating cheaply and healthily are mutual exclusives.
Not so at this subreddit, which features tons of recipes, advice and tricks. For instance, did you know that once Walmart moves its ready-made rotisserie chickens from the hot server to the deli fridge, they mark ’em down even more? I sure didn’t!
15. r/Cheap_Meals
Not only are the recipes at r/Cheap_Meals cheap — they’re also often posted in easy-to-follow, delicious-looking video format. (Just look at this chicken bacon pasta. Look at it!)
You can also ask the community for its best ideas about what to do with those last few ingredients you have lying around in your fridge.
16. r/7DollarDinners
More yummy recipes and drool-inducing videos, this time with a hard cap of $7 on the price.
17. r/Slowcooking
Aside from my beloved cast-iron pan, my Crock-Pot is my favorite kitchen thing — and many slow cooker meals are as cost-effective as they are scrumptious.
Check out this dedicated subreddit for slow-cooking recipes, tips and more.
18. r/StudentFood
From microwave-and-mini-fridge-friendly hacks to the simple secrets to making canned ravioli edible, r/StudentFood is a great resource — even if your college days are far behind you.
19. r/MealPrepSunday
Prepping a week’s worth of meals ahead of time is a great way to get a handle on exactly how much you’re spending on food — and avoid the last-minute splurge on lunch.
Although this subreddit has a strong fitness focus, it’s a great resource for affordable, make-ahead recipes.
20. r/CookingWithCondiments
A real Penny Hoarder never throws away a freebie — even one as small as a packet of Arby’s sauce.
But rather than leaving them to languish in your junk drawer, check out r/CookingWithCondiments, and put ’em to use.
21. r/FastFoodReview
Don’t dump your spare fiver on the new McInvention without figuring out if it’s a worthwhile spend. The good people at r/FastFoodReview try the newest drive-thru creations so you don’t have to…
… unless you really, really want to.
(OK, this one’s kind of a joke. But come on, right? Our purpose is to delight as much as to inform.)
Parenting, Travel and More
From dealing with daily family growing pains to considering alternative living situations, these lifestyle subreddits are a boon to open-minded Penny Hoarders.
22. r/Parenting
While not specifically dedicated to frugal parenting, kids are an expensive-enough venture that questions of saving cash come up on this board often.
(Bonus sub: Just when you think one more day with your children will make you tear your hair out, they go and say something hilariously brilliant, right? Share the wealth at r/ThingsMyKidSaid.)
23. r/AskParents
This one’s an especially awesome resource if you’re not yet a parent yourself, but eyeing the job cautiously. Ask real, live parents your child-rearing questions, money-related and otherwise.
24. r/Shoestring
From help picking a destination (“Bali or Thailand?”) to insane adventure photo albums that will get your cheap travel creativity flowing, r/Shoestring is a great first stop on your next budget-friendly journey.
25. r/Travel_Deals
Want to be first in the know for discount travel package deals? Need some help finding low-cost flights, even to distant destinations?
First of all, you’ve already taken a step in the right direction by reading TPH! But following r/Travel_Deals won’t hurt, either.
26. r/Backpacking
Want to ditch the luggage on your next frugal getaway? Strap on your backpack and hop to it — after carefully preparing that pack’s contents with the help of this discussion board.
26. r/TinyHouses
If you’ve ever thought about taking the big leap into tiny living, r/TinyHouses is an impressively rich resource.
28. r/VanDwellers
Ready for the ultimate change of pace? This community board supports people who live in their car, truck or van — or intend to.
Go ahead and check it out if you’re curious. After all, it can’t hurt to look! (That backache after snoozing in your passenger seat, however, is real.)
Side Hustling and Freelancing
Saving money is awesome — but making it is even better.
29. r/BeerMoney
Want a few extra bucks in your pocket to cancel out that beer line on your budget?
From simple, small, totally Penny Hoarder hacks — like shopping through online cash-back portals, to the best ways to use Swagbucks — r/BeerMoney is the perfect subreddit for quick ways to make some minor passive income.
Hey: Every penny counts.
30. r/FreelanceWritingJobs
Freelance writing is an awesome, flexible way to make extra money (or even a whole career).
If you’ve got a way with words, keep an eye on r/FreelanceWritingJobs to find new opportunities.
31. r/Blogging
Dreaming of starting your own blogging business? This subreddit has the community to help you get started on the right foot.
Your Turn: What’s your favorite subreddit?
Jamie Cattanach is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. Her writing has also been featured at The Write Life, Word Riot, Nashville Review and elsewhere. Find @JamieCattanach on Twitter to wave hello.
