How Norwegians Save Money: A Guide to Norwegian Saving Culture

How Norwegians save on food, electricity, and everyday life. A guide to Norwegian saving culture for newcomers in Norway.

Hlib SuslovPublished:May 29, 2026Last updated:July 17, 20265 min read

To understand how Norwegians save money, you first need to understand why. Norway was a poor country right up until oil was discovered in the late 20th century, and many of today's saving habits were passed down from grandparents who had to watch every penny. Even though the country is wealthy today, a culture of frugality runs deep.

Two things are closely connected here. The first is Janteloven – an unwritten social rule that says you should not boast or think you are better than others. Showing off expensive things and spending beyond your means is often seen as a little embarrassing, while finding a good deal or fixing something yourself earns respect. The second is environmental awareness: saving resources, throwing away less, and reusing things is just as much a green choice as an economic one. Saving money in Norway is therefore rarely about being stingy – it is about being smart and responsible.

Food: where most people start saving

Food is expensive in Norway, and this is where most households save the most. The first thing to learn is the difference between discount supermarkets and full-range stores. Chains like REMA 1000, KIWI, Coop Extra, and Bunnpris have a smaller selection but noticeably lower prices. Stores like Meny and Spar have a wider range and better fresh food counters, but cost more. A common saving rule is: buy everyday groceries at a discount store.

Inside the store, there are several tricks. Look for the stores' own brands (called EMV), such as First Price, Eldorado, and Coop's Xtra – the same type of product at a fraction of the price. Download the customer apps, because that is where the savings are: the Trumf app gives you bonus points at KIWI, Meny, and Spar; Coop gives members a purchase rebate; and REMA 1000 has its own Æ app with personalised offers. Many people plan the week's dinners around what is on sale.

Two terms are especially useful to know. Pant is a deposit you pay on bottles and cans, which you get back when you return them to a machine in the store – 2 kroner for small bottles and cans, and 3 kroner for those over half a litre. It sounds like a small amount, but it adds up over time, and collecting pant is completely normal. Too Good To Go is an app where shops and cafés sell leftover food cheaply at the end of the day so it does not go to waste. Norwegians also often buy "datovarer" – food that is close to its best-before date and is sold at a big discount.

A deeply rooted habit is the matpakke. Instead of buying lunch out, Norwegians make sandwiches at home and bring them to work and school. If you live near the Swedish border, you will also hear about grensehandel – many people make a shopping trip to Sweden a couple of times a year to buy meat, soft drinks, and sweets more cheaply.

Electricity: Norwegians' favourite topic of conversation

Few things concern Norwegians more than the price of electricity. The reason is simple: Norwegian homes are heated almost entirely by electricity, so the electricity bill can be very high in winter. The price (called the spot price) is set hour by hour on the power exchange and varies across the country's five price zones, from NO1 in the east to NO4 in the north.

To help households, there are two government schemes worth knowing about. The standard electricity support means that in 2026 the government covers 90 per cent of the electricity price above 96.25 øre per kilowatt-hour (including VAT). Alternatively, you can choose Norgespris, a voluntary scheme where you pay a fixed price of 40 øre per kilowatt-hour excluding VAT (50 øre including VAT) until the end of 2026, regardless of what the market does. You must sign up for Norgespris yourself at Elhub, and it is best suited for those who want predictable costs. In Northern Norway, no VAT is charged on electricity at all.

In addition to the electricity itself, you pay a grid fee, and many grid companies use a pricing model that rewards you for spreading your usage throughout the day. This is why many people avoid running the washing machine, dishwasher, and charging an electric car at the same time in the afternoon, when consumption – and the price – is at its peak. Other common ways to save include installing a heat pump, turning down the heating at night and when you are out, using a wood-burning stove, and running full loads of laundry at night. There are dedicated apps that show the hourly price so you can adjust your daily routine accordingly.

Water and heating: small habits with a big impact

Water is plentiful in Norway and relatively cheap. How you pay depends on your municipality: in some places you have a water meter and pay per cubic metre, while in others there is a fixed annual fee based on the size of your home. It is still worth knowing that the biggest cost is often not the water itself, but the electricity used to heat it. A shorter shower therefore saves more on your electricity bill than on your water bill – something most Norwegians are well aware of.

Second-hand and reuse: a national pastime

Buying second-hand is not something people hide in Norway – it is almost a national pastime. The main marketplace is FINN.no, where people buy and sell everything from furniture to prams. The app Tise and Facebook Marketplace are used frequently, and second-hand shops like Fretex can be found in most towns. At flea markets, used items are sold to raise money for clubs and community organisations.

Two things often surprise newcomers. The first is how common it is to give things away for free – search for "gis bort" and you will find furniture and equipment at no cost. The second is BUA, a service available in many municipalities where you can borrow sports and outdoor equipment such as skis, ice skates, and tents for free. Clothes are also often passed on between families and friends.

Transport and housing: the big expenses

In cities, many people choose not to own a car at all. Road tolls, parking, and insurance make car ownership expensive, so people cycle, walk, or buy a monthly pass for public transport. If you need a car occasionally, car-sharing schemes are available. When it comes to housing, Norway has a strong ownership culture: renting is seen by many as "wasted money", and the goal is to own your own home as early as possible. Young people under 34 often save using BSU (Boligsparing for ungdom – housing savings for young people), which gives a tax deduction when saving for a first home, while many put long-term savings into index funds through a share savings account (aksjesparekonto).

Leisure: the best things are often free

One of the nicest features of Norwegian saving culture is that the most valued activities are free. Thanks to allemannsretten – the right to roam – everyone can move freely in nature, and friluftsliv (outdoor life in forests and mountains) costs nothing. On hikes, Norwegians bring a matpakke and often a Kvikk Lunsj chocolate bar. The library is free and well used, and in neighbourhoods and housing cooperatives, dugnad is organised – communal work done together instead of hiring expensive services.

Conclusion: a mindset, not just a budget

Saving money in Norway is less about denying yourself things, and more about a whole way of thinking: be mindful, avoid waste, and find joy in the simple and the free. For those who are new to the country, the good news is that these habits are easy to adopt. When you return your bottles for pant, pack your matpakke, check the electricity price, and find a great deal on FINN, you are not just saving money – you are also becoming a little more Norwegian.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Why do Norwegians have a strong culture of saving money?

Norway was a poor country until oil was discovered in the late 20th century, and frugal habits passed down from older generations still shape everyday life. Two key influences reinforce this: Janteloven, an unwritten rule against showing off wealth, means finding a good deal earns more respect than spending lavishly. Environmental awareness also plays a role, as reusing and wasting less is seen as both a green and an economic choice.

Which supermarkets are cheapest in Norway, and how can apps help you save?

Discount chains such as REMA 1000, KIWI, Coop Extra, and Bunnpris offer noticeably lower prices than full-range stores like Meny and Spar. Store-brand products like First Price, Eldorado, and Xtra cost a fraction of name brands. Customer apps add extra savings: the Trumf app gives bonus points at KIWI, Meny, and Spar; Coop members receive a purchase rebate; and REMA 1000 has its Æ app with personalised offers.

What is pant, and how does it work?

Pant is a deposit included in the price of bottles and cans. When you return them to a machine inside a supermarket, you get the deposit back: 2 kroner for small bottles and cans, and 3 kroner for those over half a litre. The amounts seem small but add up over time. Returning pant is entirely normal and widely practised across Norway.

What government schemes exist to help with high electricity bills?

There are two main schemes. The standard electricity support has the government covering 90 per cent of the electricity price above 96.25 øre per kilowatt-hour (including VAT) in 2026. The alternative is Norgespris, a voluntary scheme offering a fixed price of 40 øre per kilowatt-hour excluding VAT until the end of 2026. You must sign up for Norgespris yourself at Elhub. In Northern Norway, no VAT is charged on electricity at all.

What is BSU, and who can use it?

BSU stands for Boligsparing for ungdom, which means housing savings for young people. It is a savings scheme available to people under 34 who are saving toward buying their first home. Contributions qualify for a tax deduction, making it a tax-efficient way to build up a deposit. Many young Norwegians combine BSU with long-term savings in index funds through a share savings account, known as an aksjesparekonto.

How do Norwegians approach second-hand buying and borrowing?

Buying second-hand is widely accepted and common. FINN.no is the main marketplace for everything from furniture to prams, while the Tise app and Facebook Marketplace are also popular. Fretex second-hand shops are found in most towns. Many people give items away for free, searchable under 'gis bort'. BUA is a municipal service in many areas where residents can borrow sports and outdoor equipment such as skis, skates, and tents at no cost.

What is allemannsretten, and how does it help Norwegians save on leisure?

Allemannsretten is the right to roam, a legal right allowing everyone to move freely in Norwegian nature, including forests and mountains, at no cost. This makes friluftsliv, meaning outdoor life, one of the most valued and entirely free leisure activities in Norway. Norwegians typically bring a homemade matpakke on hikes rather than buying food. Combined with free public libraries and community dugnad work, much of everyday social and leisure life costs nothing.

What is the matpakke habit, and why is it so common?

The matpakke is a packed lunch, usually sandwiches made at home, that Norwegians bring to work and school instead of buying food out. It is a deeply rooted habit that saves a significant amount of money over time, given that eating out in Norway is expensive. Bringing a matpakke is completely normal for adults and children alike, and it is considered a practical and responsible everyday habit rather than something unusual.