European-Style Saving: How Ordinary Citizens Adapt to Rising Prices

In crisis situations, we often revisit what we once considered mundane and unimportant. Think of aluminum coins: light, almost weightless, they were once perceived as a trifle, not worthy of attention. But they were useful at unexpected moments – in a vending machine, at the market, on a trip. So it is with today’s savings strategies: it’s often the “small”, unremarkable steps that form real sustainability.

When grocery, rent, transportation and energy costs are rising at an alarming rate, saving is no longer a choice – it becomes a necessity of life. Europeans are increasingly eschewing excess, favoring local solutions, and rethinking even what has been sitting in the dust for years.

This article is not about abstract macroeconomics, as today we will tell you how ordinary citizens are adapting to the new financial landscape: what is changing in their daily habits, where they can save money without losing their quality of life, and what resources – including things forgotten in drawers – can be unexpectedly valuable.

When facing rising grocery bills, higher energy costs, and unstable rent prices, the instinct is often to cut back.  But before you slash budgets or give up weekend treats, try opening a drawer.

Seriously – you might be sitting on untapped value without even realizing it. Did you guess that from forgotten fashion to jars of old coins, the average European household holds dozens of items that could be resold, reused, or reimagined. Thus, Eurostat data shows that over 40% of EU households store unused goods that could find new life (and earn cash). And this process starts by simply taking a look around. So, you may check these often-forgotten spaces in your home:

• Top shelves of closets – old jackets, bags, and vintage fashion
• Drawers and jars – loose coins, accessories, badges, and pins
• Bookshelves – rare books or signed copies
• Toy boxes – collectible sets or discontinued games
• Attics and garages – decorations, tools, and sports equipment

Every item has a story — and sometimes, a market. This fact can be even proved with a real example: in Poland, a university student sold a forgotten set of vintage Olympic pins from 1980 on OLX for €120. The pins had been sitting untouched on a shelf for years. What once seemed like clutter became a month’s grocery budget.

Tip: You can also do your “audit” of things at home and think about what you don’t need, but could be sold to bring in extra income. Pay special attention to little things like old coins, especially less obvious ones, that may hold surprising value. So, for them, use the Coin ID Scanner app to identify and appraise coins in seconds – no need to be a collector. What you thought was spare change might be rare, discontinued, or desirable to others.

One more good idea is to pick a corner, basket, or shelf and label it “To Sell This Month.” Each week, add a few unused items from around the house. By the end of the month, you will likely have made space and money – all without a single cutback.

In the face of inflation, many Europeans are remembering the motto that helped past generations get through tough times: ‘“Use it up, wear it out, make it or do without”. But today it’s less about ration books and more about stylish repurposed furniture, local resale apps and a growing culture of sharing.

Today it means not doing without stuff, but about rethinking the meaning of “enough” and finding new life in what we already have. For example, in cities like Amsterdam, Vienna and Berlin, weekend flea markets are back in vogue. In smaller towns, neighbors are sharing tools and clothes through local groups. And across Europe, digital platforms are making these practices more accessible than ever.

A 2023 study by Statista showed that over 13 million Germans actively use local resale platforms. But the trend isn’t limited to Germany – in France, Spain, and the Netherlands, platforms like Vinted, Wallapop, and OLX have become household names. Please refer to the table below to look at how different platforms are being used across Europe.

People are not just getting rid of things – they are actively upcycling. A broken chair becomes a new reading nook. An outdated jacket gets turned into a trendy bag, as creativity is as valuable as the savings.

This return to circular habits is not just a reaction to inflation, it is also part of a wider sustainability shift. Due to keeping products in use longer, households can both save money and reduce waste.

Lifehack: Next time you need something (be it a blender, winter boots, or even a bookshelf) check a local platform first. This will help you to save up to 70% compared to buying new, but you will likely support a neighbor doing the same.

In an era where groceries eat up paychecks and energy bills compete with rent, new savings habits in Europe are quietly going digital – not in theory, but in apps. Your smartphone is no longer just a tool for scrolling through pages or texting – it can be the best money-saving partner you have.

Digital tools turned everyday spending into something trackable, visual and – believe it or not – enjoyable. Thus, rather than cumbersome spreadsheets or overlooked bills, modern apps can help you manage the chaos with just a few taps.

If you want to see how ordinary people fight rising prices with tech, just peek at their phones. Here are the tools many households are now swearing by:

• Too Good To Go – Save up to 70% on food by buying unsold meals from cafes and bakeries.
• Refurbed – Buy like-new gadgets for up to half the price of retail.
• Spendee / Money Manager – Track your budget without crying over Excel.
• Gimi (for parents and teens) – Teaches kids to manage allowance and save with goals.
• Zero-spend day planners – Yes, there are apps that help you spend nothing once a week.

Across Europe, one in four millennials already use at least one personal finance app. Why? Because it works. A woman in Hungary shared that tracking daily expenses with Spendee helped her realize she was spending €90 a month on impulse snacks – now down to €15.

Tip: Pick one weekday as your “digital detox spend-free” day. Remember, on that day no shopping carts, no delivery – just what you already have. Many say it is surprisingly freeing. In the end, adapting to inflation doesn’t have to mean sacrifice. Sometimes, it just takes a smarter tap on the right screen.

Real change doesn’t start with high-profile reforms, but with little-noticed habits. When millions of people across Europe swap one impulse order for a home-cooked meal, put off an old jacket on sale, or choose “zero spending” over spontaneous purchases, it is no longer just frugality. It is a new culture of saving, where every choice is a step toward sustainability and freedom.