Things we’ve learnt from famously stingy - in the good way - people.

Fun fact: rich people don’t stay that way by spending their money. Even the wealthiest of celebrities make some pretty frugal choices every day to make sure their bank books remain in the black.

With the average cost of living continuing to rise, the choices we make as consumers become even more important. Luckily, some of our famous friends have done the heavy lifting for us and have shed light on simple and clever ways to save money.

Here are five of our favourite financial lessons that frugal celebrities have taught us.

Coupons are worth their weight in gold.

Paying a huge mark up when others are getting a discount? Bugger that. Even the richest celebs from Zooey Deschanel to Sarah Michelle Gellar are advocates of shopping with coupons. For everything from groceries to clothes and all in between, it never hurts to shop around for a bargain. Sites like Groupon and OzBargain offer savings in a variety of items and experiences, from fine dining to free gym trials, so have a play around and see what offers tickle your fancy.

And if you feel weird about not paying full price, take Lady Gaga as a source of inspiration:

why do people look at me like I’m crazy when i use coupons at grocery or try bargaining at retail, IM FROM NEW YORK WHERE IS THE SALE RACK

— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) December 21, 2012

When it comes to power, go solar.

While it is the environmentally-friendly option, solar power is the (cheap) way of the future, so you’ll be rewarded for being a Planeteer with extra dough in your pocket. Nice!

Take the lead from the likes of Cate Blanchett, whose Sydney home underwent a full-blown, eco-friendly makeover in 2007, which features energy lighting, water recycling and, of course, solar panelling.

Sir Richard Branson is also a pioneer of private renewable energy usage, decking out his stunning private Caribbean island (Necker Island) with 1232 photovoltaic solar panels, which has seen it become one of the most renewably-powered islands in the world.

These guys know what's up. Images: Getty and Instagram @richardbranson

Skip the unnecessary blow outs.

Birthdays, brunches, weddings - who says you need to blow an arm and a leg on them? Kristen Bell certainly doesn’t. This Hollywood star and her actor husband spent – wait for it – $142 on their wedding day. No, not million. One hundred and forty-two whole dollars.

"We got married in a tiny room in the Beverly Hills courthouse and it was still one of the best days of my life,” says the actress.

Dressed in black smart casual attire, Bell and husband Dax Shepard topped off their simple affair with a simple sandwich lunch. With the average Aussie wedding costing upwards of $30,000, this is certainly one way to skip the pre-marriage expenses and channel them towards a financially stable future.

"We got married in a tiny room in the Beverly Hills courthouse and it was still one of the best days of my life.” Image: YouTube.

Unconventional savings plans are key.

While financial planners will sing the praises of saving 10-20% of your income, sometimes getting stuck in the semantics of proportional savings can be difficult. It can be much easier (as well as more fun and surprising) to find more unorthodox ways to save.

As many of us work a number of jobs or have multiple sources of income these days, saving can seem much more achievable if you consider one source of income as your ‘spending stream’ and the other as your ‘saving stream.’ This is The Tonight Show host Jay Leno’s approach to managing his money, with the comedian reporting to Parade that he only spends money that he earns from comedy routines:

'When I was a kid, I had two jobs,' write Leno. 'I worked at a Ford dealership and at a McDonald's. I'd spend the money from one job and save the money from the other. That's still the way I am now. I live on the money I make as a comedian, and I put all the TV money in the bank. I've never spent a dime of TV money--ever.'

"Saving can seem much more achievable if you consider one source of income as your ‘spending stream’'."Image: Universal Television.

And if that approach is far too conventional for you, take a leaf from this woman’s book and pop all your $5 notes into a mason jar. After a while, you too might be able to rack up a cool $36,000.

Consider the impact of transportation.

Despite the fact that they can afford private transportation, many stars continue to opt for options that reduce their green footprint and keep money in the bank. Mad Men star Vincent Kartheiser regularly opts for public transport, as does environmental warrior Leonardo DiCaprio, who has also been reported to fly economy as opposed to first class or private jets.

When it comes to taking public transportation or swapping your car for a bike, as well as saving on the cost of petrol, you also reduce some of the inconveniences of car ownership, such as car insurance, parking fees and car maintenance.

 How do you cut costs?