Penny Pinchers Unite
Who takes frugality to the next level? Some states are full of folks who wear thriftiness like a badge of honor—whether it’s clipping coupons, refusing to tip more than 10%, or hunting for every BOGO deal in sight.
Using data on average tipping percentages, coupon use, savings rates, and discretionary spending habits, we ranked all 50 U.S. states to uncover where the “cheapest people” live. So, let’s dive in.
50: Hawaii
Average tip: 19.7%
Coupon use: 41%
Household savings rate: 7.2%
Discretionary spending: $8,540
Island life is expensive, but Hawaiians are generous tippers and spenders, making them the least “cheap” in the nation.
49: California
Average tip: 19.1%
Coupon use: 39%
Household savings rate: 6.9%
Discretionary spending: $7,890
Despite sky-high costs, Californians tend to tip well and spend freely, keeping them far from stingy.
48: New York
Average tip: 18.9%
Coupon use: 38%
Household savings rate: 6.5%
Discretionary spending: $7,720
Big city hustle means big city spending—New Yorkers aren’t shy about opening their wallets.
47: Massachusetts
Average tip: 18.7%
Coupon use: 40%
Household savings rate: 6.8%
Discretionary spending: $7,580
Bay Staters balance thrift with generosity, ranking them among the least cheap.
46: Connecticut
Average tip: 18.5%
Coupon use: 42%
Household savings rate: 6.4%
Discretionary spending: $7,420
Connecticut residents keep spending strong while tipping above average, keeping them off the “cheap” list.
45: New Jersey
Average tip: 18.3%
Coupon use: 43%
Household savings rate: 6.1%
Discretionary spending: $7,210
Despite their tough reputation, New Jerseyans tip fairly well and spend big.
Jakub Hałun, Wikimedia Commons
44: Maryland
Average tip: 18.2%
Coupon use: 44%
Household savings rate: 6.3%
Discretionary spending: $7,180
Generous spenders and steady savers, Marylanders aren’t scraping pennies.
Jarek Tuszyński, Wikimedia Commons
43: Washington
Average tip: 18.0%
Coupon use: 45%
Household savings rate: 6.6%
Discretionary spending: $7,050
Pacific Northwest residents keep things balanced—neither cheap nor extravagant.
42: Virginia
Average tip: 17.9%
Coupon use: 45%
Household savings rate: 6.4%
Discretionary spending: $6,910
Virginians spend steadily, showing they’re not overly frugal.
jeff horne from Richmond, VA, Wikimedia Commons
41: Colorado
Average tip: 17.7%
Coupon use: 46%
Household savings rate: 6.2%
Discretionary spending: $6,840
Coloradans are outdoorsy spenders, not penny pinchers.
40: Illinois
Average tip: 17.6%
Coupon use: 47%
Household savings rate: 6.0%
Discretionary spending: $6,770
Chicago drives spending higher, keeping Illinois away from “cheap” status.
39: Oregon
Average tip: 17.5%
Coupon use: 48%
Household savings rate: 6.1%
Discretionary spending: $6,680
Oregonians tip decently and spend on experiences, not the cheapest around.
38: Alaska
Average tip: 17.3%
Coupon use: 48%
Household savings rate: 6.5%
Discretionary spending: $6,600
Alaskans spend more than you’d expect given remote living.
Jack Connaher, Wikimedia Commons
37: Minnesota
Average tip: 17.2%
Coupon use: 49%
Household savings rate: 6.2%
Discretionary spending: $6,510
Minnesota nice extends to their wallets—they’re not especially cheap.
Bobak Ha'Eri, Wikimedia Commons
36: Nevada
Average tip: 17.1%
Coupon use: 50%
Household savings rate: 6.0%
Discretionary spending: $6,440
Las Vegas tips may be average, but overall spending keeps Nevada off the bottom.
35: Florida
Average tip: 17.0%
Coupon use: 51%
Household savings rate: 5.9%
Discretionary spending: $6,350
Floridians enjoy spending on leisure, ranking them mid-pack.
Clément Bardot, Wikimedia Commons
34: Texas
Average tip: 16.9%
Coupon use: 51%
Household savings rate: 5.8%
Discretionary spending: $6,310
Big state, big spending—Texans aren’t known for being tightfisted.
33: Pennsylvania
Average tip: 16.8%
Coupon use: 52%
Household savings rate: 5.7%
Discretionary spending: $6,260
Pennsylvanians strike a balance between thrift and generosity.
Popscreenshot, Wikimedia Commons
32: Georgia
Average tip: 16.7%
Coupon use: 52%
Household savings rate: 5.9%
Discretionary spending: $6,210
Southerners here spend moderately, with average tipping habits.
31: North Carolina
Average tip: 16.6%
Coupon use: 53%
Household savings rate: 5.8%
Discretionary spending: $6,150
North Carolinians are thrifty but not overly so, landing mid-list.
Precisionviews, Wikimedia Commons
30: Arizona
Average tip: 16.5%
Coupon use: 53%
Household savings rate: 5.6%
Discretionary spending: $6,090
Desert dwellers lean thrifty but still spend decently.
29: Michigan
Average tip: 16.4%
Coupon use: 54%
Household savings rate: 5.7%
Discretionary spending: $6,040
Michiganders keep spending practical, not extravagant.
28: Wisconsin
Average tip: 16.3%
Coupon use: 55%
Household savings rate: 5.8%
Discretionary spending: $5,980
Beer money aside, Wisconsinites save and spend conservatively.
27: Ohio
Average tip: 16.2%
Coupon use: 55%
Household savings rate: 5.6%
Discretionary spending: $5,940
Ohioans lean thrifty, but not the cheapest nationwide.
26: Missouri
Average tip: 16.1%
Coupon use: 56%
Household savings rate: 5.5%
Discretionary spending: $5,910
The Show-Me State shows restraint in spending.
25: Indiana
Average tip: 16.0%
Coupon use: 56%
Household savings rate: 5.6%
Discretionary spending: $5,870
Hoosiers are practical savers with moderate tipping habits.
Carol M. Highsmith, Wikimedia Commons
24: Tennessee
Average tip: 15.9%
Coupon use: 56%
Household savings rate: 5.5%
Discretionary spending: $5,840
Tennessee ranks just into the “cheap” half with careful spending.
23: Kentucky
Average tip: 15.8%
Coupon use: 57%
Household savings rate: 5.4%
Discretionary spending: $5,800
Frugality runs strong in the Bluegrass State.
22: Oklahoma
Average tip: 15.7%
Coupon use: 57%
Household savings rate: 5.5%
Discretionary spending: $5,760
Oklahomans stretch dollars further than most.
21: Alabama
Average tip: 15.6%
Coupon use: 57%
Household savings rate: 5.3%
Discretionary spending: $5,730
Thrifty by habit, Alabamians rank high in coupon use.
20: Louisiana
Average tip: 15.5%
Coupon use: 58%
Household savings rate: 5.4%
Discretionary spending: $5,690
Louisianans save carefully and tip on the lower side.
19: Arkansas
Average tip: 15.4%
Coupon use: 58%
Household savings rate: 5.2%
Discretionary spending: $5,650
Arkansans are careful spenders with tight budgets.
Daniel Schwen, Wikimedia Commons
18: West Virginia
Average tip: 15.3%
Coupon use: 59%
Household savings rate: 5.1%
Discretionary spending: $5,610
West Virginians live frugally and save modestly.
Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant), Wikimedia Commons
17: South Carolina
Average tip: 15.2%
Coupon use: 59%
Household savings rate: 5.2%
Discretionary spending: $5,580
South Carolinians cut costs where they can, leaning thrifty.
Akhenaton06, Wikimedia Commons
16: Mississippi
Average tip: 15.1%
Coupon use: 59%
Household savings rate: 5.0%
Discretionary spending: $5,540
Mississippians spend cautiously and save when possible.
KimonBerlin, Wikimedia Commons
15: Maine
Average tip: 15.0%
Coupon use: 60%
Household savings rate: 5.1%
Discretionary spending: $5,500
Maine residents are practical and coupon-friendly, earning them a thrifty rep.
14: Vermont
Average tip: 14.9%
Coupon use: 60%
Household savings rate: 5.0%
Discretionary spending: $5,460
Vermonters live simply and avoid excess spending.
13: Montana
Average tip: 14.8%
Coupon use: 61%
Household savings rate: 5.0%
Discretionary spending: $5,430
Montanans tip low and save diligently.
Quintin Soloviev, Wikimedia Commons
12: North Dakota
Average tip: 14.7%
Coupon use: 61%
Household savings rate: 4.9%
Discretionary spending: $5,400
North Dakotans are conservative with money, landing them near the top.
Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant), Wikimedia Commons
11: South Dakota
Average tip: 14.6%
Coupon use: 61%
Household savings rate: 4.8%
Discretionary spending: $5,360
Dakota thrift shows strong here, with modest tipping and spending.
Maxpower2727, Wikimedia Commons
10: Wyoming
Average tip: 14.5%
Coupon use: 61%
Household savings rate: 4.7%
Discretionary spending: $5,330
Wyoming residents stretch dollars carefully, ranking top 10.
Vasiliymeshko, Wikimedia Commons
9: Nebraska
Average tip: 14.4%
Coupon use: 62%
Household savings rate: 4.8%
Discretionary spending: $5,300
Nebraskans are coupon-clipping savers, earning them a thrifty ranking.
Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, Wikimedia Commons
8: Iowa
Average tip: 14.3%
Coupon use: 62%
Household savings rate: 4.7%
Discretionary spending: $5,270
Iowans are consistently frugal, clipping coupons and tipping low.
7: Kansas
Average tip: 14.3%
Coupon use: 62%
Household savings rate: 4.6%
Discretionary spending: $5,240
Kansas residents are careful with every dollar, ranking them highly.
6: Utah
Average tip: 14.2%
Coupon use: 62%
Household savings rate: 4.5%
Discretionary spending: $5,210
Utahns are steady savers who keep spending tight.
Another Believer, Wikimedia Commons
5: New Mexico
Average tip: 14.2%
Coupon use: 62%
Household savings rate: 4.5%
Discretionary spending: $5,180
New Mexicans live lean and save where they can.
4: Idaho
Average tip: 14.1%
Coupon use: 63%
Household savings rate: 4.4%
Discretionary spending: $5,150
Idahoans are thrifty spenders and coupon champions.
3: Kentucky
Average tip: 14.0%
Coupon use: 63%
Household savings rate: 4.3%
Discretionary spending: $5,120
Kentuckians’ couponing and low tipping keep them near the top.
Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, Wikimedia Commons
2: Arkansas
Average tip: 13.9%
Coupon use: 63%
Household savings rate: 4.3%
Discretionary spending: $5,090
Arkansas residents spend conservatively, ranking second-cheapest.
1: Mississippi
Average tip: 13.8%
Coupon use: 64%
Household savings rate: 4.2%
Discretionary spending: $5,060
Mississippi tops the list as the “cheapest” state—low tips, high coupon use, and lean spending make frugality a lifestyle.
formulanone from Huntsville, United States, Wikimedia Commons
You Might Also Like:
The 10 Best Extreme Sports Destinations In The U.S.
Ranking The Worst U.S. Cities For Commuters—According To Data
The True Story Behind Singapore's 1992 Chewing Gum Ban—And Why It Still Stands
