Penny Pinching Celebrities That Live Large on a Small Budget

Celebrities are people that the “common man” are always looking up to. They usually have flashy lifestyles, nice cars, beautiful clothing, but the amount of money they spend is ridiculous. However, this is not the case with every celebrity. In fact, there are quite a few who are frugal. Some of them dress their kids in hand me downs, don’t spend a penny of their paychecks and even use coupons!

Zooey Deschanel

Photo: Flickr: Breezy Baldwin

“Hipster” Zooey Deschanel went through a divorce in 2013 when her financial standings became available to the public through a court document. Usually, when a celebrity’s finances hit the spotlight, people are disgusted by the amount of money they spend on useless stuff. Deschanel, however, spends a moderate amount of money on day-to-day items and she saves and donates the rest of the money.

Jay Leno

Photo: Flickr: WEBN-TV

Jay Leno is a saver. In fact, he hasn’t spent a penny of his earnings from the “Tonight Show.” He uses his earnings from the comedy scene to pay for his day-to-day expenses. His annual paycheck from the “Tonight Show” was $25 million. Every cent went into savings or investments, that’s a nice nest egg.

Sarah Jessica Parker

Photo: Flickr: David Shankbone

If you are a fan of “Sex in the City,” you know Sarah Jessica Parker. You may also know that she is a regular penny pincher. This may be because her family depended on welfare to stay afloat when she was growing up. Every single purchase the well-to-do actress makes now is considered an investment. Her son even wears hand me downs. Actually, he only wears hand me downs. Parker said that makes the most sense because he has plenty of older cousins that have clothes that he will fit into. Why spend the money?

Halle Berry

Photo: Flickr: Gage Skidmore

Halle Berry, who has been a big star for quite some time, is also a frugal person. Now that she is a mom, Halle has become even more strict with her money. This is likely because she grew up in a single-parent household. She learned a lot about budgeting and saving from her mother and doesn’t let her big paycheck change how she lives her life.

Tyra Banks

Photo: Flickr: David Shankbone

Tyra Banks, a model and television host, has a net worth approaching $100 million. However, not many people would believe it because of the way that she lives her life. Banks’ way of saving her money is probably best attributed to being raised by a single mother who had to watch every penny. Her upbringing made her a saver, and no matter what happens, she will be able to take care of herself the rest of her life. The model/actress even goes out of her way to help other women get in charge of their finances.

Mariska Hargitay

Photo: Flickr: Ted Eytan

Mariska Hargitay, known for her appearances in “Law & Order SVU,” makes about $500,000 per episode. However, she hasn’t changed her way of life from when she struggled with finances. She has a good reason too. Hargitay said that because she’s an aging woman in Hollywood, it is even more important for her to save. She won’t be desirable for many parts soon, so spending a ton of money will only put her in a bad situation later on.

Lady Gaga

Photo: Flickr: Philip Nelson

Extravagant Lady Gaga is also a pretty pincher. The pop star and actress generally spends tons of money trying to look fabulous on stage. However, she uses coupons when shopping for regular day-to-day items. She even posted to Twitter that people look at her like she’s crazy when she pulls out coupons at the store.

Amanda Blankenship

Amanda Blankenship is the Chief Editor for District Media.  With a BA in journalism from Wingate University, she frequently writes for a handful of websites and loves to share her own personal finance story with others. When she isn’t typing away at her desk, she enjoys spending time with her daughter, son, husband, and dog. During her free time, you’re likely to find her with her nose in a book, hiking, or playing RPG video games.